Game of Thrones Review - Episode 2 - "Kingsroad"
The mark of a good TV series, whether about gangs in Baltimore, ’60s ad execs or mythical realms is good characters, and the second episode of Game of Thrones allows us to get to know some of them. With an unwieldy number of introductions in the pilot, “The Kingsroad” settles in on a few in particular.... read more
Friday Night Lights Review: "On the Outside Looking In" (Episode 5.02)
There are many incredible things about Friday Night Lights. You’ll no doubt read all about them throughout my recaps this season. But what struck me while watching this episode is that the writers have pulled off the unthinkable: unlike nearly any other TV series set during high school, the show has seamlessly transitioned the cast (no sixth-year seniors in sight) while making me care just as much about this second string as I did the first. In fact, with my tear count ratcheting up even higher than last episode, I’d say that I’m almost as invested in the lives of... read more
NBC Creates Animated 30 Rock Webisodes
In celebration of 30 Rock reaching 100 episodes, NBC plans to release a trio of animated 30 Rock videos.... read more
Jim Carrey to Join The Office Finale
Jim Carrey will join Ricky Gervais, Will Ferrell, Will Arnett, James Spader, Ray Romano and Catherine Tate as guest stars on The Office’s hour-long season seven finale.... read more
Andy Samberg Signs On To Host Shark Week
Just when you thought Shark Week couldn’t get more exciting, The Discovery Channel announced they found their “first ever Chief Shark Officer”, Andy Samberg.... read more
Community Review: "Paradigms of Human Memory" (2.21)
Television reviews, like book reviews or film reviews, necessarily focus on the plots of their shows because that’s a lot of their content. Last night’s episode of Community, though, was almost completely lacking in anything approaching a traditional story. What it had was a premise, but that’s true in plenty of Community episodes. It’s just that those premises are still story-based whereas here the premise is the meta-idea of a clip show.... read more
Modern Family Review: "Someone to Watch Over Lily" (Episode 2.20)
In this week’s episode, “Someone to Watch Over Lily,” the kids of Modern Family were given a little more scenery to chew on, and Rico Rodriguez, who plays the child-man Manny Delgado, ate up every line given to him and spit ’em out like a seasoned pro. The show’s opening scene has Manny advising Mitchell and Cameron to accept Jay’s coffee: “It’s French press,” Manny says. “I was doubtful, too, but I can’t see myself going back to drip.” Spoken like a true, pint-sized hipster.... read more
HBO Renews Game of Thrones After One Episode
After just one episode, HBO has renewed Game of Thrones, its adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series, for a second season. The second season is set to air next summer, and will follow the second book in Martin’s series, A Clash of Kings.... read more
Final Episodes of Running Wilde to Air on FX
Starting April 28, FX will air the final four episodes of sister-network Fox’s canceled sitcom Running Wilde, starring Will Arnett and Keri Russell.... read more
Game of Thrones Series Premiere Review
A lot of ink has been spilled on who the audience is for the new fantasy drama Game of Thrones. HBO is hoping to reach beyond the Dungeons & Dragons set, and co-creator David Benioff even called it “The Sopranos in Middle Earth.”... read more
Ricky Gervais Show Review: "Munchies" (2.13)
In many ways, these reviews have been as much ruminations about Karl Pilkington as they are about The Ricky Gervais Show. That’s only natural, since much of the show is about exploring his strange, nearly alien psychology. For the second season finale, we’re finally down to one of the biggest questions that underlies any discussion with Karl: what exactly would make the man happy?... read more
Friday Night Lights Review: "Expectations" (Episode 5.01)
Friday Night Lights is advertising the return of its season as “The Fifth and Final Season,” and so, I was both heart-warmed and heartbroken to fire up the first episode. Heart-warmed because I am an ardent, crazy fan of the show, and because if there is one fictional universe that I’d like to inhabit, it’s Dillon, Texas (the fine dining of Applebee’s be damned). Also, because I wouldn’t balk at the idea of marrying Tim Riggins (or Coach Taylor). I am thus heartbroken for all of the same reasons. The silver lining, though, is that the cast and writers are... read more
The Office Review: "Training Day" (Episode 7.20)
The last time we saw the Dunder Mifflin gang, they were leaving us all misty-eyed after Michael’s adorable proposal to Holly. How quickly things shift: this week, The Office traded sentimentality for belly-laughs as Will Ferrell began his run as regional manager.... read more
HBO To Develop Neil Gaiman's American Gods Series
We already wrote about Neil Gaiman’s American Gods receiving a movie adaptation, as well as a contest to appear in the upcoming full-cast American Gods audiobook. Now, HBO is adapting Gaiman’s novel into a “potential” series, reports The Hollywood Reporter.... read more
Community Review: "Competitive Wine Tasting" (2.20)
Like most television shows about school, Community has always featured as little depiction of actual schoolwork as possible. Classes and homework are repetitive and pretty uninteresting, not to mention minor compared with what happens during the rest of our lives. For instance, you probably have fewer memories of that science class you took second semester of your sophomore year of college than you do of a particularly bitching New Year’s Eve party.... read more
New Penn and Teller Show Coming to Discovery
Comedy-magic duo Penn and Teller have announced a new show coming to Discovery this fall, entitled Penn and Teller: Secrets of the Universe.... read more
Modern Family Review: "The Musical Man" (Episode 2.19)
Network comedies generally have 22 minutes to hit the plot points and get to the resolution. While many sitcoms struggle to fill those minutes, this week’s Modern Family episode, “The Musical Man,” tried to cram in way too much for its three storylines.... read more
The Comedy Awards Winners Include Zach Galifianakis and Tina Fey
Comedy Central aired the inaugural edition of The Comedy Awards last night, and winners include ABC’s Modern Family, Zach Galifianakis for Dinner With Schmucks and Tiny Fey for Date Night, among others.... read more
Ricky Gervais Show Review: "Art" (2.12)
The driving force of The Ricky Gervais Show has always been Karl’s stupidity. It’s why you tune in and why Ricky and Stephen have made so many episodes. And while that may sound kind of mean-spirited, Karl’s agreed to be there for this and has Ricky/Stephen’s ventures for him as his only form of income. Basically, if you don’t find him funny, then you’re not watching the show.... read more
The Ricky Gervais Show Renewed for Third Season
The British Comedy Guide confirmed that The Ricky Gervais show, based on Gervais’ podcasts with Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington, will return for a third season and (likely) a fourth.... read more
The 50 Best Movies on Netflix Instant
The 25 Best Movies of 2012 (So…
The 50 Best Movies of 2011
The 30 Best TV Shows on Netflix…
The 50 Best Movies of the Decade…
