A gimmicky, cliched legal drama that seems to have been unearthed from 20 years ago.

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]

Would the creators of Kid Nation please go to their room for a time-out and come up with something more original?

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]

The opening episode is solidly done and pretty entertaining. But a fifth season of "Everwood" would have been a much better fit in the time slot following "7th Heaven."

Slick, cynical teen soap nonsense.

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]

"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]

"Out of Practice" is that increasingly rare old-fashioned sitcom that delivers decent laughs.

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]

'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]

On a simple quality drama level, it's the best network miniseries in several years.

With too many hints of recycled stock characters and formula thriller cliches, "Drive" sputters off the starting line.

Alas, most of the humor comes straight from the formula family sitcom factory. Nice cast, stale laughs. [20 Sept 2002]

McKidd's a fine actor and there's promise here for an engaging romantic drama. But it's a bit too tangled, confusing and erratic in the opening weeks.

Yes, the show's glossily generic. But the attractive cast clicks.

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]

"Saved" is a sometimes entertaining, often predictable trauma drama.

In between the sardonic wisecracks and tangled storytelling, it's easy to lose interest.

You'll never regret missing Navy NCIS if you forget to watch. [23 Sept 2003, p.1F]

Though the glossily well-made "Vanished" may prove intermittently diverting, it lacks any of the original serial thriller zing of far better shows like "24," "Lost" or "Prison Break."

"Wedding Wars" tries to do a lot, with moderate success.

With fun, familiar faces like Field, Flockhart and Griffiths on board, attending a family reunion with the Walkers every Sunday could be a lively, entertaining way to end the weekend.

A sly, witty step up from the boorish "Becker."

Both fun and unexpected.

A tediously bloody bore.

"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]

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