The Voice 207 Review- I Want To Know Who Jamar Is

Granted, there was no Jesse Campbell vs. Anthony Evans showdown this week. But Part Two of The Voice's Battle Round was filled with a number of good performers taking each other on in the ring.

If there is any reason for concern at this point in the competition, it is definitely that the coaches don't have as much opportunity to shine during the Battle Rounds. There just isn't enough time for Blake to crack a million jokes, and for Adam to gloat about winning season one when there is all this talent to showcase on stage. Let's take a look at said talent in this week's Battle Round...

Team Xtina - Geoff McBride vs. Sera Hill - "Chain of Fools"

The Battle: Surprisingly, Sera was kind of overpowering Geoff from the get go. Also strange, because I remember liking him during his audition, was that Geoff sounded sharp both in his practice and the battle itself. She did miss a pretty big note, though, so it was close to a toss-up for me.
My Choice: Sera
Xtina's Choice: Sera
Battle Grade: C+

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

American Idol Top 13- She's The Sanchize

This is super late, and because of how busy I was this week, I only got to watch American Idol in the express style.  That is that thing where you only watch the performances, cutting out all judges comments, preview packages, and Seacrest filler.

My favorites of the night were Phil Phillips and Jessica Sanchez.  Jessica's performance was one of the best female performances I've ever seen on Idol, and blew away Jennifer Hudson's rendition of the same song at the Grammy's a few weeks ago.  She is pretty great, but Phil Phillips is still going to win this thing.

I picked Phil and Jack took Hollie Cavanaugh in the Survivor Pool, so we are both still in.  Neither of us realized how the Bottom 6 was going to work this week, so that didn't pan out as planned.  I thought it would be Erika, Elise and Jermaine with Erika going home.  Jack took Elise, Erika, and Jeremy with Elise going home.  All the people we chose were in the Bottom 6, so there's that.

Larry
Phillip Phillips: Safe (+5)
Skylar Laine: Safe (+5)
Erika Van Pelt: Bottom 6 (-3), Safe (+5)
Adam Brock
Brielle Von Hugel
Top 13: +12, Team Total: 38

Rizzo
Jessica Sanchez: Safe (+5)
Shannon Magrane: Bottom 6 (-3), Safe (+5)
Elise Testone: Bottom 2 (-5), Safe (+5)
Aaron Marcellus
Johnny Keyser
Top 13: +7, Team Total: 34

Tyson
Heejun Han: Safe (+5)
Hollie Cavanaugh: Safe (+5)
Jeremy Rosado: Eliminated (-6)
Hallie Day
Chase Likens
Top 13: +4, Team Total: 24

Me
Colton Dixon: Safe (+5)
Reed Grimm
Eben Franckewitz
Haley Johnson
Jen Hirsh
Top 13: +5, Team Total: 15

Jack
Deandre Brackensick: Safe (+5)
Baylie Brown
Joshua Ladet: Bottom 6 (-3), Safe (+5)
Chelsea Sorrell
Creighton Fraker
Top 13: +7, Team Total: 14

Survivor Week 4- Takin' It to the Tribal

I'm going to take a quick moment here to talk about the fact that for the first time in Survivor history a tribe won immunity and then decided to go to tribal council anyway.  While this was ridiculously dumb, as noted in my docking of 5 points to all members of the men's tribe, it was far from the dumbest move in Survivor history.

Anything done as a team can't possibly be in the same conversation as someone giving up an individual idol and walking out the door, or even as recently as Ozzy intentionally getting voted off so that he could come back from Redemption Island.  Sure, he did get to come back, but it was still dumb to take that chance...dumber than this move by the men.

Think about it.  Only one out of those nine guys was leaving the game on that day, so yes it was unbelievably stupid for Bill in this case, but he had no idea he was going to be the one going home at the time.  So again, you can't really put him in the category of dumbest players either.

The fact that this entire tribe is allowing Colton to make all their decisions for them is probably the dumbest thing of the season so far.  This spoiled brat - admittedly by him during this episode - is annoyed by Bill because he's poor, so you're all willing to head to tribal council earlier to vote him out?  This is the same Colton that was hanging out with the girls' tribe a few days ago because he had nothing in common with any of you, right?  Okay, just checking.

When did we miss the part where the group of misfits decided that Colton was their leader?  It seemed like at one point it just happened, and it will probably be the downfall of the guys.  I have no problem getting rid of your stronger players - I'd prefer it to come after you've won a few more team challenges - but it's something you're going to want to do at some point.  My issue is with the reasoning.  You don't vote someone out because they're annoying.  That's just playing Survivor emotionally, and that won't ever work.

Champions League

Larry

Michael -72: Immunity (+10), Tribal (-5), W4 (+7)= -60
Kat -65: Reward (+4), W4 (+7)= -54
Jonas +12: Tribal (-5), W4 (+7)= +14
Tarzan +18: Immunity (+10), Tribal (-5), W4 (+7)= +30

Last Week -107: Team Total= -70

Me

Jay -53: Immunity (+10), Tribal (-5), W4 (+7)= -41
Chelsea -111: Reward (+4), W4 (+7)= -100
Monica +4: Reward (+4), W4 (+7)= +15
Colton +22: Immunity (+10), Tribal (-5), W4 (+7)= +34

Last Week -138: Team Total= -92

Jack

Troyzan -23: Immunity (+10), Tribal (-5), W4 (+7)= -11
Christina -50: Reward (+4), W4 (+7)= -39
Kourtney -45
Bill -22: Immunity (+10), Tribal (-5), Votes (-28)= -45

Last Week -140: Team Total= -140

Jaydon

Matt -100
Kim -91: Reward (+4), W4 (+7)= -80
Alicia +14: Reward (+4), W4 (+7)= +25
Nina -24

Last Week -201: Team Total= -179




Free Agents
Leif +27: Immunity (+10), Tribal (-5), Votes (-4), W4 (+7)= +35
Sabrina +29: Reward (+4), W4 (+7)= +40

Developmental League

Tippy

Troyzan: Immunity (+10), Tribal (-5), W4 (+7)= +12
Kat: Reward (+4), W4 (+7)= +11
Colton: Immunity (+10), Tribal (-5), W4 (+7)= +12
Monica: Reward (+4), W4 (+7)= +11

Week 4= +46, Team Total= +130

Marsh

Jay: Immunity (+10), Tribal (-5), W4 (+7)= +12
Chelsea: Reward (+4), W4 (+7)= +11
Bill: Immunity (+10), Tribal (-5), Votes (-28)= -23
Christina: Reward (+4), W4 (+7)= +11

Week 4= +11, Team Total= +95

Mags

Matt
Kim: Reward (+4), W4 (+7)= +11
Alicia: Reward (+4), W4 (+7)= +11
Tarzan: Immunity (+10), Tribal (-5), W4 (+7)= +12

Week 4= +34, Team Total= +86

Rizzo

Michael: Immunity (+10), Tribal (-5), W4 (+7)= +12
Jonas: Tribal (-5), W4 (+7)= +2
Kourtney
Nina

Week 4= +14, Team Total= +11




Free Agents
Leif: Immunity (+10), Tribal (-5), Votes (-4), W4 (+7)= +8
Sabrina: Reward (+4), W4 (+7)= +11

The Office 818 Review- Saving Schrute

Nellie- "You may not cancel his soul."

Robert- "That was never on the table."

There are few things better than when a couple of rivals put their differences aside, even if just for a moment. Since the feud between Jim Halpert and Dwight Schrute is one of the most iconic rivalries on television, their momentary truce in "Last Day in Florida," was especially enjoyable.

It took a while for Dwight to get to that moment, but once he did, his outstretched arm to help Jim up off the floor might have been the most human we have seen out of the beet farmer in the history of The Office.

It helped that we witnessed Jim trying, trying and trying again to help Dwight out in the situation. He mentioned earlier that it was not bittersweet but sweet that Dwight was staying in Florida for good, but when Jim realized his rival was going to get fired for no good reason, he had to save Dwight. It was great to see.

The enjoyment of these two getting along wasn't the only positive to come out of this storyline. We also got the hilarity of Dwight revving his engine by sliding his feet on the rug, jumping off the wall while screaming "Jackie Chan," and smacking Jim's present off of a tee like it was a golf ball.

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

The Office 818 - "Last Day in Florida"
Review
Recap
Quotes

30 Rock 611 Review- Son of a Dingbat

Kaylie- "My mom is in Indonesia visiting her charity where poor children make shoes."

Jack- "Isn't that just a sweatshop?"

Sometimes a joke doesn't always hit on the first try. On occasion, a reference is actually inserted into the script so that can make you laugh later on in the episode. Both of these situations were executed perfectly at some point during "Standards and Practices."

30 Rock enjoys the callback in general, but it was specifically successful at it with the use of the word "dingbat" and in spreading out a couple of appearances by Jack's friend Akaido – Update: Kato – and his sneak attacks.

Liz originally bringing up the fact that "dingbat" was the worst word that could now be used on TGS wasn't necessarily funny, but the fact that she ended up taking even it out of the script was. Jack jumping on board and exclaiming "son of a dingbat" on multiple occasions was absolutely the icing on the hysterical cake.

Elsewhere, we were treated to a number of moments that were hilarious all on their own... specifically everything that happened once Liz walked into the men's restroom. From using a man's voice to talk to Ken to only being able to come up with the fake name Kenneth Toilet Hole, Tina Fey was on her game.

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

30 Rock 611 - "Standards and Practices"
Review
Recap
Quotes

One Tree Hill 909 Review- Thanks But No Thanks, Dad

Chuck- "All he ever wanted to do was fly. Please don't take that away from him."

There were sexy boots, incorrect dates of death, fatherhood offers turned down, an Air Force discharge, and a possible stolen baby. Yeah, every breath did in fact seemed like a bomb during the hour of One Tree Hill that was "Every Breath Is A Bomb."

Sexy Boots
As I mentioned last week, it's completely awesome that Haley and Dan Scott are teaming up to find Nathan. I only wish that a single other person would care about Nathan at this point. He has been missing for quite a while. If the rest of these characters just don't care about him, that's fine, but at least make note of that. I understand they all have chaotic things going on in their lives as well, but your good friend is either kidnapped or dead. You should care.

Let’s get back to the sexy boots. I love that Haley came up with this plan, and am just glad for her sake that she figured out a way to get it done without touching that disgusting drug dealer.  Well, until she punched him the face.  Team Scott is getting somewhere with this, but I still wish Lucas was here to help them with this.

Leave it to Dan Scott to take a shot at Deb for being slutty in between somber moments about Nathan being captured and aggressive threats to a drug dealer.  You have to get your shots in when you can, even if nobody is there to hear them.

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

One Tree Hill 909 - "Every Breath Is a Bomb"
Review
Recap
Quotes

Justified 308 Review- Rock and a Hard Place

Art (to Raylan)- "Having you in this office is gonna give me a stroke."

Each season of Justified has been so outstanding because the writers find different ways to make each episode interesting in its own way.

Whether it's a thrill-a-minute shootout, a game of chess filled with impressive speeches, or in the case of "Watching the Detectives," a simultaneous look into the problems of Raylan's past and certain problems of his future, Justified always entertains.

It was fun watching the onslaught of issues Raylan Givens had to endure during the hour, but it was even more impressive knowing that Robert Quarles was almost entirely responsible for it all.

First, he had Tonin make that phone call - which they knew was being overheard by the FBI - saying that Raylan is dirty, and in bed with Boyd Crowder. Then he straight up murdered Gary on his own front lawn, making the smart decision to use the bullet Raylan had tossed at Duffy earlier in the season. It was a pretty great plan to get Deputy Givens out of the way.

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

Justified 308 - "Watching the Detectives"
Review
Recap
Quotes

The Voice 206 Review- Let the Battles Begin

After watching just one round of the battles this second season, it's safe to say that we should all be glad The Voice kept them around. Why? They may not be perfect, but they are still far more entertaining than the past 11 seasons of American Idol's Hollywood Week.

The first episode of Battles gave us mentoring sessions from a number of stars, a more in depth look at all of The Voice's contestants, and, most importantly, a few brilliant performances that left the coaches, America, and me stunned.

Let's get to the action...

Team Adam - Tony Lucca vs. Chris Cauley - "Beautiful Day"

The Battle: Both guys sounded great. I liked that Tony took the advice to go for the high notes, because he hit them, and killed it. Chris was great, and the two of them sounded awesome together, but Tony was just much more believable. I liked Cee Lo's argument that Tony "articulated the song better."
My Choice: Tony
Adam's Choice: Tony
Battle Grade: A-

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