Overrated/Underrated: snap judgments and considered criticism of pop culture and beyond  »

UNDERRATED: Fall

Even though it still feels like endless summer outside, we love reading about the change in the seasons back East, waiting for the leaves to turn and, most important, the merciful end of action-movie season. We loved you, effects-heavy popcorn delivery systems and your shiny robot superheroes, but now it's time to welcome back our old friends for a while. Plot, nuance and character development, come take a seat next to us on the aisle.

OVERRATED: Local pro football:
We admit enjoying a little football from the comfort of our couches every now and then, and we just want to voice our hearty thanks to our fair city for not securing an NFL franchise. We've been without a pro team for nearly 15 years -- anyone notice a gap in our civic pride? Spare us your seat licenses, luxury boxes and TV blackouts, NFL executives. We're doing just fine with USC and UCLA.

More snap judgments in Overrated/Underrated.

Photo credit: Bill Sikes / Associated Press