‘American Dreams’ Season 3 review
“American Dreams” Season 3 (2004-05, NBC), episodes 1-5 – Like the new show “Jack & Bobby,” “American Dreams” conjures up better days, but it looks to the past instead of the future. It lionizes the […]
NBC
‘Friday Night Lights’ Season 1 review
“Friday Night Lights” Season 1 (2006-07, NBC), episodes 1-5 – This present-day adaptation of H.G. Bissinger’s late-’80s expose on Texas high school football is more about the team than individuals. That’s why episode one could […]
‘Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip’ review
“Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” Season 1 (2006-07, NBC), episodes 1-6 – It’s unlike anything else on TV, taking us behind the scenes of a fictional “Saturday Night Live”-style show. NBS is a thinly […]
‘Medium’ Season 2 review
“Medium” Season 2 (2005-06, NBC), episodes 1-6 – CBS was no doubt quick to get “Ghost Whisperer” on the air after “Medium” (9 p.m. Mondays on NBC) became an out-of-nowhere hit last winter. Although the […]
‘Miss Match’ reviews
John’s “Miss Match” flashback review, johnvhansen.com, July 27, 2017 “Miss Match” (2003, NBC), episodes 1-5 – Darren Star’s “Miss Match,” starring Alicia Silverstone as divorce attorney-cum-matchmaker Kate Fox, tries to solve the mysteries of the human […]
‘American Dreams’ Season 1 review
“American Dreams” Season 1 (2002-03, NBC) – OK, I’m not going so far as to say this series is actually good, but the “American Bandstand” segments and pre-Vietnam innocence are charming enough that I’ll continue […]
‘The Office’ Season 4 review
“The Office” Season 4 (2007-08, NBC) – Jim and Pam are still cute, but “The Office” went wrong by giving too much screen time to Worst Boss Ever Michael and henchman Dwight. The dinner party, where we […]
‘Law & Order’ Season 18 review
“Law & Order” Season 18 (2007-08, NBC) – As long as crime exists, there’s no reason for Dick Wolf’s masterpiece to end. This season, three newcomers slid into the lineup as if they had always been […]
‘Surface’ first episode impressions
“Surface” (2005-06, NBC), episode 1 – “Surface” (7 p.m. Mondays on NBC) is about the Outsiders. The premiere played like one of those Peter Benchley miniseries about sea monsters rising from the deep, complete with shallow characterizations. […]
‘Law & Order’ Season 13 review
“Law & Order” Season 13 (2002-03, NBC), episodes 1-3 — In its 13th year, “Law & Order” (9 p.m. Wednesdays, NBC) still surprises me every time I tune in. How can such a mainstream, plot-based show […]