2-13-13  Survivor

Andrea? Who is Andrea? And “Franchescwa”….don’t remember her either. These are suppose to be “favorites”…how can they be favorites if we don’t remember them? I’m not a real fan of the “fan vs favs” shows but it seems like the networks have really embraced this concept. True to form, the “fan’s” start out full of bravado, bragging and threatening to “take them down”….has this EVER worked? EVER?

First competition, and the winners are taking back beans back to camp…what happened to rice? Once again, these people strip down to their skivvies to play in the water….WHERE ARE THEIR SWIMSUITS? WHY do they NEVER have them on? Brandon’s put on some weight :\. After the first two rounds, it’s tied. Phillip starts off the third round in his precious pink panties. He literally drags the fan with the float over to the pole. Francesca’s a beast! She drags ALL four of them to their pole too! Malcolm….sigh….oh yeah back to the competition, Malcolm losing his shorts and I’m paying attention :D. This is a rough one but ultimately, Malcolm reaches the pole taking it home for the favs….Malcolm, my hero.

Gota, the fans team name. (Gota = gotta win?) Oh there’s the rice! They got a machete and rice! Reynold called his canteen a canister, ok. Matt’s beard ponytail is going to make me crazy and the fans are already bickering. Mr. Cocky Marine Corp actually brings home the fire, well done. The two Beefcakes decide to align, no brainer. Eddie, beefcake one, shares that he and Hope are the only two good looking people there, thanks for letting us in on that. First night = serious cuddling/spooning/caressing, is this EVER a good idea? How clueless can you be? How does anyone think that EVERYone else doesn’t see/hear them? Reynold and Ally were the “cuddlers” and they think they are so cute and when they hang out with Eddie and Hope, they’ve determined that they are the “cool kids”. Michael wants to play both sides, we’ll see how that works.

Bikal, the fav’s team name. The favs start out early, forming cliques and strategizing. Phillip is already getting crazy, he’s got rules, then more rules and then he’s figuring out his alliance. Then he renames everyone, he’s so “stealth”…bahahahaha, NOT. He announces that he’s recruited 6 people and then he wants another one, Eric, but he broaches it to Eric full of ego and threatening him, typical Phillip, no social game. Doesn’t take long for Cochran to get sunburnt and apparently has an allergic reaction to it by his feet swelling up, they are BIG and RED!

Immunity challenge – they have to climb a tower, drop crates, grab the sandbags from the broken crates and toss them into targets, first one to score 6 wins. Fans start out losing but Reynold pulls out a win over Malcolm when throwing the sandbags and the Fav’s are going to tribal. That may be a first, fans winning so early in the game.

Bikal, seemed to be torn between voting off Phillip or Francesca. WHAT WAS the little brown thing that was jumping from tree to tree with a grasshopper in it’s mouth?

Tribal – Who’s Andrea again? Speaking of hidden immunity idols, there was ZERO talk of this. You’d think the fav’s would’ve been all over that. It was the Francesca and Andrea show..with Francesca taking it home (literally) yet again. Interesting play of votes. She clearly  has no clue how to play this game, still.  Strange how this episode was an hour and a half. I think they should embrace the latest trend of the TWO hour show. 

2/11/13  Biggest Loser

I agree with Gina, WHY didn’t they send her home? I will never understand the thought process of some of these contestants. Do they not remember that this IS a competition?

Half way through the game and it’s SINGLES PLUS the food temptation challenge! Oh my. So they have 10 minutes to each as much as they can, the one who eats the most wins a 2 lb. advantage….seems like a catch 22 to me (you eat, you gain, you only need the advantage if you eat?), then they are told they also get to share the 2 lb. advantage with someone else, still….just say no. They are all in the room together but to keep them from knowing what the others are doing, the lights are turned off. Danni is brilliant! She decides instead of eating, she’ll work out! Francelina and Alex, chow down! Francelina wins after hogging down over a 1,000 calories…ew. Next question, who will she give the advantage to…..Alex earned it but will she? She does!

So they go to work out and Jill gets in Jeff’s face and she’s being Jill. But then Jill gets all shrink on him, there’s the “moment” we saw in the previews.

Dolvett is being a drill sergeant but it’s Dolvett and who doesn’t love Dolvett?

Weeks challenge has a prize of the winner getting to bring someone to the ranch for 24 hours, oh wait the winner gets to choose another contestant to bring someone too. OH cool, they glow in the dark! And they’re off, running across an arena, last one to reach the circle of light is out. They keep this up until one person is left, the lights moves up the seats to the upper levels, it moves further each time. Danni wins! She shares it with ….. Gina! Gina was last, but how sweet of Danni, then she’s not done, she gives her own visit away to Mike. Major points for this girl. Aww the reunions are heartwarming. Michaels wife brings their baby too, this was a tear jerker episode.

The weigh in, what is Allie wearing? Am I the only one that thinks this dress makes her chest look tiny? :\

Francelina has the 2 lb advantage, good thing, she only lost 4 lbs, thinking she would’ve lost more if she hadn’t blown through all those desserts. Alex is next, she starts out at 204 and is hoping to hit Onederland, and she loses 6 so she’s golden, plus she has the extra 2 lbs. that Francelina gave her. Danni starts at 207 and she pulls a 6 which does NOT guarantee her safety. But Alex is safe at this point. Joe is up, he starts with 291 and loses 12, he’s safe. Jeff starts with 323, loses 11 and he’s good to go. Gina begins with 193 and has to lose more than 5 to stay safe, she manages a 9, poor Danni isn’t looking happy (wonder if the give aways earlier in the week will help her if she needs it). Jackson, has 279 from last time and he doesn’t really lose that much weight typically, so when he pulls a 13, he’s safe and he surprises everyone else and that pushes Francelina below the line (see what happens when you make excuses to cheat?). Michael’s starting weight is 363 and he loses 10 which isn’t enough to save him. Danni’s safe and Michael and Francelina are on the block.

Danni voted for Micheal, game play? Alex votes for Francelina. Gina votes for Michael. Jeff votes Michael, Michael went home L boooo.  And boo on Jeff for going back on his word to Michael.

2/10/13 Revenge

Shouldn’t be surprised that fauxEm’s still has her “faux” pipe cleaner wedding ring from her “faux” wedding to Jack as a child. It’s always been crystal clear that she has never fallen OUT of love with him.

Daddy is planning to run for Governor, well I did NOT see that one coming. He’s also getting in bed with “Mr. Shadypants”, the scary Ryan brother, aka Nate. BUT Ashley is running interference, to keep Mr. Shadypants in his place, it would seem. Ashley sure has developed quite an ego even with mom Vicky!

I like that Decklyn and Charlotte are back together, I think.

The “Initiative” is playing Daniel like a violin. It’s amazing the control they have over him.

The phone call fauxEm’s gets while with Aiden, from Nolan, leaves you thinking that he found a “Jane Doe” that fits the description of Aiden’s sister. And they’re off, to the coroners to read the coroners report to confirm whether it’s her or not. It would appear, that it is.

Jack and Daddy dearest throw down the gauntlet’s, and war is declared. UNTIL fauxMandy rears her protective head. Let it never be said, this girl has a timid bone in her body.  Sneaking into fauxEm’s “hidden nook” and (surprise) correctly guessing the password to her computer, then finding the perfect blackmail video to use in her scheme, is such a coincidence! None the less, off she goes to daddy dearest, aka Connie, and proceeds to blackmail him into selling his half of the bar back to Jack, in spite of his plans of grandeur for the “waterfront”….best laid plans and all that. First call is to his partner in crime, Nate Ryan. Then he follows through, signing over his share of the bar to Jack…now you KNOW this isn’t the end of that. Off to meet with the “scary” Ryan who, true to character, offers to “remove the leverage”…clearly Conrad, knows exactly how to play Mr. Ryan. Seems like the writing is on the wall for the new Mr. & Mrs…..they certainly want us to believe that anyway.

Enter Padma. Or should I say, RE enter (this girl is coming and going like a see saw). Nolan, who was expressly warned to NOT let her know he was on to her, let’s her know that he’s on to her. She accuses him of spying on her. Quote of the week, “Hey, careful who you’re calling black, little kettle”, said the Nolan to the “little kettle”. Little Kettle, aka Padma, clearly knows Nolan’s office is bugged and leaves no doubt in his mind of that fact either when she writes “not here” and shows it to him. Still don’t trust her, but Nolan wants to.

Mama Vicky, takes the necessary paperwork to Daniel, who’s office, of course, is being monitored by the Initiative….Maybe that’s exactly why Vicky went there, to flush out Helen? Well if that was her intent, it worked. Helen made a fatal mistake turning her back on mama bear Vicky. Oh dear, now what?

The wedding….fauxEm’s dream come true minus herself. L How shocking that she gave fauxAmanda the pipe cleaner ring! Oh Nolan, ever the fashion statement!

As they newlyweds drift off into the distance, we see Mr. Shadypants is on the boat and it’s clear, he’s up to no good.

SMASH  2-5-13  IT'S BAAAACK with a double episode.

I didn’t love the numerous flashbacks/flashforwards  playing while Karen was singing. It left me with numerous questions. Guessing that was the point…

So they had a great run in Boston and the next goal is to open on Broadway. “I hope you’re ready, it all starts now”…this weeks quote. Dear Ivy, "a woman scorned", words to remember. Her career in this show is clearly on the downhill.

I don’t think anyone would argue, Jennifer Hudson can belt one out. But I was surprised to see Karen going out with Derek “the womanizer”. I love Eileen & Jerry’s banter, so bitterly funny. The sarcasm runs deep between these two and it’s good tv. The interaction between these two past lovers keeps the laughs coming and never disappoint.

I found it out of character for the “director” to state that “Ivy and the ensemble are going to sing Smash”…I mean, why not just say “the ensemble is going to sing Smash”? Clearly, they had to point out that Ivy was included for the storyline but it didn’t seem authentic to the circumstances. I don’t like Karen’s new persona, using her connection with Derek/running to him to adversely affect someone, Ivy in this case. I mean I get that, I’d want to lash out too, but it doesn’t suit Karen’s character. I did love the duet with Karen and “Ronnie” aka Veronica aka Jennifer Hudson. Powerful. I did NOT love Karens dress, meh, Veronica’s was way more flattering and I hate when anyone thinks it’s classy to wear something that barely covers and teases to UNcover.

Wow the Sh** really hit the fan. EVERYthing seems to have fallen in the crapper at the same time. Leave it Karen to “discover” one last strand of hope. 

Part 2

Well this episode was aptly named, The Fallout. Seems like everyone is dealing with issues…tax, sexual harassment, personal…seems never ending. Karen, actress turned recruiter, but of course.

This week’s quote(s): Eileen, “Boys, there’s nothing to be gained by turning on each other”. Tom, “But it feels good”. Hahahha, good one. And then there was this one by Derek, “Oh Tom did you pack something warm for your trip to the moral high ground?”…. their constant bickering never gets old. Julia’s meltdown seems out of character to me, ok I get that her WHOLE life fell apart but not sure she is so weak that she’d let it go this long. I also, can’t see her being bff with Ivy but I suppose stranger things have happened. Oh Tom, way to “open mouth and insert foot”, promising to deliver not only Julia but to deliver a speech as well. Funny how he didn’t know this was exactly the thing to snap Julia out of her funk BUT leave it to Tom to “fall” into a solution. YES, Julia’s back, good to see.

LOVED Derek’s drunken delusion number. Also LOVED Ivy’s leather blazer she was wearing when she found the drunken stupor named Derek hanging out on her stoop. She impressed me when she avoided Derek’s lame attempt to get in her pants….again. You go Ivy, maybe you’ll change my impression of you after all. I did feel a tiny twinge of pity for her when she arrived at Derek’s with her attempt at a reconciliation only to hear him tell Karen, as she’s leaving, that her coming over was “nothing”. Seemed brutal.

BIGGEST LOSER  2-4-13 

Surprise! The first conflict is between Gina and Bob! They really get into it. Wasn’t expecting that. But  he calls her out for her attitude BUT eventually, they hug it out. The teams are all going to be represented at the final weigh in by only one member. No pressure for Jillian :D.

Why does Biingo spell his name with 2 i’s?

The weekly challenge is for only one contestant per team also. They’re matching calories to food, but the prize is a team win, letters from home. Of course, it’s NOT THAT easy, they have to traverse a balance beam, dodging swinging padded rollers and they suck at dodging! IF/WHEN they finally get to the end of the beam they grab a numbered plate and have to negotiate the beam back to the matching food. No one BUT Danni seems to be able to master this one. The biggest obstacle was the balance beam but then they had to get the right calories matched to the right food, five times. Oh and there are extra plates/calories…so it’s even harder. Danni finally takes it home but she’s also the only one to get the letters..Good on her.

Bob kills his team, they’ve slid through FIVE weigh-in’s so far. The odds are NOT in this teams favor that they’ll be able to keep this up. Jill takes Danni to an indoor parkour park, now THAT’S fun! Dolvett takes his to a boxing ring, where Laila Ali runs them through a whole work out, that looked like fun too! I enjoy the alternative workouts, just helps people to imagine/create different ways to stay in shape.

Final weigh in and only one team member’s weight will count for the whole team. The trainers will roll a die with the contestants pics on it to determine who’s weight will count. Which makes me wonder, a die is 6 sided right? Dolvetts team is 3 members so you figure 2 pics of each one. But Bob’s is 5 members and I’m not sure how they made that fair, then I see there is a BL logo on one side, problem solved :D. Joe is the “winner” from Dolvett’s team, everyone is ecstatic, he’s a good loser (meaning he loses the most weight typically). They still have to weigh in every contestant for the game, Jackson (how is he even still here?) only loses 1 pound. Francelina brings home 7! Then Joe is up, he loses 8…Jill’s team is next.  Danni is the only one left so of course she has to beat Joe, or loses more than 5 pounds. She loses 6! White team and Jill are safe for one more week. Bob’s team is next. Jeff is the one that counts for the blue team. But first, Gina loses 4, Alex loses 3 (not looking very good :\), Michael loses 8, David loses 3 and blue team is worried. Jeff has the weight of the team on his shoulders, he loses 6….Bob’s team’s first losing week L. Having said that, Michael and Jeff lose the most on the blue team. Michael can’t go home, time to vote. David goes home L, he’s been injured the whole show but clearly isn’t able to help his team as much as the rest. Understandable, in my opinion. I felt horrible for him though.

Did Allison have a pink patch of hair this week? Looked like they were trying to hide it by pulling it back, fail.

2-4-13

THE FOLLOWING - Have you seen this show yet? It's worth a watch. I've been sucked in.

This episode started out with crazy, masked guy Edgar Allen Poeing it up on the front steps of some building. I’m immediately wondering, is this after or before he lit a pedestrian on fire? Leave it to me to wonder too soon….shortly all is made clear as the masked “follower” stuffs his fake raven in his bag and heads straight for said pedestrian, pouring gas all over him before pointing the firestarter at him. What I don’t get is, how do all of those witnesses NOT do ANYTHING? Beat him with a coat or something?

Enter Ryan, he asks new FBI lady/Agent Parker (cult expert) if she thinks this cult is limited to six people. I knew I’d heard that number before, 6 members, maybe they previewed that scene.

They go to visit Jordy….”hey Jordy, how are you?”, “how am I feeling, you shot me”, “yeah, sorry about that”. Bahahahaha. I can NOT lie, I’m appreciating Ryan’s sense of “above the law”…how he broke Joe’s hand and smacked Jordy in the hospital bed.

Interesting  flashback to 2010, showing some new “members”. Then we find out, masked man = Rick Kestor. Not going to lie, I went back and forth about his wife, Maggie, Rick’s wife that is. I just had a feeling she wasn’t on the up and up. When Jordy told Agent Parker that Emma and her had planned the part where Joey would be kept, I KNEW IT! The “cult” keeps growing! So no surprise when Rick shows up at the back door to “escape” with his loving wife. Talk about SICK, Rick practicing his knife skills on his own wife! Thank goodness Ryan took out Rick, Maggie’s in the wind though.

When I saw a knife in Emma’s hand I KNEW she was going to use it, how did Paul NOT know? So I start to think this show is becoming a little more predictable, then “fire guy”/Rick perfects his knife skills on the professor and seems to have discovered a new passion. I mean we all knew he was looking for revenge for Carrol but I wasn’t expecting the stabbing. I do appreciate the flashbacks that enlighten the viewer about the origins of the story.

LOVED when Agent Parker called Ryan, “vodka breath”…hilarious.

Now I’m on the fence about Paul. I would have sworn he was in all actuality, gay. So now I wonder is he acting with the asian girl, trying to prove something to himself or is the “jealousy” thing just being blown all out of proportion? And then him bringing back his “captive”? Is this all for the sake of making Jacob jealous? OF COURSE IT IS! I KNEW Jacob was switch hitting!

How ironic is it that Ryan and Joe originally met because of Ryan’s trying to solve the murders that Joe was committing? Nice twist writers. And that they were in fact, friends at one point.

Saw the beginning of the video they sent Joey’s mom, no way I was going to watch them kill an animal…

Ok so I just feel like ranting, here goes....Dear Verizon, you need an attitude adjustment. Here's the thing, we've been with Verizon forever, since before there was a Verizon. I thought their, "upgrade" option after 2 years, to be able to buy a new phone at a "lower price" just for signing up for an additional 2 years, was decent. They've made it a joke. Now they are charging $30 per line per upgrade. How ridiculous. So much for being grateful for my continued business and new 2 year commitment. Well I found the phone I wanted at HH Gregg for only $20, it's over $100 on the Verizon website, and I decided to buy it and upgrade. In the middle of the upgrade, while the salesman was processing my change, he mentioned the new $30 fee and I told him to cancel everything. He wasn't happy but he backed it all out and while we were waiting for the process to complete, the manager came over and told me, he'd gladly take $30 off anything I'd like to buy in the store! I was tempted but I thanked him and left...empty handed. I was so furious with Verizon. How unappreciative and ungrateful. I LOVE my Dare but it's over 2 years old and the screen is terribly scratched plus I can not hear anyone who calls me anymore unless I use the speaker phone or ear buds...I needed a new phone. None the less I walked away. I called Verizon 3 times, their reps ALL told me, to complain and complain loud and often. They suggested emails. They told me the last time Verizon tried to implement a new fee (I think it was $2.00 processing fee for making a payment) they retracted it after receiving tons of complaints. So I did, I complained via phone, email and facebook. Then a few days later I returned to HH Gregg and bought the phone plus a dehumidifier, that\ we needed, with a $30 discount. I completely applaud HH Gregg, they truly appreciate me as a customer. They know how to show it too. They respect me. They won my loyalty....Verizon, not so much.