Bi-Monthly Power Rankings- Top Ten

It's time for the March Power Rankings Top 10...

Place. Show (Last Time) red=moving down, green=moving up

10. Mad Men (9) Sundays on AMC
The long wait is almost over.  Mad Men returns in March.

9. Happy Endings (11) Wednesdays on ABC
If this show keeps climbing the way it has, Happy Endings might find its way into the top five by the end of the year.

8. Sons of Anarchy (8) Tuesdays on FX
Kurt Sutter is announcing new characters.  I wish one of them was replacing a dead Clay Morrow. Oh well.

7. It's Always Sunny (7) Thursdays on FX
Can the next season compete with the genius they put forth this fall?

6. Breaking Bad (5) Sundays on AMC
If you only count the second half of the season, Breaking Bad would be a top three show.  Don't forget the boring first half of the season.

5. Curb Your Enthusiasm (3) Sundays on HBO
The weaker episodes of the season are starting to make their way into my memory.

4. Community (6) Thursdays on NBC
Who's excited to see Troy and Abed back togetherrrrrrr?

3. Homeland (4) Sundays on Showtime
Will season two be able to build on the greatness of the first?

2. Game of Thrones (2) Sundays on HBO
Less than a month away until Game of Thrones is back!  Winter is still coming!  It's always coming!

1. Justified (1) Tuesdays on FX
Has this season disappointed?  Nope.

Bi-Monthly Power Rankings- 20 Through 11

For my 81st post of the day, here are shows 20 through 11 of the March Power Rankings.

Place. Show (Last Time) red=moving down, green=moving up

20. Dexter (17) Sundays on Showtime
I'm still holding out hope that this awful season, and the anticlimactic reveal at the end of it, haven't ruined the series completely.

19. Big Brother (-) Summers on CBS
I've missed this summer series so much that it makes its way back into the top 20.  As annoyed as I get by its contestants, it's still more interesting than most of the competitions on tv.

18. Shameless (-) Sundays on Showtime
The increased role for Steve Howey as Kevin has me thoroughly enjoying season two.

17. 30 Rock (-) Thursdays on NBC
It's been a long time since this laugher has made the power rankings, but a back-to-form sixth season will do that for you.  Jenna Maroney has been on point this year.

16. Wilfred (16) Thursdays on FX
The second season premiere date of June 28 already has me excited to watch my favorite man in a dog suit this summer.

15. Parenthood (13) Tuesdays on NBC
It hasn't gotten me as emotional as of late, but I always enjoy sitting down to watch the Bravermans.  I nice guest appearance by Kadeem Hardison a couple weeks ago didn't hurt either.

14. Survivor (15) Wednesdays on CBS
This season looks to be as good as ever, with a bunch of dudes taking out the chicks one-by-one...well except for the women winning this week.

13. Boardwalk Empire (14) Sundays on HBO
It won't return for a while, and with that finale, it's going to be tough to wait.

12. Fringe (HM) Fridays on FOX
I am still angry that I gave up on this show after seven episodes in season one.  I'm glad that I made my way back though.  It's been a fun ride, and I really hope it doesn't get cancelled this year.

11. The Vampire Diaries (12) Thursdays on The CW
The only bad thing about this underrated show is the fact that it takes such long breaks sometimes.  I wish all shows would use the cable formula of running straight through a season with no breaks.

American Idol Top 25- Flawed Game

Well my Fantasy Idol season is over.  Only one of my five picks made it to the Top 13, which brings me to my next point.  This game is seriously flawed.  Not in fairness, because I did a bad job picking my team, so I deserve to be gone.  Instead, it is flawed in enjoyment.  I know that I have no chance to do anything at this point, so I have much less rooting interest in the season.

I'm thinking about starting a new fantasy Idol game.  I like the idea of either a survivor pool like in the NFL, where you pick one person that won't get eliminated that week, and you can only pick one contestant once throughout the season.  Or, I also like something to do with predicting the bottom three.  I'm going to try and get those going as well as continuing this regular fantasy league.

On a final note, I decided not to allow Rizzo to take on Jermaine Jones, not because it would have given him four contestants in the Top 13, but because Jack asked me earlier if he could just pick the "wildcard contestant" and I told him no.  It wouldn't be fair to give Rizz Jermaine after the fact.  He's still in good shape with three in the finals.

Rizzo
Jessica Sanchez: Top 10 (+10)
Shannon Magrane: Top 10 (+10)
Elise Testone: Top 10 (+10)
Aaron Marcellus: Out (-3)
Johnny Keyser: Never made it
Team Total: 27

Larry
Phillip Phillips: Top 10 (+10)
Skylar Laine: Top 10 (+10)
Erika Van Pelt: Wildcard (+6)
Adam Brock: Out (-3)
Brielle Von Hugel: Wildcard Chance (+3)
Team Total: 26

Tyson
Heejun Han: Top 10 (+10)
Hollie Cavanaugh: Top 10 (+10)
Jeremy Rosado: Wildcard (+6)
Hallie Day: Out (-3)
Chase Likens: Out (-3)
Team Total: 20

Me
Colton Dixon: Top 10 (+10)
Reed Grimm: Wildcard Chance (+3)
Eben Franckewitz: Out (-3)
Haley Johnson: Out (-3)
Jen Hirsh: Wildcard Chance (+3)
Team Total: 10

Jack
Deandre Brackensick: Wildcard (+6)
Baylie Brown: Out (-3)
Joshua Ladet: Top 10 (+10)
Chelsea Sorrell: Out (-3)
Creighton Fraker: Out (-3)
Team Total: 7

The Office 817 Review- Pyramid Scheme

Dwight- "Okay, okay. I will be the first to admit it. We could have integrated more Chuck into the presentation."

Sometimes, the little moments in life are what make it grand, and sometimes the little moments in an episode of The Office are also what make it come together in the end.

That was true of "Test the Store," as Jim's heartfelt act of helping Dwight out with the presentation more than made up for the fact that the cold open and first act went laugh-less.

Thankfully things started to pick up in the second act, beginning with Creed's flawless execution of Toby's Strike, Scream, Run plan. Slapping Meredith upside the head, letting out a big "yaaap" and running out of the conference room might have been the best Creed moment of the season.

We also benefited from the good Andy Bernard this week. You know the one, the guy that isn't ridiculously irritating. Yeah, we don't see him very often, but he was back, and him trying to get details out of Toby on how to defend yourself against a fifth grade girl was hilarious.

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

The Office 817 - "Test the Store"
Review
Recap
Quotes

30 Rock 610 Review- "What You Got Cooking?

Tracy- "The sight of these people, plus the crayons I ate earlier, make me sick."

"Alexis Goodlooking and the Case of the Missing Whisky" was yet another funny episode of 30 Rock's sixth season, filled with a number of hilarious one-off jokes.

Those stand alone quips are exactly what make 30 Rock so watchable even when it might fail to knock the episodic stories out of the park.  Jack helping Kenneth make it in this world, and Frank using Liz to hide the love affair with his former teacher, weren't all that inherently funny, but each had its share of laughs.

I loved that Jack did an entire speech on eye contact by using no words. His title was the best part! The fact that Kenneth's rival was four credits shy of a degree in Bro Studies at Syracuse was also good, but my favorite moment from that story had to be Jack's Family Matters reference.

As a child of the 90s I appreciate any mention of a series that once aired on TGIF, but the fact that he referenced Stefan Urquelle made it that much more amazing. Jaleel White must be the coolest dude in the world if he makes Stefan look like Steve Urkel.

To read the rest of my review of last night's 30 Rock, head over to TV Fanatic.

30 Rock 610 - "Alexis Goodlooking and the Case of the Missing Whisky"
Review
Recap
Quotes

Survivor Week 3- Led Them To Stray

Defending champion Larry remains on top of the Champions League, but after passing Jack this week, I'm coming for the champ.  I love my man Jaybird's move this week.  It was so subtle, but the way that he worked himself into the numbers was perfect.  He realized the situation, and although he liked Matt and Michael more, he knew he had to be in with Colton, Troyzan, and the bunch to stick around.  I love his move, and I have faith in him moving forward.

Meanwhile, Jaydon has a hurtin' squad.  The fact that he started with three females is the least of his worries, and in fact, it was the only thing keeping him alive this week as the women won both challenges.  Spending all of that money on an alpha male is risky, and in this case, it didn't work out for Jaydon with Matt.  I knew that there were three strong challenge-winning guys coming in (Matt, Michael, and Jay).  I wanted to get Jay in the auction because I thought he was the least assuming out of the group.  It's a high risk-reward situation with those types, but without one, you are in trouble.

Down in the Developmental League, it has become a two man race now that Mags has lost Matt for the season.  He is left with Tarzan, Kim and Alicia, and while I can see Kim making it far in this game, I don't think it's going to be enough to get Mags back into the Champions League next fall.

Champions League

Larry

Michael -76: W3 (+4)= -72
Kat -81: Reward (+4), Immunity (+8), W3 (+4)= -65
Jonas +8: W3 (+4)= +12
Tarzan +14: W3 (+4)= +18

Last Week -135: Team Total= -107

Me

Jay -57: W3 (+4)= -53
Chelsea -127: Reward (+4), Immunity (+8), W3 (+4)= -111
Monica -12: Reward (+4), Immunity (+8), W3 (+4)= +4
Colton +22: Votes (-4), W3 (+4)= +22

Last Week -174: Team Total= -138

Jack

Troyzan -27: W3 (+4)= -23
Christina -66: Reward (+4), Immunity (+8), W3 (+4)= -50
Kourtney -45
Bill -22: Votes (-4), W3 (+4)= -22

Last Week -160: Team Total= -140

Jaydon

Matt -72: Votes (-28)= -100
Kim -107: Reward (+4), Immunity (+8), W3 (+4)= -91
Alicia -2: Reward (+4), Immunity (+8), W3 (+4)= +14
Nina -24

Last Week -205: Team Total= -201



Free Agents
Leif +23: W3 (+4)= +27
Sabrina +13: Reward (+4), Immunity (+8), W3 (+4)= +29

Developmental League

Marsh

Jay: W3 (+4)= +4
Chelsea: Reward (+4), Immunity (+8), W3 (+4)= +16
Bill: Votes (-4), W3 (+4)= 0
Christina: Reward (+4), Immunity (+8), W3 (+4)= +16

Week 3= +36, Team Total= +84

Tippy

Troyzan: W3 (+4)= +4
Kat: Reward (+4), Immunity (+8), W3 (+4)= +16
Colton: Votes (-4), W3 (+4)= 0
Monica: Reward (+4), Immunity (+8), W3 (+4)= +16

Week 3= +36, Team Total= +84

Mags

Matt: Votes (-28)= -28
Kim: Reward (+4), Immunity (+8), W3 (+4)= +16
Alicia: Reward (+4), Immunity (+8), W3 (+4)= +16
Tarzan: W3 (+4)= +4

Week 3= +8, Team Total= +52

Rizzo

Michael: W3 (+4)= +4
Jonas: W3 (+4)= +4
Kourtney
Nina

Week 3= +8, Team Total= -3




Free Agents
Leif: W3 (+4)= +4
Sabrina: Reward (+4), Immunity (+8), W3 (+4)= +16

Bi-Monthly Power Rankings- Honorable Mentions

I am so sick right now that I can't move, but the Quiet Pool Bi-Monthly Power Rankings wait for no man's health.  So without further ado, here are March's Honorable Mentions.

Show (Last Time) red=moving down, green=moving up

Alcatraz (-) Mondays on FOX
I'm a few episodes behind on Alcatraz, which probably isn't a good sign.  They have yet to really grab me, but I'm hoping things pick up before the end of season one.

Hart of Dixie (-) Mondays on The CW
Summer Roberts and company have me enjoying myself every Monday in Bluebell.  It's really not all that exciting, but it's fun.

House of Lies (-) Sundays on Showtime
I still don't know what to think about the Don Cheadle dramedy.  It's really not all that funny, and the drama is not anything special.

Luck (-) Sundays on HBO
I am really enjoying Luck thus far. Nothing has been as good as the premiere, but it's all solid.

The Office (19) Thursdays on NBC
It hasn't been as bad as of late, thanks to the super group down in Tallahassee, but it's still a shell of its former self with Andy Bernard at the helm.

One Tree Hill (-) Wednesdays on The CW
They were having the best season since the fourth before the past few episodes basically stood still.  The return of Chad Michael Murray could have been so much more than it was.

Revenge (18) Wednesdays on ABC
These guys really lost me with that complete fake out with Daniel a couple weeks ago.  It's one thing to surprise the audience, and it is a whole other to do it the way they did.

The River (-) Tuesdays on ABC
I'm digging The River so far, and Joe Alexander is getting way too criticized, but it's not a blockbuster.  I like that they're only doing an eight-episode first season, because it won't allow them to get boring with their stories.

Smash (-) Mondays on NBC
Bringing Little Nicky Jonas on your show is only going to make it better.  For them it's just a shame he isn't a main character.  I've been liking Smash so far, but some of the dialogue is on a level with Terra Nova.

The Walking Dead (20) Sundays on AMC
While things have gotten a bit better over the past couple weeks, this has still been an extremely boring second season.

One Tree Hill 908 Review- Planes, Maimed and What She Must Feel

Logan- "I like him...and those suckers he gives out."

Clay- "Oh, those suckers are clutch."

"A Rush of Blood to the Head," while not perfect, and certainly not at the pace seemingly necessary with only five episodes remaining in the series, was filled with a number of epic moments that pushed One Tree Hill forward on a number of levels.

Clay's revelation, Chase's decision and everything that happened with Haley were some of the most entertaining and emotional moments of the season so far. These characters took some big steps - either backward or forward - and they really have me looking forward to the home stretch.

Let's begin with Mr. Evans, who I have been extremely critical of as a character in these reviews over the past two seasons. His monumental revelation coincided perfectly with the monumental fact that I really enjoyed his story this week. What? I enjoyed Clay?

Yup. For the first time since Robert Buckley joined the cast, the writers were able to write a story for him that got the audience involved emotionally. Maybe it was because Logan was so darn cute, or maybe it was because it was a deep-seeded trouble that began before we even met the character, but I felt for him when he found out that Logan was his kid.

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

One Tree Hill 908 - "A Rush of Blood to the Head"
Review
Recap
Quotes