Quick Thoughts: NEW GIRL, "Double Date"

I'm sure this is getting tiresome to read, but Season 2 of New Girl taught me to give the show some time to re-calibrate itself because it can rebound from a rocky beginning, which means that I'll be cutting Season 3 some slack for now.

Overall, I didn't love "Double Date" but it did have some good things here and there like most episodes. For one, I'm glad that Schmidt's two-timing has finally come to an end because it was already exhausting, and I kind of like the idea of him being out for revenge. What was even better though was how all of the lies impacted Nick and Schmidt, whose friendship has become the core of the show for me. Sure, Nick and Jess are cute, and I get why Jess and Cece's bond can be interesting, but the Nick and Schmidt dynamic has always been the most important factor in my opinion. I'm excited to see where this goes.

Unfortunately, Winston's devolution into a complete sociopath dragged things down a bit, and that's not to say that his B-plot about being the fifth wheel wasn't relatable, but he took it to such an odd place that it was no long funny. The writers need to figure out a new approach for Lamorne Morris and fast.

So, another swing and fall ball from New Girl. Like I said, I'm willing to give the show some time but things need to shape up sooner rather than later.

Quick Thoughts: NEW GIRL, "Nerd"

With Happy Endings officially dead and gone, it looks like New Girl's content on filling the quirky comedy about yuppie friends void, and I don't know if that's a good thing. Now granted, it has never been the most straight-forward show but some of the choices that have been made have taken it to an odd place that I never imagined it going before.

Exhibit A, Winston. We all know that the writers' inability to write for Winston has become a running joke, but it looks like they've decided to make him into a complete sociopath who happens to be colorblind rather than make him into an actual character, and it's a damn shame. He spent the entire episode plotting to kill a cat. Seriously.

Unfortunately, the episode wasn't helped by Schmidt and his lady-juggling shenanigans that were so frantic and broad that they couldn't help but bring thing downs a few notches. I know that I commented on how this triangle made him more human, but not I'm can't wait to see everything crash down around him because it's already exhausting.

Thankfully, we did get a relatively sweet Jess and Nick plot about him trying to make her seem cooler to her co-workers, but even they were subjected to trippy stuff like Booger in a jacuzzi. Luckily, they were able to stick the landing yet again in spite of tired cliches like how everything's like high school weighing them down.

Overall, another mediocre episode in an already iffy third season, but I'm still confident that New Girl will once again find its stride sooner than later.

Quick Thoughts: NEW GIRL, "All In"

I'm not ashamed to admit that I was really excited for the Season 3 premiere of New Girl, but "All In" was just OK when it was all said and done.

Oddly enough, the aspect of the show that's kept me hooked, Nick and Jess, was the storyline that left me feeling cold once the episode was over. The last two seasons were building up to this moment, them finally being a couple, but it all felt rushed and cobbled together, and things were not helped by the fact that Elizabeth Meriwether and her staff immediately started pulling at the threads. I get that the tension was what made things click over the past two years, but having them already doubting whether they will last or not is going to make it hard to root for them because clearly the writers aren't. That said, I did enjoy Jess' slightly saccharine but heartfelt speech about them being a family.

What was even weirder than a lukewarm Nick and Jess plot was the fact that we got a Schmidt story that made me actually care about him. While I'm not a huge fan of the love triangle as a device, I liked how he didn't automatically dismiss Elizabeth in favor of Cece and was willing to commit to her due to their existing relationship. Sure, I could've done without the lying and shenanigans, but his feelings for the two women, and his over-reliance on Nick, made Schmidt seem like a human being for the first time in a long time. It's just too bad he was also involved in the laziest Winston moment of all-time, and that's saying something..

So, I didn't love "All In" but I'm ultimately OK with that because I thought that Season 2 also started off on the wrong foot but was able to course correct and become one of the better shows on TV today. I'm sure Season 3 will do the same.

Quick Thoughts: NEW GIRL, "Virgins"

For some reason I have a feeling that "Virgins" was supposed to be a more monumental episode than it turned out to be, but that doesn't mean that it wasn't a good episode because it was thanks to some brilliant comedic moments.

A group of friends telling stories about their first times is by no means a ground-breaking tradition, and it's these kind of moments that makes New Girl work. We need to buy these people as genuine friends for the show to work, and the flashbacks and everyone's reactions to them cemented the bonds that have formed. Plus, they were really funny.

Where the show wobbled just a tad for me was the ending. I can see how Nick would get out of his own way and make his move on Jess, and I appreciated how the afterglow wasn't awkward per se but more jovial because it'd be too easy to make them immediately regret what happened. The thing is it all felt kind of rushed and out of nowhere. Sure, the entire show's run has been building up to this moment, and kudos to the writers for not waiting until the finale, but it all came off as inconsequential when it was all said and done. I'm not saying that Jess and Nick's first time had to be an earth-shattering moment but it did have to be a moment. I don't know if this was one.

At the end of the day, "Virgins" was a funny enough episode, but the Nick and Jess stuff didn't feel special enough in my opinion.

Quick Thoughts: NEW GIRL, "Bachelorette Party"

So far this season, I've been really enjoying the Nick and Jess stuff while not loving the stuff going on around it. That's one way of me saying that I didn't really care for "Bachelorette Party" because we didn't get enough of the former and too much of the latter.

I haven't cared about Cece and Schmidt for some time now, and the silliness that they're mired in is starting to reach Robin and Barney levels of overkill in my opinion. Her motivations have never made sense to me, so I don't get why she wants to get arranged married all of a sudden, but I don't her being with Schmidt is the answer either. At the end of the day, I don't have a horse in this race but it insists on taking up valuable time. That said, Schmidt and the pizza was the biggest laugh of the night.

On the flipside, I was OK with the show taking a break from the Jess and Nick drama because it too was veering into the overkill zone. It didn't hurt that the little glimpses we did get were pretty fun because they focused on them being friends instead of lovers, and that's a balance New Girl needs to nail for things to work. Plus, Nick trying to take a picture of some dude's junk because she asked him to was inherently funny to me.

So, there were things to like about "Bachelorette Party," but there was too much stuff that I couldn't muster any emotion for. I don't blame New Girl for putting out these kind of episodes, but they'll never be my cup of tea. Such is life.

Quick Thoughts: NEW GIRL, "First Date"

Usually, a will they/won't they could spell the end of my interest in a show, but New Girl's been handling the Nick and Jess stuff so well that I couldn't help but like most of "First Date."

As I mentioned, I've been digging the direction Elizabeth Meriwether and her writers have taken Jess and Nick up to this point because it doesn't feel worn out just yet, and I was glad to see them finally admit their feelings for one another. I don't know if they can keep spinning their wheels, but I'm engaged and invested and that's all I can ask for.

The Winston/Schmidt stuff didn't land as quite as well because I didn't buy their fear of losing Nick. I get that a set of friends has a nucleus  and I could see how these two wouldn't have much in common while they were in college, but we've seen enough of them on their own to figure they'd be OK if Nick somehow drifted away. Some of the slap-stickiness didn't work either.

Overall, a pretty fun episode that had a few minor bumps along the way, but that's by no means a slam on one of the better comedies on TV right now.

Quick Thoughts: NEW GIRL, "Chicago"

There was a lot to like about "Chicago," but there were also a few hiccups that kept me from loving this episode.

Good stuff first, I pretty much loved everything that involved Nick deal with the death of his father and how Jess tried to be there for him. Admittedly, it felt like it was too soon for Jess to help Nick handle his grief but it all worked because of the right combo of silly and sweet. Add Mags Bennett, and it's golden.

On the other hand, I could've done without most of the Schmidt and Winston nonsense. To be fair, I didn't mind Winston especially when he lost it during the funeral, but Schmidt's become so cartoonish over the last couple of episodes that he's more insufferable than usual. Oddly enough though, I would've liked their subplot more if Winston was the one scared of death because it would have at least been some sort of character development, but Max Greenfield needed all of the physical comedy bits so he was tapped.

From a Nick and Jess standpoint, "Chicago" was great and one of my favorite episodes, but it also had too much Schmidt-iness at the same time. So close.

Quick Thoughts: NEW GIRL, "Quick Hardening Caulk"

I don't know if "Quick Hardening Caulk" was "good" episode of New Girl, but it was definitely one of the funniest.

First off, I'm loving the approach that the writers are taking with Jess and Nick. Part of their charm's how different they are and how they annoy yet arouse each other, so her getting all tingly because he actually put effort into being a better man was gold, as was her rattling off a list of sexually suggestive hardware items. Heck, even having them give in momentarily worked when it probably shouldn't have. That said, as much as I dig Zooey Deschanel, Odette Annable's some serious competition.

The Schmidt/Winston bits didn't work as well for me because I'm still over the idea of him being with Cece, so him misplacing his emotions onto a fish didn't work in my opinion. Thankfully, there was that great scene between Winston and Cece when he asked her to back off for a bit since it was destroying his friend. Good stuff from both Lamorne Morris and Hannah Simone.

Like I said, "Quick Hardening Caulk" will not go down as one of the greatest New Girl episodes ever, but it had me in stitches and that's all that matters.

Quick Thoughts: Tuesday Night Comedies, Pt. 8

Man, there were some weak offerings from the Tuesday night sitcoms this time around.

New Girl: "TinFinity"
Pretty much everything that involved Nick and Schmidt worked for me because I'm a fan of odd male friendships like theirs, but not much else clicked. Jess and the football player was just odd and not very funny, and it was a shame that Winston got roped into it because that's two weeks in a row he's been short-changed. On top of that, Jess running away from Nick's going to get old fast. Also, why's Cece going through with the whole arranged marriage fiasco and why did she decide to do it in the first place? Too much non-sense and not enough solid, relationship-focused moments.

Go On: "Ring and a Miss"
Apt title since this episode was mostly lackluster. Since I didn't care for Simone to begin with, her being written out didn't faze me since I was tired of her and knew that she wasn't going to be sticking around to begin with. On the positive side, we got to the return of Ryan's core relationships with Carrie, Steven and Lauren. As for the rest of the episode, I usually like Anne and Mr. K together but his whole Mary Poppins routine was off-putting.

The New Normal: "Rocky Bye Baby"
While I didn't love or hate this episode, it just didn't work for me. First off, I get why Bryan and David didn't want a shower or gifts, but they did come off as ungrateful dicks throughout the entire ordeal. At least the show was aware enough to point this out but still. And since when did Rocky want a kid? It feels like that's something Murphy and Adler just came up with so NeNe could have something to do, but that shouldn't shock anyone familiar with the former's work. All complaining aside, Goldie's shower was a nice moment, so at least there's that.

Quick Thoughts: Tuesday Night Comedies, Pt. 7

Now that my television watching rotation's significantly lighter on Tuesday nights due to the cancellations of Ben and Kate and Apartment 23, and Happy Endings exile to Fridays, I wanted to write individual reviews of the remaining comedies but that's not going to happen right now. Maybe next week... maybe.

New Girl: "Parking Spot"
Maybe it's because the plot was too frantic or maybe it's because I cannot relate to the importance of a parking spot since I don't live in L.A., but this episode didn't gel as much as previous ones. Sure, it was refreshing that Schmidt was brought in so soon, and I still think the writers are handling Jess and Nick well, but something was slightly off. Also, I wish Winston was incorporated more into the A-plot, and this could've been a great bottle episode, but they just had to separate him from the bunch and things suffered because of it.

Go On: "Go Deep"
I'm just going to say it; I don't care for Simone and it has nothing to do with the fact that I loathe Covert Affairs. She's just not an interesting character, and there are other characters I'd rather see Ryan with. Things are not helped by the fact that those in charge are forcing Mr. K down our throats. Then there was Lauren's B-plot, which I didn't care for because neediness is a quality I cannot stand when it comes to TV characters. And why are they side-lining Carrie even more? Yes, TO's funny but not enough to rob me of seeing Allison Miller. So, what I'm trying to say is I didn't care for this one.

The New Normal: "Dog Children"
"Dog Children" really had me torn. At first, I thought it was too silly with Bryan and David freaking out over their dog while Goldie was horny which only reminded me how Murphy and Adler have no idea how to use that character. Add Shania's rediculous obsession with Maggie Smith, and this episode lacked any real substance. But then the episode focused on the fears that come along with being a parent during that great scene between Bryan and the priest, and things fell into place. I've always said that New Normal's a better show when it gets off its soapbox and treats its characters like human being instead of mouthpieces, and "Dog Children" was a good example of what it's capable of.

Again, I'm going to try to put together individual write-ups in the near future... I just don't know how near that future's going to be. Stay tuned.

Quick Thoughts: NEW GIRL, "Table 34"

After the monumental kiss, New Girl had a big challenge on its hands because the aftermath could be tricky to pull off. For the most part, I thought that "Table 34" was a solid follow-up but not without its flaws.

I'm just going to say it. I still think the show rushed the evolution of Jess and Nick's relationship. I'm not advocating that Meriwether and Co. need to keep them a part for a maddening amount of time (the whole wait until the end trick's long over), but I could've waited until the end of the season or until early Season 3. And who's to say they will ever end up in a relationship when it's all said and done, but I liked where they were at before the kiss. I know it's odd, but I get a kick out of watching them bicker and fight, and I still think that kind of dynamic could lead to a fun romance, but I don't want things to unravel too quickly. Thankfully, we got some of that this time around, and I'm glad that it looks like Nick's stupidity didn't ruin their bond, but I was irked by Sam's unceremonious departure because it didn't feel in character or organic. Heck, he was even egging them on to kiss during True American (which I acknowledge if a different set of circumstances  but still).

Elsewhere, I'm officially over Schmidt and Cece because their antics during the wedding convention or whatever that was didn't make me want to root for them, and in a lot of ways made me like him even less. Also, why are they not together? None of it makes a whole lot of sense and is an example of a will they/won't they going off the rails for no good reason. Either put them back together or blow them up once and for all so we can all move on.

Not a whole lot from Winston, but I appreciated everything he contributed like him telling Nick that he'd be the one to leave if things got weird with Jess. It was just an honest moment that made a lot of sense which is something not a lot of comedies can pull off. Also, we need more Cece and Nick moments.

So, "Table 34" was able to do the right amount of damage control while keeping the idea of a Jess/Nick relationship alive and well. Now, let's just get rid of the other unnecessary romantic tension once and for all.

Quick Thoughts: Tuesday Night Comedies, Pt. 6

These recaplets are going to shorter than usual. I apologize in advance.

Go On: "Pass Interference"
I've always been iffy about the idea of Janie's ghost, but rationalized it by appreciating the chemistry between the two actors. This time around, the execution was clunkier and I wasn't jazzed about him openly talking about her, but oh well. I was mostly indifferent about the wedding dress B-plot.

New Girl: "Cooler"
It was fun watching the guys hang out on their own although I could've done without Schmidt challenging Nick for the woman at the bar, but we got round two of True American and the big Jess/Nick kiss. The show may have rushed that last part, but I'm genuinely interested to see how it handles the aftermath.

The New Normal: "Dairy Queen"
I suppose the idea of Bryan buying a set of fake boobs so he could breast feed his child was progressive, but also a little off-putting. Sorry. And why has the show decided to make Shania into an insufferable little brat? Admittedly, she's never been my favorite character, and we found out why she was acting up, but this was another episode where she came off looking bad. Thankfully, Nana's damage control has been better handled.

Now that Ben and Kate has officially been cancelled (BOO!), I might go back to individual write-ups... or not. I haven't decided. Either way, hopefully these have been sufficient.

Quick Thoughts: Tuesday Night Comedies, Pt. 5

Still trying to get my stuff together, so here's another catch-all write-up for the Tuesday night comedies.

Ben and Kate: "Bake-Off"

It's a shame that this show failed to reach an audience because "Bake-Off" felt like the show finally figuring itself out and turning into something more than just a hang-out comedy with a kid mixed in. We got to see Kate grow a bit while still being hysterically awkward, and while I don't love the idea of love triangles, I somehow was OK with it when Will showed up out of nowhere to get in the way of her connection with the baker. Even Ben and Tommy grew up a bit as they're taking one of their get rich quick schemes seriously and are willing to fight for Rail Mall. Usually, BJ's the wild card whom I either like or loathe with not much in between, but I loved her tour of British accents and how she put Maddie's feelings before her own during the audition. I'll say it again, I'm going to miss this show when it's axed.

Go On: "Comeback Player of the Year"

I don't know how I feel about "Comeback Player of the Year." At first glance, Simone's the kind of television character who can wear out her welcome really fast because the whole free-spirited, hippie chick routine needs to be finely tuned in order to avoid the insufferable zone. For now, I'm liking her (and Piper Perabo's somewhat making up for Covert Affairs), but we know she's only here for a short time so no use getting too invested. I'm still not a Mr. K fan, but I did get a kick out of him bonding with Steven, and their teaming up with TO to prank Ryan. I also liked Anne helping Danny with the divorce, and that's a pairing I hope we so more of, but the clincher was the reveal that her ways as a lawyer were fueled by the anger she had for her dead wife. These kind of personal moments save the show, especially when it's not particularly funny, but this episode needed more balance... and more Carrie.

New Girl: "Pepperwood"

"Pepperwood" was great combination of straight wackiness that was grounded by those moments between friends that almost everyone can relate to. First off, Nick posing as Pepperwood as a way to find out whether one of her students was going to kill her was genius and another example of how Jake Johnson has lapped the rest of the cast when it comes to comedy. Also, for now I'll never get tired of watching Nick and Jess bicker, but I do fear the writers will eventually run their chemistry into the ground. The more subdued plot involving Winston and Schmidt talking about how the roommates talk about one another behind their backs brought the more human element while still being funny. Plus, it gave Cece the chance to bust out her creepy baby voice. It probably wasn't the best New Girl episode, but it was entertaining.

The New Normal: "Gaydar"

Up until now, I've been able to cut The New Normal some slack for its jumbled up ways because it is Ryan Murphy after all, but it was harder to do that with "Gaydar." Inviting John Stamos and Mark Conseullos over and ambush them with a game to figure out their sexuality was cruel even by this show's standards, and I don't know what Adler and Murphy were trying to prove. Whatever it was, the message was lost on me. That said, I like how the show's making an effort to turn Jane into a human being instead of Sue Sylvester, Jr. but it's taking some steps backwards with Shania. I still want to like The New Normal, and I do when it focuses on character moments over agenda items, but "Gaydar" was one of those instances where little to nothing worked.

Quick Thoughts: Tuesday Night Comedies, Pt. 4

I still haven't found a groove yet, and it doesn't help that I recap both Happy Endings and Justified, so you're getting another catch-all entry. Sorry.

Ben and Kate: "Girl Problems"

I'm starting to think that the expectations that good television has to transcend the media is starting to affect my appreciation for Ben and Kate because I wanted "Girl Problems" to be more than a standard episode of a family sitcom instead of appreciating the fact that it was a very capable one. I never tire of Kate's awkwardness so her trying to be friends with Tommy's new girlfriend was golden even though it relied too much on clichés like insecurity and lack of honesty, but everything wrapped up nicely. Ben's tryst and how it impacted his business idea was also a little familiar, but it was nice seeing him excel at something. Also, I prefer BJ when she's on the sidelines and observing the action rather than being center stage, but that's probably just me.

Go On: "Gooooaaaallll Doll!"

In a lot of ways, this was the Go On episode that I've been waiting for since the very beginning. I finally got the Carrie-centric episode that I've been clamoring for, and it also expanded on the brief glimpse of chemistry she had with Ryan during "She's Got Cats." The funny thing is I found myself torn while watching because I've been more on-board with a Ryan and Carrie pairing than the alternative (which was brilliantly alluded to by Fausta), but I also enjoyed watching them be "girlfriends" and would hate to see that bond ruined thanks to sexual tension. Regardless, I was just happy to get more Carrie. As for Yolanda and Sonia, I could've done without their story, but I did get a kick out of Anne and Danny's color commentary during Lauren's verbal smackdown.

New Girl: "A Father's Love"

If Go On threw me for a loop, just imagine who confused I was by New Girl after it made me not hate the Cece/Schmidt drama for a split second. To be fair, my enjoyment had nothing to do with that relationship and everything to do with his new brohaimance with Robbie. Also, am I the only one who thinks that Cece's desire to be set-up via traditional means does not line-up with her as a person? I'm all for being true to your heritage, but I'm more supportive to being true to oneself. The main plot involving Nick, his dad, Jess and a horse didn't play as well, but I did appreciate that sweet moment between Nick and Jess at the very end. I still don't need them to be rushed into a relationship anytime soon, but I'm still in favor of them being together thanks to scenes like that.

The New Normal: "Stay-at-Home Dad"

I cannot blame those who gave up on The New Normal early on because it was a tad too preachy and abrasive, but I do think it's found the right balance between crazy social commentary, pop culture riffs and real heart. Bryan and David are at their most interesting when they're coming to terms with being fathers than having to put up with Jane (who was thankfully absent this time around), and I enjoyed watching them figure out how they'd handle being a stay-at-home dad. I'm also a sucker for when the show goes behind-the-scenes of Sing (naturally), so I was dying as Rocky filled in for Bryan. My only real gripe was the sappy narration at the end, which would've been nice and appropriate had it not be so dang saccharine and on the nose. Women are better than men, we get it.

Hopefully, over the next couple of days I'll figure out how I want to handle these shows since they make up such a big chunk of my TV watching rotation. I'd like to go back to individual posts, but I cannot commit just yet. What can I say? I'm horrible.

Quick Thoughts: Tuesday Night Comedies, Pt. 3

Outside of the shows that I recap regularly, I haven't decided what I'm going to do with my little Quick Thoughts and TV Report Card write-ups. Right now, things are more manageable because there are still some shows that have yet to make their mid-season premieres, but I'm not committing one way or the other. One thing I do know is Tuesday nights are stacked, and I'm not sure if I'll be able to put together individual pieces for all of the comedies like I've tried to do in the past, so we're starting off with another blanket entry. I apologize in advance.

Ben and Kate: "B-Squad"

At the start of the season, Ben and Kate quickly became one of my favorite new shows in spite of the fact that I could clearly see its flaws. The last couple of episodes have shown a light on said deficiencies  but there's still enough there to keep me happy. For example, it took a bit of time for the Kate and Ben plot about Maddie's assignment to her classes less advanced group to gain traction, but it had the heart that I look for from this show. On the flipside, I could not care less about BJ's antics involving her offish boss and her mother, and I was annoyed that Tommy was roped into it. That said, the final scene at the country club made up for it.

Go On: "Win at All Costas"

The return of NBC's Go On was also a bit hit or miss for me because it did expand on Ryan's character while also misusing the ensemble. The fact that Ryan's hero is Bob Costas made sense within the world that's been created, and it even took an overused sports cliche like the yips and made it somewhat entertaining. Plus, we got a bit more from Carrie although it was still not enough to make me happy, and it gave Ryan a nemesis in the form of Rich Eisen. But I will never understand the appeal of Mr. K, so having him be so ingrained in Ryan's plot didn't work in my opinion. And to be honest, I don't even remember what was going on during the rest of the episode. Something about bullfighters, I think.

New Girl: "Cabin"

Unfortunately, New Girl also stumbled out of the gate as well because "Cabin" was the episode that had to happen because of the show's need to put Jess and Nick together. While I'm not going to complain about seeing Jess, Sam and the rest tripping on absinthe, the way things ended between Nick and Angie was so anti-climactic that I questioned why the show even bothered to begin with. The thing is, we know the Jess and Sam break-up's not far behind, so all of these relationships were for not. But that's what happens when these kind of shows have to deal with the strains of their own conventions. Thankfully, the B-plot about Schmidt's need to allow Winston to be one with his blackness was wildly entertaining.

The New Normal: "The Goldie Rush"

Due to my unhealthy devotion to Ryan Murphy, I've probably given The New Normal more chances than it's deserved, but I can honestly say that I enjoyed most of "The Goldie Rush" because it highlighted what the show does well while cutting back on what it fails at. Bryan and David getting territorial over Goldie didn't quite gel as much as I would've liked because it continued to treat her as a prop until she finally stood up for herself and her own dreams, but it did have some nice moments. Shania's B-plot as had me scratching my head until the very end, but I felt that it stuck the landing. On a sidenote, Murphy should just sabotage White Collar so Matt Bomer can be in his new project because he's clearly his new muse. American Horror Story: Season 3 perhaps?

Cougar Town: "Blue Sunday"

I know, I know. I've written about how disappointing Season 3 of Cougar Town was and how I'm never going to waste anymore time on the show, and yadda yadda yadda, but its TBS premiere was monumental enough for me to give it one more chance. It's just too bad that it let me down yet again. For one, I've never liked Jules and "Blue Sunday" only reminded me of the fact and did nothing to redeem her in my eyes. Secondly, I've always hated the idea of Laurie and Travis, so the fact that they're going to be a major plot point this season isn't working in the show's favor. I'll probably keep watching out of a weird sense of loyalty, but I really don't think I can spent anymore energy on it. I mean it this time... maybe.

As you can see, I've left of Apt. 23 and that's because the wacky back and forth between Season 1 and Season 2 has become so grating that I've given up trying to keep up. If ABC's not going to take the show seriously, then why should I? It's just a damn shame because I do like parts of The B----, but not enough to put up with ABC's scheduling shenanigans. As for the rest of the shows and their presence on my silly blog, stay tuned.

TV Report Card: Week of December 9, 2012

There's no good excuse for the shoddiness of this week's TV Report Card. I was just lazy.

Sunday
Homeland: "In Memoriam"
Honestly, I can understand why this episode was so frustrating to some because it did continue to test plausability, but that's why I think I enjoyed more than others. I'm so tired of people complaining about this show that I've come to embrace and champion it silliness just to spite those who nit-pick. It once again was far from great, but I enjoyed it. GRADE: B-

Monday
How I Met Your Mother: "The Over-Correction"
I'm so tired of HIMYM wasting time patting itself on the back because of their clever terms like "over-correction." I don't doubt that there are douchey people out there who use these kind of things, but I wouldn't watch them week in and week out, so I don't know why I continue with this show. I also could've done without the return of the Playbook, Marshal and Lily's parents, and pretty much everything that happened during this episode. GRADE: D

Tuesday
Hart of Dixie: "Blue Christmas"
I've never been a fan of the "over-critical" parent visits episode, so I didn't really care for Zoe's mom showing up, but some of the Christmas themed antics were fun, and I appreciated the time spent on her and Wade. Elsewhere, I'm glad we're done with Lavon and Ruby for now, and George and Tansy continue to entertain. GRADE: B


Happy Endings: "To Serb with Love"
This wasn't my least favorite episode of Happy Endings, but it wasn't close to being one of the show's best. Everything was just too Sitcom 101 like the slap-stickiness of Jane's Gallagher bit, Dave and Alex keeping secrets, and Penny self-sabotaging herself with a list of Pete's faults. It's all been done before and better than this attempt. GRADE: C+


New Girl: "Santa"
The multiple holiday parties gimmick was fun for a bit, and I like how naturally Olivia Munn fits in on this show, although I was disappointed that we didn't get some kind of Perfect Couples mention since David Walton was also guest-starring. Speaking of Walton and Munn, why is this show wasting time with potential love interests that we all know will not last? Good stuff from Winston, but I'm still over Cece and Schmidt. GRADE: B-

Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23: "Bar Lies..."
I'll say it again, watching a Season 1 episode was distracting because it robbed the show of any narrative momentum. That said, I did get a few chuckles thanks to JVDB's DwtS stint and Chloe renting out his apartment while he was gone. GRADE: C+

Wednesday
Arrow: "Year's End"
Copycat plots can be interesting, and I actually liked what Arrow did with the trope, but it could've gone on a bit longer in spite of the fact that it was obvious who the dark archer was. So, I guess I should be thankful that the show did not unnecessarily string the audience along, but it could've been better executed. GRADE: B-

American Horror Story: Asylum: "The Coat Hanger"
After a crazy-bananas Christmas episode, AHS slowed things down by its standards with "The Coat Hanger" which didn't work as well as its predecessor but had its interesting moments. The idea of Sister Jude being captive in her own asylum could be interesting, as could Lana's miraculously unaborted baby. That said, present day Bloody Face hasn't captured the imagination just yet. GRADE: B-

Thursday
The Vampire Diaries: "O Come, All Ye Faithful"
As always, there were things I liked about this episodes and things I didn't. I'm still on board with the idea of Jeremy as a hunter and the possibilities that go along with Damon being his guide, but I dislike Elena so much at this point that I'm actually rooting for her brother to take her out. With no Elena, that means Stefan and Caroline can finally be together. Speaking of Caroline, why should I care about her and either Klaus or Tyler at this point. As for them, I still don't get why the hybrids are so important. GRADE: B-

Glee: "Glee, Actually"
Over the years, Glee's Christmas episodes have been a mixed bag, and while "Glee, Actually" was an improvement it still wasn't the show's best effort. Admittedly, I liked the Artie and Puckerman vignettes more than I should have, and the Sam/Brittany and Marley/Sue stuff was inoffensive in spite of the silliness, but the NYC story ruined the entire thing for me. GRADE: C+

Elementary: "The Leviathan"
Everyone knows that I'm a sucker for heists, so having Sherlock figure out how to break into a impenetrable safe was fun. I could've done without some of the cliched family scenes involving Watson, but overall it was a decent enough episode. GRADE: B-

Even though I didn't hate "Diamond in the Rough" as much as previous Modern Family episodes, I'm sticking to my promise to refrain from writing about the show. Like I said before, if it gets appreciably better, then I might add it back to the rotation, but for now I'm OK with taking a break from Modern Family.

The Small Screen Podcast, Episode 47: 'Tis the Midseason

"The Small Screen Podcast" is back for Episode 47. Kristal's back and we talked about the AFI Top 10 List, the Golden Globe nominations, and we checked in on a few new and returning shows now that the first part of the season has wrapped up. As always, refer to the episode breakdown to avoid any spoilers.

Episode Breakdown:

Intros: Start - 1:27

TV News: 1:28 - 17:10

• AFI's Top Ten TV Shows of 2012: 1:28 - 6:28
• Golden Globe Nominations: 6:29 - 17:10

Midseason Rundown: 17:11 - 54:37

• Go On: 17:40 - 23:31
• The Mindy Project: 23:32 - 29:33
• Nashville: 29:34 - 33:35
• The New Normal: 33:36 - 38:04
• The Walking Dead: 38:05 - 41:20
• New Girl: 41:21 - 46:47
• The Vampire Diaries: 46:48 - 54:37 

What We're Looking Forward To: 54:38 - 56:22

• Homeland and The Voice finales, holiday movies

Closing: 56:23 - End

Check out the episode below, download it over at iTunes or stream it on Stitcher:


For more, follow us on Twitter:
Kristal: @kristal_bailey
Marcos: @poppas2cents
Screen Invasion: @screeninvasion
Invasion Radio: @invasionradio

Quick Thoughts: NEW GIRL, "Santa"

My feelings about Season 2 of New Girl have been pretty mixed but I think I liked "Santa" more than previous episodes.

For one, Jess was still wacky and frazzled but she didn't come off as a complete wreck in spite of her running into windows and hiding from the guy from Bent. Speaking of David Walton, I don't quite buy him as a legitimate love interest for Jess so I ultimately didn't care if she took him back or not, but I don't mind his presence as long as the show figures out a better way to use him. More on that later. As for love interests that do make sense, I'm still liking Olivia Munn's character and she's meshed well with the gang so far. It's just a shame that she'll be out the door like all of Nick's other stops on the road towards Jess. While we're on the topic of inevitable pairings, another reason why I enjoyed this episode was that sweet scene between Jess and Nick at the radio station where he decided to be honest with his stripper girlfriend. And Schmidt giving Nick a lap dance will never not be funny.

Unfortunately, Schmidt's foray into exotic dancing was one of his few highlights because he's still stuck in Cece mode. Admittedly, they were cute at the beginning but I've lost any interest in them as a couple to the point where the time they use on them feels wasted. It's a shame too because I don't know if the writers can put Schmidt into a storyline that will get back on his side at this point since they either revolve around Cece or him being a complete d-bag, and those are the two versions of the character I care the least about. But the most dissapointing part of this episode had to do with the fact that it had both Olivia Munn and David Walton and zero allusion to Perfect Couples. Epic fail, New Girl.

Even though I haven't been loving New Girl as much as I did last season, it's still a top-notch comedy that I enjoy watching and just because it's slipped in my Tuesday night rotation doesn't mean I'm giving up on it. It just needs to double down on Nick and get rid of the Schmidt and Cece non-sense. Problem solved.

TV Report Card: Week of December 2, 2012

I was so behind on my television watching that I didn't have time to put together a full fledged TV Report Card this time around (and for a second there I wasn't sure if I was going to post one at all). I know, I'm the worst.

Sunday
The Walking Dead: "Made to Suffer"
For a mid-season finale, "Made to Suffer" didn't have the pop of last year's but it was still an improvement over most of what we got in Season 2. I thought the assault on Woodbury was decent enough, and I really liked Carl's role this time around, but I could've done without Michonne and the Governor brawling. GRADE: B

Homeland: "Two Hats"
Boy did Homeland cause an uncalled for ruckus? I for one didn't hate "Two Hats," but what do I know. Sure it was silly but I don't tend to watch the show so closely that I get distracted by the implausibilities. Was it great? No. Heck, it wasn't even all that good but Homeland didn't deserve the backlash either. GRADE: C+

Monday
How I Met Your Mother: "Lobster Crawl"
To some extent I can overlook the stalling and how unfunny this show has become because it has far worse sins, namely ruining Robin as a character. She's no longer the independent, strong woman that Ted stole a blue French horn for. Nope, now she's a stereotypical "want what you can't have" crazy person. What a shame. GRADE: D

Castle: "Secret Santa"
I guess having a dead Santa was kind of entertaining, but this one didn't quite click for some reason. I guess it had to do with Rick's over-enthusiasm for Christmas and Kate's Scrooge-ness that didn't sit well with me. It could be argued that they were in character but it felt lazy. GRADE: C+

Tuesday
Ben and Kate: "The Trip"
I thought that the reason for Kate and Will's fight (and possible break-up) was weak because we've seen it all before, but I did like that we got a BJ/Tommy story that had little to nothing to do with what the Foxes were up to. GRADE: B-

Hart of Dixie: "Sparks Fly"
After an unintentional absence due to my oversight, Hart of Dixie's back on the Report Card with an OK episode. The farcical nature of the bachelor auction probably wasn't needed, but it did create some funny moments. I just don't know how I feel about Zoe and Wade at this point. GRADE: B-

Happy Endings: "P&P Romance Factory"
Penny's trouble with men has gotten stale, but I liked everything else especially Brad going off the deep end while being a cliched trophy wife.

Go On: "The World Ain't Over 'Til It's Over"
I could watch Ryan and Anne trade barbs all day, but the rest of the episode left a sour taste in my mouth. I didn't buy that Yolanda and Sonia would care enough to sabotage Wyatt's proposal, and I don't think Mr. K's strong enough to head up his own story as this point. GRADE: C+

New Girl: "Bathtub"
Still don't care about Schmidt and Cece, and unfortunately the rare Jess/Winston sub-plot didn't quite gel either. Thankfully, we got more Jake Johnson genius and Olivia Munn as a stripper. GRADE: B-

Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23: "Whatever it Takes..."
Usually, I don't complain about little things but watching an episode that was clearly from Season 1 was distracting. Luckily, JVDB was back in DTWS mode (and we found out how he became close to June's mother), but everything else was too out of place to ignore. GRADE: C+

The New Normal: "Baby Proofing"
I liked the fact that Bryan was not in soapbox mode and in my life is about to change mode because it suits him better. As does a less politically incorrect version of Jane. Didn't care for David though because his obsession with safety felt out of character. GRADE: B

Wednesday
Arrow: "Vendetta"
Even though they rushed the Huntress arc, and it was accompanied with some horrible acting on both parts, I have to admit that I liked what they did. As for all of the stuff going on around Oliver and Helena, I could've done with out most of it (i.e. Tommy and Laurel). GRADE: B-

Nashville: "Where He Leads Me"
I'm still digging the new direction that Nashville's heading in. Juliette's more interesting when she's not boffing Deacon (the same's true for him) and I kind of like her QB boyfriend. I wasn't jazzed about the proposal but I'll roll with it since she's up to something. I even liked the continuation of the young'uns love triangle which is rare. Let's just ignore the political stuff, OK? GRADE: B

American Horror Story: Asylum: "Unholy Night"
Ian McShane as a Santa suit wearing serial killer. That is all. GRADE: B+

Thursday
The Vampire Diaries: "We'll Always Have Bourbon Street"
I'm still over Damon and Elena. I still hate her. And I still love Caroline when she's not tied at the hip with Tyler. That pretty much sums up my thoughts on this one. GRADE: C

Glee: "Swan Song"
I didn't love or hate "Swan Song"... I just didn't really care about it at all. It spent way too much time in New York pretending that it's a magical place where somewhat talented people have their dreams come true with little to no effort while putting the more interesting collapse of New Directions on the back burner. Yawn. GRADE: C+

Elementary: "You Do It To Yourself"
I'm never going to turn down learning more about Sherlock and Watson, so the issues she had with her ex were good enough to establish her character. I just wish this show would incorporate more interesting cases week in and week out. GRADE: C+

Friday
Nikita: "Sideswipe"
We all knew that Sonya was the mole, so I'm glad they got it out of the way even if it only introduced another insider. At least Amanda's a more entertaining villain than she was last season, and I liked the introduction of Cyrus. As for Alex's return to drugs and Sean... moving on. GRADE: B

As you can see, no 30 Rock this week because I still haven't watched the latest episode. Again, I'm the worst. Sorry.

Quick Thoughts: Tuesday Night Comedies, Pt. 2

As you can see, it took me longer to catch up on the rest of this week's Tuesday night comedies so I'm just going to do one quick post over the usually individual ones.

Ben and Kate: "The Trip"

I know that I keep harping on the fact that Ben and Kate's not much more than a competent family sit-com, and I usually don't say that as a negative, but Kate and Will's fight was another example of this show being too by-the-book. Of course he's going to be annoyed by her relationship with Ben and the rest. Of course she wasn't going to dismiss her family for some guy. Part of me wonders why waste time on such a familiar topic, but then Kate posed by the window and all was right with the world. Thankfully, we got a decent enough Tommy and BJ sub-plot to keep things going.

Go On: "The World Ain't Over 'Til It's Over"

For the most part, I liked this episode because of all of the great stuff that transpired between Ryan and Anne. Out of the entire ensemble, he's clicked the best with her and I always get a few laughs while watching them verbally spar with one another. Plus, it's nice that he has a friendship with a woman that's not riddled with sexual tension. The rest of the episode wasn't as strong. I didn't care for Yolanda and Sonia trying to sabotage Wyatt's proposal, and Mr. K having a plot all his own was a tad too much.

New Girl: "Bathtub"

"Bathtub" was a pretty sizable step back after "Eggs." The jokes were not as solid, although Jake Johnson once again saved the day because he's Jake Johnson. Speaking of Nick, I have to admit that I'm intrigued to see where this Olivia Munn arc goes. I just hope the show uses this ex-Perfect Couples cast member better than what they did with David Walton. Again, don't care about Schmidt and Cece, and I didn't understand her motivation to give into her mother's need to set her up mostly because I didn't think what Schmidt did was all that wrong. Even a rare Jess and Winston story didn't completely gel even though I liked the re-emergence of Remy. I would like to see more of this pairing though.

Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23: "Whatever It Takes..."

I knew that Season 1 had a few leftover episodes that were scheduled to air as a part of Season 2, but I wasn't expecting them to be so glaring misplaced. Admittedly, things started off normally but it was jarring when Dancing with the Stars was brought back. It did fill in some blanks, like how James became close to June's mother, but overall it was just odd to watch. From the looks of it, we're in store for some more of these out-of-place episodes, which is a pretty clear indication of how ABC views this show's long-term viability. Thankfully, I like watching JVDB in DWTS mode.

The New Normal: "Baby Proofing"

When The New Normal takes time away from its soapbox and focuses on the life-altering event that is becoming parents, it can be a pretty entertaining show. My favorite version of Bryan is the one that's trying to prepare himself for the upheaval that his child's going to bring, so he was on fire during this episode. Also, this show works better when Jane eases up on the politically incorrect rants and acts like a human being (why does that sound familiar?) . It's just too bad that David felt out of character this time around. For some reason I didn't see him as the overly cautious one of the duo, so him freaking out about baby proofing never worked for me.

Sorry for the quick and dirty version of these write-ups, but it is what it is. I'll try to keep up next week.