FeaturesThe first season of Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. is better than you rememberA decade after the MCU launched its first show, we reconsider the quality of its inaugural seasonCindy White
Features“Hello, Newman”: The enduring genius of TV's greatest sitcom antagonistHere's to the funniest character to ever exist almost entirely within the realm of villainyTodd Lazarski
FeaturesHow Ahsoka could finally clear up all the confusion around the ForceEvery creator seems to have a different take on the most fundamental element of Star Wars, but Ahsoka just might be able to tie them all togetherCindy White
FeaturesThe X-Files at 30: How the show created a new model for TV storytellingAfter striking the perfect balance between monster of the week and mythology, the groundbreaking series unfortunately buckled under its own weightCindy White
100 EpisodesHow did Marvel's Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. go from pop-culture behemoth to scrappy underdog?In 100 Episodes, The A.V. Club examines the shows that made it to that number, considering both how they advanced and reflected the medium and what contributed to their popularity and/or longevity. This entry covers Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.,…Alex McLevy
100 EpisodesAlly McBeal was more than dancing babies and inflammatory magazine coversIn 100 Episodes, The A.V. Club examines the shows that made it to that number, considering both how they advanced and reflected the medium and what contributed to their popularity and/or longevity. This entry covers Ally McBeal, which ran for five…Gwen Ihnat
100 EpisodesThree’s Company pushed the limits of double entendres on American TVIn 100 Episodes, The A.V. Club examines the shows that made it to that number, considering both how they advanced and reflected the medium and what contributed to their popularity and/or longevity. This entry covers Three’s Company, which ran for…Noel Murray
100 EpisodesScrubs was goofy, profound, and a key link in the evolution of TV comedyIn 100 Episodes, The A.V. Club examines the shows that made it to that number, considering both how they advanced and reflected the medium and what contributed to their popularity and/or longevity. This entry covers Scrubs, which ran for 182…Ryan Vlastelica
15 Minutes or LessLow Budget Sketch Show wrings laughs from every pennyPerhaps the most tragic subgroup in the Harry Potter universe is the non-magical offspring of wizards known as Squibs. Though they live in a wondrous world and are constantly surrounded by marvels, they can never truly partake. This is essentially…Matthew Crowley
15 Minutes or LessBusiness Work employs a potent mix of the absurd and banalHaving an office job is a drab reality for most 9-to-5 employees. No matter how great a job might be, there’s something inherently dull and depressing about the cubicles, fluorescent lights, and forced chatter of a standard American workplace.…Matthew Crowley
15 Minutes or LessOn Next Time On Lonny, madness is always just an episode awaySketch comedy has historically struggled on American TV, in part because the form doesn’t provide much to hook viewers. On television, character is king. Audiences respond to affable personalities, and to the quippy camaraderie of folks they would…Matthew Crowley
15 Minutes or LessGood Cop Great Cop finds the dark side of whimsyWhimsy is a tricky thing, particularly for a comedy show. As many a mediocre improv scene has shown us, a premise that tips too far toward the fanciful runs the risk of floating off into space, unmoored by any rules or reality. While comedy requires…Matthew Crowley
24 Hours Of TVThe gap year: 24 hours of Y2K TVThe year 2000 was a transitional one for TV, which might speak to the number of teen-centered stories on the air. The premiere of The Sopranos in 1999 helped usher in another golden age of television, its second season heralding the time when, accord…The A.V. Club
24 Hours Of TVDedication, animation, and Passions: 24 hours of 1999 TVThough the Y2K bug turned out to be a dud, the TV of 1999 was anything but—there were good to great offerings in every medium, from animation to procedurals to sex-positive dramas. The debut of The Sopranos ushered in the era of the antihero (on the…The A.V. Club
24 Hours Of TVSex, cities, sock puppets, superheroes, and short skirts: 24 hours of 1998 TVThe TV of 1998 feels more like the end of something than the beginning. Dawson’s Creek and Will & Grace were pointing to a new direction for their respective networks, but pioneering comedies like Seinfeld, The Larry Sanders Show, Living Single, and …The A.V. Club
24 Hours Of TVExplore the TV of 1993 by watching 24 straight hours of itLooking for a way to remember everything that was everything in 1993? You could do far worse than going back and looking at some of the most significant television of the era. The year proved to be oddly momentous for the medium, as the choices…Kyle Ryan, Gwen Ihnat, Josh Modell, Zack Handlen, and 10 more
A Very Special EpisodeIn one of HBO’s finest hours, Tom Hanks recalled the last time we went to the moonOn May 10, 1998—20 years ago next spring—HBO aired “La Voyage Dans La Lune,” the final episode of From The Earth To The Moon, a 12-part miniseries that would go on to win an Emmy for Outstanding Miniseries. Directed by Jonathan Mostow and written by…Noel Murray
A Very Special EpisodeA very special 1970s nightmare, starring Vincent Price, H.R. Pufnstuf, and the Brady BunchIn the 1970s, just about anyone with a Q Score in the double digits landed their own variety series. Musicians, comedians, magicians… if you had any kind of name recognition at all, you were issued a spangled jumpsuit and consigned to a flashing…Noel Murray
A Very Special EpisodeA very special Breaking Bad pulled a train robbery, and proved the power of plotTake Snowfall, FX’s buzzy drama about the connection between crack cocaine, the CIA, and gang violence in 1980s Los Angeles. I admired enough elements of the show to keep watching throughout this past summer. But when the first season reached the…Noel Murray
A Very Special EpisodeA very special Friends from 1997 debated the meaning of “on a break”At the start of 1997, the world had just gone through a year that included a bombing at the Atlanta Olympics, the arrest of Ted “The Unabomber” Kaczynski, a deadly terrorist attack on a U.S. military base in Saudi Arabia, and mass shootings at both…Noel Murray
Game of ThronesThe Mailbag Of Thrones on the series finale, what Bran knew, Jon's fate, and what it all means for the booksWe learned a lot from Game Of Thrones’ series finale, “The Iron Throne,” like how there is literally no failure too big to get Tyrion fired, dragons have an uncanny understanding of symbolism, and the Citadel is a four-month college. But the show’s…Michael Walsh
Game of ThronesThe Mailbag Of Thrones answers what the hell just happened and if things will get better in the series finaleWe learned a lot from Game Of Thrones’ “The Bells,” like how a master of whispers needs to remember the importance of whispering, not even a golden hand can get you past security, and kissing your aunt can help prevent genocide. But the episode…Michael Walsh
Game of ThronesWhy didn’t Daenerys torch Euron, whose side is Jaime on, and more burning Game Of Thrones questionsWe learned a lot from Game Of Thrones’ “The Last Of The Starks,” like how coffeehouses are already gentrifying the North, you should never sit near Tormund when he’s drunk, and the guy who makes giant crossbows is now the richest person in Westeros.…Michael Walsh
Game of ThronesMailbag Of Thrones tackles prophesies, Melisandre’s track record, and questionable war tacticsWe learned a lot from Game Of Thrones’ “The Long Night,” like how the safest place in Westeros is on the front line fighting for the good guys, riding straight into an impenetrable wall of dead soldiers you can’t even see is surprisingly a bad idea,…Michael Walsh
Once In A LifetimeYou can go home for the holidays this year, if only in a Lifetime Christmas movieYou don’t have to actively hate Christmas to be a Scrooge in a Lifetime movie. All you have to say is, “It’s not my favorite holiday,” or even, “A full 12 days of celebrations? Doesn’t anyone have to go to work in this town?”, and suddenly an entire…Katie Rife
One Season WondersHow Commander In Chief, starring Geena Davis as POTUS, flamed outABC's 2005 series about the first woman president was a certain hit, until it was voted out by behind-the-scenes dramaJoshua Alston
One Season WondersWith practice, Fox sports drama Pitch could have knocked it out of the parkLike its protagonist, Pitch had a tremendous amount of potential. Premiering September 22, 2016, the Fox sports drama from Dan Fogelman (This Is Us, Crazy, Stupid, Love.) and Rick Singer (American Dad!, Younger) boasted a crackerjack cast, including…Danette Chavez
One Season WondersJump Street spin-off Booker failed to create a Sam Spade for the ’90sIn the world of TV spin-offs, it is essential to name your new series after the transitory character to remind people exactly why they’re supposed to watch: a chance to see a familiar face in a whole new light. It’s a hit-or-miss proposition. For…Gwen Ihnat
One Season WondersThe WB’s Grosse Pointe was ahead of its time, but it’s also hard to watch 20 years laterIn many ways, The WB’s Grosse Pointe is a time capsule, perfectly preserving the Teen Beat celebrity culture of the end of the millennium. In others, it was ahead of its time, providing a peek behind the Hollywood façade in ways most viewers…Patrick Gomez
Peak SeasonTo save itself, Homeland had to get over the loss of its leading manPreviously on Homeland…Joshua Alston
Peak SeasonIn its stellar 3rd season, Fringe combined the best of both worldsPreviously on Fringe…Joshua Alston
PrimerEverything you need to know about Nick Fury as Secret Invasion arrivesAfter years of end credit scenes and cameos, the former S.H.I.E.L.D. director takes the lead in his own Disney+ seriesCindy White
Special Guest StarSteve Martin got to show his “wild and crazy” side again on 30 RockIn the season-three episode “Gavin Volure,” Martin went from suave charmer to unhinged fugitiveGwen Ihnat
Special Guest StarEGOT winner Rita Moreno went for her second Emmy on The Rockford FilesRita Moreno played a recurring character on the classic 1970s detective series with her old friend James GarnerGwen Ihnat
Special Guest StarSally Field subverted expectations (again) to win an Emmy on ERIn Special Guest Star, Gwen Ihnat takes a look at a standout turn by a performer in a TV series, noting what effect the appearance had on the actor, the series, and the TV landscape overall.Gwen Ihnat
TV Club 1010 episodes of Girlfriends that celebrate the sisterhood of Black womenFriendship was the core of the beloved eight-season UPN/The CW sitcomAlexis Reliford
TV Club 1010 essential episodes of Living Single you should check-check-check outFor primarily Black audiences, Fox’s five-season 1990s hit was a microcosm of a culture that felt familiar, relatable, and unburdened by dated stereotypesShannon Miller
TV Club 1010 episodes that take DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow from bad superhero show to best superhero showDC’s Legends Of Tomorrow is a weird show on every level—conceptually, plot-wise, and even in its overall journey. It was built as a spin-off from both The CW’s Arrow and The Flash, but it’s not really about fan-favorite characters who necessarily…Sam Barsanti and William Hughes
TV Club 1010 episodes to remind you Dexter was so much more than a crappy endingThere’s vitriol, and then there’s the rage engendered by the finale of Dexter. The A.V. Club recently revisited the public and critical response of that series’ ending; to call the reactions negative would be putting it mildly. With the possible…Alex McLevy
TV Club AwardsComedy and animation wrap up the 2014-15 TV Club AwardsThe A.V. Club began handing out end-of-the-TV-season superlatives yesterday, honoring the best in drama and reality TV, from Cookie Lyon’s cutting putdowns to Robert Durst’s fateful on-mic carelessness. Today, we conclude the 2014-15 TV Club Awards…Caroline Siede, Joshua Alston, Genevieve Valentine, and 6 more
