A masterful series finale. [21 Oct 2004]

Blends Rock's signature, whip-smart irreverence with richly humorous, character-driven stories of his own adolescence to create the rare family comedy that is both hilariously honest and filled with heart.

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

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]

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]

"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]

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]

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

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]

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]

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]

One tasty comic treat.

An instant chucklehead classic.

The ensemble cast, including David Oyelowo, Edward Woodward ("The Equalizer") and Janet McTeer, is first rate. A winner.

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]

A spiffy new version.

Thanks mostly to the acting intelligence and talent of Lili Taylor, State of Mind is the more interesting, entertaining newcomer.

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]

As a witty social history viewed through the tempestuous prism of office and sexual politics, Mad Men is big fun ... classy entertainment with a brain.

A wild and funny thing. [22 Jan 2003]

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]

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

A terrific, six-hour miniseries, beautifully written and sharply directed.

Feels like a hit show about to happen.

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]

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

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]

Duchovny possesses the engaging comic empathy skills to make his Left Coast libertine decidedly witty and likable.