Chuck – Recap & Review – Chuck Versus the Hack Off

photo: nbc

Chuck
Chuck Versus the Hack Off

Original Air Date: Dec 9, 2011

Jeff L – Staff Writer
JeffL@thetwocentscorp.com

We open with Charah (Chuck & Sarah) visiting Casey in prison. Chuck tries to slip Casey some miniaturized escape plans (the guy at Kinko’s must think Chuck’s crazy), but he refuses. At the next table in the visitation area, Morgan and Jeff try to slip Lester some knowledge, by promising to drop all the charges if he’ll promise never to try to poison Jeff again, but he also refuses. I’m not sure charges can be dropped against a person already apparently convicted and serving prison time, but hey, I’m no lawyer.

Back inside, Casey is almost ambushed by some skinheads, but Gertrude Verbanski (dressed as a prison guard) comes to his rescue. After their impromptu conjugal visit, Casey convinces Verbanski that Decker has him in prison for a reason. He’s worried about his team and how they’ll fare without his um, let’s call it “protection.” He convinces Verbanski to fill in for him with Carmichael Industries until he gets out.

Grimm – Recap & Review – The Three Bad Wolves

photo: nbc

Grimm
The Three Bad Wolves

Original Air Date: Dec 9, 2011

Wyner C – TwoCents Reviewer
wyner@thetwocentscorp.com

“Little pig, little pig, let me come in,” said the wolf to the pig. “Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin,” said the pig to the wolf.

Can you guess the fairy tale? Mmmm….bacon. That’s right, I’m team wolf. Babe has nothing on Jacob (I’m Team Jacob too). No matter what team you’re on, murder is wrong (especially if you can’t make bacon from your kill).

Dear TV Claus … From Karen

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 Mr TV Claus,

I just want to say thank you for making most of my wishes come true last year. The only one that did not come true will be the first on my list.

1. Bring me Covert Affairs‘ Auggie Anderson underneath my mistletoe. But if that is too much to ask…then let’s get a bit more sexual tension between Annie and Auggie.

2. Keep Rules of Engagement around for the full season and make more people aware of how funny it is.

The Mentalist – Recap & Review – The Redshirt

photo: cbs

The Mentalist
The Redshirt

Original Air Date: Dec 8, 2011

Kym – TwoCents Reviewer
kym@thetwocentscorp.com

Retired star quarterback, Doc Dugan, is hanging out with his fans at his bar in Sacramento, having a great time telling stories. Everyone seems to love him. Until it’s time to leave. You see him (from a distance) get into his SUV, you see his manager come out the door looking for him, then you see the SUV blow sky-high. I guess “everyone” didn’t love him so much after all. Someone wanted him dead, and it’s up to the team to find out who. Or at least part of the team to start – just Jane, Cho and Van Pelt. Rigsby’s away for a trial and Lisbon’s not there yet. Wainwright is though – to fend off the press.

Jane, of course, sees something amiss with the body of a “sports star” and wants to know where he stayed locally – to see if they can find his championship ring.

The Big Bang Theory – Recap & Review – The Speckerman Recurrence

photo: cbs

The Big Bang Theory
The Speckerman Recurrence

Original Air Date: Dec 8, 2011

Kym – TwoCents Reviewer
kym@thetwocentscorp.com

I can relate to Leonard’s problem this week. I haven’t actually gotten any requests like that, but I have had people like that in my life that have come along and thought I would actually want to be their friend on Facebook. If one of my old bullies came to town and wanted to meet me though, my answer would definitely be “No!” I have no need or desire to confront and/or relive that part of my past. That said, the main story with the said “Speckerman”, along with Penny’s side story, make for a great story about change and growth.
He decides to go meet the guy, but I agree with Sheldon’s advice that he wear loafers.

Community – Recap & Review – Regional Holiday Music

photo: nbc

Community
Regional Holiday Music

Original Air Date: Dec 9, 2011

Len – Two Cents Reviewer
len@thetwocentscorp.com

What an awesome episode of Community tonight! If you’re a fan of horror movies or taking jabs at Glee, there’s bound to be something you’ll like as the group gets called upon to fill in as the reserve holiday choir.

The group sits in the cafeteria discussing plans to spend (or not spend) the holidays together. Reason #1 for spending them apart: Because warm and fuzzy makes you end up like Greendale’s obnoxiously terrible glee club, whose pre-regionals (Pierce: “What the hell is regionals?) sampler is straight from an all-rejects episode of The Sing-Off. Fortunately, Jeff tips off ASCAP that the group is performing copyrighted songs without permission, causing their members to all have a nervous breakdown. So what else can boyishly evil glee club director Cory Radison (the boyishly evil Taran Killam of SNL) do but get Abed to convince the whole group to fill in AGAIN?

The Office – Recap & Review – Christmas Wishes

photo: nbc

The Office
Christmas Wishes

Original Air Date: Dec 8, 2011

Wyner C – TwoCents Reviewer
wyner@thetwocentscorp.com

Your regular recapper can’t come to the Christmas party so I’ll be your date tonight. This is a pretty solid Office Christmas episode. If my office party was anything like this, I might actually attend this year.

We begin with Andy fulfilling Christmas wishes as he promised – designated driver for Meredith, an acre of land on the moon for Dwight. Then Stanley has the most awesome anti-politically correct rant about Christmas. He just wants Dunder Mifflin to acknowledge they are celebrating Christmas and not a PC quasi-Christmas holiday.

Bones – Recap & Review – The Twist In The Twister

photo; fox

Bones
The Twist in the Twister

Original Air Date: Dec 8, 2011

Karen – Sr Staff Writer
Karen@thetwocentscorp.com

Our married Squints are dealing with sleep deprivation and the fact that Angela’s dad is in town and wants to spend some time with his grandson. The last thing (they think) they want, is to let Daddy ZZ get little Michael all fired up with some rock and roll from gramps.

Booth is being protective of a very pregnant Temp…I mean waaaay too protective of her. He won’t let her do anything and even goes as far as to lie to her which just is not right and even Sweets has something to say about it.

Rules Of Engagement – Recap & Review – Cheating

photo: cbs

Rules of Engagement
Cheating

Original Air Date: Dec 8, 2011

Karen – Sr Staff Writer
Karen@thetwocentscorp.com

Brenda is back! I love it when Sara Rue is part of the cast and this week she is having an affair with Jeff…a food affair. Audrey is trying to get Jeff to eat healthier because his cholesterol is too high, but Brenda is a bad influence on him.

Russ on the other hand is now a free man since he left Liz, and tries to keep up with the new intern, Topher. Topher? Really? Ok, so anywho, Timmy spends most of the episode looking for someone to hang out with, which I just don’t understand because he is the one character that has his wits about him.

Dear TV Claus … From Ryan

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 reasonably well-behaved this year and I’d love it if you could make some of my TV wishes come true!

1. Please make sure Community comes back. It deserves six seasons and a movie.

2. Can we quit with the contract disputes? Having to wait an extra seven months for the next season of Mad Men because people can’t work out the money is disappointing.

3. Can you get Conor Paolo, who plays Declan on Revenge, to quit trying to do an accent? It’s inconsistent and he’s the only doing an accent — not even his character’s brother does one.