Bunheads – Recap & Review – Better Luck Next Year

photo: abc family

Bunheads
Better Luck Next Year

Original Air Date: Jul 9, 2012

Melanie – TwoCent Reviewer
melanie@thetwocentscorp.com

Back from a short (but painful for us!) break, we catch up with the Paradise gang as Michelle struggles to settle into the tiny but adequate guest house and Fanny finishes her preparations for the Joffre Ballet Summer Program auditions.

Only, a strange shipment from Las Vegas and a cash shortage threatens the whole thing! Can the ladies join forces and save the auditions? And what are the bunheads up to this week?

Covert Affairs Introduces New Web Series: Sights Unseen – Starring Chris Gorham

what will you make him do?

Today, USA Network, the top entertainment brand and pioneer in Social TV, introduces COVERT AFFAIRS: Sights Unseen, a prequel web series that explores the blind tech-ops expert Auggie Andersen backstory as played by Christopher Gorham. The narrative will invite fans to experience one of his early field assignments since rejoining the CIA after being blinded during a tour in Iraq. Sponsored by Capital One Venture Card, this five-week experience gives fans a special ticket to travel with Auggie to Barcelona, Spain, in a choose your own adventure narrative with exclusive video and plotlines available on iPads or desktops. Sights Unseen is developed in conjunction with the creative team behind the show including creators and executive producers Matt Corman and Chris Ord, and is directed by star Christopher Gorham. Fans can participate at SightsUnseen.usanetwork.com, when the show returns for season three, on Tuesday, July 10, 10/9c.

“Recognizing the appeal and popularity of the Auggie Andersen character coupled with Christopher Gorham’s strong social following, the prequel web series evolved organically and serves to expand the Covert Affairs franchise and mythology,” said Alexandra Shapiro, executive vice president, marketing & digital, USA. “Continuing our ‘Created With’ approach, we worked with long-time partner Capital One Venture Card to create an experience that gives fans enhanced storylines, engaging interactivity and social extensions.”

Charisma Carpenter Join’s “The Lying Game”

she’s got charisma

Charisma Carpenter is joining the cast of ABC Family’s original hit series “The Lying Game.” Carpenter’s character, Rebecca Sewell, was introduced last season in a recurring role that was revealed in the season one finale to be the birth mother of identical twins Emma Becker and Sutton Mercer. The second season of the drama series begins production this month for a Winter premiere.

“The Lying Game” follows identical twins Emma Becker and Sutton Mercer who were separated at birth and led very different lives, each oblivious to the other’s existence until circumstances bring them back together. The audience for the drama series grew considerably during its first season, surging by double-digit percent margins. The Winter run was up 28% in W18-34 over the first half of its season, with three consecutive weeks of series highs in the demo, and contributed to ABC Family’s biggest 1Q ever in Prime in Women 18-34, Women 18-49 and Females 12-34.

Carpenter, renowned for her roles on “Angel” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” will be in the upcoming feature, “The Expendables 2.”

“The Lying Game” is produced by Alloy Entertainment in association with Warner Horizon Television and is executive produced by Charles Pratt, Jr., Leslie Morgenstein and Gina Girolamo. The series also stars Alexandra Chando, Andy Buckley, Blair Redford, Alice Greczyn, Allie Gonino and Helen Slater with guest star Adrian Pasdar.

ABC Family’s “Switched At Birth” Return Date & Book Release

more drama for daphne and bay

ABC Family’s award-winning hit drama series, “Switched at Birth,” will return with all new episodes beginning Monday, September 3 at 8:00PM ET/PT. In advance of the premiere, Hyperion will release a Switched at Birth book (available at online retailers on August 28) divulging the contents of a memoir authored by the character Kathryn Kennish (played by Lea Thompson) in the series.

In addition, the network will air a special “Switched at Birth” marathon (13 episodes) on Monday, September 3, from 7:00AM – 8:00PM ET/PT, leading up to the season 1C premiere. “Switched at Birth” is a family drama that explores blended families and deaf culture, with an array of deaf and hard-of-hearing actors, and includes scenes shot entirely in American Sign Language. “Switched at Birth” launched as the network’s #1 series debut of all time in Total Viewers, Adults 18-34, Women 18-34, Adults 18-49 and Women 18-49, and overall, ranked as the #1 new cable series of Summer 2011 across its core female demos.

History Premieres New Competition Series: Picked Off

host and judges

Following in the footsteps of American Pickers, timing and swift decision-making skills are key in this series hosted by former NFL player Keith Neubert. With a starter fund of $100, four teams compete in three challenges, testing their treasure-digging talents to see who gets eliminated—”picked off”—and who remains. After the picking and nail-biting negotiations, judges Todd and Ethan Merrill transfer the finds to the Dealers’ Room to assess the retail value of the pickers’ savvy shopping and decide which team collects the grand prize of $10,000.

The premiere is Wednesday, July 11 on the History Channel at 10PM ET!

TwoCents and Five Questions with Willie Garson (White Collar)

willie

Willie Garson, Actor

Where do I begin about Willie Garson? For six years the New Jersey native played Stanford Blatch, Carrie’s gay best friend on HBO’s Sex & the City. He’s also guest starred on dozens of other television shows. If you watch tv, you’ve seen him somewhere! He’s also made his mark on the big screen, playing roles in such films as There’s Something About Mary, Freaky Friday, Being John Malkovich, and Groundhog Day. For the past three years and presently, Willie has been starring on the USA hit, White Collar, as Mozzie, the conman best friend of FBI consultant/conman Neal Caffrey. At the end of last season, Neal and Mozzie were forced to flee the country; not that Mozzie minded that much. I talked to Willie on a recent conference call and got some intel on the new season the starts tonight!

TheTwoCents: Can you talk about some of the guest stars we’re going to get to see this season?

The Closer – Recap & Review – Hostile Witness

photo: tnt

The Closer
Hostile Witness

Original Air Date: Jul 9, 2012

Will – Sr. Reviewer
will@thetwocentscorp.com

WOW!!!! What a beginning of the end of The Closer series and my jaw dropped the entire time. When Brenda had to let Philip Stroh go a few seasons ago, I knew that we would see him once again for a final showdown before the series ended. The show took a different approach this episode which made it even more enjoyable. The show starts out with Brenda being questioned by Claire Baldwin, a DDA in a rape case against George Harris.

A women was found dead and her name is Gwyneth Adler. She was drugged and raped. Her cause of death was determined to be an overdose. George Harris was the person who got the room and he also requested two room keys which leads Brenda to believe there is a second partner. This triggers her memory of Stroh because he always works with a partner but Brenda can’t prove it.

Falling Skies – Recap & Review – Love and Other Acts of Courage

photo: tnt

Falling Skies
Love and Other Acts of Courage

Original Air Date: Jul 8, 2012

Patricia Morris Buckley — Sr. Staff Writer
pmb@thetwocentscorp.com

Do the producers of Falling Skies have a problem with kid characters? The death toll this season is really creeping up. But as to who kicked the bucket…you’ll have to wait a minute for that info.

This is the episode where previously seeded plants really began to blossom. But I have to say that the opening scenes couldn’t have been more confusing. We first see the red-eyed skitter on top of a tall building making a loud sound that could be the call to prayer in a Muslim city. Then we see Ben taking notice. What does it mean?

Food Network Star – Recap & Review – Deliciously Unpredictable Demos

photo: food network

Food Network Star
Deliciously Unpredictable Demos

Original Air Date: Jul 8, 2012

Melanie – TwoCents Reviewer
melanie@thetwocentscorp.com

Only seven hopefuls left and we are so close to the finish, when we the audience get to choose who the winner will be. What a perfect time to throw a live performance at the hopefuls and see whose personality and quick wit can help them rise to he occasion.

But just to make it fun, and drive home the need to be ready for anything, lets mess with their performances and try to trip them up! So who answered the call and who flunked?

The Newsroom – Recap & Review – The 112th Congress

photo: hbo

The Newsroom
The 112th Congress

Original Air Date: Jul 8, 2012

Patricia Morris Buckley — Sr. Staff Writer
pmb@thetwocentscorp.com

When Aaron Sorkin writes, it’s a thing of beauty. You can get lost in the words and swept up in his passion. So what if no one really talks like that? You’re on a Sorkin high.

This episode started with an inspired monologue and covered six months of the “new” News Night way of covering national events as Charlie defends Will against Leona Lansing, the network’s owner (played by a pitch-perfect Jane Fonda). For the first time, we’re starting to see The Newsroom deliver on its potential, but it still hasn’t gelled completely.