One of Roger Corman’s important rules is that you don’t show the monster right away [a rule that a number of his productions for Syfy has ignored] – partly because what you imagine is scarier than anything you can put on screen, and partly because his usual budget didn’t allow for monsters that would hold […]
Category: TV Reviews
Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior Is Already An Improvement On The Original Recipe!
When I first heard that Criminal Minds was getting a spin-off, I was appalled. I remain baffled that a series that is so misogynistic could be so popular. If the screener for Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior [CBS, Wednesdays, 10/9C] is any indication, it is a better show – at least in terms of misogyny, or […]
Mad Love: American Pie and Scrubs Alumni Lead Inveterate Cast of Scene Stealers
CBS’ new sitcom, Mad Love [Mondays, 8:30/7:30C] has a sweet spot on the schedule, following as it does, How I Met Your Mother. Add Jason Biggs [American Pie Trilogy] and Sarah Chalke [Scrubs] and things are definitely looking good. Then, toss Tyler Labine [Reaper, Sons of Tucson] and Judy Greer [Arrested Development, Love & Other […]
Bar Karma – Just A Philosophical Pit Stop Between Branching Events!
Current TV calls its new drama, Bar Karma [Fridays, 10/9C], ‘the first community developed program’ – the unique concept comes from the show’s co-creator, Will Wright [creator of The Sims]. Set in the titular bar – that exists at ‘the edge of the universe’ – the series presents tales of people whose lives have taken […]
Justified Season 2: Nature Abhors A Vacuum!
In the season two premiere of Justified [FX, Tuesdays, 10/9C], a state trooper tells Raylan Givens, ‘Nature abhors a vacuum.’ Truer words have never been spoken.
Top Shot Opens Season Two With Inventive Challenges!
History’s Top Shot [Tuesdays, 10/9C] is a competition show that really does interesting things with reality show conventions. In the second season premiere, the sixteen chosen marksmen face an opening challenge from Civil War days – each must hit a small target at a goodly distance with [have you see True Grit?] a Sharp’s Rifle. […]
Only In America With Larry The Cable Guy or, Mater Drives Through American History!
Despite a lengthy career as a stand-up comic, Larry the Cable Guy is probably best known as the lovable tow truck, Tow Mater in Pixar’s Cars. If that brings a lot of people to History for Only in America [Tuesdays, 9/8C], then I guess that’s cool. Unfortunately, there are some things that no one should […]
Archer Sharpens Its Edge For Season Two!
How do you top the kind of unspeakably crude and equally unspeakably funny work of your first brilliant season? If you’re Adam Reed, creator of Archer [FX, Thursdays, 10/9C], you dig deep and go for a situation that’s so uncool that even Sterling Archer is compelled to show some discipline!
Syfy’s Face Off Brings Reality/Competition Clichés To Special Effects Make-Up!
Syfy has developed a habit of balancing out its more expensive scripted series with inexpensive reality shows. Face Off [Wednesdays, 10/9C] is a typical competition series – except that it features a dozen special effects make-up artists vying to win $100,000. The twelve competitors live in adjacent six-person lofts and face various challenges. The judges […]
Leverage Yourself A Little Christmas Cheer!
Leverage returns this evening [TNT, 9/8C] with a… unique Christmas episode that finds the team enlisted to restore a fired Santa’s reputation – he was fired for allegedly being drunk on the job.
Psych Takes On Twin Peaks – Eerie Hijinx Ensue!
The mid-season finale of Psych [Wednesday, USA, 10/9C] begins with an e-mail alerting Shawn and Gus to a ‘cinnamon festival’ in the small [so small it’s in parentheses on the computer map they check] town of Dual Spires. The guys immediately set off [they do love their cinnamon] – and find themselves in the strangest […]