The Office – Recap & Review – Pool Party

photo: nbc

The Office
Pool Party

Original Air Date: Jan 19, 2012

Shannon – Associate Editor
shannon@thetwocentscorp.com

Dwight finds a meatball in his chair courtesy of Jim who is now pranking him for Stanley’s amusement. Turns out, Stanley is a huge fan of Dwight’s desk being full of meatballs. Jim even went back to the archives and baked Dwight’s stapler into a meatball. Later that evening we find that Dwight and Stanley have been cahooting against Jim and raking in the meatballs. They love that they never have to buy meatballs again. Sneaky.

Robert is selling his house and he is not happy about it. Kevin suggest they all drop by Robert’s indoor pool for a last hurrah.  Robert is down with that and invites them all over.

American Idol – Recap & Review – Pittsburgh

photo: fox

American Idol
Pittsburgh

Original Air Date: Jan 19, 2012

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

An hour-long episode of Idol auditions where only one person got turned away? Unthinkable in the era of Simon Cowell, but I liked it! The crazies may be fun, but they aren’t really that necessary.

Who’s with me on this one?

Parks and Recreation – Recap & Review – Campaign Ad

photo: nbc

Parks and Recreation
Campaign Ad

Original Air Date: Jan 19, 2012

Valentina D. – Senior Reviewer
valentina@thetwocentscorp.com

It’s been a few months into this mayoral race and now, we’re finally introduced to Leslie’s opponent: the attractive and charismatic Bobby Newport, AKA the heir to the famous sugar company Sweetums. He’s played by none other than Paul Rudd, who shines as the charming but entitled Bobby. With Leslie still behind by seventy points, it’s time for her camp to pull out the big guns and create their very own ad campaign.

Back at City Hall, Ron and Chris become an unlikely team while Andy and April drag themselves to a series of medical appointments after Andy smashes his head into a wall.

Private Practice – Recap & Review – Losing Battles

photo: abc

Private Practice
Losing Battles

Original Air Date: Jan 19, 2012

Karen Belgrad – Senior Editor
karenbelgrad@thetwocentscorp.com

I think it might be time for Violet to move. Between her attack and Pete’s heart attack, that house has some seriously bad juju. And it only gets worse tonight… but more on that in a moment.

Thanks to recapper Farrah for taking over duties for me last week. Last week and this week set up a few major story arcs. We’ve got most of the guys dating, Addison’s baby brain, and Erica’s brain to deal with. So without further ado, let’s get to recapping and reviewing!

Person of Interest – Recap & Review – Legacy

photo: cbs

Person of Interest
Legacy

Original Air Date: Jan 19, 2012

Len – Sr Reviewer
len@thetwocentscorp.com

It’s Week One of the Carter-Reese experiment! This week’s episode marks the first official, face-to-face collaboration between the by-the-book detective and our hard-ass vigilante, and the results are as expected. While Carter investigates and interrogates at the precinct, Reese fights, protects, and fights some more!

But Finch isn’t too crazy about the partnership. He’s very selective about whom he lets in, and he certainly doesn’t want Carter to ever find out about The Machine. But we soon learn that Carter isn’t his only worry – a person from his past drops back into his life, and this guy has the potential to get even closer to the secret!

This week’s episode is important because it feels like it’s starting a sea change in the lives of the characters. The trust relationship between Reese and Finch has always been a little tenuous, and it’s about to get a whole lot more complicated. But don’t worry – I’m here to make sense of it all!

The Middle – Recap & Review – Hecking It Up

photo: abc

The Middle
Hecking It Up

Original Air Date: Jan 18, 2012

Will – Associate Staff Writer
will@thetwocentscorp.com

This episode of The Middle was one of the best I have ever watched! It made me laugh the full 30 minutes and anybody can relate. Anyway, the Superbowl this year will be held in Indiana and Frankie is determined to be a part of it! So she decides that she will be a volunteer so that she will get access to the game. Mike could care less about being there he just wants to be in front of a TV when it happens.

We also get to see Sue and her new man this episode and she is very happy! I am glad that she is happy but she is not the best with relationships. Anyway, when Frankie goes to get her volunteer assignment, they give her parking duty in a satellite location a 100 miles away!

Criminal Minds – Recap & Review – True Genius

photo: cbs

Criminal Minds
True Genius

Original Air Date: Jan 18, 2012

Angelique – Associate Staff Writer
Angelique@thetwocentscorp.com

How can someone kill five people in a time-span of a year, taunt the police, send encrypted letters to the media and get away with it clean?

That is a question many people still wonder about; the Zodiac Killer has held many people captivated for more than forty years now. He claimed in encrypted letters to the media that he had murdered thirty-seven people but only five have actually been linked to him directly.

Revenge – Recap & Review – Commitment

photo: abc

Revenge
Commitment

Original Air Date: Jan 18, 2012

Melanie – TwoCents Reviewer
melanie@thetwocentscorp.com

This episode is one we have been anticipating, for more than one reason! Not only does it include revelations (most of which we expected), but also emotional moments, including a side of Conrad we hadn’t seen before and another apology to Nolan from Emily.

But my favorite moments include a romantic rainstorm (complete with a fabulous Emily dress, of course), a bit of comeuppance for an annoying character, and a farewell to a character who was growing on me. And yet another horrible lie about David Clarke pushes Emily’s hand.

Law & Order: SVU – Recap & Review – Official Story

photo: nbc

Law & Order: SVU
Official Story

Original Air Date: Jan 18, 2012

Caitlin – Staff Writer
caitlin@thetwocentscorp.com

When Law & Order: SVU tried to film around Occupy Wall Street, they met with some resistance from protesters. Turns out, they needn’t have worried. The scenes filmed there matter for about five minutes of the episode.

After running into the group, a CEO of a military company is drugged and later found after seemingly having been raped. Meanwhile, Nick’s wife is home from her latest tour of duty, and he brings his daughter over to see her.

Modern Family – Recap & Review – Little Bo Bleep

photo: abc

Modern Family
Little Bo Bleep

Original Air Date: Jan 18, 2012

Wyner C – TwoCents Reviewer
wyner@thetwocentscorp.com

How likeable are you? How likeable am I? Having the mentality of a jaded New Yorker, I don’t care if you like me or not – but I’m not running for office. Also, I do care – I just pretend I don’t so I can walk the streets of Brooklyn without getting jumped.

Over at the Dunphy Compound, Claire is running for Town Council but is deemed unlikeable by the Weekly Saver (readership of 22,000). The Dunphy Clan helps Claire prepare for the upcoming debate – hoping to increase her likeability factor. This goes as well as McCain aides helping Sarah Palin with her debate.