The show is polished. The acting is good, and so is the cinematography. But at its core, this is really just a nighttime soap. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

Gaffigan plays a tubby man-child version of himself, and in the classic TV marriage cliche (see “King of Queens,” “According to Jim”), he just happens to be married to an insanely hot woman (Ashley Williams, “How I Met Your Mother”) who is loving and supportive beyond rational means. But Gaffigan has ambition.

"Soul Food" the series differs from the film in that it replaces romance with nudity and sex. The actors were good and the premiere episode was believable, but let's leave something to the imagination. [26 Jun 2000]

The series is fun and frothy but also often poignant.

Anderson is charming and sells her sweet character. Sasse’s Xavier comes across as an amalgam of Russell Crowe, Jake Gyllenhaal and the sort I’ve always figured to be an urban­ cannibal.

It's an extended "Law & Order" that never settles on a verdict.

Betas brims with raunch, perhaps in the belief that it is key to hooking younger viewers.­

MTV's documentary series "True Life" has walked this territory before with far more compelling subjects.

The almost 90-minute pilot, directed by Luhrmann, takes stylistic leaps unlike any other series. Without Luhrmann’s hands-on approach, the subsequent five episodes available Friday lose a bit of their pep, but none of their appeal, as the story tunnels down into the lives of these young people.

The subtleties in [Kristin Kreuk's] performance help fill in the gaps in scripts that at times range from flat to merely functional. Burden of Truth, which has already been renewed in Canada, is a show by and for adults looking for something a little challenging.

It's strangely devoid of drama. [23 Sep 2002]

Becoming Us suffers from poorly cut segments that might give you flashbacks to the ’90s seasons of MTV’s “Real World.”

Dandridge is a standout as the sister rediscovering her love of faith even as her doubts about her family grow.

The ex-commander-in-chief sits down with National Geographic Channel to give a moment-by-moment account of the darkest days of his presidency--and the nation--in the utterly absorbing George W. Bush: The 9/11 Interview.

If the concept is captivating, the execution, at least in the pilot, leaves something to be desired. [12 July 2004, p.e37]

It’s smart writing for smart characters. Six seasons in and Danes and the writers keep Carrie a complicated character who sometimes does the wrong thing.

Those tuning in for one of Carrey’s trademark manic performances will be disappointed. This is a much more mannered, subtle performance, and while you can admire the commitment to the role, you can find yourself perplexed by the execution. In the supporting cast, Langella is stand-out, a maestro at delivering deadpan snark.

The film is mostly a dance between Dinklage (also an executive producer here) and Dornan, who rises to the occasion and gives the best performance of his career as a man struggling to hang on to his sobriety even as he’s dragged through a hell of Los Angeles.

With her understated, monotone delivery no matter the situation, Kelly just might be the comedic find of the season. Galifianakis delivers a finely tuned grump as Chip and an over-the-top shrew as Dale. Under co-creator, executive producer and director Jonathan Krisel’s sensitive care, Baskets is a funny show about sad people.

While often touching, it's a lightweight addition to HBO's schedule.

Meloni is smirky, Hargitay whiny, and transferred-from-"Homicide" detective John Munch (Richard Belzer) seems out of place. But Wolf has proved an expert at integrating cast changes on "L & O," and we have to believe he'll iron all this out. [20 Sept 1999, p.36]

For all the story’s shortcomings, you’ll come back for the acting.

Pants hits the tube already out of style.

Smart, slick and sexy.

You can see all the jokes coming because they crawl down the road and wave their little hands before arriving. ... But in the hands of such masters, especially Arkin, who proves to be a thoroughly grumpy treasure, familiarity can be delightful.

You'd have more fun watching somebody put up drywall.

Alpha House feels like social studies homework. On a Saturday night.

All The Young Pope proves is that absolute power is absolutely boring.