Hung -- TV Review
The basic concept -- that these two entrepreneurs can make a bundle pimping Drecker out because he's a big man down below -- is ludicrous beyond sitcom and scientific standards.
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The Philanthropist -- TV Review
In NBC's new scripted series "The Philanthropist," billionaire Teddy Rist is in crisis and after the fortuitous rescue of an African child, his world view is upended. Suddenly, he's going to do more than tithe his company's riches to needy charities -- he's going to get involved.
Merlin -- TV Review
NBC's "Merlin" revolves around the future King Arthur's trusty sorcerer, upending nearly every convention of Arthurian legend in the process: King Uther lives in Camelot and oversees his callow young son's development; magic has been banned from the kingdom; and the last remaining dragon is chained up in a cave under the castle.
Hawthorne -- TV Review
"Hawthorne" is -- despite at last placing the no-nonsense Jada Pinkett Smith in a well-deserved topliner slot -- a fairly standard hospital drama told from the point of view of the nurses.
Wedding Day -- TV Review
When reality TV producer Mark Burnett steps up into the wedding fray, stand back. With TNT's "Wedding Day," he has fashioned a match made in heaven: a well-plotted "Extreme Makeover: Wedding Edition" for one lucky couple, who each week receive the wedding of their dreams.
The Listener -- TV Review
"The Listener" is a serviceable supernatural drama with legitimate narrative potential that's undercut by its visually bland presentation and geographically nonspecific execution.
Tosh.0 -- TV Review
Comedy Central's "Tosh.0," a weekly clip show devoted to viral videos, plays like a weird hybrid of "America's Funniest Home Videos" and "The Soup," but it succeeds on the strength of host Daniel Tosh.
The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien -- TV Review
"Tonight" is bigger than Conan O'Brien, which means he's got to conform to expectations -- while simultaneously trying to give it his imprimatur. After one show, let's say he's a work in progress.
The Tonight Show With Jay Leno -- TV Review
Jay Leno's final "Tonight Show" week was a carefully orchestrated blend of favorite guests and classic bits. All he had to do on the final show was shake hands with his successor, Conan O'Brien, tie up a few loose ends, and go home.
Jesse James Is a Dead Man -- TV Review
Spike's "Jesse James Is a Dead Man" is probably the most boring show ever made about a guy trying to kill himself.
Hitched or Ditched -- TV Review
Watching the CW's "Hitched or Ditched" is a brutal experience.
The Alzheimer's Project -- TV Review
Only a curmudgeon of the highest order would find anything bad to say about HBO's four-part series "The Alzheimer's Project."
The Fashion Show -- TV Review
It's the fashion statement of the year: Bravo's new reality series "The Fashion Show" is not -- repeat, not -- a knockoff of the recently decamped Bravo show (now at Lifetime) "Project Runway."
China's Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province -- TV Review
The Sichuan Province earthquake of May 12, 2008, killed 70,000 people -- including 10,000 children. It would have been horrible enough if that had been an unavoidable body count, but as "China's Unnatural Disaster" proves, so many children never had to die.
$5 Cover -- TV Review
Take the Southern-fried cinematic style of the 2005 indie darling "Hustle & Flow," inject the airbrushed artifice of MTV's "The Hills," apply the fragmented online format popularized by "lonelygirl15," and you have "$5 Cover."
The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler -- TV Review
This TV movie has a few harrowing moments that skillfully bring home the human and emotional cost of World War II, but mostly the telefilm plays like too many other things we've seen before.
Sit Down, Shut Up -- TV Review
The problem with Fox's "Sit Down, Shut Up" isn't that it tries to be a meta-comedy that pokes fun at other animated series. No, the problem is that the show just isn't funny.
Harper's Island -- TV Review
If "Harper's Island" were a self-aware spoof of the horror genre, it would be amazing -- like "Shaun of the Dead"-level good. But the problem with CBS' new horror-mystery-soap mash-up is that it's completely earnest in its awfulness.
Southland -- TV Review
The first hour of NBC's new cop drama "Southland" features two shootings, one child kidnapping, a club to the head, and one gruesome demise that underscores why, if you're going to die alone in your house, you should let the dogs out first.
Krod Mandoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire -- TV Review
Comedy Central's "Krod Mandoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire" is exactly as bad as you would fear.
Rescue Me -- TV Review
After more than a year away, "Rescue Me" is still a compelling drama, full of strong writing and skillful acting, but it's the show's mix of redemption and ruin that genuinely sets it apart from the pack.
Suburbia -- TV Review
With the rise of such nontraditional television sitcoms as NBC's "30 Rock" and "The Office," it seemed that television comedy was -- we dared to hope -- maturing. The once fresh, beloved art form of the traditional two-camera, live-audience sitcom had grown feeble and was at last being put out of its misery.
Cupid -- TV Review
The description of ABC's midseason replacement "Cupid" omits the word "new" because creator Rob Thomas and the Alphabet have been down this road before -- for 15 episodes in 1998, with Jeremy Piven as the lead.
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency -- TV Review
Here's a mystery only a detective could solve: Why would HBO, a network that specializes in edgy brilliance, greenlight a series that would seem too fluffy even for Lifetime?
Better Off Ted -- TV Review
"Better Off Ted" has the fresh and lively feel of something great being born, rather like an officebound version of "Malcolm in the Middle" in terms of style and sensibility.
Kings -- TV Review
"Kings" helps make the argument for those who believe that irony is truly dead.
