While I am at once outraged at this profiteering by bad taste, I am sympathetic to those who are cast in the roles of the medical staff. [24 Sep 1972, p.90]

The real charm of the series is in its exceptional writing and fine ensemble acting. If you like "Taxi," you should certainly enjoy Cheers. [30 Sep 1982, p.65]

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]

In translating Oates' ambitious and stylized retelling of Monroe's life to television, screenwriter Joyce Eliason and director Joyce Chopra have unfortunately created a fairly dumb "Blonde." [14 May 2001, p.1G]

Plays like a motley medley of the grand exalted ghost buster's greatest hits. It's a fright night festival of tepid chills and only moderate thrills, a haunted house miniseries that drags on for three nights. [27 Jan 2002, p.1F]

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

Stephen King's The Shining is a crackerjack creep show with a fatal flaw. It's too darn long. [25 Apr 1997, p.1C]

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.

In the transformation to animation, Clerks has seen its cutting edge go pretty dull. [31 May 2000]

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]

Slick, mindlessly entertaining. [24 March 2000]

The mirth is lower key, often generating smiles rather than laughs. [9 March 2000, p.1G]

Most of the time, Daddio keeps the amiable focus on family friendly fun and the jovial mug of Chiklis. [23 March 2000, p.5G]

The mostly forgettable "Battery Park"? It's strictly DOA -- Dull On Arrival. [23 March 2000]

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 dopey comedy deserves a dopey assessment: Tucker sucks. Please make it go away. [2 Oct 2000, p.4E]

A blast of blahs from the past. [27 Sept 2002]

Luis retains the creaky, cliched feel of a laugh track relic from another time. Even in the '70s, this ethnic comedy cartoon wouldn't have seemed all that funny. With manic Luis, more is less. [19 Sept 2003, p.6H]

It's escapist sci- fi hooey that is simultaneously slick and tacky. In other words, a breath of fresh air compared to the average tabloid newsmagzine. [26 Jan 1994, p.6D]

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]

Word of caution: The glum, occasionally promising Harsh Realm won't be for everyone. It's violent and often relentlessly bleak. [8 Oct 1999, p.1D]

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]

This so-so show uses the sight gag style of "Scrubs" -- visualizing a character's thoughts and fantasies -- minus the funny medical comedy's superior wit and comic smarts. [24 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]

The series rarely soars beyond the predictable. [4 Apr 2000]

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]

Derivative supernatural schlock like this should have a stake driven through its silly storytelling heart. [9 Mar 2007]

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

Despite the dependably daft charms of Julia Louis-Dreyfus, all the tinkering that's been done to "Watching Ellie" may leave you feeling like something funny has been lost. [15 Apr 2003]

Imperfect but promising. [14 Apr 2003]

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]

It's greasy, it's cheesy, it's a big heapin' platter of B-movie hokum. Now if only Tremors: The Series were as much clever fun as "Tremors," the witty, wild 'n' woolly 1990 monster flick it was inspired by. But it's not. Not even close. [28 Mar 2003, p.6D]

It's unfortunate that while Clueless looks fabulous, much of the fizzy comic energy of the film's bright teenybopper satire has been lost. [20 Sept 1996, p.9D]

A mediocre and predictable adventure series based on a mediocre and predictable Jean-Claude Van Damme movie. [22 Sept 1997, p.5E]

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

The sex scenes -- yes, there's plenty of bare skin and rising erotic temperatures -- alternate between sensitive and slightly cheesy, a la "Red Shoe Diaries." [16 Jan 2004, p.6H]

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]

Lopez loses because he's caught in the middle of a ho-hum sitcom with few real laughs -- much like ABC's very similar "My Wife and Kids" and "According to Jim." Oops. [27 Mar 2002]

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]

Like Zuiker's first two installments of the series, "CSI: NY" is well made and well cast. But there's also something coldly understated and ordinary about it as well. [22 Sep 2004]

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 sometimes clever twist on the overly familiar crime drama format ... is ultimately bogged down in the same old gory homicidal cliches and whodunit solutions. [23 Jan 2005]

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]

Offers only slightly more entertainment appeal than viewing a test pattern. [10 Jul 2000]

During its opening two episodes, Popular is basically content to be just another jaunty, semi-"Clueless" spoke on WB's glossy teen entertainment wheel. Great to look at, yes, but short on emotional depth. [29 Sept 1999, p.5E]

'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]