John’s top 10 TV shows of 2018
It’s never before been so hard to pick the 10 best shows of the year, as streaming services deliver strong short series on a regular basis, and cable and network TV have mostly kept pace with the quality. Some staple entries have dropped out of my top 10 not because they got worse but simply
‘The Simpsons’ Season 13 review
“The Simpsons” Season 13 (2001-02, Fox), episodes 1-12 — Matt Groening’s “The Simpsons” (7 p.m. Sunday, Fox) has been the funniest show on TV for every one of its 13 seasons (and yes, that’s including the years it competed with “Seinfeld”). But the show has evolved substantially. When it started, it focused on the title family.
‘The Simpsons Movie’ review
“The Simpsons Movie” – This mid-summer “Simpsons” fix is essentially an extra-long, extra-good episode that sends the family on the run to the snowy northwest (“Clap for Alaska!”) after Homer’s latest gaffe causes Springfield to be covered by a dome. Marge and Homer deal with the biggest bump in their marriage, and Homer and Bart
Fall TV 2014: ‘Gotham’ and a handful of other shows worth checking out (Commentary)
A year ago, I announced that the lineup of new fall shows was the worst in two decades, and although I ended up liking (and now mourning, since they were canceled) “Almost Human” and “Super Fun Night,” I think my prognostication was accurate. Now I’m here to say that the fall of 2014 looks worse.
John’s 10 favorite TV couples of all time (Commentary)
In a double dose of weak sauce, Entertainment Weekly’s writers recently chose “Friends’ “ Ross and Rachel as the greatest TV couple of all time, and readers responded by choosing some random couple from “Glee” (which, research reveals, is actually still on the air). Over at his blog, my buddy Seth Stringer upped the standards
John’s top 10 TV shows of 2011
For me, this was the year of “What’s going to happen next?” Who killed Rosie Larsen? Will Emily get revenge? How long can Bridget fool people into thinking she’s Siobhan? What would you do in a zombie apocalypse? And … how is Amber going to pay the rent? While many of the best plots of
Classic Christmas TV episodes: ‘Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire’ (‘The Simpsons’)
Show: “The Simpsons” (Season 1, episode 1) Airdate: Dec. 17, 1989 Overview: This is a classic not only because it’s a Christmas episode, but also because it’s the very first episode of “The Simpsons.” Sometimes when you go back and watch the first episode of a long-running series, it’s jarring how slow and boring it
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.
Happy 20th anniversary to the still-funny, still-important ‘Simpsons’ (TV commentary)
Last week, “The Simpsons” was the clear winner in the laugh tally against “The Cleveland Show” and “Family Guy.” I can’t say that every week, but I can say it often enough to make a case that “The Simpsons” still has plenty of laughs left in the tank.