News from TV.com

Friday Afternoon Distractions

Corinne Reichert — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:53:00 PST

Need a way to make the last few hours at work go fast? We've got you covered with these videos!

Tom Hanks and his daughter Sophie spoof the ridiculous show Toddlers and Tiaras.

Are you a fan of Survivor? One former contestant is holding a Miss Survivor pageant (the motto: "outwalk, outwave,... More >>

News Briefs: Bones Officially Has a Return Date

Seth Abramovitch — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:01:00 PST

SCHEDULES N' THINGS
... Bones will return from hiatus on April 5 at 9pm, TVLine reports, replacing the outgoing The Finder. Only seven episodes remain in Bones' seventh season, which was cut short due to Emily Deschanel�s pregnancy. However, there are also four �bonus� episodes kicking around that will either run into the summer season or be added to Season 8. [TVLine]
... More >>

The Great Mad Men Re-Watch, Part 5: Carousel of Broken Dreams

Seth Abramovitch — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:00:00 PST
Today, our Great Mad Men Re-Watch puts Season 1 to bed. The final two episodes get pretty soapy, what with Peggy's surprise delivery and Don's battlefield identity theft. But the season ends with both feet on the ground, with one of the most memorable speeches in modern TV history. Hop aboard the carousel, everyone. We're about to get nostalgic for the way things were back in 2007.

Season 1, Episode 12: �Nixon vs. Kennedy�

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The Secret Circle's Jessica Parker Kennedy Talks Sleepovers, Demonic Possession, and Acting in Her Unmentionables

Price Peterson — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:59:00 PST

Although The Secret Circle hasn't quite inspired the fandom of The Vampire Diaries (few things have, outside of organized religion), those of us who love the show do so almost entirely because of its impeccable cast. No offense to The CW, but The Secret Circle's cast is made of up actors almost uniformly overqualified for a teen soap. Thomas Dekker's increasingly impressive resum� has taken...  More >>

Game of Thrones Season 2 in Pictures

Tim Surette — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:20:00 PST
Game of Thrones Season 2 doesn't start until April 1. That bit of info is old news. But you know what is new? These awesome pictures that HBO released today! Okay, so it's not as great as the entire Season 2 Blu-ray set landing in your lap, but if you print out all these pictures out, you can make a flipbook and create your own version of Season 2!
Here's Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) looking quite...  More >>

See the Community Cast as Street Fighter Characters

Tim Surette — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:15:00 PST
We're posting a weekly Community story every Thursday until NBC puts the show back on the schedule, because we can.

A busy week and an impromptu vacation for moi means this post is going to be a bit short this week. As you know, the point of this weekly series is to keep Community fresh in your minds�but it seems like the show's fans are doing that just fine on their own.
You know what's pretty amazing to me? The fact that Community isn't even on the air right now, yet people are still created cool stuff related to the show. Think about that for a second....  More >>

Revenge: Soup's On and Soupconneux

Lily Sparks — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:15:00 PST
Revenge S01E14: "Perception"

If you're ever invited to an intimate dinner party in the "Hamptons," just go. Doesn't matter if you don't have the right clothes or barely know the hosts. Just go, because you will learn A LOT. Conversely, if you live in the Hamptons, recently told your son his sister is the product of a rape, and are going through a very acrimonious divorce, do not host said dinner party. You're better off setting out a few buckets of KFC on the floor and...  More >>

For the Winsday: Valentine's Day Edition

Lily Sparks — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:05:00 PST

Valentine's Day is staring us in the face like the double barrels of a furious country bumpkin's shot gun, compelling us to do right by our sweetheart or be blasted to a million pieces. But before our significant other judges our romantic gestures and finds them wanting, or the world judges me for going to a Carl's Jr. all alone and eating a three-course burger dinner, let's take a moment to judge ABC's Wednesday comedy block! If you didn't catch last week's scrimmage edition of For the Winsday, we're basically going to assign each...  More >>

Open Caption: Louis C.K. Returns to Parks and Recreation

C. Killian — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:50:00 PST
Admittedly, some of your comments from yesterday's Open Caption made me blush. Well played, everyone! It was a tough call, but three of you managed to come out on top. Pun intended. Oh, and before I forget, make sure to check out our new Open Caption board on Pinterest, where we'll be posting all the winning captioned photos. See them all in once place! And now, here are the winners from yesterday's contest:.

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American Idol: Welcome to Hollywood

Seth Abramovitch — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:25:00 PST
American Idol S11E08: "Hollywood Week Round 1"

It�s finally Hollywood Week on American Idol, and, if the preview montage is any indication, this will be the most injurious one yet. Ambulances, oxygen tanks, gurneys, deadly peanut allergy outbreaks, and dangerous plunges are just some of the mayhem to befall our hopefuls. Which makes Steven Tyler�s recitation of the Cowardly Lion�s speech make all the more sense:...  More >>

What to Watch Tonight: The Vampire Diaries, The Secret Circle, and Person of Interest

Price Peterson — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:35:00 PST

What to watch on Thursday, February 9...

Thursday is basically Friday's slightly less attractive little brother who is actually a total prodigy and pretty fun to have around. Come on in, Thursday! Grab a pop and chill on the beanbag chair for a while.

8pm, CW
The Vampire Diaries
The Season of the...  More >>

Aussie News Briefs

Corinne Reichert — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:10:00 PST
We take a look at this week's Australian TV news, channel by channel.
Nine

Sherlock

Sherlock's brilliant season two is coming to Australian TV! Join Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman as they solve crimes in modern-day London.
Airs: Wednesday, 15 February, 8.30pm AEDST

Alcatraz

Alcatraz, a spooky...  More >>

News Briefs: The River Gets Off to a Mediocre Start

Tim Surette — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:05:00 PST

RATINGS REPORT
... ABC's The River debuted last night and it did... okay. The found-footage drama about an expedition in the Amazon averaged 7.5 million viewers and a 2.4 rating during its two-hour debut. That's incredibly average, which is sad because TV needs more shows about boats equipped with 3,000 cameras. [EW]
......  More >>

The River is Ridiculous(ly Fun)

Price Peterson — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:25:00 PST

When it comes to mockumentaries there are two types of people: those who can easily accept the fakery and those who can't help but pick it apart. I'm in the second camp and I'm not proud of it. I just can't shut off the part of my brain that asks, "Why is there a camera inside the closet? Who is filming this intimate conversation between two characters? How long do those camera batteries last, anyway?" But I don't think this mindset is necessarily my fault. Found footage as a device is meant to somehow circumvent our suspension of disbelief by declaring "This happened for real," thereby practically daring us to find...  More >>

House's Current Season Will Be Its Last

Tim Surette — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:15:00 PST

All season long, the prognosis has been "not good." With actor contracts expiring, production costs increasing, and the typical burnout long-running shows face, House has been on its last legs. And today, Fox, Fox president Kevin Reilly, and House executive producers David Shore, Katie Jacobs, and Hugh Laurie announced in a joint statement that the current season of the...  More >>

Being Human Renewed for Season 3

Tim Surette — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:26:00 PST

The lease on Josh, Aidan, and Sally's apartment has been extended! Syfy today renewed Being Human for a third season, promising 13 new episodes in (probably) 2013. The supernatural series is currently four episodes into its second season.
Being Human is a North American adaptation of the U.K. series of the same name. It's based on an absurd premise that actually works: A werewolf, a vampire, and a ghost all live in the same apartment. I know, crazy, right? But Toby Whithouse,...  More >>

Glee Bangs, Glee Bangs

Seth Abramovitch — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:25:00 PST
Glee S03E12: "The Spanish Teacher"

I think where you fell on this week�s Glee depends a lot upon what you think of Ricky Martin. I, for one, am a fan. Not the kind of fan who ever listens to his music, mind you, but the kind of fan who just admires his earnest enthusiasm and the courage he showed in telling the world he was a gay man. (I...  More >>

Justified: The Dickie and Dewey Crowe Show

Tim Surette — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:33:00 PST
Justified S03E04: "The Devil You Know"

We'll get to Devil later, but let's first focus on the lighter parts of last night's excellent episode of Justified, "The Devil You Know." Season 3 has so far been a master class on developing a 13-episode masterpiece�and no, that's not an exaggeration�with each successive installment moving from standalone,...  More >>

Zooey Deschanel's SNL Promos Feature Jazz Hands, Opera (VIDEO)

Jen Trolio — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:15:00 PST
Zooey Deschanel is hosting Saturday Night Live for the first time this weekend. Boring opening sentence, I know, but I think it's time we all gave the New Girl star a break from the labels of "adorkable" and "indie darling." Anyway, Zooey's SNL promos have dropped, and you know what? They are kind of delightful. There are jazz hands. There are fun facts about Black History Month. There is an opera duet. Enjoy!
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Did Sticking with Ringer Just Start to Pay Off?

Louis Peitzman — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:30:00 PST
Ringer S01E12: �What Are You Doing Here, Ho-Bag?�

Seven words I never thought I�d write�Tuesday night�s episode of Ringer was great. I�m serious. It was engaging, fun, and legitimately exciting, which is more than I can say about any of the episodes preceding it. If Ringer can keep this up, I might be willing to call it a show that I like by season�s end. (Thought let�s not get carried away: There�s still a lot...  More >>

Open Caption: Suburgatory Brings Sexy to the Suburbs

C. Killian — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:15:00 PST
Can you believe it's already hump day? Uh, and I promise "hump day" was not the catalyst for choosing today's contest photo. The media's Valentine's Day hype must be seeping into my subconscious. Why else would I be craving chocolate at 9am? But before we get ahead of ourselves, here are the winners from yesterday's contest:

From shre123:
Kim: "...and if you wear your hair up like this, you can be a detriment to society, too!"
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What to Watch Tonight: Revenge, Happy Endings, and Modern Family

Price Peterson — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:00 PST

What to watch on Wednesday, February 8...

Please enjoy these delightful infotainment nuggets, hand-picked for you in order to enhance your television decision-making process. Or you can just watch whatever. Either way.

9:30pm, ABC
Happy Endings
The Happy Endings crew celebrates Valentine's Day...  More >>

News Briefs: Jessica Lange Will Haunt American Horror Story Again

Tim Surette — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:25:00 PST

GOOD NEWS FOR A GOOD ACTRESS
... When Season 1 of American Horror Story came to an end, it was obvious that creator Ryan Murphy was going to flip the table over for Season 2 and start all over again with a new setting, a new story, and an all-new cast. Well, an almost all-new cast. Jessica Lange, who won multiple awards for her performance as Constance on the series last year, will return...  More >>

The Great Mad Men Re-Watch, Part 4: Hearts, Diseased

Seth Abramovitch — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:50:00 PST
Our Great Mad Men Re-Watch is nearing the end of Season 1. Today, we nearly lose Roger, which leads to Don being made partner, which in turn paves the way for Peggy to get a $5 raise. Heart attacks: They're good for everyone!

Season 1, Episode 10: �Long Weekend�

Review Notes:
In Episode 10, �Long Weekend,� our hero Don, having had his heart handed to him by Midge the Beatnik, turns to the second brunette mistress in his life, Rachel, for solace and...  More >>

Being Human: They're Just Not That Into You

Tim Surette — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:20:00 PST

Being Human S02E04: "(I Loathe You) For Sentimental Reasons"

Remember how last week's episode of Being Human delivered some solid moments "oh shhhhhh�" moments, with we realized Aidan was banging Josh's ex and "gahhhh baby reincarnation scene FTW!" See also: "Nora why you so cray-zay?" Well, More >>

Gossip Girl: Where, Oh Where, Is Blair?

Caity Weaver — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:45:00 PST

Gossip Girl S05E14: "The Backup Dan"

This week�s episode of Gossip Girl found the writers making the unprecedentedly bad decision to keep all the characters in the same god-awful wedding outfits they wore last week. Unflattering coats of all shapes and lengths (drapey, cape-y, boxy; hovering unbecomingly around everyone�s hips and calves) were added...
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TV.com's 4-Episode Test, Midseason 2012 Edition: How Are TV's Newest Shows Holding Up?

TV.com Staff — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:45:00 PST

It's that time of year again: A majority of TV's new midseason shows have reached the four-episode mark, which means we think we've seen enough to pass judgement on whether or not they're worth your precious time and/or emotional investment. Read on to find out what we're sticking with and what we're deleting from our DVRs, then tell us what YOU'RE still watching in the comments.

Note: You may notice that a few new series�including Luck, Smash, More >>

Alcatraz: 5 Things the Show Needs to Do to Keep Me Watching

Tim Surette — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:35:00 PST

Dear Alcatraz,
It has come to my attention that you intend to be a good show. Unfortunately, you aren't doing a great of a job of accomplishing that goal. As an individual who appreciates good television, I'd like to see you succeed. It would be a win-win situation for both of us! I'd have something interesting to watch on Mondays that doesn't involve recycled pop songs or a caveman handing out flowers to desperate, self-esteem-challenged ladies. You'd live to see Season 2 and More >>

Pretty Little Liars and The Lying Game: The Revelations Keep Coming

Louis Peitzman — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:07:00 PST

Pretty Little Liars S02E19: "The Naked Truth"
The Lying Game S01E16: "Reservation for Two"

Both Pretty Little Liars and The...  More >>

Can Smash and The Voice Save NBC?

Tim Surette — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:15:00 PST

The suits at NBC woke up in a panic this morning, knowing they'd have to find some old Seinfeld-era "We won!" boilerplate to dust off. The network dominated (yes, you read that correctly) Monday night with its tag team of singing competition The Voice and singing drama Smash, winning the 18-49 demo in the 8pm to 10pm time slot on a Monday for the first time since 2008.
Following up on its mondo post-More >>

Open Caption: Kim Kardashian on Last Man Standing

C. Killian — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:05:00 PST
You guys are scarily good at channeling the mind of Anjelica Huston. Perhaps too good. But without further ado, here are the winners from yesterday's contest:

From qbe_64:
Eileen: "Tails!"

From CurlyMC:
Eileen: "Hmm she's creepy, and she's kooky, mysterious, and spooky. I like her."

More >>

Smash Deserves a Standing Ovation

Lily Sparks — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 06:00:00 PST

Smash S01E01: "Pilot"

Here is a sentence I didn't think I would be writing: Smash is incredible. I can't remember the last time I felt so impatient waiting through commercial breaks, mostly because HBO doesn't have commercial breaks. This show feels and looks and holds an audience like something on HBO, but it's not: It's piped into our houses for free, and you're cheating yourself if you miss it.
There's a...  More >>

The Bachelor: A Man, a Plan, a Lap Dance

Lily Sparks — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:10:00 PST

The Bachelor S16E06: "Week 6"

After watching Monday's episode of The Bachelor, I felt like my face had been forcibly wiped across the open pages of each and every contestant's diary. I'm still reeling, trying to process the words and cries for help and purple hearts over the I's.

First off and foremost, I am getting SICK and...  More >>

What to Watch Tonight: The River, New Girl, and White Collar

Price Peterson — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:00:00 PST

What to watch on Tuesday, February 7...

To celebrate tonight's big ABC premiere, why not set up a tent in your living room, spray everything with a garden hose, loosen your pet snakes, and invite over the tallest lady you know?! Let's get Amazonian up in here!

SERIES PREMIERE, 9pm, ABC
The River
From...  More >>

Conspiracy 365: 'February' Photo Recap

Corinne Reichert — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:14:00 PST
Episode two (or "February", as it's known to its friends) sees Cal run away from thugs, cops and regular bystanders ... at least twice for each group. Boy's gettin' fit.
The episode opens with Cal being saved from the vat of oil by a girl named Winter (seen briefly in the last episode -- the girl who was being taken to the ballet by lead male thug, Vulcan), who seems to be Vulcan's daughter.
They escape from the yard with their torches bobbing wildly, making them extremely easy to spot (but apparently not for these thugs).

Kelvin's in his car, still tracking Cal -- we guess the tracking device was...  More >>

News Briefs: Sarah Chalke Is Returning to ABC

Tim Surette — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:05:00 PST

SO MUCH CASTING NEWS YOU'LL PUKE
... Scrubs star Sarah Chalke is returning to ABC, if all goes well. Chalke has landed the lead role in the pilot How to Live with Your Parents for the Rest of Your Life, a comedy about a recently divorced mom (Chalke) who moves back in with her parents. Chalke was last seen in a regular role on the short-lived CBS comedy More >>

Once Upon a Time: Pass the Time Between Episodes with Our Printable Paper Dolls

Lily Sparks — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:30:00 PST
Super Bowl, right? The ogres get to marry Madonna! Look, I don't know anything about football, I spent the whole day yesterday making paper dolls for Once Upon a Time and fantasizing about the upcoming "Beauty and the Beast" episode. Join me! I'm so alone, here with my bloody fingers and my piles of paper smiles. Simply print, clip, and climb under your desk at work to have an absolute ball.

Click on each image to open the full-size, hi-res version in a new...  More >>

Watch NBC's Star-Studded Musical Promo, Featuring Every Network Star (VIDEO)

Tim Surette — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:45:00 PST

A big part of running a network is establishing a brand identity. And a big part of establishing a brand identity involves creating ridiculous promos featuring all your stars in one goofy video. Using its broadcast of the Super Bowl as a springboard, NBC ~~forced several of its stars at gunpoint~~ gathered several of its stars to perform a big song-and-dance number to the tune of "Brotherhood of Man," with hopes of reminding you that NBC is still a network with big shows... a network you should watch instead of Univision. Yes, the cast of More >>

Downton Abbey: Face/Off

Seth Abramovitch — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:10:00 PST

Downton Abbey S02E06: "Episode 6" (labeled as "Episode 5" on PBS)

Has everyone recovered from last week�s episode of Downton Abbey? What a tragic situation. Matthew is paralyzed from the waist down and will never have sex again. Nor will William, for that matter, because William is dead. Poor William. He�ll never know the satisfaction of deflowering a Daisy on his...  More >>

Supernatural: Women! Can't Live With 'Em...

Tim Surette — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:50:00 PST

Supernatural S07E13: "The Slice Girls"

Considering the two handsome cross-country rapscallions the Winchester brothers are, it's not surprising that sexy ladies often play their foils. Friday night's episode of Supernatural, the unfortunately titled More >>

SNL Highlights: Channing the Charmer

Seth Abramovitch — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:30:00 PST

Saturday Night Live S37E13: "02/04/2012: Channing Tatum, Bon Iver"

SNL returned this weekend with stripper-turned-movie star Channing Tatum in the driver�s seat, and Bon Iver serving as musical guest. And it was good! Tatum isn�t the most naturally gifted or versatile comedian, but he has a likable...  More >>

Super Bowl XLVI Is the Most-Watched Broadcast in U.S. History

Tim Surette — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:45:00 PST

The annual match-up between the NFL's two best postseason teams has added a new tradition to its already well-known collection of them, which includes Most Tears Shed By Grown Men, Most Chili Consumed, and Most Time Spent on the Toilet the Following Day. For the third year in a row, the Super Bowl has become the most-watched televised broadcast in the history of American television.
According to fast data from The Nielsen Company, an average of 111.3 million people watched yesterday's Super Bowl XLVI, surpassing Super Bowl XLV's 111.0 million from 2011. (Two years ago, Super...  More >>

Fringe: Save the Best for Astrid

Tim Surette — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:10:00 PST

Fringe S04E11: "Making Angels"

Yowza, Friday's episode of Fringe was DENSE like a brick made out of tightly packed mashed potatoes! So many things happened in "Making Angels" that there's no time to chat about your weekend, swap Super Bowl stories, or exchange updates on how your cat's potty training is going, so let's get to it!
First,...  More >>

2012 Grammy Awards: Where to Watch the Ceremony, Red Carpet Coverage, and More on TV and Online

C. Killian — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:30:00 PST
They call it "Music's Biggest Night," and with the exception of, say, the American Idol finals, "they" might just be right. But the Grammys have a lot to prove these days: Not only is the music industry flailing for better financial returns, but the awards show itself has been hit with staggering criticism about its selection process. Last year marked a turning point, though: Not only did the award ceremony bring in record audiences (the biggest since 2001), but it seemed to open its arms to less "mainstream" talents... you know, like Arcade Fire. (Technically, the band was a 2011 chart-topper, so not as unknown as everyone who angrily live-Tweeted during...  More >>

Open Caption: Smash

C. Killian — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:40:00 PST
Well, the New York Giants have secured another Super Bowl championship, and with it at least another hundred years of distaste from and for Boston sports fans. Now that that's been settled, here are last Friday's Open Caption winners.

From Ninjaandy:
Peter: "But baggage claim was THAT way last time I came through here."
TSA Agent: "Calm down sir, or you'll miss your zeppelin."

From crazylegs99:
Peter:...  More >>

What to Watch Tonight: Smash, Being Human, and Castle

Price Peterson — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 04:00:00 PST

What to watch on Monday, February 6...

Happy Monday! This week's promising to be fast, bumpy, and exhilarating! Let's just hope the carnies assembled it properly, you know?

SERIES PREMIERE, 10pm, NBC
Smash
Here we go, it's finally here! The forever-hyped Broadway saga produced by Old Man Spielberg and starring Grace and...  More >>

The Second Annual TV.com Bowlie Awards for Excellence in Super Bowl Mega-Shilling

Seth Abramovitch — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 21:55:00 PST
The Giants did it! They ruined Tom Brady�s year. (Sorry, Tom. Hopefully Giselle can make it all better.) Did you enjoy the big game? How �bout that Madonna, hey? Like how skinny did she look next to Cee Lo? She�s no dummy. Anyway, I�m still drunk, but duty calls: Welcome to the Second Annual TV.com Bowlies, awarded for noteworthy achievement in Super Bowl mega-shilling.

Most Disturbing Incorporation of a Falsetto-Singing Vestigial Twin
Cars.com. Hands down.

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Shameless: Hitting Rock Bottom

Patrick Sullivan — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:00:00 PST

Shameless S02E05: "Father's Day"

This week's episode of Shameless celebrated Father's Day as only Shameless can�with the body of Karen's father, Eddie Jackson, being discovered in Lake Michigan. Unlike episodes of CSI that begin with a dead body, we already knew every detail of what had transpired. Thankfully, the show's writers have a knack for remembering the loose ends...  More >>

The Secret Circle: Witch Bling (PHOTO RECAP)

Price Peterson — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:26:00 PST
If I were a teenage witch and found myself mixed up in the events of "Medallion" I'd start boning up on my SAT prep and looking seriously into colleges. Has Chance Harbor ever felt MORE like a moribund small town worth escaping from? It's just a bunch of people who can barely tolerate each other sitting around waiting for things to happen to them. Don't worry, kids, there's a bigger world out there. Hang tight! It's no wonder they've resorted to drugs and impromptu booty calls.
"Medallion" followed my favorite episode of the season, so naturally it didn't quite stack up. Every time this show convinces me it's moving forward it finds new ways to stall. For example, even though Cassie personally witnessed her father escaping death AND...  More >>

TV.com's Swell-o-vision vs. Hell-o-vision (February 4)

TV.com Staff — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 11:30:00 PST
It's time once again to discuss the bestest and worstest TV happenings of the last seven days, and this week's collection is a hodgepodge of weirdos and wackiness. Seriously�one actress cried over a sloth, one aging pop star said "okay" to the first video concept thrown her way, and Don Draper met a whale.

SWELL

Tim & Eric's Super Bowl promos on Jimmy Kimmel Live

Suddenly Volkswagen + Star Wars and Honda + Ferris...  More >>

Can TV.com Staffers Predict a Show's Future? (INFOGRAPHIC)

C. Killian — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 09:40:00 PST
Way back in October, we posted the fall installment of a regular TV.com feature called the 4-Episode Test, wherein we rate and review the first four episodes of all the new TV shows gracing your screen to tell you which ones are worth watching. Today, we're on the cusp of publishing the midseason edition of the story (check back next week see it live!), which got us wondering: Do our ratings of new TV shows reflect whether or not they survive long-term?
Now that most of the fall shows have caught wind of their network-determined fates, we have all the information we need to answer that burning question. So, naturally, we compiled it...  More >>

Spartacus: I'm a Slave 4 U

Seth Abramovitch — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:00:00 PST

We've now had one week to acclimate to the familiar but different world of Spartacus: Vengeance. I've perused your comments from last week, and it seems many of you are reluctant to accept Liam McIntyre in the title role. Which is a shame, because he's actually doing some fine work in the demanding part, and the series overall has maintained quality in just about every other aspect of production. Hopefully the fear of the new has begun to fade, as we wade into a sea of blood for Episode 2: "A Place in This World."
More >>

News Briefs: Fox Is Trying a Tuesday Comedy Block

Tim Surette — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:45:00 PST

LIVE-ACTION DISTRACTION NEWS
... Forget Animation Domination! Fox is trying out a four-show live-action comedy block on Tuesdays beginning March 6. The night will start with Raising Hope in a new time slot at 8pm, then throw to I Hate My Teenage Daughter in its return, New Girl in its normal 9pm slot, and conclude with back-from-the-dead More >>

Sons of Anarchy Renewed for Season 6

Tim Surette — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:03:00 PST

Following its 99-percent awesome Season 4, Sons of Anarchy will keep its tires spinning for at least two more seasons. FX has renewed the biker drama for a sixth season, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The show had already been renewed for a fifth season, last October....  More >>

Should I Start Watching Grey's Anatomy Again?

Jen Trolio — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:10:00 PST

I haven't seen a full episode of Grey's Anatomy since the end of Season 3, back when Izzy and Dr. Burke were still on the show and George was still alive and Lexie and Arizona were still figments of Shonda Rhimes' imagination. The medical cases of the week involved drilling holes in people's heads in the car storage areas of crashed ferryboats while Uncle Hank looked on, removing stakes from...  More >>

Person of Interest: Bizarro World!

Tim Surette — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:10:00 PST

Guys, I'm still waiting for Person of Interest to give us an episode I can complain about, but until that happens, we'll just have to make do with an onslaught of installments that continue to impress. Mind you, last night's "Root Cause" wasn't the series' absolute best, but it proved there's still plenty of creative juice in the POI's great Well of Ideas.
This week's ~~winning~~ losing number belonged to a regular Joe down on his luck. Dude had...  More >>

The Vampire Diaries: Parents Just Don't Understand (PHOTO RECAP)

Price Peterson — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:45:00 PST
So how's your family? Have you talked to them lately? Is everyone doing okay, or is there a chance they've all been metaphorically daggered with metaphorical white oak ash-encrusted daggers and metaphorically banished to coffins for the greater part of a thousand years? Who knows, every family is different. Well, if you were to ask all of the citizens of Mystic Falls how THEIR families are doing, you'd hear this really loud chorus of "EFFFFFFED."
The Vampire Diaries needs to change its name to Family Matters (has that name been taken yet?), because "Bringing Out the Dead" was ALL about family. In fact, it could be argued that most of...  More >>

Project Runway All Stars: I Just Want My Pants Back

Seth Abramovitch — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:00:00 PST

Project Runway All Stars proposed an interesting new challenge this week: Approach someone on a New York street and haggle the clothes right off their back. If they happened to be your �muse,� all the better, but Anthony wasn�t exactly thinking �muse� when he convinced an already half-naked adonis to shed his pants; Anthony was just thinking �all-naked adonis.� And that was probably okay with 99.999 percent of Runway�s viewership. As the rules stated, the designers had two days to create a look constructed with at least half of fabric...  More >>

NBC Practically Cancels The Firm, Schedules Awake

Tim Surette — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:42:00 PST

NBC has finally gone soft on The Firm and opened its eyes to Awake! Best opening sentence ever!
The Peacock made some big moves today, essentially canceling legal thriller The Firm. Based on the John Grisham novel and Tom Cruise movie of the same name, the show has been performing...  More >>

American Idol: Arch Angels

Seth Abramovitch — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:40:00 PST
Last night, American Idol met us in St. Louis, where we were looking forward to dancing the Hoochee Koochee. Unfortunately, the last stop on the audition tour (phew!) didn�t find too much by way of talent�with a couple notable exceptions. There was also a lot of filler, so consider yourselves lucky if you DVR�d this episode in advance. Let�s dive right in.

The Good:

Contestant Johnny Keyser was unveiled to us at the top of the show, after a lengthy intro package that introduced us to life with his dad, who raised him alone, and...  More >>

Open Caption: Fringe

C. Killian — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:15:00 PST
Oh my good graces, TGIF. You came out in droves to answer yesterday's caption contest and man, were your answers HOT. I just can't convey how seeing all your shining avatar faces really WARMED my heart. Okay, I'll stop now. Here are yesterday's winners!

From qbe_64:
Stefan: "NOO! That's my favorite bottle of styling wax!!"
Klaus: "It's gone, bro, it's gone."

From...  More >>

Which is the Better Channel: Food Network or Oxygen?

Price Peterson — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:45:00 PST

The madder a cable network's viewers get, the higher its ratings, so it should be no surprise that last week's battle was our most contentious and ugly one yet! Congratulations to...

Thanks to those of you commenters who offered level-headed responses to this match-up, but I'm gonna skip singling anyone out because the less time spent in that comments section the better. Moving on!
More >>

What to Watch This Weekend: Fringe, The Voice, and Something Called the "Super Bowl"

Price Peterson — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 PST

How do you feel about weekends? Okay? Lukewarm? Undecided? Me, I'm pretty tootin' jazzed. It's all just sleeping and watching this stuff:

What to watch on Friday, February 3...

8pm, CBS
A Gifted Man
"In Case of Blind Spots" tells the handsome tale of how Michael rescues a man from drowning only to learn the man...  More >>

Friday Afternoon Distractions

Corinne Reichert — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:29:00 PST
Whiling away your last few hours at work? These videos should help make time fly extra fast!

The new season 2 Game of Thrones teaser trailer.

Kristen Bell sobs with excitement about a sloth.

Budweiser's Super Bowl...  More >>

The Great Mad Men Re-Watch, Part 3: The Miseducation of Peggy Olsen

Seth Abramovitch — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:28:00 PST
Welcome back to the Great Mad Men Re-Watch! Anyone here for the first time? Well then, welcome! Please stand up, state your name, and admit to being addicted to the best show on TV. In the next three episodes, Roger makes a play for Betty, Betty makes a play for a career, and Peggy makes a play for a cherry danish. All that and a fistfight, too, right in the middle of Sterling Cooper.
Note: If you're watching for the first time, be wary of spoilers from later in the series!

Season 1, Episode 7: �Red in the Face�

More >>

News Briefs: NBC Orders a Pilot from J.J. Abrams and Supernatural's Eric Kripke

Tim Surette — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:30:00 PST

Please pack your knives and go to News Briefs position #2, because NBC just picked up an Eric Kripke pilot!!!

HOLY SH*T YES PLEASE NEWS
... NBC has picked up a pilot from Eric Kripke (Supernatural) and J.J. Abrams. Revolution is a thriller set in a world where all forms of energy disappear. Please let this go to series please please please.[More >>

ABC Family Renews The Secret Life of the American Teenager for Season 5

Tim Surette — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:00:00 PST

ABC Family, the family-est cable channel for tweens on all of television, conducted some major business today with a renewal for one of its biggest hits and a pair of new-series pickups. The huge news is that The Secret Life of the American Teenager will return for a fifth season, ensuring it will eclipse the magic 100-episode mark. It also means that talented star Shailene Woodley will be too busy to move on to bigger and better things for a while....  More >>

Community: Dean Pelton's Best Dress-Ups

Tim Surette — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:15:00 PST
As an act of defiance, we're covering Community every Thursday until NBC puts it back on the schedule!

When it comes to the costumes on NBC's Community, there are only three things to worry about: What is the study group wearing for Halloween, what's Dean Pelton wearing, and how deep will the neck of Annie's sweater be? We've all had fun with the first and I've spent countless days carefully examining the third in the name of TV journalism, so today we'll focus on the second.
Dean Pelton, played by the hilarious (and Oscar-nominated!) Jim Rash, loves to...  More >>

American Idol: We Cannot Pickle That

Seth Abramovitch — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:35:00 PST

American Idol and Portland: They go together like McDonald�s cheeseburgers and organic home-pickling. And by that I mean they are diametrical opposites�Hollywood flash vs. Oregonian indie cred�and therefore do not go together particularly well at all. But as we all know by now (we watch Portlandia), there�s as much forced artifice going down in Portland�s counter-culture as there is on the Idol stage. And say...  More >>

Gossip Girl Ex[tras]pose: The 5 Best Extras from the Big Wedding Episode

Caity Weaver — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:30:00 PST
A million things happened during Gossip Girl's Royal Wedding episode this week, mostly in the last 45 seconds before the credits (Dan drove an old-timey car! Prince Louis finally settled into the villainy implied by his vague accent! Harriet the Spy is Gossip Girl!). But you know who nearly stole the show? The extras. In background of the scenes, at the forefront of my thoughts, Gossip Girl�s extras will forever distract me from the drama at hand. Never has a group of people hired for their ability to come across as normal humans failed so utterly at coming across as normal humans. Here are the ones who took my eyes off the bride:

5....  More >>

QUICK QUESTION: What Are the Best TV-to-Movie Adaptations?

Price Peterson — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:45:00 PST
Between reviewing the Napoleon Dynamite animated series and Tim & Eric's Billion Dollar Movie, I've been thinking a lot about the relationship between movies and television and that weird moment of conversion when one becomes the other. Especially these days, when it seems like all studio films are based on previously known properties, it feels like more and more of a guarantee that hit TV shows will eventually find themselves on the silver screen. Whether it's a movie based on a currently airing show (South Park:...  More >>

Open Caption: The Vampire Diaries Heats Things Up

C. Killian — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:25:00 PST
As I sifted through your comments from yesterday's contest, I was struck by one inescapable question: Is there anything I wouldn't do for a pancake right now? Seriously, look at those stacks of them in the background of yesterday's photo. I guess I should stop skipping breakfast. Here are the winners from our Pee-wee-flavored Top Chef challenge:

From Geek_Queen:
Pee-wee: "Okay, chefs, Miss...  More >>

What to Watch Tonight: The Vampire Diaries, Person of Interest, and The Secret Circle

Price Peterson — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 PST

What to watch on Thursday, February 2...

Is it THURSDAY yet? See what happened is, I replaced "Friday" with "Thursday" because Thursday's TV is SO GOOD. But to answer that question, yes, it's Thursday. Yippee:

8pm, CW
The Vampire Diaries
After taking a week off due to recover from awesomeness...  More >>

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