CRIT-O-MATIC COOKIE-CUTTER REVIEWS FOR COOKIE-CUTTER TV.Byline: - David Kronke ONE TREE HILL - Two and one half stars Logline: Soulful basketball-playing teen Lucas (Chad Michael Murray Chad Michael Murray (born August 24, 1981) is an American actor, former male fashion model and teen idol. He is perhaps best known for his role as Lucas Scott in The CW series One Tree Hill. , left) is the half-brother of jerky basketball-playing teen Nathan (James Lafferty, right). They're both sons of really jerky Dan (Paul Johansson); to say Dan favors Nathan is to understate the case, since he hates and disavows all responsibility for Lucas. Why? Because he's a jerk. Haven't you been paying attention? Anyway, Dan's all mad because a lot of players on Nathan's high school basketball team got suspended, but he's even more mad when gruff but lovable coach (Barry Corbin) recruits Lucas for the team. He's just mad in general. And jerky. He treated Lucas' mom (Moira Kelly) badly. And the acorn doesn't fall far from the tree where Nathan's concerned. Lucas likes Nathan's cheerleader girlfriend Peyton (Hilarie Burton) more than Nathan seems to. Those guys just aren't going to get along. Noteworthy performances: Johansson plays the rare WB father figure who's crushingly one-dimensional. Originality: Two and one half stars Credibility: One and one half stars Where: The WB (Channel 5). When: 9 tonight. In a nutshell: Has that same soulful sensibility of other WB melodramas, but the central conflict is too contrived to empathize em·pa·thize v. To feel empathy in relation to another person. with. I'M WITH HER - Two stars Logline: Brooke Shields discovers her life has been transformed into an implausible sitcom, courtesy her husband, series creator Chris Henchy: ``Hollywood sweetheart'' Alex Young (Teri Polo) meets cute with Patrick (David Sutcliffe), a surprisingly self-righteous high-school teacher, when her dog bites him in the butt (decent instincts on the dog's part). They must figure out how to make their relationship work between his coping with life in the spotlight and her coping with - well, him being middle-class. They each have been assigned one sounding board: Patrick's obnoxious colleague Stevie (Danny Comden) and Alex's sardonic, envious sister/personal assistant Cheri (Rhea rhea, in zoology rhea (rē`ə), common name for a South American bird of the family Rheidae, which is related to the ostrich. Weighing from 44 to 55 lb (20–25 kg) and standing up to 60 in. Seehorn). Noteworthy performances: Seehorn, in a horribly cliched role, manages to enliven it a bit with a drier, crankier delivery. Comden plays your standard-issue doofus doo·fus n. pl. doo·fus·es Slang An incompetent, foolish, or stupid person. [Perhaps blend of doof, fool (from Scots) and goofus, fool (from goof). , while the leads downplay the comedy: Polo is blandly appealing, while Sutcliffe bewilderingly be·wil·der tr.v. be·wil·dered, be·wil·der·ing, be·wil·ders 1. To confuse or befuddle, especially with numerous conflicting situations, objects, or statements. See Synonyms at puzzle. 2. dials up the earnest nobility and hits the mute button when it comes to wit. Originality: Two stars Credibility: One star Laughs per episode: 1.5, or thereabouts there·a·bouts also there·a·bout adv. 1. Near that place; about there: somewhere in Kansas or thereabouts. 2. About that number, amount, or time. . Inadvertent laughs: The idea that the whole poor-little-rich-girl thing should really play well with middle America. And, in the second episode, the suggestion that a sociopolitical history book would merit a book tour and glamorous Hollywood party. Oh, and the notion that Patrick would even consider dumping Alex just because he showed up in the tabloids. Oh, yeah - and the fact that Henchy's doppelganger doppelgänger Psychiatry A delusion that a double of a person or place exists elsewhere; it is related to other defects in recognition and suggests organic disease in the nondominant parietal lobe. See Depersonalization disorder, Schizophrenia. is a fiercely dedicated high-school teacher and not the cynical creator of a middling sitcom like ``Battery Park'' (as Henchy was) - when you think about it, given Hollywood's food chain, it's more likely that an actress would date a teacher than a hack sitcom writer. Where: ABC ABC in full American Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. television network. It began when the expanding national radio network NBC split into the separate Red and Blue networks in 1928. (Channel 7). When: 8:30 tonight. In a nutshell: Let's wish Shields and Henchy the happily-ever-after that this unconvincing ``Notting Hill'' knockoff knock·off n. Informal An unauthorized copy or imitation, as of designer clothing: "the place to go for quality knockoffs" Women's Wear Daily. Noun 1. doesn't quite merit. RETURN ENGAGEMENTS Shows returning tonight for another season 8 p.m. ``8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter'' (ABC) - The family reacts to Cate's (Katey Segal) possible pregnancy. ``Gilmore Girls'' (WB) - Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory (Alexis Bledel) return from their summer backpacking adventure in Europe to get Rory ready for Yale and catch up with the world of Stars Hollow. 9 p.m. ``The Guardian'' (CBS (Cell Broadcast Service) See cell broadcast. ) - When the carnival comes to town, Nick (Simon Baker) represents a young boy traveling with it who claims that he was molested mo·lest tr.v. mo·lest·ed, mo·lest·ing, mo·lests 1. To disturb, interfere with, or annoy. 2. To subject to unwanted or improper sexual activity. by the carnival's owner. ``Frasier'' (NBC NBC in full National Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. commercial broadcasting company. It was formed in 1926 by RCA Corp., General Electric Co. (GE), and Westinghouse and was the first U.S. company to operate a broadcast network. ) - Roz's (Peri Gilpin) return to the radio station surprises Frasier (Kelsey Grammer). ``According to Jim'' (ABC) - Jim (Jim Belushi) insists on running errands to avoid delivery charges. 9:30 p.m. ``Less than Perfect'' (ABC) - Claude (Sara Rue) considers working for a new boss. 10 p.m. ``Judging Amy'' (CBS) - Amy (Amy Brenneman) faces one of the most difficult decisions of her career during her first day of work as a criminal court judge. ``Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' (NBC) - Detectives race to save the lives of a pregnant woman and her unborn child. Kellie Martin guest stars. ``NYPD NYPD New York City Police Department (since 1845; New York City, NY, USA) NYPD New York Play Development Blue'' (ABC) - Andy (Dennis Franz) faces an old enemy during Fraker's trial for gunning down Rodriguez (Esai Morales). - Compiled by Jaime Spangrude CAPTION(S): 2 photos, box Photo: (1) Chad Michael Murray, left and James Lafferty, right. (2) no caption (cast from ``I'm With Her'') Box: RETURN ENGAGEMENT (see text) |
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