The 2010-11 television season has been a disappointing one, with the broadcasters failing to deliver a single new hit and the cable networks creatively under-performing, as well...

2011

Mar

83D ANNUAL OSCAR TELECAST REACTIONS: WHY SO NEGATIVE? By Ed Martin

While watching ABC's telecast of the 83d Annual Academy Awards Sunday night, you would never guess, if you didn't already know, that it was one of the two most important events on the broadcast calendar. There was nothing particularly big or important or exciting about it; nothing dramatic, nothing suspenseful, nothing spectacular and nothing to warrant ferocious blogging...

2011

Feb

SURPRISE! TYLER MAKES 'IDOL' A WARM WINTER TREAT By Ed Martin

The biggest surprise of this somewhat lifeless midseason is the creative resurgence of Fox's American Idol. One might assert that the renewed appeal of this show should come as no surprise at all, given the major changes made by its many executive producers following the multitude of bad choices that crippled Idol during its last two seasons...

2011

Feb

SAD EYES, FULL HEARTS AS WE LOSE 'FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS' By Ed Martin

One of the finest drama series in the history of television comes to an end this week -- and, sadly, most people won't even be aware of it. Then again, that unfortunate circumstance is nothing new for Friday Night Lights, a sublime example of dramatic programming at its best that during its five-season run has never received the level of attention it has so richly deserved...

2011

Jan

MTV'S 'SKINS': SMART, SENSITIVE AND SWEET? By Ed Martin

Why the uproar over MTV's Skins? Could it be that there is so little else to get excited about, during the opening weeks of what is shaping up to be a curiously dead midseason? Had we become that dependent on Lost and 24 to bring us back to life after a long holiday break?...

2010

Oct

'WALKING DEAD' ISN'T JUST GRAPHIC HORROR - IT'S COMPELLING HUMAN DRAMA By Ed Martin

Television viewers will remember 2010 as the year that began with the arrival of the most brutal and graphic series in the history of the medium -- Starz' gory gladiator epic Spartacus -- and ended with the premiere of another show that is in many ways even more violent and shocking -- AMC's The Walking Dead. Tellingly, both programs could have been slapdash cheese fests, in the rich traditions of the low-budget sword-and-sandal movies and goofy zombie flicks that filled drive-ins (and late-n

2010

Oct

SYFY DAZZLES THE DIGERATI By Ed Martin

At a time when many established television networks have been cutting back on their publicity and promotion efforts, it is remarkable to watch one of them actually move in the opposite direction. That's what Syfy has done since 2007 with its annual Digital Press Tours, in which it brings executives and talent from its series together with dedicated bloggers, tweeters and Web writers for a day of press conferences and other activities...

2010

Sep

ARE STEVEN TYLER AND JENNIFER LOPEZ RIGHT FOR 'AMERICAN IDOL'? By Ed Martin

The summer's worst-kept secrets were confirmed Wednesday: Long-time Aerosmith front-man and legendary party guy Steven Tyler and entertainment goddess Jennifer Lopez will replace Simon Cowell, Kara DioGuardi and Ellen DeGeneres next season at the American Idol judges' table...

2010

Sep

'AS THE WORLD TURNS': WHY THE SUN SHOULD NEVER SET ON SOAPS By Ed Martin

Companies put so much time and money into their efforts to establish household names that it always amazes me when they turn around and destroy one. Not that it happens very often. But it's going to happen this Friday, when the final episode of the venerable CBS soap opera As the World Turns will be telecast...

2010

Sep

'ENTOURAGE' SURPRISES WITH ITS OWN HOLLYWOOD COMEBACK By Ed Martin

I pretty much wrote off HBO's Entourage two seasons ago, but this summer it has, without warning, become the television equivalent of a seductively trashy beach read. For the first time in the history of this series about a movie star of marginal talent and his opportunistic buddies, its characters are learning that there are actual consequences for bad behavior, and the results are unexpectedly entertaining...

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Ed Martin

Ed Martin is the Editorial Director and Chief Content Critic at MediaVillage, where his responsibilities include oversight of its TV/Video Download platform. He is also TV Branch President of the Critics Choice Association. The first five shows on Ed's all-time top-ten list are, in order, I Love Lucy, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, All in the Family and two from the BBC, Skins and Coupling. The remaining five shows are in constant flux, but they usually include Green Acres, The Twilight Zone and The Sopranos.

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