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."

"Reba" was a television series that aired from 2001 to 2007. The show followed Reba Hart, a divorced mother of three, as she navigated her personal and family life. Reba's ex-husband, Brock, had an affair with Barbra Jean, his dental hygienist, which led to their marriage and the birth of their son, Henry. Reba tried to maintain a civil relationship with her ex-husband and his new wife while raising her own children.

From the 8th of March, 1993 until the 28th of November, 1997 a "socially awkward" yet somehow lovable duo with the unlikely names of Beavis and Butthead ruled the MTV airwaves. The pair loved heavy metal rock and roll and hailed from the fictionalized town of Highland, Texas where they grew up with no apparent adult supervision (think Charlie Brown, Lucy, and Linus). Highland High School teachers didn't quite know how to deal with the rather dim-witted pair"¦ that is when the two even bothered to attend school. This may be simply a lesson in how not to survive the teen years or perhaps a cautionary tale of how to be obnoxious and perverted while giving commentary on popular music videos. In any case those around Beavis and Butthead tend to get in harms way while the "boys" skate free. As in the time Butthead fired a rifle that resulted in hitting an airliner (a Boeing 747). With part time jobs at the local Burger World, among others, and still wearing their AC/DC t-shirts they manage to survive as they provide bawdy comments for today's reality TV shows like Teen Cribs, UFC fights, and Jersey Shore.

Of course, nerds, geeks, dorks, techies, and intellectuals of all advanced-degree descriptions deserve love and affection"”if only their lips could form the monosyllables, "Will you go out with me?" CBS's hit "The Big Bang Theory" explores this and other mysteries of the universe, putting a lab-coated coterie of Cal-Tech scientists directly across the hall from Penny, premier Pasadena waitress and aspiring actress. "The Big Bang Thoery" proves once again that excruciating self-consciousness and social ineptitude, unfortunately, are always funny; and GED holders may derive extra satisfaction from Penny's frequent mastery of difficult situations on the strength of common sense and hard experience. In its first seasons, "The Big Bang Theory" looked frighteningly like "My Boys" minus Wrigley Field, but the characters and show have evolved, and individual actors and actresses have put their distinctive stamps on their roles. Especially Kaylee Cuoco has found the right balance between ingenuousness and homegrown girl power in her portrayal of Penny. Audiences have noticed, giving "The Big Bang Theory" their nod for a People's Choice Award in 2010. At the 2011 Golden Globe Awards, relatively unheralded, deliciously diffident Jim Parsons took home a handsome statuette for his performance as physicist Dr. Sheldon Cooper, an immensely lovable uber-nerd supreme. And in January, 2011, giving "The Big Bang Theory" the ultimate vote of confidence, CBS extended the show's contract for another three seasons.

Unprisoned is a new TV show that was created by Tracy McMillan and stars Kerry Washington and Delroy Lindo. It's a comedy series that premiered in 2023 and is produced by Onyx Collective, with Hulu being the distributor in the United States. The story revolves around the Alexander family, with Kerry Washington playing Paige Alexander, Delroy Lindo playing her father, Edwin Alexander, and Jordyn McIntosh playing a younger version of Paige.

Does "Californication" have an audience outside Los Angeles? "X-Files" hero and heart-throb David Duchovny plays a novelist who's addicted to both sex and drugs but takes a shot at raising his teenage daughter on his own. For the real Hollywood housewives, this Showtime staple may seem at least as ripped-from-everyday-life as their own weekly melodrama, but how does it play Omaha and Schenectady? If blocked writers really were seductive, a million part-time bloggers would feel empowered to rewrite Lady Chatterley's Lover. Two salient features keep premier cable viewers tuning in for their weekly dose of SoCal self-pity: First, son of a playwright and alumnus of Princeton, Duchovny has enough empathy for his ostensibly tortured character that he can invest "Californication's" uninspired screenwriting with a little angst, a lot of sex appeal, and a soupcon of roguish charm. Second, whatever "Californication" lacks in substance and depth, it more than makes-up in graphic sex. Wasn't there supposed to be some sort of relevant family drama woven-in there somewhere?