Kay1977

All Rise has a genuinely fresh premise, great acting, writing with depth, captivating storylines, good character development and worthwhile entertainment. It is also a microcosm not only of LA, but America. It's refreshing to have a strong, black, female lead, and also a racially diverse cast. The characters are likable and the plot lines are believable. This show will make you laugh, cry and think. Compared to Bluff City Law, another court centered new series, this show is a breath of fresh air, and portrays a more accurate view of the court system, as far as television goes. I find Bluff City Law, while full of good intentions, to be predictable, derivative and boring. The ensemble cast and well written characters of All Rose will keep you coming back for more. It deserves a second season, and many more seasons to come.

County Line is well acted- all the major characters are believable in their roles, and the ending will come as a surprise. Violence is not very graphic and is used to promote the storyline and character development- not gratuitous. That seems rare nowadays. As other reviewers say, this can be watched by the whole family- no swearing. It also has something to say about dedication, loyalty and doing the right thing. A little cliche sneaks in, but if you are open to a good storyline and great acting, you'll like this film. Tom Wopat looks "lived in" and not tough guy glamorous, which earns his character credibility.

800 Words was recently broadcast on PBS, and watching the 1st season made me buy as many series of it as I could get my hands on. The premise of the show has been discussed in other reviews, so I won't repeat it, but I'll give my opinion as to why the show is so good. The characters, actors and scripts are excellent, as is the scenery. The way it takes the trope of a quirky small town with "outsiders" adjusting to life there works so well because the show is very funny and very serious at the same time. That combination of laughing and then thinking - wow- this has something important to say about being human, grieving, family dynamics, making mistakes, loving and muddling through. It isn't preachy. It steals your heart because you fall in love with the characters. Even the town "villain" is likable in a way because the quirky characters are fleshed out human beings. The handyman is laid back and might be taken as a fool, but as with the Shakespearen fool, he has the role of helping his employer see the lay of the land and the people in it- plus he has a heart of gold. There are special characters throughout that show up in one episode (the has-been surfer dude is one of my favorites) and townspeople who make regular appearances. I like comedy to be meaningful, and meaningful drama to contain comedy. This show hits the bullseye.