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'Gossip Girl' - 'It's A Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad World' Recap

Laura Prudom — 2010-05-04T10:02:00+00:00

Filed under: Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Gossip Girl, Episode Recaps, Features, Recaps

(S03E20) "You wanted to see a Blair Waldorf take-down? Well cross me again, and you'll experience one firsthand." - Blair

Greetings, 'Gossip' junkies; it's been a busy week for our scandalous socialites on the Upper East Side, so there's plenty of dirt to discuss.

Is it just me, or did the fallout from last week's Serena/Jenny showdown seem less nuclear Armageddon and more Cold War anticlimax? Temperatures were definitely icy in the van der-Humphrey household, but the only missiles launched were verbal barbs, and that's no fun -- our blondes were too busy being passive aggressive to get down to the real cat fighting, and now it seems that Jenny's set her sights on the other man in Serena's life instead, albeit for a very different reason.

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'24' - '11:00AM - 12:00PM' Recap

Mike Moody — 2010-05-04T08:09:00+00:00

Filed under: 24, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Episode Recaps, Features, Recaps

(S08E10) Jack hit the streets last night on a bloody mission to expose everyone responsible for his pain. Was Dana was right when she said that Jack wouldn't stop until he's hunted down and killed everyone involved in the conspiracy, 'Kill Bill' style? I'm starting to think the answer is yes.

To echo Jane's review from last week ... I'm really starting to enjoy '24' again. This episode and last week's ep were quite awesome. I didn't like seeing Renee die a few weeks back, but her death seems to have given Jack and the show a much clearer focus and a sharper edge.

I'm loving watching Charles Logan pull the president's strings like a weasely little puppeteer. Can we all just agree that Prez Taylor has completely lost her marbles? I think we all knew she was in for a big fall once she got in bed with Logan. Ethan Kanin had the right idea getting out while the gettin' was good. Torture, lies, terrorism. He doesn't want to be connected to that awful mess.

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'The Big Bang Theory' - 'The Spaghetti Catalyst' Recap

Brad Trechak — 2010-05-03T22:32:00+00:00

Filed under: Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Episode Recaps, The Big Bang Theory, Features, Recaps

(S03E20) So now we have our first post-relationship episode between Leonard and Penny and, as anticipated, things are awkward. While it was unquestionable that the relationship would not last and that the duo was simply not meant for each other, there is still the issue of them still living across the hall in the same building.

The episode felt somewhat low-key, particularly after three weeks of no 'BBT.' Obviously, after the break-up in the last episode (which can be subtitled 'Wil Wheaton Is Evil'), there is nowhere to go between Leonard and Penny but up.

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'The Simpsons' - 'To Surveil With Love' Recap

Sharon Knolle — 2010-05-03T08:29:00+00:00

Filed under: OpEd, The Simpsons, Animation, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Episode Recaps, Features, Recaps

(S21E20) From the inspired 'Tik Tok' musical opening sequence to the last gag, 'To Surveil With Love' ranks as one of the best 'Simpsons' episodes in years.

I never expected the rest of the episode to live up to that killer opening, but, unbelievably, it just got better as it went along.

The bit that had me laughing the hardest: After surveillance cameras are installed in every inch of Springfield, Bart marking the town's one blind spot by dropping his pants and drawing a line every time he doesn't hear Ned gasping, "Buttocks!" "Tushie! or "Boy cheeks!" A perfectly funny bit that got even funnier when Homer asks Bart, whose pants are still down around his ankles, what he's doing. "Experimenting with my butt," says Bart. "My little Einstein," Homer says proudly as he pats Bart's head.

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'Treme' - 'At the Foot of Canal Street' Recap

Sandie Angulo Chen — 2010-05-03T08:03:00+00:00

Filed under: Other Drama Shows, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Episode Recaps, Features, Recaps

(S01E04) Antoine perfectly captures the theme of tonight's 'Treme' episode (and, OK, the entire series so far) when he sings the line "I have roamed this whole wide world over, but New Orleans is still my home" while waiting at the E.R. It's the first post-Katrina Christmastime in New Orleans, and everyone is far from jolly: Albert is denied his insurance claim; Davis's car gets busted into; Creighton gives the entire country a "F--k you"; Ladonna still doesn't know where her brother is; and Janette is screwed by the utility company.

What was most compelling about tonight's story was the three men -- Delmond, Sonny, and Antoine -- who find themselves away from New Orleans for very different reasons. While Delmond lives it up in New York City with his girlfriend Jill (how funny that both he and his father were chatting up ladies in this episode) and has no intention of returning home, Antoine, the native son, and Sonny, the Amsterdam expat, are desperate to make a living in the city they call home but venture to Baton Rouge and Houston, respectively.

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'Stargate Universe' - 'Lost' Recap

Mike Moody — 2010-05-01T11:55:00+00:00

Filed under: Stargate, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Episode Recaps, Features, Recaps

(S01E13) We caught up with Eli, Chloe, Greer and Scott still stuck underground and looking for a way out. All hope seemed lost until the usually skeptical Eli dreamed up a plan to use the Stargates to "catch up" with Destiny. Meanwhile, the crew aboard the ship, determined to find the missing team, enacted a search mission once the ship dropped out of FTL. But they had their own problems to deal with; the ship's power seemed to be fluctuating, and Rush discovered that their next jump would be to another galaxy far, far away.

One of the great things about 'Lost' was how it allowed us to explore a number of different planets, if only briefly. For a show called 'Stargate Universe,' the characters don't really seem to use the actual Stargate very much. We're used to them interacting on the ship or using the communication stones to make trips back to Earth. It was a welcome change of pace to see the Gates spinning every few minutes in this ep.

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Soap Round-Up: 'One Life's' Todd Nearly Dies ... and More

Allison Waldman — 2010-05-01T09:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Daytime, Reality-Free, Episode Recaps, Features, Recaps

Welcome to the Soap Round-Up, a weekly recap from all the soap action this past week. To make the column even more timely, check it out every Friday evening! Remember, we'll recap each and every soap, from 'All My Children' to 'The Young and the Restless,' so if you don't want to know what aired already, consider this a SPOILER ALERT. Oh, one last thing, please comment and join the conversation. We love hearing from you!

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'Glee' - 'Home' Recap

Allison Waldman — 2010-04-27T22:25:00+00:00

Filed under: OpEd, Celebrities, Reality-Free, Episode Recaps, Glee, Features, Recaps, TV News

(S01E16) As the season moves on, the initial joy of 'Glee' remains; that feeling that was there in the pilot has been sustained. But with time there are also subtle shifts in tone and character, more music, changes that are part of the natural progression of a television show. With this second half of the season, we've now seen three episodes.

For some, last week's Madonna mash-up was the best 'Glee' ever. Not so much from my perspective. Too much hype and too little substance, much like the Material Girl herself. The episode lacked heart. With 'Home,' 'Glee' found the heart, delivered the substance and, in every way that matters, kicked ass with this episode.

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'Gossip Girl' - 'Dr. Estrangeloved' Recap

Laura Prudom — 2010-04-27T09:32:00+00:00

Filed under: Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Gossip Girl, Episode Recaps, Features, Recaps

(S03E19) "You and I loved each other, and then you broke my heart; I've been doing everything possible not to face that fact. I'm gonna kiss somebody someday, and when I do, it'll be for me." Blair to Chuck.

After the last cute-but-filler episode of 'Gossip Girl', it was nice to see our favorite Upper East Siders going full throttle and giving us some long-awaited closure this week; we were treated to a make-up, a break-up and a wake-up, and all three were long overdue.

Forget ornithology, in NYC, we're firmly focused on skank-watching, and thanks to Little J, our binoculars have been getting a major work-out over the past few episodes. This week saw Jenny stepping up her game in a way that would make Channing Tatum jealous, even going so far as to enlist the help of a certain Basstard in her attempt to pry Nate out of Serena's distracted arms.

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'Treme' - 'Right Place, Wrong Time' Recap

Sandie Angulo Chen — 2010-04-26T10:02:00+00:00

Filed under: Other Drama Shows, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Episode Recaps, Features, Recaps

(S01E03) 'Treme' delved deeper into the injustices big and small faced by each of the characters in this episode. I saw it twice and liked it much more the second viewing. It wasn't as gripping (or funny) as the previous episode, but there were several moments that beautifully captured each of the main character's chief post-Katrina struggles.

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'The Simpsons' - 'The Squirt and the Whale' Recap

Sharon Knolle — 2010-04-26T09:41:00+00:00

Filed under: OpEd, The Simpsons, Animation, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Episode Recaps, Features, Recaps

(S21E19) Finally, a good -- maybe even great -- episode. 'The Squirt and the Whale' packed more laughs in the first few minutes' Alternative Energy Expo than the entire running time of most recent eps.

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'Stargate Universe' - 'Human' Episode Recap

Mike Moody — 2010-04-24T16:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Stargate, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Episode Recaps, Features, Recaps

(S01E12) 'Stargate Universe' took a bold stab at character drama last night and delivered a fine and compelling hour of sci-fi TV. The eagerly anticipated Dr. Rush origin story didn't disappoint: 'Human' dropped us right inside of Rush's head to expose all of his secrets, pain and insecurities. Robert Carlyle would certainly be in the running for an Emmy Award this year for his amazing performance -- If they gave Emmys to shows with names like 'Stargate Universe.' You'll have to enjoy your Saturn Award instead, Mr. Carlyle. And I hope you do, because you really earned it with this episode.

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Soap Round-Up: Jack Suspects Emily on 'Young & Restless' ... and More

Allison Waldman — 2010-04-23T19:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Daytime, Reality-Free, Episode Recaps, Features, Recaps

'24' - '9:00AM - 10:00AM' Recap

Mike Moody — 2010-04-20T01:35:00+00:00

Filed under: 24, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Episode Recaps, Features, Recaps

"It's good to be back in the game, even if it's through the rear entrance." - Charles Logan

(S08E18) Things got ugly last night on '24.' Jack Bauer threatened the lives of women and children, brutally smacked the smirk off Dana Walsh's face, and President Taylor decided to turn a blind eye to the Russian conspiracy.

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'Dancing with the Stars' - 'Performance #4' Recap

Michael Pascua — 2010-04-20T01:14:00+00:00

Filed under: OpEd, Dancing With The Stars, Episode Recaps, Features, Recaps

(S10E08) An interesting little marquee decorates the 'Dancing with the Stars' stage representing movie night. While most of the cast get interesting movies that could channel actual dances moves ('Pulp Fiction,' 'The Breakfast Club,' 'Risky Business'), Chad Ochocinco was given the Disney favorite 'The Jungle Book.' After all these weeks of sexual tension with Cheryl, they couldn't give him 'Shaft' or connect with his football roots with 'Remember the Titans' as their song?

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'The Simpsons' - 'Chief of Hearts' Recap

Sharon Knolle — 2010-04-19T01:34:00+00:00

Filed under: OpEd, The Simpsons, Animation, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Episode Recaps, Features, Recaps

(S21E18) Homer Simpson and Clancy Wiggum becoming BFFs should have been comedy gold; instead, this episode of 'The Simpsons' was a colossal bore. It seems like everything hilarious you can do with the Springfield police -- high-speed car chases, putting squirrels down your pants for the purpose of gambling -- has already been done. They never even go out for donuts!

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'Treme' - 'Meet De Boys on the Battlefront' Recap

Sandie Angulo Chen — 2010-04-19T01:10:00+00:00

Filed under: Other Drama Shows, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Episode Recaps, Features, Recaps

(S01E02) The second episode of 'Treme' may not appease the commenters who complained last week about the show's lack of action, but for those who appreciate the series' atmosphere, music, and admittedly slow (but detailed) character development, this was a big step forward.

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'Breaking Bad' - 'Mas' Recap

Allison Waldman — 2010-04-18T23:32:00+00:00

Filed under: OpEd, Breaking Bad, Reality-Free, Episode Recaps, Features, Recaps

(S03E05) If you've been waiting this season for the switch to be flipped, for the seemingly inert Walter White to snap back to life, this was it. The show was called "Mas," Spanish for more. Looking ahead, that's what we're going to be seeing. For "mas" on the shifting tone, the parting of the ways and Ted's heated bathroom tiles in this episode, follow after the jump.

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'Stargate Universe' - 'Faith' Recap

Mike Moody — 2010-04-17T11:35:00+00:00

Filed under: Stargate, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Episode Recaps, Features, Recaps

(S01E13) 'Faith' didn't deliver the thrills of 'Space' or the suspense of last week's episode, 'Divided.' Instead, we got a calmer hour full of lush scenery and characters relating to each other with a "spirit of cooperation."

I was glad to see the civilian vs. military conflict start to die down. I'd much rather watch the characters try to relate to one another on a personal level than be divided by their job descriptions.

I'm really starting to enjoy the show's quiet storytelling style, and the characters are finally growing on me. Eli used to be my favorite of the bunch - and he's still up there thanks to his 'Wrath of Khan' reference last night - but I've become very invested in Johansen's story. She's the most human character on the show, which speaks to Alaina Huffman's excellent performance. Hopefully the major development regarding Johansen in this ep will only make the character stronger.

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Soap Round-Up - 'Days'' Sami and Rafe Fight Over EJ ... and More

Allison Waldman — 2010-04-17T10:02:00+00:00

Filed under: OpEd, Daytime, Reality-Free, Episode Recaps, Features, Recaps

Hello, soap fans. Welcome back to our newest feature -- the TV Squad Soap Round-Up. Each week, come visit us for a quick recap of what happened the previous week on all the daytime dramas. Remember, though, we're talking about every soap, from 'All My Children' to 'The Young and the Restless,' so if you don't want to know what you missed, consider this your SPOILER ALERT. For this week, we've divided the shows by network, starting with NBC's 'Days of Our Lives.'

'Days of Our Lives'
Sami was convinced that EJ was being sincere about his new attitude, even though both Brady and Rafe warned her not to trust him. Unbeknownst to Sami, EJ was in cahoots with Stefano again. Stefano realized that EJ was still in love with Sami, and forced EJ to do his bidding or else he was going to tell Sami the truth about EJ's part in Sydney's kidnapping. Meanwhile, Nicole advised Chloe to fight for Daniel before Carly made a move on him. Hope and Carly were fighting again, and Adrienne saved Justin when he was attacked outside the bar. Melanie confided to Daniel that she was in love with two men at once.

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