I was intrigued by the poster I saw for the show -- of a guy with no navel -- and it's pretty well done. I was really hoping for something new. The poster reminded me of Aira Fight (for any of you who've read the Vanna Bonta FLIGHT adventure about the girl with no belly button who's new to earth and experiences the urban earth things) but that's not why I tuned in. I was hoping for something different, to grip me and make me want to come home and sit back and take off. So that happened in moments.

This is a mixed review because I did like the premise of someone who is mysterious, and there's a mystery to who or what they are.

The writers know how to make cliff hangers and draw out the search for the "Who - is - it " -- who is Kyle? It's a good mystery and the acting is OK but I had hoped it would be a little more orginal. Maybe the second season will. The whole stranger in a strange land has been done by Robert Heinlein. And the whole innocent newcomer girl without a navel has been done by Vanna Bonta. What is the problem with TV getting original material? That would make a good forum topic.

Aaron Spelling wasn't all that original but his programs worked.

These characters are cardboard and the plots of each episode might be simplistic and a little thin, but it's done with compelling new cameraman and director techniques, solid acting, and the writers always work in very interesting med and technical stuff. The twists and turns in CSI are not gratuitous, they're well planned so it's not cheesey. This is a satisfying blend of mystery meets technology and cutting edge crime investigation techniques. The camera work is cool, withthe fast forward zooms and pans. Cool stuff.

The characters of CSI are slick and a little dark but even so they're believable and manage an actual emotional connection.

This show is like comfort food. It's warm, pleasant, makes you feel safe, and gives nutrition too. It goes just to the border of being fattenign without crossing the line. The cream of ideal family life is not necessarily a departure from reality. It offers substance without being pedantic, and the most due-hard cynic can't fault the fact that the heart in it is real.

This quality, whatever the template, was the essence of many Aaron Spelling shows. He was a master of television. It's meatloaf and mashed potatoes, sure, but nothing can beat that or satisfy the craving for the comfort zone of tv land.

The characters are bot template but real and somehow universal.

OK, Brad is good looking and no man (or woman) can deny that. That puts him in a league of his own. He also seems responsible and like a decent dude, not a womanizer or chic hater. He obviously respects and supports the woman in his life and as a man's man I respect that. Not a lech or slimy. Does a good job with his roles. Definitely a star.

Alexis Dziena performance in Broken Flowers is manic just like her personality is in other roles. My axis does not turn on Alexis. She is pie-faced for one. Her eyes are loony tunes gleeful like the cheshire cat in Alice In Wonderland. Make it moon-faced...as in lunatic. Alexis Dziena tries to be really coy in Broken Flowers but her face is like a puffy busy body. Not even playful innocent. That role by this moony bozo Alexis Dziena ruined an otherwise, and the way she walked around thinking she was hot...give me a break. It did not give me a rush of blood let alone a rise. Yuck. Does have a cute smile but dumb. Obviously fancies herself. Delusions of grand-your.