The plot of tonight's premiere is silly and campy, but because The Middleman is based on a comic book, that's not altogether out of place. Whether this tone wears well over time remains to be seen, but in its first outing The Middleman rises above the middle-of-the-pack of scripted cable shows.

Another edge-of-your-seat thriller.

Entertaining in a sober-minded, educational way, Victorian Slum House offers an illuminating history lesson without getting preachy or dull.

If this is the end for “The Gilded Age,” bravo to the series for delivering two near-perfect seasons. But I do hope we’ll get to spend more time with these fantastic characters.

Viewers drawn to star-crossed romance are most likely to get absorbed in Outlander, which benefits from beautiful production design--great location work with filming in Scotland--but the show also suffers from some egregious exaggerations, especially the mustache-twirling Black Jack Randall, who couldn’t be more like Satan if he had pointy red horns.

For families seeking a new Christmas special, particularly if they're already fans of "Shrek" on the big screen, Shrek the Halls is a treat.

It's not even groundbreaking in the way "Will & Grace" was when it first appeared in 1998. But, boy, this Will & Grace is fun to watch. It's entertaining to spend time with the characters again and since 11 years have passed since I last watched an episode, it doesn't feel as tired as it did once upon a time.

Actress Colbie Smulders (“How I Met Your Mother”) elevates this well-made procedural private eye drama.

A whimsical, cleverly conceived dramedy ... Whether 'Ally's' fantasy element can stay whimsical, without falling over into tiresome or distracting (as it did on 'Dream On'), remains to be seen. [8 Sep 1997]

In its first couple of episodes “Mythic Quest” carves out its own niche, mining comedy from the specific realm of video game creation. A sociopathic intern who worships the boss, in particular, offers consistent laughs.

There is some pathos in Getting On with regard to the elderly patients, but that's seamlessly interwoven in the darkly funny personal stories of the hospital staff.

It's a rollicking adventure with decent special effects and better stories and character development than, say, Sci Fi Channel's "Eureka."

The program features a mix of tones that don’t always sit together comfortably, but taken as a whole this unusual period drama entertains as it winds its way to introduce its lead characters in the premiere episode.

The show hits the right Hollywood insider notes, but this season "Entourage" begins to feel a little tired.

A conspiracy thriller, this 2019 British import offers a whiplash-inducing premiere that goes from, “This is a ridiculous investigation that appears to lack a crime” to “How is that possible?”

It remains to be seen whether the series will be capable of using the unquestionable talent of Ms. Sevigny and the rest of the cast to build a show that's compelling enough to convince viewers its worth tuning in on a weekly basis.

The show is becoming somewhat repetitive and a bit dull to the point that it feels like Downton, already renewed for a fifth season, needs to wrap it up sooner rather than later lest it overstay its welcome.

An exhilarating, fast-paced competition filled with colorful characters, "The Amazing Race" is a pulse-pounding good time.

A quality series that's the TV equivalent of comfort food, the emergence of Eli Stone from the Hollywood firmament may qualify as a minor miracle among more cynical viewers.

The result is overly broad and narrow at the same time.

A welcome, interesting entry... But to work over the long haul, Agent Carter will need to beef up its stock sexist characters and make them more human.

Sweden is a quiet, gently amusing comedy.

What viewers saw so far was exciting, fun stuff with potential for a great “Star Trek” series, but the material in the first two episodes serves as prologue.

'24' continues to roar forward at a breakneck pace, and it does tantalize by dropping clues that keep viewers hooked ... But with the minutiae of love affairs gumming up the works, it's more difficult than ever for viewers -- and the show's characters -- to keep their eyes on the big picture threat that's supposed to drive the series. [26 Oct 2003]

None of the songs really stand out the way they did in the original. Kenny Ortega's lively choreography, however, is once again top-notch.

The emphasis on kids makes From Script to Stage a safe glimpse behind the curtain that's cute and sometimes informative but dramatically sanitized.

Ripper Street is decent enough entertainment that's most likely to appeal to fans of procedural crime dramas, viewers who gravitate toward CBS shows but don't mind wading through sometimes thick British accents.

Banana is the more conventional of the two shows with its focus on young characters.... Of the two series, Banana is more fun but "Cucumber" offers higher stakes.