Tonight’s TV Spotlight…Monday, February 15, 2010

You know I love my Monday night shows, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a wee bit excited at the idea of an easy-breezy Monday night. With the Olympics wreaking havoc on the schedule for the time being, many of the networks are in re-run mode. But not all of them.  It’s kind of fitting actually. It’s President’s Day Weekend and today is one of those holidays that some people, but not everyone has off from work…just like tonight’s TV schedule.  I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but it’s a Monday night and only one of my DVRs has to be on the clock. Wow.

Here are some highlights from tonight’s TV schedule. What will YOU be watching?

XXI Winter Olympics | 8pm on NBC
From Vancouver, B.C. Figure skating: pairs Gold Medal final; speed skating: men’s 500m Gold Medal final; skiing: men’s downhill Gold Medal final; snowboarding: men’s snowboard cross Gold Medal final.

The Bachelor | 8pm on ABC
“Fantasy Date”
The final three bachelorettes join Jake on the island of St. Lucia; each woman must decide if she wants to join Jake in the fantasy suite after a romantic date; Jake sends one bachelorette home.[GMMR: This is usually my favorite episode. On national TV each bachelorette needs to declare whether or not she is going to bang this guy. Say no and you’re a prude, say yes and you’re a slut. Brilliant!]

24 | 9pm on Fox
“Day 8: 11pm-12am”
President Taylor pressures CTU for progress; Bauer’s perilous plan panics operatives; the dynamic at CTU changes as the scope of the looming threat expands.

The Secret Life of the American Teenager | 8pm on ABC Family
“The Rhythm of Life”
At the mother-daughter dance, Amy and Ashley learn their parents are getting remarried. Meanwhile, Ben realizes that he still loves Amy; and Ruben discovers that Ricky kissed Amy.

One Tree Hill | 8pm on The CW
“At the Bottom of Everything”
Nathan tries to help Jamie and Haley deal with Lydia’s seemingly hopeless situation; Quinn and Clay spend some time apart.

(the rest of tonight’s TV spotlight is after the jump)

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A VAMPIRE DIARIES Head Scratcher

Happy Valentine’s Day my little blood suckers!

Now as you know, I’ve become quite smitten with the residents of Mystic Falls. THE VAMPIRE DIARIES has become one of the shows I look forward to the most each and every week. I’m proud to say that I’ve never missed an episode.  So when I received the following email from GMMR reader, Nancy, I couldn’t help but wonder if I had in fact missed something very important.  She raised a question that I hadn’t really thought of, but once I did I was left scratching my head.

Here’s what she asked….
(I hope she doesn’t mind for paraphrasing)

In “Children of the Damned” we learned that at the time of her capture, Katherine hadn’t yet turned either Damon or Stefan.  Prior to her being discovered by Giuseppe Salvatore she was teaching Damon future hunting skills, for when she did turn him.  Stefan hadn’t been turned either and couldn’t have been the night she was taken because he was full of vervane.

After she was discovered to be a vampire, Katherine was immediately imprisoned and soon there after thought the be locked for eternity in the tomb.  Regardless of her escape, the Salvatore brothers surely never saw her after they thought she was locked in the church.

So when did Katherine have the opportunity to turn the brothers and give them their rings?

Did Nancy and I miss something on the show?

Now, before you start flooding the comments with spoilers from the books, we are looking for explanations from the TV series only. Although the books are similar, there are significant differences.  And anything that has happened in the books but not yet seen on the TV series is to be considered a spoiler (just in case).

Related Posts:

THE VAMPIRE DIARIES: Fool Me Once (Review and Discussion)

Undercover Boss | 9pm on CBS

When the CEO goes under cover in a fast-paced kitchen, he struggles to keep up, then is forced to take action when a manager steps out of line.

On Your Mark. Get Set. Go! THE AMAZING RACE 16 Premieres Tonight

Tune in tonight and jump in on the adventure as the Emmy award winning THE AMAZING RACE kicks off it’s 16th season at 8pm on CBS. I had a chance to watch a sneak peek of tonight’s premiere episode, and I have no doubt that new and old fans alike will be readying their passports as they watch this worldwide journey play out from week to week.

There are two things that can make or break any season of THE AMAZING RACE: (1) the contestants and (2) the challenges. The very nature of the show lends itself naturally to drama, so the producers really don’t need to create forced conflict, through casting. Drama is naturally present given the pressure of the race. There have been a few seasons where the producers have cast certain twosomes in an effort to create drama, and it’s always seemed to backfire. But from what I’ve seen of the eleven teams so far, we’ve got a good bunch. There are only one or two teams that left a bad taste in my mouth.

The other element that can really affect my enjoyment of a season of TAR is the challenges. For the past two seasons I’ve felt that the challenges started to lack originality and excitement. I’m hoping that the producers have reinvigorated themselves this season, because I’m ready to see the race kick it up a notch. Tonight’s episode features a Roadblock that sets a great pace for the season. I can’t see what’s up next.

This season on THE AMAZING RACE, “contestants will travel nearly 40,000 miles across five continents and eight countries. Eleven Teams start off by navigating through the congested streets of Los Angeles and, for the first time ever, must rely solely on public transportation to make their way to LAX. The Teams’ first destination lies in Chile where they will encounter one of the most daunting Roadblocks in the history of the series. In their ongoing battle for the one million dollar prize, Teams will participate in a grueling World War I reenactment in France, retrace the early days of the iconic rock group, The Beatles, and come face-to-face with one of the world’s most infamous villains.”

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The Wedding Crashers | 8pm on CBS

Two divorce mediators spend a wild weekend partying with a politician and his eccentric family. Owen Wilson, Vince Vaughn, Christopher Walken, Rachel McAdams, Isla Fisher, Bradley Cooper

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets | 8pm on ABC

The young wizard and his best friends investigate a dark force that is terrorizing their school, Hogwarts. Based on a book by J.K. Rowling.

Jimmy Fallon’s LOST Parody – “Late”

Seems every night LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON is giving us something to talk about the next day. Check out this fantastic LOST parody called “Late”. You think being stuck on the island is scary, try being stuck inside NBC.

The New ‘We Are The World’ 2010

All I can say is that I hope the all new version of ‘We are the World’ raises a lot of money for the people of Haiti. I’m flabbergasted by how unbelievably horrible this remake it. It’s so bad that I think it’s almost disrespectful to the original version. I’ve watched it three times now and I can’t find more than a few second of redeeming musicality.

Judge for yourself.

SUPERNATURAL: My Bloody Valentine

I love it when Supernatural gets creatively disgusting, and so obviously I loved this episode, because it contained about three or four of the grossest things I’ve ever seen on the show. I mean, which was the worst (and by worst I of course mean best)? Was it the adorable couple who chewed each other to death, bringing a whole new meaning to the phrase “I want you inside me”? Or perhaps Cas on his hands and knees stuffing his face with handfuls of raw ground beef? Even the mere mental image of a guy shoving Twinkies down his own throat with a toilet brush was enough to cause me to make a gag face. I think the winner though would have to be the diner cook shoveling hot fries into his mouth while his hands melted with burning oil, followed later with the entire upper third of his body bubbling away in the Fry-o-later. Who’s up for a bucket of extra crispy? Gah! Of course, my inner twelve year old was so giddy from the whole thing that I loved every second of it.

The show also brought the funny pretty hard, because laughter is the best cure for nausea unless you have access to a medical marijuana prescription. Cas’s vessel Jimmy really loved burgers, and so when Cas was infected with “the hunger” he went on a massive binge, demonstrating that angels are apparently equipped with the power of super-digestion (I still don’t get what happens to food when angels, vampires, etc. eat – I mean, it’s not like they digest. I do like when they can eat and drink and get drunk and so it’s probably best not to delve too deeply into the physicality of it all). This being a Valentine’s Day episode, the boys met up with a cupid (there are dozens, apparently) who was in town to play matchmaker to a few couples that heaven needed to make happen for one reason or another. Cupid was a big softie who modeled his affection style after Lenny from Of Mice and Men, and cried like Glen Beck when Dean accused him of turning the townsfolk into savages.

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THE VAMPIRE DIARIES: Fool Me Once

For the love of Damon Salvatore! VAMPIRE DIARIES doesn’t return until March 25th?! Please excuse me while I stamp my feet like a 3 year old.

If we’re going to have to wait over a month until we head back to Mystic Falls, at least we were left with one hell of an episode. Although I missed some of Damon’s trademark sass, “Fool Me Once” had me completely captivated (and a bit spooked). Talk about gut wrenching.

Tonight the much talked about seal was broken and the tomb housing Katherine and the other trapped vamps was finally opened. But much like Katherine, luck wasn’t much of a lady tonight, nor was she on anyone’s side.

Before we start in with our Wiccan chants, let’s back up a few and talk about the tortured soul that is Damon Salvatore.  He may have little disregard for human life, and kill on a whim, but deep down he’s just a guy with a broken heart. His first love might have been a few centuries ago, but he’s never really gotten over her. And he’s never really forgiven his little brother for his role in her capture. Having seen the flashback to what really happened, I think Damon’s being a little hard on Stefan. It’s not like he turned her in. It’s been a few hundred years, cut the guy some slack.

Still it was difficult to see Damon’s brows all furrowed while wallowing about his lost love. And by difficult I of course mean damn sexy. I’m not sure what I like more – sultry Damon and sullen Damon. Can I have both and call it a day?

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Jim & Pam…and Baby Makes Three

THE OFFICE doesn’t return until March 4th, but it will be well worth the wait. It’s on that day that we will welcome a new member to the Dunder Mifflin family – baby Halpert.

Are you hoping for a boy or a girl?
Jim teaching his son how to hit a ball off a tee? Adorable. But so it the idea of daddy’s little girl. Oh come on Pam, surprise up with two; one of each. Please? Too TV cliched? Ok, ok.

Check out the Halpert Baby Blog

Robert Pattinson is Bothered by Valentine’s Day

“Newsflash. Flowers are stupid. Here ye. Here ye. This just in….roses are stupid.”

Robert Pattinson is bothered by Valentine’s Day. Maybe he just hasn’t found the right woman yet. We should meet, fall in love and I then he can show me pictures of his spleen.

Jimmy Fallon, you don’t bother me at all.

Related Posts:
Robert Pattinson to be bothered by Jimmy Fallon on March 1st

THE OFFICE: Manager and Salesman

The suit coat came off. The sleeves were rolled up. The tie was loosened. He’s back at his old desk. It’s time to start the slow clap….Jim Halpert is back.

I absolutely loathed tonight’s episode of the office.  Erin and Andy were neither cute nor adorable. Kelly Kapoor wasn’t her awesome self. And I hate the idea of Jim being a salesman again. Oh and if you happen to walk out the door, please pay attention to the sign that says ‘Opposite Day’.

There were so many things to like about this week’s episode of THE OFFICE. I liked it so much I wanted to give it a Valentine’s Day card.

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XXI Winter Olympics | 7:30pm on NBC

Opening Ceremonies – From Vancouver, B.C. Parade of Nations; lighting of the Olympic Cauldron; ski jumping: individual K-95 competition.

Tonight’s TV Spotlight…Thursday, February 11, 2010

Another new Thursday night show for me to watch? Say it ain’t so. There just aren’t enough hours in the day.  But yes, I’m going to attempt to add one more show to my already overbooked Thursday night schedule. That show? SURVIVOR.

Although I have seen a season or two in its early years, scheduling conflict has always prohibited me from watching the reality show.  Those scheduling conflict haven’t gone away but I’m going to try to work around them if I can. Most likely I’ll watch the show online on the weekend.  I really just need to learn to say no.

Let’s take a look at just some of the highlights. Talk to me…what will YOU be watching tonight (and in what order?)

The Vampire Diaries | 8pm on The CW
“Fool Me Once”
Stefan, Damon, Elena and Bonnie attempt to open the mysterious tomb that they believe has confined Katherine for the past 145 years and are surprised by what they discover. Meanwhile, Jeremy and Anna agree to meet in the woods for a party, but he doesn’t know she has an ulterior motive for coming.

The Deep End | 8pm on ABC
“Nothing Personal”
Dylan and Beth are given a challenging pro-bono case involving a female tennis star who loses her scholarship; Malcolm and Liam are pitted against each other.

Survivor | 8pm on CBS
“Slay Everyone, Trust No One”
The 20th edition of the series begins with 20 former castaways being stranded on the South Pacific island nation of Samoa. They are divided into two groups, heroes and villains, based on their previous play. Among the heroes are Rupert Boneham and Colby Donaldson. The villains include Russell Hantz and “Boston” Rob Mariano.

Community | 8:00pm on NBC
“Communication Studies”
Jeff tries to fix his relationship with Britta following a drunken phone call; Annie and Shirley make plans to humiliate Chang in order to defend Troy and Pierce’s dignity.

(The rest of Thursday night’s lineup is after the jump)

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