'Strange Days': The return of Bob Saget

Despite his best efforts, TV funnyman Bob Saget is still best known for playing the straitlaced father of the Olsen twins on the quintessentially sappy family comedy "Full House." Since signing off of network television, Saget has delighted in subverting that wholesome image, spouting obscenities in his standup act, and appearing as a drug-fueled narcissist on HBO's "Entourage." In his latest effort, a new A&E show "Strange Days" which premiered on Tuesday night, the comedian visits unusual groups — Bigfoot enthusiasts, for example — around the country. Is Saget's newest venture nasty or nice? (Watch Bob Saget discuss his new show)

It's a refreshing return to wholesome Saget: "Strange Days" features more of the "Good Bob," that people know from "Full House" than the "Evil Bob" who loves dirty jokes, says Tom Conroy at Media Life — and that's often a positive. The show is actually "just right for viewers who could use a break" from the "irony and sarcasm" so commonplace in other programming.

"'Strange Days With Bob Saget', Good Bob"

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It's unrealistically nice: Pairing a "good-natured, wisecracking Saget" and "a bunch of heavily tattooed" bikers " seemed like it had to produce some sort of drama," says David Hinckley at New York Daily News. Instead, the show's first episode "doesn't add up to much of anything." Every supposedly edgy biker "turns out to be a nice guy or gal," which "just doesn't make for a very strange, or interesting, TV show."

"'Strange Days With Bob Saget'"

Who cares? The show is mediocre: This series "readily fits into a genre that might also be called 'Strange Career Choices,'" says Brian Lowrey at Variety. The half-hour format isn't sufficient to really explore a subculture; it "at best affords Saget the chance for a once-over-lightly introduction to his new-found pals," so "the episodes end up being mostly about him."

"'Strange Days With Bob Saget'"