57 Channels and Only This Is On - 1/8/12

Leverage: Take out the ego and hubris, it would be nice if a couple other the other members take the lead every once in a while. But how Nate undermined Hardison, I have a feeling we will not be seeing that anytime soon.
You can stream recent episodes on TNT.tv. You can also download Leverage on iTunes.

Pretty Little Liars: Seriously, the Liars have A cornered and no one thinks to shine a flashlight in his or her face? Hrumph. And I saw Emily playing turncoat a mile away; that was one of the worst catfights I have ever seen.
You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Pretty Little Liars on iTunes.

The Lying Game: Did the writers pull a fast one on them. I have no desire to look it up, but I could have sworn they had us believe earlier that the twins’ birth mother and Char’s aunt was the same person. Then Cordilia Chase shows up this week as Char’s aunt named Annie but not the same last name as the birth mother. Oh yeah, and she wants to be called Rebecca now. Huh?
You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download The Lying Game on iTunes.

Work It: I was not expecting Tom Hanks quality or even Peter Scolari, but wow was the acting on the show extremely bad. But I am not ke$hamed to admit that I still laughed harder and more often than a bunch of highly touted pretentious comedies currently on air.
You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Work It on iTunes.

Parenthood: Awe road trip. I have long called Parenthood “Blue State Friday Night Lights” and all the lingering shots of the landscape was clearly right out of the FNL playbook.
You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Parenthood on iTunes.

Suburgatory: Chuck did it a couple weeks ago and it is nice to see shows are embracing the pixilated nudity for comedic effect. And thankfully there was pixilation in this sauna fight scene unlike Eastern Promises which I presume was they were making an homage to.
You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Suburgatory on iTunes.

Revenge: Even thought I hated Tyler, and probably not even in the way the show wanted me too, I really loved his concept of “Truth or Die”. It is a shame no one got to play before his brother interrupted things. I would have liked to see a couple people being forced to play before he was taken away.
You can stream current episodes on Hulu. You can also download Revenge on iTunes.

Chuck: I like how Casey called out Chuck for not getting of Sarah blatantly obvious pregnancy hints because for the first half of the episode I kelp yelling at the television that no one noticed that she had morning sickness and avoided alcohol.
You can stream current episodes on Hulu. You can also download Chuck on iTunes.

Best of the Week - 1/7/12

Quote of the Week: Shame is over rated, like Ke$ha. In fact they should rename shame Ke$hame. I just bought a Ke$ha album, I’m so ke$hamed. (Max, 2 Broke Girls)

Song of the Week: Nothing Else Matters – Lissie (Revenge)

Gratuitous Token Hot Chick Picture of the Week:



Scene of the Week:



Big News of the Week: Television Is Already Back: Forget about the caucus (who cares what Iowa thinks anyway; go Jon Huntsman!) networks are already bringing back their shows the first week into the new year. Here is what I will be watching this winter. Premiere dates in parentheses if it has not already returned.

Mondays
8:00 – How I Met Your Mother – CBS
8:00 – Pretty Little Liars – ABC Family
8:30 – 2 Broke Girls – CBS
9:00 – The Lying Game – ABC Family
10:00 – Castle – ABC (1/9)

Tuesdays
8:00 – Switched at Birth – ABC Family
8:00 – Last Man Standing – ABC
8:30 – Work It – ABC
9:00 – The River – ABC (2/7)
10:00 – Justified – FX (1/17)
10:00 – Parenthood – NBC

Wednesdays
8:00 – Survivor: One World – CBS (2/15)
8:00 – The Middle – ABC
8:30 – Suburgatory – ABC
9:00 – Modern Family – ABC
9:30 – Happy Endings – ABC
10:00 – Revenge – ABC
10:00 – The Challenge: Exes – MTV (1/24)

Thursdays
8:00 – The Big Bang Theory (1/12)

Fridays
8:00 – Chuck – NBC (Series Finale 1/27)
9:00 – Grimm (1/13)
10:00 – Real Time with Bill Maher (1/13)

Sundays
8:00 – Once Upon a Time – ABC (1/8)
9:00 – Shameless – Showtime (1/8)
9:00 – The Walking Dead – AMC (2/12)
10:00 – House of Lies – Showtime (1/8)
10:00 – Pan Am (1/8)
10:00 – Leverage (Season Finale 1/15)
10:00 – Mad Men – AMC (3/16)

Free Download of the Week: If you scrolled through my list of the 100 Best Songs of 2011 there are actually a couple songs that you can download for the low, low price of free.

#5 Helplessness Blues – Fleet Foxes (Rcrdlbl)
#25. Freak Out – Tapes n’ Tapes (Rcrdlbl)
#34. Freaks and Geeks – Childish Gambino (I Am Donald)
#36. Nylons in a Rip - Nikka Costa (Amazon MP3)
#62. Bonfire (Clean) - Childish Gambino (Amazon MP3)
#79. Get Some – Lykke Li (Rcrdlbl)
#88. Monster – Kanye West featuring Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Bon Iver and Nicki Minaj (Rcrdlbl)
#93. Make My – The Roots (Rcrdlbl)
#96. Little Lie – Lindi Ortega (Spinner)

For those who would like to listen to my list but are too lazy or lack the hard drive space to download the songs, I have created a Spotify playlist for you listening pleasure. And be sure to follow me because I’ll be uploading my entire yearly (and decade) lists over the next couple months and Best Songs of 1996 is already up.

Deal of the Week: Over 1000 Album for $5: Best of 2011: Amazon MP3 has over 1000 albums on sale for five dollars this month including a bunch that were released just last year including number one on my list of the 20 Best Albums of 2011, Helplessness Blues by the Fleet Foxes. Also making my list at that price include the latest from Raphael Saadiq (#2), Blitzen Trapper and Danger Mouse.



New Album Release of the Week: Fallen Empires - Snow Patrol

New DVD Release of the Week: Boardwalk Empire: The Complete First Season

Video of the Week: The movie The Firm is a little before my time (and since I am old, it makes me wonder who this show is for; apparently NBC is finally going for the anciently old CBS demographic). Now The Firm the television show has its two hour premiere Sunday at 9:00 and here is a sneak peak of the premiere. Please note that the show settles into its regular timeslot later this week on Thursday at 10:00.

Looking for the Truth


Next Week Pick of the Week: House of Lies, Sunday at 10:00 on Showtime: You can check out my preview here (Previewing House of Lies) and even if you do not subscribe to the premium channel, that are having a free preview weekend so check your cable provider and maybe you will be able to sample the return of Veronica Mars to the small screen.

57 Channels and Only This Is On - 12/18/11

Once Upon a Time: So we finally learn who the sheriff is only for him to die? What a total Lost move.
You can stream current episodes on Hulu. You can also download Once Upon a Time.

Homeland: I have been waiting for this episode from the beginning and we finally got to see Carrie off her medication and it was awesome. And is the teenage daughter really going to be the person that cracks the case? I have long hoped that they wrapped up the Brody storyline this season and move onto a new terrorist plot next season (because if they do not, it will be like The Killing all over again) but I am beginning to think next season he will be a Hannibal Lecter to Carrie’s Clarice.

Survivor: South Pacific: I never thought anyone would come close to Erik’s stupidity of giving his Immunity Necklace and then promptly getting voted off, but leave it to Brandon and his God to do the exact same thing. The one thing saving Brandon from the top spot is that he could actually come back into the game and plausibly win it. But then again, he could come back into the game and make another dumb move that would put him on top the list of the Dumbest Survivor Contestants Ever.
You can stream recent episodes over at cbs.com.




Chuck: Why did they give a gratuitous shot of the driver locking the doors if Ellie and Awesome could just unlock the doors themselves? And the show really goes through too many Big Bads. By the time you get to know one, the blow him up and move onto a bigger one. Had they just stuck to the one Big Bad per season, the last couple seasons would not have seemed so scattered.
You can stream current episodes on Hulu. You can also download Chuck on iTunes.

Best of the Week - 12/17/11

Quote of the Week: Dumb move. (Rick, Survivor)

Song of the Week: Santa Claus Is Coming to Town – Cee-Lo Green (Christmas in Washington)

Gratuitous Token Hot Chick Picture of the Week:



Big News of the Week: Chris Paul to LA: To be honest I could care less if Paul ended up on the Lakers of the Clippers as long as he did not end up on the Heat. Not that I really care about basketball in general for the last couple years except for my fantasy team Ehlo’s Revenge.

Free Download of the Week: 25 Days of Free (Amazon MP3): Like it does every year, Amazon is offering up a new holiday song every day in December up until Christmas. Head over to grab the seventeen songs that are already up.

Deal of the Week: Up to 70% Off Hit Boxed Sets (The Goonies, Austin Powers, Batman)

New Album Release of the Week: The Dreamer, The Believer - Common
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo [Box set, Soundtrack] - Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (December 27)
Elvis Country (Legacy Edition) [Extra tracks] - Elvis Presley (January 3)

New DVD Release of the Week: Midnight in Paris
Shameless: The Complete First Season (December 27)
Justified: The Complete Second Season (January 3)

Video of the Week: Who better than the Gallagher family of Showtime’s Shameless to speed some holiday cheer this Christmas? And here is Frank and his family, and other assorted friends singing a very new festive song. Shameless returns January 8 followed by the highly anticipated House of Lies. For those that would like to check out the premieres but are too cheap to subscribe to Showtime, you are in luck; the premium channel is having a Free Preview Weekend starting that Friday. I highly recommend setting aside twelve hours to marathon Homeland if the entire season is available On Demand.



Next Week Pick of the Week: Survivor, Sunday at 8:00 on CBS: I guess the best thing that can be said about this season is that it is not as bad as the last one. Clearly going into the finale Sophie is the only person to root for. Coach and Ozzie are baboons who did not even deserve to return, Rick is useless, Albert is too shifty, and Brandon is a psycho.

57 Channels and Only This Is On - 12/11/11

Once Upon a Time: We finally learn who the blonde is, she turned out to be the daughter of King Midas. Granted when he pulled out his arm out I thought he was Goldfinger who is just as much a fairytale character as King Midas. But I guess mythology opens the show up to a whole bunch of potential characters. And does Ted Mosby’s most annoying girlfriend seriously have the Thriller jacket is a rainbow variety of colors?
You can stream current episodes on Hulu. You can also download Once Upon a Time.

Homeland: So who is the mole? For the half an episode where Brady was absolved from being the person that passed his captor the razor blade, the thought that Saul did it crossed my mind. And Brady can be blamed for alerting the couple who bought the house near the airport, but someone inside the CIA had to alert Tom Walker about the meet unless the Saudi diplomat tipped him off and essentially became a suicide. Two more episodes left and hopefully the wrap this storyline up and move onto a new one next season.

Pan Am: Every spy show has done it, but I ever understood the steal a list of CIA assets mission before it is sold on the black market because wouldn’t whoever made the list just make another one if it is stolen? But anyway. I am just upset that none of my family friend’s daughters grew up to look like Ashley Greene.
You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Pan Am on iTunes.

How I Met Your Mother: Wait, what just happened? Did they really switch the narration of the show for the first time in seven seasons with Robin talking to her kids instead of Ted just to be all “Psych” at the end? Huh?
You can stream recent episodes over at cbs.com. You can also download How I Met Your Mother on iTunes.

Sons of Anarchy: I am still disappointed Clay is still alive, but at least they came up with a better reason to keep him around than my prediction that he is hauled off to jail. I did not seeing Machete being CIA. But that twist kept there from being any action in the finale. I was waiting for the dad of the hit and run victim to show up at the end and go on a shooting spree, but I guess they planted that seed for next season. So we were left with a bit of a bore of a season finale, and really season four as a whole felt like a big tease, two cliffhanger deaths that did not end up happening and a big crackdown that got shut down but reval government agencies. It was not as bad as the Ireland season, but they better have plenty of payoffs next season.
You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Sons of Anarchy on iTunes.

Revenge: Maybe it is all the repeats recently, but it has seemed it has been way too long since Amy Abbot has destroyed somebody’s life. I want at least one person brought down per every two episodes.
You can stream current episodes on Hulu. You can also download Revenge on iTunes.

Community: As a straight heterosexual dude, I have naturally never seen an episode of Glee, but after watching Community’s awesome send up of the show I may have to check it out to see if is really that awesome, especially if they have a character like Annie Edison on the show.
You can stream current episodes on Hulu. You can also download Community on iTunes.

Chuck: Please let there be an uncensored version of this episode leaked to the internets in the near future.
You can stream current episodes on Hulu. You can also download Chuck on iTunes.

57 Channels and Only This Is On - 11/26/11

Quote of the Week: I’m winged on inter-agency cooperation. Nothing I like better than seeing the FBI stand around with their (expletive deleted) in their hands watching us work. (Saul, Homeland)

Song of the Week: Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat) – Digital Planets (Suburgatory)

Gratuitous Token Hot Chick Picture of the Week:



Scene of the Week:



Big News of the Week: Ndamukong Suh Officially a Dirty Player: If bodyslamming quarterbacks WWF style or ripping guy’s helmets off their heads was not enough, Suh getting thrown out of a game on Thanksgiving for kicking sealed his fate as a dirty player. But the best part is that following the game Suh actually tried to convince everyone that he was not stopping on the dude but was just trying to get his balance not thinking we had slow motion, video evidence that he was trying to stomp the dude out.


The Walking Dead: I understand the sediment that you would want to keep your friends and neighbors around in case there is a cure, but there is no cure for death. I take it this is yet another zombie story where the characters live in a world where no one has ever come up with a concept of a zombie before.
You can stream recent episodes over at amc.com. You can also download The Walking Dead on iTunes.

Homeland: I knew Brady explaining everything away last episode was a bit too easy, and we finally get conformation that Brody was working with Nassir. But now that he is “out” what now?

How I Met Your Mother: Robin is pregnant? But more importantly Winston Zeddemore asked Marshall, who you gonna call?”!!!
You can stream recent episodes over at cbs.com. You can also download How I Met Your Mother on iTunes.

The Sing Off: First off, please no more Mega Mix Week please, even the best performance (Urban Method) was mediocre at best. Then, with a half an hour to go, they only had one more group to performance and I wondered if they were actually going to string the elimination for twenty minutes? Apparently they would and having the bottom two perform their “best song” was really poor planning on the show’s part. Couldn’t they brought in a guest performance or just have a second group performance? It did not help that all the while I actually thought they would advance all four groups to the finale like they did last season. Even after they voted I thought Nick would chime in saying he was voting for Afro Blue forcing a tie. It is a shame that did not happen because Afro Blue was my second favorite group of the season. But Antoine Merriweather made it and head over to NBC.com by Sunday at 9:00 AM to vote for him.
You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download songs from The Sing-Off on iTunes.

Parenthood: Watching Kristina lose her mind over the receptionist kissing Adam was painful enough, but knowing that some of the writers were also responsible for Friday Night Lights which handled someone dealing with someone else kissing their spouse the right way (remember Glen?), made it that much more painful to sit through.
You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Parenthood on iTunes.

Sons of Anarchy: My first thought at the final scene was, “wow, they really killed of Clay, I thought if they were to do it, they would wait until the season finale!” But my second though was “Wait, it looks like the bullet went into his shoulder.” If it turns out to be a non fatal shooting, that would make the second cliffhanger death fake out this season which it two too many.
You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Sons of Anarchy on iTunes.

Suburgatory: I have long thought all the adults sans George are family worthless on this show, but this was the first episode where I actually enjoyed Dallas as she was stuck with Tessa for Thanksgiving Eve. While Dalia managed to get even scarier while planning the Thanksgiving dinner thanks to a new furry family member to torment her.
You can stream current episodes on Hulu. You can also download Suburgatory on iTunes.

Revenge: Oh snap, not-Amy Abbott just outted herself to the childhood church that she was actually Amy Abbott, or something to that effect. But hopefully Amy first deals with the annoying best friend of a troll because he wore out his welcome a month ago. Or maybe she will kill two bird with one stone soon.
You can stream current episodes on Hulu. You can also download Revenge on iTunes.


Free Download of the Week: Christmas Lights – Coldplay (iTunes): And if that is not enough free Coldplay for you, Google Music is offering up a free live EP from the band. And if that is not enough free Christmas music for you try heading over to Amazon MP3 for Eisley’s take on Oh Holy Night.

Deal of the Week: Black Friday to Cyber Monday Deals on Amazon

New Album Release of the Week: Adele Live At The Royal Albert Hall (Blu-ray/CD)

New DVD Release of the Week: Smallville: The Complete Series

Video of the Week: I have a long standing belief that Amanda Seyfried is one of the best actresses of her generation, the only problem is that she really needs to fire her agent because every movie she has been in since her first (Mean Girls) has been painfully bad and getting worse with every movie. Her upcoming film Gone does not look like it will completely buck the trend, but it has to be better than Red Riding Hood right?



Next Week Pick of the Week: Leverage, Sunday (Tomorrow) at 9:00 on TNT: The show is back for the second half of their fourth season with eight new episodes every Sunday (yes including Christmas and New Years Day but without themed episodes). Look for a full preview tomorrow.

57 Channels and Only This Is On - 11/13/11

Once Upon a Time:I still have not completely bought into the show, but one of the more interesting aspects of the show is whenever they introduce a new character in the real world my mind instantly tries to predict who they are in the fairytale world. Some are pretty obvious like Slutty Red Riding Hood, but we still do not know who the sheriff is, and this week we were introduced to the sleazy doctor. But the writers need to make sure they do not take too long to reveal the characters’ alter ego because much on Lost, everyone stopped caring about how Locke got into a wheelchair about two seasons after they finally revealed the reason. Also, where were the seven dwarfs?
You can stream current episodes on Once Upon a Time. You can also download Once Upon a Time.

The Walking Dead: I did not think they would able to out-gross the scene where they checked out the contents of the zombie’s stomach, but the well zombie comes very close. Though I wonder why they went straight for human bait before trying out a squirrel or smaller animal first. At least Glen got some sweet lovin’ for his troubles.
You can stream recent episodes over at amc.com. You can also download The Walking Dead on iTunes.

Homeland: She may like to fly so close to the flame that she could beat all the boys at chicken at the local train tracks, but having sex with someone you are convinced is a terrorist is completely over the top. And the further down the rabbit hole Carrie goes, the more entertaining her character is. Though I am a bi suspicious about the polygraph test, are these people trained on how to beat one incase they are captured in the field? Plus if Beavis and Butt-Head know how to beat one, how hard can it be?

Pan Am: If I have one complaint about the return of Smash Williams to television was when he started talking about his mom I was hoping we were going to get an appearance from Momma Smash. Oh well. And I wonder what happened with the pilot hooking up with the mistress of his boss? I thought he would get in trouble for that or did Maggie tell him something different?
You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Pan Am on iTunes.

How I Met Your Mother: Was there anyone out there that knew the Slap Bet was still going on? And now there are actually two more to go. And the writer still seem to be taunting us again this week when the boyfriend asked that Ted’s story be as log as possible. With that all said, even though it was the cheesiest of all sight gags, I could not stop laughing whenever the bear attached Marshall.
You can stream recent episodes over at cbs.com. You can also download How I Met Your Mother on iTunes.

The Sing-Off: If the rating were not reason enough, how strong this episode with ten less groups than the original sixteen was is a strong sign that an abridged two week, Christmas time airing is probably the best for the show then a weekly series. I doubt we will see the Sing Off in the fall next year, but hopefully they do bring it back for the pre-Christmas slot like they had the first two seasons. And if it does come back, make sure to have Antoine Merriweather return in one of the show’s patented Supergroups like The Backbeats and Delilah (it is a shame they got kicked off this week before they let the attractive redhead sing the lead in any song). So many strong performances this week, but the opening number Wake Up may be the best group performance ever on The Sing-Off.

The Sing-Off Week Six Power Ranking (change from last week in parentheses)

1. Afro Blue (+1)
2. Urban Method (+2)
3. Dartmouth Aires (-2)
4. Pentatonix (+2)
5. Vocal Point (-1)

You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download songs from The Sing-Off on iTunes.

Sons of Anarchy: That fight between Gemma and Clay went way too long. You can get the same idea across with being that graphic. But it looks like someone will be joining Piney in the big biker bar in the sky, but we may have to wait until the end of the season to find out who and by whose hand, a bunch of possibilities there.
You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Sons of Anarchy on iTunes.

Survivor: South Pacific: I do not know how you can say you are playing with honor and then sit out a challenge for food. But anyway. I fear if Albert and / or Sophie does not do something soon, this season will play out just like the previous one with Coach / Brandon / Edna taking the place of Boston Rob / Philip / and the hot chick whose name I have already forgotten as the mastermind / psycho / worthless person and that is not a good thing. And note to Survivor producers, please stop casting people who cannot come up with a better insult that “wiener” and definitely do not bring them back three times.
You can stream recent episodes over at cbs.com.



Chuck: I did not think that Morgan could get any more annoying but he even managed to outdo his annoyingness this episode. Hopefully the assassin assign to kills him is successful.
You can stream current episodes on Hulu. You can also download Chuck on iTunes.

Best of the Week - 11/5/11

Quote of the Week: So you’re a religious man and a torturer. What are you? Catholic? (Saul, Homeland)

Song of the Week: Living In America – James Brown (How I Met Your Mother)

Gratuitous Token Hot Chick Picture of the Week:



Scene of the Week:



Big News of the Week: Nope, Not Gonna Do It: I refuse to give publicity to anyone who sole purpose to what they do is to gain more publicity. Nope, not gonna do it. And anyone who complains about these sorts of thing, just ignore them, even complaining about them is what they want because all they want is to be talked about. So stop taking about them.

Free Download of the Week: Public Enemy No. 1 – Megadeath (iTunes)

Deal of the Week: 100 Albums for $5: This month for only $5, you can get full albums from Coldplay, Lauryn Hill, Stevie Wonder, and the Footloose Soundtrack (the real one).



New Album Release of the Week: Wish You Were Here - Immersion Box Set - Pink Floyd

New DVD Release of the Week: Alpocalypse-HD (Blu-ray)

Video of the Week: Kristen Bell in her underwear; Emmy Rossum wearing less. If this does not get you to order Showtime, I do not know what will. You have until January 8 when House of Lies premieres and Shameless returns to do so.



Next Week Pick of the Week: Hell on Wheels, Sunday at 10:00 on AMC: This may be the least buzzed about show of the fall because I heard very little about it so far. What I gather it is a period piece that has something to do with the railway and Common is in it. I am always up for a history lesson on television so I will at least give it a chance. Worse case scenerio it is a low rent Deadwood and I can be fine with that.

57 Channels and Only This Is On - 10/30/11

The Walking Dead: That starting flashback scene was worthless, we already knew about the pre-apocalypse marital problems; really all we got were some worthless reaction shots and no early zombies. But my favorite part of the episode is when the old guy wondered why they did not find any high grade antibiotics while scavenging on the highway, as if that is a common travel kit. Almost as entertaining as the new accent they gave Vivian Volcoff to master, but instead go in and out of.
You can stream recent episodes over at amc.com. You can also download The Walking Dead on iTunes.

How I Met Your Mother: First off, let’s quickly touch on the bad, that was the creepiest episode ever. EVER. I need to drink away the visuals as soon as possible. With that out of the way, why did Ted not call me about the “Weird Al” tickets? I would have totally gone with him.
You can stream recent episodes over at cbs.com. You can also download How I Met Your Mother on iTunes.

The Sing Off: The Collective has continually been on the bottom of my Power Rankings all season, and I was glad they finally landed in the final two, but I was surprised they actually lost the final sing-off because I thought they did a better version of Just a Dream than The Yellowjackets (who did not deserve to be in the bottom two). But the bif news of the week was Antoine Merriweather grinding on a girl!

The Sing-Off Week 4 Power Rankings (change from last week in parentheses):

1. Afro Blue (-)
2. The Dartmouth Aires (+2)
3. University of Rochester YellowJackets (-1)
4. Urban Method (-1)
5. BYU Vocal Point (-)
6. Delilah (-)
7. Pentatonix (-)



You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download songs from The Sing-Off on iTunes.

Castle: Having the ex-cop being the killer seemed like one too many twists in the episode. But it was still entertaining hearing Castle trying to rationalize an otherworldly killer.
You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Castle on iTunes.

Sons of Anarchy: Back when we went down south to meet the other patch and how one member killed another that was going to play out in SAMCRO and it finally played out this episode. It should be interesting to hear how Clay explains the bullets in Piney’s chest next episode and who buys it (Gemma already knows he is lying and will likely put the two together). But you have to wonder why Piney, knowing Clay would come after him, hide in the one place Clay would look?
You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Sons of Anarchy on iTunes.

Survivor: South Pacific: When the show returned this season, I unveiled the 25 Dumbest Survivor Contestants Ever with Ozzy surprisingly left off the list despite being voted off with an Idol in his back pocket. But if he loses this week I’ll will have to update the list because he will have definably jumped into the top five. What makes his move so dumb is that it was totally unnecessary because Christine has made it abundantly clear she hates her own tribe, so had she beaten Cochran, she would have joined them out of spite, she certainly is not as Christian as Matt last season. So best case scenario for his move is a zero sum gain. And then the worst case scenario is not only he loses and is out of the game not even making it to the jury, but maybe he wins but there is no merge and his tribe loses the Immunity Challenge without him, Cochran, as bottom on the totem poll, uses the Hidden Immunity Idol at tribal council and Keith is voted out and now Ozzy has to battle him at Redemption Island, and even if he wins that and reenters the game, he returns to a tribe down numbers and without an Idol. Oh, please, Reality Gods, let this scenario play out.
You can stream recent episodes over at cbs.com.



Revenge: How long until Amy Abbott gets rid of her boyfriend’s little troll of her boyfriend friend. He may not be on the list, but he has to be meeting his demise sooner than later.
You can stream current episodes on Hulu. You can also download Revenge on iTunes.

Community: Yeah, there was nothing more predictable than the whole study had major mental issues. With that said, Annie is one heck of a storyteller.
You can stream current episodes on Hulu. You can also download Community on iTunes.

Beavis and Butt-Head: When they announced the return of the show I feared it would have lost its magic in the years since they left MTV but they did not miss a beat. And since they are watching actual television shows no, is it too much to ask to have the boys watch the presidential debate?
You can stream recent episodes over at mtv.com. You can also download Beavis and Butt-Head on iTunes.

Chuck: With last season’s cliffhanger, I feared the show would become unbearable with Morgan as the Intercet and that was basically how that played out. Hopefully they have more Sarah in her undergarment scenes to dull the pain this season and they save the inevitable baby announcement to the series finale. And I and still not sure what the evil CIA guy’s endgame is. Hopefully they clear that up soon.
You can stream current episodes on Hulu. You can also download Chuck on iTunes.

The Five Most (and Least) Anticipated Questions for 2011 Fall Television

How fitting that the day after Labor Day the fall television season unofficially starts off with the return of Sons of Anarchy. So I thought I would look at the five biggest questions going into Fall.


1. Will Beavis and Butt-Head Still Be as Funny? Somebody recently ask me this and my simple question was no not because it would be stale but simply because we were fifteen years older than when it first came on. But from the promo where they watch Jersey Shore, there will still be plenty to laugh at, at least nostalgically.

2. Can The Walking Dead Match its Behind the Scenes Drama on Scene? I was not enamored with the first season as some were (it at limes moved as slow as some of the zombies on the show), but I still enjoyed it. Yet since the show ended its six episode run the show has made headlines for all the wrong reasons. Most concerning was AMC forcing show runner Frank Darabont, the guy who brought the comic book to the small screen and wrote and directed the Pilot and replaced him with a dude whose last two lines on his resume are Hawthorne and Crash.

3. Can Sons of Anarchy Bounce Back? Let’s be honest, the Irish storyline was painfully bad. It was a two-three episode arc that they stretched into a full season. Now with Ireland in the rearview mirror, it looks like the show is going back to the Jax vs. Clay storyline that made the first two seasons so compelling, so hopefully so if the fourth season.

4. Should I Be Excited for Something “From the Writers of Lost”? Once Upon a Time toped my list of Most Anticipated Shows of Fall 2011 but I do have big reservations about the pedigree. Hopefully the creators of the show look at how their bosses flubbed Lost and learn from their mistakes, because if done right Once Upon a Time can be a grand television show.

5. Can The Sing-Off Transition into a Weekly Contest? The Sing-Off was a nice winter diversion when there was nothing else on in the two weeks leading into Christmas but now it is going head to head with the befuddling reality ratings king, Dancing with the Has Beens and Nobodies. The show was lucky to lose its one link and made a huge upgrade by bringing in Sara Bareilles. But I have not liked the song selections from the promos. Seriously, can we please put a moratorium on people singing Rolling in the Deep who are not named Adele?


Since you cannot have light without dark, here are the least anticipated questions of fall:

1. Does Kate Beckett Survive? (Spoiler Alert for Stupid People!!!) Yes.

2. Ozzie or Coach? First off I hated bringing back Boston Rob and Russell and hoped Survivor would never do that again, or the stupid Redemption Island twist. Of course they brought back both. After it was announced that it was going to happen, I initially thought bringing back Matt and Andrea, the two people who were brought back from Redemption Island, would be a no brainer. (I secretly hoped they would go Erik and Matt as a battle between the dumbest Survivors ever). But then they revealed the two returning contestants would be… Ozzie and Coach? What?!? Was there anyone sitting at home thing, “you know who I want to see more of: Ozzie”? Survivor has come off of three of its four worst seasons in a row, I fear this season will make it four of the worst five.

3. Will X-Factor Outsuckshine American Karaoke? Let me get this straight, the show is being judged by a Pussycat Doll (on her fifth reality show), someone who has not had a hit in two decades, and the biggest douchebag. The real question is why would anyone watch this?

4. How Will Morgan Use the Intercet? Hopefully it kills him in the first episode back. If not the show may go out with a whimper not a bang.

5. Who Is the Titular Character on How I Met Your Mother? If I had made this list for the last five years, this question would have made it ever time. I cannot even remember the last time I cared who the Mother is.


And here is what I will be watching this fall and when they return. Mark your calendars.

Mondays
8:00 – The Sing-Off (NBC) 9/19
8:00 – How I Met You Mother (CBS) 9/19
8:00 – The Lying Game (ABC Family) airing now; note the new starting time starting next week
8:30 – 2 Broke Girls 9/19 (premieres at 9:30 before moving to its regular timeslot)
10:00 – The Playboy Club (NBC) 9/19
10:00 – Castle (ABC) 9/19

Tuesdays
10:00 – Parenthood (NBC) 9/13
10:00 – Sons of Anarchy (FX) Tonight
10:00 – Covert Affairs (USA) 11/1

Wednesdays
8:00 – Survivor: South Pacific (CBS) 9/14
8:30 – Free Agents (NBC) 9/14 (premieres at 10:30 before moving to its regular timeslot)
9:00 – Modern Family (ABC) 9/21
10:00 - Revenge (ABC) 9/21

Thursdays
8:00 – The Big Bang Theory (CBS) 9/22
8:00 – Community (NBC) 9/22
10:00 – Beavis and Butt-Head (MTV) 10/27

Fridays
Chuck (NBC) 10/21
Grimm (NBC) 10/21

Sundays
8:00 - Once Upon a Time (ABC) 10/23
9:00 – The Walking Dead (AMC) 10/16
10:00 – Pan AM (ABC) 9/25
10:00 – Homeland (Showtime) 10/2
10:00 - Hell on Wheels (AMC) 11/6
TBA - Leverage (TNT) 11/27

The Seventh Annual Scooter Television Awards

Welcome to the 7th Annual Scooter Television Awards honoring show that aired new episodes between June 2010 and June 2011. Without further ado, here are the winners of the 2011 STA's:

Best Scripted Show: Friday Night Lights

Best Sitcom: The Big Bang Theory

Best Cable Show: Justified

Best Reality Show: The Challenge: Cutthroat

Best Talk Show: Pardon the Interuption

Best Talent Competition - The Sing-Off

Best New Show: Terriers

Best Awards Show: 2011 Grammy Awards

Best Hour of TV: Bloody Harlan - Justified

Best Half Hour of TV: A Fistful of Paintballs (Part 1) - Community

Biggest Shocker: Mags Bennett serving herself Apple Pie (Justifed)

Worst Idea: Survivor: Redemption Island

Worst Moment: The Killing ending on a cliffhanger

Best New Title Sequence: Rubicon

Best Song Placement: Shout (Pts. 1 & 2) – The Isley Brothers (Greek)

Best Karaoke: Push It – Jeffster (Chuck)

Best Singing Competition Performance: Heartless – Dia Frampton (The Voice)



Hottest Token Hot Chick:







Best Character: Raylan Gibbons (Justified)

Best New Character: Hank Dolworth (Terriers)

Best Recurring Character: Mags Bennett (Justifed)

Best Guest Appearance: Betty White (Community)

Best Duo: Coach and Tami Taylor (Friday Night Lights)

Most Entertaining Reality “Star”: Special Agent Philip Sheppard (Survivor: Redemption Island)

Most Annoying Reality “Star”: Boston Rob (Survivor: Redemption Island)

Best Quote: Listen to me: I said you need to strive to be better than everyone else. I didn’t say you need to be better than everyone else. But you gotta try. And that’s what character is: it’s in the trying. (Coach Taylor, Friday Night Lights)

Show That Should Be Brought Back: Friday Night Lights

Biggest Question for 2011-2012: No, seriously, who killed Rosie Larson Will anyone continue to watch The Killing?

Best of the Week - 5/21/11

Quote of the Week: Wack ‘em if they ever got out of line. That’s smart; Reagan smart. (Casey, Chuck)

Song of the Week: Ice Ice Baby – Vanilla Ice (as sung by Raj, The Big Bang Theory)

Big News of the Week: Networks Unveil their Schedules: I talked about the five shows I most want to see and what I will be watching next fall. Here some other thoughts on the schedules of the big four (and The CW). Click on the title to be taken to a promo of the show.

The Sing-Off (Mondays at 8:00 on NBC): I am glad NBC took my advice and made The Sing-Off a weekly show, but two hours seems a little cumbersome (I know NBC is in trouble, but why are all their reality shows an unnecessarily two hours long?). At least the show should up it’s credibly now that the Pussycat Doll is not available as a judge. Since there are down a judge, may I suggest Sara Bareilles.

Last Man Standing (Tuesdays at 8:00 on ABC): So Loretta McCready goes from the best show on television to this? I put the over / under on the number of episode it takes before she called up Raylan Gibbons looking to be rescued by him at three.

Ringer (Tuesdays at 9:00 on The CW): There is a lot of talk of Sarah Michelle Gellar returning to get WB roots but let’s face it she is a horrible actress and unless her words are written by Joss Whedon, she is unwatchable. And if The CW was taking other network’s leftover’s, why did they not take NBC’s Wonder Woman to replace the departing Smallville?

Revenge (Wednesdays at 10:00 on ABC): There seems to be a lot of new shows that made me go, that would make for a good idea for a movie, but I do not see how they stretch it into a television show. Revenge tops that list. Sure Amy Abbott may get me to tune in, but where exactly does the show go after she exact her revenge.

H8R (Wednesdays at 8:00 on The CW): In this year’s installment of “Seriously, they canceled Veronica Mars for this crap” goes to H8R where “celebrities” confront people who talk smack about them on the internet. No word on when my episode where I get ambushed by The CW executives for hating on H8R airs.

And my prediction of first show canceled goes to I Hate My Teenage Daughter.

Bonus Big News of the Week: The ten year old version of myself would be remised if I didn’t wish a melancholy happy trails to the Macho Man Randy Savage who suffered a heart attack while driving yesterday.

Gratuitous Token Hot Chick Picture of the Week:



Free Download of the Week: Don't Give Up On Me Now – Ben Harper (iTunes)

Deal of the Week: Over 1,500 Albums $5 Each Through May: Only one more week to get these albums for $5. Here are some Greatest Hits selections worth picking up from The Steve Miller Band, John Mellencamp, The Temptations, and David Gray.



New Album Release of the Week: Torches - Foster the People

New DVD Release of the Week: Gettysburg: Director's Cut (Blu-ray Book Packaging)

Video of the Week: Too Big to Fail is not the only HBO debuting next week. How to Die in Oregon will air Thursday (5/26) at 8:00. The documentary looks at the controversial Death with Dignity Act, which legalizes physician aid-in-dying for some terminally ill patients. Below is a promo:



Next Week Pick of the Week: The Event, Monday at 9:00 on NBC: Poor The Event, it was probably doomed from the start. I guess when you name your show The Event, it is probably a good idea to clue the audience in on what The Event is in the first episode. I did not even realize what The Event was until NBC started airing ads for the midseason premiere, granted I am not entirely sure if the potential extermination of the human race actually is The Event named in the title. Oh well. After the series finale, NBC can bring on the Playboy Bunnies.

Russians, So Many Russians

The winds of change were blowing this season on Chuck. Sarah and Chuck got engaged, Casey and Chuck (re)connected with long lost family members, Ellie and Awesome had a kid, even Buy More got a CIA make over after getting destroyed last season. But the more things change, the more things stay the same as the Buymorons Jeffster stay unevolved (and that is a good thing as they performed Push It while Ellie was delivering her kid).

This season though belonged to one man: Timothy Dalton as this year’s big bad, a CIA handler turned arms dealer turned English scientist. He commanded every scene he was in with vigor which was a grand contrast to last year with Superman’s boringness (and this year’s Sarah Conner blandness). Superman aside, this was really the first real singular big bad after Chuck and his team battled institutions like Fulcrum and The Ring. There has never been anyone on television that could effortless switch between menacing and humorous like he did this season most notably during the Thanksgiving episode.

The season built up to one last battle between Chuck and the family Volcoff after Vivian poisoned Sarah at their rehearsal dinner. And the episode delivered as Chuck went on a search for an antidote against the wishes of the wishes of the dude from Desperate Housewives (I geeked out when originally I thought it was Lost’s Man in Black who popped up on the screen until realized my eyes deceived me), one of the few men who strikes fear into Casey.

The episodes had so many chill moments that seem to have been missing since the second season including when the Russian army dropped in on at the hospital. Although the actual wedding was a bit disappointing in its subtleness compared the Jeffster infused nuptials of Awesome and Ellie. They could at least have performed at the reception. Oh well.

But all that good will was lost with the cliffhanger (silly me thought the title Chuck vs. the Cliffhanger was going to be homage to the Sylvester Stallone film). Sure Team Bartowski going rouge was telegraphed when Chuck gave his secret identities to Vivian and that should lead to some freshness next season (though how they will get cases is yet to be seen, but if The A-Team could find clients it should not be too hard or maybe General Beckman will be looking for work, and I assume the C.A.T. Squad may be out of jobs too). But what disappointed me was Morgan downloading the Intercet. I always hope for less screen time for Morgan and this probably means more screen time next season. I am already dreading it. Why couldn’t it been a member of Jeffster to find the glasses?

Chuck 4.x gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.