90210 – Recap & Review – No Good Deed

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90210
No Good Deed

Original Air Date: Feb 7, 2012

Dennis – TwoCents Reviewer
dennis@thetwocentscorp.com

The gang throws a benefit and a birthday party on tonight’s episode. Sure, that pretty much happens every week, but some big twists occurred tonight that affected many of the characters. Another shock also occurred tonight that may mean the exit of a character that’s been on the show since the beginning.

So what are the twists? And who’s the character that left? Read on for tonight’s character breakdown to find out.

Switched At Birth – Recap & Review – Las Dos Fridas

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Switched At Birth
Las Dos Fridas

Original Air Date: Feb 7, 2012

Karen Belgrad – Senior Editor
karenbelgrad@thetwocentscorp.com

For a show that has a main presence revolving around a baby switch, the drama has barely dipped its toes in the nurture versus nature debate. Yes, we’ve seen it mentioned that Bay gets her eyes and artistic side from Regina. We’ve also been left to wonder if Daphne would have become deaf if Kathryn and John were providing her medical care. But it’s never been truly addressed in terms of heritage.

However, all that changes this week with the arrival of Grandma Bonnie. This hour we had Kathryn’s mother show up as a stereotype-spouting, awkward-moment-making typhoon, played with ease by 80’s television icon, Meredith Baxter of Family Ties fame. And while nobody cared for what she said, she definitely made everyone think.

SMASH – Recap & Review – Pilot

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SMASH
Pilot

Original Air Date: Feb 6, 2012

Lauren A – Senior Reviewer
lauren@thetwocentscorp.com

SMASH is the season’s most talked about new show (even if it’s mostly NBC doing the talking), but the musical drama surpassed my high, if slightly reserved, expectations and surprised me with its heart, maturity, and talent. SMASH follows a slew of writers, directors, producers, and actors who are hopeful that their new musical based on Marilyn Monroe will make it to Broadway. It may sound cheesy, but it plays wonderfully on the small screen.

SMASH is quick to introduce us to Karen, a struggling actress who has yet to really act in anything; and Ivy, a chorus girl who dreams of one day leading the show. Though in different places in their careers, the girls each display a façade of Marilyn that catapults the seemingly cliché subject matter into perfect fantasy fodder.

Alcatraz – Recap & Review – Guy Hastings

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Alcatraz
Guy Hastings

Original Air Date: Feb 6, 2012

Tess – TwoCents Reviewer
tess@thetwocentscorp.com

Watching his surroundings, he seems to be waiting for the walls to tell him the story of what happened there, or perhaps he is hoping they will tell him a different version of that same story, a version that doesn’t end up with them as damaged as they look now, as damaged as he looks now. He doesn’t belong here, not now, not alone. And the memories? The photos? They make him angry. And so there’s blood.

Meet Guy Hastings. He was one of Alcatraz’s guards, living in the island with his family. Even though surrounded by malice, there was still happiness to speak of, he still had a wife that loved him more than anything and a daughter, Annie, that every night, when he got home after his shift and laid on the floor, climbed over him as if he were furniture. He had everything he wanted. Then suddenly he didn’t. And guess what? He doesn’t like it.

Yet another breakfast interrupted. The breakfast? It was with uncle Ray. The interruption? A text. From whom? Do we really have to say?

Raising Hope – Recap & Review – Tarot Cards

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Raising Hope
Tarot Cards

Original Air Date: Feb 7, 2012

Rachel M – Senior Staff Writer
rachelm@thetwocentscorp.com

It’s tax time, and Burt is in a special level of hell because he’s a small business owner. Barney offers to help, and at first Virginia declines. But Burt is way over-stressed and he angers Virginia enough to have her turn the leaf blower all over his paperwork.

Virginia gets her ire up because she wants to be the boss. So Sabrina takes her to her psychic tarot card reader. Sabrina forks over cash for a vague answer, and Virginia decides she has her answer.

Two and a Half Men – Recap & Review – The Duchess of Dull-in-Sack

photo: cbs

Two and a Half Men
The Duchess of Dull-in-Sack

Original Air Date: Feb 6, 2012

FK – Sr. Editor
farrah@thetwocentscorp.com

It’s been a while since we’ve seen the gang of Two and a Half Men, and to be honest, I didn’t miss them much. When we left them last, Walden shaved his beard off (hellllllo, hot Ashton!), Alan was back with Lyndsey and, well, that was it.

Tonight, because we’re so interested, Zoe isn’t interested in “getting frisky” with Walden so he tries to use pot brownies to calm her down. This should over well.

How I Met Your Mother – Recap & Review – The Burning Beekeeper

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How I Met Your Mother
The Burning Beekeeper

Original Air Date: Feb 6, 2012

Caitlin –Staff Writer
caitlin@thetwocentscorp.com

After a few weeks away, How I Met Your Mother returned last night for Lily and Marshall’s housewarming party. To celebrate the return, the writers decided to give us something that was, well…

Let’s just say that while most episodes cover the events of several days in 30 minutes, this one took that time to cover a five minute period- and frankly, I could have used about an hour to make sense of it.

Gossip Girl – Recap & Review – The Back-Up Dan

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Gossip Girl
The Back-Up Dan

Original Air Date: Feb 6, 2012

Emily – TwoCents Reviewer
emily@thetwocentscorp.com

Welcome back, Gossip Girl fans! After such a momentous episode last week, how did this week do in comparison? Well, as the title suggests, there was a lot of Dan scenes, which I LOVED, as a hopeless Dair fan…

What else happened? Oh, yeah! It’s the aftermath of Blair’s disastrous wedding and she is on the run with Dan while everyone is out looking for her…Sounds like fun! Let’s get to it, shall we?

House – Recap & Review – Nobody’s Fault

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House
Nobody’s Fault

Original Air Date: Feb 6, 2012

Shannon – Associate Editor
shannon@thetwocentscorp.com

We open in a hospital room that is just a huge mess. There’s blood everywhere, medical tools strewn about. It’s pretty gross. Then it cuts to House washing up in a restroom. When he’s done he sits in a very dark office for a disciplinary hearing with Dr. Cofield from Mercy Hospital. I don’t know if I’m supposed to remember or not, but Cofield is Foreman’s mentor from Johns Hopkins.

House runs down the facts of the case. A 32 year old chemistry teacher is jogging when he collapses with paralyzed extremities. House says that the Vicodin he was taking had nothing to do with the case and that what happened was nobody’s fault.

Hart of Dixie – Recap & Review – Sweetie Pies and Sweaty Palms

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Hart of Dixie
Sweetie Pies and Sweaty Palms

Original Air Date: Feb 6, 2011

Alyssa Silva – Associate Staff Writer
alyssa@thetwocentscorp.com

To quote Robert Frost, love is the irresistible desire to be desired irresistibly. As Valentine’s Day (which I assume is the reason for the unfortunately named Sweetie Pie dance) descends down on Bluebell, relationships were put to the test. Some emerged stronger while others had the rug pulled out from under them.

So who ended up whispering Sweetie Pie, and who ended up alone? Read on after the jump to find out!