Bad has taken the complexity of modern television storytelling to new levels. [23 Jul 2012, p.37]

Gritty and engrossing as ever.

Critics justly extolled The Sopranos for its brilliant blend of compelling drama and mordant humor, and the first three episodes of 2000 contain no signs of slippage.

As Larry, Shandling raises banality into an art form; he is consistently hilarious whether blissfully watching his own videos or reacting to a bad review.

The Sopranos is better than ever.

The show hasn't lost its clever agility at building pressure-cooker suspense and then lobbing in a surprise. [8 Oct 2012, p.55]

The Show has evolved into a modern underworld Western--there's nothing else like it. [18 Jul 2011, p.41]

The show is an absolute original. [28 Jan 2013, p.44]

The show moves methodically from one story line to another, progressing by inches yet holding our interest with its finely drawn characters and a rare ability to illuminate the gray areas of city life.

The best ensemble cop drama since Hill Street Blues.

The first three episodes of season 4 grab the wide-flung stories of this epic and assemble them into a crackling narrative. [7 Apr 2014, p.41]

These are almost closer to short stories than sitcom episodes--and yes, they're fantastic. [23 Jul 2012, p.38]

In its second season this gritty frontier drama still boasts the most colorfully eccentric ensemble of any show on TV. But Al Swearengen, the malignly glowering saloon boss, played to the hilt by Golden Globe winner Ian McShane, is first among equals.

Larry David's sitcom remains an awe-inspiring (and hilarious) exercise in comedic extremes of chaos and control.

Louie remains a small miracle--a shaggy-dog story, hopping with fleas, maybe rescued froma pound, that outdazzles Lassie, Air Bud and the rest. [12 May 2014,]

Season 4 launches with an episode focused on TV's most mysterious ad executive-and since Jon Hamm's watchful yet charismatic performance makes the show tick, that's excellent.

Scratch the gritty surface of this new police drama and you'll find it's not a totally revolutionary contribution to the genre.

[A] taut, ingenious spy series. [10 Oct 2011, p.44]

[A] mesmerizingly eerie French series set in a mountain community. [4 Nov 2013]

I'm beseeching you to watch the pilot of this new series. It's not just extraordinary TV--it's the best piece of filmmaking I've seen anywhere this year. ... In subsequent weeks the series settles into a more predictable and sentimental mold, reminiscent of The Wonder Years, but it is still superior TV.

Arguably you shouldn't miss any of The Hollow Crown. But the one you're commanded to watch is Richard II. [23 Sep 2013]

It's beautifully constructed, cleverly fitted with red herrings and capacious enough to house a community of suspects. The emotional payoff is sensational, and so is the acting. [12 Aug 2013]

It's mesmerizing. [26 Mar 2012, p.44]

In season 2 of PBS's richly clever Sherlock, the Victorian tales have been refitted to our century. [14 May 2012, p.44]

Shandling's laid-back comic style dovetails with the dry writing, creating a series that's the clear victor in the talk show wars.

There's event television, and there's Game of Thrones. [8 Apr 2013, p.41]

What gives the show its kick is the gleefully childish lack of repentance shown by most of these rascals--countered by Olyphant's coolly amused control. [4 Feb 2013, .39]

Now that's daring television.