Fairly Legal Online Review

TV Shows Title: Fairly Legal
TV Schedule: every Thursdays at 10:00 pm
TV Channel: USA
Genre: Drama

Fairly Legal Story Summary:

Fairly Legal is a new USA Network series crated by Michael Sardo. Since its premier in 2011, Fairly Legal has gained great popularity as a comedy drama series. The series follows Kate Reed, played by Sarah Shahi, who makes a career change from lawyer to mediator at a prominent law firm in San Francisco.

At the start of the first season, Kate has to deal with this career change while also coming to terms with the loss of her father, the former founder of the her law firm.

After her father's passing, her father's former wife, Lauren, played by Virginia Williams, is left in charge of the firm. Lauren and Kate find it hard to develop a healthy and functional relationship, because they are the same age.

Kate and Lauren's struggle to work together, and accept each other, as they deal with the loss of a husband and father is the primary focus of the series.

Kate struggles in her on and off, roller coaster, relationship with her soon-to-be ex-husband. Played by Justin Patrick, Michael Trucco is a top ranking lawyer at the DA's office, and leads a complicated relationship with Kate. Kate's assistant Leonardo, played by Baron Vaughn, helps Kate keep her life's constant chaos in check, and helps to keep Kate's life in order as she deals with the loss of her father, her work, and her relationships with Lauren and Michael.

Kate Reed captivates audiences with her ability to solve seemingly impossible cases. No matter how hectic her personal life becomes, Kate always manages to cleverly close the case, no matter how high the odds are stacked against her.

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Adventure Time with Finn and Jake Online Review

TV Shows Title: Adventure Time with Finn and Jake
TV Schedule: every Monday 8:00 PM et/pt
TV Channel: Cartoon Network
Genre: Animation & Cartoons

Adventure Time with Finn and Jake Story Summary:

Adventure Time with Finn and Jake, or simply 'Adventure Time', as it is now known, is a cartoon that runs on Cartoon Network. It follows the lives of two main protagonists, Finn the human and Jake the dog.

These two aspiring heroes live in a magical world called "Ooo" and spend much of their time battling various evildoers or getting into wacky situations.

The show was initially a short that was shown on Nickelodeon, but Nickelodeon decided not to turn the show into a series despite entreaties from the producers.

After pitching the show to Cartoon Network, it was given the go ahead and first debuted on that network in April 2010. The show is currently in its fourth season.

Aside from battling evil, 13-year-old boy Finn and (talking)dog Jake are known for spouting out hip-sounding catchphrases, dancing, and occasionally playing music. Finn also has a crush on one of the show's recurring characters, Princess Bubblegum.

Princess Bubblegum rules over a realm known as 'The Candy Kingdom', which is populated by edible, talking desserts or candies. Jake also has a love interest, namely a kind of rainbow unicorn named 'Lady Rainicorn'. Jake also possesses the magical ability to transform his body into almost any size or shape he desires.

Magic is a common theme in many of the episodes, and several of the recurring characters have magical powers. These include: The Ice King, a sort of ice-based wizard who also loves Princess Bubblegum; Marceline, a vampire who can fly and turn into a bat; and others.

While magic is a recurring element in the show, good and evil, personal integrity, and the complexity of relationships are often intertwined in most episodes.

The show often approaches many of its subjects with a mixture of seriousness and whimsy and has proven to be quite popular with teens and adults, as well as younger children. A fifth season of the show is planned, and will again be on Cartoon Network.

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The Lying Game Online Review

TV Shows Title: The Lying Game
TV Schedule: every Mondays at 9:00 pm et/pt 
TV Channel: ABC
Genre: Drama

The Lying Game Story Summary:

The Lying Game is a teen drama that airs on ABC Family and premiered in August 2011. Currently, only one season of the show has been aired, but the second season is scheduled for a winter 2012 premier.

The show follows Emma, played by Alexandra Chando. She is a foster child who discovers she has an identical twin sister, Sutton, also played by Chando. The twins were split up at birth with Emma winding up in a foster home and Sutton being adopted by wealthy parents, living what seems to be the perfect life.
The two sisters meet prior to the show's first episode and agree to switch lives while Sutton seeks information about the girl's birth mother in Los Angeles. The excitement of switching lives soon wears off for Emma when she discovers that her sister's life is not what it seems.

The show features many twists and turns, and many different characters fit into and feed the mystery. The season finale left audiences with a shocker. Sutton, reveals that Rebecca, played by Charisma Carpenter, is the twins mother, and Rebecca implies that the two have been working together to make everything that came previously fall into place.

After this cliffhanger, fans of the show faced uncertainty about its future, until it was finally announced that there would be a second season.

The show, based on a book series of the same name by Sara Shepard, received praise from some critics, including receiving a rating of five out of five stars from TV Fanatic's Leigh Raines, and received other favorable reviews from Buzz Focus's Melody Simpson and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Rob Owen.

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The Office Online Review

TV Shows Title: The Office
TV Schedule: every Thursday 9:00 PM et/pt
TV Channel: NBC
Genre: Comedy 


The Office Story Summary:

Back when the idea was first introduced, the notion of an American version of the hit British series The Office seemed like quite a gamble to a number of people. These days, however, the American version of the program is much more notable and celebrated than the British series.

Although the original series was a massive critical and cultural success, audiences were unsure whether the specific type of humor the show introduced would tickle the funny bones of American television watchers. The style of the show was unique, and the characters were not funny in the broad, conventional way that most sitcoms portray them.

However, the version of The Office that has graced American television screens for eight successful seasons has carved its own niche, and it has become a comedy classic in its own right.

Key to the success of The Office for many years was the performance of the talented Steve Carell as office boss Michael Scott. While the character of Michael Scott is very similar to Ricky Gervais' David Brent from the British series, Carell's portrayal masterfully makes the sensibility of the original show palatable to American audiences.

A very complicated character, Scott can be bumbling and inarticulate one moment, turn into a hurtful monster the next, while finally settling into the type of persona that just wants to please people. It is hard to think of anyone else being able to perform this role as well as Steve Carell, who added nuance, likability and pathos to the part.

While there are certainly other aspects of the show that have made it successful, Carell's performance ensured that the show would become a hit and last for many years on American television.

Sadly, Steve Carell left the show after its seventh season to pursue other projects. However, the show's core characters have been able to pick up the slack and deliver a program that is just as funny as it was in its first few seasons.

Thankfully, another reason for the show's massive success is its talented writing staff. Thanks to their efforts, the show has been able to continue successfully in the absence of the Michael Scott character.

Two of the most important writers on The Office are also a couple of its most beloved cast members. Paul Lieberstein has served as Executive Producer, Show Runner and Head Writer, but he is, perhaps, best-known for his portrayal of hapless human resources director Toby Flenderson.

Mindy Kaling, who plays bubbly customer service representative Kelly Kapoor, is also a writer on the show. In fact, while audiences get to see most of the supporting characters in many of the show's scenes, Lieberstein and Kaling's characters are deliberately given work spaces off screen so that their real life counterparts can dedicate time to writing.

Thanks to the many talented people who have worked on the show over the years, the American version of The Office has become a staple of comedy television in the United States, and it will likely continue to appear on television screens for many more years in syndication.

It has almost completely overshadowed its British predecessor while ensuring its place in television history. Although the future of the program is in doubt, it will be back for another season that will surely bring laughs to millions of Americans.

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NCIS Online Review

TV Shows Title: NCIS
TV Schedule: every Tuesday 8:00 PM et/pt 
TV Channel: CBS
Genre: Action & Adventure, Drama

NCIS Story Summary:

The award winning popular television police drama NCIS (not to be confused with CSI), follows a fictional team of Naval Criminal Investigative Service agents who are part of the Major Case Response Team, based at the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C.

The team is headed by Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon), a former Marine scout sniper who served in Operation Just Cause and Operation Desert Storm. He is highly skilled interrogator who has seen many a battle and relies on his gut instinct for his investigating.

Throughout, references are made to his past, mainly his former boss and Mentor, former NIC Agent Mike Franks (Muse Watson) and his deceased wife and daughter.

Next in line is Senior Field Agent Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly), the former Baltimore Homicide Detective, who is an avid movie buff and who may not always seem like he takes it seriously but does always get the job done.

There continually seems to be some kind of sexual tension to him and any female that is involved in a case and his female partners in the team. His father also recurs throughout the seasons generally causing him problems.

The rest of the field agents are made up of agent Ziva David (Cote de Pablo), a former Mossad officer and techy Field Agent Timothy McGee (Sean Murray). Ziva brings an extra dimension to the team, she has in the past faced conflicts between her job and her family. McGee may sometimes be the butt of Tony's jokes but he is a vital component of the team using his computer skills in hacking to speed up cases.

Assisting the agents is Gothic lab tech Abby Sciuto (Pauley Perrette) who uses the latest technologies and her knowledge to help in the cases and insightful medical examiner Dr. Donald Mallard (David McCallum), nicknamed Ducky who always has a story to tell.

The NCIS Team is currently lead by Director Leon Vance and he is the third director the team has seen. The first Director Thomas Morrow (Alan Dale) left after being promoted to Deputy Director of the Department of Homeland Security and the second Director of NCIS was Jenny Shepard (Lauren Holly) who was killed in a shootout.

The NCIS team investigates crimes involving the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, including terror threats, kidnappings, stolen sensitive data and death of personal.

Like many popular police dramas, NCIS has spawned a spin off in the shape of NCIS: Los Angeles, which featured in a crossover episode and both, shared Director Vance.

NCIS has been running for nine seasons and has been nominated for two Primetime Emmys. The show didn't start off as a ratings success however over the seasons has gained popularity. There have been a few cameos by noted actors including a recurring role for Hollywood legend Robert Wagner as Tony DiNozzo's charismatic father.

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The Mentalist Online Review

TV Shows Title: The Mentalist
TV Schedule: every Thursday 10:00 PM et/pt 
TV Channel: CBS
Genre: Action & Adventure, Crime, Drama 

The Mentalist Story Summary:

The Mentalist is an American police drama that has been running since September of 2008. It airs on CBS and has won several awards. The television show's ratings remain strong enough that it has been renewed for the 2013 season.

The show's protagonist is Patrick Jane, an ex psychic fraud who has skills of observation like Sherlock Holmes. He may not read minds, but he spots things that the official police do not, just like Holmes.

The show starts with Patrick Jane being called in on a murder investigation. He decides to help because the murder has all of the hallmarks of having been committed by a psychopath that goes by the name of "Red John." Patrick offended this serial killer during his days as a fraudulent psychic by saying he had profiled him with the police.

In retaliation, "Red John" murdered Patrick's wife and child. Since then, he has been trying to hunt down the killer and killers like him. Each of the first season's episodes contain the word red, though most are about crimes that do not involve "Red John," showing how important the antagonist is to the series. The rest of the seasons follow that example, though sometimes euphemisms for red are used.

The series does not change much over the next three seasons. Patrick Jane is still hunting "Red John" and other miscellaneous criminals along the way. There seems to be a bit of a tradition of making each season's last episode about "Red John" and Jane's struggle to find him and stop him for good.

In Season 3, the audience is led to believe that Patrick Jane finally got his man and killed him. However, this was not the case. The beginning of the following season showed that the killer was still at large.

The end of season 4 reveals an elaborate plot against "Red John," perpetrated by Patrick Jane and a team. The idea is to trick "Red John" into thinking that Jane is no longer working for the police. As always, the plot fails, but there are a few interesting twists.

The killer seems to have an informant among the authorities and Jane gets his hands on a "Red John" accomplice. The season ends on a cliffhanger with Jane and the police working to get information on the killer from the accomplice.

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How I Met Your Mother Online Review

TV Shows Title: How I Met Your Mother
TV Schedule: every Monday 8:00 PM et/pt
TV Channel: CBS
Genre: Comedy

How I Met Your Mother Story Summary:

How I Met Your Mother is a unique take on the standard sitcom format. Told mostly through flashbacks, the show is framed around Ted Mosby telling his children the story about how he and their mother met many years prior. The show focuses on a younger Ted Mosby and the funny antics he and his friends get involved in on their quests for love, happiness and fulfillment.

Ted Mosby is the main character and a romantic sort with a razor sharp wit and a propensity for getting into awkward situations. Lily and Marshall are his college friends and, at one time, roommates. They provide a real backbone of warmth to the show with their goofy antics and deep love for one another.
Robin is a new addition to the group of friends and is also a one-time romantic interest for Ted. Robin's Canadian heritage and very unfeminine demeanor are the basis of many humorous situations on the show. Last, but not least, is Barney, a slick womanizer who hides a gentle heart behind his smirk and rapid fire one liners.

Over the course of the show, the five friends get themselves involved in a wide array of hilarious situations. From Ted stealing a restaurant decoration to show his love for Robin to Barney's endless array of quips and his string of conquests to the amusing disaster of Lily and Marshall's wedding day, the group experiences many funny events.

Yet, there is also a strong heart to the show as it deals with dramatic themes like break-ups, the death of parents and struggles with infertility.

The flash forwards as Ted talks to his kids are also amusing in their own right as the children, despite their short amount of screen time, even have well-developed personalities. Getting to see the futures of your favorite characters also provides a counterpoint to the comedy and drama of the show's present time line.

Overall, the balance of wicked humor with a strong emotional core in How I Met Your Mother creates a show that will make you laugh, make you cry and definitely give you a few good laughs.

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Hell's Kitchen Online Review

TV Shows Title: Hell's Kitchen
TV Schedule: every Monday 8:00 PM et/pt
TV Channel: FOX 
Genre: Food, Reality

Hell's Kitchen Story Summary:

What do you get when you mix 18 chefs of suspect talent with plenty of fear, toss in a handful of impossible tasks, and liberally spice with one of the fieriest chefs on television? You get Hell's Kitchen, Chef Gordon Ramsay's perfect recipe for disaster.

Hell's Kitchen, at its best, is great reality television. It's like a circus from hell with Ramsay as ringmaster. When he cracks the whip, the competitors jump, and If they don't they may end up in tears, scrubbing the floor, or even kicked out the door for good.

At its worst it's a mosh pit of contrived drama where dreams are crushed. You wonder who was set up for failure, how much it was scripted, and even who might have been asked to take a dive.

Anyone who has heard of Gordon Ramsay knows he is as good a bully as he is restauranteur. Even in his other shows he comes across as hot tempered when there is no reason to be.

In Hell's Kitchen he turns up the attitude, looking for weakness in the chefs and dressing them down at the top of his lungs. You kind of feel sorry for them and wonder if he treats chefs in his own restaurants this way.

But this is what makes Hell's Kitchen so addictive. Not knowing who is going to get it next, what parts are fake, and how long it will be until someone takes Ramsay out back and beats him senseless with a brick or Parmesan Reggiano stuffed into a sock.

Some of the chefs obviously shouldn't be there, but that's part of the fun. You never know when the line cook from a waffle house is going to flame out or how the nanny with no restaurant experience made it this far.

There is also always one arrogant jerk who always gets further than he should. Man it's great when they go down!

After 10 seasons you would think that the audience or contestants would have grown weary of Ramsay and his act. Luckily Hell's Kitchen is still going strong and becoming more a part of reality show culture each year.

The truth is, as long as the rewards are big enough there will always be people willing to embarrass themselves in front of an audience, and as long as that is true, there will always be an audience for Hell's Kitchen.

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The Game Online Review

TV Shows Title: The Game 
TV Schedule: every Tuesday at 10PM et/pt 
TV Channel: BET
Genre: Comedy, Drama

The Game Story Summary:

Melanie Barnett, played by Tia Mowry, is the star of BET's television show The Game. Barnett is a med student and the girlfriend of football player Derwin Davis, played by Pooch Hall. Barnett is smart, beautiful and married to a famous and successful man.

She's also the stepmom of his three year old son, Derwin Davis, Junior. Eventually, Barnett becomes the President of the San Diego Sunbeams.

When Barnett passes on the opportunity to go to school at Johns Hopkins Medical School in order to stay close to Davis, she's forced to accept and adjust to her brand new life. Davis has recently joined the San Diego Sabres as their third string wide receiver.

Barnett begins to make friends in her new hometown, including Tasha Mack, played by Wendy Raquel Robinson. Mack is a single mom who manages San Diego Sabres quarterback Malik Wright, played by Hosea Chanzes.

Mack is an extremely strong woman who knows exactly what she wants. After her old friend Melanie Davis fired her from her job as the Publicist for the San Diego Sabres, Mack went on to start her own public relations firm in California.

Wright eventually becomes estranged from the Sabres when he attend rehab. Once out of rehab, though, he finally feels ready to stay healthy and reclaim his life. While in rehab, Wright met his girlfriend Jenna Rice.

Barnett also befriends reality TV star Kelly Pitts, played by Brittany Daniel, who is married to Jason Pitts, played by Coby Bell. Jason Pitts is another player for the San Diego Sabres who ends up leaving the team.

Eventually, Jason and Kelly get divorced as well. On his sports show called The Pitts Stop, Jason talks about sports and continues to brag about his time on the field. Jason has a daughter, Brittany, and a brand new girlfriend, Chardonnay.

There's more than one game being played in this show - football isn't the only sport that's focused on. Barnett starts to learn how the "game" is played in her own life. The women and wives who support their football playing men have their own rules.

The television show The Game is on BET every Tuesday night at 10 p.m. Originally, The Game aired on the CW until 2010.

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Supernatural Online Review

TV Shows Title: Supernatural
TV Schedule: every Thursday 9:00 PM et/pt
TV Channel: The CW
Genre: Drama, Science Fiction

Supernatural Story Summary:

"Supernatural" is a show that revolves around a pair of Hunters named Sam and Dean Winchester. Sam and Dean are brothers, and Dean is the older brother. The series kicked off September 2005 and was supposed to end at the end of the fifth season.

The end of the series didn't have anything to do with bad ratings, but it had everything to do with the fact that the show's creator, Eric Kripke, had planned for the show to have a predetermined ending with no loose ends.

However, it was announced in February 2010 that the show would be renewed for a sixth season. The seventh season ended May 2012 and the eighth is set to start airing in September 2012.

Along with the Winchesters, who ride around in Dean's pride and joy, a 1967 Chevrolet Impala, the cast includes a host of demons, angels, Hunters and the boy's father-figure, lore-master and fellow Hunter, Bobby Singer.

Their mother was a Hunter first, though this fact wasn't known until later in the series. Her death and the circumstances surrounding it caused John to take up the Hunter career. Dean gladly followed in his footsteps while Sam attempted to eschew the family business and lead a regular life.

That, however, didn't work out. The first few seasons follow Sam and Dean as they track down Yellow Eyes, the Demon that killed their mother and marked Sam as an infant, and try to find the Colt, a gun made by Samuel Colt that was made to kill demons.

As the series progresses, the ultimate battle between Good and Evil is introduced. Demons have run amok from the very beginning, but angels were introduced in the fourth season with an angel named Castiel.

He rescues Dean from hell, and Crowley, a middle-management demon, is also introduced. His cavalier attitude makes him a very likable and amusing character, despite his being on the "Evil" side.

The original series finale at the end of the fifth season saw the Apocalypse thwarted and Sam sent to Hell with Lucifer and the Archangel Michael. Since then, Sam's been brought back and the brothers have had quite a ride.

Sam carted Lucifer around in his head for nearly two seasons, Dean realized a normal life was beyond him, Castiel went from helpful to taking God's place and unleashing the Leviathan on the world to becoming a pacifist.

Despite the seemingly serious themes of the series, there is a lot of humor such as Dean's love affair with fast food and 80s rock ballads, Castiel's naivety, Sam's out-of-place seriousness and the Prophet.

There are allusions to the huge, devoted fan community, an anime series and a graphic novel that revolve around the series as well.

Supernatural continues to be a humorous, watchable series with well-developed characters and an entertaining story arc.

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Grey's Anatomy Online Review

TV Shows Title: Grey's Anatomy 
TV Schedule: every Thursdays at 9:00 pm
TV Channel: ABC
Genre: Drama

Grey's Anatomy Story Summary:

Set in Seattle, Gray's Anatomy follows the lives and challenges of the medical staff of Seattle Grace Hospital. Over the course of the series, the cast goes from being young and inexperienced surgical interns into becoming skilled doctors.

The series shows the cast doing through difficult life lessons and professional decisions, with stronger emphasis on the lives of the medical professionals on the cast. The issues that the show deals with are wide and varied.

The show's primary focus rests on Meredith Grey, who begins as a surgical intern at Seattle Grace Hospital. The title of the show references her as well as the essential medical text Grey's Anatomy itself.

She is a woman who is shown to be competent and strong-willed, though she is still troubled by her mother's affair with Richard Webber, the former chief of surgery in the hospital where she now works.

Despite the show's focus on Meredith Grey, there are a number of other strong and conflicting personalities on the cast. Grey's best friend is Christina Yang, a competitive surgeon whose ambition manages to alienate a great deal of the cast. Mirand Bailey is the demanding attending surgeon who both frightens and inspires the interns, while Alex Karev is an attractive bur troubled surgeon who has deep interpersonal issues.

Rounding out the main cast is Richard Webber, who provides the series with tension in his difficulties managing the hospital and his own rather fraught relationship with Meredith Grey herself. The length of the show has lent to vast character expansion, especially as more and more characters are introduced. Included among them are many of the family members of the main cast.

The show has currently completed eight seasons, with a ninth season that has yet to be released. The story began with the basic challenges that are faced by surgical interns during their first year and the first season dealt primarily with professional difficulties, which were immense.

By the second season, the show began dealing with the private lives of the main characters as well, revealing the close ties between their professional work and their personal lives. Issues that are called into question include alcoholism, mental illness and dysfunctional family relationships. In addition to this, it reflects the difficulties faced by patients and doctors as they attempt to work together.

The doctors and interns are not always good human beings, giving the show a certain realistic grittiness. This gives the world of Gray's Anatomy a greater scope than might be expected for a medical show.

In season six, the hospital where the drama takes places merged with another hospital called Mercy West Hospital, bringing on more cast whose lives start to intertwine with those of the regular cast.

The series has won critical acclaim for its willingness to take enormous risks in terms of its narrative and its characters, and the end result has been a show that is both compelling and exciting.

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Gossip Girl Online Review

TV Shows Title: Gossip Girl
TV Schedule: every Monday 9:00 PM et/pt 
TV Channel: The CW
Genre: Drama 

Gossip Girl Story Summary:

Gossip Girl is one of the top American television dramas geared toward teenagers. Based on the series of young adult novels by Cecily von Ziegesar, Gossip Girl was introduced to The CW in 2007.

This nighttime drama is unique in that it is narrated by an omniscient character the viewer never sees; Gossip Girl is not only a fictional blog but also an invisible character on the show.

The show focuses on a group of scandalous New York teenagers who live in the luxurious Upper East Side as well as the mystery of who is behind the Gossip Girl blog, which often reveals secret information about the central characters.

The initial season of the show focused on Serena van der Woodsen's return to the Upper East Side from her boarding school. Upon her return, Serena hopes to reconcile her close relationship with Blair Waldorf after she betrayed her in the worst way.

Blair also happens to be the highly influential queen bee of her private school and can come up with a plan for revenge faster than she can snap her manicured fingers.

Gossip Girl also shows the evolving relationship between other characters. Nate Archibald and Chuck Bass are best friends who try to overcome in spite of the respective financial and moral failings of their fathers.

Dan and Jenny Humphrey are initially considered lower class because they live in Brooklyn. They are both considered the 'ultimate insiders' as they explore their changing social status. Some of the character's parents are also prominent features of the show.

Gossip Girl is an award-winning show but it is winding down to its sixth and final season. The show has always been divided into half seasons and follows the characters from their last years in high school to their first years as adults.

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Ghost Hunters Online Review

TV Shows Title: Ghost Hunters
TV schedule: every Wednesday 9:00 PM et/pt
TV Channel: Syfy
Genre: Documentary & Biography, Reality, Science Fiction 

Ghost Hunters Story Summary:

Ghost Hunters is a television show about capturing evidence that ghosts or paranormal entities do exist. The ghost hunting team is headed by its founders, Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson. Together with other trained specialists these men attempt to capture evidence of the paranormal while helping people who believe they are experiencing a haunting.

Instead of jumping to conclusions and imaging that every stray sound is a ghost, the team from Ghost Hunters tries to use facts and science to back up their evidence. The team is first presented with a case.

These cases can be at private homes or in famous places that seem to be haunted, such as battle ships, museums or older hotels. The ghost hunting team carefully reviews the claims of a haunting, discussing exactly what people have been experiencing, before they even enter the building.

Once inside a location, the team sets up infra-red cameras and sound recording devices. The team then splits into pairs or groups in order to do personal investigations in each part of the building.

The teams first try to debunk, or disprove, any claims they have heard. They believe that an overly active imagination is usually to blame for a suspected haunting. This also lends validity to anything they do find that they believe is paranormal.

After conducting an investigation, which can take anywhere from a few hours to an entire night, Jason, Grant and the rest of the team carefully review all of the data they captured.

They watch each video and listen to the sounds they picked up. If they find anything strange they discuss it. Strange occurrences that seem valid are presented to the owner of the haunted building as possible evidence.

On Ghost Hunters, the team has several goals. One is, of course, to prove that paranormal activity does exist. Their biggest goal, however, is to help people who are afraid to live or work in a certain place because they think it might be haunted. The team attempts to lay old ways of thinking to rest, and brings a scientific approach to the not-so-scientific process of ghost hunting.

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Eureka Online Review

TV Shows Title: Eureka
TV schedule: every Monday 8:00 PM et/pt
TV Channel: Syfy
Genre: Science Fiction, Drama

Eureka Story Summary:

Hidden in the Pacific Northwest, in the state of Oregon, the United States Department of Defense created a secret town. This little town is Eureka, and it is not on any map. Its main occupants are a high-tech research facility called Global Dynamics and its staff of geniuses, scientists, and their families.

Global Dynamics credits itself with most of the technological advances in the past 50 years. In Eureka, the most creative minds in the country explore the boundaries of science through groundbreaking experiments.

Eureka is a SyFy channel original television series. This science fiction show first aired in July 2006 and began its fifth and final season in April 2012. Despite a loyal following in the United States and the United Kingdom, SyFy cancelled the show due to low profit margins.

The series begins with U.S. Marshal Jack Carter finding himself lost in the little town of Eureka. He is transporting his own daughter as a juvenile runaway back to her mother in Los Angeles. Carter and his daughter have a car accident and must stay in the town for several days while they wait on car repairs.

When a science experiment goes wrong and injures the Sheriff of Eureka, Jack Carter steps in to take over the investigation. After the crisis is over, Jack accepts the position of Sheriff of Eureka based on a recommendation from the retiring Sheriff.

Carter realizes very quickly that Eureka is going to be both a frustrating and an exciting place to live and work. He is a man of above average intelligence in a town where even the children are geniuses.

However, his redeeming quality is his ability to work with people to get problems solved. With each episode of the show focusing on a new scientific catastrophe, Jack Carter's people skills are constantly in demand.

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The Bachelor Online Review

TV Shows Title: The Bachelor
TV schedule: every Monday 8:00 PM et/pt 
TV Channel: ABC 
Genre: Drama, Reality 

The Bachelor Story Summary:

Since its debut in 2002, The Bachelor has captivated audiences across the country by intertwining the romantic escapades of several young women vying for the attention of one elusive bachelor. The premise of the show is quite simple: a sexy new bachelor is chosen each year, along with a pool of single women. In most seasons, there have been 25 women in the running, though occasionally more have been added to this pool.

As the bachelor gets to know the women, he chooses who he would like to keep around by presenting each of those women with a red rose at a rose ceremony. Those who do not receive a rose must leave the show.

In order to get to know the women better, the bachelor goes on a series of dates with his different prospects. Initially, many of these are group dates, making it difficult for the women to make an impression.

As more women are sent home and the number of prospective mates dwindles, more intimate dates are set up for each of the women and the bachelor. Audiences have watched these tales unfold again and again for more than ten years, riveted by the romantic plot lines and drama that often erupts amongst the ladies.

The show cumilates in the final selection of the woman the bachelor has chosen. The bachelor narrows down his options to two different women, generally heading with them to their hometown to meet their families and see where they grew up.

After this segment of the show is complete, the bachelor reveals who he wants to date. In many seasons, the bachelor has even proposed. Although many of these couples have not lasted, some have gone on to marry and enjoy a happy life together.

The success of The Bachelor has led to several spin off series, including The Bachelorette, where the roles are reversed. Both shows have maintained followings with millions of men and women, all of whom are eager to weigh in on the action.

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The Bachelorette Online Review

TV Shows Title: The Bachelorette
TV schedule: every Monday 8:00 PM et/pt 
TV Channel: ABC
Genre: Drama, Reality 

The Bachelorette Story Summary:

The Bachelorette is a reality game show that airs on the ABC network. The show was created as a counterpart to The Bachelor and features one eligible, single female who narrows down a field of 25 to 30 men as a potential husband. In the final episode, one of the two men remaining proposes to the bachelorette who can then accept or refuse. The original series aired from 2003 to 2005 and returned in 2008 for its current run.

The popular series has seen its share of drama, with many contestants of both sexes crossing over from The Bachelor and competing from the opposite position. Generally, the runner-up from each show becomes an eligible party the following season.

Over eight seasons of The Bachelorette, three of the final couples have broken up, two of the ladies ended up marrying someone not related to the series and one relationship from season seven remains in question. The only success story thus far has been from season one winners Trista Rehn and Ryan Sutter who married and have two children together.

While devised as a novel way for people to meet, get to know one another and possibly marry, The Bachelorette does present some negative stereotypes in the dating world, namely the focus on looks and potential. Relationships end for a variety of reasons, on or off television, but this show seems to prove it is difficult to quantify something as mysterious as human chemistry.

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Dexter Online Review

TV Shows Title: Dexter
TV schedule: every Sunday 9:00 PM et/pt 
TV Channel: Showtime
Genre: Drama 

Dexter Story Summary:

Originally based on a novel by Jeff Lindsay called "Darkly Dreaming Dexter", "Dexter" is a Showtime masterpiece. While Lindsay has written more in his Dexter series, "Dexter" spun away from the author's vision after the first season which aired in 2006.

Dexter Morgan, the character who is followed in the series, is a blood spatter analyst for the Miami Metro Police Department by day, and he is a serial killer by night. Unlike most stories that involve serial killers where the killer is deeply disturbed and creepy, "Dexter" works to show Dexter in a more sympathetic light.

"Innocent" people are not to be killed, according to "The Code," a strict creed that Dexter must live by to keep his urges in check. The creed is attributed to his adopted father, former Miami Metro officer Harry Morgan. Harry found Dexter sitting in a pool of blood as a toddler during a call to respond to a homicide in which Dexter's mother and a number of other people were killed.

Harry goes on to teach Dexter how to control his "Dark Passenger," as they call Dexter's killing urge, and how to kill without being caught. An additional part of "The Code" is that an innocent must never be harmed. While Harry is dead by the time we enter Dexter's life, he plays the part of Dexter's conscience throughout the series.

Like Dexter or not, it does have some brilliant writing. When real life serial killers are talked about, we are told about their uncontrollable urges to kill and their uncanny ability to mimic certain emotions that they don't actually feel. Dexter refers to those urges, as mentioned, as the "Dark Passenger." The "Dark Passenger" is Dexter's dark side that must be kept in check and only unleashed under the iron-clad rules laid out by "The Code."

Dexter is wonderful with kids, but his interactions with other adults, including his adoptive sister, Debra, are often mystifying to him. While his relationships with adults are often awkward, he is naturally great with kids. Unlike the killers he's pitted against in the series who are devoid of real emotion, Dexter has developed some emotions he didn't know he was capable of.

Dexter's discovery of real emotions, though, has him at a disadvantage. Because of his family ties, he's started to question himself and his "Dark Passenger." Season Six left audiences with a major cliff-hanger in which it's unclear as to whether or not Dexter has accidentally revealed his "Dark Passenger" to Debra. He was nearly caught as the "Bay Harbor Butcher" but he managed to pin that on another killer.

For a unique look at a serial killer and his strangely "normal" life, Dexter is a captivating show with a well-developed cast of characters. Season Seven is set to air September 2012 on Showtime.

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The Biggest Loser Online Review

TV Shows Title: The Biggest Loser 
TV schedule: every Tuesday 8:00 PM et/pt
TV Channel: NBC 
Genre: Game Show, Reality 

The Biggest Loser Story Summary:

Weight loss is big business in America. Celebrity trainers, revolutionary diets and amazing success stories permeate the national conscious. The Biggest Loser combines these factors with the country's love of reality television to create a successful multi-season chronicle of morbidly obese men and women reclaiming their bodies.

Contestants on the show start off by documenting their struggles with their weight. Most are struggling with emotional or family problems and never learned proper nutrition or exercise. The Biggest Loser offers a chance for contestants to change their lives and learn how to live healthy.


While teaching the contestants, the show is also able to teach viewers by tying educational information to the compelling narratives of the players on the show.

Celebrity trainers like Jillian Michaels help motivate participants as they learn how to do cardiovascular and weight-lifting training to create a healthier body. Show contestants are shown sweating in the gym and learning how to eat healthy in the kitchen. The competitors also participate in runs and even marathons.

At the beginning of each season, contestants are split into two teams. The teams train together and weigh-in together at the end of each show. The team that has lost the smallest percentage of weight loses a team member.

Towards the end of the season, teams are dissolved and the players compete against each other to lose weight. The last player remaining earns the title "The Biggest Loser" and a substantial cash prize, ranging from one hundred thousand to a quarter of a million dollars.

The contestants are monitored by doctors and weight loss professionals. Because of the substantial amount of weight lost, emulating the contestants would not be safe for viewers. However, The Biggest Loser does show America healthy eating and exercising habits to practice at home.

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Burn Notice Online Review

TV Shows Title: Burn Notice 
TV schedule: every Thursday 9:00 PM et/pt 
TV Channel: USA 
Genre: Drama

Burn Notice Story Summary:

Burn Notice is one of the biggest hit television shows of the summer, and is one of USA networks most successful shows ever. The drama centered around international spy Michael Weston, the show is shot almost entirely on location in Miami.

The basic idea behind the show revolves around the story of Michael Weston receiving a "burn notice." In the pilot episode, viewers find out that "burn notice" is a term used to describe the process of firing a spy. When a spy gets fired from his job, he is essentially erased from existence.

His bank accounts are frozen, passports are eliminated, and any trace of his past is removed from the record. The government agency that previously supported him no longer offers any kind of help or guidance. The spy is basically on his own.

The earlier seasons of the show revolve around Michael figuring out who burned him. This takes him on a journey through a collection of misfits, criminals, and corrupt government agents.

One of the interesting features of the show is how Michael and his friends help a "client" each week. Each episode features a side story of Michael and his team assisting his clients with their unique set of skills. Michael is assisted by his best friend Same Axe, Jesse Porter, and his girlfriend Fiona Glennane.

Through one way or another, they are introduced to a new client each and every week who is interested in taking advantage of the skills that Michael and his team bring to the table. In addition to working on the "case of the week," the overarching story of figuring out what happened to Michael and why he was burned is advanced as well.

One of the nice things about this series is how the characters are developed. In the early stages of the series, you really don't know much about Michael, Fiona, or the other characters.

Throughout the series, you get to know Michael, his mother, his brother, and the other characters a lot better. The writers of the show do a great job of creating intriguing weekly stories while keeping the overall theme of the show advancing from one season to the next. The show also provides a nice mixture of action, adventure, humor, and slick spy tricks.

If you enjoy well-made spy dramas, Burn Notice is definitely a show that you should check out this summer on USA Network.

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Bones Online ReviewBones

TV Shows Title: Bones
TV schedule: every Monday 8:00 PM et/pt 
TV Channel: FOX
Genre: Drama

Bones Story Summary:

"Bones" has been showing since 2005 on Fox and just finished airing the seventh season in May 2012. The series follows Dr. Temperance Brennan, a forensic anthropologist and played by Emily Deschanel, and FBI agent Seeley Booth, played by David Boreanaz of "Angel." Brennan, because of her love of bones, has been nicknamed "Bones" by Booth.

The character of Dr. Temperance Brennan is loosely based on the character of Dr. Temperance Brennan in the book series by Kathy Reichs. Reichs is also one of the show's producers and a real life forensic anthropologist. Dr. Brennan is a very literal person and deals almost exclusively in facts. Because humans don't always behave according to the "facts," she has a hard time in social situations.

However, she takes social interaction as seriously as she does her work as a forensic anthropologist and her coworkers at The Jeffersonian Institute (a real, well-known bastion of scientific discovery that has been fictionalized in the series) work at trying to help her understand a regular person's humor and reactions to social situations. However, the bulk of the story revolves around Bones, who has been authorized to be Booth's partner, and Booth as they solve crimes.

Cases are assigned to them when they involve human remains that have bones present. Some are fresh, some are ancient and others are barely recognizable or are fragmented.

Dr. Brennan's team, made up of Angela, a reconstruction artist and genius with computer algorithms whose father is ZZ Top's guitarist, Hodgins, an expert on bug larvae, plants and trace material, and a revolving cast of forensic anthropology interns. Some of the interns can't hack Brennan's lack of an interpersonal style and others are just as quirky as the rest of the regular crew.

One graduate student, Zack Addy, who later became Dr. Zack Addy was just as awkward as Brennan in social situations, but he wound up being an apprentice to a serial killer later on in the series. Bones, Booth and crew have had to deal with Zack and his master and several other killers.

All that while Brennan helps solving crimes, trying to manage her relationship with Booth (they're now married and have a daughter despite a bumpy ride) and dealing with her father's criminal past and abandonment of her.

Other characters include the always analyzing psychologist, Dr. Lance Sweets, Dr. Camille Saroyan, the head of the Jeffersonian Forensics Division and grumpy, but lovable, prosecutor in the U.S Attorney's office, Caroline Julian. "Bones" has a great mix of dialogue, humor and drama which makes it a yearly favorite for many. With a new serial killer toying with the team, the eighth season, which starts in September 2012, is already looking good.

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The Big Bang Theory Online Review

TV Shows Title: The Big Bang Theory
TV schedule: every Thursday 8:30 PM et/pt 
TV Channel: CBS
Genre: Comedy

The Big Bang Theory Story Summary:

Set in Pasadena, Calif., the Big Bang Theory starts out following the lives of four geeky friends and a girl named Penny. The friends are Leonard, Sheldon, Rajesh and Howard.

The boys work at the Caltech, the California Institute of Technology and Penny is an aspiring actress who works at a Cheesecake Factory.

Leonard and Sheldon are both physicists, the former an experimental physicist and the latter a theoretical physicist. Howard is an aerospace engineer and Rajesh, who is usually called Raj, is a astrophysicist.

Raj lives on his own, Howard lives with his mom, and Leonard and Sheldon live across the hall from the street smart Penny.

The four friends start off with varying degrees of social ineptitude, but as the seasons have gone by, they've come out of their shells somewhat. Leonard's had several relationships, the most noteworthy so far with Penny (twice) and with Raj's sister coming in a close second.

Howard, who seems to think that being sexually inappropriate and overtly cliched is the way to be, has managed to become engaged to a microbiologist, Bernadette. They met through Penny when Bernadette was a part-time waitress at the Cheesecake Factory.

Even the O.C.D. Sheldon Cooper has found a meaningful relationship with a woman. While it's not terribly romantic to most of the world, he and the equally ultra-smart and socially awkward Amy Farrah Fowler have been linked for a couple of seasons now.

The last hold-out of the group, when it comes to love, is Rajesh. Raj has a small problem when it comes to women. He can't talk to them without imbibing alcohol, and as an astrophysicist, he can't exactly keep a flask on hand at all times to take a nip when he meets someone he likes. His escapades with women make for some of the most amusing parts of the show.

Sheldon's lack of social abilities, though, take the cake. Not only is he absurdly O.C.D., but he's an atheist who gets along better with Leonard's extremely clinical, psychologist mother than he does his own. Sheldon often refers to his fundamentalist Christian childhood as "hell," and he and his mother clash often over evolution and creationism.

His mom isn't the only person he clashes with. It's Sheldon versus the "stupid" world most of the time. The Big Bang Theory is certainly a "smart" sitcom. Where it differs from other TV shows that have attempted to go the same route is that it doesn't dumb down the science references to suit the "average" television viewer.

With exceptions like Sheldon attempting to explain scientific principles to Penny, the jokes range from scientific, such as when Sheldon attempted to "train" Penny using the Pavlov's Dog method, to popular (and not only geek) culture, such as Star Wars, Star Trek and video game references. There have even been a few hilarious geek icon appearances, like Stephen Hawking and Wil Wheaton. Overall, the show is an entertaining half hour romp into the realm of geeks versus the "real" world.

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America's Next Top Model Online Review

TV Shows Title: America's Next Top Model
TV schedule: every Friday 8:00 PM et/pt 
TV Channel: The CW
Genre: Game Show, Reality

America's Next Top Model Story Summary:

America's Next Top Model is a popular reality series and competition that has been on the air for eighteen cycles spanning the course of nine years. The show features a womens' modeling competition, where women participate in various photo shoots and other modeling challenges in the hopes of becoming the overall winner of the competition and going on to fulfill a real career in the modeling industry.

Typically, the show starts with anywhere between ten and fourteen women, all of which are generally aged between eighteen and twenty five. The women are chosen by judges over the course of modeling try-outs, which are held in various locations, such as shopping malls, across the country.

Each cycle of America's Next Top Model is filmed in a different location, and the contestants often travel to various countries and landmarks to participate in competitions, go-sees, and photo shoots.

At the end of each weekly episode, the contestants' performances in their shoots and other activities are assessed by a panel of three judges. After deliberation by the judges, one contestant is chosen to be sent home and the process is repeated each week until only one model remains: America's Next Top Model.

The judges of the competition can vary from cycle to cycle, and during some episodes, guests judges have been brought onto the panel as well. However, Tyra Banks (a high fashion model herself) has always been the host, main judge, and creator of the show itself. Other judges over the years have included fashion icon Twiggy, model Janice Dickinson, and runway coach J. Alexander.

The grand prize awarded to the winner of each cycle of America's Next Top Model is a full modeling contract with a large company, as well as the model's image on the front cover of a high fashion magazine.

However, in the past, runners up from the show have also been offered impressive modeling contracts and other jobs in the field. Therefore, it is desirable for any contestant to finish as one of the top several models left standing.

America's Next Top Model continues to be a popular show for young girls and women alike, as many enjoy following the progress of the contestants from the beginning of the cycle until the end. In addition, the show has often brought plus-sized models into the competition, sending a positive message to girls everywhere that top models do not necessarily have to be extremely thin.

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America's Got Talent Online Review

TV Shows Title: America's Got Talent 
TV schedule: every Tuesdays, Wednesdays at 9:00 pm 
TV Channel: NBC
Genre: Game Show, Reality

America's Got Talent Story Summary:

America's Got Talent, produced by Simon Cowell, has been billed as the world's largest talent show. Now in its seventh season on NBC, the show continues to provide audiences with the widest variety of acts imaginable. T

he series premiered in 2006 with politician turned controversial talk show host Jerry Springer hosting. Although there have been some personnel changes across the seven seasons, the show has maintained the original format which features three judges who provide colorful and constructive commentary on acts ranging from ensemble clogging to magic to trained animals. The original three America's Got Talent judges were Sharon Osbourne, David Hasselhoff, and Piers Morgan.

Current host, actor/musician Nick Cannon, joined the show in 2009 at the start of the fourth season. The host's charisma, combined with the entertaining acts and the unique mix of personality provided by the judges continue to draw audiences to NBC each summer.

Comedian and game show host Howie Mandel joined the judging panel for the show's fifth season, replacing David Hasselhoff. And comedian/radio talk show host Howard Stern took over the judge's seat previously occupied by Piers Morgan for the start of the seventh season. Sharon Osbourne has remained the one constant throughout the show's history, occupying the middle judge's chair and providing her own kind of gentle criticism to contestants since the first season.

Although the judges continue to offer their opinions after the audition period has ended, it is the TV audience who has the final say as to who wins America's Got Talent.

After each week's show, America is able to vote via phone and internet to determine which contestants will remain in the running. And the prize is no small potatoes. The winner of America's Got Talent receives an annuity worth one million dollars and a stint as a head-lining act in Las Vegas.

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American Idol Online Review

TV Shows Title: American Idol
TV schedule: every Wednesday & Thursday 8:00 PM et/pt 
TV Channel: FOX
Genre: Reality

American Idol Story Summary:

The reality television show American Idol chronicles an annual singing competition from the initial auditions to the final selection of each seasons chosen winner. The show premiered in 2002 on the Fox network and has remained popular ever since. Winners get a recording contract. Some winners, like Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, have become major stars after their wins.

Each season of American Idol begins with three weeks of auditions in various cities across the United States. Thousands of hopeful contestants come to these initial casting calls. Talent scouts and producers select those who will audition onscreen before the program's three celebrity judges, producer Randy Jackson, rock and roll icon Steven Tyler and actress and singer Jennifer Lopez.

The judges award golden tickets to worthy contestants who then progress to the next stage of the competition in Hollywood. In Hollywood, the contestants must sing in groups as well as individually. Over the course of several weeks, the judges eliminate contestants until they whittle the number down to 24 semi-finalists.

From this point on, the celebrity judges do not choose which contestants to eliminate. The public votes by calling a toll-free number, texting or going online. Millions of viewers select their favorites each week, and the 24 semi-finalists get reduced to 12 finalists. The 12 finalists then get reduced to two finalists and, after that, a single winner is chosen.

Themed weekly shows require the contestants to sing songs from a certain era, or perform the tunes of a certain pop star or singing group. Previous winners and guest stars make appearances also.

From the amusing auditions of some of the less talented contestants at the beginning of the season to the inspiring performances of the finalists, American Idol provides endless entertainment. It has become an American tradition and has jumpstarted the careers of numerous talented performers.

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American Dad Online Review

TV Shows Title: American Dad 
TV schedule: every Sunday 9:30 PM et/pt
TV Channel: FOX 
Genre: Adult Cartoon, Animation & Cartoons, Comedy 

American Dad Story Summary:

The animated sitcom American Dad focuses on the misadventures of the Smith family, who are not quite your ordinary American household. Consisting of Stan, his wife Francine, and their two kids Steve and Hayley, plus their goldfish-with-a-human-brain Klaus, and Roger, an escaped alien from Area 51, things can be pretty crazy in the Smith home.

Stan, who works for the CIA, is constantly trying to make his family happy while simultaneously proving his intense patriotism, something that he will stop at no ends to show to the rest his beloved country. With Francine by his side, there's no telling what Stan will get himself involved in next, all while Francine tries to keep the peace with her family and make up for her often hinted about wild-child past. This crazy couple is matched in eccentricity only by the rest of their household.

Steve Smith only wants to be popular in school, especially with the girls, and often recruits Roger for help. Seeing as how Roger is still on the run from the government, he's forced to dress up in disguises anytime he wishes to travel out, often requiring him to put on ridiculous costumes and make the most of the situation with hilarious jokes that usually result in embarrassing Steve more than helping him.

While Steve is out trying to woo the ladies at his high school, his sister Hayley spends all of her time trying to protect the planet with her environmentalist views. The polar opposite of Stan, Hayley's passion for peace and eco-friendliness often clash with Stan's views of nothing but patriotism and honor for one's country, making for comedic instances where they just can't understand each other's motivation.

Stan's crazy plans, mixed with the rest of his eclectic family, make for numerous unexpected situations that never fail to bring about comedic results. From the family goldfish's infatuation with Francine, to Stan's many attempts to help his son become a man, it's impossible to know what's going to happen next, making American Dad an excellent parody of the American Dream.

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Heroes Online Review

TV Shows Title: Heroes 
TV schedule: every Monday 8:00 PM et/pt 
TV Channel: NBC 
Genre: Drama, Action & Adventure, Science Fiction 

Heroes Story Summary:

NBC's Heroes tracked the progress of several previously-average individuals whose lives experienced great change with the advent of superpowers. Heroes is most remembered for its early two seasons of well-paced, character driven storytelling, with each season culminating in the ending of a layered story arc.

The first season of Heroes begins with several characters coming into their powers through either random events, deep introspection or a simple, unshakable urge to test their limits.

The "save the cheerleader, save the world" plot arc drew the attention of millions and quickly put Heroes in the spotlight among shows in its time slot.

Heroes season 1 first introduced the characters of the cheerleader, played by Hayden Panettiere, and Peter Petrelli, performed by Milo Ventimiglia. These two heroes would serve as the crux of the show and would help in maintaining the Heroes fan base even through its waning years.

One of the main draws NBC's Heroes presented was its multiracial component. The characters in Heroes drew from several different backgrounds, such as Hiro, who was an office worker in Japan, or Nathan Petrelli, a politician from New York.

The continual juxtaposition of cultures, races and character backgrounds played a strong role in establishing interweaving story arcs and character drama.

Each consecutive season would lead in additional characters, with some episodes outright killing certain important roles. The emphasis on the fate of the world, with the show still staying strongly tied to the fates of individual characters, gave audiences a sense of dark realism.


Very few characters were considered sacrosanct. Heroes' writing staff used character deaths to create a sense of suspense not present in many other science-fiction-based dramas.

Character arcs between the individual heroes and villains were equally unpredictable. Early viewers of the show would be considerably surprised at the direction the main villain/hero took from beginning to end, for instance. The assistance of strong science fiction elements, tested humanity and impossible situations did much to create storylines where even the worst enemies could find common ground.

Heroes began to struggle in later seasons, and viewership never recovered from season three's finale. Where season one and two rode strong on the backs of untold character development and a deeper look into the limits of power, season 3 began to venture further into deeper science fiction. Many critics regard this shift as the show's true turning point, with reduced viewership catching up to storytelling that had grown out of touch.

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Family Guy Online Review

TV Shows Title: Family Guy 
TV schedule: every Sunday 9:00 PM et/pt 
TV Channel: FOX 
Genre: Animation & Cartoons, Comedy 

Family Guy Story Summary:

"Family Guy," which is broadcast Sunday nights on the FOX network, is a hilarious, over-the-top, animated sitcom about the Griffin family of Quahog, R.I. While it may be about a family, the show is not exactly suitable for family viewing.

Created by Seth McFarlane, "Family Guy" is full of risqué jokes and adult humor that would be highly inappropriate for young children. For its intended adult and older teenage audience, the show never fails to amuse.

The family in "Family Guy" consists of father Peter, mom Lois, teenagers Megan and Chris, toddler Stewie, and talking pet dog, Brian. Reminiscent of the fathers in other animated sitcoms such as "The Simpsons" and "The Flintstones," Peter is constantly pursuing ridiculous schemes, often with Brian's assistance.

Invariably, these schemes go awry, he tries to hide the results from Lois, and much hilarity ensues. Peter's adventures and musings are routinely punctuated with bizarre flashbacks involving celebrities in compromising positions.

Son Chris is similarly short on brains but lacks his father's imagination and enthusiasm, while daughter Megan is shy, chubby and whiny but otherwise rarely much of a factor. Stewie is an evil genius in diapers with an inexplicable British accent.

He is constantly plotting to escape his ridiculous, yet utterly mundane family, often with the help of Brian, who walks on two legs and has a penchant for booze and fast women. Lois, meanwhile, is the sane, capable, reliable mother who tries to anchor everyone else in reality.

McFarlane voices Peter, Brian and Stewie as well as some recurring and one-time characters. Other well-known actors contributing to the show include Seth Green, who portrays Chris; Mila Kunis, who voices Meg; and Alex Borstein, who provides the voice for Lois.

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