Fall TV 2011: 6 new shows and 6 returning shows to watch (Commentary)
Believe it or not, the fall TV season is less than a week away. Fittingly, one of the best-looking new shows and one of the best returning shows will throw out the first pitches of the season when they premiere on Tuesday. Here’s a closer look at those shows and more — my top six
Where have all the epic season finales gone? (TV commentary)
For as long as I can remember, TV has served up an epic season finale or two every May. In recent years, up until 2010, there were the season-enders of “24” and “Lost.” Before that, we had “Buffy” and “The X-Files,” just to scratch the surface.
John’s top 10 TV shows of 2010
This was the year when TV changed from low-definition to high-definition and from squares to rectangles (I still have a square, and I know I’m missing some things off to the sides, but at least I can hear everybody). Also, TV has never before been as accessible; unless it’s on a premium network, rare is
First episode (of new season) impressions: ‘Fringe’ (TV review)
Here are my first impressions of the Season 3 premiere of “Fringe” (8 p.m. Central Thursdays on Fox).
Fall TV 2010: What to watch for on 10 returning favorites (Commentary)
Here’s what I’ll be watching for on my top 10 returning fall shows, listed in order of airdate. All times are Central.
State of Television Address: Returning shows (Commentary)
With last week’s “Glee” season capper, we’ve come to the end of the TV year (more or less), and I’m ready for my State of Television Address. Usually it’s a three-parter, but I’ll skip the section on canceled shows, because I took individual looks at the four big ones last month. I’ll start with my
In search of the next ‘Lost?’ It’s already here, and it’s called ‘Fringe’ (TV commentary)
A recent issue of Entertainment Weekly examined networks’ efforts to find the next “Lost,” in terms of both quality and ratings, and determined that nothing fits the bill. I disagree: “Fringe” (8 p.m. Thursdays on Fox) — like “Lost,” produced by J.J. Abrams — is as good as “Lost” (maybe better), and it’s successful enough that it has been
Are TV shows getting dumber or am I getting smarter? (Commentary)
Are TV shows getting dumber or am I getting smarter? I’m not talking about TV as a whole, because obviously it’s dumber than it was 10 years ago. This is because of the influx of cheap TV — reality shows, game shows and talk shows — taking over primetime slots.
John’s top 10 TV shows of 2009
Although two shows on this list are much missed and a third (“Dollhouse”) is on its way out, 2009 was generally a year when TV networks got smarter about marketing.
I love ‘Fringe’ (TV review)
“Fringe” (8 p.m. Central Thursdays on Fox) has become such a good show in its own right that it goes beyond being a good “X-Files” rip-off. Even if that’s all it was, I’d love it — I was that one guy who watched “FreakyLinks,” “Miracles,” “Night Stalker” and “The Inside” before they were duly canceled.