It looks as if the Showtime team responsible for Dead Like Me took a seminar in just what elements are required to build a cutting-edge series, from theme and tone to which brand names to drop. ‘Six Feet Under‘ was essential viewing, as were clever group shows from ‘Seinfeld‘ to ‘Friends.’ Which still left time for literature, chiefly Alice Sebold’s best seller, ‘The Lovely Bones.’ NY Times

There’s been alot of buzz about this series. Curious, my wife and I took in the debut last night. It is a clever blend of comedy and fantasy although, yes, derivative. [Other names dropped in the review include Buffy, Sex and the City, and the Sopranos, more of a reach.] It is hard to see how its premise can fuel an entire season, though. And let’s hope it doesn’t take its Seinfeld and Friends influences as seriously as its Sebold or Six Feet Under ones…