calendarlive.com - Los Angeles Times TV Reviews

The Guide

TV

In TV

Partners

Classifieds

November 19, 2009

'Terror in Mumbai'

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: The HBO doc recounts the deadly 2008 attack in India, using security footage, intercepted cellphone conversations and videotape to give viewers a 'you-are-there' feel.

'Terror in Mumbai' info

TELEVISION REVIEW

November 16, 2009

'Chef Academy'

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: Bravo tries a slightly different recipe on the cooking-competition genre.

November 14, 2009

'The Prisoner'

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: The AMC remake of the cult classic '60s British spy-fi series won't hold viewers captive.

November 13, 2009

'WWII in HD'

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: The masterful History Channel documentary follows a dozen Americans through their personal experiences in the war. It and a second, similar series -- 'Apocalypse' on the Smithsonian Channel -- feature

'WWII in HD' info

TELEVISION REVIEW

November 11, 2009

Tale of the talk: Wanda Sykes, George Lopez

By MARY MCNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: Sykes' comedic bite is on full, if shaky, display on Fox while Lopez treads a familiar funny-guy path on TBS.

November 6, 2009

'The People v. Leo Frank'

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: Documentary revisits the case of a Jew lynched in Georgia over a girl's killing.

'Fanboy and Chum Chum'

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: In their world, they are superheroes

'Platinum Babies' on WeTV

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: These well-heeled new parents just can't resist the splurge urge for baby, and in the current economic climate, it's unsettling to watch.

'Fanboy and Chum Chum'

TELEVISION REVIEW

November 3, 2009

'V' on ABC

By Mary McNamara TELEVISION CRITIC >>>

TELEVISION REVIEW: Smooth talkers from space aren't what they seem in a sci-fi tale that is sleeker and faster than the 1983 original.

'By the People: The Election of Barack Obama' on HBO

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: The documentary premiering on HBO features an element of reality missing from most TV news.

October 31, 2009

'Place of Execution' on PBS 'Masterpiece Mystery'

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: The mystery of a missing English teenager isn't complicated, but the individual actors' performances make this worth watching.

'Sex Rehab With Dr. Drew'

By Mary McNamara

TELEVISION REVIEW: The new show on VH1 purports to help its eight participants as well as viewers, but the style of the show is more voyeuristic than helpful.

October 30, 2009

An inevitable surrender to 'Dexter'

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: With the addition of John Lithgow as the Trinity Killer, Showtime's tale of a grisly Robin Hood just gets better -- and bloodier.

October 29, 2009

'The League'

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: Crudeness abounds on new FX show about five guys in a fantasy football league.

October 28, 2009

'The Botany of Desire'

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: The PBS program looks at how plants have evolved and prospered by making themselves 'eye candy' to humans and other living things. Call it survival of the most alluring.

'Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins From Outer Space' on NBC

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: The film hit invades the small screen with its charm mainly intact, and with a Halloween theme to boot.

'The Botany of Desire' info

TELEVISION REVIEW

October 23, 2009

'White Collar' on USA Network

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: The most promising drama of the new season crackles with wit and charm, echoing 'It Takes a Thief' and boasting the best-matched lead characters since Butch and Sundance.

October 21, 2009

Review: 'Lock 'n Load' on Showtime

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: Gun store customers. Hidden camera. That might sound diverting, but on Showtime's reality series isn't, really.

October 19, 2009

'Schmatta: Rags to Riches to Rags'

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: On HBO, director Marc Levin's documentary on the garment industry is part cultural history.

October 15, 2009

'30 Rock' starts its fourth season

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: The sitcom continues to show why it has won all those Emmys.

October 14, 2009

Review: 'Nip/Tuck' at the beginning of its final season on FX

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: As the series enters its final season, it seems determined to try to (oh, get out!) be meaningfully relevant.

Review: 'American Masters: Joan Baez: How Sweet the Sound' on PBS

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: The legend is fascinating, the person even more so.

October 13, 2009

Review: 'Frontline: Obama's War' on PBS

By Tony Perry

TELEVISION REVIEW: A look at the fight against the Taliban in Afghanistan highlights the conundrum of dealing with a chameleonic ally.

October 5, 2009

'Inventing LA: The Chandlers & Their Times'

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: The family that built a media empire -- and Los Angeles -- is the focus of a PBS documentary.

'Sherri' on Lifetime

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: 'The View' co-host creates a new forum for her brand with this basic-cable sitcom in which she plays a slightly less successful version of herself. The pilot is less than successful itself.

'Inventing LA: The Chandlers & Their Times'

TELEVISION REVIEW

October 2, 2009

Good prognosis for 'Three Rivers'

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: After a complete rethink of the pilot, plus the casting of Alfre Woodard as the chief of surgery, CBS' new medical drama shows great promise.

'Three Rivers'

TELEVISION REVIEW

September 30, 2009

'Hank' and 'The Middle'

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton, seen together on 'Back to You,' are now in separate sitcoms.

September 28, 2009

'Trauma'

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: Anastasia Griffith, Derek Luke and Jamey Sheridan are featured in a drama about EMTs in the aftermath of a rescue tragedy in San Francisco.

September 26, 2009

'The Cleveland Show'

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: Yes, the 'Family Guy' spinoff 'Cleveland Show' is a tad gentler. But it's far less funny.

September 25, 2009

'Brothers' on Fox

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: A new domestic sitcom about two mid-30s siblings forced to move back in with their parents generates some laughs amid the bickering.

September 24, 2009

'FlashForward'

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: The plot jumps forward in time. Will the 'Lost'-like show be around to let everything play out?

September 23, 2009

Review: 'Cougar Town'

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: This ABC show, about a mid-40s mom eyeing younger men, does few groups any favors. The occasional joke will stick, and Courteney Cox makes her character as likable as possible. But: ick.

'Eastwick'

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: Rebecca Romijn and Paul Gross star in ABC's adaptation of 'The Witches of Eastwick.' It's pleasant and easy to watch.

A stay at 'Mercy' hospital wouldn't be bad

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: NBC's ensemble medical drama looks to be a solid, although not remarkable, series.

'Modern Family'

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: The ABC show does indeed successfully modernize the classic family sitcom. Ed O'Neill stars.

September 22, 2009

'The Good Wife'

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: Julianna Margulies perfectly understates her portrayal of a mom headed back to the workforce after her politician-husband's infidelity. It's the season's best new drama.

'The Forgotten'

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: Starring Christian Slater, the ABC drama about volunteers who help police identify nameless murder victims looms as less than memorable.

September 21, 2009

Emmys are in good hands with Neil Patrick Harris at the helm

By Mary McNamara TELEVISION CRITIC >>>

TELEVISION REVIEW: Fresh off hosting the Tonys, the versatile performer keeps the show moving and escorts the audience to its comfort level.

'House' returns to get his house in order

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: A stellar supporting cast joins Hugh Laurie as his troubled character rehabs.

Review: 'Accidentally on Purpose' on CBS

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: Jenna Elfman's career won't likely advance in this slight comedy about a career woman who's unexpectedly pregnant. But the door is open to interesting plot directions.

September 20, 2009

Fall TV preview

By ROBERT LLOYD

September 15, 2009

'Jay Leno Show' stays on familiar ground

By Mary McNamara TELEVISION CRITIC >>>

TELEVISION REVIEW: Seinfeld and Oprah are a breath of fresh air for the comedian's new show, which feels like anything but.

'The Biggest Loser' is all about second chances

By Rene Lynch

TELEVISION REVIEW: Tonight's season premiere reveals why there's more to the show than contestants losing weight. Their stories of hope in the face of tragedy make for powerful reality TV.

September 11, 2009

'Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins'

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: Cartoon Network's new movie goes back to when Scooby, Shaggy, Velma, Daphne and Fred met.

September 10, 2009

'The Vampire Diaries'

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: Amid the many Count Dracula-esque cliches, it's a good old-fashioned Gothic love story.

September 9, 2009

Review: 'Glee' on Fox

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: The high school comedy, one of the fall's best new shows, celebrates music, ambition and the misfit.

September 8, 2009

It's a vacant 'Melrose Place'

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: The newest group of neighbors might be pretty, but it's hard to connect to such unoriginal characters.

September 7, 2009

'Manson' on History channel

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: The horror of the Tate-La Bianca murders 40 years ago last month is revisited in this two-hour, dramatically reenacted documentary, but there's little new to learn.

'At the Movies'

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: New hosts A.O. Scott and Michael Phillips bring a balance of fun and smarts, just as Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert provided.

August 28, 2009

'Inspector Lewis' on 'Masterpiece Mystery!'

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: These mysteries have Oxford educations.

August 27, 2009

'Liberty City Is Like Paris to Me'

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW

August 20, 2009

'Project Runway,' 'Rachel Zoe' return

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: And guess which fashion show is more fun to watch?

August 19, 2009

'Top Chef: Las Vegas' and 'What Would Brian Boitano Make?'

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: 'Top Chef' comes up a winner in Vegas, while Olympian Brian Boitano is a champion in the kitchen.

August 17, 2009

'Glenn Martin, DDS' on Nick at Nite

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: Despite a talented voice-over cast, comedy is like pulling teeth for this new puppet-animation series.

August 14, 2009

A stately progress on 'Mad Men'

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: As AMC's Emmy-winning drama begins its third season, not much seems to be happening. But pay attention -- there is a point to the leisurely storytelling.

'Mad Men'

TELEVISION REVIEW

August 13, 2009

Dave Salmoni is the lion king in Animal Planet's 'Into the Pride'

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: His passion for both animals and television, not to forget that Adonis-like body, makes the new show worth watching.

August 10, 2009

'Lords of the Revolution' and 'Woodstock: Now & Then'

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEWS: The VH1 documentaries revisit an era of cultural change.

'The Nine Lives of Marion Barry'

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: Dana Flor and Toby Oppenheimer's documentary on HBO glimpses a politician who remains popular despite a troubled private life.

August 8, 2009

'Shark Tank'

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: On the recycled TV game show, entrepreneurs get a chance to pitch their ideas, and possible investors choose to torpedo or buy into their dreams. The drama is in the deal negotiation.

August 7, 2009

In 'There Goes the Neighborhood' and 'The Colony,' humans draw on their base instincts and survival skills

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: And that's not necessarily good -- or uplifting.

'Monk' on USA Network

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: Tony Shalhoub begins his eighth and final season as the brilliant but neurotic detective. Tonight's episode doesn't break any new ground, but that's part of its charm.

August 6, 2009

'Bollywood Hero'

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: At the center of his own miniseries on IFC, former 'SNL' cast member Chris Kattan fails to rise above flat.

August 4, 2009

'Addicted to Beauty'

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: Revolving around a La Jolla spa, the Oxygen series can seem less a reality show than an infomercial.

July 31, 2009

'Defying Gravity' on ABC

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: Astronauts are sent on a six-year mission to visit all the planets in the solar system.

July 28, 2009

'More to Love'

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW

July 25, 2009

'Being Human' on BBC America

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: The undead are surprisingly down to earth, which makes the supernatural elements more believable and more shocking.

'The Storm'

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: The NBC miniseries, starring James Van Der Beek and Treat Williams, is all wet.

'Doctor Who's' David Tennant will save the day (again) before exiting

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: In 'Planet of the Dead' this Sunday, he'll battle flying rays with a new sidekick, Michelle Ryan.

July 21, 2009

'Ruby & the Rockits'

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: David Cassidy, Patrick Cassidy and Alexa Vega star in a new pop-related ABC Family sitcom that feels surprisingly ordinary.

July 20, 2009

Review: 'Torchwood' Season 3 on BBC America

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: The third season is a single-story, five-night tale about a child-care challenge -- on the day the world's children all begin to chant, 'We are coming.'

'The Wanted' on NBC

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: The result is chilling, but the tactics behind this uneasy documentary-reality show blend tend to be highly questionable.

'The T.O. Show'

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: This VH1 show follows the exploits of football god Terrell Owens. Where's a penalty flag when you need one?

'The T.O. Show'

TELEVISION REVIEW

July 18, 2009

'Labor Pains'

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: Lindsay Lohan's new comedy film didn't get a theatrical release, and with good reason. It fails, as do words to describe it.

'Most Popular'

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: Seven women stand before 100 women to be judged. Host Graham Norton provides levity.

July 15, 2009

'Dark Blue'

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: 'Dark Blue' takes risks: a new cop show in a crowded TV precinct, a dreamboat as a dark, damaged detective.

'Michael & Michael Have Issues'

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter are real people with fake lives on Comedy Central's genial new comedy.

July 14, 2009

'Miami Social' on Bravo

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: The reality show tracks seven main cast members, including products of 'The Apprentice' and 'Big Brother 2.'

July 13, 2009

HBO's 'Teddy: In His Own Words'

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: The documentary is more a tribute than analysis.

July 10, 2009

'Drop Dead Diva'

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: Lifetime's new comedy offers an interesting twist on the old dippy-meets-dumpy scenario.

July 8, 2009

Jackson memorial: both affirmation and denial

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: With no practical reason for so much coverage, we see the power of pop culture that a broadcaster ignores at its own peril. Death, for a moment, wipes a slate clean.

July 7, 2009

'Warehouse 13' on Syfy

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: Along with the channel's new name comes this fun fusion of science, mythology and history, with two mismatched FBI agents leading the way. Sound familiar?

'10 Things I Hate About You'

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: '10 Things I Hate About You' ditches its Shakespearean source for pages from other high school comedies.

July 3, 2009

'Masterpiece Mystery!: Miss Marple'

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: Agatha Christie's beloved spinster is back on PBS. Her first case: 'A Pocket Full of Rye.'

'Masterpiece Mystery!: Miss Marple'

TELEVISION REVIEW

June 26, 2009

'Virtuality'

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: The 'failed" TV pilot airing Friday on Fox is a space ride worth taking.

June 24, 2009

Review: 'The Music Instinct: Science and Song' on PBS

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: Mysteries explained just become more wonderfully mysterious in this in-depth documentary.

Review: 'The Philanthropist' on NBC

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: A rich guy becomes a rogue do-gooder in this earnest but tonally inconsistent eight-part drama on NBC.

June 23, 2009

Review: 'Independent Lens: Ask Not' on KCET

By Tony Perry

TELEVISION REVIEW: The documentary on the U.S. military's 'don't ask, don't tell' policy regarding gays is a timely and balanced account of a major social issue.

'The Cleaner'

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: Whoopi Goldberg and Gary Cole costar in second season premiere of the recovery procedural.

June 22, 2009

'Make It or Break It'

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: Blessedly, there's no singing in the ABC Family show, just lots of gymnastics and Life Lessons to Be Learned.

'Make It or Break It'

TELEVISION REVIEW

June 19, 2009

'Killer Hair' on Lifetime

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: A fashion writer turns sleuth after a stylist is found dead in a light mystery that's given weight by star Maggie Lawson.

June 17, 2009

Cartoon Network's new reality shows, kid style

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: Live-action entries 'The Othersiders,' 'Brain Rush,' 'Destroy Build Destroy' and 'Survive This' are variations on grown-up shows.

June 16, 2009

'Wedding Day' on TNT

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: Unlike other couples-based reality shows, 'Wedding' takes holy matrimony seriously, food for thought in this time of marital upheaval.

June 15, 2009

'HawthoRNe'

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: Jada Pinkett Smith's nurse is a tough rule-breaker, but the TNT show is no groundbreaker.

June 13, 2009

'True Blood'

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: Season 2 looks like an improvement over the first one.

June 10, 2009

'Top Chef Masters'

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: The knives are out -- but at least they're in nobody's back.

Colbert in fine form rallying troops in Iraq

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: In 'The Colbert Report's' opener from Baghdad, the comedian mostly stays away from politics while managing to rope McCain and Obama into his routine.

'Top Chef Masters' info

TELEVISION REVIEW

June 8, 2009

Reviews: 'Nurse Jackie' and 'Weeds'

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: Edie Falco is a highly competent but drug-using ER nurse on a new Showtime series. 'Weeds' presents an increasingly dark situation

The Tonys had all the right moves, from the speeches to the musical numbers

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW

June 6, 2009

Review: 'How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?' on BBC America

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: Theater fans, take note. Andrew Lloyd Webber put out a call for a Maria in 'The Sound of Music.' Cameras are on hand to witness the response.

June 5, 2009

In IFC, 'F' also stands for fun

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: The film channel takes on three TV series and a zanier bent with 'Ideal,' 'The Wrong Door' and 'Food Party.'

June 4, 2009

Review: 'Royal Pains'

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: Mark Feuerstein is given a straitjacketed role as a skilled city doctor relocated to the snooty Hamptons, but the supporting cast is colorful and the setting is a summer vacation.

'The Listener'

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: A telepathic (and sometimes clairvoyant) paramedic-in-training uses his powers for crime solving.

June 2, 2009

Conan is off and running

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW

May 30, 2009

'Into the Storm'

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: Winston Churchill is up to the challenge, and so is Brendan Gleeson, who portrays him in HBO film.

May 29, 2009

'Maneater'

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: Sarah Chalke stars in the clichéd but well-acted Lifetime miniseries about gold-digging gals.

'HGTV $250,000 Challenge'

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: Makeover meets the meltdown as recession-plagued contestants compete for a big win.

'Maneater' info

TELEVISION REVIEW

May 27, 2009

'Wipeout' and 'Jesse James Is a Dead Man'

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEWS: ABC's 'Wipeout' and Spike's 'Jesse James Is a Dead Man' test the limits of human -- and viewer -- endurance.

'The Goode Family'

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: Mike Judge's new show works best when the cultural potshots give way to human needs.

Review: 'In the Heights: Chasing Broadway Dreams'

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: Meeting the likes of Lin-Manuel Miranda, the 'Great Performances' documentary goes behind the scenes of the little show that could.

'George Strait: ACM Artist of the Decade All-Star Concert'

By Randy Lewis

TELEVISION REVIEW: Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift, Alan Jackson and others honor the country music hit maker, and it all makes for good TV.

'The Goode Family'

TELEVISION REVIEW

May 26, 2009

'Hitched or Ditched' on the CW

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: The lure of a free wedding puts added pressure on engaged couples whose relationships are already fraught with issues in this new reality-TV series.

Review: 'New World Order' on Independent Film Channel

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: A documentary listens to believers in government plots and ill-intentioned cabals.

'Mental' on Fox

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: The new medical drama yearns to be a quirkier 'House' or 'Mentalist,' but it looks like a hopeless case.

May 25, 2009

'Arlington: Call to Honor'

By Tony Perry

TELEVISION REVIEW: The Smithsonian Channel takes a respectful look at Arlington Cemetery, 'perhaps the most hallowed ground in America.'

'Arlington: Call to Honor'

TELEVISION REVIEW

May 20, 2009

'Blueprint America: Road to the Future' on PBS

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: Streamlining the country's transportation infrastructure presents a daunting challenge, but one that must be met, says this one-hour documentary.

May 19, 2009

'Glee' on Fox

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: The musical set at a high school has its dark side, but these students with a song in their hearts are fun to watch.

May 18, 2009

'24'

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: As Season 7 comes to an end, here are 10 ways we loved the year.

May 16, 2009

Review: 'Grey's Anatomy' season finale

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: The ill and injured await the great hospital elevator in the sky.

May 15, 2009

'Lost': season finale

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: A season-ender marked by shadowy references leaves plenty to mull.

May 12, 2009

'The Real Housewives of New Jersey'

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: With the fourth series comes the charm as Bravo's 'Housewives' franchise finally gets real.

'The Real Housewives of New Jersey' info

TELEVISION REVIEW

May 9, 2009

'Wallander' on PBS

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: The idyllic Swedish town of Ystad is the setting for this dark trilogy of 'Masterpiece: Mystery!' TV movies starring Kenneth Branagh as the eponymous flawed detective.

May 8, 2009

'The Alzheimer's Project'

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: HBO's ambitious four-part documentary covers the scientific and personal aspects of the debilitating disease with heart-wrenching honesty and clarity.

HBO's 'The Alzheimer's Project'

TV REVIEW INFO

May 7, 2009

'The Fashion Show' on Bravo

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW

'China's Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province'

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: A devastating earthquake isn't all that Chinese peasants endured, an HBO documentary reveals.

May 6, 2009

'WWII Behind Closed Doors: Stalin, the Nazis and the West'

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW: Series revisits the intricate dance of ruthless dictators that played out on a war-torn world stage.

'WWII Behind Closed Doors: Stalin, the Nazis and the West' info

TELEVISION REVIEW

May 5, 2009

'The Apprentice UK'

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: The U.S. reality show starring Donald Trump gets a tougher boss and a stiffer upper lip with Sir Alan Sugar.

'The Apprentice UK' info

TELEVISION REVIEW

May 2, 2009

'Jonas'

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: The pop-star brothers get their first sitcom on the Disney Channel.

'The Old Curiosity Shop'

By MARY McNAMARA

TELEVISION REVIEW

May 1, 2009

'Steve-O: Demise and Rise'

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: Taking a sober look at the former star of 'Jackass.'

April 30, 2009

'400 Years of the Telescope'

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: Not heavy on science, the special tells of the way technology informs philosophy.

April 29, 2009

'Rockville CA'

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: The Web-only show keeps things brief -- and inauthentic.

April 25, 2009

'Future Earth: Journey to the End of the World' examines the changing Arctic

By ROBERT LLOYD

TELEVISION REVIEW: The first of four MSNBC specials about the planet documents an expedition to study the effects of global warming on the Arctic ice pack.

TV Times

The weekly list of movies on TV is now available on the Show Tracker blog. Click here.

TV

In TV

Partners

Classifieds

More in The Guide

More on LATimes.com

Classifieds

Partners