“Designing Women” — Season 1
The mark of a great sitcom is whether the jokes and tone stand up to time, despite any outdated hairstyles and fashion. “Designing Women” is a great sitcom.
Category: TV
“Girlfriends” — Season 6
The most poignant episodes revolve around Toni and her husband Todd. After the birth of their daughter Morgan, they struggle as new parents trying to keep their marriage intact. The show does a nice job of depicting a mom who loves her child, but doesn’t immediately feel the bond that a mother is supposed to have for her baby. And it depicts how fear of the unknown can ravage a relationship.
“Moonlight”
A thoroughly entertaining series that lasted just one season, “Moonlight” tells the story of a sexy vampire who wants to do good. (Think along the lines of Angel from the Joss Whedon series of the same name.) Mick (Alex O’Loughlin) became a vampire in the 1950s when his beautiful vamp bride Coraline (Shannyn Sossamon) created his new incarnation.
“‘Til Death”: Season 2
In the first season of “‘Til Death,” a good chunk of the episodes centered on the grizzled married couple eying their affectionate newlywed neighbors with both jealousy and pity. In the followup year, Eddie and Joy Stark (Brad Garrett, Joely Fisher) have accepted Jeff and Steph Woodcock (Eddie Kaye Thomas, Kat Foster) not only as their neighbors, but also as friends (though sometimes begrudgingly).
“The Secret Life of the American Teenager”
The secret in “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” becomes all too clear early on. After having sex for the first time, 15-year-old Amy (Shailene Woodley) becomes pregnant. Scared and unsure of what to do, Amy keeps it a secret from her parents, hoping she’ll be able to figure things out.
“Kyle XY” — Season 2
The second season of “Kyle XY” begins with an episode called “The Prophet” and ends with Kyle’s high school prom. Clearly, the sci-fi drama shares as much an affinity with “The X-Files” as it does “Gossip Girl.” Last season, Kyle (Matt Dallas) learned how to fit in with human beings.
“Lisa Rinna Dance Body Beautiful: Ballroom Learn and Burn”
Actress and former “Dancing with the Stars” contestant Lisa Rinna burns up the dance floor in the instructional DVD “Lisa Rinna Dance Body Beautiful: Ballroom Learn and Burn.”
“Swingtown”
A brilliant but low-rated series, Swingtown tackles the social mores of the 1970s by focusing on three couples. Susan (Molly Parker) and Bruce Miller (Jack Davenport) have just moved into the wealthy Chicago suburb of Winnetka. Across the street, their neighbors Trina (Lana Parrilla) and Tom Decker (Grant Show) eye them with curiosity. The Deckers are swingers who’re hoping that their attractive new neighbors will be open to a little experimentation.
“Law & Order” — 6th Season
The beauty of the Law & Order franchise is its ability to capitalize on its revolving cast of characters. The sixth season of Law & Order introduces viewers to a new detective and kills off another series favorite. There’s also a seamless crossover episode with Homicide: Life on the Street and a compelling season finale that gives insight into how the main characters deal with tragedy. The 23 episodes featured in the five-disc set originally aired during the 1995-1996 television season. Aside from a few style issues–and the lack of cell phones–the episodes hold up well today.
“Project Runway” — Season 4
Hosted by supermodel Heidi Klum, who exhibits a wry sense of humor while keeping the show moving at a brisk pace, the series is smartly entertaining. Fan favorite Tim Gunn returns, as does judge Nina Garcia. This season’s guest stars include fashionista Sarah Jessica Parker, who helps critique the contestants’ creations for her affordable Bitten line.
“Girlfriends” — Fifth Season
A pregnancy, career change, and the unraveling of a relationship are front and center on the fifth season of “Girlfriends.” The sitcom, which is executive-produced by Kelsey Grammer, takes a more serious approach this year. Yes, the jokes and physical comedy are all still here.
“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” — 8th Season
The eighth season of “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” begins with the answer to the previous season’s cliffhanger: Yes, CSI Sara Sidle (Jorja Fox) survives. But fans of this top-rated crime procedural won’t be able to breathe a sigh of relief. By the end of the 17 episodes–which originally aired during the 2007-2008 television season–two fan favorites will be gone.
Go Away With … Jamie Kennedy
Comedian Jamie Kennedy is used to getting laughs in the United States, thanks to his work in the “Scream” films and his TV show “The Jamie Kennedy Experiment.” But making foreign audiences laugh wasn’t something he felt confident he could accomplish.
“CSI: New York” — Season Four
Beginning with a spectacular murder at the Statue of Liberty and ending with an unusual plea from a bank robber, the fourth season of “CSI: NY” moves along at a quick, exciting pace that belies its almost 15-hour run time. Spread over six discs, all 21 episodes–which originally were televised during the 2007-2008 season–are included. Led by head CSI Mac Taylor (Gary Sinise), the core group of Stella Bonasera (Melina Kanakaredes), Lindsay Monroe (Anna Belknap), Danny Messer (Carmine Giovinazzo), Detective Don Flack (Eddie Cahill), and Dr. Sheldon Hawkes (Hill Harper) returns to solve compelling and often ghastly crimes.
“Cashmere Mafia”
Pitted against Lipstick Jungle during the 2008 TV season, “Cashmere Mafia” holds its own with a familiar but still welcome focus on four powerhouse New York women whose fierce devotion to their jobs is matched only by their unwavering friendship with each other.
“Rob and Big”: Third Season
The third season of the reality series “Rob and Big” kicks off with an episode called “Poop in the Pool.” Obviously, this show doesn’t pretend to be highbrow.
“Private Practice”
Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh) leaves behind McDreamy, McSteamy, and McSeattle to join California’s Oceanside Wellness Center, a private practice that was founded by two best friends from med school. But if she’s expecting a drama-free existence, she’s in the wrong place.
Paul Feig: Freak and geek
Paul Feig has made a career out of capturing children’s angst. As the creator of the critically acclaimed but short-lived TV series “Freaks and Geeks,” Feig succinctly captured the lives of teenagers. With Ignatius MacFarland: Frequenaut!, Feig tackles his first children’s book.
“Dirty Sexy Money”
Filled with intriguing story lines and a smoking hot cast, Dirty Sexy Money focuses on a idealistic attorney wrestling with his father’s death and the family that may be responsible for it. Peter Krause (Six Feet Under) stars as Nick George, whose father was the legal counsel for the Darling family and good friends with patriarch Tripp (Donald Sutherland) and his wife Letitia (Jill Clayburgh).
“Ugly Betty” — Season Two
The second season of Ugly Betty finds the titular heroine juggling the affections of two men, embroiled in ongoing chaos at work, and dealing with some serious drama on the home front. And yes, this truly is a comedy. First there’s the aftermath of Santos’ death at the end of last season just as he and Betty’s sister Hilda (Ana Ortiz) were reconciling. Hilda deals with her grief by befriending a group of senior citizens, while her son (Mark Indelicato) turns from Broadway-loving good boy to leather-wearing bad boy almost overnight.