Category Archives: Television
2011-2012 TV Season Awards: The Best, the Worst, & the “Huh?”
Well, friends, another season of television has come and (almost) gone. So now that most of the regular season shows have ended for the summer, it’s time to look back and reflect on the best and worst moments of this TV season. We laughed, we cried, we watched Steven Tyler make inappropriate comments to teenage girls. All in all, it was a worthwhile season, though not one of the strongest we’ve seen in recent years by any means. Here are some of the highlights from this season…
Fringe 1×03 “The Ghost Network”: Reactions from a First Time Viewer
Hello Fringe fandom!
Apart from the typical pattern case, episode 3 proved how witty the writers are. There were so many funny lines from characters I didn’t expect – like Agent Francis and Olivia. I love how the writers are able to break the tension in a scene with a hysterical one-liner and execute it in a manner that elevates the scene rather than diminish its importance to the story. Without further ado, here are my reactions to episode 3.
- I hope this bus sequence doesn’t turn into Speed.
- Uh oh. Toxin! All that for a JanSport backpack?
- They are stuck in an amber-like substance – just like the mosquito in Jurassic Park.
- John Scott’s portrait at his funeral is creepy. Poor Olivia. She just got the stare of death from Scott’s mother.
- Aw, Agent Charlie Francis. You are a good friend. “I wasn’t going to tell you this, but he said he loved me too”
- I shouldn’t be surprised that Walter is self-medicating himself with psychotics.
- Gold star goes to Olivia for directing the investigation to the backpack.
- Agent Davidson wants to see Mendoza’s body. Looks like they had a secret something-something because there’s some major hand touching.
- Peter looks adorable in a lab coat.
- Really, Broyles, really? You have a hard time believing the office guy is psychic? ‘Cuz magic old man baby and people stuck in amber are totally mundane events?
- Mr. Psychic is getting a CAT scan and his blood looks like it’s boiling. That’s not normal.
- It’s called “Ghost Network.” Cool name.
- Uh oh. Roy McComb (aka Mr. Psychic) was another one of Walter’s test subjects way back when.
- Peter: “Did you ever bother to explain to him what you were doing?” Walter: “Well, it wouldn’t have been a very secret experiment if I had.” HAHA I can always rely on Walter to provide some comedy during a really intense scene.
- I love Walter explaining the “Rabbit or Duck” picture.
- After Peter breaks into his old house in Cambridge, Olivia looks at him like he is a hot badass. She is totally falling in love with him.
- Poor Walter. He thought the family dog was still in the house.
- Stupid Freshmen! “Is this poly sci 101?” Freshmen are always lost.
- Astrid knows Latin. She is trying to decipher the line when Olivia interjects, “She had it on her the whole time.” Astrid: “Oh yeah, that’s a possible translation.” This show is so funny.
- Fake out! Agent Davidson didn’t have a thing for Mendoza. He was performing minor hand surgery.
- “With proper demodulation, you could receive satellite television for free.” Can I have that?
- Hey, there’s the bald dude that everyone talks about!
- What?! Agent Davidson was just shot? Rewind! That is an impressive silencer.
- More pattern cases.
- Aw, Peter is playing the piano for Olivia. Can they just get married already?
- Broyles just gave Ms. Terminator the weird coin shaped item extracted from Mendoza’s hand.
- It’s Mr. Boring Face! Is Massive Dynamic still interrogating him?
I am really curious to find out why Mr. Boring Face’s body is still lying around. Is he part of a larger plan? I hope not. I want him gone so Olivia can focus on Peter. 
Thank you all who have read my previous posts and have shielded me from spoilers. It has been a lot of fun reading your comments and tweets afterwards.
-Mary
Fringe 1×02 “The Same Old Story”: Reactions from a First Time Viewer
My Fringe journey continues! Sex talks, rapid aging, and Peter singing “Row row row your boat” made episode 2 quite enjoyable.
- Someone call Sigourney Weaver! This girl is gonna burst Alien style.
- It’s the Fringe committee and they are talking about their new ragtag team (the best kind!).
- Ooh la la. Peter in his boxers.
- Walter is enthralled with his car seat- “It warms your ass.” HAHA
- The Fringe makeup department needs an Emmy because that magic old man baby corpse is amazing.
- Uh oh, the serial killer is on the prowl for another victim.
- Olivia is asking Agent Charlie Francis if he knew she was in a relationship with John. Honey, everyone knew.
- Girl, you need to turn around! Norman Bates is coming at you with a needle!
- I guess that cow does come in handy in the lab if you are ever thirsty.
- Oh snap! Magic old man baby’s father was experimented by Walter.
- Walter uses Pi as a lock combination: 314159. That’s awesome, I’m gonna use that.
- Peter just found a human hand in a glass jar in Walter’s old station wagon. Nice collection there, Walt.
- Olivia just saw Peter and Walter in the clunker. HA. Jump in, sweetheart.
- Oo, I like word association games. P…pituitary…penny…Penrose.
- Pseudofolliculitis nuchae = razor burn. I am expanding my vocabulary. I think it is adorable how Olivia looks at Peter for translation.
- So, Norman Bates is like those kid’s toys you put in water to grow in minutes. It just takes him 3 years to reach adult size.
- HAHA Way to go Walter, give em’ the sex talk now. “Even condoms are not 100%. You two should know that.” Aw, Peter looks adorably embarrassed.
- Walter to Peter: “I thought you had a way with women.” He does, Walter, he does.
- Norman Bates’ name is Christopher. It’s the scientist! Christopher is his son
- “When was it you lost our imagination, son?” That line hit me right in the heart. Sounds like something I would hear in a Disney movie and I love it.
- Yay, Peter is thinking outside of the box.
- [fan squeal] Peter touched Olivia’s hand.
- Now Broyles is asking Olivia if she practiced safe sex with John “Boring Face” Scott. Crazy pregnancy dream! Remember kids, use a condom if you have sex with someone who was engineered in the lab to age rapidly.
- It’s Ms. Terminator again. She knows more than she is telling.
- The gang is looking at the images the girl saw right before she died. They’re gonna solve this case in no time.
- Go ahead Peter, take off that lab coat. Why don’t you keep going?
- Peter and Olivia enter the warehouse looking for Norman Bates. He’s got your back Liv.
- Another chase scene! I hope Olivia invests in some comfortable working shoes. Looks like she is going to be running after a lot of people on this show.
- Girl is in cardiac arrest. Wow, you have bad aim Peter. It’s okay you have other qualities to contribute to this show. What is Walter’s obsession with drugs? He just asked Peter if he had cocaine.
- Norman Bates is aging. Cool cinematography again as the camera cuts between Olivia running and Peter trying to save the girl in cardiac arrest.
- Norman creepily said his father loved him.
- Ms. Terminator is describing the responsibilities of Massive Dynamics. So basically, it secretly rules the world? That’s nice.
- Peter Broyles is acting sketchy. What is he hiding?
- Olivia asks for a raise. You go girl.
- Uh oh, the plot thickens. Walter just asked Olivia to keep Peter’s medical history a secret. Is he a lab baby too? Ah. I want to know!
- Peter sings “Row row row your boat.” AH-DORABLE.
- More soldier old man babies!
So many things to discover! What is up with Peter’s medical history? Is he secretly a super hero? I guess I have to continue watching to find out. Woe is me. 
Hope you guys enjoy these Fringe posts from a first time viewer.
-Mary
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Nikita Photo Recap: “Pilot”
The show may have aired its season finale last week, but that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate Nikita Friday. How will you satiate your passion while the show is on hiatus? I plan to write photo recaps. When repeats just don’t suffice, I hope my recaps will help carry you over until the Fall when the crew returns. Join me as I scientifically breakdown the intricacies of CW’s Nikita.
Thank you to disparue.org for providing the screencaps.
Fringe 1×01 “Pilot”: Reactions from a First Time Viewer
Hey Fringe fans!
You have probably visited this site to read Louise’s hilarious photo recaps. What you may not know is that I am not a Fringe viewer. (I can hear the gasps) Don’t worry. I am changing that this summer, and I will record my reactions as I watch Dunham and the Bishop men solve mind-blowing cases.
I am buckled and ready for an amazing ride.
“Pilot”
- Am I watching Lost? Someone get this dude a vomit bag. He doesn’t look good.
- Infection! Ew.
- This motel establishing shot reminds me of the Veronica Mars pilot.
- Who is this guy shacking up with Olivia Dunham? That “I love you” was quick. I bet this guy is gonna die.
- Fancy letters establishing location.
- HAHA. Sure, act like you two aren’t sleeping with each other.
- Wait, isn’t that the vomit bag guy from the airplane?
- Dang, Broyles gives out orders like candy on Halloween. “You want in, liaison? Suit up.” I’m gonna like him. Badass.
- Fancy letters again.
- Oh snap. Broyles, you have ‘tude.
- Explosion!
- Love the editing work as Olivia is being rolled into the hospital.
- Oh Em Gee. It’s Nikita’s Ari Tasarov.
- Agent Scott looks like Anakin Skywalker after being burned on Mustafar.
- Dramatic tear rolls down Olivia’s face.
- “Can you handle that?” Broyles has the best one-liners.
- It’s Charlie Conway all grown up with daddy issues!
- Peter calling Olivia “honey” and “sweetheart” is adorable and very 40s-like.
- Wow, Olivia does not mess around when she is trying to save a loved one.
- “Belly.” That’s a cute nickname.
- Scotty boy looks like he pissed off Dark Willow.
- WTF. Walter can extract info from a corpse?
- Walter is very excited to make LSD.
- Olivia is seducing Peter. Work your magic, girl, and get him to fall in love with you.
- Olivia looks like a precog from Minority Report.
- Geesh Agent Scott, stop playing 21 questions and tell Olivia what the dude looks like. She has limited time to dream interrogate your ass.
- What the what! Nina Sharp is part Terminator! She looks like Luke Skywalker with that arm.
- Of course, there’s a hatch that leads to a crazy lab in the basement.
- (Jaw Drops) Does Olivia have superpowers? How did she make that jump uninjured? Such precision.
- Yay, Peter caught vomit bag’s twin brother.
- Peter turned bad cop. “I’m going to count to one.” :-0
- It’s Ari Tasarov again.
- Agent Scott, you are a veiny betrayer. And now, you are trying to run the woman who saved your life off the road? That just bought you a permanent place on the naughty list.
- Good riddance.
- Peter is staying. Yay!
- Whoa. Ms. Terminator knows how to interrogate a corpse too.
Make sure to check out Louise’s photo recap of the pilot episode.
-Mary
Why You Should Be Watching ‘Common Law’ on USA
Warren Kole (left) and Michael Ealy (right) in USA’s new buddy cop comedy ‘Common Law’
Because Michael Ealy takes his shirt off.
…
Oh, I’m sorry—did you need another reason? Okay fine. USA’s latest show about men flirting with each other while solving cases in some sunny locale doesn’t even try to pretend that the two male characters aren’t essentially an old married couple. In fact, sparring police partners Travis (Michael Ealy) and Wes (Warren Kole) have let their bickering affect their work to the point that their supervisor has forced them to attend couples counseling (courtesy of Lost‘s Sonya Walger). They even started off the pilot episode with a quote from Dr. Phil. On behalf of all of Tumblr, thank you, USA.
In the first episode alone we saw one of the two main characters drive a car through a convenience store, Michael Ealy soothe a fussing baby, and an up-close-and-personal trust-building exercise. Also, this quote: “Did you embroider Travis’ name on your new black panties? No? I did.” Well, Wes might not have Travis’ name embroidered on his underwear, but he obviously has it embroidered on his heart. Is it just me, or do Wes and Travis have more sexual tension than any other pair of partners on TV? Actually, I take that back. I forgot about Steve and Danno on Hawaii Five-O.
In general, I’m not a big fan of typical procedural shows. But I am a fan of homoerotic undertones and Michael Ealy’s torso, so I will definitely be watching Common Law. And I highly recommend you do the same!
Common Law airs Friday nights at 10 on USA.
-L
TV Twitter Reactions: Nikita 2×23 “Homecoming”
Photo Credit: Ben Mark Holzberg /The CW ©2012 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved
Nikita ended Season 2 with a major death. Read what fans had to say.
- @OUAT_Dearie WHAAAAAT WHAT WAT! SO NOW WE ARE BACK WHERE WE STARTED WHAAAAAT
#Nikita - @NikitaTV Flashback. It’s
#Nikita‘s scary eyebrows again! - @JordanArcher11 Oh man,
#Nikita never fails to surprise and satisfy!!! Season 3 is going to be sweet. - @MoofpackAndrew
#Nikita season finale was AWESOME. Can’t believe who left the show. Series is criminally under-rated! See you in the fall, Nikita-crew! - @ShimSoo Birkoff & Sonya! Yay! Finally!
#NerdSquad#NIKITA - @I_Ashli If
#Nikita hadn’t been renewed, this season finale would have been soo sad… - @fefrance Nikita finale was so freaking awesome!! So happy that we will have another season! “Here we go again”. <3
#nikita - @clauita89 I just LOVE
#Nikita finales. Everything is laid out so you understand the moves of the season and where it was going. Amazing - @R0ckboyHeRe The
#NIKITA Finale was one hell of a Finale….It was nice seeing Amanda again wonder what she’s now up to. Can’t wait for S3 in the fall! - @TeddySoho The season finale of
#Nikita was so epic that it made my head explode. - @shannonymoreau The
#Nikita season 2 finale was awesome! I’m so happy right now. - @aboleyn Okay that
#Nikita finale was fun, didn’t crack my top 3 best season finales but very enjoyable. - @stellagirl1993
#Nikita was awesome - @lunnatic The season finale of
#Nikita left me empty with the deaths. It feels exactly like what Michael described to Alex when Sergei Semak died. - @KryssClark Whew! That’s a character death I can live with.
#Nikita - @StellaWam Tonight’s
#Nikita was a real game changer and the death of the major character was well done! - @poisonportrait
#Nikita season finale was fantastic. So glad it’ll be back next season. - @machariacw Awesome end to the second season
#Nikita! Can’t believe Percy’s gone though - @Jetta_Jameson The season finale of
#Nikita was fantastic! Cannot wait for its very deserved season 3. - @vlad2922
#Nikita wow!!! finale was amazing!! ryan and nikita running division and that birkhoff and sonya kiss!!! rip percy u evil bastard =D - @RulerOfEstonia Definitely looking forward to next season of
#Nikita. Love how unafraid of changing the status quo they are. - @Lyn370 That
#Nikita finale was amazing! Didn’t see any of that coming. Season 3 is going to be VERY different. Can’t wait to see how this plays out - @NadineZed So that was one EPIC episode of
#Nikita!!! I cannot wait for season 3!!! - @bagelsvswaffles The
#Nikita finale was flawless. I feel so sad for those of you who don’t watch it. - @IAMDES_A
#Nikita season finale = Major Beastliness!!!!!!!!
It was so good! Twists and turns and ah! So good. Thee cast and crew were amazing. - @xLady_Luck oh my god…
#Nikita was effing AMAZING. I cannot wait till the 3rd season in September!
TV Twitter Reactions: 30 Rock 6×21 “What Will Happen to the Gang Next Year?”
Fans were entertained by Thursday’s season finale of 30 Rock.
- @deliriousguy My favorite part of
#30Rock‘s finale was Tracy Jordan referring to Dr. Cornel West as Questlove.#hilarious - @oneshotoneplace when you watch a show like
#30Rock, expectations are raised for other comedy shows - @thisisjohnbook The ending of
#30Rock was funny. - @stevenbadger Jenna Maroney is probably the most underrated character on network television.
#30Rock - @canyouhandleit What the WHAT?!
#30Rock finale was insane! - @Terrysboy This Randy newman parody song with Liz and this plant is too much, lol “Planty and Me”
#30Rock - @analparade if liz lemon has a baby next season I am just going to puke my guts out
#30rock - @agoobwa
#30Rock had a great season finale! - @Icburghard 30Rock Fuxin’ SLAYED me
- @PeteSherriff Is it me or did
#30rock just jump a massive shark ?#almostdone - @hmauldin The
#30Rock finale was crazy funny! - @soleilani Tracy Jordan calling Cornel West Questlove made my life.
#30Rock - @nathannerland I can’t watch
#30rock w/o expecting Avery to say “And may the odds be ever in your favorite” - @pulmyears Kinda the best
#30Rock ever going on over here. - @prwelsh
#30Rock season finale. Show does not get nearly enough attention. Banks/Baldwin are fabulous. - @OfficialKJB The opening of this week’s
#30Rock just gave me the best laugh I’ve had all day. I love you, Tina Fey - @LargeLocale I wanna see Liz and Kris make this….plant.
#30Rock - @MeaganGordon Too much good stuff tonight
#30Rock . Thank you for your high bar of awesome. - @heather_brisson
#30Rock season finale!! Wtf am I gonna watch on tv now? Reality television? Yuck. - @helenaoftroy HAZEL AND KENNETH. WHAAT OMG.
#30Rock - @karatO7 Omg am just now watching
#30Rock from 4/19 & am crying laughing. Can’t believe this hidden gem has just been sitting there - @Karoline140 I love
#30Rock. Love the casting, the writing, the guest stars – genius thru&thru. I don’t want it to go away.
TV Twitter Reactions: Modern Family 3×23 “Tableau Vivant”
Image: abc.com
Read the reactions from fans after Wednesday’s episode.
- @BudDha_PuNk Phil & Mitchell need more scenes together.
#modernfamily - @DearFellowTwits Lily on
#ModernFamily is a-freaking-dorable - @mmoser1220 Top 5 funniest
#ModernFamily episodes of all time tonight. Absolutely the funniest show on TV. - @nickpass90 I now have a crazy
#obsession with#modernfamily - @boonelostie8
#ModernFamily is only funny when I have some alcohol in me - @SofiaRLopez I wanna be like gloria from
#ModernFamily when I’m older - @bethsharae Watching
#ModernFamily I love this show! - @Victoria_Lenese
#Modernfamily always leaves me in tears! - @iHEARTmyKicksz Tonight’s episode of
#ModernFamily tho >>>> lmfaoooo n I’m only 5 mins in - @sonic43 That was a rather excellent
#modernfamily - @MattSully5198 Phil Dumphy was so on point in that first scene.
#modernfamily - @Carley_Bishop Awww
#ModernFamily was so good tonight!@SofiaVergara is hilarious! - @katieneal
#modernfamily = hilarious even by its standards tonight. I smell another Emmy. - @SighRN So glad Jay and Gloria are acting like a couple instead of room mates.
- @ErinBrown88
#ModernFamily was great tonight!!!! - @KimLeiter
#modernfamily is the funniest show ever . - @KLFlocco
@AubreyLily was so cute on tonight’s episode of#ModernFamily - @carolina_naynay
#ModernFamily‘s take on Norman Rockwell’s Thanksgiving Dinner painting was hilarious. Gloria kills me every single time. - @hmgflyer I love
#modernfamily Am curious but scared to ask what hogwash actually is tho :p - @kimannjosouth Just teared up a bunch at the end of this week’s Modern Family. REALLY great episode tonight. I <3
#ModernFamily! - @MzTuga ROTFLMAO!!!
#ModernFamily - @brianwbeck4
@SofiaVergara has got to be one of the funniest people ever#ModernFamily - @Suchasexxy_mom i loooooooove
#modernfamily! it was so damm good tonight
‘FRINGE’ Photo Recap: “Brave New World – Part 2″
Physically, I may be sitting in a hotel room typing this on my laptop while listening to the Prince of Egypt soundtrack, but mentally and spiritually I’m still dancing in an imaginary conga line with the rest of the Fringe fandom because THAT WAS THE GREATEST THING EVER. (I know I say that a lot, but I think you know that this time I’m not exaggerating.) The season finale of Fringe was wondrous, magnificent, and all the other synonyms that are listed under “awesome” in the thesaurus. (I’m too lazy to type them all here.) It reminded me of this book I once read, where this guy had to save the world by dying and coming back to life, and this other guy built a huge boat for him and a bunch of animals to live on, and this other guy had a magical technicolor pea dream coat. That’s right, ya’ll. I’m talking about the Bible. This season was like one big long walk through the Old Testament, and the final episode marked the transition to the New Testament with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, AKA Olivia Dunham.
If you had asked me back in season one what the perfect finale episode would be, I probably would have described exactly what happened in “Brave New World, Part 2”: the whole team together, smiling and eating Red Vines, and Peter and Olivia HAVING A BABY TOGETHER. Of course, now that I’ve seen all the magical things Fringe has to offer, I would have to amend that vision to include Lincoln Lee (shirtless of course), Henry the cab driver, a musical number, Broyles on LSD, and AltLincoln and Altlivia riding a horse together in the background. (What can I say? I dream big.) But this finale was damn near perfect. And it certainly had more closure that I’m used to in my Fringe finales. Let’s get this party started!
