Collegiate Times

Those of you who normally check this space probably know that I try to take on tough issues of foreign and domestic policy, issues such as police brutality, racism, the Iraq War, torture and the like.

Also, I'm sure that you all have seen the nasty, pernicious cold/flu bug that's been going around campus this week; those of you who haven't had it yet probably know someone who has. I have it - and believe me, consider yourself lucky.

So, having spent the last few days laid up in bed, smacked out on NyQuil and Sudafed, watching reruns of "Dr. Who," "Jericho" and "Battlestar Galactica" on SciFi leaves me really qualified to make only these policy pronouncements this week:

First, David Tennant is a seriously underappreciated actor.

Having only seen him in a bit part of one of the "Harry Potter" movies, I didn't really get a chance to see his chops ... but anybody who can be that compelling in dialogue with a Dalek (if you don't know, it's basically a trash-can-alien) deserves a second look from directors and producers everywhere.

"Dr. Who" is still every bit as delightfully cheesy and over-the-top as it was when I watched it in syndication on WVIZ (Lorain/Cleveland PBS) as a boy. Tennant brings a new angle to the role, while preserving what was so lovable back in the day.

Second, saving "Jericho" from cancellation hell is the best decision CBS has made in a very long time.

Seriously, "Ghost Whisperer"? "Cold Case?" CBS doesn't have anything that even comes close to "Jericho's" level. Personally, I've always had a soft spot for post-apocalyptic fiction (like "The Road Warrior") and stories about small groups under extraordinary stress ("Das Boot") and "Jericho" combines both into a compelling, character-driven plot that is dynamic and (as TV fiction so rarely is) unpredictable.

Third, "Battlestar Galactica" is the best show on TV, and as I would have guessed, no one is watching it.

Name a serious issue: terrorism, holy war, genocide, etc. It's been addressed by this show...and in a serious and compelling way.

I know it's a little difficult to take this show seriously at first...especially for people in their third decade like myself who remember the original series.

But despite all the substitute curses and the fact that major characters are named "Apollo" and "Starbuck," it's still a great show that deserves a look.

The characters and direction make "BSG" such a strong show. This could've turned into a mind-numbingly boring show about humans on the run from genocidal robots, but instead turned into a seriously convincing human drama (not the least part of that human drama is about the self-aware robot Cylons) about humans on the run from genocidal robots.

That's the real strength of "BSG;" it's ripe for parody and still excellent in every way - though the basic cable budget does occasionally show through - and this probably won't sell it either. "Time" magazine has called it the best show on television ... and I would agree energetically.

Although all this could just be the NyQuil talking, I'll be back next week with more and better stuff.