Murder, She Wrote isn't up to Columbo class yet. But the show does display enough wit and style to make it a top-notch entertainment alternative to the noisy head-banging and mayhem on Knight Rider and Hardcastle & McCormick. [30 Sep 1984]

The husband and wife, played by Michael Gross and Meredith Baxter Birney, are recognizable human beings who grapple with recognizable problems and emotions. And the children in the family, particularly Michael J. Fox, who plays teenage son Alex, are marvelously portrayed. [06 Oct 1982, p.9D]

In translating Oates' ambitious and stylized retelling of Monroe's life to television, screenwriter Joyce Eliason and director Joyce Chopra have unfortunately created a fairly dumb "Blonde." [14 May 2001, p.1G]

Plays like a motley medley of the grand exalted ghost buster's greatest hits. It's a fright night festival of tepid chills and only moderate thrills, a haunted house miniseries that drags on for three nights. [27 Jan 2002, p.1F]

Packs a sinister wallop. It's a ripping good winter's tale. [12 Feb 1999, p.1D]

Stephen King's The Shining is a crackerjack creep show with a fatal flaw. It's too darn long. [25 Apr 1997, p.1C]

With The Langoliers, there's a primal zing to the story. The cast also gets into the anxiety-fueled swing of things, especially Pinchot, Stockwell and the eerily enchanting Maberly. [12 May 1995, p.1C]

Kingdom Hospital is its own, slightly crazy thing. And in a world being overrun by the sleazoid zombie gremlins of reality TV, that's not all bad.

In the transformation to animation, Clerks has seen its cutting edge go pretty dull. [31 May 2000]

Of course, it helps immensely that Christopher Titus's flamboyantly roguish father, Ken, is portrayed with genuine rascal charisma by Stacy Keach. An actor known mostly for his dramatic roles, Keach's exuberant comic performance is a cockeyed revelation. He could easily become the show's break-out personality. [19 March 2000, p.1L]

Slick, mindlessly entertaining. [24 March 2000]

The mirth is lower key, often generating smiles rather than laughs. [9 March 2000, p.1G]

Most of the time, Daddio keeps the amiable focus on family friendly fun and the jovial mug of Chiklis. [23 March 2000, p.5G]

The mostly forgettable "Battery Park"? It's strictly DOA -- Dull On Arrival. [23 March 2000]

The miniseries is occasionally overwhelmed by its own lavish size and sweep. ... But there are compelling moments and strong performances to be enjoyed. [3 Apr 1998, p.1D]

A dopey comedy deserves a dopey assessment: Tucker sucks. Please make it go away. [2 Oct 2000, p.4E]

A blast of blahs from the past. [27 Sept 2002]

Luis retains the creaky, cliched feel of a laugh track relic from another time. Even in the '70s, this ethnic comedy cartoon wouldn't have seemed all that funny. With manic Luis, more is less. [19 Sept 2003, p.6H]

It's escapist sci- fi hooey that is simultaneously slick and tacky. In other words, a breath of fresh air compared to the average tabloid newsmagzine. [26 Jan 1994, p.6D]

A wonderfully relaxed, off-the-wall comedy series that has more spunk and imagination than almost any new network sitcom you're likely to surf on by this fall. [10 Sept 1997, p.5C]

An instant cult classic will be born when The Tick arrives at 8:30 tonight on Fox, a rambunctiously clever human cartoon rarin' to tickle your funnybone with unhinged satiric glee. [8 Nov 2001, p.4G]

Word of caution: The glum, occasionally promising Harsh Realm won't be for everyone. It's violent and often relentlessly bleak. [8 Oct 1999, p.1D]

Thanks to its lively wit and playful visual style, Birds of Prey delivers a good bit of escapist entertainment. [9 Oct 2002]

The fall season's most beguiling and innovative newcomer, a visually playful and fetching desert noir in which an intrepid IRS agent is actually our hero. Hero!? You bet. [17 Sept 2002]

This so-so show uses the sight gag style of "Scrubs" -- visualizing a character's thoughts and fantasies -- minus the funny medical comedy's superior wit and comic smarts. [24 Sept 2002]

Karen Sisco [is] also blessed with the presence of superb character actor Bill Duke ("Red Dragon") as Karen's imposing, no-nonsense boss. [1 Oct 2003, p.1E]

Despite its almost giddily provocative tone and the hanky-panky tunnel vision of its teenage protagonists, "life as we know it" displays some real promise with refreshing twists of wit, imagination and an offbeat style. [7 Oct 2004]

The series rarely soars beyond the predictable. [4 Apr 2000]