Design Star – Recap & Review – Episode 2: White Room Challenge

photo: hgtv

Design Star
Episode 2: White Room Challenge

Original Air Date: June 5, 2012

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

Do you think that HGTV’s new show The White Room Challenge takes away from the Design Star episode of the same name? No, I didn’t think so either.

This year’s white box challenge had a twist. The contestants would be working in LA’s Union Station, one of the busiest trains stations on the West Coast. Unlike being in a studio, they were being watched by passers-by the entire time. It didn’t turn out to be any real challenge though.

CW Sets Premiere Dates for More Original Summer Shows

get ready for summer on cw!

The CW continues to load-up its first-ever summer schedule with even more original programming, announcing the August premieres for two new reality series THE NEXT: FAME IS AT YOUR DOORSTEP and OH SIT!, as well as the summer debut of AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL: COLLEGE EDITION. This summer will also feature season two of THE LA COMPLEX and the return of REMODELED.

OH SIT!, a fun, high-stakes, high-octane musical chairs competition, kicks off the action on Wednesday, August 15 (8:00-9:00 p.m.). Hosted by Jamie Kennedy (“The Ghost Whisperer”) and actress/television host Jessi Cruickshank (“MTV Live”), OH SIT! will see 12 thrill-seeking daredevils racing head to head through five physically demanding, obstacle course-style eliminations as they each compete to claim a chair, to the sounds of a live band. At the end of the hour, only one contestant will be left sitting triumphant to seize the cash prize. Adding to the fun, Tanika Ray (“Extra”) will be in the trenches with the contestants both on and off the track and will add color commentary from the sidelines as the action unfolds.

Hell’s Kitchen – Recap & Review – 17 Chefs Compete

photo: fox

Hell’s Kitchen
17 Chefs Compete

Original Air Date: Jun 5, 2012

Heather M – TwoCents Reviewer
heather@thetwocentscorp.com

After last night’s disastrous season opener, can the Blue team recover? Or will the Red Team once again defeat them with ease? As Hell’s Kitchen continues…

The night opens with Royce bragging about how he is untouchable, because he was not sent home. After he blatantly lies that he didn’t throw anyone under the bus at eliminations (after which they cleverly show the clip of him blaming Guy for his mistakes), he then goes on to do what I think was supposed to be a victory dance, but really looked like a fish flopping about.

TwoCents and Five Questions with Gordon Ramsay

watch my shows, you donkey!

Gordon Ramsay, Chef & TV Personality

Regardless of whether you watch the food channels or not, you probably know who Gordon Ramsay is; the British chef known for his fiery temper and quick wit in the kitchen. This year alone, here in the United States, he’ll have had four television shows on the air: Kitchen Nightmares, the new similar Hotel Hell, the tenth season of Hell’s Kitchen, and my favorite, the milder mannered MasterChef. When I learned that I would be speaking with Chef Ramsay, my first thought was, “I hope he doesn’t yell at me!” But to the contrary, his true persona is very professional and kind, if not incredibly down to earth and earnest. Please enjoy!

TheTwoCents: What is it that keeps all your shows still interesting for you?

Pretty Little Liars – Recap & Review – It Happened That Night

photo: abcfamily

Pretty Little Liars
It Happened That Night

Original Air Date: June 5, 2012

Emily – TwoCents Reviewer
emily@thetwocentscorp.com

It’s summer now so it’s finally time to go back to Rosewood and Pretty Little Liars! God, I was so excited for this season premiere! Last we saw them, our little liars were finally rid of A (or are they?) and Mona was locked up in a facility…

This premiere did not waste any time building up the tension with a scene very similar to the pilot when Ali disappeared…Creepy! Let’s get to it!

TwoCents and Five Questions with Mark Feuerstein (Royal Pains)

the doctor is in

Mark Feuerstein, Actor

When I think back, the first show I remember Mark Feuerstein from is Good Morning, Miami opposite Ashley Williams and Constance Zimmer back in 2002-2004. But he’s been in many other TV shows and movies. He, like many other actors, got his start on a soap opera. Many of his starring roles on sitcoms have not ended up faring very well, but he struck gold as the enigmatic concierge doctor, Hank R. Lawson on USA’s Royal Pains. Gearing up for the fourth season premiere, Mark had a lot to say about the show in a recent conference call.

TheTwoCents: This season is going to start with Hank and Evan each off on their own. Can you kind of talk about how that’s going to change the dynamic of the show and everything?

MasterChef – Recap & Review – Audition #2

photo: fox

MasterChef
Audition #2

Original Air Date: Jun 5, 2012

JD – Sr. Staff Writer
jd@thetwocentscorp.com

MasterChef continued last night in its second round of auditions. It was pretty laid back, to be honest. There were your typical oddballs, the artistic types, the guys/girls next door, and a little hocus pocus (really). So far this season is not blowing me away, but once we get through the audition process, I expect the drama to kick in big time, and we’ll start to see these cooks’ personalities. That’s when inexplicable rivalries grow, alliances form, the bar gets raised, and people start cracking under the pressure.

Good times.

2nd Annual Critics Choice Award Nominations Announced – Include Fan Favorites Community, Girls, SOA and More!

who wins this year?
(photo: vh1)

The Broadcast Television Journalists Association (BTJA), an offshoot of the Broadcast Film Critics Association, today announced nominations for the 2nd annual Critics’ Choice Television Awards. Winners will be announced on the evening of Monday, June 18th, at a gala awards dinner at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

NBC was the most nominated broadcast network with 14 nominations followed closely by ABC with 13 and FOX with 12. HBO led nominations for cable networks with 12, followed by AMC and FX with 11 nominations each. NBC’s Community was the most nominated series with six.

“We are very excited by these nominations, reflecting the amazing diversity and creativity that is exploding on the small screen today,” said Joey Berlin, acting president of BTJA. “In every genre, audiences are witnessing a New Golden Age where imagination knows no bounds, from mass appeal entertainment to quirky originals where one person’s unique vision can delight a more limited audience. As television journalists, we’re proud to offer our choices of the best that we see day in and day out, and we look forward to celebrating television’s best on June 18th.”

Nominees for the 2nd annual Critics’ Choice Television Awards include:

TwoCents and Five Questions with Angie Harmon (Rizzoli & Isles)

will isles forgive rizzoli?

Angie Harmon, Actor

Maybe you’re like me and remember her originally from Law & Order, or going back even further, as Ryan on Baywatch, or one of her many movies? No matter what you remember her from, Angie Harmon is no stranger to the screen, small or large. I, for one, am still bitter that Women’s Murder Club didn’t make it. I loved that show. Since 2010, Angie has been playing Boston homicide detective Jane Rizzoli opposite Sasha Alexander’s medical examiner Maura Isles on Rizzoli & Isles. The series is based on books starring the homicide detective. They are two seemingly opposite women who somehow managed to be able to get along quite well; until now. The third season will be premiering on June 5, and Angie had a lot to say about it in a recent interview.

TheTwoCents: Law and Order was marked as one of the great shows because of the great writing. And, the first two seasons of Rizzoli & Isles also has that kind of great writing. Do you see the show continuing, probably not as long as Law and Order, but having a long run? And is that something you would – you would see out and continue in the series?

MasterChef – Recap & Review – Audition #1

photo: fox

MasterChef
Audition #1

Original Air Date: Jun 4, 2012

JD – Sr. Staff Writer
jd@thetwocentscorp.com

MasterChef is back for its third season, and considering how pumped I am about it, I’m beginning to think it might be my favorite Gordon Ramsay TV show. Of course I watched Hell’s Kitchen premiere right before MasterChef, but as awesomely bad and hilarious it is to watch Gordon flip out, I kinda like nice Gordon too. Well, not nice. Maybe more nurturing? That sounds weird too. Let’s just say he screams a little less angrily and more supportively. I feel like I grapple with explaining MasterChef Gordon at the beginning of every season!

Okay, never mind. You guys know what I mean. And with that derailed train of thought, let’s get into the good stuff!