They are not ordinary cab drivers, and Taxi is more than just a time filler between "Three's Company" and "Starsky and Hutch." It promises a lot and then delivers it all. [12 Sep 1978, p.26]

You don't have to be a lonely teenager to relate. [18 Jan 1998, p.6G]

Murder, She Wrote isn't up to Columbo class yet. But the show does display enough wit and style to make it a top-notch entertainment alternative to the noisy head-banging and mayhem on Knight Rider and Hardcastle & McCormick. [30 Sep 1984]

The husband and wife, played by Michael Gross and Meredith Baxter Birney, are recognizable human beings who grapple with recognizable problems and emotions. And the children in the family, particularly Michael J. Fox, who plays teenage son Alex, are marvelously portrayed. [06 Oct 1982, p.9D]

Packs a sinister wallop. It's a ripping good winter's tale. [12 Feb 1999, p.1D]

With The Langoliers, there's a primal zing to the story. The cast also gets into the anxiety-fueled swing of things, especially Pinchot, Stockwell and the eerily enchanting Maberly. [12 May 1995, p.1C]

Kingdom Hospital is its own, slightly crazy thing. And in a world being overrun by the sleazoid zombie gremlins of reality TV, that's not all bad.

Of course, it helps immensely that Christopher Titus's flamboyantly roguish father, Ken, is portrayed with genuine rascal charisma by Stacy Keach. An actor known mostly for his dramatic roles, Keach's exuberant comic performance is a cockeyed revelation. He could easily become the show's break-out personality. [19 March 2000, p.1L]

The miniseries is occasionally overwhelmed by its own lavish size and sweep. ... But there are compelling moments and strong performances to be enjoyed. [3 Apr 1998, p.1D]

A wonderfully relaxed, off-the-wall comedy series that has more spunk and imagination than almost any new network sitcom you're likely to surf on by this fall. [10 Sept 1997, p.5C]

An instant cult classic will be born when The Tick arrives at 8:30 tonight on Fox, a rambunctiously clever human cartoon rarin' to tickle your funnybone with unhinged satiric glee. [8 Nov 2001, p.4G]

Thanks to its lively wit and playful visual style, Birds of Prey delivers a good bit of escapist entertainment. [9 Oct 2002]

The fall season's most beguiling and innovative newcomer, a visually playful and fetching desert noir in which an intrepid IRS agent is actually our hero. Hero!? You bet. [17 Sept 2002]

Karen Sisco [is] also blessed with the presence of superb character actor Bill Duke ("Red Dragon") as Karen's imposing, no-nonsense boss. [1 Oct 2003, p.1E]

Despite its almost giddily provocative tone and the hanky-panky tunnel vision of its teenage protagonists, "life as we know it" displays some real promise with refreshing twists of wit, imagination and an offbeat style. [7 Oct 2004]

A dark, bruisingly intense medical drama. ... Delivers smart, pugnacious television that takes a real chance. [30 Mar 2000]

Whether it eventually runs out of storytelling steam or becomes a surprise hit like former hot-weather rookie "Northern Exposure," the engagingly bodacious Maximum Bob sure beats another numb summer rerun. Here comes the jive-talking judge! [3 Aug 1998, p.1D]

There's an engaging free spirit at the heart of "Watching Ellie." [26 Feb 2002]

If not exactly magnificent, it's still a well-executed traditional western. [31 Dec 1997]

As the show unfolds over three nights, the taut storytelling never falters, using the visceral oomph of handheld cameras, quick scenes and an unsentimental emotional palette. [26 Jan 2004]

Raucous, bawdily good-natured. [14 Aug 2005]

Queer as Folk is good. But it isn't shockingly good. However, it is Showtime's best original series yet. [1 Dec 2000, p.1C]

With wit and intelligence, they transform what might have been little more than high concept hokum into a clever, evocative mix of sci-fi, suspense and raging teenybopera hormones. [6 Oct 1999, p.1E]

Rome delivers high-quality television bursting with grimy, down-to-earth life. [26 Aug 2005]

At heart, it's a funny, raucous, bittersweet and vividly entertaining chronicle of the spontaneous emotional combustion that goes on in the lives of one soulful, eclectic assortment of firehouse characters. OK, 62 Truck, time to go back to work...Crank up the sirens. Rescue Me has arrived to rescue prime time from the hazy, lazy days of summer. [11 June 2007, p.1]

Rescue Me has also created wonderful, layered roles for women, including Andrea Roth ("CSI: Crime Scene Investigation") as Tommy's estranged wife, Janet, and Tatum O'Neal as temperamental sister Maggie Gavin...Plus, such impressive actresses as Susan Sarandon and Marisa Tomei have signed on for roles as recurring characters this season. [30 May 2006, p.1]

Rescue Me has the feel of real. It talks tough and packs a volatile working class wallop while exploring the stress-fueled world of men in a very dangerous job. [21 July 2004, p.1D]

At the very least, it's the best-made guilty pleasure on television. [5 Sept 2006, p.2]

It's still the best network show you're not watching, America. [5 Oct 2007, p.1]

Despite an excellent cast, Milch's knockout writing and McShane's hypnotically toxic villain, Deadwood conjures up one very brutal wild west purgatory punctuated by misery, anger, lust, greed, violent death and all those outrageously naughty words. Happy trails. [19 Mar 2004, p.4E]

A wild and funny thing. [22 Jan 2003]

An unflinching and deeply affecting portrait of American tragedy. [14 Apr 2000, p.4F]

Make no mistake, Dharma & Greg has been built for Elfman's coming out party as a high-voltage comic lollapalooza. And she doesn't disappoint. She's one very likable and amusing looney tune. [24 Sept 1997, p.6C]

Welcome to Smallville. Check your cynicism at the city limits. [16 Oct 2001, p.6E]

For those willing to take the plunge, a chilling, hypnotic tale awaits. [12 Sep 2003]

A masterful series finale. [21 Oct 2004]

Fascinating and outrageously witty ... the best new sitcom to hit American television since Larry David's similarly inspired "Curb Your Enthusiasm." ... An instant classic. [23 Jan 2003]

This smart, imaginative romantic drama about a female attorney has quickly established itself as one of the most interesting new series in years. [29 Sep 1997]

Sharp, sophisticated and laugh-out-loud funny. [3 Mar 1997]

Smart, well- written, lots of potential. [3 Mar 1997]

[James Spader's] raffishly amoral Shore is the most enjoyable thing to happen to courtroom drama in years. [1 Oct 2004]

"The Sopranos," even as series creator David Chase changes pace this season from power struggles to family matters, is still as good as television gets: wonderfully written, superbly acted, always unpredictable. [2 Mar 2001]

An ambitiously moody exploration of moral ambiguity. [27 Oct 1996]

If you do that rare TV thing of actually paying close attention, HBO's complex, richly detailed crime drama will sweep you away like a fine novel. [17 Sep 2004]

"Farscape" offers a witty, energized change of pace from popular, long-running science-fiction series such as "Babylon 5" and the various "Star Trek" incarnations. There's less futuristic philosophizing, more colorful comic book action and humorous fun. [19 Mar 1999]

Caruso is terrific as ex-homicide detective Caine, the red-haired actor's comfortable, moodily soulful new crime drama alter ego. He's the charismatic point man in CBS's superlative, tautly crafted "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" spin-off. [22 Sep 2002]

Within the context of an overly familiar, murder-saturated genre, talented "Medium" creator Glenn Gordon Caron ("Moonlighting") manages to find some emotionally rich variations on the formula, assisted by Patricia Arquette's appealing performance as a suburban, crime-solving mom who sees dead people. [3 Jan 2005]

Colorfully plucky but inconsistent. [9 Jan 2000]

On first encounter, "Futurama" isn't as instantly memorable as "The Simpsons." ... Don't sell "Futurama" short, though. It has all the sly Groening hallmarks for subversively amusing, sharply written pop culture fun. [26 Mar 1999]

A smart, loopy spoof full of Everyman truth. [10 Jan 1997]

Because it is wisely anchored in the marvelous performances of Parker and Perkins, "Weeds" packs a merrily subversive comic energy. [5 Aug 2005]

"Family Guy" isn't for everyone. Obviously. It's also not as fully-realized or intelligent as "The Simpsons." It's extremely fast-paced and obsessed with a nonstop stream of jokes, jokes, jokes. And the humor is often hit and miss. But when it hits, look out. [29 Jan 1999]

The doctors of Chicago Hope Hospital, a gleaming surgical palace with all the cutting- edge gizmos, tend to pontificate. [18 Sep 1994]

Crichton ... has infused "E.R." with a contemporary, darkly humorous believability. [18 Sep 1994]

A taut new crime drama that's happily more than the sum of its generic crime procedural parts. [13 Jun 2005]

No one does cranky like Larry David. [7 Sep 2007]

With big laughs and inspired twists of spontaneous wit, "Curb Your Enthusiasm" remains a true original. It's Larry David's singular comic sensation, a masterful, wigged-out improv farce of Hollywood manners. [4 Jan 2004]

The most original and audacious comedy on TV right now. [13 Sep 2002]

"Without a Trace" matches and sometimes surpasses "CSI" for stylish visual storytelling as it builds a time line that pieces together details of the 24 hours prior to the subject's disappearance. [26 Sep 2002]

A slick and clever cut above most cheesy reality shows. [8 Jan 2004]

Monk isn't perfect. The show's comic moments often work better than some of the dramatic elements. And it's too soon to tell if Shalhoub will have the benefit of consistently sharp writing, something that will be essential to sustain the series over the long haul. But if first impressions count for anything, both Adrian Monk and Tony Shalhoub earn gold stars for delivering wry, beguiling pop entertainment. There's also a fizzy, engaging chemistry between Monk and Sharona, as well as Shalhoub and Schram. [12 July 2002]

It's a fascinating, leap of faith start. [26 Sept 2003, p.8E]

Judging by the fine, funny - and, yes, mysterious - third season premiere, Cherry is keeping his witty, plot-twisting word ... so far. [24 Sep 2006]

"Desperate Housewives" has been spinning its storytelling wheels this fall. ... But we kvetch too much. Despite its slightly diminished state, most of the time "Housewives" remains a Sunday night delight. [30 Oct 2005]

One of the fall season's most purely enjoyable new series is also one of the very best. [1 Oct 2004]

'3rd Rock from the Sun,' besides being viewed as too darn silly by some, may be slagged for being too raunchy by others. But if you're looking for a daffy acting delight, check out John Lithgow's marvelously unhinged performance as Commander Dick. [9 Jan 1996]

As '24' quickly revs up the anxiety and action on the new season, the show is still flashing its taut, characteristic strengths: distinctive real time storytelling, tighten-the-vise tension, compelling split-screen visuals and sudden, sometimes shocking, outbursts of violence. All of it pushed at a dazzling pace and built around Sutherland's grim, courageous antihero with the hair-trigger volatility. [7 Jan 2005]

It sure looks like '24' executive producers Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran are ready to give America more anxiety-amped razzle dazzle with one of television's most original and compelling drama series. [28 Oct 2003]

The first two episodes this season get the crisis-fueled day rolling in superb fashion. [29 Oct 2002]

A jolt of taut, high-velocity TV drama, a new-style thriller that really is thrilling. [6 Nov 2001]

Wuhl's madcap shyster has a sublimely bent supporting crew: Jim Turner as the agent's second-in-command Kirby Carlisle, a former quarterback with a bad habit of betting on games; Sandra Oh as crackerjack office assistant Rita Woo; and Michael Boatman ("China Beach") as Stanley, the agency's dour buppie numbers cruncher. [9 Aug 1996, p.1D]

The promising "That's Life" rarely seems recycled. [29 Sept 2000, p.1E]

With the endearing, improbable comic chemistry shared by Cox and von Esmarch, Nikki turns out to be one of the fall season's most pleasant surprises. [6 Oct 2000, p.12D]

Tim Daly of "Wings" is surprisingly strong in the role of Kimble, offering a nuanced portrayal of an honorable man trapped by extraordinary, anguish-fueled circumstance. [6 Oct 2000, p.1D]

Though it's far from perfect -- and Nelson's flamboyant, over-the-top performance is bound to irritate some viewers -- "The District" explores racial polarization and urban political attitudes in sometimes compelling fashion. And there's an interesting, racially diverse cast of players, with veteran character actress Lynne Thigpen ("Shaft"), a real standout as Mannion's crime stats wizard Ella Farmer. [6 Oct 2000, p.12D]

Ed is that rare sort of genuinely sweet television treat...It won't give you sugar schlock. It isn't sticky. And it doesn't go all gooey with prefabricated sentimentality. [6 Oct 2000, p.1D]

Arrested Development is one of those increasingly rare network comedy series that dares to assume there might be intelligent life out there watching, viewers who actually know when to laugh. Bless you, Fox. [31 Oct 2003, p.1H]

Though it's extremely well done, The Wire lacks the signature HBO kick of discovering something brand new, that giddy feeling of freshness that immediately attached itself to "The Sopranos" and "Six Feet Under." With The Wire, there's a less-exciting echo: Same old, same old. Been there, done that. [31 May 2002]

The gracefully gonzo result is funny and affecting, and sometimes it is downright insightful. Good grief. [1 June 2001, p.1E]

This is sophisticated television that assumes there is an intelligent audience for well-written, off-center, ambitious entertainment. David Chase has created a contemporary mob masterpiece. The Sopranos, make no mistake, is the first truly great TV show of 1999. [8 Jan 1999, p.1D]

Yeah, sounds sappy. But it's just the opposite -- a charming mix of rambunctious wit, honest emotion and interesting characters. Lots of smarts and a generous heart. A winner. [16 Sept 2002]

Just imagine if Tony Soprano had decided to be a cop instead of a gangster. Yes, scary. Scary and compelling. And that's what you get with Detective Vic Mackey, the brutal, anything-goes Johnny Law at the dark heart of The Shield, an explosively well-done new crime drama. [12 Mar 2002]

Boomtown, created by Graham Yost, who wrote "Band of Brothers" and "Speed," has the potential to be NBC's best crime drama since "Homicide: Life on the Street." [27 Sept 2002]

Tell those Tinseltown pixies to go grab that big jar of cosmic stardust off the shelf. The magic show biz thing is happening again. [29 Sept 1998, p.1D]

The stylish, fast-moving series premiere is filled with surprising twists, witty repartee and some revved-up, well-choreographed action sequences. But the real star of Alias is, well, the star: athletic Jennifer Garner, who portrays Sydney with intelligence and graceful, hard-bodied charisma. [29 Sept 2001]

Television always needs smart, quality shows. And with "ER" on creative life support after 10 years, this challenging new medical drama could be good entertainment therapy. But for many viewers, "House" could be a tough pill to swallow. [15 Nov 2004, p.1C]

With a little bit of prime time luck, Lost just may become what it sets out to be -- a mesmerizing thrill ride with a brain and more than a little humanity. [22 Sept 2004, p.1C]

Grim, stylish, smart and gripping. [26 Sept 2003, p.8E]

Light, breezy and easy to enjoy. [20 Sept 2002]

And you don't have to be a sci-fi fanatic to get a kick out of Firefly, which brandishes playful bits of Whedon's signature wit and snappy repartee. [20 Sept 2002]

The writing and comic sensibility are fresh and unpredictable. [23 Aug 1998, p.1L]

It sets up a scenario that sends Walt, played by Bryan Cranston ("Malcolm in the Middle"), on an unpredictable, surprisingly fun-to-watch journey that frees him from his law-abiding past.

It's actually good ... and genuinely funny.

Pushing Daisies is a delicate, rapturously original little television miracle.

Aliens in America delivers the laughs. It's one of the most enjoyable members of this fall's freshman class.

Hall, who invests strange, demented Dexter with real heart and humanity. It's a spooky tour de force.

The show's ensemble cast -- which also includes Jill Clayburgh, William Baldwin and Samaire Armstrong ("Entourage") -- is pretty darn fabulous. And the entertaining result is sophisticated trash with stylish flash.

Lewis is terrific. But his brazenly loopy lawman may not be to everyone's offbeat crime drama tastes.