Falling Skies's particularly revelatory

When the TNT network announced a Spielberg produced science fiction epic for its summer slate of programming, I was eager to sample the wares. With its massive advertising campaign, the network clearly had high expectations--and initial ratings were strong and instantaneous causing the show to receive an immediate second season order. Season One consists of ten episodes that weave a solid story of survivors in the aftermath of an alien invasion. Channeling a low key energy, as opposed to a pulse pounding tone, the show does a nice job establishing every day folks caught up in extraordinary circumstances. The piece's central theme is that we're all heroes in our own way and we're all stronger for standing together. It is a remarkably earnest presentation that remains mildly downbeat without ever seeming hopeless. This matter-of-fact feel is both one of the strongest elements of the show, but also one of the things that kept me from truly investing in the drama.

 
In truth, there is nothing particularly revelatory in the plotting of "Falling Skies." While I enjoyed the creature conception of the skitters (one of the alien life forms), admired the ambitious special effects, and was intrigued by some of the concepts (particularly the harnessed children)--I couldn't escape the general feeling that I'd seen it all before in countless similar variations. With a familiar feeling narrative, then, it is left to the screenwriters and the characterizations to make the show really pop. And I'm not sure that a memorable cast of characters has yet to evolve. Noah Wyle does most of the heavy lifting and makes an admirable every man hero. But many of the peripherals don't really stand out as interesting or fully developed individuals. When Steven Weber shows up for a few episodes, he creates real passion.

ABC Family series "Jane By Design"

This is the premise of the new ABC Family series "Jane By Design" created by April Blair ("Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous", "Lemonade Mouth") and starring Andie MacDowell ("Groundhog Day", "Short Cuts", "Sex Lies and Video Tape", "Four Weddings and a Funeral") and featuring actress Erica Dasher.

The series revolves around teenager Jane Quimby, intelligent and dreams of working in the fashion industry after high school. But Jane and her best friend Billy Nutter are looked at as the odd balls in high school and quite often, Jane is ridiculed for her fashion sense by the most popular girl at school, Lulu Pope.

Jane lives with her older brother Ben, who quit his dream to become a professional baseball player in order to raise his younger sister. But unfortunately due to the tough economy, Ben has had difficulty in finding a full-time job and now they are behind on bills.

For Jane, she knows that her older brother is having a difficult time and she doesn't want them to lose the house. So, knowing that she needs to raise money, she figures that since it's her final year in high school, she should prepare in looking for a job, but while she is still in high school, she can intern for a company in the fashion industry for now.

Jane applies for an internship at Donovan Decker and during her interview, human resources unfortunately mixes her up with an application for an internship for a job as an assistant to work for Gray Chandler Murray (played by Andie MacDowell), a world famous designer at Donovan Decker. So, Jane Quimby is mistaken as a qualified adult applicant as the assistant for world famous designer, receives a salary of $34,000 and working the dream job...illegally.

An immediately, Jane's presence at Donovan Decker has been nothing but good luck to Gray and Donovan Decker..

But as Jane tries to live a double life, she finds herself trying to maintain her high grade point average, starting to develop a close relationship with the star baseball pitcher in high school and also trying to take part in school activities, but at the same time having to balance this secret life working at Donovan Decker, in which Gray is quite demanding and expects a lot from Jane. Which includes leaving school and home to take on activities and even traveling around the world.

The Carrie Diaries makes references to things in SATC

The Carrie Diaries makes references to things in SATC which a true fan will pick up on. I love that! The style of the show with Carrie as narrator will feel familiar to SATC fans. I also think the actress who plays Carrie is perfect for the part.

AnnaSophia is an incredible actor; she's elevated everything I've seen her in by her mere presence and she most definitely does the same with this project. Her enthusiasm is contageous and I'll definitely continue watching just for her alone.

At first, I was annoyed because it's not SATC all over again. Then I realized, the SATC moves WERE SATC all over again and I was soooo tired of SATC over and over and over! This is different. It's cute, fresh, surprising and sweet. And it has some actual acting talent (as did SATC, of course!). It also offers a wonderful visual experience (the 80's always done) and the scenes feel real and authentic. It would be easy just to do a tableau of 80's images with no plot and this is not that. I'll keep watching for true entertainment and I'll try to keep my SATC-expert-know-it-all self quiet (perhaps I can soothe her with a cosmo?)

I think You need to understand that this show is not a SATC prequel, it's a CW show. It doesn't feel like SATC and it certainly doesn't have the essence of HBO.

People should stop complaining about it not being SATC, cause it's not. So, don't expect SATC's humor, don't expect SATC's plot and stories, and over all, don's expect SATC's characters. This show is not for SATC's fans, it's for teenagers, and you shouldn't judge this according to your feelings. And don't get me wrong, I love SATC, that's why I'm not even thinking of comparing these two.

As for the actual show, it is a pleasant teen show, with beautiful people and amazing clothes. It's not entirely based on Carrie's life and the fact that it takes place during the 80s is charming.

Teen Wolf series

This season had more drama, more suspense, more action, more romance, and well it had it all. Some things weren't always easy to understand but each episode made things more and more clear and made me eventually just shut up and enjoy how it all went down! A great start and a good ending that had the viewers wondering what would happen next season. Is Gerard dead? Is Peter really back to "HELP"? Are the alphas coming to cause trouble?

If one simply watches and enjoys instead of spending all day to write a review about the shows logic and flaws, because they want everything explained to them in third grade logic, they would find this a great season for Teen Wolf. Not everyone will like this season and respect it as it deserves but not everyone can write a 12 episode masterpiece for FREE Tv. Jeff Davis, his writing crew, and all the actors enjoyed making this season and I enjoyed watching it. I feel bad for the people too close minded to give the show a chance because of the whole "oh some girl teenage show" because it isn't. It is mainly for teens but everyone probably from 13-50 can enjoy it. It was well written and I enjoy the mysteries the first two seasons gave us although originally not liking Jackson as the Kanima. Great show though!

I almost never tried this series because of the title "Teen Wolf". And the main characters ARE teenagers but with several interesting adult characters thrown in for good measure. The script is clever, the special effects are wonderful and I found the whole package very entertaining.

Hannibal Lecter became an American horror icon

I think it's fair to say that Hannibal Lecter became an American horror icon for most people with the Oscar winning film "The Silence of the Lambs." Personally, I discovered Lecter back in 1981 when author Thomas Harris introduced him in "Red Dragon." As a kid, I read this novel with a sick fascination and it was easily the scariest book I had read up until that point. Michael Mann adapted it into the film "Manhunter" in 1986 with character actor Brian Cox in the Lecter role, but it wasn't until 1991 and Anthony Hopkins that Lecter became incredibly popular. Hopkins revisited the role with another interpretation of "Red Dragon" and then "Hannibal," and has owned the role ever since. When I heard that NBC was helming a drama based on Lecter, I thought it was a disastrous idea! Network television is no such place for such evil! But I must say that the program has far exceeded my rather limited expectations. Created as a prequel to the events of "Red Dragon," the show has a thoughtful slow burn appeal that shows surprising restraint. The program might have some gore, to be sure (especially by traditional network standards), but it succeeds most spectacularly as a psychological study of two men with more in common than they'd like to admit.

The plot centers around a FBI profiler named Will Graham (Hugh Dancy). Graham can literally get into the mindset of a killer, and the show stages vivid and brutal recreations as Graham uses these skills to analyze crime scenes. This innate ability to think like a monster has taken an emotional toll on Graham, and he is an absolute mess. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) is a brilliant psychiatrist who aids in an early investigation but is drawn to the darkness within Graham. Through the course of the episodes, Graham and Lecter become closer. Each seems to get something very important from the relationship. Are they doctor and patient? Friends? Or is Lecter playing a sick game of cat and mouse? It's a fascinating dynamic, one of the strongest components of this show. While some of the episodes are self-contained, more and more is revealed about Lecter as the season progresses. Anyone who is familiar with "Red Dragon" might know where this is ultimately heading, but it's the journey that is more important than the destination in this case..

The Killing: an adaptation of a successful Danish television series

AMC, having established itself a leader in smart and sophisticated counter-programming (Mad Men, Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, Rubicon), serves up another winner with "The Killing"--an adaptation of a successful Danish television series. I, personally, look at the show as the thematic cousin to "Twin Peaks" albeit with a completely different tone and vibe. Both shows center around the murder of a girl, both even feature the tagline "Who Killed.....(Rosie Larsen and Laura Palmer, respectively)," and both chart three similar storylines. We see the investigation progress, we see the painful aftermath on the girl's family and friends, and we see how the murder may be tied to local politicians and bigwigs. That, of course, is where the similarities cease. "The Killing" is a deadly serious and contemplative drama set in Seattle--not at all encumbered with the quirky eccentricities that defined that other Washington State township. It is an intense and quiet show with a slow build--those eager for easy answers and constant action may need to look elsewhere. The pace of "The Killing" is more akin to the unraveling of a fine novel.

Through successive episodes, the path to identifying the murderer becomes increasingly muddy. Steely and determined Mireille Enos play the intrepid lead investigator haunted by past mistakes. She is unable to move on with her own life and, in fact, sacrifices potential happiness in her dogged pursuit of justice. Her replacement (only he can't replace her when she won't leave!) is the offbeat Joel Kinnaman. Both humorous and strangely intense, the two forge an uneasy relationship that provides a lot of conflict, drama, and unexpected laughs. On another front, the always terrific Michelle Forbes and Brendan Sexton III play the deceased girl's parents. Forbes is magnetic going through the stages of grief and Sexton is a powder keg of repressed emotion. And lastly, there is the political component that weaves around the central mystery in surprising ways. Billy Campbell plays a mayoral candidate whose closeness to the investigation causes some major issues on the campaign trail.

Of course, this brief synopsis really does no justice to the intricacies of the actual story--but serves as a simple introduction. Every episode is structured as one day in the investigation, but the show really does a fine job balancing the three concurrent plot components. Well written and intelligent, the show is not your typical police procedural. This one relies on in-depth characterizations and complex plotting. Again, if you are looking for light hearted or breezy fare--this would not be it. This requires and rewards patience and attention--and that's something I appreciate in the land of formulaic television.

The thing I like most about Family Guy

"Family Guy" required attention, but it was well-worth the "effort." Smart, funny, sometimes even offensive, it never, ever disappointed. But quality TV doesn't always mean good ratings; this show will go on the long list of shows that died premature deaths because it was too hip for TV. Moments of this show pop into my mind from time to time, and I always find myself smiling and laughing when they do. Check this set out and get the same enjoyment that I have. This was one of television's very best.

Although I don't think the show was better than the older episodes of the Simpsons, I do think that during the time it was on the air it was better than the Simpsons. The show is really fond to pop-culture junkies or just people in need of a good laugh. Unfortunatly, FOX cancelled it and it's not coming back. To all of you angry fans that hate FOX for cancelling it, don't. It wasn't FOX's fault. The show stopped because the cast and crew split up. Luckily (in my opinion) South Park has been getting funnier. But still I'm thankful that the FOX production companies are immortalizing this classic series on DVD.

The thing I like most about Family Guy is the range of inteligence that it appeals to. Whether your a know-it-all super genious with high standards or a complete moron the show is sure to please because it's funny on so many levels.