Brutally Normal

By James Poniewozik

It's no surprise to see someone doing a formulaic half-hour comedy knockoff of the WB's successful hourlong teen dramedies. And perhaps it's no surprise that it's the WB doing it. All the elements are here: the hyperactive camera trickery and fantasy sequences practically mugging you for your attention; the pandering barrage of slang and pop-culture references; even a teen-film star--Eddie Kaye Thomas, playing essentially the same smug, sleepy-eyed horndog who was the least appealing part of American Pie. Guess the title Painfully Hip was already taken.

--By James Poniewozik