The Sing Off – Recap & Review – The Finale

photo: nbc

The Sing Off
The Finale

Original Air Date: Dec 20, 2010

Farrah Kaye – Sr. Editor
farrah@thetwocentscorp.com

It’s here! The Sing Off finale. The plus side to this show is it doesn’t drag on forever. The down side is that it ends quickly.

The finale is fun because the competition has ended. America voted for the winner so it’s all about the singing. Who took home the win (and more importantly the record deal that will take forever and a day to make)? Committed, Street Corner Symphony, Jerry Lawson & Talk of the Town or The Backbeats? Read on to find out!

Farewell… Steve Landesberg

photo: landesberg

Steve Landesberg, Actor

From The Wrap: Steve Landesberg, better known to TV audiences as Det. Arthur Dietrich on the cop sitcom Barney Miller, has died at the age of 65. According to TMZ, the actor and comedian died of cancer.

Landesberg joined Barney Miller during its second season. The show ran from 1975-1982 on ABC.

Younger audiences may also recognize the veteran actor from his roles on Seinfeld, Everybody Hates Chris, and the recent film Forgetting Sarah Marshall, where he played a pediatrician.

“He was a wonderful comic and superb actor who gave so much of himself in every performance,” actress Shirley Jones told the Associated Press. She worked with him on an episode of The Cleaner last year, which would end up being his final on-screen appearance.

Feel free to share your thoughts and fondest memories of Steve Landesberg in the comments section.

Radio Disney to Host Noon Year’s Eve Events Nationwide

photo: disney

Radio Disney, the No. 1 radio network for kids, tweens and families, will host events around the country to ring in New Year. The “Noon Year’s Eve” events will welcome kids and families to their favorite locations, including local zoos, museums or shopping centers, for a daytime celebration that gives kids the opportunity to have all the fun of New Year’s Eve before their bedtime.

The 20 events happening nationwide are hosted by Radio Disney’s local stations and feature the best songs of the year from Radio Disney’s “Top 50 Countdown of 2010,” and a special ball drop and countdown just for kids and families. The celebrations also feature Disney trivia, family-friendly games and activities, and prizes.

The “Noon Year’s Eve” events take place December 31 at the following locations:

Survivor – Recap & Review – Reunion

photo: cbs

Survivor
Reunion

Original Air Date: Dec 19, 2010

Ryan O – Two Cents Reviewer
ryano@thetwocentscorp.com

The low down
I hope you don’t care about Jeff talking to the winner or even about the winner with other people because after the first five or so minutes, we won’t hear from the winner again. At all. Sigh.

Other untouched topics: asking Chase how it felt to vote out Jane, asking Jud about reacting to Naonka stealing his socks, and asking Naonak essentially ANYTHING of substance about things she did in the game.

Survivor – Recap & Review – What about Me?

photo: cbs

Survivor
What about Me?

Original Air Date: Dec 19, 2010

Ryan O – Two Cents Reviewer
ryano@thetwocentscorp.com

The low down
Well, I got what I wanted out of the finale, mostly. The person I wanted to win, won. Jane looks insane while sitting on the jury and question the final three. Someone does all the tapdancing you expect him to do. Someone else tries to own what he did to get to the final three.

All in all, it’s a decent finale to a mediocre season. Who won? Oh, no spoilers out here. You’ll have to read on to find out.

Shonda Rhimes Gets Green Light For New ABC Pilot … Again

rhimes gets new pilot for 2011

From CNN.com:

First there was Grey’s Anatomy. Then came the spin-off show Private Practice. This January, a third medical drama, Off The Map, premieres (Jan 12th).

What do they have in common? Shonda Rhimes. And she’s not stopping yet! Next up is an untitled 2011 ABC project that has been given the thumbs up to produce.

The new series will revolve around the life and work of a professional “fixer,” an ABC spokeswoman told EW.com. The character is based on the career of Judy Smith, a public relations crisis expert who has consulted on many high-profile cases in Washington over the last 20 years, including the Monica Lewinsky/Bill Clinton scandal and the Clarence Thomas Supreme Court confirmation hearings.

Rhimes will write and produce the show with Smith and fellow ABC vet Betsy Beers.

My Two Cents: Shonda Rhimes is unstoppable. Everything she touches is gold. Even when it’s bad, GA and PP are still great. And it’s great she’s going to finally do a non-medical show! Can’t wait to see this new show. And as a total side note, she’s very fan-interactive and Tweets with her fans. Follow her at @shondarhimes.

Farrah Kaye – Sr. Editor
farrah@thetwocentscorp.com

Dear TV Claus…

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,

So maybe I haven’t been the most exemplary person this year. However, whether I’m on the naughty list, the nice list, or hovering somewhere in between, I’m hoping you’ll see that my TV wish list is actually intended to benefit everyone. That’s right, I’m a utilitarian televisionist. Totally. .

So here’s my list:

1. America’s Next Top Model is my guilty pleasure. Can you please convince Tyra to have an all-star season, where previous favorites (and some not-so-favorites) can compete against one another? Imagine the drama! Imagine the smizing!

2. Please keep Community on the air for, umm… ever.

3. The Irish diversion was fine, but can you please bring the Sons of Anarchy back home to Charming?

4. I know Lee Pace has a gig with those upcoming Twi-pics, but could you please bring him back to TV? He’s too crazy talented to not be around on a regular basis.

5. For once in my life I’m actually hoping the last five minutes of a TV season were a dream. Can Don Draper please not marry Megan? Bring back Faye, dangit!

6. Please make the Kardashians, Lohans, the various “real housewives,” and all those other assorted persons I’m supposed to care about go (far) away.

7. Kristen Bell is talented. Her movies? Terrible. Either make the dang Veronica Mars movie or get her back on a series that’s worthy of her talent!

8. Stop trying to pull of American remakes of British shows that are already great by themselves!

9. Have True Blood’s fairyland actually surprise everyone and be cool and interesting. We’ve only glimpsed glowy lights and costume balls, so viewers haven’t been super-impressed or hopeful. I think it would be great if Alan Ball came up with something unexpected and fabulous

10. For the love of all that is holy, can you tell Ian Somerhalder to call me? That kid is smokin’.

So, maybe you could grant some of these wishes? I promise I’ll stop asking for a pony.

Later skater,
Meg

The Amazing Race – The Game (iPhone and iPad version)

photo: cbs

CBS Mobile and interactive entertainment company Ludia today announced the release of The Amazing Race – The Game, the official mobile game based on the multi-Emmy Award-winning series.

Now available at the App Store for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, the game allows players to experience the thrills of traveling around the globe in their quest to be the first team to arrive at the final pit stop. The Amazing Race – The Game, hosted by Phil Keoghan, includes all of the television series elements as players grab clues, choose their transportation, make their way to pit stops and complete Detours, Roadblocks and Fast Forwards.

Additionally, using one iPad, players can interact via multiplayer challenges with family and friends head-to-head, or compete solo against their computer.

Dear TV Claus…

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,

Looking back at my wish list from last year, I have to say you didn’t too well. However, despite not receiving my very own Goth Wolowitz, you have done some great things this year (Jersey Shore wasn’t one of them, by the way). Anyway, I’m giving you another chance, so here we go:

1) Community just keeps getting better after that awesome rebound from horrible love quadrangle territory. Please give the show an Emmy nod!

2) The addition of some funny geeky girls to The Big Bang Theory has really helped mix up the show, but let’s not stray too far from the core group and into the mainstream. The show is at its best when it’s itself: dorky.

3) IFC is completely rocking lately. My favorite Britcom The IT Crowd, old Judd Apatow shows, all topped off with the original series The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret. I want more original series from them!

4) Please make Zoey the mother on HIMYM! I know she’s probably not, but I really like her!

5) You absolutely cannot let Grayson marry Vanessa on Drop Dead Diva. It is simply not allowed.

6) As always, please make reality TV go away.

Thanks for listening,
Theresa

The Big Bang Theory – Recap & Review – The Justice League Recombination

photo: cbs

The Big Bang Theory
The Justice League Recombination

Original Air Date: Dec 16, 2010

Theresa – Staff Writer
theresa@thetwocentscorp.com

Apparently someone somewhere likes this Zack character, because Penny has decided to get back together with him after running into him last week with Amy. They come by while the boys are playing Mystic Warlords of Ka’a – the game had just ended because Sheldon played his made-up “Infinite Sheldon” card. Zack decides he wants to “talk science with the science dudes,” but realizes they’re making fun of him and gets pretty hurt. I was kind of wondering the whole time how someone could be so stupid as to not understand people laughing in their face is bad.