John J. O'Connor

Moonlighting is bringing something truly different to the medium; a private-eye formula with wit and style in both the production and the performances. It couls well be the most significant television phenomenon of 1985.

The basic concept is workable. The script, by the Charles brothers, is sharp and lively. And the direction by Mr. Burrows never misses a comic beat.

As a situation, Taxi is no better or worse than any other situation comedy on television. But the series has two distinctive assets. The scripts tend to be better than average. And the cast, headed by Judd Hirsch as the somewhat sour, deadpan AleX, happens to have coalesced rather rapidly into a first‐rate repertory company.

Absolutely Fabulous is grandly bawdy and uninhibited; Cybill, more restrained for American sensibilities, ends up too often being only vulgar. Still, Ms. Shepherd and Ms. Baranski have their delightful moments. And the series appears to be getting stronger.

Not taking itself very seriously, Murder, She Wrote is a pleasant, almost old-fashioned entertainment, and it does not require a single screeching car chase.

The cast is pleasant enough. The rest depends on how cleverly Gary David Goldberg, the creator and producer of the series, can bring a sense of freshness to an overworked device.

An excessively manic laughtrack is supplied to mark off the points of supposedly irresistible mirth. Each vignette has its own separate writer and director, and that may account for a certain lumpiness of execution in the dreadful porridge of a conception.

At times the pop-culture references threaten to turn into a Dennis Miller routine, grabbing everything from the Rolling Stones to the Menendez brothers.

This television production leaves the movie in the dust...Mr. King's script and the direction of Mick Garris (''Stephen King's 'The Stand' '') slowly and skillfully bring The Shining to a pitch of screeching horror. Mr. Weber, shucking the light comedy of sitcom, is chillingly effective as a man battling his own personal demons.

The result, featuring a strong cast, is far better than any adaptation so far of a King book...The special effects are exceptionally effective. If you're pining for a good creepy-crawly scare, don't miss it.