Imagine a Don Draper-less, bland, unsurprising sequel to “Mad Men” and “American Woman” comes pretty close. All the plot twists are telegraphed.

Same Name is a show made for people who live and breathe E! and TMZ.com. Cynics need not tune in.

It's far more realistic in scope and situations than "Gossip Girl," but there's such an earnestness and one-dimensionality to the characters that they seem a lot less believable.

If Scorpion were better suited to today’s TV landscape instead of bringing to mind a TV series from 30 years ago, it could be an of-the-moment series worth watching. But it’s not.

One of the worst murder-mysteries to come along in a while, ABC’s Secrets & Lies is completely undone by its casting and writing.

With "Tremors," the special effects have always been cheap and the appeal, such as it is, came from the campy humor, particularly concerning the Burt Gummer character. But the TV series, from the same creators and writers as the movies, mostly plays it straight. There's some humor, but suspense is the primary vibe in the first two episodes. [Mar 28, 2003, p.37]

The jokes, while occasionally funny, almost all feel reheated.

The show never allows itself to stand down from ill-fated, continuous attempts at heightened hilarity.

Ignoring all that, shallow Mafia entertains in key moments.

Overall, Z Nation is pretty grounded and also manages to surprise viewers with the characters it chooses to sacrifice in its pilot episode.

The first hour is a deadly dull slog. Viewers get plopped into the action without much effort to provide context and then there are flashbacks to confuse matters further.

It's not great, it's not awful. It's an adequate, conventional CBS-y medical drama about transplant surgeons set at Pittsburgh's fictional Three Rivers Regional Medical Center.

It’s fine, escapist fare but lacking in much imagination.

The Royals is pretty much the entertainingly trashy prime-time soap you’d expect.

After so many series have failed to come to satisfying first-season conclusions after similar built-in obsolescence plots, it’s hard to trust Salvation will live up to its title. If it does, what will producers do for season two?

If you watched Leno on "The Tonight Show," you'll probably watch him in prime time. If you didn't, I can't imagine why you would now, especially once original programming returns to ABC and CBS next week.

The show remains crazy in its plotting, but it does move at a quick clip, fast enough that some viewers will forgive it for some obvious twists and turns. ... Other than an effort to goose ratings with the return of a familiar title, is there really any creative reason for more “Prison Break”? Probably not.

As TV shows go, Toy Hunter is a bit dull.

Sullivan & Son is no instant TV classic, but its reinterpretation of a place where everyone knows your name is outrageous enough to bear watching.

Lightweight and unaffecting.

What the show lacks in originality it makes up for in crisp, politically tinged dialogue.

Bag of Bones rarely scares but frequently induces unintentional giggles.

The mix of characters works well and provokes a fair number of laughs.

It’s got a worthy premise that’s larded up with unfunny, over-the-top characterizations.

Smith is a winning TV star who's adept at scenes that require great empathy or a withering stare. Given time (and more realistic characterizations), Hawthorne may grow into a series worthy of her talents.

Often funny when it tackles taboo topics head on, the show walks a fine line between honesty and unnecessary crudeness, and it often goes a step too far.

"Related" won't be for everyone, especially viewers lacking estrogen, but it is a quality weekly "chick flick" for TV.

It's not a great show but it's not a terrible teen drama, not by a long shot.