Northern Exposure

While it might look like a serious show, it's played strictly for laughs, and it has in fact become one of the funniest -- and most inventive -- shows in primetime... Northern Exposure is refreshing in the way it breaks all the rules of format and comes out on top. As it proves week after week, it remains the most charming, witty and rewarding show on television. [23 Sept 1991]

The series, a marvelous blending of comedy and drama, has been almost too good to be true for both the network and viewers. [23 Sept 1991]

Viewers who find Twin Peaks too weird, thirtysomething too whiny and L.A. Law too slick should look north . . . north to Alaska . . . specifically to tiny Cicely, where Dr. Joel Fleischman resumes his medical practice tonight...But don't worry that Northern Exposure is overly odd. This gently witty show, from the creators of "St. Elsewhere", breaks the rules of television physics: It remains down-to-earth, yet soars. [8 Apr 1991, p.C1]

The show's quirkiness is neatly mixed with a familiar fish-out-of-water theme, and its sensibilities are nicely in touch with soft humanity. It's delightful. [12 July 1990, p.17]

As it was before, it's a wonderfully quirky show, funny and warm and all that good stuff. [8 Apr 1991, p.C-7]

My fear is that the show may be too Alaska. TV is not ready yet for Nanook of the North, even if he has a New York accent. [10 July 1990, p.9]

The show has some nice touches. Joel's Jewishness is refreshingly up-front, and it's good to see a few Native Americans on TV for a change. But this domesticated Twin Peaks is too precious by half.