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Robert Abele

Tomatometer-approved critic
Biography:

Film Critic, LA Weekly

Reviews

Movies TV Shows
Harlan Coben's Shelter: Season 1 (2023) 88% EDIT “There is a difference between story and storytelling, and in between passages of action and suspense, of which there is a well-executed good deal, scenes slow down and stretch out and let a little quiet in.” – Los Angeles Times Aug 22, 2023 Full Review Rules of Engagement: Season 1 (2007) 36% EDIT “The series quickly begins to resemble one of those fake sitcoms you'd see in a snide movie that likes to take easy potshots at low culture.” – L.A. Weekly Apr 1, 2020 Full Review Denise Richards: It's Complicated: Season 1 (2008) 20% EDIT “The sport of spotting contradictions and dopey little ironies when stars try to rejigger their public image is really the only reason to watch celeb-reality shows like Denise Richards: It's Complicated.” – L.A. Weekly Mar 20, 2020 Full Review Grey's Anatomy: Season 1 (2005) 71% EDIT “We've seen Oh rock qualifiedly as the hot chick in the movie Sideways, and Heigl has shown she has ready reserves of fierceness and vulnerability. Why isn't one of them playing Meredith Grey?” – L.A. Weekly Mar 16, 2020 Full Review Secret Diary of a Call Girl: Season 1 (2007) 48% EDIT “Secret Diary of a Call Girl is the kind of hotly lit, coldly stylized dreck that purports to be classy, high-minded softcore but is actually as witless and dreary as, well, paid-for jollies.” – L.A. Weekly Mar 4, 2020 Full Review The Office: Season 1 (2005) 71% EDIT “It isn't exactly surprising to learn that NBC's The Office can't compare to Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's lauded, mold-crushing, brilliant BBC original. That said, it's still a funny show, with Carell handily wringing wince-inducing laughs.” – L.A. Weekly Feb 20, 2020 Full Review The Hills: Season 1 (2006) 78% EDIT “The colors pop and the stupidity glistens on MTV's insanely watchable new reality soap The Hills.” – L.A. Weekly Jan 13, 2020 Full Review EDIT “I'm pleased with how well this Americanization of an already very fine piece of flinty cop nostalgia is going.” – L.A. Weekly Dec 16, 2019 Full Review Unhitched: Season 1 (2008) 30% EDIT “[E]ven when Unhitched isn't funny - and the second episode is definitely an improvement on the pilot, which tries too hard - it at least isn't vile.” – L.A. Weekly Nov 15, 2019 Full Review Worst Week: Season 1 (2008) 68% EDIT “But if I'm being truthful, the original British version of this series was funnier.” – L.A. Weekly Nov 14, 2019 Full Review The Wire: Season 4 (2006) 100% EDIT “The Wire has the sharpest writing, the best directing, incredible performances, unforgettable characters, tragic suspense, deep emotion, raucous humor and everything you'd ever want from a show you watch week to week.” – L.A. Weekly Oct 19, 2019 Full Review October Road: Season 1 (2007) 11% EDIT “October Road is so checklist-full of dumb plot points, missing pieces and unanswered questions it could be a "What's Wrong With This Picture?" exercise from a puzzle magazine.” – L.A. Weekly Oct 16, 2019 Full Review Raising the Bar: Season 1 (2008) 22% EDIT “Did the world need another law show? Arguably not. But if they're going to keep entering our homes like those pesky jury duty summonses, I'll take an agreeably lively genre workout from a tested veteran like Bochco over most.” – L.A. Weekly Oct 14, 2019 Full Review 30 Rock: Season 1 (2006) 84% EDIT “30 Rock doesn't have to try hard to feel real, because even though it's got that circus mentality, there's a wicked sense that Fey is unloading every bizarre thing she's ever seen or heard in her nearly 10 years at SNL.” – L.A. Weekly Oct 11, 2019 Full Review Drive: Season 1 (2007) 65% EDIT “Drive quickly asserts itself as an enjoyably diverting peel-out - brainless but not stupid, a well-stirred conspiracy/action mixture in keeping with Fox's no-seat-belts hits 24 and Prison Break.” – L.A. Weekly Oct 4, 2019 Full Review Justice: Season 1 (2006) 63% EDIT “Justice may make for an oddly compelling fictional counterpart to whatever sensationalized legal case has you shamefully sneaking the occasional peek at Court TV.” – L.A. Weekly Oct 4, 2019 Full Review Six Degrees: Season 1 (2006) 42% EDIT “Once you get past this romance-novel nonsense, you'll find that executive producer J.J. Abrams (Lost)... have crafted a pleasantly diverting bumper-car drama of chance encounters, new friendships and random triggers.” – L.A. Weekly Oct 1, 2019 Full Review Crumbs: Season 1 (2006) 33% EDIT “Watching Crumbs is like watching a poorly trained nurse trying to find a vein: less amusing than it is nerve-wracking.” – L.A. Weekly Sep 30, 2019 Full Review Painkiller Jane: Season 1 (2007) 25% EDIT “Not helping matters either are the wretched dialogue, indiscriminately moody lighting, stock characters (gruff boss, dweeby tech guy, ripped chauvinist colleague), and crushing lack of suspense. I felt the pain, believe me.” – L.A. Weekly Sep 27, 2019 Full Review Saving Grace: Season 1 (2007) 69% EDIT “Hunter seems to mostly flail in a show that is too unremarkable for her talents.” – L.A. Weekly Sep 27, 2019 Full Review 3 Lbs.: Season 1 (2006) 21% EDIT “Maybe there was no chance a show like 3 Lbs. could feel like anything but comatose upon arrival.” – L.A. Weekly Sep 27, 2019 Full Review Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip: Season 1 (2006) 74% EDIT “Idealistic, wonky, impassioned exchanges between people who have nothing left to learn are one thing when your characters work for the president of the United States, but c'mon, we're talking about late-night TV.” – L.A. Weekly Sep 26, 2019 Full Review Kath & Kim: Season 1 (2008) 20% EDIT “Sometimes what's missing is a sense that the characters' little victories matter beyond the writers' love of pointing and laughing... and sometimes it's just the laughs themselves that aren't there.” – L.A. Weekly Sep 19, 2019 Full Review Love Monkey: Season 1 (2006) 85% EDIT “Love Monkey creator Michael Rauch keeps facile wisdom to a bare minimum, and a certain urban energy level turned up. He was also smart enough to cast the ultra-groovy Judy Greer.” – L.A. Weekly Sep 18, 2019 Full Review Crusoe: Season 1 (2008) 49% EDIT “It sends a clear message to the boyhood part of my brain... Why would you ever try to leave such an awesome place?” – L.A. Weekly Sep 17, 2019 Full Review
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