Austin Stories

A wonderfully relaxed, off-the-wall comedy series that has more spunk and imagination than almost any new network sitcom you're likely to surf on by this fall. [10 Sept 1997, p.5C]

It is shot in the seemingly off-handed manner of an independent film, and its concerns are with fending off boredom as the days drift by. It is invigoratingly easygoing. [10 Sept 1997, p.3]

Austin packs a sweet, loose-limbed sensibility reminiscent of Jim Jarmusch's "Stranger Than Paradise" by way of early Woody Allen that makes this debuting series one of the more interesting and inventive efforts likely to air this season. [10 Sept 1997]

One of the season's coolest, funniest and most genuinely offbeat treats. It's MTV's best since the sardonic "Daria." [10 Sept 1997, p.3D]

Combine these characters with some clever plotlines, mix in some unusual elements (or lack thereof) - on-location shooting using film, not tape; no laugh track; no audience - and now we're talking something gale-force true, something we haven't quite seen before. [10 Sept 1997, p.1]

It's laudable that the show goes without a laugh track and studio audience. Going without appealing characters, however, is foolhardy.