Saturday Night Live – Recap & Review – Jimmy Fallon

photo: nbc

Saturday Night Live
Jimmy Fallon

Original Air Date: Dec 17, 2011

Len – TwoCents Reviewer
len@thetwocentscorp.com

Sorry for the late review, folks! Much like SNL, I celebrate Christmas a week early.

The good news is that this week’s episode is EXCELLENT overall. The bad news is that this week’s episode could just as easily have been called “Fallon & Friends.” It’s a non-stop locomotive of fun, making good sketches feel great and even picking up some sketches that would be duds any other week. But that train is fueled mostly by Fallon magic and former cast member cameos.

Dear TV Claus … From Shannon

Hi gang! Happy Holidays to you all! For the month of December, the crew here at TheTwoCents.com will be writing our letters to TV Claus. A powerful being who transcends all beliefs to bring us the wonderment of good television. You’ll see a new letter to TV Claus almost daily here and we hope you’ll chime in your TwoCents to TV Claus too!

Dear TV Claus,

I’ve been good enough this year so maybe you can throw me a bone?

– Can this please be the last season of The Office? It’s dying and let’s just put it out of its misery.

– I’d love to have a satisfying ending to both House and Chuck. Please do not end them both on some sort of cliffhanger.

– I want Once Upon A Time to last forever.

Chuck – Recap & Review – Chuck Versus the Curse

photo: nbc

Chuck
Chuck Versus the Curse

Original Air Date: Dec 16, 2011

Jeff L – Staff Writer
JeffL@thetwocentscorp.com

This episode begins just after Morgan and Verbanski broke Casey out of jail. Verbanski has fled the country to lay low after taking out Agent Decker. Morgan and Casey are sneaking into Castle to avoid being spotted by any of Decker’s minions still at work inside the government agencies.

General Grandma [side note, Google “General Grandma” and note the first two hits – my contribution to society at large :)] appears on the Castle video feeds to tell Chuck and his team they are all about to be arrested. Casey notices Grandma tapping out a coded message telling the Spy More team they have five minutes to escape before they are all taken into custody. Casey goes to meet General Grandma while Chuck and Sarah head to the old Bartowski shack where Orion hid out for all those years.

Dear TV Claus … From FK

Hi gang! Happy Holidays to you all! For the month of December, the crew here at TheTwoCents.com will be writing our letters to TV Claus. A powerful being who transcends all beliefs to bring us the wonderment of good television. You’ll see a new letter to TV Claus almost daily here and we hope you’ll chime in your TwoCents to TV Claus too!

DEAR TV CLAUS …

I was really nice to you last year but you let me and most of my friends down through the year. So I’m going to be more aggressive with my requests. Maybe that’s the angle I need?

1) Please stop canceling good shows, old and new. Get rid of the duds like The Office (SteveC totally carried that show, come on!) and bring back some goodies. My DVR runs pretty empty these days.

2) SAVE THE SOAPS. Daytime TV isn’t supposed to have tens of millions of viewers. It’s DAYTIME. We’re talking decades of history!

3) Last year I asked you to have a talk with Ryan Murphy. I see you forgot. Can you get on that? Glee is a disaster.

Grimm – Recap & Review – Let Your Hair Down

photo: nbc

Grimm
Let Your Hair Down

Original Air Date: Dec 16, 2011

Wyner C – TwoCents Reviewer
wyner@thetwocentscorp.com

“The enchantress was so hard-hearted that she banished the poor girl to a wilderness, where she had to live in a miserable, wretched state.”

This was a definite twist on Rapunzel. Disney singing Mandy Moore this was not. What would happen to a Blutbad child that grew up in the wild? We have heard stories of feral children but a feral child that is a Blutbad? Only in Portland, Grimm world.

Person of Interest – Recap & Review – Number Crunch

photo: cbs

Person of Interest
Number Crunch

Original Air Date: Dec 15, 2011

Len – Two Cents Reviewer
len@thetwocentscorp.com

All you need to know about tonight’s episode is that it is hands down the BEST episode of the season. It’s chock full of unraveling mystery, and I’m willing to bet the last ten to fifteen minutes are as good as anything you’ll find on TV this season. You’ve probably seen the promos that tout Reese’s past catching up with him. Well it does – in a BIG way. It’s so big that this week’s POI case doesn’t even get reconciled.

It starts out with Reese and Finch having their hands full tracking down not one, but FOUR, different individuals put forth by The Machine. How on earth will our guys be able to save our People of Interest and still manage to escape capture this week? Remember, my People of Interest are my readers, so be sure to leave your TwoCents in the comments at the end. On to the recap!

TBS’s annual “24 Hours of A CHRISTMAS STORY” returns for 15th year

santa and ralphie

One of television’s most popular holiday traditions will be back this year as TBS presents the 15th Annual edition of 24 Hours of A CHRISTMAS STORY, beginning Christmas Eve at 8 p.m. (ET/PT).

Based on the short stories of famed humorist Jean Shepherd, A Christmas Story follows the mischievous adventures of a young boy who longs for a special Christmas gift – a Red Ryder BB gun. Peter Billingsley stars as young Ralphie, who is determined to convince the world that he is responsible enough to handle such a gift, despite his mother’s insistence that he could shoot his eye out. Melinda Dillon and Darren McGavin are pitch-perfect as Ralphie’s parents, and Ian Petrella provides some of the movie’s funniest moments as Ralphie’s little brother, Randy.

CBS Mid-Season Schedule Changes

CBS announced today additional mid-season schedule moves, including the premiere of the next edition of THE AMAZING RACE and new Friday time periods for UNDERCOVER BOSS and A GIFTED MAN.

Eight-time Emmy Award-winning THE AMAZING RACE celebrates its 20th global adventure when it premieres Sunday, Feb. 19 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT). Phil Keoghan hosts. Last week’s finale of the fall edition of THE AMAZING RACE crossed the finish line with season-high ratings in viewers (11.72m), adults 18-49 (3.3/07) and adults 25-54 (4.5/09).

Burn Notice – Recap & Review – Fail Safe

photo: usa

Burn Notice
Fail Safe

Original Air Date: Dec 15, 2011

Ryan O – Senior Reviewer
ryano@thetwocentscorp.com

Season finale! I’m pinch-hitting for your regular reviewer, Alyssa.

Okay, no spoilers in the first two paragraphs but, know this: Things happen! Buildings explode! Some people drive on the wrong side of the road! Someone betrays someone else! No one eats yogurt! I KNOW, RIGHT?!

Dear TV Claus … From Rachel

Hi gang! Happy Holidays to you all! For the month of December, the crew here at TheTwoCents.com will be writing our letters to TV Claus. A powerful being who transcends all beliefs to bring us the wonderment of good television. You’ll see a new letter to TV Claus almost daily here and we hope you’ll chime in your TwoCents to TV Claus too!

Dear TV Claus,

I’ve been a real good girl this year by watching as much TV as humanly possible (I’m sure you’re impressed). Therefore, I think you’ll have no trouble granting these three little wishes of mine:

1. Please renew Fringe. It is well-written and amazingly acted, and because of that, I fear it is in trouble. Need I mention Firefly? I still haven’t forgiven you for that. You owe me one.

2. While we’re on this awful subject of cancellation, I have three words for you: Community. Community. Community. This show is the story of my life, as I am a college professor by day. I have grown to love all of these characters like my own dysfunctional, jacked-up students. Please, oh please let this hiatus be the result of just too much awesome. The network just needs a break from all the greatness, right? It’s not going away, right? Right?