FOX

CHICAGO – NBC used the Super Bowl to launch their highly-promoted Super Monday and the gamble paid off as the troubled network won the night, beating a very competitive slate of programming on CBS and ABC. “The Voice” is a ratings beast and “Smash” was heavily sampled. Of course, whether or not “Smash” is a hit will be determined the further it gets away from the Super Bowl hype.

CHICAGO – With elements of “Pay It Forward,” “The Number 23,” “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close,” classic inspirational TV fare like “Touched by an Angel,” and the later seasons of “Heroes,” FOX’s new drama, “Touch,” is an absolute mess.

CHICAGO – There’s “potential” all over FOX’s highly-anticipated “Alcatraz,” debuting tonight, January 16th, 2012 with two back-to-back episodes. A great cast, strong production pedigree, interesting concept — so why are both of the first two episodes so forgettable? Why is this show more “meh” than amazing?

CHICAGO – Thursday nights looked radically different last night with changes on three major networks, including a new line-up on NBC and premieres on CBS and FOX. How’d they do? Well, CBS may have finally found a hit in the post-“The Big Bang Theory” slot, but NBC and FOX are going to have to go back to the drawing board.

CHICAGO – Every once in awhile there’s a show that feels so derivative of other programs that it kind of just disappears while you’re watching it. A show that gets sucked into the fabric of TV history because it never develops a personality of its own. There have been countless failed procedurals, comedies, and dramas that tried to walk a well-trod road only to find that they couldn’t make it. We can add “The Finder” to that list.

CHICAGO – FOX has confirmed what everyone expected; the animated series “Allen Gregory” starring the voice of Jonah Hill is officially cancelled. The news came today at the FOX Television Critics Association meeting and press tour event in Pasadena.

CHICAGO – When I was younger, I considered the blockbuster flop “Tora! Tora! Tora!” pretty boring. Critics over the years and friends have remembered the film more fondly than when it was released and therefore made me feel like perhaps a re-appreciation was in order. Nope. It’s still boring. And now it’s boring in stunning HD!

CHICAGO – FOX just announced their premiere dates for the 2011-2012 midseason including exactly when to tune in for the return of “American Idol,” along with the highly-anticipated premieres of J.J. Abrams’ “Alcatraz,” new mystery “The Finder,” Kiefer Sutherland drama “Touch,” and the animated adaptation of “Napoleon Dynamite.” They also scheduled the return of two nearly-canceled shows — “Breaking In” and “Bob’s Burgers” — along with announcing that “I Hate My Teenage Daughter,” “Glee,” and “Bones” will be taking some time off in the winter, returning with new episodes in the spring.

CHICAGO – FOX’s “I Hate My Teenage Daughter” is so horrendous that there were rumors, after it was picked up by the network and pilots were sent out to press last May, that the network heads might change their mind and decide not to air the show at all. That would have been the nice to do to the American public.

CHICAGO – Who cares? Rarely has a movie been so weighed down with horrendous, expository dialogue that has no weight whatsoever as in the widely-loathed “Atlas Shrugged, Part I.” After the notoriously-reviled theatrical release ($4.6 million total domestic box office on a 12% on Rotten Tomatoes) killed the chance at a trilogy (on top of the hysterical Blu-ray labeling error), I kind of hoped the film would either surprise me with its quality or be so awful that it approached “The Room” or “Troll 2” levels of enjoyment. Nope. It’s just boring, boring, boring — the kind of film only worthwhile if you’re having trouble sleeping.