High-pitched farce is 3rd Rock's stock-in-trade, and sometimes it just wears us out. But we marvel at how skillfully the writers and directors keep the balls in the air as they juggle as many as three situations per episode.

How much hipness can be injected into any program that relies on endless footage of folks falling on their faces, losing their pants and getting knocked silly?

Attractive as well as articulate, all these high schoolers qualify for some sort of advanced placement. They're easy to watch, just a little hard to believe.

The show has a sly self-awareness that effectively disarms those who would accuse it of merely putting a gay gloss on stock hetero situations.

No doubt about it: Jenna Elfman and Thomas Gibson are cute together. ... We will grow tired, though, if the writers don't eventually get beyond the stereotypes or if Dharma and Greg resolve every dispute by having fabulous-—and cute-—sex.

Both intriguing and irritating.

The opener mostly succeeds in maintaining a tone that's more racy-adult than naughty-juvenile. The only element that doesn't mesh is the character of Alley's father.

There are a few misdemeanors: the over-the-top scenes between an agitated cop (Titus Welliver) and his shrewish wife (Jana Marie Hupp); the sneer of Hill Street vet James B. Sikking as an Internal Affairs Bureau lieutenant... and the mix of Brooklynese and police patois that makes some dialogue hard to understand.

[The first episode] is packed with potential. It is fast-paced, funny, touching, romantic and surprising. Please note that we did not add "realistic."

Behar is the true star. She's funny, likable (without sacrificing irreverence) and sensible. She's much too good to be sidelined an average of two days a week.

The two-hour premiere is sort of fun, but the plot is nutty even by sci-fi standards.

You won't escape easily from this drama's grip.

One problem: The "Squigglevision" animation, in which line drawings sort of wiggle around the edges, gives us a headache that may require medical attention.

We can always count on a major-league effort from the key player, Robert Wuhl, who somehow makes us root for his character, the smoke-blowing, ego-stroking sports agent Arliss Michaels. But the show as a whole lacks the consistency of a championship series.

Spade... can deliver an insult with such grace and precision it's like watching Fred Astaire dance with a prop

All in all, this looks like one of the brightest new shows of the season.

Visually... Daria is misconceived.

The main plot lines are immediately involving.

This cop has such a lock on our loyalty that we squirm when she loses face and pray she won't lose heart. Unlike her character, Mirren's performance is without fault.

Peta Wilson, an Australian actress with the harsh blonde hair, snub nose and oversize, depthless blue eyes of your average mass-produced doll, makes a sexy, amusing Nikita.

An old-fashioned sitcom.

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.

Party's fresh-faced young stars are still worth watching, but the show's focus on the family's closeness has inevitably weakened as the kids fall in love or move away.

An instant classic.

With its creepy soundtrack, terrifying visuals and ingenious plot twists, Millennium is far and away the best new show of the year.

Clever writing and the delightful Melissa Joan Hart... make this unlikely plot a high schooler's witch fulfillment.

Like most programs involving clairvoyance or time travel, this idea gets tired fast.

Fox... retains his wonderful timing and delivery. ... But the political satire that makes up the rest of the show is toothless, corny, passé.