The Secret Circle – Recap & Review – Crystal

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The Secret Circle
Crystal

Original Air Date: Apr 19, 2012

Melanie – TwoCents Reviewer
melanie@thetwocentscorp.com

Well the effects of John Blackwell’s past and return from the grave just keep on coming! He has definitely shaken things up around Chance Harbor, whether for the good or the bad. With this episode we get two surprises from him, as an attempt on his life backfires and we finally find out who the other Blackwell child is!

As if that wasn’t enough, the kick-ass level of the Circle ups a notch this week as they take on a pest from the past, and move closer to shoring up their defenses against the Hunters. Oh, and did I mention we find out who else has dark magic?

TheTwoCents Visits Warner Bros. Studio

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Warner Bros. VIP Studio Tour
The Lot, What to Know if You Go

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!

The Lot
With 30 sound stages on the Warner Bros. lot, Stage 18 was just the beginning. Although we didn’t get a peek inside each stage, what we did see was lots of fun! Some of the shows we haven’t mentioned that are currently filming on the lot include: Mike and Molly, Harry’s Law, Two and a Half Men, The Ellen Degeneres Show, Conan, The Voice, and oh so many more! We had no idea that shows from so many networks all came together to film in one place. The sheer star power is overwhelming, and celeb trailers line the drive between the stages.

The Office – Recap & Review – Angry Andy

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The Office
Angry Andy

Original Air Date: Apr 19, 2012

Shannon – Associate Editor
shannon@thetwocentscorp.com

It’s raining today and Phyllis muses that it’s raining cats and dogs. Jim says that Phyllis says the same twelve cliches every time it rains and on this day if she says them all before noon, he’ll send out for hot chocolate for the office.

Everyone prompts Phyllis and she gets eleven of the sayings in before the deadline. The last one is how the rain makes her want to stay home in bed with a book. Pam tries to get her to say it but time runs out. Phyllis talking heads that normally she would want to stay home with a book but everyone’s been so nice to her today that she’s happy to be at work. D’oh!

American Idol – Recap & Review – Top 7 Results Again

photo: fox

American Idol
Top 7 Results Again

Original Air Date: Apr 19, 2012

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

It was another shocker at Idol as a frontrunner bit the dust and this time there was no Judges’ Save to take away the sting.

If you remember last week, Jessica faced the axe, but before she really got into her Save Me song, the judges jumped up on stage, took the mic from her and declared her the one designated Judges’ Save of the season.

Did they act too hastily? There’s reason to debate that.

Parks and Recreation – Recap & Review – Live Ammo

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Parks and Recreation
Live Ammo

Original Air Date: Apr 19, 2012

Valentina D.– Senior Reviewer
valentina@thetwocentscorp.com

Aaaaaand, we’re back! Leslie and the team are still hot on the campaign trail, but have hit a minor snag. Councilman Pillner (guest star Bradley Whitford) plans to cut the Parks department budget by eight percent; a move that Leslie definitely won’t stand for.

While Leslie puts pressure on Pillner to reverse the decision, April initiates a new project while reluctantly taking over for Leslie in the department. Chris also tries to bond with an uninterested Ron over a meditation session. I think we can all imagine how well meditation will go over with Ron.

The Vampire Diaries – Recap & Review – Heart of Darkness

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The Vampire Diaries
Heart of Darkness

Original Air Date: Apr 19, 2012

Ky – TwoCents Reviewer
ky@thetwocentscorp.com

Heart of Darkness.  Wherein new relationships are tried out, old are stressed, and people make out all over the country!

Alaric is being kept in the dungeon, since they can’t trust him not to kill every vampire in sight.  It’s Stefan’s job to wheedle the location of the white oak stake out of him while Damon and Elena go on a road trip to check on Jeremy and resolve—one way or another—their sexual tension.

30 Rock – Recap & Review – Murphy Brown Lied To Us

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30 Rock
Murphy Brown Lied to Us

Original Air Date: Apr 19, 2012

Valentina D. – Senior Reviewer
valentina@thetwocentscorp.com

While spring cleaning the apartment with Liz, Criss stumbles upon a box with “Adoption Box” scribbled across the top. Faithful viewers will remember Liz’s “baby crazy” phase and how she seriously considered adoption for a spell. None of that ever panned out, she admits, because she realized she didn’t want to do it alone. Criss, however, proposes something: what if she didn’t have to do it alone?

Jack’s “Kouchtown” idea has hit the ground running and soon, they’ll be rolling the first few thousand off the assembly line. Little does Jack know that these couches will be an engineering disaster…

Grey’s Anatomy – Recap & Review – The Girl With No Name

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Grey’s Anatomy
The Girl With No Name

Original Air Date: Apr 19, 2012

Karen Belgrad – Senior Editor
karenbelgrad@thetwocentscorp.com

It’s strange to think that we’re in season eight of the show, the doctors are just finishing up their fifth year in the surgical program. I think back to where the characters were when we first saw them, and it’s amazing to think how much they’ve changed. And then you take a deep breath and realize how far they still have to go… and that it might not be in Seattle.

Yes, after they presumably pass their medical boards, each doctor will need to choose where to be an attending. And just like college after high school, we could find our favorite characters spread throughout the country… Or will we?

Farewell…Jonathan Frid

frid

Jonathan Frid, Actor

Jonathan Frid, who played Barnabas Collins on the daytime soap opera Dark Shadows died last week of natural causes. He was 87.

Born in Canada, Frid spent 30 years doing live theater, but it was his portrayal of the deeply conflicted vampire on the gothic soap opera from 1966-71 about odd, supernatural goings-on at a family estate in Maine that earned him a place in TV culture. In fact, Frid even has a cameo in Johnny Depp’s upcoming comical movie remake of the TV show.

Farewell Jonathan.

America’s Next Top Model – Recap & Review – Estelle

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ANTM: British Invasion
Estelle

Original Air Date: Apr 18, 2012

Anne – Associate Editor
anne@thetwocentscorp.com

Welcome back for more Top Model! I wasn’t able to recap last week, so let’s catch up with that real quick first. The girls filmed music videos with help from two former girl band members and Lisa from All-Stars. They named themselves Fiercely British and United Sirens of America. They pulled out the pot ledom thing. Ugh.

Kyle and Laura had some tension because of an incident with a memento of Laura’s; a teddy bear to be exact, and it carried over into the challenge. Azmarie refused to poof her tooch and missed out on the tooch teach. Kyle really struggled during the video shoot. The Brits easily won the challenge with an awesome video. Az and Kyle were the bottom two and because of her attitude, Azmarie was eliminated. Now on to this week.