  In this paper we discuss some special (critical) background solutions that
arise in topological gauged ${\mathcal N}=8$ three-dimensional CFTs with SO(N)
gauge group. These solutions solve the TMG equations (containing the parameters
$\mu$ and $l$) for a certain set of values of $\mu l$ obtained by varying the
number of scalar fields with a VEV. Apart from Minkowski, chiral round $AdS_3$
and null-warped $AdS_3$ (or Schr\"odinger(z=2)) we identify also a more exotic
solution recently found in $TMG$ by Ertl, Grumiller and Johansson. We also
discuss the spectrum, symmetry breaking pattern and the supermultiplet
structure in the various backgrounds and argue that some properties are due to
their common origin in a conformal phase. Some of the scalar fields, including
all higgsed ones, turn out to satisfy three-dimensional singleton field
equations. Finally, we note that topologically gauged ${\mathcal N}=6$ ABJ(M)
theories have a similar, but more restricted, set of background solutions.
