Overrated
Crime procedurals. Am I the only one who couldn't care less that "Hawaii Five-O" is returning to TV this fall? Didn't think so. There's nothing especially terrible about these shows, and they keep the acting community employed -- hey, Skeet Ulrich, good to see ya back in "Law & Order: Los Angeles," say "hi" to Terrence Howard for me -- but as time-wasters go, I have a stack of good books by my bedside that's as high as a pair of hip boots.
Underrated
AM radio. The crackle and hiss of Twins games on a car radio is the sound of summertime in Minnesota, right up there with the hum of cicadas on a lazy afternoon, or the splash of a crappie yanked out of its element. The lousy reception is part of AM's romantic appeal. There's high drama to be found on 'CCO Radio when bad weather moves in, and bursts of white noise, generated by lightning flashes high in the sky, punctuate the phone calls from listeners reporting downed trees, etc. You can't get that on FM.
TIM CAMPBELL
