Approval Matrix

“The Approval Matrix” the TV show — which has its premiere on Monday on Sundance TV and is hosted by Neal Brennan, a writer and director best known for creating “Chappelle’s Show” with Dave Chappelle — brings the grid to life by asking its host and panelists to argue a topic while pushing a small block representing that topic around a grid board. Or just, you know, a round table with props.

There are heavy shades of “Politically Incorrect” here, though Mr. Brennan is more Dennis Miller than Bill Maher, even when he’s doing a version of Mr. Maher’s “new rules” routine.

He’s not a neutral host, but a dry inquisitor, a fun sourpuss and an occasional scold. He likes cheap-shot jokes and likes the applause when they land. (In one episode, he gripes that “Louie” doesn’t have real jokes.) At the show’s end, after thanking the panelists, he asks if any of them want to thank him — not much of a joke there, to be honest. (source: www.nytimes.com)