During the recent Television Critics Association (TCA) press tour, I gathered a group of my fellow critics and turned on the cameras while we talked all about the best and worst of fall TV.

And here it is: Our fifth and final critics roundtable chat, showing a little love for our favorite returning shows.


If you missed any chats this week, there's best new comedy, best new drama, worst new show and star we're happiest to see on TV. This one might be the most interesting because it's about shows you already know and love, too ... but it also highlights just how tough the competition will be for the new shows we've discussed, good and bad.

So now, join me and HitFix.com's Alan Sepinwall, Melanie McFarland from IMDb TV, Damian Holbrook of TV Guide Magazine and AOL TV's own Mo Ryan as we chat all about the returning shows we're most excited for.

Zooey! Jorge and Michael! Sarah Michelle (with or without her magical crabs)! Welcome to Part 4 of our critics roundtable debate, all about the stars we're most excited to see on our TVs this year.

Here's a little backstory: during the recent Television Critics Association (TCA) press tour, I gathered a group of my fellow critics and turned on the cameras while we talked all about the best and worst of fall TV, and this one has the most laughs.


I've split our chat into five insightful videos -- best new comedy, best new drama, worst new show and star we're happiest to see on TV (watch all four below), and returning show we're most excited for (posting Friday) -- so check back tomorrow for the last installment.

For now, join me and HitFix.com's Alan Sepinwall, Melanie McFarland from IMDb TV, Damian Holbrook of TV Guide Magazine and AOL TV's own Mo Ryan to find out which stars we're most excited to see on TV.

And watch until the very end for a hilarious (to us, at least) crabby outtake ... anyone else ever sat through 'Simply Irresistible'?

Welcome to Part 3 of our critics roundtable debate, all about the worst new shows of the upcoming 2011-2012 TV season. Yes, up until now these debates been a lot of sparkles and rainbows tied up in hope, but not this one -- the claws are out.

Here's a little backstory: during the recent Television Critics Association (TCA) press tour, I gathered a group of my fellow critics and turned on the cameras while we talked all about the best and worst of fall TV.


I've split our chat into five insightful videos, and we'll be posting a new one here on AOL TV everyday this week -- best new comedy, best new drama and worst new show (watch all three below), then star we're happiest to see on TV (Thursday) and returning show we're most excited for (Friday) -- so keep checking back for more.

Right now, join me and HitFix.com's Alan Sepinwall, Melanie McFarland from IMDb TV, Damian Holbrook of TV Guide Magazine and AOL TV's own Mo Ryan to get our brutally honest take on today's topic: Worst new show.

Welcome to Part 2 of our critics roundtable debate, all about the best new dramas of the upcoming 2011-2012 TV season. Which new shows made the list? You'll have to watch and see ...

Here's a little backstory: during the recent Television Critics Association (TCA) press tour, I gathered a group of my fellow critics and turned on the cameras while we talked all about the best and worst of fall TV.


I've split our chat into five insightful videos, and we'll be posting a new one here on AOL TV everyday this week -- best new comedy and best new drama (watch both below), worst new show (Wednesday), star we're happiest to see on TV (Thursday) and returning show we're most excited for (Friday) -- so keep checking back for more.

Right now, join me and HitFix.com's Alan Sepinwall, Melanie McFarland from IMDb TV, Damian Holbrook of TV Guide Magazine and AOL TV's own Mo Ryan to get our honest take on today's topic: Best new drama.

The best part about the fast-approaching fall TV season isn't just previewing and reviewing the new series and interviewing the shows' stars -- it's catching up with the biggest, most respected critics from across the country to get their take on the shows as well.

So we thought we'd start the debate. During the recent Television Critics Association (TCA) press tour, I gathered a group of fellow critics and turned on the cameras while we talked all about the best and worst of fall TV.


I've split our chat into five insightful videos, and we'll be posting a new one here on AOL TV everyday this week -- best new comedy, best new drama (posting Tuesday), worst new show (Wednesday), star we're happiest to see on TV (Thursday) and returning show we're most excited for (Friday) -- so keep checking back for more.

Right now, join me and HitFix.com's Alan Sepinwall, Melanie McFarland from IMDb TV, Damian Holbrook of TV Guide Magazine and AOL TV's own Mo Ryan to get our honest take on today's topic: Best new comedy.

Funny blog entry by the Seattle Post- Intelligencer's "TV Gal", Melanie McFarland: she has come up with a metric called the "Ming-Na Measure". Now, this is not a measure of a show's chances for success (or more likely, failure) merely by Ming-Na's presence on it, though her track record outside of ER isn't stellar. Apparently, the Ming-Na Measure gagues the potential length of a show's run by how the actress reacts during the press conference for the program held at the TCA press tour.

For instance, her consternation at critics' questions about how her new show, Fox's Vanished, is similar to another new pilot, NBC's Kidnapped, tells McFarland that the show probably won't last a month. Given how similarly McFarland said she reacted at the press tour conference for her last colossal failure, last year's NBC fertility clinic drama Inconceivable, chances are the critic's right on the money with this one.

[via Pop Candy]