John Amsterdam is an immortal NYPD detective, who gained immortality after rescuing a Native American girl from his fellow Dutch soldiers in 1642. He uses his intimate centuries-long knowledge of New York City to solve crimes while trying to find true love. This eight-episode series is worth watching.

Grade: B.

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Edward J. Larson examines the election of 1800 in deep detail in this engrossing history. The minute battles between John Adams’ Federalists and Thomas Jefferson’s Democratic-Republicans are covered. This is a fascinating look into the early history of the United States and Larson writes the story in approachable style.

Grade: A-.

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This picture is the result of what happens when special effects professionals decide to make a movie without the input of a single writer. John Cusack stars in this orgy of stupidity in which he’s trying to escape death as the filmmakers use lots of explosives to destroy the world.

Grade: F.

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This amazingly well-done AMC original series follows Deputy Rick Grimes as he wakes from a coma, finds the world ravaged by zombies, and goes to find his family. This engrossing series, adapted from a comic book series, features a very talented cast, incredibly scary monsters, and a believable plot.

Grade: A.

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In this forgettable low-budget thriller, Filipino expatriate Adam is informed by phone that his mother and sister will be killed if he doesn’t obey the captor on the other end of the phone, who seems to see and hear everything. We follow the desperate man through filthy squatter camps.

Grade: C+.

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Two best friends settle in for a lazy unsupervised Sunday of video games. They order, but refuse to pay for, pizza, and are invaded by the neighbor girl, who likes to bake. This charming character study delivers many endearing moments under the unbearable weight of boredom due to power failure.

Grade: B+.

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Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Richard Russo, this adaptation for television includes a cast completely full of Oscar winners. The author’s screenplay is wonderful and the acting performances are absolutely unforgettable. Ed Harris, as Miles Roby, steals the show as a small diner manager in rural Maine.

Grade: A.

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Breckin Meyer and Anna Paquin star in this low-budget independent comedy about a Democratic activist who makes a drunken promise to move to Canada if Kerry loses the 2004 election. With a poorly-researched story and mediocre acting, this picture is sometimes ridiculous but still delivers a few laughs.

Grade: C+.

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DJ Heather throws out a jacking set of classic Chicago house music in this Nordic Trax release. For over an hour, she drops over a dozen classic Windy City stomps with an energy similar to her live sets. This mix will keep your feet tapping and head nodding for hours.

Grade: A-.

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Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, the two founders of web application company 37signals, chronicle their unconventional ideas about entrepreneurship and innovation in this incredibly inspiring book. In sensible axioms and insightful explanations, they describe how to break the rules, defy the status quo, and build a successful, agile company.

Grade: A+.

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