Bedford Diaries, The

Los Angeles TimesPaul Brownfield

An ostensibly ridiculous but subtly intelligent soap.

The New York TimesAlessandra Stanley

It's... a lot of fun: "The O.C." for the Stanley H. Kaplan set.

New York Daily NewsDavid Hinckley

A lot less salacious, and a lot more cerebral, than it sounds.

Chicago Sun-TimesDoug Elfman

Dramatically speaking, what douses a bit of the fire of this ensemble show are a few non-compelling characters and/or bad actors.

Entertainment WeeklyAlynda Wheat

It's probably too much to ask costars Matthew Modine and Broadway royalty Audra McDonald to inject some depth, but we're pleading anyway. [31 Mar 2006, p.57]

NewsdayDiane Werts

So much of tonight's series pilot feels so glib and rings so false, it's hard to believe this soapy saga comes from the quality-not-quantity production team of Tom Fontana and Julie Martin.

Hollywood ReporterBarry Garron

Although more like "Felicity" than "The Paper Chase" in attitude and subject matter, early indications are that the characters in this eight-episode series have neither the depth nor texture of either of those shows.

People WeeklyTom Gliatto

As an ensemble they are, like their teacher, attractive but not very exciting. [10 Apr 2006, p.35]

Chicago TribuneSid Smith

Youngsters in this age group might find the show intriguing. The rest of us, censorship or no, will likely be bored.

Orlando SentinelHal Boedeker

The setup produces neither juicy soap opera nor original, searing drama. The Bedford Diaries is a limp noodle.

Boston GlobeMatthew Gilbert

The show takes the characters' angst and obsessions much too seriously, elevating their histrionics to soap-operatic levels when it should be flirting with satire.

VarietyLaura Fries

About 10 years too late to qualify as provocative.

USA TodayRobert Bianco

The Bedford Diaries... is not merely the worst show of the vernal season but one of the worst ever concocted by the soon-to-vanish WB.

Detroit Free PressMike Duffy

Disheartening proof that even the most talented producers sometimes concoct a prime-time crock.

Pittsburgh Post-GazetteRob Owen

Problem is, the characters are neither likeable enough to cheer for nor despicable enough to loathe. They're just sort of unformed lumps of gray clay with a few stereotypical streaks of color.

Baltimore SunDavid Zurawik

The university setting is intended to lend some intellectual weight to all the sexual imagery and conversation, but the road to mediocre TV drama is paved with such disingenuous intentions.

Washington PostTom Shales

The student characters seem weak and inauthentic, and many of the actors look as though they're going through college for the third or fourth time.

TV GuideMatt Roush

It wants to be shockingly frank but is mostly dour and phony.

Arizona RepublicBill Goodykoontz

Oddly enough, the sex isn't what's offensive about the show. Everything else is.

New York PostLinda Stasi

This silly excuse for a show is made up of a great-looking ensemble in the most blatant teen-sexuality show in broadcast history.

San Francisco ChronicleTim Goodman

"The Bedford Diaries" is just woeful -- the most trite, forced and stage-managed piece of empty titillation you're likely to see.