Community Arts

\'Ed\'

By -Alec Toombs · Thursday, Oct. 26,2000 5:51 a.m.

The most refreshingly sincere new show this fall is NBC's "Ed." The title character (played by Thomas Cavanagh), a New York City lawyer hotshot, has just been fired from his job and has just caught his wife cheating on him. He leaves to find peace and love in his small home town of Stuckeyville. The show works because it is not so much about a fish out of water as it is about the merits of being a big fish in a little pond.

\'Dark Angel\'

By -Alec Toombs · Thursday, Oct. 26,2000 5:47 a.m.

"Dark Angel" is a post-apocalyptic actioneer created by genre maestro James Cameron. Jessica Alba (veteran of such crappy flicks as "Never Been Kissed" and "Idle Hands") stars as Max, a genetically engineered pickpocket who doles out many a beating to the various inhabitants of Seattle's criminal underbelly while avoiding the militaristic unit that birthed her.

\'The Practice\'

By Eden Kerr Perkinson · Thursday, Oct. 26,2000 5:46 a.m.

The Emmy fave has returned for its fourth hard-hitting season. Although the show did not win as many Emmys as in previous years (it had to give "Sopranos" a break), it is still in award-winning shape. This season, David Kelley's (Ally McBeal) favorite subject, law, is ruling the show. There have hardly been any scenes in the new season that aren't in a courthouse or a jail cell.

\'Will and Grace\'

By Eden Kerr Perkinson · Thursday, Oct. 26,2000 5:45 a.m.

Entertainment Weekly, "Entertainment Tonight" and "Access Hollywood" have all recently been proclaiming this year the year of the gays ... in sitcoms, that is. Basically this is a reaction to the Emmy wins of Will, Grace and the show's supporting stars, Megan Mullally and Sean Hayes. Whether or not networks are clamoring to line up the next gay superstar, "Will and Grace" certainly has broken the Ellen taboo in becoming the first successful show to feature gay lead characters.

\'Friends\'

By Eden Kerr Perkinson · Thursday, Oct. 26,2000 5:43 a.m.

At the end of last season, Chandler (Matthew Perry) and Monica (Courtney Cox) proposed to each other surrounded by candlelight, flowers and each other's tears. For viewers who are worried the show will lose its sarcastic bite amidst the sappiness of wedded bliss, they should have no fear. There are plenty of pre-wedding disasters to keep the show awash in funny turmoil.

\'Felicity\'

By Eden Kerr Perkinson and Josh Bagriansky · Thursday, Oct. 26,2000 5:42 a.m.

"Felicity" is back, complete with a full head of hair. For those who don't know, "Felicity" was almost cut from the TV lineup last year because she cut her hair. Gah, how superficial are these viewers? Well, it really did look pretty bad.

\'Roswell\'

By Eden Kerr Perkinson · Thursday, Oct. 26,2000 5:41 a.m.

The best show you are not watching is "Roswell." The supernaturally thrilling and addictive drama about alien teens and their human counterparts has suffered from poor ratings but has an extremely loyal following. Last year when the network was considering axing the show, fans of Roswell launched a full-force campaign and successfully brought the show back for a second season.

\'Madigan Men\'

By Eden Kerr Perkinson · Thursday, Oct. 26,2000 5:40 a.m.

Wait a second, this is too good to be true. Gabriel Byrne, as in the hottest middle-aged Irish actor to come along since Liam Neeson, has his own sitcom? There has to be a catch. Oh, here it is: the show comes on at 9:30 p.m. Friday, making it practically impossible for the average college student to catch on a weekly basis.

\'That '70s Show\'

By Kate Lewis · Thursday, Oct. 26,2000 5:38 a.m.

One of the most highly underrated shows on television, "That '70s Show" is back for its third season, and it is funnier than ever. Set in suburban Wisconsin, the show centers around the Forman household and son Eric's five friends growing up and dealing with drugs, parents, sex and life -- often with hilarious results.

\'Gideon's Crossing\'

By Kate Lewis · Thursday, Oct. 26,2000 5:36 a.m.

"Gideon's Crossing" is a testament to terrific acting and scripts that exemplify the human spirit. Led by the amazing Andre Braugher ("Homicide") as Dr. Ben Gideon, the show centers around a teaching hospital and the patients who grace its doors.

\'C.S.I\'

By Rachel Kipp · Thursday, Oct. 26,2000 5:34 a.m.

If anything, it's great that "C.S.I." answers at least one burning TV question: Where the heck did Gina, the Secret Service agent on last season's "West Wing," get off to? Her portrayer, Jorjan Fox, now toils on "C.S.I." as crime scene investigator (hence the title) Sara Sidel.

"The West Wing"

By Rachel Kipp · Thursday, Oct. 26,2000 5:33 a.m.

Last season's explosive season finale left "West Wing" fans with one burning question, as NBC relentlessly pointed out in promos: Who's been shot? The answer to this question led to an revealing two-part season premiere as the terrorist shooting plot got cleaned up, and victim Josh (Bradley Whitford) had flashbacks of President Josiah Bartlet's (Martin Sheen) rise to office.

\'The Fugitive\'

By Rachel Kipp · Thursday, Oct. 26,2000 5:32 a.m.

The biggest problem facing "The Fugitive," a remake of the 1960s series and a redux of the 1990s movie, is how to keep things fresh when the main character will pretty much be doing the same thing every week. Dr. Richard Kimble (Timothy Daly) has been wrongfully convicted of killing his wife and now spends his time running from the law and, of course, helping others.

\'Buffy, the Vampire Slayer\'

By Rachel Kipp · Thursday, Oct. 26,2000 5:31 a.m.

"Buffy, the Vampire Slayer" is still one of the more imaginative and exciting television dramas. But this year's episodes have continued the slight slump in quality the show experienced last season. Although the producers have thankfully given up on the silly military vampire-fighting battalion, "The Initiative," traces of mediocrity still remain, mostly in the persona of Riley (Marc Blucas,) Buffy's boring, puppy dog-esque boyfriend).

\'Angel\'

By Rachel Kipp · Thursday, Oct. 26,2000 5:30 a.m.

As was the case last season, "Angel" continues to be the more creative and cohesive than sister show "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer." While series creator Joss Whedon is constantly finding himself at loose ends with Buffy's plots and characters, he seems to revel in the slightly darker L.A. atmosphere of "Angel."

\'Deadline\'

By Rachel Kipp · Thursday, Oct. 26,2000 5:29 a.m.

It's really hard for a journalist to objectively view a fictional TV show about journalism. Which is why it is extremely difficult to form an untainted opinion about "Deadline." Although the general viewing public might be able to ignore gross factual errors such as Oliver Platt's Wallace Benton being allowed to interrogate an accused murderer, it's really hard to swallow for anyone remotely connected to the media.

\'Welcome to New York\'

By Rachel Kipp · Thursday, Oct. 26,2000 5:27 a.m.

"Welcome to New York" immediately catches attention by utilizing yet another catchy theme song ("New York, New York" from the musical On the Town). The show is built around the well-worn "country mouse goes to the city," as Indiana weatherman Jim Gaffigan (played by -- no joke -- Jim Gaffigan) moves to big, bad New York City.

'Monday Night Football'

By Guy Cipriano · Thursday, Oct. 26,2000 5:26 a.m.

It almost seems as if the game is a secondary concern on Monday Night Football this season. Dwindling ratings prompted producer Don Ohlmeyer to overhaul "ABC Monday Night Football's" announcing crew. There hasn't been a significant change in ratings after eight weeks, but the show does have a different feel to it.

\'Bette\'

By Rachel Kipp · Thursday, Oct. 26,2000 5:26 a.m.

With a catchy theme song and a charismatic star, "Bette" actually manages to rise above typical sitcom mediocrity. The premise of Bette Midler's star vehicle (basically she plays herself) seems very thin at first glance, but Midler's bawdy, slightly egotistical portrayal of her alter ego is actually pretty humorous.

Chan outdoes himself in \'Legend of the Drunken Master\'

By -Alec Toombs · Thursday, Oct. 26,2000 5:22 a.m.

The Legend of Drunken Master" is the latest re-release in a long string of Jackie Chan Hong Kong chopsocky flicks displaced upon American soil, and perhaps the best. Sporting fight sequences rivaled only by Bruce Lee's Kung Fu epic "Enter the Dragon" or Jet Li's "Fist of Legend," Chan's "Drunken Master" definitely earns its coveted spot amongst the very best martial arts flicks.