Quick Thoughts: HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, "The Slutty Pumpkin Returns"

In a lot of ways, the deck was stacked against "The Slutty Pumpkin Returns." How I Met Your Mother had the disadvantage of airing its Halloween episode after stronger episodes like the ones from Happy Endings and Community, so it had an uphill battle.

Right off the bat, everything was wrong with this episode. While, I'm a Katie Holmes fan, her appearance on the show was such blatant stunt casting that I couldn't take anything involving her seriously because we all knew it wasn't going to add up to anything. It was also frustrating to watch Ted complain about yet another potential suitor. I get that she wasn't supposed to be the mother, and how she was supposed to symbolize how holding on to the past can be a bad idea, but why should I invest any emotion into a one-shot character who we'll probably never see again? I just didn't find myself caring about anything Ted said or did in the episode.

The same can be said about the whole Marshall-Lily plot line as well. I've pretty much come to terms with the fact that I will never be invested in them as a married couple, but unfortunately that's their role to play from now on. Their story line also suffered from HIMYM-itis which occurs when the show tries to force new pop culture phrases/concepts onto the audience. This time around it was pregnancy brain, which was half-baked at best. All of the jokes that revolved around this gimmick fell flat and made it hard to watch the episode.

Even the Robin-Barney B-plot, which stayed away from the shippier elements, didn't do it for me because the writing felt lazy. We're still getting Canada jokes after all this time? Seriously? Apparently the writers cannot give Cobie Smulders better material after six seasons. At least I didn't have to watch her mope about Barney, which is always appreciated. Speaking of the Barnacle, the only highlight of the night was seeing him dressed up as Apollo Creed. That visual gag almost made up for the horribleness of the rest of the episode...almost.

It also didn't help that Happy Endings got the drop on them. "Spooky Endings" already covered the "married couple debates about moving the suburbs" trope, and their take was funnier by far. Heck, Marshall even had a line that was pretty much delivered verbatim by Brad (wanting to be inside of an inanimate object). I'm not trying to say that HIMYM ripped off Happy Endings, but it was just proof that it's getting on in age and cannot keep up with the new kid on the block.

It's Broken Record Time because I once again questioned why I wasted my time on HIMYM. I was even planning on skipping it altogehter because I can be disappointed another time, but I still tuned in despite my hesitations. It's my own fault for giving in, but there's still a tiny part of me that believes that this show can be good again, but I may be playing Ted to the show's Naomi.

P.S. - I was disappointed that the title of this episode was not "It's The Slutty Pumpkin, Ted Mosby". They probably could not have gotten the clearance to begin with, but it felt like a missed opportunity.

TV Report Card: Week of October 23, 2011

With my FOX shows still off the schedule, Modern Family in repeats, and Suburgatory joining Parks and Recreation in the "Shows I Watch But Don't Write About" category, this week's TV Report Card is a bit lighter than usual. At least Once Upon a Time, Chuck, and Grimm came along to fill the void. Enough with the explanations. Here is this week's TV Report Card:

Sunday
Once Upon a Time: "Pilot"

The first of this season's fairy tale themed shows debuted, and I was a little letdown by ABC's Once Upon a Time. I still want to give the show kudos for trying something a bit different, but the first episodes execution fell short of my expectations. The visual effects were subpar, the acting was not very captivating, and the characters were given zero development. Maybe the writers were expecting viewers to just jump on board since they're using classic fairy tale characters, but I wanted to get to know more about them before being thrown into the "real world". I can still see the potential that this show has, but its first attempt wasn't convincing enough to keep me around for much longer.

GRADE: C-

TV Showdown: ONCE UPON A TIME vs. GRIMM

vs.

It might be unfair comparing ABC's Once Upon a Time and NBC's Grimm because the former is more serialized whereas the latter is taking a procedural approach, but I figured they have enough in common since they're both using fairy tale motifs.

Storytelling Structure
It's hard to determine which show's structure has the upper-hand because it all comes down to personal preference. Some viewers want an on-going story the requires them to tune in week in and week out, but some would like to watch a show that has more standalone episodes so they can jump in and out without missing anything. Both styles have their strengths and weaknesses, so I'm going to see which show has the potential to use their approach more effectively.

Since I've only seen the pilots of both shows, I have no idea where they're going from here and cannot comment on whether Once's serial elements are better or worse than Grimm's more episodic ones. What I can say is after one episode, I feel that Grimm's premise could benefit it more than Once's.

The idea of using Grimm's Fairy Tales as the foundation for Grimm's on-going story telling meshes well with a more procedural nature. You can easily see the show taking a Monster-of-the-Week approach that has benefited others like Angel and Supernatural, which are its natural predecessors. Fans of those shows know that they ended up becoming more serialized, but using a procedural spin can make for an easier introduction to the world. If Grimm is given the time to grow, it could be on its way to following in the footsteps of those that came before it.

I'll admit that I'm a fan of procedurals, but I like serialized storytelling too, so I'm glad that Once Upon a Time is giving us the chance to show what it can do. That being said, I can see how this approach can hurt after watching the pilot. Right now, there are too many characters, questions, and plot elements that I can see it becoming a jumbled mess. Yes, following an on-going story can be fun, but it can also be tedious when viewers have to keep tabs too much stuff.

Both shows have a ways to go before we can see what they really have to offer, but I feel more confident in Grimm's procedural/episodic take on fairy tales than Once Upon a Time's serialized one.

WINNER: Grimm

Cast of Characters
I'll be honest, both shows are lacking in the character department because neither were able to win me over during their pilots. The main characters, Emma Swan and Nick Brukhardt, lack the charisma to really draw me in, but hopefully that will pass once they're given time to develop.

The difference makers are going to be the supporting characters. Like I mentioned earlier, Once Upon a Time already has too many characters to keep track of which could end up making things confusing. I'm all for having a deep roster, but you could run into problems if it's too deep. Just look at Glee. What's also working against Once is the fact that they were not able to make any of the characters interesting during the pilot. Yes, it was only one episode, but it needed to make us care in that first outing and it didn't for me.

Grimm's cast is not as stuffed, but that could allow it to give enough time to make the characters interesting. Unlike OUaT, Grimm had a standout character right off the bat in Eddie Monroe who is a "big bad wolf" and will be Nick's sidekick. The idea of a reformed wolf-like character is not new, but Eddie brought some much needed humor to the pilot.

WINNER: Grimm

Atmosphere
The tipping point may come down to the atmosphere and worlds that these two show can create. Once Upon a Time has taken another bold move by creating two settings: a fair tale world and a real one. One the opposite end of the spectrum is Grimm that only takes place in modern day Portland, OR.

While watching Once's pilot, I wasn't wowed by either worlds that it tried to establish. All of the fairy tale land scenes felt overly fake due to really bad green screen work, and the real world wasn't very compelling either. What it came down to, is I didn't want to spend time in either realities.

I'll admit, I might be a little biased since I lived in Portland, but I felt that Grimm used its setting better than Once Upon a Time. PDX is the perfect city to shoot a show like this because its gray dreariness, lush forests, and metropolitan feel can add a lot to the world that it's trying to build.

WINNER: Grimm

So there you have it. It was a clean sweep by Grimm, which was a little surprising because I wasn't expecting to like it based on all of the negative reviews. While I still respect what Once is trying to do, it feels like there's too much going on whereas Grimm's stripped down could make it easier to digest.

Episode Review: CHUCK, "Chuck vs. The Zoom"

It's finally here; Season 5 of Chuck has begun! While I wouldn't say that "Chuck vs. The Zoom" was the show's best episode, it was a good bridge from last year's finale to what we're going to be getting during this final go round.

From a story standpoint, "Zoom" was pretty straight forward. Some time has passed since Hartley Winterbottom gave Chuck and Sarah a billion dollars as a wedding present, and Chuck ended up squandering most of it on Carmichael Industries and on fresh shrimp for the new Intersect AKA Morgan Grimes. It seems like Team Bartowski's new business venture has not been doing well, so they've had to take jobs retrieving expensive vases from Luke Skywalker with little to no actual payment.

Quick Thoughts on COMMUNITY: "Horror Fiction in Seven Spooky Steps"

Maybe I'm starting to come around on Halloween episodes because Happy Endings and Community were really good this week. Now, "Horror Fiction in Seven Steps" had its flaws and was not as good as "Epidemiology", but it was one of the season's better episodes.

I'm going to get the negative out of the way right off the bat. While "Horror Fiction" was fun to watch, it felt like every other episode of Community ever written, and it didn't feel fresh or profound. We got yet another version of the "study group shares how they feel about one another through wacky gimmicks" plot that has become this show's go to move. I respect the fact that Community tries new things, but when it does so to tell the exact same story over and over again, you have to wonder if it's accomplishing anything.

The structure of the episode, telling seven different stories from every characters point of view, also felt recycled but it was also the biggest strength. I'm always a fan of episodes that have multiple perspectives, which is why I really liked "Remedial Chaos Theory", so I was hooked from the get go. Every vignette had its share of funny moments, and I appreciated how they truly represented the storyteller which was an added bonus because they contained genuine character development. It would've been easy for the writers to only rely on the gimmick, but they're always good at adding more layers. I like that.

Out of the seven stories, only two didn't quite hit the mark for me. Obviously, Jeff's wasn't supposed to be strong since it was coming from the group cynic, but it felt like a wasted opportunity. Also, Shirley's take on the Rapture had some good gags, but it also felt like Shirley was going out of her way to be offensive (Dean Pelton as the Devil, bashing of Liberals). Granted, that's her character, but you'd think she would have some growth by now.

I don't want people to think that I didn't like "Horror Fiction" because I did. I just want Community give us new ideas instead of re-gifting old ones in new wrapping paper.

The Small Screen Podcast, Episode 8: ONCE UPON A TIME, There Were THE WALKING DEAD

"The Small Screen Podcast" is back for Episode 8. This time around, Kristal and I talked about the Return of Trouty Mouth to Glee, Happy Endings on Yahoo! TV, Once Upon a Time, our favorite Halloween episodes, what we've been watching, and what we're looking forward to (i.e. Chuck).

Episode Breakdown:

Intros: Start - 1:05

TV News & Discussion: 1:05 - 18:15

• Chord Overstreet's Return to Glee: 1:05 - 6:38
• Happy Endings Preview on Yahoo! TV: 6:39 - 10:20
• Our Favorite Halloween Episodes: 10:21 - 15:33
• Once Upon a Time's Ratings Success: 15:34 - 18:15

What We've Been Watching (SPOILER ALERTS): 18:16 - 37:03

• Once Upon a Time: 18:16 - 26:53
• Psych: 26:54 - 30:03
• The Walking Dead: 30:04 - 37:03

What We're Looking Forward To: 37:03 - 51:59

• Chuck: 37:03 - 46:42
• Grimm: 46:43 - 51:49

Closing: 51:50 - End

Check out the episode below or download it over at iTunes:

For more, follow us on Twitter:

Kristal: @kristal_bailey

Marcos: @poppas2cents

Quick Thoughts: HAPPY ENDINGS, "Spooky Endings"

I'm going to come clean. I'm not a big fan of Halloween, so Halloween themed episodes can be hit or miss. That being said, I was really excited for "Spooky Endings" because Happy Endings is the perfect comedy that could effectively utilize the holiday.

"Spooky Endings" didn't try anything new because it was pretty much about the gang either going to a costume party or staying home to welcome trick-or-treaters. Both are pretty standard Halloween topics that sitcoms have relied on for years, but Happy Endings still brought its wit and craziness to make it all feel fresh.

What was great about "Spooky Endings" though was it was still able to focus on the characters and their relationships. Sure it was fun seeing Penny and Max as a mother with her baby in a bjorn, but we also got to see how much they cared about each other after two potential suitors got in between them. Even Dave and Alex had some nice moments after she was mistaken for a drag queen, and I'm glad the writers are figuring out how to use these two. Again, neither of these are new ideas, but they all worked.

The Jane/Brad B-plot about them house-sitting in the suburbs and giving out candy wasn't as funny as the A-plot, but that doesn't mean it wasn't funny. Both Damon Wayans, Jr. and Eliza Coupe had some killer one-liners, like when Jane commented on the quality of the schools in the burbs based on the threatening notes left by the older kids.

All in all, "Spooky Endings" was just non-stop hilarity and another example of this show firing on all cylinders. I know the ratings aren't lighting the world on fire, but the order of additional scripts, has me hoping that Season 3 is not far behind. Fingers crossed.

Quick Thoughts: SONS OF ANARCHY, "Family Recipe"

Wow, Season 4 of Sons of Anarchy has gotten bananas! While some of the story elements displayed during "Family Recipe" were questionable, I have to admit that it was a pretty tense ride.

Obviously, Clay has never been a good guy, but for some reason I've never pictured him as THE bad guy of Sons. He's a gruff anti-hero like the rest of the bikers, so we're not supposed to like him per se, but since he's one of the show's main protagonists it's easy to overlook his seedier sides. I know he's done some messed up stuff in the past, but what he did to Piney finally made me realize what an evil person Clay Marrow really is, which has made things more interesting for me as a viewer. We all know the show down between Clay and Jax is coming, but now I can actively root against Clay because it feels justified.

Speaking of Jax, he had some good moments with Piney and Tara, and it's getting hard to sit and watch how his good intentions have backfired and have put his family in danger when his goal was to get them away from the life. This form of irony is by no means a new phenomenon, and it's a little heavy handed on Sons, but it still makes for entertaining television.

Finally, there was Juice. The end of "Fruits for the Crows" was a little ambiguous, but they left themselves an out with the branch snap, so Juice was ultimately fine. Honestly, I'm torn about the fact that Juice's suicide attempt was a failure. On one hand, it would have been an extremely bold move by Kurt Sutter to kill the character off, but I would've respected such a move. On the other, Theo Rossi's been giving the audience some great performances, and I would hate to lose him after he's been on the sideline for so long. A plus though is how Chibs has finally been brought into Juice's story arc, and I'm excited to see where they go from here.

"Family Recipe" may not have been technically sound, there were enough WTF moments and dark humor (I laughed at most of the severed head moments because apparently I'm a sicko) to keep me entertained.

My Love for Chuck

I can't believe I'm about to write this, but this week will be the Season 5 premiere of NBC's Chuck. Let that sink in for a bit. This show that has been struggling in the ratings has been able to survive for five seasons which is almost unheard of in this day and age of network television, and I'm am so grateful for what Josh Schwartz, Chris Fedak, and the cast and crew have given us over the years.

It's safe to say that I would not be keeping up with this blog or putting together a podcast if Chuck had not graced our screens. For the first time, there was a show that was tailor made for me with the nerd humor, pop culture references, spy action, and Yvonne Strahovski. I was sold after the pilot, and I've been on board the Chuck Five Dollar Footlong Express ever since.

Since I finally found a show that spoke to me, I realized how fun (and scary) being a part of a fandom can be. I had always heard about the Nielsen rating system, but had never cared until Chuck was firmly placed on the bubble. The idea of "upfronts" was foreign to me, but I've been tuning in the last couple of years to learn the fate of the Buy More. Chuck opened my eyes to the wonders of television, which is why I'm here today.

We can debate about the "Chuckpocalypse", or whether Season 4 was as good as Season 2, or if the show should come back for a sixth season/movie/comic book (tune in to the Small Screen Podcast for my thoughts). What we can all agree on is the fact that Chuck was a special show for a small band of Nerds, and we should all be thankful for its mere presence.

Here's to Chuck and its final season. It will be bittersweet to see the show go, but at least it's leaving on its own terms. You can't ask for anything more than that.

TV Report Card: Week of October 16, 2011

This week's TV Report Card is a little lighter than usual since I missed Suburgatory (and haven't made the time to catch up), and was so bored with American Horror Story that I ended up cleaning my bathroom, so they're not listed. Other than that, here is this week's TV Report Card:

Sunday
The Walking Dead: "What Lies Ahead"

Season 1 of AMC's The Walking Dead was a nice little appetizer before the main course that is Season 2. Now that we're getting a full season's worth of stories, we'll finally get to see what this show has to offer, and if the rest of the episodes are as good as "What Lies Ahead", then we're in for a crazy tense time. The Walking Dead's at its best when it focuses on the survivors dealing with the zombies, so the opening sequence in the traffic jam was brilliant. After that scene, the episode started to drag mostly because the characters still need some development, but it still had some memorable moments like Rick and Daryl gutting a walker and the big twist ending.

GRADE: B+

The Small Screen Podcast, Episode 7: PSYCH, We Love THE VAMPIRE DIARIES

"The Small Screen Podcast" is back for Episode 7, and this week Kristal and I discussed the full-season pick-ups of the CW's new shows and ABC's Suburgatory and Revenge, Charlie's Angels' fall from grace, what we've been watching, and what we're looking forward to.

Episode Breakdown:

Intros: Start - 1:15

TV News: 1:16 - 14:01

• Full Season Pick-Ups (SPOILER ALERTS)
• The CW's Newbies: Ringer, Hart of Dixie, The Secret Circle: 1:16 - 7:53
• Suburgatory: 7:54 - 8:57
• Revenge: 8:58 - 11:23
• Cancellations: Charlie's Angels: 11:24 - 14:01

What We've Been Watching (SPOILER ALERT): 14:02 - 34:05

• Psych: 14:02 - 25:54
• The Vampire Diaries: 25:55 - 34:50

Podcast Feedback

• LOST vs. The Walking Dead: 34:51 - 44:46

What We're Looking Forward To:

• Once Upon a Time: 44:47 - 45:43
• Supernatural - The Buffy/Angel Reunion: 45:44 - Closing

Check out the episode below or download it over at iTunes:

For more, follow us on Twitter:

Kristal: @kristal_bailey

Marcos: @poppas2cents

Quick Thoughts: SONS OF ANARCHY, "Fruit for the Crows"

With Glee on a break until November, I'm able to dedicate more time to Sons of Anarchy, and boy has this been a good time to refocus on SAMCRO. Season 4 started off slow, but it's hitting high gear and has been turning out some tense episodes.

At first, I really wasn't on board with all of the drug cartel business because it felt trite. Yes, there have been some cliche moments, but the best moments have nothing to do with the drugs but how being in bed with the Cartel has torn apart the MC. The fact that Bobby's been pushed over the edge, and that he had to stones to challenge Clay's leadership was more gripping than any of the actual drug stuff.

Everything that involved Tara and the "death threat" felt excessive, but I see its value as a plot device. The world of the Sons has always been a dangerous one, which is something that shouldn't surprise Tara, but she's never had it stare her in the face like this before. I still think it's all going to end badly for her because that's the only way Jax will stick around, but I hoped the writers would have progressed this story differently.

I know a lot of people out there are not fans of Juice's season long arc, but I think it's been some of show's best material, and they way it may or may not have ended was a bold move and I have to compliment Kurt Sutter for going there. Personally, I'd like to see the story take an even darker turn, but I can see it work either way. Regardless, Theo Rossi has churned out some great moments this season.

I don't know if I'll ever be a die-hard Sons fan, but I'm glad that I've been checking it out this season. It still has some to work out, but so far Season 4 has been non-stop craziness and it's been working for me.

Quick Thoughts: CASTLE, "Eye of the Beholder"

I've been pretty hard on this season of Castle because it's been trying to hold back on the Caskett relationship, and episodes haven't been relying on the humor that I've grown to expect from this show. So, to say I was happy with "Eye of the Beholder" would be an understatement.

The fact that "Beholder" brought back the emphasis on Castle and Beckett's feelings for one another was a welcomed return to form, and I didn't realize how much I missed it. While Beckett's conflicting emotions did take up the majority of the time, they didn't overtake the episode, and her story felt like a natural progression.

While we should be used to Rick being interested in other women, his flirtation with the ex-art thief felt a little contrieved, but Fillion did have chemistry with Kristin Lehman, which makes me wonder why Drive wasn't a success. Luckily for fans, Fillion can pull off being frustratingly clueless but still charming when he's smitten with someone who is not Kate. That being said, how many times will a woman have to tell him that Beckett digs him before he makes his move. I swear at least five women he's dated have told him what's what.

I do enjoy the "will they, won't they" between Rick and Kate, but we have to see some progression one way or the other. Here we are in Season 4, and it's the same old song and dance, and the show can run the risk of turning off viewers. It happened to Bones, and it can easily happen to Castle. Seeing them traipse around their feelings can be frustrating, but it can also be cute.

I have my fingers crossed that "Eye of the Beholder" was the start of Castle hearing back into the right direction, but I've been wrong before. I just hope it doesn't confirm my Season 4 Jinx Theory which will end up being a blog post somewhere down the line. Stay tuned...

Quick Thoughts: THE WALKING DEAD, "What Lies Ahead"

I'm much of a zombie fan. Out of all of the horror monsters, zombies rank slightly above mummies, but last Halloween I was sucked into the world of The Walking Dead like millions of others, so of course I had to check out the Season 2 premiere.

Last years freshman season was an undead appetizer due to its short six-episode order, so it was hard to be totally immersed in the post-Apocalyptic world, but it was a good starting off point. For the most part, "What Lies Ahead" didn't waste anytime to remind the viewers of what it has to offer. As of right now, The Walking Dead's strength is its atmosphere. By far, the best part of the premiere episode was the extended scene in the traffic jam where everyone had to avoid getting caught by a herd of zombies. It had the right amount of tension and pacing which led to a dynamite couple of minutes. I'll give this show credit, it definitely knows how to rack the nerves and pump out the gore.

On the flipside, the character development continues to be its shortcoming. While watching the episode, I found myself not really caring about anyone. I've mentioned in the past that the characters are very similar to those from Lost, but I was actually invested in the Oceanic survivors, and I cannot say that about Rick and the gang. In order for this show to be successful, it needs to focus on the people and not just on the zombies because we should care more about the living than the undead, and we very well may when it's all said and done, but I'd like it if we got there a little quicker.

While some of the characters are one-dimensional and/or unwatchable (I can't wait for the short-haired lady to get eaten), there were some strong human moments during "What Lies Ahead". The debate between Andrea and Dale about life and death was a tad heavy handed, but it was hard not to get wrapped up in the back-and-forth since both had good points. I even enjoyed watching Rick and Daryl running through the forest and gutting "walkers", and I fell for the big twist at the end of the episode. I have to admit that I was hooked when it was all said and done.

Season 1 of The Walking Dead showed us the potential that this show has, and now it's time for it to follow through on it. "What Lies Ahead" was not a perfect episode of television, but it had enough strong moments to keep me entertained at a base level. Now, I'd like to see it dig a little deeper and flesh out these people so I'll care about if they live or die. If it can do that, then I'll be hooked.

TV Report Card: Week of October 9, 2011

Things started of a little slow due to some sub-par outings, but things picked up by the end of the week. Let's stop wasting time; here is this week's TV Report Card:

Sunday
Homeland: "Grace"

Showtime's Homeland continued to slowly build its world, and episode two focused mostly on Brody and Mathison. The show clearly wants to show the audience how their lives parallel one another. Both have inner demons that they're trying to keep at bay, but doing so disturbs their relationships with those close to them. It's not a new concept, but so far it's been told in an effective way which I appreciate. I'm also a fan of the curve balls that are constantly being thrown our way, like what Brody was doing in the garage, because it keeps the audience guessing. I just hope we don't get too many red herrings though. We all remember what happened to The Killing...

GRADE: B

Quick Thoughts: COMMUNITY, "Remedial Chaos Theory"

I've spent a lot of time complaining about the bad episodes of Community, so I figured it would only be fair to praise the show when it does something well. "Remedial Chaos Theory" was not only the best episode of the young third season, but it was one of the best episodes of the series, which surprised me since it still relied on the strained group dynamics.

It seems like every episode of Community has to shine a light on the fact that this study group is dysfunctional, how they're on the verge of breaking up, and how they'll always kiss and make up. Watching theses seven characters interact within in this structure can be entertaining, but it can also become repetitive and tedious. An episode like "Competitive Ecology" fell in the latter category, whereas "Remedial Chaos Theory" excelled.

The multiple time line gimmick could have easily derailed the episode since it was too conceptual which can be Community's strength and weakness. You have to admire the show for taking risks, but every once in a while they want every one to know how risky they really are which can make the show feel fake. As a plot device, the multi-verse idea was successful because it wasn't weird for the sake of weird, rather it was a fresh way for us to see how these characters relate to one another.

Plot wise, it was the same story over and over, but it was the differences that made up the bulk of the episode. Each time line had its share of standout moments, but the whole picture that was painted by every vignette was what made "Chaos Theory" special. After watching the episode, the message was clear to me: Jeff's presence in the group can be detrimental while Troy's keeps everyone united.

This may sound like a simplified interpretation of the episode, but I feel it holds weight. The writers have been laying the foundation for a major conflict to arise between Jeff and Troy for a while now, and "Chaos" may have been the spark that will lead to the final showdown. I just hope the show has the stones to go down this path because it could result in some gripping television.

The struggle between Jeff and Troy was the strongest aspect, but it wasn't the only good one. I loved the fact that they addressed the chemistry and sexual tension that exists between Troy and Britta, and while I don't want their "relationship" to become a focus, it would be nice to see them together at some point. Also, the idea of Troy, Abed, and Annie living together has promise because the more the show can revolve around them the better.

Recently, I've been thinking about how much gas Community has in the tank and what a hypothetical fourth season could look like. Since I agree with the A.V. Club's Todd VanDerWerff about it being similar to Glee, I'd be okay with this show facing the same transitional questions that the latter has to address. I could see myself being more on board with a season that has Troy, Abed, and Annie as the core cast with Jeff and Pierce moving to the background or out of the picture altogether. Creatively this move would be risky, but not having to pay Joel McHale and Chevy Chase could reduce the budget enough to keep it around for one more year.

This is all speculation of course, but this is Community so outlandish ideas is par for the course. Regardless of what the future has in store for the Greendale gang, I was impressed with the last offering, and I hope that it was a sign of what's to come during the rest of Season 3.

The Small Screen Podcast, Episode 6: The Schedule Is A-Changing

After a week off, Kristal and I are back with Episode 6 of "The Small Screen Podcast". This time around we chatted about this year's full-season pick-ups and cancellations to date, Chuck and Grimm's premieres being pushed back, the possible return of Arrested Development, and what we've been watching.

Episode Breakdown:

Intros: Start - 1:15

TV News: 1:15 - 19:40

• Full-Season Pick-Ups for New Girl, 2 Broke Girls, Whitney, Up All Night: 1:15 - 8:33
• Cancellations: The Playboy Club, Free Agents, H8R: 8:34-10:25
• Chuck & Grimm: 10:26 to 13:28
• The Return of Arrested Development and the TV Show Movie: 13:29 - 19:40

What We've Been Watching (SPOILER ALERT): 19:41 - 48:05

• Awkward. & Suburgatory: 19:41 - 24:20
• American Horror Story: 24:21 - 26:59
• Glee: 27:00 - 37:08
• Hart of Dixie: 37:09 - 42:01
• It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: 42:02 - 48:05

What We're Looking Forward To

• The Walking Dead: 48:06 - 50:20

Closing: 50:21 - End

Check out the episode below or download it over at iTunes:

For more, follow us on Twitter:

Kristal: @kristal_bailey

Marcos: @poppas2cents

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, feel free to send an email.

Show Review: LAST MAN STANDING

This year's crop of ABC comedies (sans Suburgatory) focused on the sensationalized concept of the "mancession" which is all about how men are no longer allowed to be men. It's a dumb idea to begin with, but it's an old-school idea that could catch on. Most experts have slammed these sit-coms, but Last Man Standing proved that their might be an audience for these kind of shows.

Right off the bat, I knew that Last Man Standing would not be my kind of program. I've ranted about my aversion to multi-camera sit-coms which has been strengthened by the disappointing 2 Broke Girls on CBS and NBC's Whitney. The thing is, I was a fan of Home Improvement as a kid, so Tim Allen's return to television (and the strong debut numbers) was enough to persuade me to check out Last Man. The verdict: it wasn't THAT bad.

Now, I'll fully admit that the humor was just as broad as what Broke Girls and Whitney have been giving us, but I found myself laughing in spite of the sit-comminess of the jokes. Yes, this show probably belongs in the 1990's (if not earlier), but that's not necessarily a bad swipe at the show. I think the reason the aforementioned Whitney Cummings shows don't really work is because they're using an old format to tell a new brand of comedy, whereas Last Man Standing feels like a throwback to simpler times.

I'm not saying that Last Man is a good show by any means. The show's gimmick, a guy's guy being surrounded by women, will get old fast because the world has changed and listening to the former Tool Man go off on stuff like Glee and Harry Potter already feels dated. That being said, LMS could fill a void for viewers. The traditional family sit-com has either died off or morphed into a hipper version like Modern Family and Up All Night, and having the genre make a comeback isn't a horrible idea.

Honestly, I do not see myself regularly watching Last Man Standing, but I can see myself checking in form time to time for the nostalgia factor alone. It may even grow into a solid show given the time, but until then, I'm fine with skipping it for now.

Show Review: 2 BROKE GIRLS

I'm starting to come to the realization that CBS sitcoms are just not my kind of shows. The recent down slides of How I Met Your Mother and The Big Bang Theory were just the beginnings of this epiphany, and this week's 2 Broke Girls may have pushed me over the edge.

"And the Rich People Problems" was another mediocre episode of a show that has thus far been a disappointment. I had high hopes for 2 Broke Girls going into the new season, but so far it's failed to meet my expectations. I'm not saying that the show isn't funny, but it could be a lot better, and the fact that it cannot reach the low bar I've set for it does not bode well.

I can see why 2 Broke Girls is a hit for CBS because it fits well within its crop of shows. It's a multi-camera show that relies heavily on broad humor that's usually aimed at the lowest common denominator. It's apparently a formula that works well for the Eye since most of its comedies are highly rated, but I guess I'm looking for more out of my sitcoms. They all don't have to be high-brow or sharp-tongued, but they have to offer more than sex, racist, and/or poop jokes.

Unfortunately for 2BG, the main draw for me has also become one of its hinderances. I've admitted that I'm a big fan of Kat Dennings, but it's becoming clear that she's not cut out for television. Most of her line deliveries feel extremely telegraphed, and you can actually see her waiting for the crowd reaction, which takes away from her performance. Plus her character's still too brash for my liking and her softer sides can get lost amongst the snark.

But, there's still a nugget of a good show buried beneath the lower-brow punchlines. The relationship between Max and Caroline is still interesting enough, and if the writers can make it work without letting it get overpowered by the less successful elements, then it might still be worth my time. Let's see where its at a few episodes from now.

TV Report Card: Week of October 2, 2011

Week 3 is in the books and the TV Report Card is starting to become a little lighter. Since I didn't watch Episode 2 of Pan Am (and am not planning to anytime soon), it's no longer on the list and neither is Whitney. I'm close to giving up on The Big Bang Theory altogether, so I won't be wasting any more time on it. Recapping Glee takes up most of my time Tuesday evenings, so I don't know how much longer Sons of Anarchy will be sticking around, but there are new additions in Homeland and American Horror Story. Without further ado, here is this week's TV Report Card.

Sunday
Homeland: "Pilot"

During the pilot season, many of the critics that I respect kept saying how Showtime's Homeland was not only the best new drama of the fall, but probably the best new show period. Of course I had to check it out after the hype, and it did not disappoint. The pilot did a great job of setting up the premise, introducing the characters, and even threw the audience the first big question of the season. The story about a former American P.O.W. who may or may not have been turned into a terrorist is interesting enough, but it's the performances by Claire Danes, Damian Lewis, and Morena Baccarin that make this show special. Homeland's definitely the must-see Sunday night drama. Sorry Boardwalk.

GRADE: A

Quick Thoughts: THE BIG BANG THEORY, "The Wiggly Finger Catalyst"

Much like Community, I'm extremely close to giving up on The Big Bang Theory. What was once a charming nerd-chic sitcom, is now a chore to watch thanks to overly broad jokes and unlikable characters, but I saw a glimpse of what I used to like about this show while watching "The Wiggly Finger Catalyst".

For a while now I've felt that Raj has been criminally underused and has really been around to be the token minority character. Five years into the show's run and he still cannot talk to women while sober or has had a long term relationship (or any for that matter). What's even worse is when they do shine a spotlight on him, the writers insist on making him an ass. The same was true tonight since most of his jokes were offensive towards the deaf community, but there were also some sweeter moments between him and Penny.

At the end of last season when those two slept together (which was quickly retconned in the premiere), I thought that it was a bold move and kind of hoped that they would be put into a longer story arc together. After "The Shank Reflex Analysis", I had given up on that idea, but I did see a small seed being planted during tonight's episode. I don't necessarily think they should date, but I wouldn't be against the idea. Honestly, I'd just like to see them become closer friends and for him to talk to her with out being drunk.

I've also noticed that the show's eased up on the Sheldon plots, and it's been a good move because his smaller stories like tonight's and last week's about the model train are able to use what makes the character great without beating the audience over the head. He should still be the co-lead, especially since Leonard is unappealing in every way imaginable, but these smaller doses have been a welcomed change.

Speaking of Leonard, I don't think that it's a coincidence that one of the few episodes I liked had very little of him and Wolowitz (at least the annoying version of him). The Sheldon/Penny spin-off with Raj as their neighbor cannot come fast enough.

I don't know if I'll be able to jump back onto the Big Bang bandwagon, and I'll probably not be writing much more about it, but I'm glad that it can still give us some enjoyable episodes from time to time.

Quick Thoughts: COMMUNITY, "Competitive Ecology"

After this week's Community, I inched closer to giving up on this show altogether because it did not have many redeemable qualities even if there were a few chuckles sprinkled throughout the entire thing.

It was only a matter of time until Community did a film noir/detective episode, but I was super pissed that they wasted it on Chang. I've never hid my disdain for the character, so the fact that "Competitive Ecology" started on him was the first sign of trouble, and it just snowballed into a massive pile of crap from that point forward. Nothing he said or did was funny in the slightest, and adding Dean Pelton to the mix pushed me over the edge. Such an utter waste of time.

The whole terrarium plot had potential, but haven't we seen this episode before? How many times do we need to see the study group pick each other apart under the guise of "friendship" and show what horrible people they truly are? I would've been OK with this kind of episode if there was a shred of character development, but by the end they were back to being the same self-centered group of assholes.

Now, I don't want to be all negative. "Competitive Geology" had some good moments, but only a few of them actually involved the main characters. Professor Kane stole the show with his bit about Legos and breaking it down for Magnitude, and I'm finally starting to see his worth. I even liked the fact that they used Todd and the security guard as the audience stand-in as they had to sit back and endure the craziness of the main characters; I just wish I could quit like the latter did. The ranking debacle was hard to sit through, but I did appreciate the bit of meta-commentary about how fans view the study group, but any goodwill was smothered by their toxicity. Finally, the biggest laugh of the night was the end tag about Britta seeing nothing but penises in everyone's psych evaluations, but the fact that it wasn't even a part of the episode was not a good sign.

These kind of episodes that highlight the fact that I would not want to spend anytime with any of these people bring the show down in my opinion. I'm all for damaged protagonists who cannot get out of their own ways, but I also have to like them and right now I really don't (except for maybe Troy, Abed, and Annie). Will I come back next week? Probably, but I don't know how many chance I have to give.

News: WHITE COLLAR's Tim DeKay Guesting on CHUCK

News broke that White Collar's Tim DeKay will be a guest star on this final season of Chuck. His role will be a former handler of Sarah's, which is appropriate since he's currently the handler for Chuck alum Matthew Bomer who played Bryce Larkin; Sarah's former boyfriend and partner. My mind is literarily giddy at all of the in-jokes that can be made during this episode.

Seeing two of my favorite shows carryover is always fun, and it seems like Chuck's going full out since they're also bringing in Danny Pudi from Community. While I'm sure DeKay's character will be more substantial than Pudi's, the idea of Abed showing up at the Buy More is just funny.

Hopefully, Chuck can return the favor. I'd love to see Zachary Levi show up on White Collar although Yvonne Strahovski would make more sense. I can just see Zac playing either a rival of Neal's or a former partner. Or maybe Adam Baldwin can show up as one of Peter's old classmates who ends up being a baddie! Again, the mind's giddy...

Episode Review: GLEE, "Asian F"

I went into "Asian F" expecting to be disappointed because a.) it was obviously going to rely on Asian stereotypes, and b.) people on the Internet kept talking about how it was the best episode of Glee ever. Well, it did rely on Asian stereotypes, and it was the best episode of Glee in a long time.

I've always been irked that almost every story line/joke that involved Tina and/or Mike had to shine a light on the fact that they're Asian. Go back and watch every episode, and you'll see my point. Now, I never let it upset me too much because everyone on this show is a cliche and get it from all directions. Why should the Token Asians be any different? That being said, the one stereotype that's always bothered me has been the demanding Asian parent. Maybe it's because my mom is Japanese American and never acted that way with us while growing up, but it's never made sense to me, and I cringe when every Asian character has this kind of upbringing.

TV Report Card: Week of September 25, 2011

Week 2 of the Fall TV Season is in the books, and while some shows had a better outing this time around, some did not. This was the week that was going to dictate which shows I give more time to, and which ones get ousted from the rotation, and I have the feeling that I'm going to be watching less TV this year:

Sunday
Pan Am: "Pilot"

The second of this year's Mad Men "rip-offs" debuted last Sunday, and all I can really say about is Pan Am was better than The Playboy Club. I went into this season intrigued by both Pan Am and The Playboy Club because for some reason the 60's seemed like a glamorous time, but both shows didn't sell me on the myth. The concept of Pan Am, stewardesses being a symbol of feminism, could be an interesting take on the genre, but none of the main characters really popped to me, and the extra elements like espionage and sex may not be enough to keep me around. I don't know if I'll watch Pan Am live, but I might add a Hulu subscription and catch-up when nothing else is on.

GRADE: C+

Show Review: AWKWARD.

After watching ABC's Suburgatory, which I thought was decent, I was in the mood to catch-up on MTV's version of teenage hell, so I checked out Awkward. Much like my initial reactions to Suburgatory, I had mixed feelings about the show, but they leaned more towards the positive.

Awkward. is another in a long line of high school based comedies that focuses too much on social hierarchy with a sharp-tongued female as the protagonist. It was hard not to automatically compare it to movies and shows such as Mean Girls, Easy A, Daria, and specifically Juno. Admittedly, my mileage varies with this type of storytelling, and the series felt awfully cliched and gimmicky, but there was also a thread of charm that kept me involved.

The story was pretty straight-forward: an unpopular girl had a summer fling with one of the cool boys which ended up being a catalyst for her excursion up and down the social ladder. Who we were in high school are never the people we end up being, but when we're living it our status was all that mattered, and this show did a decent job of exploring that slice of life, but it also felt too trite.

My biggest issues with Awkward. stemmed from the fact that it didn't try to do anything new, and it felt like a blatant rip-off of those that came before it. For example, all of the teenagers talked like Diablo Cody taught them everything about the English language as they spewed out insufferable slang that made me want to punch my TV. Now, I thought that all of the Juno-speak was clever when I watched the movie four years ago, but my tolerance for the babble has been worn thin. Maybe it's because I don't know of anyone who talks that way, but the dialogue was by far the worst thing about Awkward.

Another major miss in my opinion was the adult characters. Glee gets a lot crap for Sue Sylvester, Mr. Schuester, and Miss Pillsbury because they're so cartoonish, but they're almost subtle compared to the so-called grown-ups living in the Awkward. Universe (OK, maybe not Sue). First you have the annoying guidance counselor who tries to be too hip and would rather be the cool older friend to her students. Say what you will about Miss P, but she would mop the floor with Valerie. Don't even get me started on the main character's mom who was too much of a caricature to be taken seriously. Luckily her father was somewhat normal, but even that's an overused trope.

Speaking of the main character, Jenna (played by Ashley Rickards) was one of the few bright spots of the show. Yes, she tended to succumb to the nonsensical vocabulary, but she was also easy to relate to in spite of the inability to speak recognizable English. Jenna was clearly cut from the same cloth as the main characters from the aforementioned movies and TV shows, but Rickards' was able to bring some freshness to the archetype, which is more than can be said about her classmates.

Just like the adults, some of the students who went to school with Jenna were equally as outlandish and/or stereotypical. Her two best friends, Tamara and Ming, weren't particularly well-drawn and their characters relied on the fact that every high school story needs the hyperactive bestie and the token Asian (which seems to be the only ethnic stereotype that is still socially acceptable). Of course there's also the mean girl cheerleader (Sadie) and the Christian bitch (Lissa), although I gave the show credit that the former did not look like all of the other queen bees. It wouldn't be a high school comedy with out the cute boys, and Jake and Mattie were another highlight for me because they weren't dumb jocks, and their love triangle with Jenna made them sympathetic. So, while Awkward. used the same stock characters that we've seen a million times before, there were instances where the show subverted them as well.

High school will always be one of those settings that'll be ripe for satire because it can feel like such an unreal place, and I'm sure that stories about it will be told until the end of time, but some will always be better than others. Right now, I don't know if I can rank Awkward. at the top of the list (it's not John Hughes-ian enough), but I've seen worse takes on this familiar topic so I'll probably check out Season 2.