The Trades - Entertainment Industry Analysis Since 1997
Home · Reviews · Interviews · Contests · Blog · Forums · Follow Us On Twitter
 
ADVERTISEMENT
 
 
CONTESTS
Studio Ghibli Blu-ray/DVD Prize Package
Enter to win the Ponyo Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack, plus three other DVDs from Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli!

DVD Giveaway - Precious
With six Oscar nominations to its credit, the DVD release of this Lee Daniels film is sure to be highly sought after.

Alice in Wonderland All Over 59Fifty Cap
What's on your mind? This week, "Alice in Wonderland" is on everyone's minds, and now it can be on yours -- literally -- if you're one of the three winners of this unique "Alice in Wonderland" 59Fifty style cap.

Alice in Wonderland Cheshire Cat 59Fifty Cap
What's on your mind? This week, "Alice in Wonderland" is on everyone's minds, and now it can be on yours -- literally -- if you're one of the three winners of this unique "Alice in Wonderland" 59Fifty style cap.

CD Giveaway - Reagan Browne, "Daydreams in Stereo"
For a dose of power rock the way it used to be, enter for your chance to win!

CD Giveaway - Joey Witham, "The Great Homesickness"
Enter our contest for a chance to win this youth-oriented worship album that relies heavily on the electric guitar.

 
TELEVISION REVIEWS
10 Days That Unexpectedly Changed AmericaTelevision Review - Apr 9, 2006 - By Raul Burriel
With this mini-series, the History Channel promises us some top talent giving us some top-notch documentaries. But can the "all World War II, all the time!" channel really deliver?

24Television Review - Nov 7, 2001 - By Seth Gunderson
A sunrise, a sunset, lots of words and sleep in between. What else could go on?

90210, "Life's a Drag"Television Review - Mar 31, 2009 - By R.J. Carter
Heavy petting, pocket bananas, and psychotic breakdowns: It's just another day in 90210.

90210, "One Party Can Ruin Your Whole Summer"Television Review - May 18, 2009 - By R.J. Carter
The prom is over; the after-prom has begun. And as one life begins, many more lives begin to fall apart.

90210, "To Sext or Not to Sext"Television Review - Sep 15, 2009 - By R.J. Carter
Someone's been a bad girl, and the evidence is caught on a cellphone camera. Will she get wider exposure than she bargained for?

Aliens in America - PilotTelevision Review - Sep 26, 2007 - By R.J. Carter
The Tolchuk family volunteered to host a foreign exchange student to bolster their son's popularity at school. What they got was Raja.

Battlestar GalacticaTelevision Review - Dec 10, 2003 - By Jim Pappas
If you are a fan of the original series, beware, this isn't your Momma's Battlestar Galactica, and that is a good thing.

Beauty and the BeastTelevision Review - Feb 23, 2010 - By R.J. Carter
If you like your fairy tales viewed through a dark lens, there are plenty of other options out there, in various media. Shun this ugly duckling, and hope that the future plans for other retellings from SyFy learn from this one's mistakes.

The Bill Engvall Show - Episode 201: "But That's Not Fair"Television Review - Jun 12, 2008 - By R.J. Carter
The second season of The Bill Engvall Show opens with the kids going on strike when they're told to clean out the garage for no pay.

The Bill Engvall Show: It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like ChristmasTelevision Review - Nov 14, 2008 - By R.J. Carter
TBS and Bill Engvall start the Christmas viewing season with back-to-back episodes of the blue collar comedian's sitcom.

Bionic Woman - PilotTelevision Review - Sep 24, 2007 - By R.J. Carter
She's stronger. Faster. Better than she was before. And she hates it.

The Book of DanielTelevision Review - Jan 6, 2006 - By R.J. Carter
"Families can really test your faith" is the tagline for this show. But is faith really what The Book of Daniel is about?

Caprica, "Pilot"Television Review - Jan 18, 2010 - By Darren Goodhart
The long-awaited prequel series to Battlestar Galactica is now here, and the promise and potential for this series is indeed quite great.

Caprica, "Rebirth"Television Review - Jan 27, 2010 - By Darren Goodhart
Caprica's second episode continues to move forward while also spreading its wings a bit.

Caprica, "Reins of a Waterfall"Television Review - Feb 4, 2010 - By Darren Goodhart
The third episode of Caprica continues the promise started in the pilot and again goes even further than I expected... this is really good televised science fiction.

ChuckTelevision Review - Dec 10, 2007 - By Scott Juba
With NBC giving Chuck a full-season pickup, this electronics store employee turned spy appears poised to become a familiar face on the network's comedy line-up.

Chuck - PilotTelevision Review - Sep 12, 2007 - By R.J. Carter
When Chuck accidentally downloads a CIA/NSA joint program directly into his brain, he becomes the country's newest superspy. Can he do that and still maintain his $11 an hour job as an electronics store technical support representative?

The Closer - "Dead Man's Hand"Television Review - Dec 20, 2009 - By R.J. Carter
Domestic abuse ends in murder, pitting Brenda against an inter-office rival in an investigation into a cop's family life.

The Closer - "Products of Discovery"Television Review - Jun 6, 2009 - By R.J. Carter
A murdered family entangles Brenda in an ongoing FBI investigation in the second episode of The Closer's fifth season.

The Closer, "Next of Kin"Television Review - Dec 2, 2007 - By R.J. Carter
The hit TNT series returns with a new 2-hour holiday episode as Brenda's work takes her to the one place she's most uncomfortable: home with mom and dad.

Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura, HAARPTelevision Review - Nov 24, 2009 - By R.J. Carter
In this TruTV debut, Jesse Ventura examines whether the HAARP project is an innocent study of the Aurora Borealis, or a weapon mankind shouldn't fiddle with.

Crossing Over with John EdwardTelevision Review - Dec 20, 2000 - By Jim Van Nest
Having two toddlers, I don't get to watch too much television. And when I do, it must be after bedtime. I've found one of the neatest shows on after dark on Sci-Fi.

Dark Blue, "Pilot"Television Review - Jul 13, 2009 - By R.J. Carter
Dylan McDermott stars as the team leader of an undercover investigative squad in this edgy cop drama from TNT.

DuneTelevision Review - Dec 6, 2000 - By Rob Drysdale
Anticipation quickly turned to disappointment once the Sci Fi Channel aired its much-hyped Dune miniseries.

The Ex-List - "Pilot"Television Review - Oct 2, 2008 - By R.J. Carter
If you enjoyed Sex & the City and don't mind the occasional "American Pie" raunchy style of comedy (tamed down to a Prime Time level), then The Ex-List may be the kind of romantic comedy for you.

Frank TV, "Franksgiving"Television Review - Nov 20, 2007 - By R.J. Carter
Impressionist comic Frank Caliendo gets his own television sketch comedy show on TBS.

Ghost Hunters, Episode 101: Fort TiconderogaTelevision Review - Mar 10, 2010 - By R.J. Carter
Tonight's trek takes the TAPS team to upstate New York, where they meet with Christopher Fox, the curator of Fort Ticonderoga, who will brief them on the numerous strange events that have happened to the staff there, from docents to maintenance workers.

Gossip Girl - PilotTelevision Review - Sep 7, 2007 - By R.J. Carter
The CW's newest entry into the teen soap market follows a cast of poor little rich kids intent on accomplishing all seven deadly sins before breakfast, all documented by the ever watchful and ever anonymous blogger, Gossip Girl. You're nobody if you're not being talked about.

Gossip Girl, "A Thin Line Between Chuck and Nate"Television Review - Jan 8, 2008 - By R.J. Carter
Everything falls apart in this explosive finale to the freshman season of Gossip Girl.

Gossip Girl, "Never Been Marcused"Television Review - Sep 8, 2008 - By R.J. Carter
OMFG! You do not want to miss the confrontation when bitch meets bitch on tonight's Gossip Girl!

Gossip Girl, "School Lies"Television Review - Jan 1, 2008 - By R.J. Carter
You know you love it. It's Gossip Girl, and tonight the twists and turns for the upper crust get harrowing as some life-changing decisions are made.

Gossip Girl, "Summer, Kind of Wonderful"Television Review - Sep 1, 2008 - By R.J. Carter
Spotted on CW after a long hot summer: the juicy return of GG. You know you love her. XOXO.

Gossip Girl, "The Age of Dissonance"Television Review - Mar 16, 2009 - By R.J. Carter
The CW series returns with the cast finding themselves -- figuratively and literally -- in a school play about a scandalous society.

Gossip Girl, "The Dark Night"Television Review - Sep 15, 2008 - By R.J. Carter
Where were you when the lights went out at B's little back-to-school party?

Gossip Girl, "The Goodbye Gossip Girl"Television Review - May 18, 2009 - By R.J. Carter
It's pomp and circumstance, as the gang prepares to graduate. But when Gossip Girl intervenes and crashes the ceremony, Serena vows that the anonymous blogger is going down. But when Gossip Girl strikes back... OMFG!

Gossip Girl, "The Grandfather"Television Review - Mar 23, 2009 - By R.J. Carter
Nate's reunion with his grandfather may alter the course of his life. Meanwhile, the new Blair Waldorf is intent on killing -- OMG! -- the old Blair Waldorf! Can the team of Serena and Chuck save her in time?

Journeyman - PilotTelevision Review - Sep 22, 2007 - By R.J. Carter
Kevin McKidd headlines this time-travel series that emulates Quantum Leap with a continuous dramatic plot thread.

Leverage, "Pilot - The Nigerian Job"Television Review - Dec 5, 2008 - By R.J. Carter
"Oceans Eleven: The Series" is the best description for this action and intrigue adrenaline rush from TNT.

Leverage, "The Beantown Bailout Job"Television Review - Jul 14, 2009 - By R.J. Carter
Leverage is reborn for a second season as the disbanded rogues discover that doing good for others has given them a conscience.

Leverage, "The Future Job"Television Review - Feb 3, 2010 - By R.J. Carter
Luke Perry guest stars in an episode where Beth Riesgraf gives us a new insight into her character.

Leverage, "The Juror #6 Job"Television Review - Feb 3, 2009 - By R.J. Carter
While a step away from the usual caper adventure, this lighter-toned episode of Leverage has some fun with the anti-social nature of Parker as well as the conventions of an anti-Leverage group playing "Runaway Jury."

Leverage, "The Mile High Job"Television Review - Jan 20, 2009 - By R.J. Carter
Danger at twenty-thousand feet plus an insightful skewering of office politics make "The Mile High Job" one of the more enjoyable episodes of TNT's fun caper series.

Leverage, "The Miracle Job"Television Review - Dec 23, 2008 - By R.J. Carter
When St. Nicholas's Church is threatened by a greedy real estate developer, the Leverage team is called in to pull off a miracle.

Leverage, "The Runway Job"Television Review - Jan 12, 2010 - By R.J. Carter
Tara (Jeri Ryan) joins the Leverage team just in time to help put down a sweatshop exploiting immigrants.

Leverage, "The Three Strikes Job"Television Review - Feb 10, 2010 - By R.J. Carter
A corrupt mayor, real estate deals, gun-running, and a stolen baseball team form the elements for tonight's con -- with a cliffhanger guaranteed to leave you coming back for part two.

Leverage, "The Two-Horse Job"Television Review - Dec 16, 2008 - By R.J. Carter
The team enters the high-stakes world of horse racing and breeding to vindicate a trainer's reputation.

The Librarian - Curse of the Judas ChaliceTelevision Review - Dec 6, 2008 - By R.J. Carter
Indiana Jones has nothing to worry about from this derivative adventure, despite good performances from Noah Wyle, Jane Curtin, Bob Newhart, and Stana Katic.

Life - PilotTelevision Review - Sep 24, 2007 - By R.J. Carter
He used his prison sentence to answer life's big questions. Now this Zen-lightened detective is back on the force, whether they want him there or not.

Life is Wild - PilotTelevision Review - Oct 3, 2007 - By R.J. Carter
To save their family, the Clarkes pull their kids out of New York to spend a year in the wilds of South Africa in this family-friendly drama from The CW.

Life Unexpected, "Pilot"Television Review - Jan 15, 2010 - By R.J. Carter
CW's heavily anticipated dramedy series makes its debut, starring Brittany Robertson as a 16 year old ward of the foster care system suddenly thrust into the lives of her biological -- and still completely unprepared -- parents.

Life Unexpected, "Rent Uncollected"Television Review - Jan 31, 2010 - By R.J. Carter
Meet the grandparents. Suddenly, the life of a runaway in Mexico is looking more and more appealing.

LostTelevision Review - Oct 19, 2004 - By Scott Juba
Gripping, forceful, and intense, "Lost" is the one show you can't afford to miss.

Make My DayTelevision Review - Aug 6, 2009 - By R.J. Carter
Make your night with Make My Day, the newest hidden camera show from TVLand.

Melrose Place, "Nightingale"Television Review - Sep 15, 2009 - By R.J. Carter
Melrose Place so far continues to appeal to the schadenfreude of the not-so-beautiful people, and is on track to grab as much of an audience as did it's predecessor.

Melrose Place, "Pilot"Television Review - Sep 8, 2009 - By R.J. Carter
Same address. New generation. A whole new level of OMG!

Men of a Certain Age, "Pilot"Television Review - Dec 7, 2009 - By R.J. Carter
Ray Romano, Andre Braugher, and Scott Bakula star in this hilarious new dramedy from TNT.

The Mentalist - "Pilot"Television Review - Sep 22, 2008 - By R.J. Carter
Simon Baker charms in this police drama with a unique hook. Move over, House, there's another tortured hero in town.

NFL Full Contact, "NFL Kickoff"Television Review - Feb 8, 2010 - By Paul Schultz
The Super Bowl is over. It's 73 days until the draft. What's a football fanatic to do? How about watch a six-week series that goes behind-the-scenes to expose the chaos that ensues before you ever view an NFL game?

One Tree Hill, "100th Episode"Television Review - Mar 18, 2008 - By R.J. Carter
It's a wedding! But is it the start of a marriage? Plus, tragedy strikes as a villain from the past makes an unexpected appearance in One Tree Hill.

One Tree Hill, "Four Years, Six Months, Two Days"Television Review - Jan 8, 2008 - By R.J. Carter
Mark Schwahn takes a tip from Tom Batiuk's Funky Winkerbean, as he fast-forwards the cast of One Tree Hill four years into the future.

Online Nation - PilotTelevision Review - Sep 19, 2007 - By R.J. Carter
It's YouTube TeeVee in this half-hour CW presentation that blends America's Funniest Videos with a distinct G4 feel.

The O’Reilly FactorTelevision Review - Mar 16, 2001 - By Rob Drysdale
Bill O’Reilly, host of Fox News’ The O’Reilly Factor, isn’t here to make friends, he’s here to get to the truth behind the news whether we like it or not.

Point PleasantTelevision Review - Jan 20, 2005 - By R.J. Carter
"The Omen" meets "The OC" in this new drama from FOX.

Privileged, "Pilot"Television Review - Sep 9, 2008 - By R.J. Carter
Joanna Garcia and Anne Archer headline this CW dramedy about a Yale journalism graduate working to tutor two spoiled rich girls in Palm Springs.

Queer As FolkTelevision Review - Dec 5, 2000 - By Jonathan Sudduth
Showtime gives gays their own brand of "Sex in the City" with "Queer As Folk."

Queer As FolkTelevision Review - Feb 14, 2002 - By Jonathan Sudduth
On a day traditionally known for heterosexual love, let's check in on Showtime's ground breaking series featuring homosexuals.

Raising the Bar (Series Debut)Television Review - Aug 29, 2008 - By R.J. Carter
TNT teams up with television super-scribe Steven Bochco to produce this legal procedural drama that carries a little too much of the quirky scent of Boston Legal and Ally McBeal to stand out among an already overcrowded field of courtroom dramas.

Reaper - PilotTelevision Review - Sep 21, 2007 - By R.J. Carter
The CW puts a slacker-spin on Brimstone in this action/comedy featuring Ray Wise as the Man Downstairs.

Reaper, "Episode 201: Episode IV, A New Hope"Television Review - Mar 3, 2009 - By R.J. Carter
Sam is given an impossible assignment, but learns a secret that may turn the tables on the Devil. Plus, Sock falls in love with his... sister?

Reaper, "The Sweet Science"Television Review - Mar 17, 2009 - By R.J. Carter
Sam is sent after a professional boxer who only wants to win the championship before returning to Hell.

Saving Grace - Episode 201: "Have a Seat, Earl"Television Review - Jul 14, 2008 - By R.J. Carter
The second season of this gripping, heart-wracking drama exemplifies why Saving Grace continues to grow in popularity. Highway to Heaven this ain't!

Saving Grace, "It's Better When I Can See You"Television Review - Dec 2, 2007 - By R.J. Carter
Holly Hunter returns to TNT as Grace Hanadarko with all new episodes this December.

Saving Grace, "We're Already Here"Television Review - Jun 16, 2009 - By R.J. Carter
The third season opens with Grace exploring the mysterious connection between herself and a tortured drug user.

The Secret Adventures of Jules VerneTelevision Review - Jan 19, 2001 - By Rob Drysdale
Before space cruisers and before little gray aliens science fiction was a whole lot simpler. When Jules Verne first began writing the height of science fiction was airships and the completely ludicrous idea of traveling to the moon.

Six Feet UnderTelevision Review - Jul 30, 2001 - By Jim Van Nest
Move over Tony Soprano. You've been whacked! President Bartlett? Your term has expired. HBO's Six Feet Under is the new "best show on television."

SmallvilleTelevision Review - Nov 5, 2001 - By Seth Gunderson
Smallville retells Superman's teenage years and does a good job of it.

Smallville, "Justice"Television Review - Jan 19, 2007 - By R.J. Carter
Is the Justice League really going to form in this episode of Smallville? Somebody, save me!

Trust Me, "Pilot: Before and After"Television Review - Jan 26, 2009 - By R.J. Carter
TNT's new dramedy series looks at office politics inside a Chicago ad agency.

The Vampire Diaries - "Pilot"Television Review - Sep 9, 2009 - By R.J. Carter
Welcome to Mystic Falls, Virginia, a sleepy little town that's about to become the backdrop for what some will inevitably refer to as Twilight: The Series.

[adult swim]Television Review - Aug 23, 2002 - By Seth Gunderson
The last time I looked forward to Sunday nights, I was 10 years old and eagerly awaiting Doctor Demento. Now I'm all grown up and on Sunday nights I eagerly await cartoons.