Dear TV Claus … From Kelly

For the month of December, the crew here at TheTwoCents.com will be writing our letters to TV Claus. A powerful being who transcends all beliefs to bring us the wonderment of good television. You’ll see a new letter to TV Claus almost daily here and we hope you’ll chime in your TwoCents to TV Claus too!

Dear TV Claus,

I put cookies and milk under my TV every night for you. I think I’ve earned a little something in return.

1) Leslie Knope. TV Claus, please don’t let the Parks and Rec writers hide Leslie’s light under a bushel. They don’t seem to know how to handle her success, so they’ve made her more shortsighted and petty lately. We’re not in season 1 anymore, TV Claus! Help the writers keep Leslie as strong, thoughtful, and capable as always. That’s why we love her.

2) On a related subject, Knope 2024. I mean it, Claus. We need this. Don’t let America down.

3) Could you possibly program everyone’s DVR to record Happy Endings, so the world will see how good it is?

Top Chef – Recap & Review – Foiled Again

photo: bravo

Top Chef
Foiled Again

Original Air Date: Dec 19, 2012

Ryan O – Associate Staff Writer
ryano@thetwocentscorp.com

Berries! Fresh berries are one of the true pleasures of summer! The Elimination Challenge this week has the cheftestants making dishes that highlight the flavors of a variety of berries. It’s a good challenge that tests the chefs without putting ridiculous constraints on them.

It seemed as if there was more interpersonal rancor on this episode and that there’s been more on this season than usual. I place most of the blame for that on Stefan’s loud and annoying shoulders.

Psych Renewed for Season 8

photo: usa

Tonight it was announced on Psych’s official Twitter page that USA Network has renewed the series for an eighth season. “What better holiday present to give our fans than to announce #Psych has been picked up for an 8th season! Happy holidays!”

Senior VP of Research at USA Network Ted Linhart confirmed the news with his own Tweet reading “BREAKING – Psych has been renewed for an 8th season — S7 starts Feb 2013 – details to come later.”

Be sure to check back at TheTwoCents once more news is revealed about season 8 of Psych.

Psych is set to premiere its seventh season February 27, 2013.

NCIS – Recap & Review – You Better Watch Out

photo: cbs

NCIS
You Better Watch Out

Original Air Date: Dec 18, 2012

Maria – Associate Staff Writer
maria@thetwocentscorp.com

Most people come home for the holidays to find presents waiting for them. Navy Lieutenant Commander Megan Huffner came home to find her husband dead, and he looks to have been dead for quite a while. Not the reunion she imagined, I’m sure.

Speaking of family reunions, Tony’s father is coming to town. Everybody else loves DiNozzo senior, but Tony isn’t looking forward to the visit. Personally, I don’t blame him.

New History Series “Vikings” Premieres March 3

photo: history

The word “Viking” has been synonymous with brutality, terror, and mystery ever since the first Norse warriors appeared along the coasts of England and France at the end of the eighth century. Their notoriety for barbarianism without pity was an important part of the mythology that grew up around them. And while Vikings are still characterized as such in popular culture, the reality is much more complex, visceral, and powerful than their reputation suggests.

The extraordinary tales of the lives and epic adventures of these warriors are told in VIKINGS, a new nine-part scripted series premiering Sunday, March 3 at 10 p.m. (ET) on HISTORY®. The drama portrays the world of these Dark Age raiders, traders, explorers – not from an outsider’s view, but, through the eyes of Viking society.

SYTYCD Gets a Season 10

photo: fox

It’s official! So You Think You Can Dance is coming back next year for a season 10.

Series creator Nigel Lythgoe made the announcement today via his Twitter. He wrote “Great news for Christmas: FOX officially picked up Season 10 of #SYTYCD # DanceOnFox. First audition City Austin TX.”

Happy Endings – Recap & Review – No-Ho-Ho

photo: abc

Happy Endings
No-Ho-Ho

Original Air Date: Dec 18, 2012

Dennis – Senior Reviewer
dennis@thetwocentscorp.com

Happy Endings opens their second (and hopefully not last) Christmas episode by revealing a big secret about Jane: she’s been lying about her birthday. She’s actually a Christmas baby! When the rest of the gang find out, they do their best to throw Jane an amazing birthday party, but will the lure of eggnog and wrapping paper derail their plans?

Also, Dave helps Penny find the perfect Christmas gift for Pete. It’s a Happy Endings Christmas and you’re all invited! Read on for this week’s recap!

Dear TV Claus … From Laura Kelley

For the month of December, the crew here at TheTwoCents.com will be writing our letters to TV Claus. A powerful being who transcends all beliefs to bring us the wonderment of good television. You’ll see a new letter to TV Claus almost daily here and we hope you’ll chime in your TwoCents to TV Claus too!

Dear TV Claus,

I know I’m not always good, but I’m hardly Smoke Monster-bad or anything (I hope,) so here are a few things I’d really like to see happen in my future. I’m one of those people for whom TV is an extremely important part of life, like air and Pumpkin Spice flavoring, so this is important. The only thing standing between me and no life besides Netflix is a couple more cats, so let’s speed that process along, K?

–Can we get a new Star Trek series already? Preferably one equal to or better than Voyager, and though Scott Bakula is good in other things, do not put him in it under any circumstances. LeVar Burton is non-negotiable, this is a must. Nurse Chapel must cry, plomeek soup must be thrown, and can we get some Yeoman Rand POV? Make it work!

–Please stop Lindsay Lohan from besmirching the legacies of great actresses, and from making Lifetime worse. Liz and Dick was funny, but also very very sad in so many ways. I love me some Grant Bowler, I’m a female with a pulse, but my God. Come on now.

–Please make Two and a Half Men stop happening. I hear the little guy on there might be pleased by this as well.

–Stop casting actresses the same age to play mother and daughter. Did she get pregnant while still in utero? I don’t think so, so stop it. I’m looking at you, Once Upon a Time. I did once see 10 minutes of it.

Rizzoli & Isles – Recap & Review – Over/Under

photo: tnt

Rizzoli & Isles
Over/Under

Original Air Date: Dec 18, 2012

Kym – Senior Reviewer
kym@thetwocentscorp.com

“End Zone” Womack thinks he’s going to get his van washed – and to discuss the most recent injury to a member of BCU’s football team – one very much like his own career ending injury when he played for them. Instead, he gets stabbed during the ride through.

Oh, and Maura and her crew from the lab want to join the division’s softball team. Plus we have a few surprise visitors.

Private Practice – Recap & Review – Georgia on My Mind

photo: abc

Private Practice
Georgia on My Mind

Original Air Date: Dec 18, 2012

Karen Belgrad – Senior Editor
karenbelgrad@thetwocentscorp.com

With only three episodes left after this hour, Private Practice is working up to its series finale. And while it will be difficult to say goodbye to some of our favorite doctors, we can at least be thankful for this hour and consider it a love letter to many fans. And it also serves as a holiday present… a full hour of Charlotte King.

The character-focused episodes have been largely hit (Jake) and miss (Sam), but I’m curious if there are any viewers out there that didn’t find this episode to be everything they hoped for. It had tears, snark, happiness, and even dance! Some people may have found the dance sequences odd, but as the hour went on it became clear to me that the dance styles also served to represent Charlotte’s emotions.