TheTwoCents Visits Warner Bros. Studio

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Warner Bros. VIP Studio Tour
Hennesy Street, Stage 18

Event Date: March 17, 2012

Lauren A – Senior Reviewer
lauren@thetwocentscorp.com

When TheTwoCents visited LA last month, we were in search of the true television fan experience. We definitely found it at the Warner Bros. Studio. With so many film classics under the Warner Bros. umbrella and hit shows like Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men, Pretty Little Liars and many more currently filming on the lot, there was plenty to see and learn! We toured the lot on a rainy Saturday – not ideal for star spotting (most shows don’t film on weekends), but perfect for the crowd who doesn’t want to miss out on visiting sets just because they’re closed for filming. We had an amazing tour guide who appreciated our pop culture proficiency, and got to see much more than we paid for. Our tour guide’s phrase of the day was, “We’re going rogue because I know you’ll love this!”

The most impressive parts of the studio are the extensive backlot sets. These permanent exterior sets are used for shows and films by Warner Bros. and many other studios – if you’ve ever watched television or seen a movie, you’ll definitely recognize some of these places!

Hennesy Street and Stage 18
Several of the Warner Bros. backlot sets are city-themed; there’s definitely a New York feel while still looking generic enough to easily transport us to any major hub. This is especially true of Hennesy Street, which we recognized from many of the Batman films, as well as shows like Big Bang Theory and 2 Broke Girls.

CBS Renews 18 Primetime Shows For 2012-2013 Season

In a move that renews a large portion of television’s #1 primetime lineup, CBS announced today it has picked up 18 returning series for the 2012-2013 broadcast season.

The renewals include four comedies, nine dramas, three reality series and two newsmagazines. The returning shows encompass every night of the week and every hour, many of which are #1 in their time period and some #1 on the entire night.

The Mentalist – Recap & Review – Ruddy Cheeks

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The Mentalist
Ruddy Cheeks

Original Air Date: Mar 9, 2012

Kym – TwoCents Reviewer
kym@thetwocentscorp.com

There’s a bonus episode for us this week, probably because CBS feels the need to atone for abandoning us to March Madness for the next couple of weeks. I have nothing against college basketball mind you – I was rooting for my team in the ACC semifinals today – but does it really need to take over prime time for so long? That said, this week the team is investigating the murder of cancer patient Archer Braddock, a wealthy car salesman with end stage bone cancer.

So why was such a wealthy man wearing hemp, who would want to kill someone who was already at death’s door and what is that smell?

The Mentalist – Recap & Review – Cheap Burgundy

photo: cbs

The Mentalist
Cheap Burgundy

Original Air Date: Mar 8, 2012

Kym – TwoCents Reviewer
kym@thetwocentscorp.com

It’s a two-for-one episode this week as the team works one case while Jane is on loan to Agent Darcy and the FBI for another. The first is the murder of Matilda Cruz, who’s last contact was in an internet chat room devoted to Shakespeare. Jane gets a bad vibe from the start from her boss, Gary Philo, and provokes him to assault so Lisbon can arrest him. Unfortunately, Darcy shows up to ask for his help with the other case, the murder of Kati Bauer, and whisks Jane away before he gets to question Philo.

She doesn’t really need Jane’s help though, or at least she thinks she doesn’t. She just wants to work him about Red John again, more indirectly.

The Mentalist – Recap & Review – His Thoughts Were Red Thoughts

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The Mentalist
His Thoughts Were Red Thoughts

Original Air Date: Feb 23, 2012

Kym – TwoCents Reviewer
kym@thetwocentscorp.com

The team is investigating the death of anti-cult activist Gabe Meadows. The scene is off though. The murder and theft (only the laptop is stolen) seem rushed, but yet someone took the time to wipe up blood and fingerprints, as if two people were involved. Jane smokes out the clean up man by spouting rhetoric about Meadows’ main target, Visualize. Officer Downs, the first uniform at the scene, was the one who cleaned up. He’s not talking though.

But that’s only the first layer of this case, because Downs had an alibi for the time of death.

The Mentalist – Recap & Review – War of Roses

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The Mentalist
War of Roses

Original Air Date: Feb 17, 2012

Kym – TwoCents Reviewer
kym@thetwocentscorp.com

Erica Flynn is back. It seems she knew the victim, Natalie Gibecki and who she was seeing before she was straggled and left outside a BART station in San Francisco. No magic to Jane’s analysis at this scene either, Lisbon should have caught that she was at least going out to paint the town, not to a movie with friends. Those were some pretty impressive spike heels in her bag, and she was looking pretty hot. You just don’t dress like that just to go out with friends.

There’s a catch to Flynn’s help though – she wants a furlough…

The Mentalist – Recap & Review – At First Blush

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The Mentalist
At First Blush

Original Air Date: Feb 9, 2012

Kym – TwoCents Reviewer
kym@thetwocentscorp.com

Let me just start by saying “Bravo”! This weeks episode proves the point I’ve been trying to make all season. Patrick Jane doesn’t need Red John. Red John’s not even hinted at during this episode. Jane simply makes a wholly altruistic decision based on a gut feeling, proving that he has come to enjoy being the good guy and doesn’t need his crusade for justice to motivate him. The results were, in my opinion, engaging and entertaining.

There is no body to look at this week, the victim is long dead. Instead we start with Jane seeing Eve Mulberry, well-known vineyard and winery owner, being raked over the coals by the press before going in for closing arguments. She’s on trial for murder and all Jane wants to know is this – did she love her parents.

The Mentalist – Recap & Review – Red is the New Black

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The Mentalist
Red is the New Black

Original Air Date: Feb 2, 2012

Kym – TwoCents Reviewer
kym@thetwocentscorp.com

Jane pulls up on the scene of the crime this week to find Van Pelt talking with Mr. Lu, the owner of the import/export business below the loft rented by victim Wyck Theissens. Joining Lisbon and Cho upstairs, Jane observes that the place looks like a Puritan tailor shop, at least until he discovers the secret door behind some very plain dresses that clearly don’t have feathers like the gold one found in Theissens’ mouth. Behind that door hides the product of a great deal of work by an apparently very high-end fashion designer, and a pair of very large, very bloody fabric shears.

Research into Theissens shows that he was, indeed, a pretty famous designer until about 2 years ago, when a videotape slamming the industry, and his backer at the time. A french CEO named Guy Duval. So, the questions are posed – who would kill a washed up fashion designer and why would said designer be hiding his work in a loft in Oakland?

The Mentalist – Recap & Review – My Bloody Valentine

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The Mentalist
My Bloody Valentine

Original Air Date: Jan 19, 2012

Kym – TwoCents Reviewer
kym@thetwocentscorp.com

The opening scene this week is a private conversation between Lisbon and Van Pelt. It seems that the FBI has been trying to reach Van Pelt and she’s been avoiding them. They went to Lisbon instead and gave her the necklace Van Pelt was wearing when she shot O’Laughlin at the end of last season. The case is closed and she can have it back now if she wants it. It’s clear she doesn’t know what to do with it. She still hasn’t made peace with everything that happened.

They’re interrupted by Cho, with the announcement of this week’s case. There’s a dead body at an estate in the National Forest. Cho, Van Pelt and Jane are off to check it out.

The Mentalist – Recap & Review – Always Bet on Red

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The Mentalist
Always Bet on Red

Original Air Date: Jan 12, 2011

Kym – TwoCents Reviewer
kym@thetwocentscorp.com

We’re back after the winter hiatus and Cho, Lisbon and Jane are off to meet with divorce attorney Alton Creek, a former client of Cho’s new CI, Summer. He’s worried that someone’s trying to kill him and wants the CBI’s protection. Based on his attitude as they’re walking down the pier towards him, I couldn’t imagine why. He sounds like he thinks he’s entitled to CBI protection, just for being the big shot that he perceives himself to be. I’d want to kill him myself.

Turns out he’s right too. When his boat explodes right in front of the team, Cho and Lisbon run towards the explosion, but Jane falls back – what was he hoping to see? The culprit?