The tone here can be offputtingly strange: brittle, flinty yet over the top. [20 Feb 2006, p.37]

An explosion of fireworks. [1 May 2006, p.39]

The show's fun, and a little freaky. [2 Oct 2006, p.45]

[A] delicious over-the-top comedy. [2 Oct 2006, p.45]

If you want edge, here's Dexter. [9 Oct 2006, p.41]

This could be the fall's finest drama. [9 Oct 2006, p.41]

The relationship of saint to sinner has seldom been so moving. [26 Feb 2007, p.39]

The show falls prey to a faint preciousness in the voiceover narration from its correspondents and host Glass. They overarticulate the ironies instead of just letting you watch. Which you should do. Watch. [26 Mar 2007, p.37]

Paxton's supported by a vast cast of vivid characters waging holy battle while chasing the almighty dollar. [11 Jan 2010, p.41]

It's the jungle version of Saving Private Ryan's opening battle, over and over across 10 hours. Why, then, is this so excitingly powerful instead of just numbing? Because the stakes are huge: The historical momentum pulls you in and drags you along.

Season 4 launches with an episode focused on TV's most mysterious ad executive-and since Jon Hamm's watchful yet charismatic performance makes the show tick, that's excellent.

Eclipsing even last summer's BBQ bacchanal involving an ancient spirit, the new season feels like one big undead sex party-a kinky alternate lifestyle where vampires and monsters do the nasty (and other violent acts) in roadhouses, backrooms, backwoods and the occasional antebellum mansion.

The show is cluttered with cutesy sidekicks, including Gabourey Sidibe as a student and John Benjamin Hickey as Cathy's homeless brother. But Linney's a big deal. [30 Aug 2010, p.37]

Here's one of the most offbeat new shows of the new season. Also one of the best. [13 Sep 2010, p.48]

The show promises to be sexy fun. [6 Sep 2010, p.47]

The show is gorgeously produced and spectacularly violent but its success depends chiefly on Buscemi....A brilliant, brutally funny performance. [20 Sep 2010, p.51]

Fall's best new sitcom has the manic zip of Malcolm in the Middle and the diabolical humor of raising Arizona. [27 Sep 2010, p.55]

A zombie-apocalypse fantasy set in Atlanta, this is the scariest series U've ever seen. [8 Nov 2010, p.39]

Migrations' animals provide a humbling lesson in resilience and determination. [15 Nov 2010, p.44]

Awesomely clever, it's the Inception of sitcoms. In season 2 the show has preserved its core concept of friendships in a community-college study group while piling on daringly odd jobs. [6 Dec 2010, p.49]

This remains far and away the best prime-time sitcom: crisp and farcical, but very kind. [25 Oct 2010, p.37]

Regina King heads the solid ensemble. these folks are dutiful, proud and bonetired. [10 Jan 2011, p.40]

Beneath the grit, this is a tale of chivalry. [31 Jan 2011, p.40]

Parks, in a sense, is Li'l Sebastian: shaggy, small-boned, charming and lovably stupid. [31 Jan 2011, p.39]

As police superintendent Teresa Colvin, Jennifer Beals gives a revelatory, no-nonsense performance that should make Tom Selleck's mustache bristle with envy....This should be lots of fun. [7 Feb 2011, p.39]

This is an epic portrait of a woman who's monumentally single-minded yet uncomprehending, and watching her rise and fall inspires a sick awe. [4 Apr 2011, p.50]

The photography is sweepingly gorgeous--this must be the best of all possible planets. [18 Apr 2011, p.46]

What's amazing is how quickly it all falls into place--the show goes like a shot. [25 Apr 2011, p.43]