Brothers and Sisters – Recap & Review – The Homecoming

photo: abc

Brothers and Sisters
The Homecoming

Original Air Date: Sep 26, 2010

Farrah Kaye – Sr. Editor
farrah@thetwocentscorp.com

I’m a huge Brothers and Sisters fan. Always have been. Since day one, I’ve loved weekly Walker dinners and still remember the moment William Walker fell in the pool in episode one, starting years of drama for our favorite wine-drinking family. Over the summer, actually before last season even ended, everyone knew big changes were coming. Rob Lowe was starring on two shows at once so we knew Robert was leaving and then spoilers came out over the summer that other characters were leaving as well, namely Tommy and Rebecca.

But the most important part of the Brothers and Sisters spoiler was that when it returned this fall it would have a one year time jump. I thought this would be the best thing ever. We could move beyond the death of Robert easily, Justin and Rebecca could have a nice separation and everyone would have moved on from the accident. Thanks to my living on the west coast, I found out early the time jump proved useless and the show didn’t live up to the hype. So where did the writers go wrong? You be the judge.

Dexter – Recap & Review – My Bad

photo: showtime

Dexter
My Bad

Original Air Date: Sep 26, 2010

Karen Belgrad – Associate Staff Writer
karenbelgrad@thetwocentscorp.com

“I’ve watched 67 people die, and at the moment of truth I looked into their eyes and I knew — and they knew — they got what they deserved. But what if that’s not what happens, if you don’t get what you deserve?”– Dexter, in the series opening moments.

If last season’s Dexter finale was the most shocking twist in the series’ history, then this season five opener was equally as stunning for almost the exact opposite. Instead of a metaphorical bombastic explosion, this hour spent most of its time in a quiet simmer. Would it boil over? Would emotions finally come to the surface? Keep reading to find out!

The Simpsons – Recap & Review – Elementary School Musical

photo: fox

The Simpsons
Elementary School Musical

Original Air Date: Sep 26, 2010

Arthur Aringdale – Two Cents Reviewer
arthur@thetwocentscorp.com

Nathan Rabin of the AV Club made a great point about The Simpsons in the introduction to his epic quest to review every episode: for people of a certain age who grew up on a steady diet of television, The Simpsons is less a show than an old friend.

I’ve spent countless hours in Springfield, practically memorized most any episode from the glory years (seasons three through nine as I see it), and developed enough of an affection for the show to be able to look past its occasional lapses in quality (Al Jean’s first few years as showrunner were painful, yes, but do you abandon an old friend just because he’s going through a rough patch?) and immerse myself in the joy of some of the highly underrated later seasons. It’s a good thing I like The Simpsons as much as I do, too, considering the mixed bag that was this week’s 22nd (!) season premiere.

The Earth & Carl #2

Our own Jeff L. is quite the artist and he’s sharing his latest comic with us. Look for clips of Earth & Carl here from time to time.

click to see full size

Family Guy – Recap & Review – And Then There Were Fewer

photo: fox

Family Guy
And Then There Were Fewer

Original Air Date: Sep 26, 2010

Arthur Aringdale – Two Cents Reviewer
arthur@thetwocentscorp.com

Family Guy has always been a parody show at heart, with the mold of the parody vacillating between long and short forms. While the show’s trademark cutaway gags have been there since the beginning (every episode except for last year’s “Brian and Stewie” has used them), the first few seasons tended toward episode length parodies, and since the show’s return from cancellation it has been trending ever greater toward a more scattershot, gag-a-minute type of vibe: most of the show’s recent plots have been less cohesive, functioning more as frameworks on which to hang shorter, often completely unrelated jokes.

I’ll always be a strong apologist for Family Guy, but even I must admit that the growing over-reliance on non-sequiturs has been to the show’s detriment.

My Two Cents: Walking Dead Fan Credits

photo: exmortisfilms.com

You’ve all seen them: the fan-made trailers of films with cult-like followings such as Twilight or Harry Potter. Perhaps you’ve even waded into the sewage-infested waters of fan-fiction. I don’t judge.

Especially since Daniel Kanemoto, Walking Dead fan extraordinaire, decided to try his hand at the opening credits of the new AMC show (premiering appropriately on Halloween night) using artwork from the original comic by Charlie Aldard & Tony Moore and the funky song “Fresh Blood” written & performed by Eels.

My Two Cents: I secretly hope that AMC buys the rights and uses it. It is that awesome. If you need further proof, just check out what Lost co-creator Damon Lindelof said of the clip: “We are arriving at that unique moment in time where the term “fan-made” becomes moot. This is extraordinary.” indeed. This is where the term “fan-made” finally leaves his mom’s basement & becomes legit.

To watch the credits, visit Kanemoto’s site Ex Mortis Films. To read an interview with Kanemoto, visit CNN. To read yet another interview, visit Entertainment Weekly. And finally, to read the TwoCents Recaps and Reviews of each episode of The Walking Dead, check back here every morning after!

Rachel, Senior Managing Editor
rachel@thetwocentscorp.com

Boardwalk Empire – Recap & Review – The Ivory Tower

photo: hbo

Boardwalk Empire
The Ivory Tower

Original Air Date: Sep 26, 2010

Sara M. – Sr. Reviewer
sara@thetwocentscorp.com

Nucky Thompson is an interesting man. Yes, he plays a large part in the organized crime of Atlantic City. In fact, he’s really the organizer. Very little happens without going through Nucky first and when a decision has to be made, he’s the one they go to. But He still maintains a role in the community as a well-liked politician. Because of these duel roles, the man has a lot of fires to put out in the course of a day. And a visit from the Feds won’t help the situation for anyone.

Mad Men – Recap & Review – Hands and Knees

photo: amc

Mad Men
Hands and Knees

Original Air Date: Sep 26, 2010

Hector – Jr. Reporter
hector@thetwocentscorp.com

What has always separated Mad Men from most other shows is its ability to draw the viewer in by slowly building things up throughout the season, putting all of the pieces in place until finally things come to a head, and the lives of the characters come crashing down around them. This was one of those episodes that actually saw the plot advance significantly, with several thrilling moments that served as momentum heading into the final three episodes of the season.

This week we saw Don’s past come back to haunt him once again, Joan and Roger’s relationship getting more complicated, and the still young SCDP agency being dealt not one, but two major blows.

The Amazing Race – Recap & Review – They Don’t Call It The Amazing Race For Nothin’!

photo: cbs

The Amazing Race
The Don’t Call It The Amazing Race For Nothin’!

Original Air Date: Sep 26, 2010

Farrah Kaye – Sr. Editor
farrah@thetwocentscorp.com

Another season, more fun contestants to watch race around the globe for $1 million. This year, the teams started out in Massachusetts, a first for the show besides during the All-Star season. Also new, the “Express Pass.” The pass will be won by the team who gets to the mat first and can be used anytime before the eighth leg. If you come upon a task (Road Block, Detour, anything…), you hand over the EP and you skip the task.

Every week I will recap the teams from first to eliminated, the highs and lows and anything else. Also, some of the team names are my own while some of them were made up by the teams themselves. If you have any other ideas, leave them in the comments. So without any more stalling, I present to you …

The Top 11 Things I Learned From The Amazing Race 17

Desperate Housewives – Recap & Review – Remember Paul?

photo: abc

Desperate Housewives
Remember Paul?

Original Air Date: Sep 26, 2010

Annette – Associate Staff Writer
annette@thetwocentscorp.com

Oh how I’ve missed Wisteria Lane!  Being back is like reuniting with old friends – catty, bitchy, murderous old friends, but still, I missed them.

When we left last season, Paul Young had moved back to Wisteria Lane.  We’ve also got a new housewife.  Vanessa Williams has joined the cast, but what kind of housewife is she?  I’m worried she’ll be too much like her character on Ugly Betty.