Chad Powers

The Diplomat (2023–) follows a career foreign service expert suddenly thrown into one of the most visible diplomatic posts in the world, in Netflix's sharp, witty political thriller. Stream it on Netflix.

"Check It Out! with Dr. Steve Brule" is a television comedy series that originally aired on Adult Swim from 2010 to 2016. The show follows the titular character, Dr. Steve Brule, portrayed by John C. Reilly, as he hosts a fictional public-access television show. Dr. Brule, a quirky and often clueless character, explores various topics ranging from food to relationships in a humorous and unconventional way. The show employs a deliberately low-budget production style, using amateurish camera work and editing techniques, to add to its comedic effect.

Their friends acknowledge it always has been this way: Tina Fay gets lots of headlines and personal appearances while Amy Poehler does the majority of the comic heavy lifting. The trend continues in NBC's high-powered Thursday night comedy line-up as Fay continues driving "30Rock" to the top of Nielsen's charts and Poehler brilliantly busts-out gut-busters with her new sit-com "Parks and Recreation." In much the style of "The Office," Poehler's "Parks and Recreation" TV show works the popular mockumentary format; and her character, Leslie Knope, willingly gives voice to her relentless optimism as she speaks directly into the camera. Leslie serves as the Deputy Director of the parks and recreation department in Pawnee, Indiana, where she considers herself a rising star in the local political firmament. Think of her as the female equivalent of Steve Carrell's "Office" character, prone to pretzelating the truth with observations like, "These people are members of a community that care about where they live. So what I hear when I'm being yelled at is people caring loudly at me." Professionals devoted to the sad enterprise of explaining the jokes stress that Poehler's genius lies in her ability to make an obvious ditz both funny and sympathetic rather than just plain weak. Women may not feel inspired to vote for Leslie, but they cannot help loving her.

The newest "boy band" to hit the pop music scene is called Big Time Rush and the boys are ready for their chance at fame and fortune. Starring Kendall Schmidt as Kendall Knight, Carlos Pena, Jr. as Carlos Garcia, James Maslow as James Diamond, and Logan Henderson plays Logan Mitchell allows the actors to keep their own first names and a grip on reality. They must move away from the laid back lifestyle they've grown up with in Minnesota and go to the big city, LA. The four boys head to the Palmdale Hotel in Los Angeles, California and enroll in a special actors and performer's only school, the Palmwoods. Boys will be boys and their antics certainly get the attention of their elders including their producer, a hard driving and outrageous man by the name of Gustavo Rocque (played by Stephen Kramer Glickman). A TV series about brotherhood and friendship, Big Time Rush or BTR has a strong following and some great music. Once the season's filming is complete the band goes on a tour to "strut their stuff" before live audiences.

My Life as Liz star Liz Lee is a breath of fresh air to reality TV As with all reality based programming today My Life as Liz goes for the dramatized lifestyle and follows along in daily routines. Liz finds life tough at the Pratt Institute where she attends college classes with television cameras following her every move. My Life as Liz cannot simply be called a sitcom because it's not. It also cannot fit the "dramatic" shoes of others like Survivor or America's Got Talent because there is no actual competition involved here. Liz Lee finds life in college a challenge whenever she is around others her age like classmates but when she's alone the show gets "stylized" and down to the details of a young woman's lifestyle. Music from Faded Paper Figures is often in the spotlight, particularly at the ending credits and within various episodes. Burleson, Texas is home to Liz and it's her conservative suburban home that she feels most at home. Liz is a "geek" who's proud to be one and her friends actually like her for that. Tori Langley and Taylor Terry are her best friends, Cori Cooper is her arch nemesis and a young man named Bryson Gilreath is her main love (at this point) in her life.

The teenage years are especially painful and just downright awkward for most of us. This new teen comedy drama about surviving those high school years stars Ashley Rickards from One Tree Hill fame as Jenna Hamilton. Jenna unfortunately becomes somewhat of a celebrity when word gets out that she attempted suicide. It was merely an accident that went wrong but soon her contemporaries at school think she's somewhat of a celebrity. Jenna also tries to conceal her romance with a popular boy, faces off with a "mean girl", and has parents that just don't remember how tough it was being a teen. The program is contemporary and unique as it displays just how difficult it is to cope with life's changing aspects while going through puberty and finding romance that does more harm than good (for the first time). It's rough enough just growing up but being female besides makes life even more awkward and unpredictable.