There's nothing remotely hip or ahead of the trendy zeitgeist curve about "Hidden Palms." But there are some of those agreeable guilty pleasures to be found, like cliffhanger twists at the close of each episode that keep the mystery bubbling.

Nice supporting players like Grant Shaud ("Murphy Brown") and Clea Lewis ("Ellen") help enliven the otherwise formula sitcom fun. Most of the time, though, "adigan Men is just a breezy masculine trifle with a brogue. [6 Oct 2000, p.12D]

Nothing revolutionary here. [6 Oct 2000, p.12D]

That morbid premise -- in addition to the so-so storytelling, devolving badly by the second episode -- sure feels morosely overwrought for 8 o'clock.

Fortunately, this sci-fi rookie, which aims for the younger, testosterone-tilting Fox audience, has a playful sense of humor to go along with its visually hyper sensibility. [6 Oct 2000, p.12D]

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

"Big Day" just doesn't deliver many big laughs.

Even with its erratic start, "Inconceivable" still manages to deliver a fair share of escapist, bun-in-the-oven fun.

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

If you like watching culinary train wrecks, this is your show.

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

Alternately engaging and annoying.

From start to finish, "Standoff" is slickly contrived, formulaic crime drama nonsense.

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]

Slick, mindlessly entertaining. [24 March 2000]

Shepherd scores in a so-so docudrama.

Big Shots isn't brilliant. And despite that attractive, well-matched male ensemble, the so-so series premiere lacks sufficient creative zing.

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

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]

Doesn't quite rise to the cheerful, sweetly clever quality level of WB's "Beauty and the Geek."

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

Moonlight falls somewhere in the middle of the new paranormal pack. It's neither great nor awful.

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

Some will find it appalling. Others just may find it appallingly addictive.

Though Doherty's return to prime time is only occasionally bewitching, Charmed, on first encounter, isn't without promise. [7 Oct 1998, p.5G]

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.

The Old Testament just shouldn't be this dull.

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