TheTwoCents Visits Warner Bros. Studio

photo:warnerbros

Warner Bros. VIP Studio Tour
Midwest Street

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!

Midwest Street
We’re serious Gilmore Girls groupies, which is why we easily recognized so many Stars Hollow haunts in post-Gilmore shows like Pretty Little Liars. Even though Luke’s and Doose’s are no more (*tear*), the idea of getting to walk around the real Stars Hollow was what drew us to the Warner Bros. tour to begin with. And, even though we thought we knew all the tricks behind turning Stars Hollow into Rosewood (with a little bit of Bluebell thrown in), we were still in for a few surprises when we visited Midwest Street.

Private Practice – Recap & Review – It Was Inevitable

photo: abc

Private Practice
It Was Inevitable

Original Air Date: Apr 17, 2012

Karen Belgrad – Senior Editor
karenbelgrad@thetwocentscorp.com

It’s been a long month since our last new episode of Private Practice. This week marked its first airing on Tuesdays, and being that show is not a lock for renewal, I certainly hoped everyone remembered to watch. Make sure to tell ABC that you want this show renewed!

Tonight was a slightly odd episode. Because while two major events did occur, they both are largely set-ups for what’s to come. Based on previews and previous episodes, neither took me by great surprise, but they certainly take great effort to tug at your heart strings. Did tonight have you reaching for the Kleenex?

Raising Hope – Recap & Review – I Want My Baby Back, Baby Back, Baby Back

photo: fox

Raising Hope
I Want My Baby Back, Baby Back, Baby Back

Original Air Date: Apr 17, 2012

Rachel M – Senior Staff Writer
rachelm@thetwocentscorp.com

So Lucy’s alive. Yep, Lucy’s alive. I mean, wth? Lucy’s alive?? She survived her electrocution and the beating the guards gave the zombie Lucy. Lucy won a settlement from the State due to the screw up. So she is set free and goes on a spiritual journey, and is now ready to take Hope back from the Chances. How about hell no!

Lucy’s settlement means she can afford the high powered lawyer, and the Chances can’t, but they’re going to try!

New Girl – Recap & Review – Kids

photo: fox

New Girl
Kids

Original Air Date: Apr 17, 2012

Rachel M – Senior Staff Writer
rachelm@thetwocentscorp.com

OMG – Cece might be pregnant. Schmidt’s baby is a something that no one really wants to think about. I think that Schmidt and Cece would make beautiful babies, but maybe not right now. Regardless, Cece can’t stop thinking about it and Schmidt isn’t as dumb as he looks. He’s picking up on the fact that she is acting totally out of character. And that she and Jess are in cahoots.

Does anyone say “cahoots” anymore? I bet Jess would…

Dancing With the Stars – Recap & Review – Week 5 Results

photo: abc

Dancing With the Stars
Week 5 Results

Original Air Date: Apr 17, 2012

Annette – Staff Writer
annette@thetwocentscorp.com

Latin night is over and we were treated to lots of shimmying and shaking and men’s bare chests. Never a bad thing! But the party is over and now it’s time for elimination.

For the first time in DWTS history, the dance duel is being introduced. The bottom two couples will Cha Cha side by side and the judges will decide who goes home. The judges say this is being done to eliminate a good contestant being sent home too early a la Sabrina Ryan.

SMASH – Recap & Review – The Movie Star

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SMASH
The Movie Star

Original Air Date: Apr 16, 2012

Lauren A – Senior Reviewer
lauren@thetwocentscorp.com

The movie star (guest star Uma Thurman as Rebecca Duvall) may be in the building, but she’s not exactly bringing down the house. That mediocre feel resonated throughout this whole episode. Things just weren’t good, not even in a good-bad kind of way. You know it’s a rough week when Ivy tries to team up with Karen, and even Dev disappoints.

Julia juggles with Rebecca’s demands, Tom’s love life, and a parent conference with Leo’s counselor… and Frank. Meanwhile, Eileen weighs the pros and cons of a relationship with her Barman, and Derek takes another fantasy trip to Marilyn World. If there’s one bright spot in this episode, it’s that Ellis finally gets put in his place.

Two and a Half Men – Recap & Review – Mr. Hose Says Yes

photo: cbs

Two and a Half Men
Mr. Hose Says Yes

Original Air Date: Apr 16, 2012

FK – Sr. Editor
farrah@thetwocentscorp.com

For whatever reason, the writers of this show thought it was necessary to have Ava and Zoey move in with Walden for a “trial run” at living together. I’m not sure how Mr. Can’t-Take-Care-Of-Himself could go from not being able to dress himself to being a stepfather in a single breath, but, hey, it’s television.

With Zoey moving in, Alan has to move out. Since Evelyn is shacked up with Jean, that means he’s back to Lyndsey’s. What will happen? Read on to find out.

House – Recap & Review – We Need The Eggs

House
We Need The Eggs

Original Air Date: Apr 16, 2012

Shannon – Associate Editor
shannon@thetwocentscorp.com

A couple shoots at one of those carnie games where you shoot a paper target. He wins and gets the bear for his girlfriend. The woman he’s with, Molly, isn’t his girlfriend but she wants to be. Then he starts crying blood. That’s a good way not to get to second base, dude.

House has a bunch of prostitutes lined up outside his office. The one currently handing him coffee is named Butterscotch. Cute. He’s interviewing them for something as yet unknown.

USA Marks Summer Return Dates For White Collar, Burn Notice, Covert Affairs and More!

photo: usa

USA welcomes summer with its most ambitious slate of originals across five nights a week. In addition to six returning audience and critic’s favorites and a series premiere, the network ushers in a new breed of characters in the provocative miniseries event Political Animals. From Hollywood heavyweights Greg Berlanti and Laurence Mark, the complex and nuanced family drama, coming Sundays in July, stars two-time Golden Globe®-winner Sigourney Weaver.

As summer’s most beloved brand, USA officially kicks off the season with the most-watched series Royal Pains and last year’s rookie hit Necessary Roughness on Wednesday, June 6 at 9/8c and 10/9c. The momentum heats up with returns of Burn Notice and the acclaimed drama Suits on Thursday, June 14 at 9/8c and 10/9c followed by all-new seasons of White Collar and Covert Affairs on Tuesday, July 10 at 9/8c and 10/9c.

TheTwoCents Visits Warner Bros. Studio

photo:warnerbros

Warner Bros. VIP Studio Tour
The Jungle

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 Jungle
Currently home to Hart of Dixie and True Blood (the “outdoors in Louisiana” scenes, at least), The Jungle has basically served as the setting for almost any WB show or movie requiring foliage and/or water.