There are, in fact, too many plates. At worse, they induce vertigo, or prevent close inspection for logical consistency (and there is some). But at its best, they promise something unique, even smart.

Beals and company (including Joe Morton as her remarkably flesh-and-blood boss) breathe life into this tale the way their characters restore life to patients, with skill and guts and, crucially, souls that radiate precisely what this show is about.

Samantha Who? which is not nearly as cool a title, but still a sparkling comedy that treats its viewers as--gasp!--actual grown-ups.

The few “Spring Awakening” numbers are good, the cast is solid, but otherwise Rise falls flat.

It's not particularly funny, but it does have style and energy. [26 Feb 2002]

Future episodes aren't as snappy or scenic. But Shahi & Show deliver win-win, anyway.

There's too much going on to tell what might ultimately stick, other than the contents of the Mallow Marsh.

The writing is sharp, but sharp-edged too. Overwhelmed with venom, Queens tends to be more mean-spirited than free-spirited. The cast is energetic, particularly Roberts and Curtis, who look like they're having a great time. But they can't quite convey that fun to the audience.

Good performances, strong start, but the pulp and cliches eventually take over.

The Catch is about illusions, also about who’s real, or not. It’s about human mirages. Could Ben possibly be a genuine “catch,” or is he just another Shondaland heel in a bespoke suit? The answer is not so clear-cut, and it’s also what makes The Catch so possibly engaging.

Decent pilot that promises a decent series--just not a particularly novel one.

The target is broad and easy to hit (others already have) except "Based on a True Story's'" aim is unsteady. The show would much rather be a comedy (also unsteady) or thriller (unsteadiest of all). At its best, this series features three seasoned and particularly appealing actors who know how to sell the premise — outlandish and as full of plot holes as this one is. But at its worst — far worse — is a recurrent pattern of violence against women.

The cast throws this curveball that catches the plate for a strike.

Time after Time is timeworn.

To love "Smith" is to love an ice cube. There may be a cold beauty to the craftsmanship of this enterprise, but there's a pinched, frostbitten heart at the center of it as well.

In spite of impressive pedigree and cast, along with a few laughs, A.P. Bio ultimately earns a gentlemanly C.

If only the series works its way toward more effective show than tell, Las Vegas might find itself with a winning hand.

As a family, they are particularly eager to convey a sense of normalcy, but Sister Wives still doesn't have much interest in exploring the religious underpinnings or larger ethical questions of this anything-but-normal lifestyle. You're left without a solid clue why the Browns--all five of them--have gone to this much trouble.

Sharply crafted show, but far too long at eight hours.

Multiple-personality thriller starts a bit slowly Wednesday night, but early signs still indicate a summer keeper for TNT.

You can see Neverland as sly philosophical discourse, or you can see it as fantastically produced adventure. Just make sure you see it.

The trouble with "Friends" is that Cox is not strong enough as a comedian. [5 Sep 1994]

Will this be your next "Downton Abbey?" Probably not, but it could be your next "Poldark." Nothing wrong with that.

Watch the first few minutes of "The Class" in its CBS sitcom debut tonight, and you may not believe me when I say this, but here goes. I think they might have something here.

Consider Seed the cutoffs and flip-flops of the comedy dress code. Acceptable in summer. But just barely.

As episodes unfold, the relationships resonate, and the characters run deeper.

A second-rate knockoff of what's not quite a first-rate fabrication itself.

The wit can get a little heavyhanded sometimes - yes, it's another series with voiceover narration (can anybody say "Sex and the City"?) - but its heart, and head, are in the right place.