Mark W's TV Reviews

This show is done in a charming style reminiscent of 2002 runaway French hit film "Amelie"...quirky, humorously skewered take on life's foibles by those damaged but not completely undone by them. The regular cast (Lee Pace, Kristen Chenoweth, Swoozie Kurtz, etc.) and guest stars (Raoul Esparza, Broadway's hottest star since Streisand) work together in frothy-yet-tender perfection, hampered only by 30-minute format (this show could easily be an hour and still keep the charm and, er, pace) and whodunnit format (would be nice to free them from that stricture as show progresses). This and "Ugly Betty" are easily the two best shows currently on TV, with "Samantha Who?" coming up on the inside. I hope the Emmies and Golden Globes get with the program for all three this year.

"Samantha Who?" has joined "Pushing Daisies" and "Ugly Betty" as the grand triumverate of fresh comedy and tender, non-manipulative frissons of emotion on television. Christina Applegate is a wonder - a light touch w. perfect comic timing and amazing likability (when she's consternated, you really care for her anguish) make her the new Shirley MacLaine. I hope the writing continues to be stellar, w. perhaps more fleshing out of the ancillary (and gifted) supporting players.

It's now up there with "Pushing Daisies," "Ugly Betty," and the similarly up-and-coming "Samantha Who?" in the top four most consistently funny and pleasing shows on television. Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton are perfect together and Ty Burrell is marvelous (they should expand his role). The actors all play wonderfully off each other and little ripple-effect laughs are interspersed with those of the belly-laugh variety!

This is the multi- Emmy-winning television special which documented Barbra Streisand's first out-and-out tour (26 dates, tickets ranging in price from $115 to $350, with option of concertgoers purchasing $1000 tickets w. $650 going to charity)in nearly 30 years. It was one of the most successful tours of all time (would likely have been THE except for sparseness of dates) and Barbra was in fine form, tackling newer material (some notables: "As If We Never Said Goodbye" and the lesser known Billie Holiday tune "For All We Know") as well as Streisand staples such as "Somewhere," "People," "The Way We Were," "Evergreen," and 2 dozen others (some things had to be left out - there simply wasn't time). Quite memorable: "duet" (via split-screen) w. film image of Marlon Brando,both singing "I'll Know" (from "Guys and Dolls") and an enchanting "Lazy Afternoon." The night I saw her in concert, there were three encores. A most generous performer indeed.And the audience STILL didn't want to let her go.

Along with "Pushing Daisies" and the newcomer "Samantha Who?" this is easily one of the best shows on television (the increasingly creative "Back to You" may turn out to be the fourth). It features incredibly gifted pefrormers (anchored by the incredible America Fererra) doing an marvelous combination of underplaying (Ferrerra and a few others) and overplaying (Judith Light, Vanessa Williams), depending upon their character traits. This show is arch and absurdly funny, yet also tender and real with a lot to say (in a non-didactic way) about how humans SHOULD treat each other. I also like the way seemingly incongruous relatinships are portrayed (assistant Mark and "bear" techie/ Betty and various would-be suitors from the glossier world). I'd love to see some legendary guest stars in upcoming episodes (what fun Carol Burnett, Cloris Leachman, Bette Midler could have on this show!).