The Small Screen Podcast, Episode 41: Preempted by Life... and Baseball

"The Small Screen Podcast" is back for Episode 41. After a brief hiatus, Kristal and I are back to talk about new developments involving the SHIELD pilot, the latest renewals and full-season pick-ups, what we're watching, and which new shows are our favorites and which ones have disappointed us. Check out the episode breakdown if you want to avoid any possible spoilers.

Episode Breakdown:

Intros: Start - 1:15

TV News: 1:16 - 23:23

• SHIELD pilot developments: 1:16 - 6:54
• Renewals and Full-Season Orders (emphasis on Homeland, Arrow, Bob's Burgers and Elementary): 6:55 - 16:38
• Up All Night's format change: 16:39 - 23:23

What We're Watching: 23:24 - 1:00:55

• The Walking Dead: 23:24 - 33:03
• Mockingbird Lane: 33:04 - 40:15
• Supernatural: 40:16 - 48:30
• Parks and Recreation: 48:31 - 1:00:55

Favorite New Shows: 1:00:56 - 1:07:10

• Ben and Kate: 1:00:56 - 1:04:22
• Go On: 1:04:23 - 1:07:10

Most Disappointing New Shows: 1:07:11 - 1:18:26

• Nashville: 1:07:11 - 1:14:24
• Revolution: 1:14:25 - 1:18:26

Closing: 1:18:27 - 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

My Dream Emmy Ballot: Outstanding Comedy Series

As you can see, my Dream Emmy Ballot experiment took a backseat to real life. I still want to get these out before the Emmy nomination announcements on July 19, so I'm giving it the old college try. Next up is Outstanding Comedy Series.

Remember, these picks are my "wouldn't it be nice" nominees and not real predictions because it's just easier to dream than try to face reality. If you want more legit insights, I'm sure you can find some online.

30 Rock
Like I mentioned earlier, I jumped on the 30 Rock bandwagon late, and I didn't think Season 6 was as good as Season 5, but it was still one of the funniest shows on television. It's going to be weird when 30 Rock's wrapped and we can no longer count on it being nominated for Outstanding Comedy.

Chuck
Of course one of my favorite shows is going to make the cut for my dream Emmy ballot. I know that Chuck will never get any serious Emmy consideration, but it should be congratulated for surviving for as long as it did because this kind of show would have never existed 10 years ago. Low-rated, cult TV shows barely last one season, much less five, so Chuck should get some love for breaking all of the rules.

Glee
Yes, Glee has not been as good as it was during that first 13-episode run, but Season 3 was a vast improvement over Season 2 (which was nominated for Outstanding Comedy), so logic dictates that it should get another nod. Plus, I still find Glee entertaining. which I can't say about some other shows on this list.

Happy Endings
C'mon, of course I had to nominate Happy Endings for Outstanding Comedy since it has the most laughs per episode. Hands down.

Louie
Really, I have Louie on my ballot because of how groundbreaking it is since FX just lets Louis C.K. do whatever he wants. I don't think Louie is the future of television comedies, but that's what makes it special and worthy of as many Emmys as it can get.

Parks and Recreation
I'm a sucker for humor and heart, and Parks and Recreation gets both so right that it's worthy of the title, "Best Comedy on TV."

So there you have it. Those would be my top six contenders for Outstanding Comedy Series if I controlled the Emmys. Agree? Disagree? Who would your nominess be?

My Dream Emmy Ballot: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

As you can see, my Dream Emmy Ballot experiment took a backseat to real life. I still want to get these out before the Emmy nomination announcements on July 19, so I'm giving it the old college try. Next up is Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, and this is going to seem a bit by-the-book with a "not-so-surprising" surprise.

Remember, these picks are my "wouldn't it be nice" nominees and not real predictions because it's just easier to dream than try to face reality. If you want more legit insights, I'm sure you can find some online.

Zooey Deschanel, New Girl
What can I say? I'm a fan of Zooey Deschanel and I pretty much enjoyed everything she did on New Girl and never tired of her adorableness. Sure, the show had some bumps early on, and Zooey became less of the draw as Max Greenfield and Jake Johnson took over, but she's still the core and I have zero problems admitting that I felt she was one of the six best comedic performances this year.

Leena Dunham, Girls
I don't really care for Girls, but much like Louis C.K., Leena Dunham deserves to be rewarded for getting her show on the air. Heck, she deserves a nomination just for putting up with all of the half-assed backlash that she had to endure, but also because her show had something to say and worthy of some of the hype even if it really didn't jive with me as a viewer. Plus, she (along with the aforementioned Louis C.K.) was responsible for the overuse of the word "auteur," and that should be worth something.

Tina Fey, 30 Rock
She's Tina Fey. That's all the convincing I need.

Lea Michele, Glee
Go ahead and blame my Glee bias for Lea Michele's inclusion on this list, but I sincerely thought that she had a good third season. Of course Rachel's character had some major missteps this year, (ex. the Christmas episode), but Michele still made her one of the most entertaining characters in my opinion. Glee's strong string of episodes towards the end that really showcased Michele's talents didn't hurt either.

Martha Plimpton, Raising Hope
I added Martha Plimpton to my dream ballot for the same reasons I had Garret Dillahunt on my Lead Actor list. Virginia Chance also tip-toes the line of heart warming and absurd, and could easily be a cartoon character, but Plimpton somehow pulls it off and makes it all work.

Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation
Parks and Recreation had another strong year, and it was mostly due to Amy Poehler. The whole "Knope for City Council" arc could have been too much to put up with, but Poehler was able to keep things crazy enough, funny enough and squishy enough that it didn't wear out its welcome. Her writing and directing chops were also spot on, and hopefully this will be her year to take home the gold.

So there you have it. Those would be my top six contenders for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series if I controlled the Emmys. Agree? Disagree? Who would your nominess be?

My Dream Emmy Ballot: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

As you can see, my Dream Emmy Ballot experiment took a backseat to real life. I still want to get these out before the Emmy nomination announcements on July 19, so I'm giving it the old college try. Next up is Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. I decided to have some fun with this one, and some of my nominees might be both shocking and not-so-shocking all at the same time.

Remember, these picks are my "wouldn't it be nice" nominees and not real predictions because it's just easier to dream than try to face reality. If you want more legit insights, I'm sure you can find some online.

Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
While I jumped on the 30 Rock bandwagon fairly late, I quickly understood why the show's stars got so much hype, and to be honest Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey are the two main reason I keep watching. Baldwin had another fantastic season as Jack Donaghy figured out what to do about his marriage while keeping his relationship with Liz Lemon the most entertaining thing on television. Baldwin may have conceded his throne to Jim Parsons, but he should be nominated for as long as 30 Rock's on air.

Louis C.K., Louie
I've only watched a handful of Louie episodes, but even I could tell that what Louis C.K.'s doing is something special and he should be given all of the respect and accolades in the world. While I cannot say that I was in love with everything I've seen to date, I can say that C.K. wowed me at every turn, so it was easy for me to include him on my dream Emmy ballot.

Garret Dillahunt, Raising Hope
Raising Hope's not as cutting edge or flashy as some of the "best" comedies on television, but it's become one of the consistently funny ones, and it's largely due to Garret Dillahunt's Burt Chance. I don't really see Dillahunt as a "lead" per se, but since he and Martha Plimpton submitted themselves as such, I went ahead and put him on my list. What's great about Dillahunt's performance is it's broad and slapsticky, but warm and genuine. You really can't beat the combination.

Zachary Levi, Chuck
Hey, it's my dream ballot and if I want to include Chuck on it, then I have every right to. Anyone who reads this silly little blog or listens to my podcast knows how much Chuck has meant to me, so of course I'm going to show it some love on my make believe Emmy ballot. Since Levi was the glue that held Chuck together, it only makes sense to tap him as the show's representative, but he also deserves it.

Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
Honestly, I really couldn't come up with a sixth person to nominate, so I decided to go with the reigning champion. While I haven't been as big of a fan of Big Bang as I used to be, I still get a kick out of Parson's Sheldon Cooper. I haven't loved it that he's been saddled with Blossom, and I've been upset that we've gotten less and less of him with Penny, but he still makes me laugh more than the other guys on the show.

Adam Scott, Parks and Recreation
I really wasn't a huge fan of Scott's work pre-Parks and Rec (Party Down was overrated, get over it), and he really didn't wow me during the early days of his P&R stint, but he can into his own during this last season. Plus, it can't be easy to be the straight man on a show like Parks, but he did an admirable job and deserves just as much love as Poehler and Offerman.

So there you have it. Those would be my top six contenders for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series if I controlled the Emmys. Agree? Disagree? Who would your nominess be?

My Dream Emmy Ballot: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Nominations for the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards will be announced on July 19, which means all of the TV experts have been putting out their predictions and/or ideal nominees. Since I fancy myself a wannabe expert, I've decided to put together my own dream Emmy ballots. I've already covered Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, so let's move onto Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.

Remember, these picks are my "wouldn't it be nice" nominees and not real predictions because it's just easier to dream than try to face reality. If you want more legit insights, I'm sure you can find some online.

Kaley Cuoco, The Big Bang Theory
I know, she's supposed to be the female lead but apparently she's tired of being shut out of the field so she tossed her name in the Supporting hat. While I jumped off the Big Bang bandwagon as quickly as I jumped on it, Cuoco's still one of the few bright spots on the show and one of the only reasons I keep checking in. Many feel she's been sidelined due to Melissa Rauch and Mayim Bialik's promotion to regulars, but she's the glue that keeps everything together and deserves some recognition especially since she should've picked up a Lead Actress nomination by now.

Elisha Cuthbert, Happy Endings
One of Happy Endings major successes of Season 2 was figuring out how to write for Elisha Cuthbert. While I didn't hate her character during the first season, she was one of the weakest links, and somehow things changed and she became one of the strongest elements of the show. Alex has become a little too flighty for my liking, but I can't help but burst out laughing every time Cuthbert eats or dances on my television screen. I'm not expecting Happy Endings to get any Emmy love, but one can hope.

Gillian Jacobs, Community
Somewhere along the way it became cool to hate Britta Perry, but I've always had a soft spot for her in spite of her faux bohemian shtick and I thought she had a pretty good run during Season 3. That being said, I do think that Gillian Jacobs benefited from the fact that Donald Glover had a great season because Britta and Troy's hinted at romance was one of the driving sub-plots this year. Regardless, Jacobs did some good work and I'd love it if she got some time in the spotlight.

Zosia Mamet, Girls
I need to come clean and admit that I didn't love Girls, or even liked it all that much, but I did get some serious enjoyment while watching Zosia Mamet's Shoshanna stubble her way towards losing her virginity. It could be argued that Mamet was there purely for comic relief, and I'm fine with that because the show seriously needed some levity to undercut the self-destructive navel gazing. While I fully expect Girls to get a lot of attention from the Emmys, I don't think that Zosia will be at the center of the hub-bub though.

Aubrey Plaza, Parks and Recreation
I had a hard time picking the final entrant on my dream ballot, and I finally gave in to my first instinct and added Plaza because I enjoyed where she took April this season. When Parks and Rec started, April was one of the more one-dimensional characters, but she was given time to grow thanks to her relationships with Andy and Ron, but she became a real human being during this last season when she allowed herself to care about something and Plaza nailed the big moments.

Casey Wilson, Happy Endings
While Elisha Cuthbert was Happy Endings' Most Improved Cast Member, Casey Wilson was the Most Valuable Cast Member because she's what makes the show click thanks to her abbrevs and sad-sack tendencies that make her the most relatalbe of the bunch. Sure, she's just as crazy as the rest, but I don't think this show would be as popular if it wasn't for Casey Wilson. It's just too bad that Emmy voters will not observe the Fiscal Year of Penny.

So there you have it. Those would be my top six contenders for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series if I controlled the Emmys. Agree? Disagree? Who would your nominees be?

My Dream Emmy Ballot: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Since the announcement of nominations for the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards is just around the corner (July 19), all of the experts have been putting together their predictions and wish lists of potential nominees. Since I like to pretend that I'm an expert, I've decided to put together my dream ballots that will cover the major acting categories and Outstanding Drama and Comedy Series.

My approach is simple; I'll list my pie in the sky picks along with some legitimate contenders. Since it's so hard to predict these kind of things (mostly because I can't watch that much television), keep in mind that this is just for fun and I have no idea what I'm talking about. Plus, there are more qualified people on the Internet to listen to, so have at it.

Without further ado, here is my dream ballot for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

Ty Burrell, Modern Family
I know that I'm not the biggest Modern Family fan (the show hasn't been that great since Season 1), but I still tune in every week mostly because I get a kick out of watching Ty Burrell as Phil Dunphy. He's been able to brilliantly combine the absurd with the sweet and has been the only consistent source of any true laughter. He did win the award last year, and I could have left him off my dream ballot for someone else, but I truly believe that Burrell's worthy of all of the praise.

Donald Glover, Community
Many so-called experts will praise Donald Glover's performance during Community's most recent season but will push him aside in favor of Danny Pudi and/or Jim Rash, and I don't quite get it. Sure, Abed had a pretty heavy story arc this go round, and I don't begrudge him the pats on the back, but it baffles me that some feel that Dean Pelton was more effective than Troy this year. In my mind, Season 3 was all about Troy and Abed as they navigated their roles within the group and as each other's best friends, and most of the stand out moments involve one, the other or both, but Troy more so than Abed. In the end, it's a moot point because I don't really see any of them getting a nomination, but deep down I'm rooting for Glover.

Jake Johnson, New Girl
FOX's breakout hit of the season had its own breakout character of the season in the form of Max Greenfield's Schmidt, but I'd give the nod to Jake Johnson if I could rig the Emmy nominations. While I agree that Schmidt was one of the more memorable new characters of the year, I could argue that Nick became the funniest member of the group as time went on. Just watch him rattle off insane lines of dialogue in the "Fancyman," and you'll understand where I'm coming from. In all reality, Greenfield's going to get the most love (along with Zooey Deschanel) and I'll be happy for him, but Johnson's more deserving.

Nick Offerman, Parks and Recreation
Some will go on rants about the fact that Nick Offerman has yet to be nominated for his role as Ron Swanson, and it's hard to disagree with them because he's one of the strongest members of a very talented cast. Much like Ty Burrell, Offerman's been able to mix some of the most outrageous lines of dialogue with some genuinely heartfelt moments (albeit in very different ways), and his relationship with Leslie might be one of the best on all of television. While I seriously doubt Offerman will ever get real Emmy recognition, he was a no brainer for my dream ballot.

James Van Der Beek, Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23
Now, hold on a sec and let me tell you why the Beek should get nominated for an Emmy. I can't say that Apartment 23 was successful during its abbreviated first season, and it definitely has some serious room to grow, but JVDB was the one consistently funny aspects of the entire show. Admittedly, I'm a bit biased since I was a pretty big Dawson's Creek fan back in the day, and I do love it when celebrities can poke fun at themselves, but "James Van Der Beek" made me laugh more than any other character on the air and it was all thanks to the real James Van Der Beek.

Damon Wayans, Jr., Happy Endings
I've never hid my love for ABC's Happy Endings, so it makes sense that it would have a presence on my dream Emmy ballot and I make no apologies at all. Like New Girl, it'd be easy to go with the most out the top character of the bunch and pick Adam Pally for his portrayal of Max, but I'm going outside of the box and picking Damon Wayans, Jr. Don't get me wrong, I love Max, but Brad's probably the most versatile character on the show, and he has so many tools that make me laugh whereas Max can only rely on his brashness. Honestly, I'd be happy if either of them got a nomination, but that's not going to happen any time soon.

So, there you have it. Those would be my top six contender for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series if I controlled the Emmys. Agree? Disagree? Who would your nominees be?

News: And the Floodgates Open

With Upfronts starting on Monday, every major network (and The CW) not named CBS or FOX firmed up their schedules for the 2012-2013. Granted, the Eye could still make some announcements before the day's over, but for the most part it let everyone else stand in the spotlight.

ABC
The only real news coming out of ABC was a-mah-ing (sorry, that joke's required) as it renewed Happy Endings for a reported 22 episode third season. With Cougar Town officially shipped off to TBS, it's up to the HE gang to headline the Alphabet's off-shoot brand of quirky, friends based comedies that don't mesh will with the rest of its family oriented ones. Still no word on Don't Trust the B---- in Apt. 23 or the other bubble shows like Last Man Standing and Body Proof. UPDATE: Scandal was also renewed for a second season.

The CW
The perpetual also-ran, The CW, also made some moves today as it officially picked up Arrow, Beauty and the Beast, The Carrie Diaries, Cult and First Cut. It also renewed Nikita for a third season, Hart of Dixie for a second, and Gossip Girl for a possible last hurrah. Two shows that did not get a reprieve: Ringer and The Secret Circle. Honestly, the biggest surprise was Nikita's renewal since everyone pretty much had it dead, but somehow managed to stay afloat.

NBC
NBC continued to dominate the day as it announced that Parks and Recreation, Whitney and Up All Night will all be returning next season. Not making the cut: Are You There, Chelsea?, Awake, Bent, Best Friends Forever and Harry's Law. It also picked up Next Caller starring Dane Cook which could help keep the office workplace sub-genre alive on NBC.

So, that's it for now, but I'm sure more news will break once I post this write-up. If it does, I'll make sure to jot some stuff down.

News: 2011 AFI Awards Announced

The American Film Institute released its Top 10 of 2011 lists, and I wanted to share my initial thoughts on the television category. This year, the AFI decided to recognize the following television programs:

• Boardwalk Empire
• Breaking Bad
• Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Game of Thrones
• The Good Wife
• Homeland
• Justified
• Louie
• Modern Family
• Parks and Recreation

I really cannot complain about the drama side of things since shows like Breaking Bad and The Good Wife have been critical darlings for years now, and I'm glad that Justified got some recognition for its vastly improved second season. I'm a little surprised that rookie shows, Game of Thrones and Homeland, made the list, but their selections are deserved. The only drama on the list that I'm not so sure about is Boardwalk Empire, but I haven't seen Season 2 yet, so maybe it's gotten better.

The comedies are another story. First off, I'm glad that Parks and Recreation was added to the list. I know that I don't write a lot about the show, but it is a consistently entertaining show that deserves more recognition. I started watching Season 1 of Louie, and I can understand where the love is coming from, so I'm fine with its inclusion as well. For the life of me, I don't get why Modern Family is listed once again because it's been struggling for the past two seasons. I'm not going to say that shows like Glee or Community are more deserving, but there has to be another sitcom out there that's better than Modern Family. Ah well.

What are your thoughts on AFI's list of the best television programs of 2011?

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

TV Report Card: Week of September 18, 2011

The new fall television season has officially kicked off, and it's been a crazy busy week filled with series and season premieres. I'm going to try to include as many shows in this first installment of the TV Report Card, but I doubt all of them will be sticking around. With out further ado, here is this week's TV Report Card:

Monday
How I Met Your Mother: "The Best Man" and "The Naked Truth"

Last season I did not hide my disappointment about How I Met Your Mother, but I did go into the new year with hopes that the show would get itself back on track. I was wrong. "The Best Man" had every element that I dislike about this show which made it close to unwatchable. I just cannot care about Pitiful Robin, Nosy Lilly, or Douchey Ted no matter how many times the writers shove them down my throat. Thankfully, "The Naked Truth" picked up the slack with an amusing Marshall story and the return of Nora and Victoria.

GRADE: D/C+

TV Report Card: Week of April 10, 2011

So, after weeks of repeats and debuts of mediocre mid-season shows, most of the shows that I watch regularly came back, and to be honest a lot of them were just OK.

Sunday
Breakout Kings: "Like Father, Like Son"

The Fugitive of the Week was a redneck, right-wing, nut job who wanted to take down the government who was also an explosives expert, and the Kings had to capture him before he took out a city block due to his mommy and daddy issues. While the actual bad guy was nothing more than a cliche that we've seen time and time again, this episode did have some interesting character moments that involved Lloyd.  Jimmi Simpson is by far the best aspect of this show, so getting to learn more about his character, and the teased relationship with Julianne is a nice little twist. Breakout Kings as a whole is starting to get a bit formulaic, but there are enough good performances (although Shea and Erica are still one-dimensional) to keep me around.

GRADE: C+

TV Report Card: Week of February 13, 2011

It's late and last week's episodes of the shows I watch were not stellar, so I'm going to keep this TV Report Card short.

Monday
Chuck: "Chuck vs. The C.A.T. Squad"
Chuck's homage to Charlie's Angels didn't quite work mostly because the Cats were clichés, and the plot was extremely predictable. GRADE: C

How I Met Your Mother: "Desperation Day"
"Desperation Day" was a solid Barney episode, and I'm interested to see how things go with Nora. It was also one of the better Marshall/Lily episodes that we've gotten in a long time. The only lowpoint was Ted and Zoey. GRADE: B

Greek: "Midnight Clear"
So I'm pretty sure "Midnight Clear" was Greek's attempt at a bottle episode mostly because they were confined to a handfull of sets for the entire episode. The snowstorm forcing the gang to confront the issues they have with one another has been done before, but I felt the episode was effective. The idea of Ashleigh and Rusty still makes me cringe though. GRADE: C+

Castle: "The Final Nail"
I'm starting to think that Castle is getting a little stale because "The Final Nail" was another weak episode with the exception of the tension between Castle and Beckett. You'd think that a case involving a friend of Castle's would be epic, but it was only OK. GRADE: C

Hawaii Five-0: "Powa Maka Moana"
"Powa Maka Moana" had a vaguely interesting but over-the-top case involving pirates, bad acting, and the most telegraphed plot twist ever attempted. The only real upside was watching Ray Wise play a character that wasn't a baddie. This episode of H5-0 had its moments, but was ultimately mediocre. GRADE: C-

Tuesday
Glee: "Comeback"
The show had a challenge of following up one of its best episodes ("Silly Love Songs"), and I felt that "Comeback" was a decent effort. The Sue/Schue stuff felt a little forced and/or manipulative, but I'm interested to see how the Finn/Sam rivalry pans out. It was also nice seeing glimpses of old Rachel. GRADE: B-

Wednesday
Modern Family: "Princess Party"
I honestly cannot remember much from "Princess Party". Yes, Fizbo made his return but his appearance was not as good as last season, and there was something about Claire's mom but I cannot pin point why she was there. GRADE: C

Thursday
Community: "Intermediate Documentary Filmmaking"
While I wasn't a big fan of the mock-mockumentary style, "Intermediate Documentary Filmmaking" was able to blend big laughs (thanks to Donald Glover) with some very dark moments. I don't know how the show will deal with Pierce's downward spiral, but it has definitely created an intriguing dilemma. GRADE: B

The Vampire Diaries: "The Dinner Party"
I actually liked TVD even though it didn't have any Caroline. I'm always a fan of backstory episodes, and the Elena/Elijah/Klaus arc took some intense turns. Could've done without Bonnie and Jeremy though. GRADE: B-

Nikita: "Alexandra"
It was flashback night on the CW as Nikita also gave us a Alex backstory episode. I was more entertained by seeing where Alex came from rather than her forced relationship with her neighbor, so "Alexandra" was already better than "The Next Seduction". It was also nice seeing Nikita and Michael teaming up again. GRADE: B-

Parks and Recreation: "Media Blitz"
The only reason I'm including Parks and Rec this week is because Ron and Andy have become one of the best comedy duos on TV. They have the chance to become the next Liz and Jack. GRADE: B+

30 Rock: "It's Never Too Late For Now"
The first time I watched "It's Never Too Late For Now", I didn't quite love it, but it grew on me. Really dug the Liz and Jack storylines, but could've done without Pete and Frank's band. They were still better than the Tracy and Kenneth combo though. GRADE: B

Friday
Supernatural: "Mannequin 3: The Reckoning"
Silly monster of the week, annoying plot twists, and forced dialogue pretty much dragged the episode down. At least Dean and Sam didn't spend the entire time bickering at one another though, so at least that was different. GRADE: D+

Spartacus: Gods of the Arena: "Reckoning"
The second to last episode of Gods of the Arena had to be the best as we finally saw the characters morph into the people we've come to know. There's still a lot of story to tell, but so far Gods has been a nice addition to the Spartacus universe. GRADE: A

TV Report Card: Week of January 23, 2011

Here is this week's TV Report Card:

Sunday
Hawaii Five-0: "Kaie'e"

CBS made the wise decision to showcase Hawaii Five-0 after the most watched AFC Championship Game, and they picked a good episode to represent the series. "Kaie'e" was about 5-0 investigating a fake tsunami warning that was fabricated by a bitter Coast Guard commander who was planning on stealing the stash of money that our good guys dipped into to save Chin Ho's life. I'll admit that most of the episode was not plausible, but there was enough action, laughs, and intrigue to keep me satisfied. I'm also a big fan of Kamekona (Taylor Wily), so I was glad to see him get some serious screen time as he looked after Dan's daughter.

GRADE: B

TV Report Card: Week of January 16, 2011

TV is back in full swing, so it was a pretty busy week of sitting around and watching the lives of fictional characters. Here's this week's TV Report Card:

Monday
Chuck: "Chuck vs. the Balcony"

Our favorite Nerd Herder made his return from its winter break with a pretty decent episode. "Balcony" was about three main missions: Team Bartwoski recovering a microchip, Chuck proposing to Sarah, and Lester finding a wife. Out of the three plot-threads, the strongest by far was the proposal sub-mission because it brought the sweet and the funny, and it really showcased the talents of Yvonne, Josh, and Adam. The real mission was just an excuse to send Team Bartowski to France, and the Lester story had a few chuckles but was ultimately unnecessary (like most Buy More plot lines). "Chuck vs. the Balcony" wasn't the show's strongest effort, but it was a good way to kick off the tail end of the initial 13-episode arc, and we all know Chuck leaves its best for last.

GRADE: B-