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Archive for April 14th, 2008

The Sarah Janes Adventures Warmer Side to Sci-Fi

Add comment April 14th, 2008

SarahJaneAdventuresThe spin-off’s of the long-running sci-fi show Dr. Who are a hard act to follow. On one hand, there’s Torchwood – primal, sensual and urban. But then there’s The Sarah Jane Adventures – bright, wondrous and platonic. The producers of the series do an excellent job of tailoring the themes and emotions to their lead characters. While Torchwood followed the anything-goes world of time-traveling ex-con Jack Harkness, The Sarah Jane Adventures is a coming-of-age tales about Maria (Yasmin Page) who forms a bond with the titular Sarah Jane Smith, a companion of Dr. Who decades ago and now an investigative reporter. The characters are warm and engaging, but the plot lacks the diverse originality of either Torchwood or Dr. Who. The Sarah Jane Adventures airs on Sci-Fi at 7:00 PM.

The Original CSI Still Has It

Add comment April 14th, 2008

As CSI enters into its eight season, it’s easy to wonder if the series is going the way of its NBC rival – Law And Order – with far too many spin-off’s for its own good. The heavily detailed mystery show still retains the punch which brought rampant popularity. Executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer has his fingers prints all over CSI, bringing his smooth, tell-tale emphasis on atmosphere and action into the crime lab. While the stories are just as gritty and accessible as ever, it’s occasionally tough for viewers to catch the details behind the admittedly rare cast or plot changes, as they aren’t referenced in the dialogue nearly enough, leaving some plot points unanswered for new viewers. CSI airs on Thursday at 8:00 PM on CBS.