Modern Family – Recap & Review – Lifetime Supply

photo: abc

Modern Family
Lifetime Supply

Original Air Date: Jan 4, 2012

Will – Sr. Reviewer
will@thetwocentscorp.com

The return of Modern Family never fails to disappoint! It is 30 minutes of pure entertainment! All of the actors and actresses all have this wonderful chemistry which makes the show award worthy. The show starts out with Phil getting a physical and the doctor feels something near his shoulder and decides to run some tests. When it was time for the more personal exam, Phil says, “dim the lights and crank up the Nora Jones.” I thought I was going to fall of the couch!

The Middle – Recap & Review – Year of the Hecks

photo: abc

The Middle
Year of the Hecks

Original Air Date: Jan 4, 2012

Will – Sr. Reviewer
will@thetwocentscorp.com

I was expecting a lot of the return of The Middle and it delivered. I literally had a smile on my face the whole time the show was on. The episode started out with the Hecks gathered around the TV bringing in the New Year.

Of course, Mike has gone to sleep and Axl is texting and Brick is reading. Frankie and Sue are the only two to be excited when the New Year comes in. It is so funny because Mike wakes up a minute later and everyone starts to go to bed but Frankie wants to make New Years resolutions before going to bed. The kids and Mike object so Frankie decides to let everyone draw names out of a hat and you make a resolution for that person.

Top Chef – Recap & Review – BBQ Pit Wars

photo: bravo

Top Chef
BBQ Pit Wars

Original Air Date: Jan 4, 2012

Ryan O – Two Cents Senior Reviewer
ryano@thetwocentscorp.com

Welcome back! I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays and the week off from Top Chef. I know I certainly did.

So, just to remind you of where we were: Chris J has Stupid Hair. Beverly is … Beverly. Paul was cooking well. Heather was awful but then had to pack her knives leaving us with just nine cheftestants.

This episode title initially made me think they replaced Restaurant Wars with BBQ Pit Wars. While I’d be fine with that, let me just say up front that’s not what happened.

Revenge – Recap & Review – Duress

photo: abc

Revenge
Duress

Original Air Date: Jan 04, 2012

Melanie – TwoCents Reviewer
melanie@thetwocents.com

Thank you Revenge for coming back from the break with such an A-MAZ-ING episode. And bravo to Ashton Holmes, a.k.a Tyler, for taking the creepiness of that character to a whole new level! For once I seriously doubted Emily’s ability to handle a person in her way.

Before the show took a break for the holidays, getting rid of Tyler and neutralizing Amanda were Emily’s priorities. With this episode, we finally get some resolution with one of those situations. So what happened to get Tyler out of Emily’s way (we hope)?

NCIS – Recap & Review – Housekeeping

photo: cbs

NCIS
Housekeeping

Original Air Date: Jan 03, 2011

Maria – Sr. Reviewer
maria@thetwocentscorp.com

Previously on NCIS, we are reminded of how EJ Barrett went missing after uncovering that one of her dead agents had a microchip in him, which gave him access to the Watcher database.

Another Agent investigating the case, Agent Stratton, was not who he said he was and actually killed the other witness and tried to kill EJ and Tony to cover it up. Perhaps this time our NCIS agents will be able to solve the case for good.

Biggest Loser 13 – Recap & Review – Week One

photo: nbc

Biggest Loser 13
Week One

Original Air Date: Jan 3, 2012

Anne – Associate Editor
anne@thetwocentscorp.com

It seems like it was just yesterday that John was crowned the Biggest Loser, doesn’t it? Well, here we are again for season 13. It’s another season of pairs, for now, and the motto is No Excuses.

All twenty pairs meet Ali right outside of the Biggest Loser gates and learn that one of the pairs won’t even make it inside the ranch. They will be put through a three phase challenge and the last pair standing will be going home.

Jane by Design – Recap & Review – Pilot

photo: abcfamily

Jane by Design
Pilot

Original Air Date: Jan 3, 2012

Lauren A – Senior Reviewer
lauren@thetwocentscorp.com

Quirky Jane Quimby is pretty much your average high school girl. She loves clothes, has a stellar best friend, struggles with the in-crowd, and she leads a double life. No big.

The pilot episode of Jane by Design is quick to establish that, despite their uber developed fashion sense, Jane and her best bud Billy are outcasts in their world.

New Celebrity Apprentice Cast Announced

photo: nbc

Donald Trump, executive producer and star of “Celebrity Apprentice,” announced today the newest and largest-ever lineup of famous faces appearing on the fifth installment of the series, premiering Sunday, February 12 at 9pm EST/PST on NBC.

The men are: late-night legend Arsenio Hall, pop star Clay Aiken, radio host Adam Carolla, the “Incredible Hulk” Lou Ferrigno, magician/comedian Penn Jillette, rock star Dee Snider, actor George Takei, IndyCar legend Michael Andretti, and star of “American Chopper,” Paul Teutul, Sr.

Parenthood – Recap & Review – Road Trip

photo: nbc

Parenthood
Road Trip

Original Air Date: Jan 3, 2012

Karen Belgrad – Senior Editor
karenbelgrad@ thetwocentscorp.com

Belated happy holiday wishes to all of my fellow Parenthood fans. Believe it or not, after tonight, we’ve only got 6 more episodes left in our abbreviated third season. But, if all of them are as stellar as this evening’s installment, then we’re in for an amazing, triple-tissue journey.

This week we get one of the golden-standards for family ensembles with a road trip. I like episodes that take things out of their normal cylinders and shake them up a bit. And although are family dynamics are still in place, we get some very strong arcs for some of our Braverman clan. And there is nary a Zoe-baby reference to be had!

Switched At Birth – Recap & Review – Starry Night

photo: abcfamily

Switched At Birth
Starry Night

Original Air Date: Jan 3, 2012

Karen Belgrad – Senior Editor
karenbelgrad@thetwocentscorp.com

Welcome back to season 1.5 of last summer’s hit, Switched At Birth. It’s been near five months since we left off, so if you need to catch up, you can do so here.

To quickly remind us where we left off… Angelo (Bay’s father) is back in town. Regina is still not completely trusted after having kept the baby switch a secret. Bay is dating Emmett, and Daphne’s openly jealous. Now, on to the new episode…