Homeland 102 Review- A Hero Comes Along

Carrie- "No one said becoming a terrorist would be easy."

It definitely wasn't simple for Sergeant Nicholas Brody, but by the end of "Grace" it seems rather clear that he has come out of his PTSD funk just enough to be the terrorist the Abu Nazir wanted him to be.

Figuring out Brody's deal came much quicker than I thought it would have, as we are now only two episodes into the series, but it was so intriguing watching the man become standoffish with his family and finally play the hero card to the American public that it's easy to forgive the speed at which this development occurred.

While many of the stories in "Grace" were so exciting to watch unfold, it is this character development of Nicholas Brody that has been so fun to grab onto.

I originally thought that the fact that both Carrie and the audience weren't able to see inside the garage was going to make for some very interesting reactions from Claire Danes and everyone watching as this series moved forward. However, after showing the former POW in the garage, with his newly acquired prayer rug, it seems that the dramatic irony involved gives way to a much more exciting viewing experience.

To read the rest of my review of last night's Homeland, head over to TV Fanatic.

Homeland 102 - "Grace"
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Weekly Comedy Rankings- To The Max

I tried to wait as long as possible for Jaydon to get his Weekly Comedy Rankings in, but it's Sunday and it's time to get these up online. Update: Apparently my Twitter skills aren't as good as I thought, because Jaydon had his up before me this week.  My rankings for the week are below. A few notes: I have yet to watch this week's Up All Night, I have quit Whitney, 2 Broke Girls, and Big Bang Theory. Sadly, How to be a Gentleman has been cancelled. It wasn't great, but it's supporting cast gave the show promise. Rhys Darby needs to be working in this business. The guy is hilarious.

1. Happy Endings
2. Community
3. It's Always Sunny
4. New Girl
5. The Office
6. Parks and Recreation
7. Modern Family
8. Suburgatory
9. The League
10. iCarly
11. How to be a Gentleman
12. Raising Hope
13. South Park
14. Raising Hope
15. Family Guy
16. Wizards of Waverly Place
17. ANT Farm
18. Two and a Half Men

MVP is Max Blum of Happy Endings. This guy and his show have been having a fantastic start to the show's second season. Funniest moment was on Modern Family when Phil Dunphy said "that appears to be ice cream cake" and guest star David Cross shouted "Well it's not!"

LVP is Darryl Philbin of The Office. Him and Andy really tried to ruin this week's episode. Least funny moment was anything Seth Rogen did in the season premiere of The League.

The Office 803 Review- How Darryl Got His Groove Back

Pam- "I think we should get a townhouse in SoHo."

Ryan- "SoHo's mostly lofts but okay."

In "Lotto" we were treated to an interesting buddy story featuring Darryl Philbin going from down in the dumps about not winning the lottery to finally getting his groove back, and Andy Bernard continuing to grow as a leader as he helped Darryl crawl out from rock bottom.

It all culminated in a tremendously inspiring speech from Andy to Darryl, who finally figured out that his future was "going to be determined by two big black balls." His words, not mine.

A perfectly interesting story of character development on The Office, but the problem with this screen-stealing story was that it really wasn't all that funny. The quote above from Darryl was really the only thing going for it.

Some may enjoy themselves some Darryl Philbin, but I've never cared for regular Darryl from a comedic standpoint, so a deeply depressed Darryl was just the worst.

To read the rest of my review of last night's The Office, head over to TV Fanatic.

The Office 803 - "Lotto"
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Survivor Week 4- Hot Skillet

So Mark lost the duel and is out of the game of Survivor, which means I have gone his entire run without calling him by that ridiculous self-made nickname. The streak of the tribes rotating which one wins the immunity challenge continued, which always makes things more interesting as we get closer and closer to a merge. And finally, the most logical and mundane choice of elimination was sent home once again. How is Upolu not figuring out that they need to get rid of Brandon even though they realize he's such a crazy person?

L'il Hantz continued to not only be the most hypocritical person in Survivor history, but he achieved this feat within seconds. In single sentences, the kid gives opinions on completely opposite sides of arguments. It's truly astounding how he does this time and time again. He's lost his mind.

On the other side of the game, Ozzy was complaining about everything being about strategy for Jim. There is a big difference between strategizing all the time from the get go, and talking about strategizing all the time from the get go. The former is necessary if you want to play this game correctly. The latter is just plain obnoxious.

With the alternating wins in challenges the fantasy scores aren't all that exciting so far, but Tippy regained the lead in the Development league, so there's that. It would help if we had a reward challenge every once in a while. I remember the days when every week there was a reward challenge and an immunity challenge. What happened?

So get scrambling like scrambled eggs in a hot skillet, and then take a look at the scores...

Champions League

Larry

Brandon -12: W4 (+7)= -5
Rick -32: W4 (+7)= -25
Christine -17: Duel Win (+10)= -7
Dawn -15: Immunity (+8), W4 (+7)= 0

Last Week -76: Team Total= -37

Jaydon

Ozzy -55: Immunity (+8), W4 (+7)= -40
Whitney -65: Immunity (+8), W4 (+7)= -50
Cochran -23: Immunity (+8), W4 (+7)= -8
Edna -1: Votes (-4), W4 (+7)= +2

Started at -144: Team Total= -96

Dan

Albert -47: W4 (+7)= -40
Mikayla -7: W4 (+7)= 0
Jim -59: Immunity (+8), W4 (+7)= -44
Semhar -43

Started at -157: Team Total= -127

Mags

Coach -32: W4 (+7)= -25
Elyse -135: Immunity (+8), W4 (+7)= -120
Keith -135: Immunity (+8), W4 (+7)= -120
Mark -163: Duel Loss (-10)= -173

Started at -465: Team Total= -438



Free Agents
Sophie +19: W4 (+7)= +26
Stacey +11: Votes (-28)= -17

Developmental League

Tippy

Ozzy: Immunity (+8), W4 (+7)= +15
Cochran: Immunity (+8), W4 (+7)= +15
Elyse: Immunity (+8), W4 (+7)= +15
Sophie: W4 (+7)= +7

Week 4= +52, Team Total= +128

Jack

Albert: W4 (+7)= +7
Whitney: Immunity (+8), W4 (+7)= +15
Coach: W4 (+7)= +7
Edna: Votes (-4), W4 (+7)= +3

Week 4= +32, Team Total= +112

Marsh

Mikayla: W4 (+7)= +7
Rick: W4 (+7)= +7
Dawn: Immunity (+8), W4 (+7)= +15
Christine: Duel Win (+10)= +10

Week 4= +39, Team Total= +103

Rizzo

Keith: Immunity (+8), W4 (+7)= +15
Mark: Duel Loss (-10)= -10
Brandon: W4 (+7)= +7
Jim: Immunity (+8), W4 (+7)= +15

Week 4= +27, Team Total= +63



Free Agents
Stacey: Votes (-28)= -28
Semhar

Terra Nova 102 Review- Pterosaurs and Pheromones

Some criticized the Terra Nova pilot for lacking in character development, saying it relied too much on its flashy special effects to excite its viewers. Others, including myself, enjoyed Shannons, the mysterious events and the overall epic nature of "Genesis."

I don't foresee as much of a divide happening in regards to "Instinct." Don't get me wrong, the sights were still very much for sore eyes, but everything else about Terra Nova's third hour was pretty disheartening.

Maybe it was hidden in the pilot by all the bright colors, but this time around the acting - especially in terms of spoken word - felt amazingly mediocre. Jim attempting to make dinner and help his kids with homework in the kitchen was tough to watch, as was Maddie attempting to ask her father about boys.

Even more troublesome was how stiff Stephen Lang was throughout the hour. I gave his robotic portrayal of Nathaniel Taylor a pass in the pilot, but it's only become worse. Maybe it's just the writing he was given here, but every time the Commander spoke, I wanted to hold my head in my hands.

To read the rest of my review of last night's Terra Nova, head over to TV Fanatic.

Terra Nova 102 - "Instinct"
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Homeland 101 Review- CIA-mazing

Carrie- "Because Abu Nazir is playing the long game. This way no one expects a thing."

Saul- "Except you?"

Carrie- "Except me."

Homeland is the best new show of the year, and its pilot was definitely one of the best season premieres of the fall.

Anchored by stunning lead performances from Claire Danes and Damian Lewis, this CIA-based Showtime series has everything you could ask for and more in regards to interesting characters, intriguing story lines, and edge-of-your seat suspense.

The most intriguing characters, of course, come courtesy of the performances from Danes and Lewis. The former plays Carrie Anderson, a fantastic CIA agent, who causes herself more trouble than anyone would like to admit. The latter is Sergeant Nicholas Brody, a former American Prisoner of War returning home, who seems to have been turned by terrorist leader Abu Nazir during his time abroad.

Danes is so good in this first episode at revealing to the audience who Carrie is, without letting go all of the character's secrets. She seems to be pretty brilliant. She is definitely a little crazy. But most of all, she sure is dedicated to her work, which will most likely be the driving force of the series as things move forward.

To read the rest of my review of last night's series premiere of Homeland, head over to TV Fanatic.

Homeland 101 - "Pilot"
Review
Recap
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Weekly Comedy Rankings- Year of Penny

It is Saturday, which means it's time to take a look at the Weekly Comedy Rankings for the second time. Jaydon has yet to release his rankings, but I have watched enough comedies this week for everybody, so take a look at mine in the meantime...

Dan

1. It's Always Sunny - "Frank Reynolds' Little Beauties"
2. Happy Endings - "Blax, Snake, Home"
3. Modern Family - "Phil on Wire"
4. Community - "Geography of Global Conflict"
5. iCarly - "iLove You"
6. Archer - "Heart of Archness Part III"
7. The Office - "The Incentive"
8. New Girl - "Kryptonite"
9. How to be a Gentleman - "Pilot"
10. Parks and Rec - "Ron and Tammys"
11. Suburgatory - "Pilot"
12. Raising Hope - "Sabrina Has Money"
13. Family Guy - "Lottery Fever"
14. Up All Night - "Working Late and Working It"
15. Good Luck Charlie - "Alley Oops"
16. Two and a Half Men - "People Who Love Peepholes"
17. Big Bang Theory - "The Pulled Groin Extrapolation"
18. Whitney - "First Date"
19. 2 Broke Girls - "And the Break-Up Scene"

Wow...that's a lot of comedies for one week. After giving 2 Broke Girls and Whitney two episode courtesies, I will stop watching both of the train wrecks. I have tried a couple of Big Bang premieres in the past and not enjoyed it. This season I gave it three episodes, and it's just not for me. Two and a Half Men and Raising Hope are on the chopping block next. There's only so much television the kid can watch.

With no live action characters really stepping up to the plate, my MVP goes to Archer's Sterling Archer. The funniest moment was Mac's assumption that the Always Sunny gang was going to be heavily involved in the beauty pageant.

T-Time

1. Community - "Geography of Global Conflict"
2. Happy Endings - "Blax, Snake, Home"
3. It's Always Sunny - "Frank Reynolds' Little Beauties"
4. Modern Family - "Phil on Wire"
5. The Office - "The Incentive"
6. iCarly - "iLove You"
7. Parks and Rec - "Ron and Tammys"
8. How to be a Gentleman - "Pilot"
9. New Girl - "Kryptonite"
10. Up All Night - "Working Late and Working It"
11. Suburgatory - "Pilot"

MVP is Happy Endings' Max Blum. Funniest moments were Chris Traeger doing PSA on Parks and Rec, and Gibby on the couch with the babysitter on iCarly.

Jack

1. Happy Endings - "Blax, Snake, Home"
2. Modern Family - "Phil on Wire"
3. It's Always Sunny - "Frank Reynolds' Little Beauties"
4. Community - "Geography of Global Conflict"
5. The Office - "The Incentive"
6. iCarly - "iLove You"
7. New Girl - "Kryptonite"
8. How to be a Gentleman - "Pilot"
9. Parks and Rec - "Ron and Tammys"
10. Up All Night - "Working Late and Working It"
11. Suburgatory - "Pilot"

MVP is also Happy Endings' Max Blum. And funniest moments was Gibby on the couch on iCarly.

Feel free to leave your own weekly comedy rankings in the comments or every Friday on Twitter with hashtag #WCR.

The Office 802 Review- The Hard Dog

Robert- "There's something about an underdog that really inspires the unexceptional."

Robert California's words rang true as "The Incentive" may have proved that in his own backward way, Andy Bernard can get this group of misfits to work hard.

Unfortunately, allowing this Nard Dog to be the lead character of The Office is not off to a strong start. Other than Kevin screaming "Nooooooo!" when Dwight poured a bunch of walnuts into the brownie mix, the episode was hurting for laughs.

Andy works in bits and pieces, and even in that sense his comic stylings have waned over the past few years. To compound the problem, Dwight has seemingly taken more of backseat than normal over the first two episodes of the season.

Everyone loved the Jim/Dwight prank dynamic of the first three years or so. When they brought it back in full force last season, it was a shot in the arm for the series. Why not allow those two to step up into bigger roles? Jim has seemingly remained in a similar standing in terms of camera time, but Dwight had maybe three or four lines of dialogue tonight? That's silly.

To read the rest of my review of last night's The Office, head over to TV Fanatic.

The Office 802 - "The Incentive"
Review
Recap
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