Off the Map – Recap & Review – Smile. Don’t Kill Anyone

photo: abc

Off the Map
Smile. Don’t Kill Anyone

Original Air Date: Jan 19, 2011

Meg – Staff Writer
meg@thetwocentscorp.com

I was hoping Off the Map’s second episode would help me feel a bit more decided on the show. Instead, I’m still pretty much where I stood last week—the actors are (mostly) talented and the jungle is very pretty, but the writing is still just terrible (seriously—I’m getting cringe wrinkles).

This week, the newbies are adjusting to life at the clinic. Tommy is doing well enough, screwing lusty anonymous foreigners in the communal shower. Mina continues to care for the chicken she was gifted last episode. She’s named it Deborah. Aww. And Lily is still carrying around her cell phone. In the jungle. She claims that there’s stuff on her phone that she doesn’t want to lose. Okay, well, glad you took it to the Amazon, then, where no harm is sure to come to it… (also, p.s. it’s called a USB port. Look into it).

Blue Bloods – Recap & Review – Little Fish

photo: cbs

Blue Bloods
Little Fish

Original Air Date: Jan 19, 2011

Will – Sr. Reviewer
will@thetwocentscorp.com

Lately I have been having a hard time getting into Blue Bloods but this episode was really powerful in my opinion. I can now say that I am hooked on this show. I love when the show focuses more on Frank than anybody else because I think there so much we don’t know about this character yet.

The Middle – Recap & Review – Super Sunday

photo: abc

The Middle
Super Sunday

Original Air Date: Jan 19, 2011

Will – Sr. Reviewer
will@thetwocentscorp.com

As I say every week, this show is so good! When I watch this show I laugh so much and I think many of us can relate to what happens in this show every week. To me it is a good 30 minute stress reliever because to me it is healthy to have a good laugh sometimes and this is what this show does for you.

Two Cents and Five Questions with Yvette Nicole Brown and Malcolm Jamal Warner (Community)

photo: nbc

Yvette Nicole Brown & Malcolm Jamal Warner, Actors

Community is returning with new episodes this Thursday, with Malcolm Jamal Warner (Theo Huxtable from The Cosby Show) guest starring as Shirley’s ex-husband, Andre.

Yvette Nicole Brown (Shirley) and Malcolm were kind enough to chat with me about their upcoming storyline.

The Two Cents: What were some of your favorite moments from filming these upcoming episodes that we’re about to see?

Hot in Cleveland – Recap & Review – Free Elka

photo: tvland

Hot in Cleveland
Free Elka

Original Air Date – Jan 19, 2011

Anne – Associate Editor
anne@thetwocentscorp.com

Welcome back to Cleveland! Our favorite girls are finally back for season two. I just can’t wait to see what kind of hijinks they get in now. Believe me, the episode doesn’t disappoint. This one is about friendship, marriage proposals and one awesome surprise guest star.

We open on Elka is her jail cell playing the harmonica and singing, “Nobody knows…” See? It’s already hilarious and we’re only a minute in!

Top Chef – Recap & Review – Restaurant Wars

photo: bravo

Top Chef
Restaurant Wars

Original Air Date: Jan 19, 2011

Ryan O – Two Cents Reviewer
ryano@thetwocentscorp.com

This is the episode that everyone waits for all season and it comes earlier than usual: Restaurant Wars. It produces all of the usual drama along with what looks like some really tasty and fun food. As an added bonus, a cheftestant who has been getting on my nerves must pack his or her knives and go home. Keep reading to find out who and why!

Quickfire The cheftestants are cooking at Le Bernadin, a very well-respected restaurant in New York City. Anthony Bourdain greets them. He tells them about a sous chef who works there that butchers fish quickly and efficiently — so quickly and efficiently he’s apparently a legend and when he goes on vacation three guys are needed to replace him. They watch the guy slice up a cod and a flounder in just eight minutes. For the challenge, the cheftestants each have to portion one cod and one fluke in 10 minutes.

Cougar Town – Recap & Review – A Thing About You

photo: abc

Cougar Town
A Thing About You

Original Air Date: Jan 19, 2011

Karen Belgrad- Associate Editor
Karenbelgrad
@thetwocentscorp.com

Who makes better same gender friends, men or women? What constitutes romance? And does borrowing your friend’s thong always defy boundaries?

We missed our Starting To Own It Cougar Town cul-de-sac crew last week due to preemption, but tonight the gang is back and frantic as ever. With an overlapping multitude of plots, it’s hard to keep track of everything that went down, but keep reading to get your whackety wiggity wham whack on (my attempt at Laurie-speak)…

Modern Family – Recap & Review – Caught In The Act

photo: abc

Modern Family
Caught In The Act

Original Air Date: Jan 19, 2011

Karen Belgrad- Associate Editor
Karenbelgrad
@thetwocentscorp.com

Modern Family has a gift. It can take three plots which on most other shows might feel like sitcom clichés and make them enjoyable and fresh. Misunderstandings, awkward situations, and cover-ups are standard episodic fare, but here they all work to make an enjoyable half hour of television.

In breaking news, tonight we learned that it is possible to have all three Dunphy children and Lily in an episode, but we’ll have to sacrifice Manny. Is there a shortage of on-site tutors on the Modern Family set? Have we seen all of the kids in an episode since Manny’s birthday?

Biggest Loser – Recap & Review – Season 11 Episode 3

photo: nbc

Biggest Loser
Season 11 Episode 3

Original Air Date: Jan 18, 2011

Anne – Associate Editor
anne@thetwocentscorp.com

Welcome to episode three of The Biggest Loser! This week we finally get introduced to the new trainers, Brett and Cara. Cara is a boxer and she’s very pretty. I like her. I’m not sure about Brett yet. He’s a personal trainer and martial artist. I wonder if Cara will replace Jillian? Keep an eye out for my interview with Brett and Cara early next week.

Now on to this week’s episode…

NCIS – Recap & Review – Recruitment

photo: cbs

NCIS
Recruitment

Original Air Date: Jan 18, 2011

Maria – TwoCents Reviewer
maria@thetwocentscorp.com

This episode does what NCIS does best: taking tough and poignant subjects like Alzheimer’s, homosexuality and governmental policy, even alcoholism and handling them in an eye-opening and understanding way. It’s rather an emotional episode, but a very solid one.

It starts with a navy recruitment event, taking place at a high school. The day ends with the brutal beating and murder of Navy Petty Officer First Class Simon Craig as he is pushed down the stairs and when he begs for help, he is stomped to death.