Kona Gallagher
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Review: Parks and Recreation - Hunting Trip
(S02E10) This episode is nice, because Leslie finally gets what she's wanted since the very beginning of the series: to be one of the guys. I know I talk about this a lot, but it's just because the writers have done such an exceptional job: I love how Leslie is actually competent in some areas, instead of being the bumbling fool they wrote her as at the beginning of the first season. When she says she's an excellent hunter, it's not just self-delusion: she's actually an excellent hunter. Well, we really don't see enough to determine whether or not she's "excellent," but she totally bagged a quail on her first try and she didn't shoot Ron in the head, so she's at least pretty good compared to the rest of her hunting party.
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Review: Castle - Love Me Dead
(S02E09) Oh, yet another "hooker with a heart of gold" story. She's putting herself through law school! She had dreams when she came to New York in a rusted out Beetle, only to have them dashed! Scarlet was such an annoyingly stereotypical character, that she was beginning to sour what was an otherwise enjoyable episode. But really, that's my fault. Because if I would have had more faith in the beauty that is Castle, then I would have known that things were not as they appeared.
That's what I ultimately ended up loving about this episode: it went along in such a predictable route: bring a suspect in during the first five minutes, then release him because it's the first five minutes and we obviously can't find out who the killer is for at least another 40 minutes or so. Have the hooker, but then make us see what a sweet girl she is. This episode of castle lulled the viewers into complacency by showing us things we've seen a million times before-- only to turn it all on its head.
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Review: The Big Bang Theory - The Adhesive Duck Deficiency
(S03E08) I'm going to just say it right up front: This was the best episode of the season so far, and is neck and neck with the Leonard Nimoy Christmas episode for title of "best episode ever." Though there were two very distinct stories going on here, they were both hilarious. Too often, when the group is separated, the B plot flounders. However, this week, while Raj, Leonard and Wolowitz in the desert wasn't quite as jaw-dropping as Sheldon grabbing Penny's boob(!), it was pretty damn hilarious.
So, about the desert: Pot cookies. It's amazing to me that something so cliched could end up being so unbelievably funny. While all three of the guys made me laugh, Raj was the real scene-stealer. From his threat to eat all of the lettuce in the world and make his rabbit subjects watch, to the American accent he uses to mock Wolowitz and Leonard, everything that came out of his mouth was pure comic gold.
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Review: Parks and Recreation - The Camel
(S02E09) It's nice to see an episode where everybody in the office (and Ann) is working together. They're usually broken up into their own smaller storylines, so people like Donna often get shoved into the background, if we see her at all. This time, she was front and center, along with Jesus Greg Kinnear, and Indiana's pride, Michael Jackson. Speaking of which-- American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert was born in Indianapolis, so he totally could have helped round out the table.
Jerry, another mainly background character, generally serves as the show's whipping boy, which I find really funny -- especially in the episode where they were all trying to dig up dirt on each other, and he found out he was adopted. Granted, that's pretty bad, but I still laughed. This time though, where they ridiculed him and dismissed his mural, it didn't really work for me.
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Review: Top Chef - Strip Around The World
(S06E11) This episode isn't about drama, stunts, or (gasp!) vegetarians. It is simply a case of "we have six chefs and we need to get down to five," so it kind of felt like a filler episode. The guest judge was Nigella Lawson, and while Nigella Lawson would be a welcome edition to any TV show, there just isn't a whole lot going on here.Although, I will say that the quickfire challenge probably provided foodie fantasy fodder worldwide, as it opened up with Padma in bed, wearing a robe with tousled hair -- and if that wasn't enough, we find that Nigella is also in a robe and in bed as well. Granted, they're different beds, but still: same room. The ostensible reason for this was to to a breakfast in bed Quickfire challenge, but come on-- they didn't have Tom Colicchio in that bed.
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Review: The Big Bang Theory - The Guitarist Amplification
(S03E07) While the actual plot points were different, didn't this episode seem a lot like last week's? You have Leonard trying to adapt to Penny's outside friends, Raj and Wolowitz marginalized and forced into a weird couples' spat, and Sheldon pretty much carrying the comedy load with his recollections of growing up in Texas.
I'm glad that they're showing Leonard and Penny in an actual relationship and not just finding contrived reasons for them to break up, but as far as relationship storylines go, this was a pretty boring one. I'm kind of on Leonard's side with this one, and believe me, I know how little fights can devolve into something ridiculous, but this whole fight thing was just really shrill and not entertaining.
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Right now on Cinematical
The folks at our sister site Cinematical are working hard to give you news and reviews of the best -- and worst -- the silver screen has to offer. Here are some of their musings on the latest blockbusters, indies, and everything in between:- Con: Another vampire movie. Pro: It involves Clueless director Amy Heckerling and Krysten Ritter from Veronica Mars and Breaking Bad. I'm so conflicted!
- Good thing Ian McKellen is so graceful, otherwise, he probably would have drop-kicked Elisabeth Hasselbeck during his recent appearance on The View.
- Is it just me, or does The Men Who Stare at Goats look amazing? See if it lives up to the hype by reading Cinematical's review.
- Cinematical takes a look at some of the best and worst biopics, and I really enjoy the ones on the "best" list. Of course, I also love a few on the worst list, like Evita.
- I really want to see Precious, but I'm also terrified of it. Oprah told me I need to go see it though, and I don't like to defy Oprah. You can read Cinematical's review of Precious here.
"Gettin' Rid of Britta" - the music video
Leave it to the folks behind Community to go the extra mile for a joke. Last night's episode featured Britta's small-nippled ex, Vaughn, singing a song about what a B Britta is. First of all, I love it when anyone on TV calls someone a "B," because it always makes me think of Arrested Development ("Don't call mother a 'B,' Michael!"), and secondly, having Pierce on keyboards and backup vocals singing about how Britta is a "GD B," is just hilarious.
My sister has a friend named Britta, so anytime there's any Britta hate on Community, we harass her on her Facebook profile with clips. Because maturity is my middle name. So enjoy this video and bask in the glory of more of Vaughn's tortured rhyme schemes. Sample lyric: "I wouldn't strangle her, but I would sell her to the highest bidder." It even becomes a singalong at the end!
[Watch clips and episodes of Community on SlashControl.]
My sister has a friend named Britta, so anytime there's any Britta hate on Community, we harass her on her Facebook profile with clips. Because maturity is my middle name. So enjoy this video and bask in the glory of more of Vaughn's tortured rhyme schemes. Sample lyric: "I wouldn't strangle her, but I would sell her to the highest bidder." It even becomes a singalong at the end!
[Watch clips and episodes of Community on SlashControl.]
Review: Parks and Recreation - Ron and Tammy
(S02E08) All I'm saying is that it's about time someone took down those smug bastards in the library system. What, with their providing citizens with books and resources for free and their stupid desire to turn abandoned lots into more branches where they can sling their literacy propaganda at an unsuspecting populace. Disgusting.
I loved seeing Megan Mullally on primetime again. After the disastrous In the Motherhood (of which she was by far the best part), it's great to see her in a show I actually enjoy. As Tammy, she gives further credence to the theory that Leslie Knope isn't actually crazy: City government in Pawnee, Indiana really is as dog-eat-dog and cut-throat as she seems to think it is.
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The best thing you'll see all day: Real Housewife Kim Zolciak performing Tardy for the Party
I don't actually watch The Real Housewives of Atlanta, but as I have a pulse and an internet connection, I am all to aware of housewife Kim Zolciak and her uh, club jam, "Tardy for the Party." For those of you who may not be totally up on the whole Atlanta saga, Kim is the one who's dating a married man named Big Papa and wears a wig, which she said was due to a battle with cancer-- until she admitted that she had never actually had cancer; she just thought she might one time until she actually went to the doctor.
So anyway, The Real Housewives of Atlanta reunion, hosted by Bravo exec Andy Cohen, is airing on Thursday, and part of the festivities involve Kim singing her "hit." You guys, there are two important items to note about this performance: 1) she has dancers and 2) she is not lip-synching.
Have you ever had a drunken friend or relative get up and sing a really inappropriate karaoke song, and you just smiled uncomfortably and prayed for it to be over quickly? This is like that-- except it is most definitely not over quickly.
So anyway, The Real Housewives of Atlanta reunion, hosted by Bravo exec Andy Cohen, is airing on Thursday, and part of the festivities involve Kim singing her "hit." You guys, there are two important items to note about this performance: 1) she has dancers and 2) she is not lip-synching.
Have you ever had a drunken friend or relative get up and sing a really inappropriate karaoke song, and you just smiled uncomfortably and prayed for it to be over quickly? This is like that-- except it is most definitely not over quickly.
The TV Squad Podcast: The Prisoner, '80s TV, soap news and more
Let's talk about spoilers ...
The Prisoner -- An early look
