Popular

When was the last time a series started off with nine complicated, well-developed characters, not including the colorful faculty? [29 Sept 1999, p.E8]

A surprisingly promising hour that could become something special if it doesn't cop out and decide to become a hipped-up "Beverly Hills 90210." [29 Sept 1999, p.F10]

Much of Popular is just silly, but much of it is also poignant and true. Consider Carmen (Sara Rue), who wants desperately to be a cheerleader. Carmen's a heavy girl, but a terrific dancer. [28 Sept 1999, p.E-1]

If "Popular" can do for social stratification what "Party of Five" did for addiction, it may have a chance. [29 Sept 1999, p.F1]

The two-part premiere of Popular is inventive, energized and brimming with promise if some of its overwrought moments can be reined in. [29 Sept 1999, p.1C]

Always messy, often rude, sometimes poignant and frequently annoying, Popular is - come to think of it - a lot like teen-agers themselves. And that just could make it the most authentic high school series of the year. [28 Sept 1999, p.D6]

A hip-sounding and visually entertaining piece that might best be summed up as "The Odd Couple" meets the "The Brady Bunch" meets "teensomething." [28 Sept 1999, p.10]

Both leads are very good, particularly Bibb, who makes what could have been a superficial character touching without making her cheaply sympathetic. The real standout, however, is Rue, who is luminous as a weight-challenged girl who longs to hear cheers. [29 Sept 1999, p.3D]

Popular is the show to separate the teens from the grown-ups. [29 Sept 1999, p.H-1]

Is Popular cynical or does it have a heart? If it sticks with Rue and Josh, the show might live up to its title. For now, I'd rather go to high school with NBC's "Freaks and Geeks". [29 Sept 1999, p.E1]

If you hate this genre, don't bother with Popular. But if you actually like spending time with teens or remember your own adolescence, Popular isn't the worst depiction of the not-so-wonderful years. [29 Sept 1999, p.E-1]

The acting needs to improve. Bibb is the show's standout as the popular girl with demons of her own, but Pope isn't entirely convincing as the outsider harboring a secret desire to fit in. Same goes for the supporting cast. Some are pros, notably Tamara Mello as a feisty activist and Sara Rue as the overweight cheerleader wannabe, but others appear to be graduates of the "Saved by the Bell" school of the performing arts. [29 Sept 1999, p.C10]

This split-personality series that speaks with two voices: one thoughtful and intelligent, the louder one glib and derivative. [29 Sept 1999, p.F6]

The characters are drawn overly broad, situations are grindingly forced, and efforts at social commentary and smart parody are Cliff Notes of real life. [29 Sept 1999, p.1E]

During its opening two episodes, Popular is basically content to be just another jaunty, semi-"Clueless" spoke on WB's glossy teen entertainment wheel. Great to look at, yes, but short on emotional depth. [29 Sept 1999, p.5E]

Popular makes valid points about the unfairness of social stratification. But with its gimmicky camera work (whoa, we're on fast-forward) and flights of surrealism (talking frog in bio lab), it tries too hard to be hip.

Yikes, this is calculating. Ouch, is it way too self-aware (even for teens). There's a caste system in high school? Are you shocked to learn this? [29 Sept 1999, p.B03]

Trying too hard is exactly what "Popular" seems to be doing: trying too hard to look and sound cool with gimmicky production techniques, trying too hard to tap into teenage angst, trying too hard to suggest bridges between high school's supposed in-kids and its outcasts. [29 Sept 1999, p.72]

One of those standard-issue high school series, and it's infuriating. [29 Sept 1999, p.59]

A pretentious high school drama that would have to borrow a brain to be "Clueless" and a heart to be "Cruel Intentions." [29 Sept 1999, p.84]

More insipid than insightful, Popular fails to fill the bill. Emotionally overwrought and intellectually underdeveloped, the fledgling series is everything you've come to expect from a Hollywood examination of high school - and less. [29 Sept 1999, p.4E]

The worst new high school show I can remember seeing in a while. I am not sure which of the leads I find less interesting -- Sam (Carly Pope), a wannabe journalist who mainly wants to sleep with her journalism teacher (Chad Lowe), or Brooke (Leslie Bibb), the cover-girl- perfect-looking cheerleader with the eating disorder. [29 Sept 1999, p.1E]