For all the right reasons, "Community" has become one of the mainstays in NBC's comedy line-up. During its first season, "Community" focused on attorney Jeff Winger, disbarred after the accreditation committee discovered his undergraduate degree was from Colombia the country, not the university. Determined to win reinstatement in his old profession, Winger enrolls in community college, forming a Spanish-class study group which includes, among others, a cynical divorcee and a mid-life millionaire who made his money in moist towelettes. "Community" bravely exploits the ethnic and economic diversity in the study group, showing its gifts as an equal opportunity satirizer. The writers also have courage to wring big laughs from realistic representation of life and attitudes in "junior college." During the second season, "Community" had large and loyal enough following to encourage writers' development of plots centered on characters other than Winger, and they developed some of their best material by focusing on the dynamics of the group itself. Every member of "Community's" all-star ensemble cast has impeccable comedy or small-screen credentials: Chevy Chase's resume, of course, reads simply "legend." Joel McHale, Gillian Jacobs, Yvette Nicole Brown, and the rest of the cast bring a combined gazillion years of small-screen experience into the mix, and they have imprinted their distinctive styles on their roles. Similarly, all the partners in the production team boast high-powered Hollywood pedigrees and trophy cases full of Emmys. If "Community" had gone dark after the first thirteen episodes, television sets all over North America would have gone straight to test-patterns, because NBC writers and producers would have abandoned all hope for traditional sit-coms' futures.

When the powers that be at NBC yanked the Tonight Show out from under long time host Jay Leno on May 29, 2009 it was considered to be a huge mistake and that fact soon became evident to everyone involved, particularly his loyal viewing audience. Conan O'Brien is talented and deserves his own show but there is no one quite like Leno except for perhaps Johnny Carson. Carson made the Tonight Show a national institution of late night television. Carson also wanted David Letterman to succeed him as host, even though he had called on Leno to guest host multiple times over the years. But when it came time to pass the gauntlet it went to stand up comedian Jay Leno. The Tonight Show with Jay Leno was reincarnated on March 1, 2010 and as they say, the rest is history. With a home base in Burbank, California the Tonight Show has access to virtually all of the showbiz elite as well as entertainment's movers and shakers so viewers can be assured of seeing their favorite stars and keeping up with most all the latest gossip and newsworthy events as they happen. Leno himself, through his opening dialogue will refresh our memory and keep us informed regarding what was said by or about the likes of Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, or even Donald Trump. And who could ask for more?

Starring Edie Falco, Showtime's "Nurse Jackie" stands out as arguably the best medical drama on television, because the premium cable network allows writers and producers plenty of latitude for developing all of Jackie's passions"”the quality of her patients' care, the unbearable arrogance of vaguely sociopathic physicians, and the delicious relief of good orgasms and Oxycontin. "Nurse Jackie," both the character and the show, have some issues: The character suffers excruciating pain from a bad back and therefore has developed an addiction to painkillers. Yes, you have seen this dangerous dilemma recently on both "House" and "Southland," where the admirable characters continue doing their wonderworks despite their addictions. "Nurse Jackie," the show, suffers a subtle but unmistakable identity crisis, suggesting opportunities for some of the most brilliant black humor known to American medical drama; but, like a pensive and pretentious nineteen-year-old, it insists on taking itself much too seriously. One critic aptly observes, "'Nurse Jackie' doesn't look like the average network medical drama, but it does follow the formula of many premium cable shows, taking a knowing and at times dark, sardonic look at the classic themes of love, life and work." The critic, however, forgets to mention that nowhere does "sardonic" appear as a synonym for either "funny" or "engaging."

"Rain Dogs" is a new comedy-drama series available on HBO Max, created by Cash Carraway. The show follows the story of an unconventional family consisting of a working-class single mother, her young daughter, and a wealthy gay man. The show premiered on HBO on March 6, 2023.

Enlightened brings the very talented Laura Dern to television as Amy Jellicoe, an executive who has found her job and her life to be too much to bear. When she suffers from a breakdown which just happens to be a very public embarrassing situation for her, she finds she must attempt to put her life back together by going through rehabilitation. Watch for Diane Ladd who plays Amy's mother, Helen Jellicoe (she is Dern's real life mother). Amy spends three months in Hawaii where she undergoes therapy to help with her problems, then returns home to face reality and the group of co-workers she embarrassed herself by breaking down in front of, living with her mother who is never short on unwelcome advice, and a lazy ex-husband (Luke Wilson) who enjoys his "recreational" drugs too much. Laura Dern is known for her roles in Jurassic Park, Rambling Rose, & Wild At Heart. Actress Diane Ladd has starred in Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, Primary Colors, & Wild At Heart. She and actor Bruce Dern are Laura's parents. Luke Wilson has been seen in 3:10 To Yuma, Blades of Glory, & Death at a Funeral; and he is brother of Owen Wilson.

Party Down is a television series that aired on the Starz network from 2009 to 2010. The show revolves around a group of struggling actors and writers who work as caterers for various events in Los Angeles. Each episode features a different event, and the team must navigate their personal and professional lives while dealing with the eccentric clients they serve.