San Jose Mercury News/Contra Costa Times' Scores

  • TV
Select another publication »
For 427 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 70% higher than the average critic
  • 2% same as the average critic
  • 28% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 3.7 points higher than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average TV Show review score: 71
Highest review score: 100 Insecure: Season 1
Lowest review score: 0 In Case of Emergency: Season 1
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 324 out of 324
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 324
  3. Negative: 0 out of 324
324 tv reviews
view
per page
  1. The Game: Season 4
    The show's characters have proven to be an engaging bunch over the long haul and several themes embedded in The Game pack more emotional punch than most sitcoms. Judging from fan response, this is clearly a game plan that works.
  2. The Cape: Season 1
    Unfortunately, The Cape fails to fly. Lyons has all the charisma of a fence post, and the leaden scripts bring no fresh twists to the genre.
  3. Bob's Burgers: Season 1
    The opener is riddled with juvenile humor consisting of jokes pegged to corpses, crotches and child molestation. It's almost enough to trigger a case of mad cow disease.
  4. Episodes (US): Season 1
    If you've ever wondered how television screws up so many promising projects, check out Episodes, a new Showtime series with Matt LeBlanc that provides the answers in deliciously hilarious detail.
  5. Shameless (US): Season 1
    Hamming it up big time, William H. Macy plays a booze-addled father of six kids in this uneven drama that seems more intent on taking its pay-cable liberties (nudity, profanity, etc.) to the extreme than weaving an engaging story.
    • San Jose Mercury News/Contra Costa Times
      • Posted Jan 9, 2011
  6. Blue Bloods: Season 1
    The solid acting performances and the family dynamics contained in Blue Bloods make for an absorbing hour of television.
  7. Sarah Palin's Alaska: Season 1
    Surely it will have Palin lovers rushing to plant wet smooches on the screen and all the haters citing it as proof that TV is, indeed, full of dreck.
    • San Jose Mercury News/Contra Costa Times
      • Posted Dec 9, 2010
  8. Conan (2010): Season 1
    Not everything worked, of course, and anyone expecting Conan to reinvent the wheel or drastically shake up the genre is probably disappointed. But if you were simply glad to see his brand of quirky comedy back in late night--and free of the network guardrails--it was cause for celebration.
  9. The Walking Dead: Season 1
    Whereas most entries in the musty genre are simply inclined to go for cheap shrieks and lofty body counts, this saga defies expectations with a more humanistic approach.
  10. Bleep My Dad Says: Season 1
    $#*! My Dad Says feels hopelessly old school. It relies on a stock sitcom character--the crabby dad--that we've seen over and over. It mainly anchors itself to a claustrophobic sitcom-y living room, and it relies too heavily on a tired, rat-a-tat setup/punchline delivery.
  11. Undercovers: Season 1
    The pilot episode isn't a total knockout, coming off as a tad bland and safe. Although Abrams does enough to hold our interest, it feels like he's let up on the gas pedal.
  12. Hawaii Five-0: Season 1
    CBS has presented viewers with an exciting gift this fall. Their "Five-0" update not only doesn't stink, it's an action-packed, easy-on-the-eyes thrill ride that is slicker and sexier than the original series that aired from 1968 to '80.
  13. Chase: Season 1
    With her winning smile, Southern twang and a tough-but-tender demeanor, Giddish makes for an instantly appealing lead. Unfortunately, she's about the only thing going for Chase, which is hampered by an unimaginative script.
  14. Boardwalk Empire: Season 1
    By the end of the opener, a web of intriguing plot lines (and their treacherous overtones) are firmly in place. As ensuing episodes unfold, the story finds its beating heart as the characters substantially deepen.
  15. Nikita: Season 1
    Though Nikita is certainly dark, it's not as unbearably so as the USA cable version, which was too slick and soulless for its own good. The new version feels much more like a rollicking popcorn thrill ride.
  16. Mad Men: Season 4
    Sunday night's opening episode, Public Relations, delivers some jaw-dropping moments.
  17. Entourage: Season 7
    Entourage is showing its age, but still offers a reliable dose of frat-boy humor and Hollywood-style hilarity. It also continues to be a show where men ride high (in more ways than one).
  18. Hung: Season 2
    While the show does contain a few obvious penis punch lines, it is so much more than its gimmicky name suggests, offering plenty of heart, along with worthwhile riffs on the national economy, American resourcefulness and, yes, gender dynamics.
  19. True Blood: Season 3
    Initially, these and other fresh characters make Season 3 feel overcrowded--and we pity any new fan trying to make sense of it all. But by the middle of the second episode, the show begins to gain traction and sucks you in with its new set of tantalizing mysteries.
  20. Happy Town: Season 1
    If you're a sucker for tangled mysteries--and are in need of a few heebie-jeebies--the show has enough oomph to its early episodes to suck you in.
  21. Treme: Season 1
    Treme, probably more than any piece of cinematic fiction set in New Orleans, feels like an authentic experience. As you watch it--and slowly savor it--you can practically taste the red beans and rice.
  22. Justified: Season 1
    To be sure, the show is like any other crime drama in that it contains darkness and violence--some of it erupting in unexpected ways. But there are enough new wrinkles here to make anyone who takes a chance on it feel thoroughly justified.
  23. The Pacific: Season 1
    As its lofty production price tag suggests, The Pacific is bursting with epic sprawl and extravagance. But like any effective film of its kind, it also contains a brand of intimacy that will have you bonding with its characters and caring deeply about their fates.
  24. Parenthood : Season 1
    What it lacks thus far are the laugh-out-loud oments that made the movie such a joy....That's not to say Parenthood isn't worth a look. Graham, the adorable "Gilmore Girls" alum, rocks the heck out of every scene she's in.
  25. Past Life: Season 1
    With her Texas twang and feisty demeanor, Giddish is instantly engaging, and she and Bishop share a nice on-screen chemistry that make them worth our time. As for the Past Life cases, they are adequately compelling.
  26. Undercover Boss: Season 1
    A contrived, yet effective, piece of feel-good television.
  27. Caprica: Season 1
    Friday's moody pilot unfolds at a listless pace and, occasionally, gets bogged down in its own density. But in it's favor, there are enough compelling characters and tantalizing questions to keep us engaged for the time being.
  28. Spartacus: Blood and Sand: Season 1
    Some viewers will be riveted to the sex, violence, beautiful nude bods and sensory gluttony of Spartacus: Blood and Sand. Others will be turned off almost instantly.
  29. The Deep End: Season 1
    The problem is there's nothing here that hasn't been done before, and often done better. Even more disheartening: The cast, which includes Matt Long and Billy Zane, is stocked with forgettable and/or boorish characters.
  30. Life Unexpected: Season 1
    Lux is one of those cute, quippy, ultra-mature teens you find only on TV. And several plot points unfortunately come across as false. But it doesn't matter. The lead characters in Life Unexpected are so likable, and the interactions between them feel so natural, that you find yourself willing to give the show lots of slack.
Page:

Top Trailers

See all »
See all trailers »