One-Season Wonders

Williamson’s ‘Wasteland’ (1999) is not a total waste

It’s a testament to the stacked nature of the Fall 1999 TV schedule that I canceled “Wasteland” after one episode. (ABC would then cancel it

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‘RoboCop’ returns to factory settings with ‘Prime Directives’ (2001)

TV has delivered some hidden gems in major SF franchises, like “Total Recall 2070” (1999) and “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles” (2008-09). In brief flashes,

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Hero further decreases in stature with ‘RoboCop’ TV series (1994)

Sometimes I think the writers’ (Ed Neumeier and Michael Miner) contributions to “RoboCop” (1987) are underrated in relation to the deafening praise lavished on director

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A neurotic half-century: Every Woody Allen film, ranked

Sorry it took me awhile to compile my rankings of Woody Allen’s films. I got a little neurotic about making sure everything is in the

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It’s freaky how great ‘Freaks and Geeks’ (1999-2000) still is

“Freaks and Geeks” (1999-2000, NBC/Fox Family) took TV from the Nineties to the Aughts as it chronicled kids moving from the Seventies to the Eighties.

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‘My So-Called Life’ (1994-95) probes hearts, minds of ’90s teens

W.G. Snuffy Walden’s “My So-Called Life” (1994-95, ABC) theme song encapsulates the series, which itself encapsulates 1994-95. An ominous opening tone calls to mind dark

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The age-old ‘My So-Called Life’ debate: Jordan or Brian?

I went into my rewatch of “My So-Called Life” (1994-95) with one of the show’s most famous questions on my mind: Jordan or Brian? The

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Lightning strikes twice for Apatow with ‘Undeclared’ (2001-02)

I went into this rewatch of “Undeclared” (2001-02, Fox) with a vague image of it in my brain. I remembered it as “‘Freaks and Geeks’

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‘Wonderfalls’ (2004) is a sad show that makes me happy

“Wonderfalls” (2004, Fox) – sadly but inevitably and appropriately a one-season wonder – makes me happy when I watch it. It’s not a happy show,

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‘Damien’ (2016) gives ‘Omen’ lad more adult struggles 

The 2010s were the decade of TV continuations of legendary horror franchises, highlighted by “Bates Motel” (2012-17), “Hannibal” (2013-15) and “The Exorcist” (2016-18). The least

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