The Office 819 Review- Flowers Arranging Themselves

Jim- "The raise isn't real."

Dwight- "Money isn't real ever since we got off the gold standard."

If we were conducting Catherine Tate's The Office performance review like Nellie Bertram did of her employees at Dunder Mifflin Scranton - that is, on first impressions - she would also be receiving a raise.

Tate's first appearance last season was intriguing, and her stint as head honcho down in Florida was entertaining, but in "Get the Girl" it became obvious that Nellie Bertram as branch manager could be exactly what The Office needs to stay afloat.

She is very strange, but not in a way that is too similar to Michael Scott or Andy Bernard, nor in a way that is just too slow and boring most of the time like Robert California. Nellie proved she was upbeat, off the walls and that she can create a lot of weird situations for our favorite paper suppliers.

The way that she took charge and took over Andy's office was great. The meeting she ran, in which she used some weird voices and gave Kevin an awful nickname, was funny. Giving every one there a raise even though she had no authority might have been the best of all.

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

The Office 819 - "Get the Girl"
Review
Recap
Quotes

30 Rock 612 Review- Smells Like Green Spirit

Tracy- "It sure is rewarding as a TV viewer when someone you're invested in shows growth."

In an extremely meta moment, Tracy uttered those words about Liz on the St. Patrick's Day special he was hosting with Jenna. Yes, Liz Lemon did depict growth in 30 Rock's "St. Patrick's Day," but as I've noted before, that's not a necessity for a comedy.

There are those sitcom that need to fuse the funny with character development in order to be successful - take Parks and Recreation or Modern Family, for example - but 30 Rock is so out there and obviously after as many jokes as it can muster that the addition of growth seems unnecessary.

That's not to say that it wasn't welcome here, especially if it meant the return of Dennis Duffy! There is plenty of Dean Winters to go around, as those All State commercials never stop, but he's never better than his pop-ins at 30 Rock.

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

30 Rock 612 - "St. Patrick's Day"
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Recap
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Survivor Week 5- The Switcheroo

The guys vs. the girls was not nearly as unbalanced as this new shake up.  Could they have made these more unfair if they tried?  Well yeah, athletically, switching Kat for Monica probably would have made the Blue Team the strongest possible, but they came pretty close to putting all of the athletes on one team.

It should make for an interesting couple of weeks in which Blue beats orange in every single challenge, and the inferior team slowly dwindles before the merge.  I like the idea of a four person alliance of Jay, Troyzan, Chelsea, and Kim making it all the way to the end, and that's not just because two of them are on my fantasy squad.

The Champions League is still anyone's game, but the longer Larry holds on to four players, the more likely he is going to be a back-to-back winner.  Even Jaydon, who trails first place by just under 130 points, has a chance if Kim and Alicia make it far.  The latter's decision to go with the flow and vote for Monica this week, is a good sign that she knows how to get ahead on Survivor.

Tippy still leads the Developmental League, but took a big hit with the loss of Monica, and Marsh is now creeping up on him.  Marsh has the same awesome duo as me, with Jay and Chelsea, so I wouldn't be surprised to see him take over Tip's lead at some point in the near future.

Champions League

Larry

Michael -60: Reward (+4), Immunity (+10), W5 (+11)= -35
Kat -54: Reward (+4), Immunity (+10), W5 (+11)= -29
Jonas +14: W5 (+11)= +25
Tarzan +30: Votes (-8), W5 (+11)= +33

Last Week -70: Team Total= -6

Me

Jay -41: Reward (+4), Immunity (+10), W5 (+11)= -16
Chelsea -100: Reward (+4), Immunity (+10), W5 (+11)= -75
Monica +15: Votes (-20)= -5
Colton +34: W5 (+11)= +45

Last Week -92: Team Total= -51

Jack

Troyzan -11: Reward (+4), Immunity (+10), W5 (+11)= +14
Christina -39: W5 (+11)= -28
Kourtney -45
Bill -45

Last Week -140: Team Total= -104

Jaydon

Matt -100
Kim -80: Reward (+4), Immunity (+10), Idol Found (+10), W5 (+11)= -45
Alicia +25: W5 (+11)= +36
Nina -24

Last Week -179: Team Total= -133




Free Agents
Leif +35: W5 (+11)= +46
Sabrina +40: Reward (+4), Immunity (+10), W5 (+11)= +65

Developmental League

Tippy

Troyzan: Reward (+4), Immunity (+10), W5 (+11)= +25
Kat: Reward (+4), Immunity (+10), W5 (+11)= +25
Colton: W5 (+11)= +11
Monica: Votes (-20)= -20

Week 5= +41, Team Total= +171

Marsh

Jay: Reward (+4), Immunity (+10), W5 (+11)= +25
Chelsea: Reward (+4), Immunity (+10), W5 (+11)= +25
Bill
Christina: W5 (+11)= +11

Week 5= +61, Team Total= +156

Mags

Matt
Kim: Reward (+4), Immunity (+10), Idol Found (+10), W5 (+11)= +35
Alicia: W5 (+11)= +11
Tarzan: Votes (-8), W5 (+11)= +3

Week 5= +49, Team Total= +135

Rizzo

Michael: Reward (+4), Immunity (+10), W5 (+11)= +25
Jonas: W5 (+11)= +11
Kourtney
Nina

Week 5= +36, Team Total= +47




Free Agents
Leif: W5 (+11)= +11
Sabrina: Reward (+4), Immunity (+10), W5 (+11)= +25

One Tree Hill 910 Review- I'll Take Shotgun

Nathan- "Dad...it's good to see you."

It might have been annoying at certain points in this final season of One Tree Hill, but Nathan getting kidnapped and the subsequent events it caused over the first nine episodes were all worth it for what was maybe the most heroic rescue mission in television history.

I would be extremely surprised if I needed to convince anyone else of the greatness of Dan Scott - and Paul Johansson's portrayal of the character - after his performance during "Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will."

This was what we have all been waiting for, and what I've been writing about since "Catastrophe and the Cure" back in February: Dan Scott's redemption. I knew he would save Nathan, I just didn't know how. I knew it would be uber cool and super studly, but I couldn't have ever imagined how awesome it would be to watch him slowly walk through the building going through bad guys one by one with his shotgun.

Dan Scott is the man, and so is Johansson.

The journey we all took, watching Dan get to that point, was just as fantastic. Whether it was teaching Julian and Chris Keller how to shoot, using the third person after realizing neither knew what he was doing, or locking Julian out of the car and telling him to go home to his family, this was a great episode before we even got to the rescue mission.

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

One Tree Hill 910 - "Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will"
Review
Recap
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Justified 309 Review- Mine Your Business

Boyd- "Well Mr. Napier I'd like to think that if I was behind an attempt on your life, at the very least I would've messed up your hair."

Since there were so many interesting and entertaining events during "Loose Ends," I was surprised at my own reaction when it ended.  I wasn't amazed, which has been my feeling following a number of Justified episodes during this middle stretch of the third season.

It's been great, but during the majority of season two and the first three or four episodes this year, Justified was indescribably awesome.  That level of quality is hard to achieve in back to back seasons.

"Loose Ends" was very good though.  Ava's rise, Boyd's speech, everything to do with the land mine, and Raylan wrestling with Limehouse about Quarles were all fantastic in their own right, but it seemed more like an episode that was setting the scene for episodes down the road than an hour of pure entertainment in and of itself.  Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Ava's rise to power has been brewing for quite some time now.  Ever since she decided that she was okay with Boyd's ways, and we could tell she was willing to get involved herself, it was obvious that at some point she would take an even larger role in the criminal activity.

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

Justified 309 - "Loose Ends"
Review
Recap
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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