[Sorkin's] premier episode for West Wing is a fine piece of work, relying heavily on a presumption that viewers have brains and can absorb a lot in a short period...Rarely has a writer fleshed out so many characters with so few words in such a short period of time. [22 Sept 1999, p.14E]

A show that, while ponderous at times, ultimately adds up to some very absorbing television. [10 Oct 2000, p.D01]

From an advance look at the season opener, this season's cast is a particularly lively mix with a multimedia artist, a "Beach Blanket Babylon" costume designer, a model-turned-designer and an ex-biker among those competing.

There's a depth, a richness to the series now that was only suggested [in the first season].

After watching the show's first three episodes, I'm intrigued, if not totally wowed. But I want to see more.

It manages to be a rousing piece of filmmaking, a fascinating character study and a largely accurate presentation of the time when America was born.

The early episodes of Project Greenlight do a great job of demonstrating just how important access is in Hollywood. [2 Dec 2001, p.C04]

A finely detailed exploration of high school life and small-city dynamics.

All the Way, at times, feels overstuffed, but you remain riveted while watching Cranston delve into the many layers of Johnson's personality, from folksy warmth to ruthless rage to the nagging insecurity over being considered an "accidental president."

The finest purely American TV film to come along in some time.

Manages to be crude and sweet, smart and splendidly stupid, all at the same time.

I won't pretend "Dexter'' is for everybody. If you wince during scenes on "CSI,'' the series isn't for you.... But if you like the idea of a very good show that wrestles each week with moral dilemmas and the nature of good and evil, "Dexter'' is just the thing.

A richly drawn, unflinchingly real and quietly moving family drama.

FX may have struck dramatic gold again. This series is mesmerizing. It sucks you in like a good book and has you yearning for more.

The series is a funny, knowing, sometimes dark, sometimes romantic take on the time just before the power of advertising was fully realized.

Crossfire Hurricane deftly blends vintage concert footage, TV broadcasts, pieces of key songs and clips from other documentaries in with voiced-over highlights from 80 hours of fresh interviews with current and past band members--all conducted off-screen.

Bristling with promise. [17 Sep 1994]

Yes, this is chilling stuff. And provocative. It makes you ponder just how precious freedom really is and what kind of sacrifices you would make to maintain it.

It is a classic fish-out-of-water comedy that shows a deft touch as it delves into adolescent anxieties and intercultural fears and misunderstandings. There are honest emotions and honestly earned laughs throughout the first half hour.

Burns puts forth a dazzling spread of vintage clips and still photographs, and his love for baseball is palpable throughout. Fellow fans will appreciate how the film celebrates the resilience and enduring appeal of the game.

One of the best pilots from a new show this season -- a wild, stylish ride through Sydney Bristow's unraveling life. You have to suspend disbelief, but this series promises to be one nifty piece of entertainment. [28 Sept 2001, p.5E]

Fortunately, the new Steel Magnolias turns out to be a full 90 minutes of wonderful.

House of Cards remains a slick and suspenseful--if not exactly layered and nuanced--saga that sucks you in from the start.

It brings something fresh, bold and thrilling to prime time.

The writing is clever with sly references to the Man of Steel myths. In Welling and Kristin Kreuk, who plays Lana Lang, they have actors who are not only good but will be on the cover of every teen magazine within weeks. And Michael Rosenbaum manages to make Lex sympathetic even when you know he will end up being Superman's greatest enemy. [16 Oct 2001, p.1E]

The driving force behind the show's appeal is Ferrera, who gives a pitch-perfect, killer performance in the opening episodes.

The good news is that the folks behind "Buffy" -- notably writer-creator Joss Whedon -- have come along for this new chapter in a vampire's life and, at least for the first episode, have brought their wit, style and keen sense of pop culture with them. [4 Oct 1999, p.1C]

It's a mesmerizing tale of legal maneuvering with the distinctive FX moral ambiguity and splendid performances by Close, Rose Byrne ("28 Weeks Later") as her protege and TV veteran Ted Danson as her latest courtroom adversary.