MasterChef – Recap & Review – Top 16 Compete

photo: fox

MasterChef
Top 16 Compete

Original Air Date: Jun 18, 2012

JD – Sr. Staff Writer
jd@thetwocentscorp.com

On last night’s MasterChef we had Marines, a near team breakdown, and the first pressure test of the season, which resulted in the weirdest apple pie I have ever seen. People still hate David Martinez, and I can’t for the life of me figure out why, though I admit he didn’t exactly prove his haters wrong this week.

Also, do you remember how the judges drove into a previous season’s challenge on motorcycles? Remember how cool it looked? It doesn’t really work the same way with a helicopter. Especially on Joe. As one of the cooks pointed out, Joe looked pretty funny in his snazzy suit with a helmet on.

NBC Announces Celebrity Cast And Hosts Of New Series ‘Stars Earn Stripes’

photo: nbc

NBC announced the celebrity cast and hosts of its new alternative series “Stars Earn Stripes” – a fierce and emotionally charged new competition show honoring America’s armed forces. The cast includes four-time undefeated world boxing champion Laila Ali, actor Dean Cain (“Out of Time,” Five Days of War”), actor and former National Football League player Terry Crews (“The Expendables 2,” “The Newsroom”), multi-platinum recording artist, actor, producer and television personality Nick Lachey (NBC’s “The Sing-Off”), Alaska businessman Todd Palin, Olympic gold medalist Picabo Street, “The Biggest Loser” trainer Dolvett Quince and WWE Diva, Eve Torres.

The series will be hosted by General Wesley Clark (ret.) – the former Supreme Allied Commander Europe for NATO and former presidential candidate – and television personality Samantha Harris (“Entertainment Tonight,” “Dancing with the Stars”). “Stars Earn Stripes” will debut with a special two-hour episode on Monday, August 13 (8-10 p.m. ET) and will air Mondays at 9 p.m. ET.

Ray Romano To Guest Star In Season Four Of NBC’s Parenthood

ray’s coming to parenthood

Emmy-winning actor Ray Romano (“Everybody Loves Raymond”) is set to guest star on the upcoming season of NBC’s critically acclaimed series, “Parenthood,” which returns for its fourth season Tuesday, September 11 (10-11 p.m. ET). In a multi-episode arc, Romano will play a photographer and former photo journalist who befriends Sarah (Lauren Graham) and complicates her relationship with Mark (Jason Ritter); his character will be introduced in the season premiere.

“Parenthood” is a one-hour drama inspired by the box-office hit of the same name. This re-imagined and updated Universal Television/Imagine Television production follows the trials and tribulations of the very large, very colorful and imperfect Braverman family. The series stars Peter Krause, Lauren Graham, Dax Shepard, Monica Potter, Erika Christensen, Sam Jaeger, Savannah Paige Rae, Max Burkholder, Joy Bryant, Tyree Brown, Miles Heizer, Mae Whitman, Xolo Mariduena, Bonnie Bedelia and Craig T. Nelson.

Bunheads – Recap & Review – For Fanny

photo: abcfamily

Bunheads
For Fanny

Original Air Date: Jun 18, 2012

Melanie – TwoCents Reviewer
melanie@thetwocentscorp.com

After taking the leap and leaving her old life behind to start a new one with the very sweet Hubble, Michelle finds herself a widow just 24 hours after her marriage. So now what? Should she stay? Should she go? Does she return to Las Vegas, or try to find a life somewhere else?

Before any of that can be tackled, there’s the little matter of a memorial for Hubble, that just keeps getting more and more out of hand! Maybe there is a place for her in Paradise after all?

2012 Critics Choice TV Awards Winners Announced – Homeland and Community Big Winners

did zooey win?

The Broadcast Television Journalists Association (BTJA), an offshoot of the Broadcast Film Critics Association, announced the winners of the 2nd annual Critics’ Choice Television Awards. The star-studded gala awards dinner to acknowledge and honor the best in television was held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel earlier this evening.

Homeland took home the prize for Best Drama Series while Community won in the Best Comedy Series category. Best Reality Series went to Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, while Best Reality Show-Competition went to The Voice. Late Night with Jimmy Fallon was honored as Best Talk Show, Archer was honored as Best Animated Series, and Sherlock was honored as Best Movie/Miniseries. NBC was the most awarded network with five wins followed by ABC and AMC, which tied with three wins each.

Actors Bryan Cranston and Louis C.K. won Best Actor in a Drama Series for Breaking Bad and Best Actor in a Comedy Series for Louie, respectively. Claire Danes was honored as Best Actress in a Drama Series for her role in Homeland while Zooey Deschanel and Amy Poehler tied for Best Actress in a Comedy Series for their roles in New Girl and Parks and Recreation, respectively. Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series went to Mad Men’s Christina Hendricks for the second year in a row. Breaking Bad’s Giancarlo Esposito was named Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. Julie Bowen took home the award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy and Ty Burrell won Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for their roles in Modern Family. Lucy Liu won Best Guest Performer in a Drama Series for Southland, and Paul Rudd won Best Guest Performer in a Comedy Series for his role on Parks and Recreation.

Food Network Star – Recap & Review – Iron Chef Food Court

photo: food network

Food Network Star
Iron Chef Food Court

Original Air Date: Jun 17, 2012

Melanie – TwoCents Reviewer
melanie@thetwocentscorp.com

Now things are starting to get interesting, as the numbers dwindle and those who were able to hide their inepitude before behind even worse people aren’t going to be able to do that anymore! The challenges are going tog et harder, the patience on the part of the Producers and the Network is disappearing, and the competition is going to get more cut-throat. It’s time to bring it or you might find yourself in the pitch room!

This time, the hopefuls tackled one of my favorite places: the mall food court! Each assigned a food genre, they had to come together as a team to present a cohesive food experience while standing out as an individual as well. And just as they’re getting their dishes together, an Iron Chef walks in with an added challenge!

Hell’s Kitchen – Recap & Review – 14 Chefs Compete

photo: fox

Hell’s Kitchen
14 Chef’s Compete

Original Air Date: Jun 18, 2012

Heather M – TwoCents Reviewer
heather@thetwocentscorp.com

Roshni is now on the blue team. Will this help them to come back from the ashes that they have burned into? Or will she simply become gasoline for the fire? Read below to find out!

The blue team seems in good spirits, welcoming Roshni with open arms. This is a huge departure from the red team, which is still seriously divided. Factions are starting to emerge on the red team, with Danielle, Dana and Christina being in direct competition with Kimmie, Robyn and Tiffany.

FOX Announces Fall Premiere Dates

when are your fox favorites returning?

The 2012-2013 season begins with the spectacular return of The X Factor, last fall’s No. 1 new unscripted series. The hit music competition series, featuring Simon Cowell, Britney Spears, L.A. Reid and Demi Lovato, will launch with a two-night season premiere event on Wednesday, Sept. 12 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) and Thursday, Sept. 13 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT).

Featuring new cast members including Kate Hudson and Sarah Jessica Parker in multi-episode story arcs, the fourth season of Glee launches on a new night and time Thursday, Sept. 13 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), following The X Factor. With McKinley’s senior class graduated and Rachel Berry (Lea Michele) off to NYADA, change is in the air this fall for the Glee club.

TwoCents and Five Questions with Kelly Bishop (Bunheads)

just dance

Kelly Bishop, Actor

Kelly Bishop has had quite an extensive career, both in film and dance. On the small screen, she’s most known for her role as Emily Gilmore on Gilmore Girls, where she played the matriarch of the Gilmore family. On the big screen, you’ve seen her and probably didn’t even know it. She put Baby in a corner. Yes, she portrayed Marjorie Houseman, the mother of Jennifer Grey’s character in Dirty Dancing.

She’s been in many other movies and tv shows throughout the years. She won a 1976 Tony award for her portrayal of Sheila in A Chorus Line, which was largely based on her own personal dancer tales. In 2011, she briefly performed in a revival of Anything Goes with Sutton Foster and Joel Grey. Now, on Monday nights, she’s reunited with Foster as Fanny Flowers on ABC Family’s Bunheads. She talked about her role in a recent interview.

TheTwoCents: Besides your relationship with Amy Sherman-Palladino, what made you want to do Bunheads?

True Blood – Recap & Review – Authority Always Wins

photo: hbo

True Blood
Authority Always Wins

Original Air Date: Jun 17, 2012

Meg – Staff Writer
meg@thetwocentscorp.com

Tonight on Law and Order: SVU (Special Vampires Unit), True Blood welcomes Chris Meloni, tortures Bill and Eric, and tortures me with pointless townie storylines. We learn that vampires love bureaucracy, werewolves love hierarchy and poor Steve Newlin really, really loves Jason Stackhouse (join the club, brother – who doesn’t?).