Character Profile: Michelle turned the Bauer household upside down when she got involved with mobster Danny Santos. The sweet, simple candy striper became a rebel virtually overnight, standing up to bossy brother Rick and tough-cookie mother-in-law Carmen by standing by her new husband.

Critique: In most cases, it takes a while to get used to a replacement, but the transition was immediate -- and believable -- when Lenz took over from Budig. It was at a crucial storyline point, no less: Michelle had just killed Mick Santos in self-defense. To Lenz's credit, we didn't even think of her as Clone Reva, a role she had played several months earlier. She was Michelle, instantly, even if this was a very different Michelle.

What also greatly helped the transition was Lenz's instant chemistry with Paul Anthony Stewart (Danny), who brings out the best in every actor, especially the less-experienced ones like Lenz. Lenz won rave reviews as the clone, but that was a two-week gambit. She has a lot to prove in this role, and with experience and perhaps some help from an acting coach, she's sure to evolve into a really solid actress.

My biggest complaint is that she tends to over-emote. Then again, some of the material Lenz is asked to play is so campy, any unseasoned (and every some seasoned!) actor could fall into that trap.

Final Analysis: Less would be definitely more.

-- Mark McGarry

(My note: Gee, wasn't that awful sweet of him? He compliments her work in seven of the eight sentences here and then comments only on his negative point in the final analysis. Yeah, that's consistent.)