Hollywood The Write Way

Blu-ray Movie Review: San Andreas Starring Dwayne Johnson

2015-10-14T21:00:00.002-04:00

Release Date: October 13, 2015
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 114 minutes

After the infamous San Andreas Fault gives, triggering a magnitude 9-plus earthquake in California, a search and rescue helicopter pilot (Dwayne Johnson) and his estranged wife (Carla Gugino) make their way together from Los Angeles to San Francisco to save their only daughter.

But their treacherous journey north is only the beginning. And when they think the worst may be over…it’s just getting started.

San Andreas is one of the most exciting films of the year! If you want a thrilling disaster movie that takes you on a fully immersive adventure unlike any other, this is the movie that you need in your movie collection. Once the action begins, it's truly nonstop and the stakes continue to rise both physically and emotionally and oh man, what a ride this movie will take you on!

As someone who once lived in LA and has been in three earthquakes there and one on the East Coast, I can tell you that I've never been in a very serious earthquake but to separate the danger and fantasize about surviving for one and then being a hero in the big one is what this movie is all about. If you want to watch Dwayne Johnson and Carla Gugino be the ultimate team in the ultimate disaster, their characters traveling by car, helicopter, and even boat to save their only daughter, prepare for one heart pounding, edge of your seat experience.

What's so fantastic about this movie is that it's paced so well and there's an endless stream of wild stunts but there's also a story here and characters that we connect with and root for, for a variety of reasons. It's the best of both worlds in one frightening reality executed wonderfully. I loved San Andreas in all its visual effects glory. San Andreas is 114 minutes of pure blockbuster entertainment. So stock up some popcorn because this flick is one you'll find yourself re-watching in amazement over and over again.

Bonus Features:
San Andreas: The Real Fault Line (6:20 minutes) - For a feature with the title that it has, I was expecting more about the 810 mile long fault line but instead got more of a behind the scenes look at a few of the big disaster scenes in the film and very briefly how they were influenced by authentic disasters but moreso how the crew created what the visual effects team didn't have to. Great feature! Just wish there was a little more put into this regarding the research involved.

Appearing in this Feature:
Producer, Beau Flynn
Director, Brad Peyton
Visual Effects Producer, Randall Starr
Executive Producer, Rob Cowan
Special Effects Foreman, Jim Leng
Co-producer, Hiram Garcia
Cast Members, Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, Ioan Gruffudd

Dwayne Johnson to the Rescue (9:25 minutes) - Don't let the title of this feature fool you! This feature is about Dwayne and Carla and the extraordinary stunts these two did like champs over and over again. Talk about one of the most physically demanding jobs of one's career! What a great feature showcasing this!

Appearing in this Feature:
Director, Brad Peyton
Co-producer, Hiram Garcia
Writer, Carey Hayes
Stunt Coordinator, Allan Poppleton
Executive Producer, Rob Cowan
Producer, Beau Flynn
Special Effects Foreman, Jim Leng
Camera Operator, Mark Goellnicht
Cast Members, Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, Morgan Griffin, Matt Gerald, Kylie Minogue, Paul Giamatti, Alexandra Daddario

Scoring the Quake (6:10 minutes) - As someone who loves how scores direct my emotions in a film and someone who listens to scores all of the time when I'm writing, I pay a lot of attention to scores and love this one. So it was with great pleasure that I got to sit down and watch a feature dedicated to the making of this score. It's really quite fascinating, hearing the creators talk about capturing destruction in music and seeing parts of this journey intertwined in the interview footage.

Appearing in this Feature:
Director, Brad Peyton
Composer, Andrew Lockington
Producer, Beau Flynn

Deleted Scenes (Approx. 4:40 minutes) - There are eight deleted scenes which don't begin to get interesting until the third scene. One scene between Dwayne and Carla even made me laugh! And can I just say that even in deleted scenes, Paul Giamatti is mesmerizing. Such a wonderful actor. Some of these scenes felt more like alternate scenes but regardless, it was fun to watch.

Stunt Reel (Approx. 3 minutes) - From fire and water to being in the air in a grand number of ways both on set and on location, this stunt reel has everything you could ever want to see! Stunt rehearsals, rig tests, and more. It's a pretty fantastic ride you don't want to miss.

Commentary - The commentary is conducted by director, Brad Peyton who is so excited about sharing all of the behind the scenes happenings of this film, which just so happens to be his first commentary ever. He completely delivers in every way possible and even if you're not typically one to watch commentaries...if you love this movie, you'll really enjoy this commentary. So definitely take the time to catch this one.

Gag Reel (1:20 minutes)

Own San Andreas on Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack, Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD or Digital HD today.

Documentary DVD Review: Batkid Begins

2015-10-14T19:04:00.000-04:00

Release Date: October 6, 2015
Rating: PG
Running Time: 87 minutes

“Batkid Begins” looks at the “why” of this flash phenomenon. Why did the intense outpouring of spontaneous support for a child reverberate among the world and become one of the biggest good news stories ever? The film explores what happens when an event goes viral, and reveals surprising truths about what happens when a nerve is touched in our digital society. Will the Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation fulfill its mission to help Miles reclaim his childhood after battling disease for more than half his short life?

In the end, the film leaves audiences to decide: did Miles need the world for inspiration? Or did the world need Miles?

There are three foundations that I have felt very strongly about supporting ever since I was a little girl and Make A Wish is one of them. Make A Wish has always made such an impression on me so when Miles's wish as Batkid blew up, I was overwhelmed with pride and joy for this foundation that does such good work everyday, all day and was back in the spotlight in a way it hadn't been in quite some time.

This documentary is a very detailed look at how one child's wish turned into an unforgettable worldwide phenomenon. From the wish of Miles being Batkid for a day being given the green light to the wish growing into the entire city of San Francisco being transformed into Gotham City being made public and going viral.... to the t-shirt campaign to an ever-growing chaos of coordinating all that is involved and the good that touched billions of people around the world because of it.

A personalized Bat Call from composer, Hans Zimmer (The Dark Knight Rises, The Dark Knight)? Amazing. From the actors and cars to the costumes and everything in between, it's all featured here. The "parade route" of Batkid's San Fran rescue day will bring such an emotional charge, you may not even realize there are tears in your eyes until after they've fallen. Get the kleenex ready because this imprint on your heart isn't going away. Every moment is just as fascinating, humbling, and inspiring as the last so if you have yet to watch Batkid Begins, what are you waiting for? Make this beautiful, moving story about love and the boundless generosity of others a part of your DVD collection today!

Unfortunately, there are no Bonus Features for this DVD.

Own Batkid Begins on DVD today.

DVD Review - Jane the Virgin: The Complete First Season

2015-10-14T00:04:00.000-04:00

Release Date: September 29, 2015
Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 929 minuts

Set in Miami, Jane The Virgin follows the surprising and unforeseen events that take place in the life of Jane Villanueva. Jane (Rodriguez) is a 23 year old hard-working, religious Latina woman, whose family tradition and vow to save her virginity until marriage to a long time boyfriend and detective, is shattered when her doctor mistakenly artificially inseminates her during a checkup. And to make matters worse, the biological donor is a married man, a former playboy, and cancer survivor who is not only the new owner of the hotel where Jane works, but was also her former teenage crush.

Jane the Virgin is not a show I ever thought I'd find myself watching. But then I heard that Britney Spears would be making a cameo in the second season. And I knew at this point that I needed to give this show a chance. So you can thank Brit-Brit for me becoming a Jane the Virgin fan because I love this show now!

You see, I found the cast to be very engaging and entertaining based on the promos that I saw but I also wasn't drawn to the story based on the promos that I saw. It was simply too outrageous. But that's what you are signing up for when you watch a telenovela. And though I've never sat down to watch a telenovela in its entirety, I like taking chances. So I finally took the jump here to see how The CW would spin this and boy, I'm so happy that I did.

If you've been yearning for a good rom-com, Jane the Virgin is for you. If you've been searching for a heartwarming story about family, about three generations of complex women, Jane the Virgin is for you. Jane the Virgin is a bright, colorful, whimsical soap that will make you laugh, cry, and above all else, make your jaw drop. It's a never ending wildly shocking ride full of mistakes, conspiracies, cover ups, and the choices we make because of love. There are some wonderful guest stars in the freshman season including but not limited to Paulina Rubio, Nia Vardalos, and Jane Seymour!

Needless to say, Jane the Virgin is the pick me up I needed at just the right time. It's just as bubbly and electrifying as it appears to be and I loved every single minute of it. I cannot wait for season two! Talk about a cliffhanger. Bravo to the writers for bringing stellar cliffhangers all season long! That's not easy to do! In every way, Jane the Virgin is sensational! I am so, so glad I took the time out to watch the first season after many initial doubts. I don't believe this show was marketed well and that can truly make all of the difference in who tunes in. But now that I'm in, I am all the way in and will talk about the show from the mountaintop because it's so fun! And who doesn't want a dose of fun in their lives? If you're debating on checking out Jane the Virgin, debate no more! Go on and watch! It will be one of the best TV decisions you make!

Bonus Features:
Jane the Virgin: Immaculate Creation (Approx 15. minutes) - This is an awesome feature all about bringing together the show of Jane the Virgin, covering bringing together the cast and crew and then the success of the show and Gina Rodriguez winning the Golden Globe Award! Great feature, especially loved seeing footage of Gina's award winning speech. What a great moment!

Appearing in this Feature:
Executive Producer/Showrunner/Writer, Jennie Snyder Urman
Executive Producer, Ben Silverman
Director/Executive Producer of Pilot, Brad Silberling
Production Designer, Cynthia Kay Charette
Costume Designer, Rachel Sage Kunin
Casting Directors, Jonathan Clay Harris & Alyson Silverberg
Cast Members, Gina Rodriguez, Andrea Navedo, Ivonne Coll, Justin Baldoni, Yael Grobglas, Brett Dier, Jaime Camil

Getting to Know the Cast of Jane the Virgin (7 minutes) - This was a very fun Q&A with the main cast members individually on set. Yael's answer to who would survive a zombie apocalypse? She said "Brett...and probably by accident!" Ha! For more entertaining questions and answers, definitely watch this feature!

Appearing in this Feature:
Cast Members, Gina Rodriguez, Andrea Navedo, Yael Grobglas, Justin Baldoni, Ivonne Coll, Brett Dier, Jaime Camil

Unaired Scenes (Approx. 7:30 minutes) - There are 5 unaired scenes for Chapter Five, all of which are great! Chapter Nine has one deleted scene with unnecessary Petra backstory. Chapter Eighteen has one unnecessary scene as does Chapter Twenty-One. Chapter Twenty-Two has one deleted scene which was great but I did enjoy how the season finale was edited so losing this season still doesn't hurt. So, overall, pretty 50/50 with the deleted scenes.

Gag Reel (Approx. 6 minutes)

Own Jane the Virgin: The Complete First Season on DVD today.

Watch season two of Jane the Virgin Mondays at 9/8c on The CW.

TV Talk: Week in Review '15-16 #4

2015-10-11T20:54:00.002-04:00

Reviews for Fall TV Shows & Specials Which Aired
October 4, 2015 - October 10, 2015

* New series in CAPS
* Reviews May Contain Spoilers
Note: I will not be reviewing CSI: Cyber, Talking Dead, iZombie, The Flash, Arrow, Supernatural, and The Vampire Diaries.

Photo via ABC

Once Upon a Time (ABC) - Episode 502 “The Price”
This week's episode was great though it wasn't necessarily exciting all the way through. The second half was certainly more captivating and compelling than the first half. All is well at Camelot's castle...until it isn't. Once things started to go south, things got interesting. Meanwhile, in present day, Regina really comes through in her mission to protect Emma. The lengths she goes for this duty shouldn't surprise anyone at this point because she's shown that she is good more times than one can count by now. And still, I am amazed by her goodness. It's so refreshing every time. Other than this, I wasn't all that moved by the episode but greatly appreciate what's been done here as we progress to where the story is headed!

Brooklyn Nine-Nine (FOX) - Episode 302 “the Funeral”

Read my review of the latest Brooklyn Nine-Nine episode here.

The Last Man On Earth (FOX) - Episode 202 “the Boo”

Read my review of The Last Man On Earth episode 202 here.

Photo via ABC

QUANTICO (ABC) - Episode 102 “America”
Wow! Yes! This episode was everything! If there was any doubt that this is one of my favorite freshman series of this TV season, there is zero doubt now. Wow! This episode was amazing. This show aced the second episode and will surely ace what comes ahead. This show knows what it wants to be and delivers in every single way. I loved the developments in this episode, the chase as Alex almost got caught again by the FBI. How she's found one ally but it's still not easy. I love, love, love everything about this show and loved everything about this episode. I am so excited for next week!

Photo Credit: Nicole Rivelli/FOX

Gotham (FOX) - Episode 203 “Rise of the Villains: The Last Laugh”
Wow! This season is so much darker and twisted than last season. I feel such an evil stirring within in me when I watch this show and it's not a good feeling. This week, a magic show at the Gotham Children’s Hospital gala turns into a hostage situation and Gordon must find a way to save the day. I thought the episode was great in terms of how well it was executed but goodness me, this show is so disturbing, I'm not sure I want to sit down and write about it every week. So this is going to be my last week writing about the show but know that it's gotten even better than last season as far as the storytelling goes and I thought the first season was good so that's a compliment. Great story here. Just a bit too dark for me to give more time to talking about it each week.

Photo via Fox

MINORITY REPORT (FOX) - Episode 103 “Hawk-Eye”
Man, this episode was boring with a capital B. I am so disappointed. The show had promise in the premiere and I was holding out hope for it to progress in its potential and rise in the entertainment factor but it's nosediving hard here. I am so, so, so disappointed. I don't want to give up on this show though so I'll continue watching and make a decision on whether to continue or not once the winter hiatus comes around.

Photo via CBS

Scorpion (CBS) - Episode 203 “Fish Filet”
I LOVED this week's episode of Scorpion! Sylvester was sent undercover in prison, yes, prison, one of the places he'd least like to go in life, to gain information that got the former CI murdered!!! Then the only suit that knows he's undercover is also murdered! And his only form of communication with the team is literally knocked out of him. One of the reasons why I love, love, love this show so much is that the stakes never cease to rise. They just keep on coming and this episode was a fine example of such. I loved this episode. If every episode can be this good, which I'm sure it will be, the rest of season two is going to be amaziiiiinnnnggg!!!!

Photo via Hulu

The Mindy Project (Hulu) - Episode 404 "The Bitch is Back"
This week's episode was hysterical, as expected. The funny hasn't slowed down yet this season and that's always a good sign. So it seems some time has passed as Mindy is already heading back to work. I loved loved loved the easygoing discussion Mindy and Danny had about whether or not Mindy would go back to work. Danny stepping up to the plate, knowing that the option is there for Mindy to be a stay at home mom is just so beautiful! But of course, Mindy not letting go of what she loves just because she's a mom is even more beautiful. So it was pretty awesome and hilarious to see Mindy at work with Leo and see the dynamics between her expanded personal life and work life. Especially with two new doctors in the picture played by favorite, Garret Dillahunt (Raising Hope, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) and Fortune Feimster (Chelsea Lately). Great episode! I laughed aloud plenty and am loving the direction of this season.

Photo Credit: Jordin Althaus/FOX

GRANDFATHERED (FOX) - Episode 102 “Dad Face”
I love this show way more than I thought I would and that makes me so happy! This week, Jimmy must make the tough decision to go to a very important social event, Diddy's White Party, or spend a family day with his son and the family. It's not an easy decision but he makes the right one...until he doesn't. Soooo he's still figuring out how to balance it all and that's going to take some serious time not to mention trial and error. Watching him stumble has been great because we see that he has a heart. I also loved seeing other growing relationship as well in this episode! Ahhh there was so much to love here! Wonderful episode!

Photo via ABC

Fresh Off the Boat (ABC) - Episode 203 “Shaquille O'Neal Motors”

"Why do I want to watch money wilt?" - Jessica (after receiving a dozen roses from her husband)

Anniversary bells are ringing on this week's episode of Fresh Off the Boat and none other than Shaq was there to make it the best anniversary ever. I loved the anniversary storyline just as much as I loved the sibling story line back at home. Hard lessons and difficult failures to get past but with love and a little perspective, all characters found their way and that was really entertaining to see. Really looking forward to next week!

Photo Credit: Hilary Gayle/FOX

SCREAM QUEENS (FOX) - Episode 104 “Haunted House”

"You wanna see my smile? Well, I'm smiling!" - Hester

Another great episode of Scream Queens in the books. Enjoyed the absolutely ridiculous haunted house story line which is I believe lasting for three episodes. Really enjoyed the developments this week. That said, I did think that the cafeteria scene was super random. But because I liked the message there so much, I liked the scene. Still, I don't know if it worked in this episode in particular because it served no purpose other than to give that feminist message. Which I loved oh so much! As far as storytelling goes though, it didn't move the story along at all. So. I wonder if the scene would have worked better in another episode or with a better tie into the storyline. Other than that, I think everything really flowed together and I'm anticipating seeing the rest of this haunted house story line.

Photo via ABC

The Middle (ABC) - Episode 703 “The Shirt”
Everyone being amazed at Mike's new wardrobe...a Hawaiian shirt at that! Yeah. Loved his midlife crisis. Hope it lasts for more than one episode. Meanwhile, Axl got dumped by Devin because he has feelings and Sue told her before he got to...eek! I'm glad they ended up getting back together after that snafu but it does make me think about who Axl will end up with. It would be nice if it were Devin. What do you think?

Photo via ABC

Modern Family (ABC) - Episode 703 “The Closet Case”
Solid episode of Modern Family but this was way more message heavy than laugh out loud funny. I did find the Phil, Claire, and Haley storyline to be hilarious with Dylan moving in and soon after, Phil and Claire being on opposite sides about how to kick Dylan out and after all of the back and forth, in the end, Claire still ended up kicking Dylan out. I also found the rivalry storyline between Mitchell and Jay to be quite entertaining. So, overall, an enjoyable episode but it definitely didn't garner many laughs. Funny but not funny enough.

Photo via ABC

Black-ish (ABC) - Episode 103 “Dr. Hell No”
When Dre finds out that Pops hasn't been to the doctor in years, the whole family reacts differently to the possibility of Pops being in bad wealth and the sudden realization that even if he's fine now, he won't be around forever. Great episode handling a sick loved one but especially covering the reasoning for most black people's distance from hospitals and the like. If you think this reasoning has been exaggerated, it hasn't. Looking forward to seeing what other topics the show brings up about typical life experiences but as the black experience. Solid episode.

Photo Credit: Christos Kalohoridis/NBC

HEROES REBORN (NBC)
Episode 104 “Chapter Four: The Needs of the Many”
Wow! I cannot believe we lost Molly this episode! I can't believe we lost her due to a self inflicted gun shot! Oh, man. I love that she knows there's no other way out of being used for her power. But I hate that killing herself is legit the only way out. And I hate that HRG still has no answers. Then there's Tommy. Oh, Tommy. He did all that he could to save his mother and now the authorities are on top of him after his blood sample was sent off...and his mother won't get the blood that actually works and is needed for her to survive if he doesn't cooperate. Oh my goodness. Will his mother survive? Will either of them survive? So many questions! There was more going on in this episode but these were really the story lines that I connected to the most this week. I'm still very excited to see how everything comes together. But I'll always remember this as the episode Molly died. What an episode it was.

Photo via ABC

Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) - Episode 12.03 “I Choose You”
A lot happened this week on Grey's and I appreciated and enjoyed it all. The writers handed over another strong episode of the show and there's really nothing more to say here... what's expected was delivered!

Photo via ABC

Scandal (ABC) - Episode 503 “Paris Is Burning”
Cyrus is back!!!! He's back temporarily working under Mellie's behalf while Fitz and Liv work on how to handle the news of the affair just a few rooms away. Wow. I was not expecting to see Cyrus! I was not expecting him to ask Fitz for his job back either. That scene was so difficult to watch. The emotions were so strong. It takes a lot to ask for your job back and Fitz's response was so cold. Oh, man! Cyrus is Cyrus though so he didn't leave without causing a big wave. I was not expecting Fitz to finally get it and realize just how much he used Mellie, taking her for granted every step of the way. There was so much that needed to happen that did and so much I never thought would happen so soon and did. What a fantastic episode detailing the beginning of the fallout of the biggest scandal the show has ever seen!

Photo via ABC

How To Get Away with Murder (ABC)
Episode 203 “It's Called the Octopus”
Rebecca's foster brother is Michaela's boyfriend? Michaela doesn't know but Wes does. Wes doesn't believe him that he thinks Rebecca is dead. Ahhh Wes, listen to him!!!! That was my biggest concern throughout this episode. All of the other stuff was great but this particular story line just makes me all the more excited for the moment Wes finds out Rebecca really is dead. Did he attempt to kill Annalise because he thought she killed Rebecca? Even if that is so, why do it in the house of their client? So many questions! Nate is a cop in the future? How did THAT happen? Gah, so many questions! What a great episode! Very excited for more.

Photo via Syfy

Haven - Episode 5.14 "New World Order"
Strong return for the final season of Haven. I love how they're setting up for the end. Although I do think that Dwight's monologue in the station was really cheesy, I thought the rest of the episode was very strong as a whole and I'm extremely excited about what's ahead. It's been a long time coming, the entire town being fully aware of the troubles, this being confirmed for all who guessed in town. What a great moment! I'm surprised we didn't see more backlash! Though this town has that community soul to it and it's not deep down like most other towns, it's right there to reach at the surface. So while fear is playing a huge part in the town, it's being handled by The Guard and with many people who see the big picture and that's a great resource not being taken for granted. No one can afford to at this point. Looking forward to seeing more of how the town adapts to this revelation to the entire community. And what about Duke?!

Photo via Syfy

Z Nation (Syfy) - Episode 205 "Zombaby!”
This week was all about the half zombie baby girl, Lucy being born and what a peculiar story line and really, overall episode this was. I was so glad that Murphy's baby mama was killed because she was super annoying from the very start...and to endure an entire episode of her screaming while in labor...everyone who watched deserves a gold star. That was not entertaining after the first half hour. Also, I get the symbolism for the zombie birth and the birth of Jesus but it comes off as really stupid since this isn't exactly an episode airing around Christmas...anyway, great episode for what it set out to accomplish but personally, I found it to be too bizarre to really enjoy.

Premieres This Week (October 11, 2015 - October 17, 2015)
The Walking Dead (AMC) Sunday, October 11 9/8c
Finding Carter (MTV) Tuesday, October 16 10/9c

What did you watch and love this week?
What are you anticipating next week?

TV Talk: Face Off Episode 9.10 "Freak Show" Recap & Review

2015-10-06T00:00:00.000-04:00

Photo Credit: Jordin Althaus/Syfy

Note: Last Week's Recap

An all new Face Off airs tonight so in anticipation, here's what I thought of last week's episode! Host McKenzie Westmore met the artists first for a foundation challenge, judged by Oscar-winning makeup artist Robin Matthews (Dallas Buyers Club, Ender's Game). The challenge? They had to create their own tribal warrior makeup inspired by a unique weapon. The catch? The makeup wasn't just covering the face but the entire upper body! The artists had two hours to fight for immunity. My favorites were Meg and Ben. The winner went to Scott. I loved Scott's concept and his makeup but I would have loved to have seen him use darker colors. Anyway...

The spotlight challenge! They took it to the freak show this week as the final seven took a side show act as inspiration to create the fantastical character that would wow audiences. They took a spin on a wheel to get their side show inspiration. Meg's spin landed on Inside Out Car, Nora got Lobster Larry, Stevie's spin landed on Icicle Irma, Ben got The Human Peacock, Evan got Moon Girl, Jordan got Elephant Lady, and Scott got Twisted Tom.

On the reveal stage, Scott's was great. I loved Nora's face makeup. I loved Stevie's concept as well as Evan's and also Ben's. Scott, Jordan, and Stevie were safe. The judges' top looks were Nora and Ben with Ben coming out as the winner. The judges' bottom looks were Meg and Evan with Meg being eliminated noooooo! She was such a joy to see this season. My favorites are dropping like flies. Aghh. I am so happy that Meg was on this show and was given a platform to show her work because I am forever a fan of her work and can't wait to see more and see her names in the credits in the future. It's only a matter of time.

Elimination Recap
Eliminated This Week: Meg
Total Eliminations: ~~Brittany~~, ~~Jasmine~~, ~~Libby~~, ~~Meg~~, ~~Melissa~~, Nora, Stevie, Ben, Evan, ~~Jason~~, Jordan, ~~Kevon~~, ~~Omar~~, ~~Ricky~~, Scott, ~~Sidney~~

Face Off airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on Syfy.

Advanced TV Review: The Last Man On Earth Episode 202 "The Boo"

2015-10-04T17:55:00.001-04:00

Photo Credit: Adam Taylor/FOX

In the season 2 premiere of The Last Man On Earth, we watched as Phil and Carol got separated and Phil's reaction once he realized Carol wasn't on the trailer with him. In tonight's all new episode, we get to see the aftermath for Carol and the lengths Phil goes to get Carol back. And those lengths are great.

If for some reason you still haven't forgiven Phil for his actions in season one, his actions in the first act alone will fully redeem him. He's in search for Carol because she's Carol but he's always holding onto hope in general and seeing that frantic plan of action to keep both is so human and relatable and beautiful but also hilarious because in such desperate situations, you really can't help but laugh. And we're the ones laughing here.

Back in Tucson, Phil's also wracking his brain to figure out how his former Tucson home burned almost to the ground and where their former Tucson neighbors are now. He does eventually find out where they all went. And without mentioning any big revelations before the episode airs, I will say that the crew is given quite the scare and and and there's one more new funny face in the circle of neighbors than there was before. One person I was more than thrilled to see. Beyond excited!

Now if you're familiar with my favorite comedic actors, you might be able to guess who! If not, come back here after the show to find out who it is! And enjoy the surprise if you're watching live! Gosh I love this show and it's awesome surprises! How are they going to top this one?! Update: Will Ferrell!!! How?!

Watch an all new episode of The Last Man On Earth TONIGHT at 9:30/8:30c only on Fox.

Advance TV Review: Brooklyn Nine-Nine Episode 302 “The Funeral”

2015-10-04T16:28:00.002-04:00

Photo Credit: Eddy Chen/FOX

Tonight on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Jake attempts to befriend the Vulture but as you probably suspect, the Vulture is one step ahead. Holt and Gina make a visit to the precinct so Jake and Amy try to get Holt's help with the Vulture. You can imagine how that goes! So, left to their own devices, comedy ensues. It's quite comical indeed but...

Then there's Charles who has a new, shall we say, Netflix and chill friend. Just replace Netflix with funeral and replace friend with fellow officer (played by guest star, Archie Panjabi). Rosa and Gina both genuinely comment on Charles's unusual behavior but of course, he realizes their concerns at the most inappropriate time. The. Most. Ha ha ha! This was actually the funniest story line to me this week. Shake my head, cackling, slap my knee funny.

Usually, Terry brings the big laugh out loud moments of an episode but this week, Charles stole the show. His ridiculousness knows no bounds. So be sure to watch tonight because you don't want to miss what goes down at the funeral of the short lived new Captain (who was played by Bill Hader). Enjoy!

Watch an all new episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine TONIGHT at 8:30/7:30c on FOX.

TV Talk: Week in Review '15-16 #3

2015-10-03T18:19:00.001-04:00

Reviews for Fall TV Shows & Specials Which Aired
September 27, 2015 - October 3, 2015

* New series in CAPS
* Reviews May Contain Spoilers
Note: I will not be reviewing Bob’s Burgers, Family Guy, Criminal Minds, The Blacklist, or The Graham Norton Show. I will only be reviewing the series premieres of BLOOD & OIL, THE GRINDER, and DR. KEN, not the entire seasons.

Photo Credit: Jack Rowand/ABC

Once Upon a Time (ABC) - Season 5 Premiere “The Dark Swan”
As usual, a wonderful return for Once Upon A Time, which opened up season five with a very intriguing excalibur story line for Emma. The sword is broken and the other half of it has Emma's name on it?! Whoa!

So Emma is sent to the enchanted forest, where all of the greats learned to be dark. She tries her hardest to resist this dark progression while finding her way back home. She runs into Brave's Merida (Amy Manson) which was so great to see! She's definitely a recent favorite! Meanwhile, in Storybrooke, everyone is trying to get her back. Thank goodness, they are reunited. For a moment there, I had a brief nightmare that this would get stretched out. Thankfully, it didn't.

But the good vibes didn't last long as everyone is about to head home but is stopped by King Arthur who welcomes them to Camelot and all is well until everything is disrupted. Suddenly, they find themselves back in Storybrooke - six weeks later with no memory of their time in Camelot. But Emma remembers. And she is the Dark Swan now. And the one person she gave the authority to destroy her if her darkness became too great, Regina, doesn't even have the sword to get rid of her anymore. So. This is quite the predicament and I am really not 100% sold on the evil Emma so hopefully this will win me over sooner rather than later. Otherwise, fantastic premiere! Very excited for the season ahead.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine (FOX) - Season 3 Premiere “New Captain”

Read my review of the season 3 Brooklyn Nine-Nine premiere here.

Photo Credit: Kurt Iswarienkio/ABC

BLOOD & OIL (ABC) - Series Premiere “Pilot”
Blood & Oil is not a show I'd seek out to watch each week but I try to watch all Pilots and something told me this would be much more gripping than I originally anticipated anyway so I should look forward to this one. I'm happy to say that it was better than I thought it would be. That said, it still wasn't as good as it needed to be to win me over for an entire season.

First though, I must say how awesome it is to see Chace Crawford on the small screen week to week again. It's been a long time since Gossip Girl, that's for sure. Same for Scott Michael Foster (Greek). And I'm so happy to see Rebecca Rittenhouse who I loved on Red Band Society, Barry Corbin (One Tree Hill), and so many others. As for India de Beaufort, what show is she NOT on? Go, India! Great steady work since her OTH days! As for the characters... can't say I've particularly connected with any of them but the storytelling reeled me in and the oil is what drives the drama here so I'm excited to see the best and worst of these characters through the oil drama (and who am I kidding, relationship drama) as time goes on.

While the Pilot certainly isn't as compelling as I'd hoped it would be, the pacing and tone of the show seem pretty clear and if this is how it's going to be, then it works well, it's just too slow for me. I'll still watch the show but I may rack up a few episodes and watch every couple of weeks to watch on a cozy weekend. It's got a very sleepy vibe to it and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that as a form of storytelling. Ratings wise though, well, it just might hurt. I'd be surprised if this show isn't cancelled before the winter hiatus because it's so dry and I don't see enough people tuning in for this. But I hope that's not the case because I can totally see the potential this show has and look forward to seeing it grow into an epic drama.

The Last Man On Earth (FOX)
Season 2 Premiere “Is There Anybody Out There?”

Read my review of The Last Man On Earth season 2 premiere here.

Photo via ABC

QUANTICO (ABC) - Series Premiere “Run”
This show is just as amazing as it presented itself to be and as I'd hoped it would be. First, let's talk about the magnificent cast. Priyanka Chopra is a huge Bollywood star and I am so grateful she has transitioned to such a huge American role because she deserves this world reknown recognition. I last saw Josh Hopkins on Cougar Town and he is quite a hoot so seeing him in a dramatic role is quite a change. A change I like. I loved Jake McLaughlin in Believe and am so excited he got a large role so quickly after this because he's the kind of guy you look forward to seeing on your small screen every week. Johanna Braddy made quite an impression on me in Unreal even though she's been on my radar since Greek, so it's great to see her on one of the big five networks. Finally, it was great to see Brian J. Smith (Stargate Universe) in the premiere...if only for just the premiere. There is such a great mix of familiar and new to me faces, my favorite combination of a cast so right there, the show has won me over. And the characters are so distinct and complex and mysterious! I love it!

As for mysterious... the show is mostly set New York and follows the Grand Central Station explosion which was an inside job by one of the FBI agents. It goes back and forth between the new recruits going through the ringer in FBI training and the day as well as aftermath of the blast. Two different timelines? Yes yes yes! This show is just checking off every box for what can reel me in immediately. Best of all, it aces every objective it sets out to accomplish. Especially the bit when we find out Priyanka Chopra's character, Alex is being framed for the attack and one of her FBI colleagues helps her break out of their custody so she can set off to prove her innocence. It sounds like a story we've all heard before but already it's proving to be a more than satisfying whodunit. Quantico is magnificent and I am so excited for more!

Photo Credit: Nicole Rivelli/FOX

Gotham (FOX) - Episode 202 “Knock, Knock”
This week on Gotham, Barbara is still alive (why?!), Bruce Wayne is a brat (understandably so in this case but still...), and a number of prisoners from Arkham Asylum have escaped and are running a muck. While I definitely appreciated Bruce (once again) realizing that Alfred really is looking out for his best interest, this storyline was a complete tease given how the season premiere ended. Talk about false hope! Bruce didn't even make one single development in regards to obtaining new information. Sure he found his father's lair, but concrete information in his hands...that did not happen. Disappointing.

As for Gordon vs. the Asylum... the school bus scene had me on the edge of my seat! As the episode progressed, it was interesting to see Gordon go from being a savior to being saved...by Barbara no less. Barbara might be crazy (conveniently now) but she still has a love for Gordon and luring him away when she has the chance was expected. What wasn't expected? Killing the rarity of the POC woman chief of police. That sucks. Storytelling wise, it makes complete sense for whoever the person was in that position to be killed off but the fact that she last, what, two episodes, is really disappointing. This police station massacre put on by the escaped prisoners has brought Bullock back but I'm trying to figure out just how useful he'll be. Because he seemed to roll over to the enemy when he was a cop before, so what will be different now? Solid, very disturbing episode. Next week should be another doozy, I'm sure.

Photo Credit: Katie Yu / FOX

MINORITY REPORT (FOX) - Episode 102 “Mr. Nice Guy”
This week's episode brought a case of the week feel with Dash and Vega teaming up to save the life of a girl before she is murdered. It took me awhile to get into the episode but when I did, I enjoyed it although it made me wonder just how long Vega will be able to get away with using Dash without her boss finding out. I'd like this to progress because that's more interesting and why I'm tuning in. To see the aftermath of the fallout.

We know there will be fallout. Add what we know is coming thanks to the last minute of this episode and wow! We have plenty to look forward to. I just hope the writers get too it quick because we don't want to reach a muddle middle - and we're not even in the middle of the season yet. It's just beginning. So, in short, I'm no longer Mr. Nice Guy. Less case of the week, more thrilling interconnecting plot lines, please! Get on with it...

Photo via CBS

Scorpion (CBS) - Episode 202 “Cuba Libre”

"It feels like I'm wearing a snow globe." - Sylvester on the sand in his pants

A woman Cabe once helped before needs help catching the person responsible for the deaths of people close to her. This means the Scorpion crew had to head to Cuba for a very undercover mission. Sylvester shrieking at the top of his lungs when they had to jump out of the plane...pure gold! This episode was full of laughs, full of action, full of stakes. I loved it! Classic entertaining episode of Scorpion! Actually way more fun than the premiere last week if I'm being completely honest. Also, great to see Kevin Weisman (Moonlight, Alias) and can't wait to see more of him this season. What did you think of this episode?

Photo via Hulu

The Mindy Project (Hulu) - Episode 403 "Leo Castellano Is My Son"

"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Certainly has a lot of the N word like a Kanye song. Oh, no! But it has a message like a Common song! No, thank you." - Mindy

An episode that starts out with a dig at lame dad jokes? Made to be a winner. So this week, Mindy and Danny bring baby Leo home! Ahhh! So as the episode goes on, we find Mindy bored at home taking care of Leo while Danny goes back to work after baby proofing (to the extreme) the house. That in itself will make anyone laugh, parent or not. Then, we discover their neighbor conflict which involves Eliza Coupe (Happy Endings)...and more and more comedy ensues. I loved it. Every minute of it was great. Very entertaining. The best part? The B story was just as captivating and entertaining.

"Wait - that's the minimum wage?! Nobody tell Morgan..." - Mindy

Jeremy is currently dating Whitney (Cristin Milioti, A to Z) but Tamra overhears a conversation that appears as though Whitney is cheating on Jeremy and after she does what any good friend would do...well, we find things aren't always what they seem. So, maybe more unfortunate than funny but just as relatable and entertaining. A fun surprise in all of this? Laverne Cox (Orange is the New Black) as Sheena showing up via voiceover/text chatting with Tamra. I did not expect to hear from Laverne again so that was pretty awesome. Basically, everything about this episode rocked. It delivered what I wanted and more and that is always the best feeling ever while watching. If I'm still laughing at an episode long after it's aired, it's good and that is certainly the case here. So be sure to watch if you have yet to!

GRANDFATHERED (FOX) - Series Premiere “Pilot”

Read my review of the Grandfathered series premiere here.

THE GRINDER (FOX) - Series Premiere “Pilot”

Read my review of The Grinder series premiere here.

Photo via ABC

Fresh Off the Boat (ABC) - Episode 202 “Boy II Man”
Evan power walking to school with the neighborhood ladies? Hilarious! The chess-twister miscommunication at book club? Hysterical. Then, I don't know what was more comical, Jessica shutting down Louis when he proposed having another baby or Emery and Evan laughing at the thought of Eddie in college. This episode just got funnier and funnier by the minute. It's way too early to call favorites for season two but this is definitely going to be a standout episode looking back. Hi.La.Ri.Ous.

Photo Credit: Patti Perret/FOX

SCREAM QUEENS (FOX) - Episode 103 “Chainsaw”
Another entertaining episode this week! I enjoyed this episode quite a bit but I did have one big concern. The entertainment factor didn't overshadow this either. Jamie Lee Curtis's character seemed it did a complete 360 and felt like just another ridiculous character. She was the only levelheaded one in the premiere. How did her character change so much in one week?

This aside, I liked the developments this week. Chanel gave Hester a much needed makeover and there was very vocal backlash about it. The frat brothers sought out the Red Devil who they just knew (aka wrongly guessed) killed Boone and in the process, two of them were killed. Grace and Peter were still looking for answers to the curse behind the sorority and how it connects to the Red Devil...not much happened here but we see the story moving forward in motion so perhaps we'll get some concrete info next week here? Finally, what a pleasant surprise to see Charisma Carpenter guest star as Chanel #2's mom. You'd think she'd have stolen the show but Niecy Nash is still one of my favorite parts about this show and this week, her scenes were once again, my favorites. Fun episode. This show really is a hoot!

Photo via ABC

The Middle (ABC) - Episode 702 “Cutting the Cord”
This week's episode was hilarious! I remember moving into and adjusting at college like it was yesterday so this episode was very touching! I especially loved Axel checking up on Sue! That was so sweet! What a top ten sibling moment for these two! As for Sue and her roommate situation, I wonder how much story we'll get here between these two. Regardless, really looking forward to seeing more of Sue's adjustment to college! Awesome episode!

Photo via ABC

Modern Family (ABC) - Episode 702 “The Day Alex Left for College”
This is one of the funniest episodes of the show that has aired this year, that's for sure. I loved it. I laughed aloud plenty and had so much fun watching Cam and Mitchell coach, Luke re-invent himself as he grows up and Phil react to his son really beginning to own his teenage years, Claire and the family try to get out of going to Mitchell's coaching game, and oh my goodness, all of this was so, so funny! Really enjoyed this week! Some serious memorable moments!

Black-ish (ABC) - Episode 102 “Rock, Paper, Scissors, Gun”
This episode was both entertaining (Hello, guest star, Nicole Sullivan) and a real conversation starter as it was all about whether or not the family should have a gun in the house. This episode aired one day before the Oregon shooting and I'm positive if this show had aired a day later, this episode would have been postponed. What's sad about that is that this episode creates a much needed dialogue about gun control and it would have been delayed during a time when people need to be talking about this the most. So, really great episode, it's always the right time to sit back and play this and really sink your teeth into what's being served here.

Photo Credit: Christos Kalohoridis/NBC

HEROES REBORN (NBC)
Episode 103 “Chapter Three: Under the Mask”
Another stellar episode! I was completely engrossed and on cloud nine. So HRG discovered he was in the hospital with Molly and possibly Hiro on June 13th. He also saw himself IDing Claire's body. So heartbreaking! So he heads to find Molly for answers but she isn't willing to share. Maybe she should have gone with him instead of running the other way and falling back into the hands of Renataus who has created "Epic" to locate all of the EVOs by using her as their "processor" to find them. Oh my goodness. The torture that Molly is experiencing now. Unfathomable. If you thought she went through the ringer as a child, everyone trying to use her for her powers back then, you haven't seen anything yet!

Meanwhile, Luke discovers that he is becoming the people he hates the most and is avenging his son's death for. An EVO. I knew he was going to become an EVO! They tried to kick us off the trail in the premiere! Sneaky, sneaky! I wonder how his power will be used for what comes next and if his wife will be quick to kill him like she is to kill the other innocent EVOs. Although he's not so innocent, having slaughtered who knows how many innocent people simply because they were EVOs.

Also worth mentioning, The Protector has been keeping an eye on Tommy because the world will need him soon. What does THAT mean? Did a car crash really need to be had to have stopped him and his mother from leaving town? Is his mother okay? Is there more than one protector because that would make more sense than just one "The Protector" unless there are more protectors all called the same thing... So many questions about so many things! There were lots of developments here and I loved this episode especially because we're really beginning to see story lines come together and intersect, Tim Kring's signature move, a speciality of his indeed, and it is beautiful.

Photo via ABC

Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) - Episode 12.02 “Walking Tall”
Another solid episode of Grey's in the books! It was so much fun to watch Bailey take on her new role as Chief and her come to a realization that she can't do it alone and shouldn't do it in the firm, sterile way that she's been doing because there is a better way for all parties involved. I enjoyed all of the story lines this week but that one was the focus and the most compelling, so it was definitely worth mentioning. Very much looking forward to seeing how Bailey continues to navigate her new role!

Photo via ABC

Scandal (ABC) - Episode 502 “Yes”

"I can't make the President speak to the press. He's not a puppet, he does not have strings." - Abby

"He does, he does have strings but that Olivia is in the wind and she took the strings with her." - Elizabeth

This week on Scandal, it became clear to me that Mellie is Blair Waldorf all grown up. Olivia fled the area and took on a case to keep her busy while Fitz waited at the white house for her to make a statement to the public together about the affair. Smart of Liv. Not so smart of Fitz. Susan Ross told off the President of the United States in the most loving way ever. Loved that! Elizabeth got owned by Abby. Loved that too! Ha ha! Equality is all people want, wish it were this easy to always give. And Olivia has finally come back and said "Yes" to the big question, "Are you the President's mistress?" Whoa! They sure are milking this! And I am loving every minute of it! I thought this week was going to be the big blow up but it seems next week, we'll really see the trouble brewing.

Photo via ABC

How To Get Away with Murder (ABC) - Episode 202 “She's Dying”
I can't say that I was all that impressed with this week's episode of How To Get Away with Murder. It definitely had its moments, of course and was captivating the whole way through but this was simply great set up for what's to come. The pacing is slow now but I know it's worth it to stick through episodes like this because we've seen the writers untangle webs before out eyes before and this is no different. So, if anything, I'm more pumped for what this episode is leading towards than this episode as a stand alone. What did you think?

Photo via ABC

DR. KEN (ABC) - Series Premiere “Pilot”
Dr. Ken is a great effort to a really entertaining show but it just isn't worth taking time out of my week to watch when it originally airs. This is definitely a DVR type of show which makes me wonder with ratings, how long this show will last. It's funny but it could be funnier because I didn't laugh aloud once. It's got a message behind the jokes, some jokes are just full of puns, and others carried by physical comedy, all of which are great. I liked the former the most, always love a good pun, but the physical comedy was too much.

I get it. Ken Jeong is a very physical comedic actor. But this is too much on top of his really bad posture which is super distracting. Another element that I thought was bad? The directing. I don't want to watch a show where I can tell that each cut from a different angle is a different take and that's what it feels like. Not to mention, the new faces I see on my TV screen are clearly heading to their marks and reading lines off a page, as well as trying not to laugh at Ken Jeong and stay in character. It's just not smooth. This Pilot feels like a practice run of what should have been the Pilot. Tisha Campbell-Martin and Jonathan Slavin are pros but even they might not be able to keep me tuned in for long. Only time will tell what becomes of this show.

Photo via Syfy

Z Nation (Syfy) - Episode 204 "Batch 47”
Ah man, season two started off so good but we've had two back to back weak episodes. I'm beginning to think season two is heading toward sophomore slump territory and I really don't want that because this show has been so much fun in the past and I'm not ready for ratings to drop to the point of cancellation. I'm worried. Hopefully next week's possible birth of the half zombie baby will bring some more entertainment to a show that used to know how to deliver.

Premieres Next Week (October 4, 2015 - October 10, 2015)
CSI: Cyber (CBS) Sunday, October 4 10/9c
Talking Dead (AMC) Sunday, October 4 10/9c
The Flash (The CW) Tuesday, October 6 8/7c
iZombie (The CW) Tuesday, October 6 9/8c
Arrow (The CW) Wednesday, October 7 8/7c
Supernatural (The CW) Wednesday, October 7 9/8c
The Vampire Diaries (The CW) Thursday, October 8 8/7c
Haven (Syfy) Thursday, October 8 10/9c

What did you watch and love this week?
What are you anticipating next week?

October 2015 Releases On My Radar

2015-10-01T23:50:00.002-04:00

October 2, 2015
Movies in Theaters
The Martian
He Named Me Malala
Freeheld (Limited)

Movies on Blu-ray/DVD
* Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron

October 5, 2015
Books
* Locke and Key by Joe Hill & Gabriel Rodriguez Audiobook (Get it Free on Audible for a Limited Time)

October 6, 2015
Books
* A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis (Add it to Goodreads)
* The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan (Add it to Goodreads)
* Carry On by Rainbow Rowell (Add it to Goodreads)
* Through the Dark by Alexandra Bracken (Add it to Goodreads)
* It's a Wonderful Death by Sarah J. Schmitt (Add it to Goodreads)
* The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Ness by Patrick Ness (Add it to Goodreads)

TV
* American Horror Story: Freak Show
* Penny Dreadful: Season 2
* Party Down: The Complete Series

Movies on Blu-ray/DVD
* Me & Earl & The Dying Girl
* Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison Of Belief
* Dark Places
* Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!
* Batkid Begins
* The Anomaly

October 9, 2015
Movies in Theaters
Trash (Limited)
Victoria (Limited)
Reversion (Limited)

October 13, 2015
Books
* Humans of New York: Stories by Brandon Stanton (Add it to Goodreads)
* The Rose Society by Marie Lu (Add it to Goodreads)
* Black Widow: Forever Red by Margaret Stohl (Add it to Goodreads)
* First & Then by Emma Mills (Add it to Goodreads)
* It's Not What You Think: Why Christianity Is So Much More Than Going to Heaven When You Die by Jefferson Bethke (Add it to Goodreads)
* Paper Hearts by Meg Wiviott (Add it to Goodreads)
* Happily Ever After by Kiera Cass (Add it to Goodreads)
* Truly, Madly, Famously by Rebecca Serle (Add it to Goodreads)

TV
* Ascension
* The 100: Season 2
* The Following: Season 3
* Bates Motel: Season 3
* Impractical Jokers: Season 3
* Heroes: The Complete Series
* Dexter: The Complete Series
* Magic School Bus: Season 4

Movies on Blu-ray/DVD
* Aladdin: Diamond Edition
* San Andreas
* Tomorrowland
* Dope
* Billy Elliot: The Musical Live

October 16, 2015
Movies in Theaters
Bridge of Spies
Crimson Peak
Goosebumps
Experimenter
Truth (Limited)
Room (Limited)
The Amazing Nina Simone (Limited)

October 20, 2015
Books
* Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff (Add it to Goodreads)
* Binge by Tyler Oakley (Add it to Goodreads)
* Gilliamesque: A Pre-posthumous Memoir by Terry Gilliam (Add it to Goodreads)
* Marvel's Age of Ultron Adult Coloring Book (Add it to Goodreads)
* Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin (Add it to Goodreads)

TV
* Peaky Blinders
* Nurse Jackie: Season 7

Movies on Blu-ray/DVD
* Jurassic World
* Z for Zachariah

October 21, 2015
Movies in Theaters
Back in Time (Limited)

October 23, 2015
Books
* The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman (Add it to Goodreads)

Movies in Theaters
Suffragette
Burnt
Difret (Limited)

October 26, 2015
Books
* Now and Again by Jennifer Ellision

October 27, 2015
Books
* What We Left Behind by Robin Talley (Add it to Goodreads)
* Underneath Everything by Marcy Beller Paul (Add it to Goodreads)
* These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly (Add it to Goodreads)
* Grace Revolution: Experience the Power to Live Above Defeat by Joseph Prince (Add it to Goodreads)

Movies on Blu-ray/DVD
* Pixels
* The Gift

October 30, 2015
Movies in Theaters
Our Brand Is Crisis
The Armor of Light (Limited)

What new releases are you anticipating this October?

Interview: VH1's Twinning Winners, Claire and Shawn Buitendorp

2015-10-01T03:00:00.000-04:00

Last night, viewers watched Claire and Shawn Buitendorp, powerhouses all season long on VH1's reality competition series, Twinning, take home $222,222,22! After a summer filled with weekly physical challenges and lots of drama, the identical mirror twins who hail from Michigan won the big prize of the show's first season and can now take their own fashion line, Shock and Awww to the next level. I was thrilled when I got the chance to talk to the girls earlier this week about their win, fashion, and what's ahead!

Congratulations on winning Twinning! What was the most fun or difficult part of the final challenge?
Claire: Thank you! I have to say the hardest part was the weather. It's usually warm in Los Angeles... most days it was in the 70s or 80s but of course on that day, it was like 55 and it was raining.

Shawn: And it was raining!

Claire: We were all soaked and the whole challenge was to sit suspended in this "womb" without any handles. We had to stabilize ourselves and then it started tipping at an angle where we would fall out and be "birthed" as they said. So we're wet now...and we have nothing to hold onto..it was very difficult.

Shawn: And you have 33.33% of winning the money at this point so the nerves are high, you've been with or without your twin for quite awhile now, and it's just like "Oh my Gosh, we have to do this!" So...it was...it was a tough one.

Shawn and Claire: (laughter)

That's tough because it basically never rains in L.A. so of all days...and then right after that challenge where you guys kept getting electrocuted.
Claire: Ohhhh. That was probably the hardest challenge of all of them just because you're so emotionally involved knowing that you're causing your twin pain.

So what was your most memorable challenge throughout the show? As far as the fun factor goes?
Shawn: I'd say for me, my favorite challenge was the lock and key challenge because it wasn't necessarily the most memorable of the show since it doesn't show our faces and whatnot but Claire and I were so in sync in that challenge. We were moving so well together and that's why we won that challenge outright first.

Claire: I have a different favorite challenge. Mine was the puzzle because I think that showed our twintuition at its best. It was the first challenge where we employed the strategy where I would go first and complete the entire challenge and then Shawn would follow after I had finished and complete the entire challenge. We were under the impression that if no one is pulling me back, then I'm going to have all of the rope and as much time as I need without thinking she's going to interfere.

Shawn: I just knew you were going to do that.

Claire: Seriously!

Shawn: I just knew that Claire was going to take the lead and do the whole thing first so I just sat down.

Claire: And I thought that was the best part because...finally! Twintuition at its best!

So who would you say were your biggest friends and if different, allies in the house? Although we didn't see a lot of game play as far as psychological warfare goes because you guys were pretty level headed.
Shawn: I know, it's interesting because Claire and I were very, very strategic with all of our alliance members. Our number one alliance from the get go was Dylan and Taylor. They were physically superior and they kept winning and winning and winning and they had the mentality that they wanted to keep winners around because they wanted to beat the ultimate winners. As did we because you don't feel like you've won if you win against the losers. You know? So we were very tightly aligned with them but they said they wanted to go into the twin off. To prove our loyalty to the alliance, we trusted that they trusted in themselves. And they didn't come back. So Claire and I moved to Adam and Cory and the show shows us more as enemies than as friends but we were tremendous friends. And then they went. I think in many ways, we were able to be friends with a lot of people on the show, which was a wonderful thing but part of it was being adaptable.

Claire: Yeah, part of our strategy going in was to be friends with everyone. Because when you're friends with everyone, if you need them at some point, you can use that relationship because you're not on bad terms.

So moving into fashion... if you could give any set of twins in the Twinning house a makeover, which twins would it be?

Shawn & Claire: Whoa whoa whoa whoa!

Claire: Ooooo!

Shawn: Claire?

Claire: Well. Why not?

Shawn: Why not?

Claire: I think that we would pick Annamarie and Ginamarie. We respect these ladies very much. They are very passionate...but sometimes I think that they could wear garments that accentuate their most beautiful attributes. I've seen pictures of them as brunettes and they have such natural beauty as brunettes and they have curly hair and I think that they are fighting too much of their natural beauty. I would just reel it back into what it was.

How would you say your style has evolved since creating Shock and Awww?
Claire: I would say that not only our personal style has evolved but Shock and Awww as a brand has evolved. Originally, we started making stage wear costumes, bedazzled, over the top costumes for stars to wear on stage. We found that while they're lovely, our fans wanted to wear something that they could wear on a daily basis...and you generally cannot do that in a sparkly leotard (laughs) so we've gone to a more ready to wear look. But it's still just as colorful and eclectic.

Shawn: When it comes to our own personal style...seeing yourself on TV, you can say, "Wow, I could have taken that even further."

Claire: Yeah!

Shawn: So I think for us, we say don't be afraid of anything. Go for it. Be as sparkly, be as bold, be as bright and colorful as you want to be. Why not be a beacon? I want to be a beacon.

What fashion magazines did you look forward to the most growing up?
Claire: Growing up, I would definitely say that Teen Vogue was our go to magazine. Very much so.

Shawn: Very much so.

Claire: They use up and coming designers and at a lower price point and industry designers that are attainable for a young person. I liked seeing the collages of all of the pieces together... I think it helped develop the Shock and Awww vision because you can pair a party dress and a leather jacket together and when you see the collages, you can see certain styles blending. And we want to show women that you don't have to be held to one specific style. So when we had an article in Teen Vogue, it was beyond exciting.

Shawn: Beyond exciting.

Claire: And while I do subscribe to all of the major magazines, Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, Elle...generally I find them to be a little too high brow in terms of the fashion that I like to make. We're drawn to more Nylon, Paper, V Magazine -

Shawn: Cosmo!

Claire: Yeah! I read so many magazines. Sometimes, I find that I like the clothes in Cosmo and Glamour more than I do in Vogue. Because they look like they're having fun and for us, fashion is about having fun, feeling good, and enjoying yourself and I see that exuded more in those publications.

Yeah. So can you talk about things you were surprised or most grateful to learn from mentor, the legend, Betsey Johnson?
Shawn: One thing that I wasn't necessarily surprised to learn but has come up so many times is the advice to be true to yourself. Don't design what's trendy for anybody else. Design for yourself. Betsey is not concerned with what's trending. She cares about...these are the types of clothes *I* like, this is what my fan base likes, and that's what I'm going to make. That's what makes me feel excited and powerful. So, just being true to oneself.

Claire: Another thing that we've learned from her is to make fashion about having fun. It's a grueling business and there are so many people that are so consumed that they have to wear the designers and are just so immersed in it that everything has to be out of the pages of Vogue and to me, it's more about the experience of making things that make me happy that make other people happy and building an environment around them. Having your own aura. You don't have to be so proper and stifling because you're in fashion.

Shawn: You can smile!

Claire: You can smile!

Shawn: And enjoy ourselves.

Speaking of fun, I'm not sure how much time you were able to have fun while growing up on the road with a stage manager dad but what cities or towns would you say have inspired you the most creatively?
Shawn: Claire and I are really inspired by history. The feelings derived from that. We thoroughly enjoyed Boston. Philadelphia.

Shawn & Claire: Washington, D.C.

Shawn: The act of learning, the act of gaining new information, that's what made us so inspired by fashion in that...look how much we can learn about this avenue that we know nothing about. And in these cities, people are quite creative dressers. And now, I would say that New York is close to the heart. We love going back to New York. The people there dress unlike any other city. If we can keep up with them...

Shawn & Claire: (laughter)

Now, you've styled so many amazing celebrities from Katy Perry to Lindsey Stirling but there are just so many out there so who are your top five or so celebs that you'd like to style in the future?
Shawn & Claire: (Going back and forth) Oh! This is a good one! Definitely Rita Ora. For sure. Gwen Stefani. Oh, I was going to say that! I would say, Jessie J. Jessie J. Jlo. Oh, got to love Jlo! Demi Lovato. And Rihanna.

There are so many beauty gurus out there so who would you most like to collaborate with if you had the chance?
Shawn: Claire and I don't follow many beauty gurus but is there a beauty brand that you love Claire?

Claire: Yeah! We love Mac. Lime Crime, they're animal friendly and have posh, sparkly colors. There are plenty of shoe designers that we'd love to collaborate with. Sophia Webster is a brand out of The UK and if we made shoes, they would be hers. They are amazing. They are just glorious.

Shawn: They are the most beautiful shoes I've ever seen.

Claire: Yeah.

Shawn: Also, I love sportswear. Shock and Awww is about blending the feminine with the sporty and I love Adidas. Nike. Puma. There are collaborations with Pharrell and Solange. They're making performance wear into clothes you can wear on the street and it's very cool.

Claire: Very cool.

Lastly, what can we expect to see from you next?
Shawn: Well, Claire and I are continuing to work with the VH1 family and possibly host the next season of Twinning which would be very exciting. We're also working on a TV series about ourselves moving to the big city and making clothes for celebrities while launching our brand... Also, we're working on our first fashion show for NYFW in February. We have a full plate and we couldn't have it any other way.

For more from Shawn and Claire, be sure to visit Shock and Awww and follow the girls on Twitter and Instagram!

Melody's September 2015 Wrap Up

2015-09-30T23:01:00.000-04:00

Book/Novella/Short Story Reviews
Note: The Summer Reading Diversity Spotlight has been completed!

*** The Fisher Queen by Alyssa Wong
*** The Oiran’s Song by Isabel Yap
*** The Last Day by Ellen Oh
*** The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
*** Sleeper Jo Walton
*** A Cost-Benefit Analysis of the Proposed Trade-Offs for the Overhaul of the Barricade by John Chu

E-book/Book/Audiobook Haul
* The Shadow Cats by Rae Carson
* Breathe by Sarah Crossan
* Diverse Energies Edited by Tobias S. Buckell & Joe Monti
* Violent Ends by Shaun David Hutchinson, Neal Shusterman, Beth Revis, Courtney Summers, Kendare Blake, Hannah Moskowitz, & more

Blu-ray, DVD, & TV Reviews
* Blu-ray: Haven Season 5 Volume 1
* Blu-ray: Mad Max: Fury Road
* Blu-ray: The Flash: The Complete First Season
* DVD: Gotham The Complete First Season
* DVD: iZombie: The Complete First Season
* DVD: Supernatural The Complete Tenth Season
* TV: Face Off Episodes 906, 907, 908, and 909
* TV: Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 3 Premiere
* TV: Gotham Season 2 Premiere
* TV: Minority Report Series Premiere
* TV: Scream Queens Series Premiere
* TV: Blindspot Series Premiere
* TV: Rosewood Series Premiere
* TV: The Last Man On Earth Season 2 Premiere
* TV: Grandfathered Series Premiere
* TV: The Grinder Series Premiere
* TV Week In Review #1 and #2

September Notes
* I have a new job! I am now an Editorial Assistant at MunaLuchi Bride Magazine!
* I'm SO excited Fall TV is back! I talked all about the Fall TV that I'm looking forward to here.
* Maddie Paige, one of my critique partners, revealed the cover to her debut novel, A Shot Of Reckless!
* Here Are Ten Things To Remember From the PBS Documentary, American Masters: The Women's List

My Insane Book & Movie Challenge Update #21
My monthly update for my Insane Book & Movie Challenge is below!

Books

If you'd like to keep track of my reading progress as it happens and reviews as they are posted, feel free to follow me on Goodreads!

Library E-Books I Read
Read through Overdrive App
1. The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

Short Stories I Read Online
1. The Fisher Queen by Alyssa Wong
2. The Oiran’s Song by Isabel Yap
3. Sleeper by Jo Walton
4. A Cost-Benefit Analysis of the Proposed Trade-Offs for the Overhaul of the Barricade by John Chu

My favorite read this month: The Oiran’s Song by Isabel Yap

Movies & Documentaries

Watched in September 2015
Hot Pursuit (Redbox)
Mad Max: Fury Road (Blu-ray)
The Boy Next Door (Netflix DVD)
Time Lapse (Netflix Streaming)

My favorite movie this month: Time Lapse.

Until next month, happy reading and viewing!

TV Talk: Face Off Episode 9.09 "Judgment Day" Recap & Review

2015-09-29T19:13:00.000-04:00

Photo: Nora's Creation / Credit: Jordin Althaus/Syfy

Note: Last Week's Recap

Tonight, an all new Face Off airs, so while we wait...here's what I thought of last week's episode!

In "Judgement Day," I tried not to stay bitter over the previous elimination of Jasmine, one of the best artists of the entire season. It's safe to say that I officially hate The Gauntlet. Redemption was near with the next challenge, dedicated to The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Anyone who knows me knows that I'm obsessed with the apocalypse so this challenge couldn't have come at a better time to lift my spirits given how upset I was with the aftermath of the previous challenge.

War. Death. Famine. Pestilence. Host McKenzie Westmore and judge, Glenn Hetrick (Legion) met the artists to tell them to choose one of the horseman as inspiration to create their own horrific incarnation. While this was an individual challenge, they'd be working in groups to make a cohesive four horsemen. Sweet! Group One: Meg went with Pestilence. Jordan picked War. Stevie chose Famine. Scott took on Death. Group Two: Kevon chose Pestilence. Nora took on Famine. Evan went with Death. Ben picked War.

In the lab, Nora seemed to be struggling with getting her vision on the mold. As an artist, that is one of the most frustrating things ever, especially on a deadline. I felt for her! Especially since I didn't want to see her in danger of going home. She seemed to get it together after day one. But then Stevie had time management issues and I didn't want to see her in danger of elimination either, so that was worrying for a moment there. As last looks neared, it seemed Ben was quite defeated which didn't set well with me either because everyone left is just so good! Ahh!

On the reveal stage, my favorites from group one were Meg (Pestilence), Jordan (War) - his was absolutely terrifying, and Scott (Death) with Jordan being my favorite look from the group. My favorites from group one were Nora (Famine) and Evan (Death) with Evan being my favorite look.

The judges' top looks were Nora and Evan with Evan winning the competition! Yay, Evan!!!! That creations was truly magnificent. Stellar job. So happy for his win! The judges' bottom looks were Kevon and Ben with Kevon being eliminated which shocked Ben because he was so certain that he was going to be the one to go. What set them apart was Kevon being even more off kilter than Ben in regards to the direction for this challenge. It sucks to see anyone go at this point but Kevon's got a good head on his shoulders and some real talent so I'm sure he's on his way to some awesome work already. Who were your favorites this week?!

Photo: Evan's Creation / Credit: Jordin Althaus/Syfy

Elimination Recap
Eliminated This Week: Kevon
Total Eliminations: ~~Brittany~~, ~~Jasmine~~, ~~Libby~~, Meg, ~~Melissa~~, Nora, Stevie, Ben, Evan, ~~Jason~~, Jordan, ~~Kevon~~, ~~Omar~~, ~~Ricky~~, Scott, ~~Sidney~~

Face Off airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on Syfy.

Advanced TV Review: The Grinder Series Premiere "Pilot"

2015-09-28T00:30:00.000-04:00

Photo Credit: Ray Mickshaw/FOX

Starring Emmy Award nominee Rob Lowe (“Parks and Recreation,” “The West Wing”) and Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award nominee Fred Savage (“The Wonder Years”), THE GRINDER is a new comedy about two brothers: one a spotlight-grabbing actor who plays TV’s most popular lawyer and the other, a real-life, small-town attorney who has yet to find his spotlight.

DEAN SANDERSON, JR. (Lowe) spent eight seasons playing the title role on the hit legal drama “The Grinder.” When his series ends, he decides to move back to his hometown of Boise, Idaho, where his brother, STEWART (Savage), is poised to take over the family law firm.

Despite having no law degree, no license to practice and no experience in an actual courtroom, Dean’s charisma and flair for the dramatic make him absolutely certain he has something to contribute to the firm. As Dean puts it, “Let’s say you’re at a restaurant and Noah Wyle is two tables down. You go into cardiac arrest. You don’t think Noah Wyle could step in and help?”

It doesn’t take long for Dean to start inserting himself into every aspect of Stewart’s life, both in the courtroom and at home, and all to the amusement of Stewart’s wife, DEBBIE (Mary Elizabeth Ellis, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”); their two kids, 15-year-old LIZZIE (Hana Hayes, “Bucket and Skinner’s Epic Adventures”) and 13-year-old ETHAN (Connor Kalopsis, “Days Of Our Lives”); Dean and Stewart’s father, the law firm’s head, DEAN SR. (William Devane, “24: Live Another Day”) and the office’s tough-to-impress counselor, CLAIRE (Natalie Morales (“Parks and Recreation”), who remains unfazed by Dean’s celebrity.

Dean and Stewart don’t see to eye to eye, but when they stop arguing with each other and start arguing together in court…they make a formidable team. THE GRINDER is the story of two brothers, who took different paths, but meet again in the middle – for justice…sort of.

The Grinder is probably the most meta comedy you'll catch all season. It almost feels like a satire of Hollywood and the relationship us regular folk have with Hollywood while also being a comedy about a family in the shadows of a celebrity. What makes this even more hysterical is that the person in the shadows is Dean's brother, Stewart who is in fact a lawyer and not just one who plays a lawyer on TV like Dean.

This sounds and looks as amusing as it is, which is very much so! If you're on the fence about checking this out, watch it. You will laugh. You will be taken aback by the ridiculousness that is Dean and feel for Stewart who must deal with his brother coming back to town after living the life in Hollywood. But most importantly, you will root for them both. You will want to see what becomes of the relationship between the brothers as well as what becomes of the town due to Dean or The Grinder's longterm stay. How will Dean handle attempting to become a real life lawyer? How will those around him react because of it?

There is a playground of imagination with this concept here so I am very much anticipating seeing what happens next and especially wondering what the writers have planned for the long run. For now though, I'm all in and very much looking forward to the next episode with this amazing cast of characters! Don't miss the premiere so that I won't be alone in this excitement!

Watch the series premiere of The Grinder Tuesday, September 29, 2015 at 8:30/7:30c on Fox.

Advanced TV Review: Grandfathered Series Premiere "Pilot"

2015-09-28T00:00:00.000-04:00

Photo Credit: Erica Parise/FOX

What’s the fastest way to put the brakes on a cruise-controlled bachelor lifestyle? Fatherhood? Guess again. Television icon John Stamos (“Full House,” “ER”) stars in a new comedy about the ultimate bachelor who discovers he’s not only a father, but a grandfather.

Successful restaurateur and man-about-town JIMMY MARTINO (Stamos) is used to being the most suave, most handsome and most single person in the room. All that changes with the surprise appearance of Jimmy’s adult son, GERALD (Josh Peck, “The Mindy Project”), and his baby daughter, EDIE. Now Jimmy has to unlearn a lifetime of blissful selfishness and grapple with the fact that he went straight from single to grandfather in six seconds flat.

Keeping tabs on Jimmy is Gerald’s mother and Jimmy’s former girlfriend, rocker chick-turned-mother SARA (Paget Brewster, “Criminal Minds,” “Community”). Equally concerned about how Jimmy will manage these new developments is Jimmy’s restaurant family, especially assistant manager ANNELISE (Kelly Jenrette, “Audrey”) and chef RAVI (Ravi Patel, “Super Fun Night”).

Can Jimmy teach Gerald to be a little more like him in order to win the affection of Edie’s hot mess of a mom, VANESSA (Christina Milian, FAMILY GUY, “Baggage Claim”)? Will Jimmy and Sara fall for each other all over again, even though she’s the one thing he never dates – a woman his own age? And who’s higher maintenance, Jimmy or the baby?

GRANDFATHERED is an unconventional, sophisticated comedy about coming of age – at any age.

What a fantastic premiere! I expected to laugh watching Grandfathered but I didn't expect to laugh so much! I actually cackled, this show is so funny. From the one liners to the physical comedy and of course, John Stamos's comedic timing, everything about this show is on track for a hit.

The chemistry among the cast is spectacular. I'm so excited to see all of these relationships explored, between father and son, grandfather and granddaughter, exes, etc... There's so much here to dive into and I'm ready for the waves. I especially love the dynamic between Gerald and Vanessa as it's pretty much unheard to see this kind of relationship in real life, much less on TV of an ex-couple on such good terms and on one accord with parenting. And by good terms, I mean overall generally positive.

Because there is a negative here and that is that Gerald wants a relationship with Vanessa but she really enjoys their friendship. Genuinely enjoys the friendship. So I'm very intrigued by this relationship and can only hope we see Vanessa open up to Gerald more throughout the season. Of course, Gerald does need some work...finding a job for one. Here's to hoping it won't be at Jimmy's restaurant because that's way too easy.

"I'm cool. I watch Portlandia." - Sara

As for Jimmy, he's great. He knows who he is, who he wants to be, who he's built himself up to be and in a single moment, all of that is swept away. Watching him navigate this new path in the sand was so much fun in the Pilot and I am so excited to see more. One of my favorite moments from the Pilot came when he asked a really vain question before returning a hug to his son.Another is the moment that moves Jimmy to finally say that he's a grandfather. These are small moments but it's all of these small moments that amount to such an entertaining and heartwarming show.

Of course, I also loved the handful of cameos, especially from the one and only, Bob Saget. With Jimmy running one of the hottest restaurants in town, we're sure to get a lot more cameos, especially during November sweeps so I'm already highly anticipating what's in store for the season ahead.

Most importantly, this show already has such a special place in my heart because it's about growing up, finding out what truly matters most, and cherishing that never ending nesting doll of a gift. Grandfathered is the sweetest treat on the menu this fall and you must try it! I love Grandfathered and I'm sure you will too so be sure to watch every Tuesday night on Fox!

Watch the series premiere of Grandfathered Tuesday, September 29, 2015 at 8/7c on Fox.

Advanced TV Review: The Last Man On Earth Season 2 Premiere “Is There Anybody Out There?“

2015-09-27T00:00:00.000-04:00

Photo Credit: Patrick McElhenney/FOX

The Last Man On Earth is back tonight! Season one ended with Phil being kicked out of Tucson and Carol choosing to stay with him rather than the small group that was forming there. So we begin with Phil and Carol in the middle of their road trip across the United States as they search for the perfect place to call home. As awesome as Phil thinks the White House is, it just doesn't feel right for Carol, so they move on. Where Phil wasn't sentimental at all last season, he actually listens to the words that come out of Carol's mouth and makes wise choices with that information. Which is how we land in Carol's hometown. And if this isn't the sweetest way to start off the season, I don't know what is! Truly delightful! Phil thought of someone other than himself and we got to see a peek at what it was like for Carol before she made her way to Tucson. Quite an emotional moment, I'd say. Poignant.

Good thing the episode starts off on such a great note because it takes quite a turn! It's been six months since Carol and Phil have left Tucson and their road trip takes them on quite a journey...with an unexpected detour thrown in of course. Only this is a conflict that can't be fixed in a day. Or even five. Who knows how long it will take. On top of that, we do get to see what's become of Tucson and the result may shock you. It did me. Meanwhile, Phil's brother (Jason Sudeikis) is still in space trying to figure out the right place to land on earth, if he should land at all. I'm so excited to see what becomes of Phil's brother as well as when and how Phil and Carol find their way to a place they can call home. Of course, I'm also looking forward to whatever new guest stars we can expect along the way.

This premiere, standing on its own, was great. I loved the pacing. Brilliant as always. “Is There Anybody Out There?“ tugs at your heartstrings, makes you laugh, and gives you plenty to root for. We're kind of getting a new and improved Phil because he's grown up since leaving Tucson. He's really had quite an arc and gone through quite the transformation since then. While he'll still always be the same old Phil we know and love, there are just some qualities within him that have evolved for the better and that gets me so excited for the season ahead. This was a great kick off to this arc. A much more story centric episode than laugh out loud episode. Regardless, I thought this was a fantastic premiere. A must watch for any fan of the first season!

Watch The Last Man On Earth Season 2 Premiere TONIGHT at 9:30/8:30c only on Fox.

DVD Review - iZombie: The Complete First Season

2015-09-26T18:48:00.003-04:00

Release Date: September 29, 2015
Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 549 minutes

iZOMBIE stars Rose McIver as Olivia “Liv” Moore, a medical resident on the fast track to a perfect life … until she’s turned into a zombie. Now stuck between half-alive and undead, Liv transfers to the city morgue to reluctantly access the only thing that allows her to maintain her humanity — human brains. But there are side effects to Liv’s new diet. With each brain she consumes, she experiences flashes of the corpse’s memories — including, at times, clues as to how they were killed. Her boss, a brilliant but eccentric conspiracy theorist, encourages her to embrace this gift and to work with an unproven homicide detective to help solve these murders … and quiet the voices in her head.

From the moment the series premiered, I knew iZombie was going to be one of my favorite new dramas and I am so happy to say that it lived up to my expectations each and every week. I don't remember the last time I had so much fun watching a one hour drama. This show is so entertaining! It's hilarious. The cases of the week are wild and exciting, especially given Liv's power to exhibit the personality and traits of the brains she eats aka the victims/suspects.

The zombie story line unfolds at a very satisfying pace, not giving us everything at once and really savoring each zombie moment, from beginning to end. I loved how the stakes continued to rise, especially as the season came to a close. I love the world building and I love that the show doesn't take itself too seriously and is really just an hour full of imagination and zany fun even as Rose deals with being dead.

The chemistry amongst the entire cast is so strong which just makes the show all the more magical and so incredibly strong in each and every scene. It was also so great to see Aly Michalka (Hellcats) in a recurring role, a few faces from Veronica Mars pop up and an appearance from Erica Cerra (Eureka). I'm excited to see what familiar faces we'll see in season two.

Overall, really tremendous first season. iZombie delivered everything I wanted, didn't know I wanted, and then some. I have yet to read the comic and have heard that it's very different but I'm excited to read it and appreciate it as its own art form and very excited to see what's in store for season two... more of the same that made me fall in love with the show in the first place and hopefully, tons of exciting surprises!

Bonus Features:
iZombie 2014 Comic-Con Panel (Approx. 28 minutes) - In case you missed the iZombie panel at San Diego Comic Con 2014 or want to relive the memory, the entire panel is on the DVD for your viewing pleasure. The Q&A portion is edited so viewers read the question on screen rather than hearing the fans asking the questions, creating a smoother edit which is always great.

Appearing in this Feature:
Moderator, Alan Sepinwall of HitFix
Creators/Executive Producers, Rob Thomas & Diane Ruggiero-Wright
Cast Members, Rose McIver, Malcolm Goodwin, Rahul Kohli, Robert Buckley, David Anders

Deleted Scenes (Approx. 7 minutes) - There are multiple deleted scenes for the "Pilot" episode and season finale, "Blaine's World" while there is one deleted scened each for the episodes, "Brother, Can You Spare A Brain?," "Flight of the Living Dead," "Patriot Brains," and "Dead Rat, Live Rat, Brown Rat, White Rat." In total, there are eight deleted scenes and unfortunately, there is no way to play the scenes by episode so if you want to watch one deleted scene on a disc, you have to play them all. Honestly, none of the deleted scenes were captivating so it's very clear why all of these were cut. Not only was I hoping for better deleted scenes that maybe were just cut for lack of time, but I was expecting more special features, maybe a gag reel or especially a feature one dedicated to adapting this from a comic to TV but I guess that was anticipating to much. Still, hopefully this isn't setting the standard for special features on future iZombie DVDs because this was disappointing.

Own iZombie: The Complete First Season on DVD & Digital HD September 29, 2015.

Watch the season two premiere of iZombie Tuesday, October 6, 2015 at 9/8c on The CW.

TV Talk: Week in Review '15-16 #2

2015-09-26T17:45:00.000-04:00

Reviews for Fall TV Shows & Specials Which Aired
September 20, 2015 - September 26, 2015

* New series in CAPS
* Reviews May Contain Spoilers
Note: I will not be reviewing Life in Pieces, Law & Order: SVU, and The Amazing Race. I will only be reviewing the series premieres of Blindspot, Rosewood, and Limitless as well as only the season premiere of Castle, not the entire seasons.

Photo Credit: The Academy

67th Annual Primetime Emmys (FOX)
Regina King (American Crime), Uzo Aduba (Orange Is The New Black), and Viola Davis (How To Get Away With Murder) all winning Emmy Awards on the same night was history making and as a black woman in the arts myself, more inspiring than words can say. I am so proud of these women. So proud.

Yes, I was really bummed that Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black) and Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation) weren't acknowledged but clearly this night was made for OUR moments. This was the night for black women on TV and that I am so grateful for. Beyond grateful for that acknowledgement and recognition. Tatiana will have her moment. Amy, God bless her, should have had her moment long before this but it's coming. With those peaceful thoughts in mind, last night was absolutely magical. So great, that I want to direct you to Viola's speech. Watch it here.

Finally, congrats to Allison Janney (Mom) who has done such a fabulous job on Mom. Allison Janney is always fabulous but I've been watching Mom since the series premiere and have seen how much this show has grown and I am just so proud to see the Emmys recognize what's been done here. So if you're writing off this win, this show and don't even watch, please show yourself out. :)

Gotham (FOX) - Season 2 Premiere
"Rise of the Villains: Damned If You Do,..."

Check out my review of the season 2 Gotham premiere here.

MINORITY REPORT (FOX) - Series Premiere "Pilot"

Check out my review of the Minority Report series premiere here.

Photo Credit: Monty Brinton/CBS

Scorpion (CBS) - Episode 201 "Satellite of Love"
Great return for Scorpion this week! Awesome cameo from Gene Simmons to start the episode off. If that's who they got for the premiere, I wonder who they'll get for November sweeps! Anyway, solid story to jump start the season, with plenty of action, raising of stakes, and romantic tension between Walter and Paige. My only disappointment here was the special effects in the final act which weren't great at all. Overall, while this wasn't a standout episode, other than the fact of it being memorable as the season opener, the show has given us a taste of what's to come and I cannot wait for what's next! It's going to be fun!

Photo via ABC

Castle (ABC) - Episode 801 "XY"
What an interesting choice for the kick off of the season. Last season began with the mystery of Castle. This season began with the mystery of Beckett. I like the contrast but the intrigue has lost me. It was SO great to see Jack Coleman (Heroes Reborn) make an appearance in this episode and fun to see what the usual cast of characters has been up to but other than that, I can't say that this premiere was thrilling at all. The developments with Alexis were more exciting than the mystery of Beckett. And while Castle did get into a bit of a situation himself, the "How is he going to get out of this one?" question didn't stir me this week.

Maybe whatever Beckett is doing is part of a top secret case? If so, I'm already bored with it. I want more creative cases and more depth with Castle and Beckett's marriage now that they're married and a really killer overarching story line. This show has until the winter hiatus to keep me hooked, whether living up to the above or by delivering something fantastic from an angle I haven't thought of. Otherwise I'll have to take this off my watch list. For now though, it will simply be taken off my review list. I'll circle around reviewing this week to week when I decide of the viewing fate come hiatus.

BLINDSPOT (NBC) - Series Premiere "Pilot"

Check out my review of the Blindspot series premiere here.

Photo via Hulu

The Mindy Project (Hulu) - Episode 4.02 "C is for Coward"
Brooke Burke cameo! ISIS shout out! Oh man, this episode starts off with quite a bang. Now I can't say that I laughed aloud to anything this week but there were many jokes that garnered some deep chuckles. This week, Mindy and Danny have two very different perspectives about what kind of birth Mindy will have... natural birth or scheduled c-section. You can easily guess which side Mindy falls on. Of course, Mindy's water breaks at the most inconvenient time, natural birth or not, and Danny, who was wrangled into going to dinner with Jeremy to help Jeremy show his date he has friends, must come to catch up with Mindy before the baby comes. And then the baby comes! And just like that, the pregnancy storyline is done. That was quick.

Anyway, I like the name Leo for the baby boy. And I found the whole episode to be quite adorable as well as quite a momentous shift in the show. Now that the main characters have a baby together, it will be very interesting to see how their lives change and remain the same and the challenges that come with all of the above. I think I'm more excited about what this episode represents and has set up to come than what this episode actually was but even still, solid episode. Looking forward to more!

Photo via ABC

Fresh Off the Boat (ABC) - Episode 201 "Family Business Trip"

"Hi, I'm Gator Octavio. Towel?" - Towel Boy

"Oh, so you can charge us a towel rental fee? No, thank you. We will be using God's towel. The sun. Go." - Jessica

This week's episode brought some serious feels as I was reminded of going back to school after summer vacation and trying to shape my best memories to tell all of my friends. I felt for Eddie as he was holding what we thought would be a great story for back to school close until that backfired. I was rooting for him when Jessica made Louis's business trip a family trip, giving Eddie another chance to conjure up an awesome tale. We all know how much of a cheapskate saver Jessica is but saving in the summer is the worst!!!! I know. Jessica is basically my father when it comes to money and as a kid, during the summer, that is the absolute worst. So this episode was very entertaining because of how unfortunately relatable it was.

Finally, that kid arriving in his The Mask cosplay on the first day of school and making all of these movie references that no one else got?! Crying laughing, oh my goodness. This season is just as strong as the first and shows zero signs of sophomore slump. More like raising the bar even higher. So funny! Don't drink anything while you watch this show because you just might spit it out in a laughing fit. Boy am I glad this show is back!

SCREAM QUEENS (FOX) - Series Premiere "Pilot/Hell Week"

Check out my review of the two hour Scream Queens series premiere here.

Photo via CBS

LIMITLESS (CBS) - Series Premiere "Pilot"
Wow, this premiere was so dry it wasn't even funny. It was solid in laying out the set up of the story but it was far too sterile in every way. It took more than half of the episode for the characters to ease up but by then, it may have just been too little to late. The show has heart but it's buried underneath the rehearsed cat and mouse chase turned cop and informant tale.

We follow Brian (Jake McDorman) who is taking NZT for answers he can use to help keep his father alive. But he gets a lot more than that, including Rebecca (Jennifer Carpenter) who is on the NZT case and on his tail but not exactly for the reasons Brian thinks. I like the developments here but there needs to be more twists, more heart, and unfortunately since there won't be too much more Eddie (Bradley Cooper) who is a Senator now, more fearless exploration of heroes and villains in a story like this. Without this, this show will definitely fail because based on the Pilot alone, it's already heading towards cancellation. So why not just go for it? Be fearless. Take it to the next level. That's all this show has got at this point. What do you think?

Photo via ABC

The Middle (ABC) - Episode 701 "Not Your Brother's Drop Off"

"How are you doing balancing the checkbook?" - Mike

"I must have done it wrong. I have your balance at minus eleven dollars." - Sue

"No, you did it right. It's us who did it wrong." - Mike

The Middle is one of my favorite comedies ever. It's so homey. It's so...life. If I had to choose the comedy that's the most relatable (aside from Blackish, obvi), this would be it hands down. Needless to say, I'm so glad it's back! It returned strong with a back to school episode, Brick heading to eighth grade which we don't see because it's all about Sue prepping to move into college.

It was hilarious watching Mike try to cram in life lessons before Sue left. Been there, Sue. You're not alone. Meanwhile, Frankie was pretending she would miss Sue because it hadn't hit her yet how much she'll actually miss her. Every parent has put on their acting chops for their unsuspecting children so as an adult, I can appreciate all of the false moments played out in love all the more so this was really entertaining.

My favorite part of the premiere? Sue got a little too excited getting ready and burned her hair right off! That part was scary for Sue but it lead to a super cool, long overdue haircut for her. I love her new hairstyle just in time for her transition from kid to young adult. I'm sure Eden Sher is happy with this change as well! All in all, this is one of my favorite premieres of this TV season and I can't wait to see what other unexpected but necessary moments Sue will face in her first year of college and see what comes next for the Hecks!

ROSEWOOD (FOX) - Series Premiere

Check out my review of the Rosewood series premiere here.

Photo via ABC

Modern Family (ABC) - Episode 701 "Summer Lovin'"
Solid premiere for Modern Family! Haley and Andy's relationship still isn't official what with both of them denying their feelings for each other, so much so that Andy is engaged to another girl. Meanwhile, Mitch is going through a mid life crisis and Cam does everything he can to get Mitch out of it. And then there's Gloria and Jay looking for a school for their little one, which is more competitive than ever before. Great stories, all entertaining in their own ways. Not entirely laugh out loud funny but I love this family and this show and continue to enjoy this ride!

Photo via ABC

Black-ish (ABC) - Episode 201 "The Word"
When I heard that Black-ish would be dedicating an episode to the N word, I didn't expect it to be the season 2 premiere! What a way to kick off the season! Loved the intro! Loved seeing so many different sides to the argument. What it means. When it counts and passes. The consequences of every when no matter what your intention. One of my favorite scenes? Dre at work talking about it with his black co-workers and the white co-workers sitting quietly until two decide to chime and share what they think. Because what they think matters so much lolololol. I loved how well the subject was handled and am highly anticipating other controversial topics the show will face head on this season.

Photo Credit: Christos Kalohoridis/NBC

HEROES REBORN (NBC) - Premiere "Brave New World; Odessa"
Heroes is back!!! It's back! One of my favorite shows EVER is back!!!! I cannot even begin to explain how good this feels. So I'm just going to jump right into this new episode which begins as Volume One: Awakening, Chapter One: Brave New World.

In the two hour premiere, we see Texas, Quebec, China, Illinois, Japan, California, and New York and jump back and forth in time quite a bit in the beginning. And if you can't follow all of the time jumps (which take place over the course of the past year), there's really only one date that matters. June 13th. It's all about June 13th and what HRG (HRG!!!!!!) has forgotten on that fateful day. At Primotech, where HRG worked, there was a summit for all of the heroes (loved seeing all of the powers of the attendees!) and before HRG could meet up with Claire there, a big bomb goes off. An attack. We're used to "Save the cheerleader, save the world," but it's a brand new world and the heroes, or the EVOS (new slang - which I dig by the way - for the "evolved") are the ones in danger here, not the world.

And Claire's dead. (I'm so mad they killed off Claire! Ugh. I hope it's worth it storytelling wise. Only time will tell). It's actually full circle and poetic how the series began with the need for the cheerleader to survive and the beginning of the series comes with her death. The big question now is, if she didn't die at the summit, how and when did she die? And just how important is Molly Walker again, who was, like Claire, also absent from the Odessa Summit... The premiere has given us so much to think about!

Having HRG lead the charge among the returning originals has been so great, even with Claire gone. HRG is remarrying. I have neutral feelings about this given the more captivating story here... This guy named Quentin (Henry Zebrowski, A to Z) follows HRG, telling him that June 13th is just the beginning and that Mohinder Suresh, who was seen as an EVO terrorist & labeled completely responsible for the attack in fact had nothing to do with Odessa. He reveals that the number of EVOS is higher than ever to save us from what's coming and June 13th didn't happen how HRG remembers. This leads HRG to The Haitian!!!! The Haitian is back!!!!! Yay!!! But the rejoicing doesn't last long because The Haitian tries to kill HRG. And we find out HRG told him to do so (before telling him to wipe his memory). The thing is, HRG doesn't remember telling him this and now The Haitian is dead. Oh, man! I hope all of the originals don't die! I also hope Quentin (who we learn lost his sister, Phoebe but believes she, like Claire, didn't die at the summit) doesn't get the boot too early either because I'm already so connected to him as HRG's side kick. Thoughts?

What I found especially interesting is that we saw Zachary Levi's character, Luke and his wife, Joanne in Odessa on June 13th taking photographs of the day's events just like everyone else around him.... only to fast forward a year and find him killing the heroes of today after going undercover with Joanne at a secret heroes meeting. Taking vengeance on the heroes after their son, Dennis was killed at the summit. Bitter grieving party of two placing their mistrust towards the wrong people. They're going after the wrong enemy. Good move, making Levi a villain. I didn't expect that! Good job, here. While there are numerous villains in this world, I'm most curious to see how this story line evolves. Because vengeance is gripping but I expect the stakes to continuously raise on the show so I'm hoping for more.

As for the other newbies... Tommy (Robbie Kay, Once Upon A Time) and his mom attempt to flee from the US to Canada after an incident with his powers. Only the border is swabbing for EVOS so they turn back around and run somewhere else in the US. Where they call home next doesn't turn out to be so good for Tommy. His powers are seen by more than one person and he's blackmailed! Ah!! It might be easier to go through with the blackmail deal if Tommy knew where his power to make people/things disappear leads them. Thankfully, with the help of his new school friend, Emily (Gatlin Green), they figure out where he's sending these people. So what next??!?!?!?! And who is this mystery man following Tommy and helping him? Possibly connected to Suresh?

Speaking of, I can't stress enough how amazing it was to see Jack Coleman, Sendhil Ramamurthy, and Jimmy Jean-Louis back on the small screen as well as so many newcomers! I did get a bit of whiplash watching Zachary Levi on this show when I know and love him from Chuck but he is owning this role and I am loving it! I am itching for more familiar faces and dying to find out what's in store for the all grown up Molly Walker (great casting by the way). Is she working for Suresh? Oh, man. So many theories, I don't even know where to start.

Finally, I loved following Ren and Miko, especially as their Evernow storyline takes us quite literally into a video game. That is wild. I was not expecting that! I'm not even a gamer and I loved that! Can't wait to see where this leads them and can't wait to see what becomes of the El Vengador vigilante story line. There is so much happening in the series premiere and I am loving every single minute of it. I would go on but I don't think I'd be able to stop. Plainly put, this is the must watch series of 2015 for me and it has exceeded my expectations so I am on cloud nine. Congrats, Tim Kring and everyone involved!!!! What a victory!

Photo via ABC

Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) - Episode 12.01 "Sledgehammer"
This show sure knows how to bring the feels. My eyes watered in the intro. I laughed. I was shocked. This episode had all of the right elements to an entertaining and emotionally captivating episode of Grey's. Bailey must fight harder than she's ever had to in order to get the promotion she's worked her butt off for when a new candidate arrives. Go, Bailey! Or should I say, Chief! Finally!!! Well deserved. Meanwhile, Arizona comes to the realization that she's too intimidating to live with and tones it down to get someone to rent a room. Meredith and Amelia have a hilarious roommate squabble. There's so much to love about this episode. It was just an hour of justice and fun and I loved it. I cannot believe the show is in its twelfth season and is so strong still. I think I said that last season. So excited to see what's in store for this season. Great kick off to the twelfth!

Photo via ABC

Scandal (ABC) - Episode 501 "Heavy Is the Head"
Whoa. Fitz handing Mellie divorce papers?! It only took five seasons. Too bad it was too little too late. I can't wait to see the fallout next week! Then there's the case of the week. The Queen killing the Princess because she was pregnant with a child who wasn't the rightful heir? Geez. It makes you think about all of the celebrity deaths that just don't add up. Really great episode! Really excited for this season, especially with Fitz and Olivia's relationship now made public! Time to face the music.

Photo via ABC

How To Get Away with Murder (ABC)
Episode 201 "It's Time to Move On"
Bonnie killed Rebecca! Surprise, surprise. They kind of hinted at this very early on in the episode so when it came out later on in the episode, I wasn't surprised. Oh well. Anyway, Amy Okuda (The Guild) appeared in this episode and that made me so happy because I loved her on The Guild!

Someone by the identity of Eggs 911 is texting Michaela. Who could it be and why text her of all people? Then, Annalise's former flame played by Famke Janssen (X-Men) comes to town to help out. It must be nice to have a death row lawyer ex flame. She comes in awful handy, that's for sure.

But that's not even the most exciting part about the episode. Because... Yooooooooooo that ending!!!!!!!! Why oh why did Wes shoot Annalise? I am so pumped to get from now to two months later when Annalise finds herself in the ultimate life or death situation. I am so excited to see how this all plays out. Buckle up because it's going to be another wild ride! Phenomenal return!

Photo via Syfy

Z Nation (Syfy) - Episode 203 "Zombie Road"
Oh, man. This episode was slightly disappointing. I mean...if I wanted to watch a never ending car chase, I'd watch Mad Max: Fury Road. Not a homage to it that I didn't ask for. The entire episode was one long car chase with bounty hunters still after Murphy. So... with little variety and the stakes barely being raised, this left for little to really be excited about.

Yes, it was great to see that Murphy couldn't mind control the radioactive zombies but other than that, I wasn't really moved. We know there would be an obstacle here eventually. It's a bummer that we're only three episodes in and already have a weak episode but I'm very hopeful for the season as a whole so perhaps we can forget this ever happened and get back to the good stuff next week. And next week needs to have Citizen Z! But it was great seeing William Sadler (Roswell) appear in this episode and that almost made up for no Citizen Z. Almost.

Premieres Next Week (September 27, 2015 - October 3, 2015)
Bob’s Burgers (FOX) Sunday, September 27 7:30pm
Once Upon a Time (ABC) Sunday, September 27 8/7c
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (FOX) Sunday, September 27 8:30/7:30c
Family Guy (FOX) Sunday, September 27 9/8c
BLOOD & OIL (ABC) Sunday, September 27 9/8c
The Last Man on Earth (FOX) Sunday, September 27 9:30/8:30c
QUANTICO (ABC) Sunday, September 27 10/9c
GRANDFATHERED (FOX) Tuesday, September 29 8/7c
THE GRINDER (FOX) Tuesday, September 29 8:30/7:30c
Criminal Minds (CBS) Wednesday, September 30 9/8c
The Blacklist (NBC) Thursday, October 1 9/8c
DR. KEN (ABC) Friday, October 2 8:30/7:30c
The Graham Norton Show (BBC America) Saturday, October 3 10/9c

What did you watch and love this week?
What are you anticipating next week?

Blu-ray Review: The Flash The Complete First Season

2015-09-25T23:23:00.000-04:00

Release Date: September 22, 2015
Rating: 979 minutes
Running Time: Not Rated

Central City forensic investigator Barry Allen is, always charming and – as a result of a scientific experiment gone awry – now the fastest man alive! He’s The Flash, zigzagging through the action-packed new series from the creative team behind Arrow and based on the supersonic DC Comics character. With his life shadowed by his mother’s murder and his father wrongly convicted of the crime, Barry finds that his newfound power of super speed grants him the ability to move through Central City like an unseen guardian angel. Barry quickly discovers he’s not the only “metahuman” created by the explosive disaster – and not everyone is using their new powers for good. Now, to protect the innocent, Barry and his close friends who know his secret, race to combat evildoers in one astonishing adventure after another.

While The Flash may have been on my radar growing up, I never actually got into the comics or the TV show or anything in regards to this fandom. This show was my introduction to The Flash. I was nervous but excited and am so glad that I stayed with this show because for a second there, I just wasn't connecting with this show like I did Arrow. And that's saying something because I didn't immediately fall in love with Arrow. And who has time to stick with shows until they really get it together? I made time for this show. I invested my time into this show and for anyone out there considering doing the same.... I say, DO IT.

First, the cast of characters. I love the chemistry between Grant Gustin, Danielle Panabaker, and Carlos Valdes. They bring so much energy and life to their characters and together, these three make the perfect team. A team anyone would be lucky to entrust their lives to. It's really quite beautiful to see, especially since friendship relationships are so under-appreciated on TV. I also loved the character arc for Dr. Wells. Without going too in depth here...whoa! Then it comes as no surprise to most that I'm a huge Jesse L. Martin fan, so I am partial when it comes to the character of Joe. Joe is great! As is Iris and I loved, loved, loved how her relationship with Barry was handled so delicately. The pacing and storytelling for this relationship was near flawless. And it was so much fun to see The Vampire Diaries star, Malese Jow on many episodes this season as a love interest to Barry while he figured out how to handle his feelings for Iris.

Story wise, I was intrigued in more episodes than not and completely captivated by about the same ratio. This show really knows how to lay it all out and bring tension and mystery and fun all at the same time. I really enjoyed The Flash - Arrow crossovers as well as seeing many characters from the upcoming Legends of Tomorrow. But in regards to the crossovers, I loved them for two reasons: 1) We got to see the characters of Arrow relax a little because the tone of this city is not as dark and moody 2) It always made me appreciate even more just how light this show is in regards to tone.

This is easy to overlook but I must stress that it's such an important factor of the show as The Flash is sure to bring a smile to your face every week even though there are life and death situations in the mix of the many conflicts the team has to deal with. The balance in tone (and with case of the week vs. overarching plot lines) has almost been perfected in the very first season and that is almost unheard of. Bravo! Another round of applause for all of the planning the writers had to do to plant all of the foreshadowing for what would be revealed in the final episodes of the season. One word. Brilliant.

As for the world building and special effects, it was easy to fall into this world and the special effects are solid, often times very impressive, which makes me anticipate what we can expect during season two. But I'm getting ahead of myself. All in all, this was a really great first season. This show knew what it wanted to be and achieved that and more, it just took me a bit to get used to this new ride. The Flash is just as thrilling and entertaining as you expect it to be so don't waste anymore time thinking about checking it out. There's still time to watch the entire season before the next season begins! Happy viewing!

Bonus Features:
Behind the Story: The Trickster Returns! (8:39 minutes) - In this behind the scenes feature, cast members, Mark Hamill and John Wesley Shipp talk about their 1990s roles on The Flash and working on the 2014 series which was fascinating for me to watch since I never followed The Flash before this show and had no idea that two originals had made their way to this show!

The Fastest Man Alive! (30:39 minutes) - This is a great feature in which the executive producers discuss many details including putting together this version of Barry Allen and The Flash, having fun with the villains, and the themes of the show which mean so much to us. A number of cast members are interviewed for this feature as well which makes this half hour feature a solid retrospective of the series so far.

Appearing in this Feature:
Executive Producers, Andrew Kreisberg and Greg Berlanti
Chief Creative Officer of DC Entertainment, Geoff Johns
Cast Members, Grant Gustin, Jesse L. Martin, Carlos Valdes, Danielle Panabaker, Tom Cavanagh, Rick Cosnett

Creating the Blur - The VFX of The Flash (26:25 minutes) - I don't know if I've seen too many special features like this that this one bored me or if it bored me because I just didn't particularly care about the nitty gritty of the special effects for this show...either way, this feature didn't hit the mark for me.

Appearing in this Feature:
Executive Producers, Andrew Kreisberg and Greg Berlanti
VFX Supervisor, Armen Kevorkian
Lead CG Artist, Stefan Bredereck
Compositing Supervising Editor, Andranik Taranyan

The Chemistry of Emily and Grant Screen Test (4:20 minutes) - This feature shows the screen test of Grant Gustin as well as the chemistry screen test between Grant and Emily Bett Rickards in between talking head interviews from Grant and Executive Producers, Greg Berlanti and Andrew Kreisberg who discuss these talents and finding the magic for this show. It's a fun feature and best of all, it's quick and to the point.

DC Comics Night at Comic-Con 2014: Presenting Gotham, The Flash, Constantine, and Arrow (29:31 minutes) - If you missed the big DC panel at San Diego Comic Con this year or were there and just want to see a portion of it again, it's here for you right now! I missed it, so it was great to finally catch it (and see how they answered their questions before the seasons of their respective shows aired which have since aired in full). There's not a whole lot here dedicated to The Flash though so if that's what you're seeking out, you might be disappointed.

Appearing in this Feature:
Chief Creative Officer of DC Entertainment, Geoff Johns
Executive Producers, Bruno Heller, Danny Cannon
Cast Members of Gotham, The Flash, Constantine, and Arrow
Executive Creators from Gotham, Constantine, and Arrow

Gag Reel (8:24 minutes) - Truly funny gag reels from drama series are the most hysterically funny gag reels out there and this one meets those standards so go ahead and press play and be prepared to laugh.

Deleted Scenes (Approx. 21 minutes) - There is one deleted scene each for "Fastest Man Alive," "Things You Can't Outrun," "Power Outage," "The Man in the Yellow Suit," "Revenge of the Rogues," "The Sound and the Fury," "Fallout," "Rogue Time," and "The Trap." There are multiple deleted scenes (2-3) for the "Pilot," "Crazy For You," "The Nuclear Man," "Tricksters," "Grodd Lives," "Rogue Air," and "Fast Enough." The two unaired scenes from the Pilot include Jesse L. Martin and I'm biased because I love this guy but I loved these scenes. Although I like the version of the second scene they ended up going with for the final edit of the episode.

I liked the unaired scene from "Power Outage" and the two unaired scenes from "Crazy For You" quite a lot as these were standout episodes to begin with so it was great to see that the unaired scenes were just as captivating. The two unaired scenes in "Grodd Lives" and the three unaired scenes from "Fast Enough" were very emotionally gripping as well. If you're on the fence about watching these, I'd recommend you go ahead and do it.

Commentary - The commentary for the "Pilot" is conducted by Executive Producers, Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg, and Geoff Johns and while not necessarily entertaining, I did find it very insightful and appreciated watching the Pilot for the first time in a long time with even more perspective. So with that said, definitely watch the commentary for the Pilot.

Own The Flash: The Complete First Season on Blu-ray, DVD & Digital HD today.

Watch the season two premiere of The Flash Tuesday October 6, 2015 at 8/7c on The CW.

10 Things To Remember From the PBS Documentary, American Masters: The Women's List

2015-09-25T20:55:00.001-04:00

Meet 15 women who have created and defined contemporary American culture in American Masters: The Women’s List. The newest chapter of filmmaker/photographer Timothy Greenfield-Sanders’ List documentary series (American Masters: The Boomer List, The Black List, The Latino List, The Out List) features intimate interviews with:

Madeleine Albright, U.S. Secretary of State, 1997-2001
Gloria Allred, lawyer
Laurie Anderson, artist
Sara Blakely, entrepreneur
Margaret Cho, comedian
Edie Falco, actor
Elizabeth Holmes, scientist and entrepreneur
Betsey Johnson, fashion designer
Alicia Keys, singer-songwriter
Aimee Mullins, athlete and fashion model
Nancy Pelosi, politician
Rosie Perez, actor
Shonda Rhimes, writer-producer
Wendy Williams, talk show host
Nia Wordlaw, pilot

American Masters: The Women’s List focuses on these individuals’ exceptional achievements, struggles and identities. All trailblazers in their respective fields, these women share their experiences struggling against discrimination and overcoming challenges to make their voices heard and their influence felt. Toni Morrison opens the film with a reading of an introduction she wrote specifically for The Women’s List.

Launched in 1986, American Masters has earned 28 Emmy Awards — including 10 for Outstanding Non-Fiction Series since 1999 and five for Outstanding Non-Fiction Special — 12 Peabodys, an Oscar, three Grammys, two Producers Guild Awards and many other honors. Now in its 29th season on PBS, the series is a production of THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS LLC for WNET and also seen on the WORLD channel.

Ten Things To Remember From American Masters: The Women's List

1) Speak Up
Learn to speak up for yourself. Your voice matters. Your voice is power.
Own it.

2) Give Grace
Remember to lift each other up. We are all fighting the fight and grace is boundless so let's give it.

3) You Are the Pilot
DO NOT be deterred by other people's concerns for the path to success that you are on. They cannot see your success because it's not for them to see. You are the pilot. Your loved ones are the passengers.

4) Be Authentic To Yourself
Be authentic to yourself and your dreams. Don't change or suppress all that is within you to make other people comfortable in mediocrity. You are extraordinary. Be the extraordinary being that you are with no apologies.

5) You Are More
Don't allow yourself to stay in self doubt. Don't allow what people see and label you as limit what you see yourself as. You are more.

6) Be Resilient
Don't see obstacles as obstacles you can't face. Be resilient. You can do it.

7) Know Your Power
Understand that you are uniquely qualified. There is nobody like YOU.

8) Jealousy Is Not The Answer
Do not get caught up in what other people are doing and succeeding at. Stay the course, your course and you will find your treasure.

9) Men of Quality Are Not Threatened By Women of Equality
Feminism is not a dirty word. We should all be proud to be feminist. To be equal.

10) We Are Multitudes
We are multitudes, and society is clearly the better for our peaceful invasion. There is no modernity and no justice without the talent, the passion and the steely intelligence of women. - Toni Morrison

You can read Toni Morrison's introduction to American Masters: The Women's List here.

American Masters: The Women's List premieres TONIGHT at 9pm on PBS and online beginning tomorrow at American Masters. Own American Masters: The Women's List on DVD today

Cover Reveal: A Shot of Reckless by Maddie Paige

2015-09-23T23:45:00.000-04:00

I am so excited to share the cover reveal of A Shot of Reckless by Maddie Paige! It's the debut novel written by my critique partner and her writing partner who are writing as a duo under the name, Maddie Paige and it is one of the most captivating New Adult contemporary novels you'll read all year!

Most people know that I'm very picky when it comes to both contemporary and NA reads, so even though I'm quite biased, having critiqued this work over the course of its creation, I really truly enjoyed this story and wouldn't have any hesitations recommending this book to someone had I not critiqued it beforehand. This book is great, the cover is a great peek into the world that's been created here, and I can't wait for this to go on sale so that you can read what I've been excited about for quite some time now!

Best of all, there's a giveaway taking place which you can enter at the end of the post to win your very own copy if a pre-order isn't in the cards at the moment! So be sure to enter the contest or pre-order and get ready for your shot of reckless!

Art major, Roxy Thompson, is a ball of fun—but she's also careful to keep her walls intact when it comes to men. She likes relationships just like her coffee: light and sweet. After having her heart shattered once before, she’s determined not to ever feel that broken again.

College senior, Lake Foster, is just tempting enough to make Roxy rethink her rules of engagement. Suddenly, high-dollar shots and a no-strings night out aren't enough anymore. But Lake isn't looking for long-term. His future is set, and in four months, he intends to graduate and leave Georgia—and everything in it—behind. Luckily, short-term fun is Roxy’s specialty, and Lake can’t resist what he promises will be a fleeting taste.

Will Roxy and Lake really walk away when their time is up? They only have one shot to find out.

ABOUT
Writing duo Maddie Paige bonded over books, shirtless boys and Step Up movies. One lives for her coffee while the other prefers hot chocolate. Both lovers of romance, they tag teamed a manuscript over late nights at Steak 'n Shake. They live in Atlanta, GA and A Shot of Reckless is their debut.

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A Shot of Reckless by Maddie Paige releases October 14, 2015 and is available for pre-order now at Barnes & Noble exclusively for Nook, Amazon exclusively for Kindle, and Kobo.

For more information, visit Maddie Paige on Facebook, Twitter, or sign up for the newsletter.

DVD Review - Supernatural: The Complete Tenth Season

2015-09-22T23:43:00.002-04:00

Release Date: September 8, 2015
Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 967 minutes

After Dean Winchester lost his battle with power-mad angel scribe Metatron last season, he was resurrected by the power of the First Blade and transformed into a demon, cursed with the Mark of Cain. The road to recovering wayward Dean takes brother Sam down sinister paths himself, with consequences that will shake the boys to their core. The Winchesters’ angelic comrade-in-arms Castiel must pick up the pieces in the aftermath of Metatron’s campaign to overtake Heaven. With his divine “grace” failing and rogue angels still loose, Cass faces the ticking clock of his own mortality while all-new and ages-old threats again push our heroes to their human and otherworldly limits. At the same time, the King of Hell, Crowley, must deal with dissension within his own twisted family. Supernatural: The Complete Tenth Season will unleash your inner demon and hold you spellbound.

This season of Supernatural was great! The big tenth season did not disappoint! It’s hard to believe that even in its tenth season, the show is just as strong as ever but it is. This season, we got what we’ve been coming for all series long, the brothers fighting for each other and facing the worst so the rest of the world doesn’t have to. So many sacrifices. The endless fight of good vs. evil, good vs. good, evil vs. evil.

And then we get more. Dean is a demon. He's evil. But he's still Dean. Seeing that tug of war, that inner turmoil all season long has been such a thrill. I loved it. It was only a matter of time anyway. Ten seasons, of course this would be explored. I also love how fearless the writers have always been with building their own stories out of biblical stories. This season is no different with Cain as we see how The Mark of Cain affects Dean. Hence the demon story line. We see Dean in a much darker place, perhaps his darkest, thanks to The Mark. And the show is already dark as it is. We see Dean leaning on different people when Sam is out fighting for Dean in his own way. We see more of Crowley and Dean and we see plenty of Crowley and Rowena as Crowley goes on his own journey of self exploration.

We also get the classic Supernatural humor we can never get enough of. One of my favorite episodes this season was “About A Boy” in which we see Sam transformed into a teenager. Oh, man! Season ten and this show still has so much depth, brings so many laughs, and is so incredibly terrifying. If you consider yourself a Supernatural fan, you already know you need season ten for your collection. And if you're a casual viewer because the show gives you too many nightmares (been there), buy the DVD so you're ready for all of the bonus content after you finally catch up!

Bonus Features:
Supernatural Theatre: Staging the 200th Episode (Approx. 25 minutes) - This feature gives quite an amazing behind the scenes look at the creation of the big musical episode, starting with the birth of the concept of the story and covering writing the script, rehearsing, casting, recording in the studio, and shooting the episode. Basically everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the behind the scenes of this episode, you get in this feature. It’s pretty fantastic. This is the standard for awesome behind the scenes features.

Appearing in this Feature:
Director, Phil Sgriccia
Writers, Robbie Thompson
Composers, Chris Lennertz, Jay Gruska
Costume Designer, Kerry Weinrauch
Production Designer, Jerry Wanek
Cast Members, Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles, Vivien Elizabeth Armour, Kelli Ogmundson, Katie Sarife, Natalie Sharp, Joy Regullano, Alyssa Lynch

Supernatural FANS (Approx. 55 minutes) - A special feature dedicated to the fandom? Yes, please! In this feature, the writers, cast, and the FANS talk about fandom and what it means to be a part of this one and what it’s done for them. I admit, I got teary eyed. Anyone who’s been greatly impacted by TV will have such an immense love for this feature, I can’t even begin to tell you. I love this feature SO much. So much. Thank you, Supernatural for this feature. It means the world.

Appearing in this Feature:
Note: I may have missed a name or two here...
Show Creator, Eric Kripke
Executive Producers, Jeremy Carver, Robert Singer, Adam Glass
Co-Executive Producer, Andrew Dabb, Jim Michaels
Production Designer, Jerry Wanek
Cast Members, Mark Sheppard, Jared Padalecki, Misha Collins, Jensen Ackles
Fans, Rick Blevins, Kim Blevins, Hope Blevins, Jack Blevins, Sandra Echeverri, Keeleigh West, Mike West, Mckenzie Taylor, Stefany Torres, Justin Holman, Rick Blevins, Jack Blevins Sr, Jeff Budnick

The Winchester Mythology: Battling the Mark and the Blade (Approx. 20 minutes) - This is a great feature that’s basically a general recap of what’s explored for Sam and Dean, mostly Dean, this season with Cain and The Mark There’s not much new information here but it is a great (spoilery) resource for anyone who wants an overall view of the season.

Appearing in this Feature:
Executive Producers, Adam Glass, Jeremy Carver, Robert Singer
Co-Executive Producer, Robbie Thompson, Andrew Dabb
Cast Members, Jensen Ackles, Misha Collins, Mark Sheppard, Ruth Connell, Jared Padalecki

A Very Special Supernatural Special (Approx. 30 minutes) - The retrospective episode of the first nine seasons which aired before the season ten premiere is on the DVD for us to watch over and over again as we reminisce and remember some of our favorite moments along with taking a look at just how much this show, these stories, these characters have grown and evolved over the years. I was most surprised with show creator, Eric Kripke’s candor when it came to his least favorite episode. The bee scene was particularly memorable. Using real bees? Yikes! The perfect balance of the horror and comedy balanced on the show is discussed as is much more, so if you’re ever looking to take a walk down memory lane, here’s the feature to watch!

Appearing in this Feature:
Show Creator, Eric Kripke
Executive Producers, Robert Singer, Jeremy Carver
Cast Members, Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles, Misha Collins, Mark Sheppard

Supernatural at 2014 Comic-Con (28:54 minutes) - For anyone who was unable to attend the Supernatural panel at San Diego Comic Con or an attendee who simply wants to relive the panel, it's here, edited for your viewing pleasure! It's always interesting watching these panels after the season they're talking about has aired in full, when at the time of the panel, the season had yet to premiere. Ah. Perspective. Also, unlike most other shows that include SDCC panels, this panel doesn't completely cut out the fans actually asking the questions. It's easy for fan Q&As to get out of hand but this was fun, including one very, very entertaining fan. Ten million points for you, whoever put together this panel! As a fan, it's awfully nice to see yourself in this manner. That one fan has quite a lot to brag about now.

Appearing in this Feature:
Moderator, Brian Truitt of USA Today
Executive Producer, Jeremy Carver
Cast Members, Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles, Misha Collins, Mark Sheppard

Gag Reel (6:56 minutes) - This is hands down the best gag reel on any DVD from this past TV season. It's full of gags and fun behind the scenes photos and pure awesomeness.

Unaired Scenes (Approx. 18 minutes) - There's one unaired scene for the following episodes: "Fan Fiction," "Ask Jeeves," "Girls, Girls, Girls," "The Hunter Games," and "Book of the Damned." My favorite unaired scene of these solo ones came from "Fan Fiction" as this was the most emotionally gripping and the only one I could see actually in its episode. Although the only reason I can think of "Girls, Girls, Girls" being cut is the bad sound quality because that was a solid scene otherwise.

"There's No Place Like Home" "The Executioner's Song" and "Brother's Keeper" have multiple unaired scenes. Of these, I really enjoyed the two scenes from "There's No Place Like Home" the most as the first scene was both emotionally captivating and quite entertaining and with Felicia Day in the scene and the second scene was just plain hilarious with Jensen. "Brother's Keeper" had the most unaired scenes, all of which I really enjoyed seeing as who wouldn't want to see as much of the finale as they could? All strong scenes probably cut because of lack of time.

Commentary (minutes) - There are three commentaries on the DVD. The commentary for "The Hunter Games" is conducted by Curtis Armstrong, Director John Badham, and writers Eugenie Ross-Leming and Brad Buckner. The commentary for "There's No Place Like Home" is conducted by Felicia Day, director Phil Sgriccia, and writer Robbie Thompson. The commentary for "The Executioner's Song" is conducted by Timothy Omundson, director Phil Sgriccia, and writer Robert Berens. All of the commentaries are must watches for anyone who considers themselves a fan. That said, the first commentary is a bit dry compared to the others and the last one is really high energy while the commentary with Felicia Day is just right when it comes to the Goldilocks and the Three Bears comparison here. All definitely worth watching.

Own Supernatural: The Complete Tenth Season on Blu-ray, DVD, & Digital HD today.

Watch the season eleven premiere of Supernatural on Wednesday, October 7, 2015 only on The CW.

Advanced TV Review: Rosewood Series Premiere "Pilot"

2015-09-22T00:00:00.000-04:00

If you're thinking about checking out Rosewood and you like fun and exciting medical dramas, this is the show for you!

Photo Credit: Justin Stephens/FOX

SYNOPSIS
Set against the vibrant backdrop of one of the world’s hottest cities – Miami – new medical procedural from executive producer Todd Harthan (“Psych,” “Dominion”), ROSEWOOD is the story of DR. BEAUMONT ROSEWOOD, JR. (Morris Chestnut, “Nurse Jackie,” “The Best Man” franchise), the city’s top private pathologist. Brilliant, cool with tons of charisma, Rosewood teams up with the tough-as-nails DETECTIVE ANNALISE VILLA (Jaina Lee Ortiz, “The After”), to uncover clues no one else sees and help the Miami PD solve the city’s most challenging cases. While she’s impressed by Rosewood’s incredible abilities, his constant optimism is more annoying than it is infectious. But somehow, week-to-week, this unlikely tag team will solve many crimes together.

Joining Rosewood in his practice are his sister and “toxicology queen,” PIPPY (Gabrielle Dennis, “The Game”); and DNA specialist TARA MILLY IZIKOFF aka TMI (Anna Konkle, “Man Seeking Woman,” “Betas”), who is Pippy’s fiancée. Rosewood’s mom, DONNA (Lorraine Toussaint, “Orange is the New Black”), is on the cusp of some major life changes that will affect her children profoundly. A matriarch with a lot of strong opinions, Shirley holds family gatherings sacred and makes Rosewood’s love life a regular topic of conversation. Rounding out the cast is Miami PD’s CAPTAIN IRA HORNSTOCK (Domenick Lombardozzi, “The Wire”) who is a great team leader but is terrible at managing his own life. Hornstock and Rosewood have a complicated relationship: while he can’t stand Rosewood’s big personality and sunny disposition, he acknowledges Rosewood’s stellar contributions to the department.

Plagued with his own set of medical ailments, Rosewood believes that every moment of life, no matter how small, should be embraced and lived to the fullest. This heightened awareness allows him to see details on bodies that others cannot. But what drives him most are the victims who are stripped of life’s moments.

Photo Credit: Rod Millington/FOX

Visually, Rosewood reminds me of CSI:Miami and even a bit of Dexter, both of which were also set in the sunny Florida state. It's very pink and bright and fun. I love it. Then there are the characters. Rosewood is great! He's so well developed and very entertaining as are all of the characters, major and minor. The chemistry between Morris Chestnut and Jaina Lee Ortiz is strong which is great to see right off the bat. That's not easy to find. It's magic is what it is. It was also a treat to see Lorraine Toussaint (Orange is the New Black) in a motherly role that doesn't make me hate her. And and and I really appreciate that the show is a realistic representation of the people in the world both when it comes to race and sexual orientation. Rosewood's sister is in a romantic relationship with her female co-worker, prepping to get married. I wonder if we'll get to see the wedding this season? Regardless, yay for accurate portrayals of everyday people. Inclusion for the win!

I love the tone of the show. It's as light hearted as a medical/crime drama can be. It's very relaxed and more often than not, humorous which is refreshing. Morris Chestnut will bring a smile to your face all throughout the Pilot and I'm sure all throughout the season. Story wise, the conflicts are solid whodunits but the plot here wasn't exactly mind blowing. In the Pilot, a 23 year old blond who is connected to Rosewood's mother, is murdered but it's not immediately pegged as a murder which is why she goes to Rosewood, a private pathologist to crack the case. Then we meet Jaina Lee Ortiz's character, a new detective that Rosewood hopes to work with...and then the episode really takes off as he pushes and she pulls. Predictable in this regard but still executed very well.

Still, there's nothing particularly wrong with Rosewood, it's just that I'm not moved to watch this show religiously, week to week. I may catch up on the show on the DVR or On Demand every few weeks but the conflicts here aren't pressing enough for me to need to carve out time each week to watch it when it originally airs. The show is good. It's solid. Captivating. But in an over saturated genre, it's simply not captivating enough.

So if you like medical dramas and are looking for a lighter drama for your watch list, this is it. Otherwise, put this one on the DVR.

Watch the series premiere of Rosewood Wednesday, September 23, 2015 8/7c on Fox.

Advance TV Review: Blindspot Series Premiere "Pilot"

2015-09-21T20:05:00.003-04:00

The highly anticipated new drama series from NBC, Blindspot premieres TONIGHT and I'd say it's worth the watch!

Photo Credit: Virginia Sherwood/NBC

SYNOPSIS
A beautiful woman, with no memories of her past, is found naked in Times Square with her body fully covered in intricate tattoos. Her discovery sets off a vast and complex mystery that immediately ignites the attention of the FBI, who begin to follow the road map on her body to reveal a larger conspiracy of crime while bringing her closer to discovering the truth about her identity.

The cast includes Jaimie Alexander (“Thor: The Dark World,” “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”), Sullivan Stapleton (“300: Rise of an Empire,” “Strike Back”), Marianne Jean-Baptiste (“Broadchurch,” “Without a Trace”), Rob Brown (“Treme”), Audrey Esparza (“Black Box”), Ukweli Roach (“The Royals”) and Ashley Johnson (“Much Ado About Nothing”).

Writer Martin Gero (“Bored to Death,” “L.A. Complex”) serves as executive producer along with Greg Berlanti (“Arrow,” “The Mysteries of Laura,” “The Flash”), Sarah Schechter (“The Mysteries of Laura,” “The Flash”), Mark Pellington (“Cold Case”) and Marcos Siega (“The Following”). Pellington directed the pilot episode.

Photo Credit: Virginia Sherwood/NBC

First and foremost, can we take a moment to congratulate Jaimie Alexander for all that she's accomplished since her Kyle XY days? She's become quite a force in the Marvel universe and now she's leading her own show. So proud!

So, the show. It's great! The Pilot was a tease, setting up so much intrigue and mystery that I can't wait to see unravel as more truth comes to light. The stakes are raised even more as a result, bringing more danger for Jane Doe, those around her, and the innocents of the city. The show has a mission and I'm very much looking forward to seeing it come to fruition.

I also love the tone of the show. It's so NBC. It's dark but not too dark. It's so blue. The pacing is right where it should be at this point. I'm loving what we've discovered about Jane Doe's past so far (which is not much) and am itching to find out more to see how it all connects to the big picture.

It's so fascinating to know that her tattoos, her body is a map for something greater and she is a vessel for something great that she can't even comprehend herself. She's lost, she may not be innocent... there's so much to discover! Watching her go along for the right, the action packed ride has been exciting so far. I can only hope it that excitement continues to rise in each episode because right now, it's a solid start but there's so much more to show and I would hate for the show to hold back too much. The score is also amazing, whoever composed this is brilliant and can take my money now.

All in all, great series premiere. I did expect more, I wanted it to be just as epic of a premiere as say, Heroes. It's good but it's not that good. Though while the show hasn't knocked the ball out of the park just yet, something tells me it will in time and I'm definitely willing to wait for that moment because this concept is the kind of concept I dream of following and its execution is very strong at the point that it's at. And with Jaimie Alexander in the lead, I'm definitely not going anywhere anytime soon.

Will you be watching the premiere tonight?

Watch the series premiere of Blindspot TONIGHT at 10/9c on NBC.

Advanced TV Review: Scream Queens Two Hour Series Premiere "Pilot/Hell Week"

2015-09-20T21:29:00.000-04:00

Scream Queens is coming for you this week!

If you love Ryan Murphy's work, you are in for quite a treat with Scream Queens. It's the perfect blend of classic Ryan Murphy humor/creepiness and murder mystery. Plainly put, Scream Queens is the middle child of Glee and American Horror Story.

Let's call it American Horror Story: Sorority.

Photo Credit: Steve Dietl/FOX

SYNOPSIS
The girls of Kappa House are dying for new pledges. SCREAM QUEENS is a new killer comedy-horror series from award-winning executive producers Ryan Murphy (“Glee,” “American Horror Story”), Brad Falchuk (“Glee,” “American Horror Story”) and Ian Brennan (“Glee”).

Kappa House, the most sought-after sorority for pledges, is ruled with an iron fist (in a pink glove) by CHANEL OBERLIN (Emma Roberts, “American Horror Story: Freak Show,” “Scream 4”). But when anti-Kappa DEAN CATHY MUNSCH (Jamie Lee Curtis, “Halloween,” “A Fish Called Wanda,” “True Lies”) decrees that sorority pledging must be open to all students, and not just the school’s silver-spooned elite, all hell is about to break loose, as a devil-clad killer begins wreaking havoc across the campus.

An over-the-top, biting satire, SCREAM QUEENS is part black comedy, part slasher flick and a modern take on the classic whodunit, in which every character has a motive for murder…or could easily be the next victim.

SCREAM QUEENS has an all-star cast, including Emma Roberts, Jamie Lee Curtis, Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award nominee Lea Michele (“Glee”), Academy Award nominee Abigail Breslin (“Little Miss Sunshine,” “Zombieland,” “August: Osage County”), Nasim Pedrad (“Mulaney,” “Saturday Night Live”), Oliver Hudson (“Nashville,” “Rules of Engagement”), Skyler Samuels (“American Horror Story: Coven”), Keke Palmer (“Akeela and the Bee,” “Masters of Sex”), newcomer Billie Lourd, Diego Boneta (“Rock of Ages”), Glen Powell (“The Expendables 3”), Lucien Laviscount (“Episodes”), Niecy Nash (“Getting On,” “The Soul Man”), pop superstar and actor Nick Jonas (“Kingdom”) and Grammy Award nominee and actress Ariana Grande.

Photo Credit: Steve Dietl/FOX

PILOT SUMMARY
The girls of Kappa House are dying for new pledges. Kappa House, the most sought-after sorority for pledges, is ruled with an iron fist (in a pink glove) by Chanel Oberlin (Emma Roberts, “American Horror Story: Freak Show,” “Scream 4”). But when anti-Kappa DEAN CATHY MUNSCH (Jamie Lee Curtis, “Halloween,” “A Fish Called Wanda,” “True Lies”) decrees that sorority pledging must be open to all students, and not just the school’s silver-spooned elite, all hell is about to break loose, as a devil-clad killer begins wreaking havoc across the campus.

Photo Credit: Sam Lothridge/FOX

The Pilot begins in 1995 with TLC's "Waterfalls" before jumping to present day as we follow Grace (Skyler Samuels) who is moving into college with plans of joining the sorority her late mother was once in. Can we take a moment to acknowledge Skyler Samuels who I loved on The Gates and really enjoyed in The Nine Lives of Chloe King...her accomplishments continuously rise and it's so great to see such an incredible talent continue to get amazing, versatile work. She is truly the heart of this show and it's so wonderful to see.

"I'm sorry, did I ask you to pull down my panties and blow a compliment up my butt?" - Chanel

Then there's her roommate, played by Keke Palmer. And...let's just say, Ryan Murphy is never one to shy away from personality and stereotypes and the way he handles shaping these characters with that in mind is so delicate and so honest and either so real and entertaining or so absurd and entertaining, no matter what it usually works. And it works here.

As for the head of the sorority...Emma Roberts kicks butt as mean girl, Chanel. She's as mean and shallow and selfish and ridiculous as you expect. It pains me not see Roberts in the canceled Delirium series but seeing her in this role is captivating as well. She's funny and while she's not the best actress out there, she is doing all she can to own this role and that I can respect. Then there's Lea Michele's character which I don't love but what can you do? What an all star cast the show has got here! Thinking long term, I can't wait to see who else joins the cast and who else makes cameos! Hopefully classic horror actors will drop by this show like everyone in the music industry dropped by Taylor Swift's tour this past summer. Only time will tell.

"You're so confident without being mean. What anti-depressants are you on?" - Chanel

I was however very entertained by a number of other things. Nick Jonas is fantastic. Jamie Lee Curtis gives this show its sanity. I didn't laugh aloud in the series premiere until Niecy Nash made her grand entrance. She stole every scene she was in. Nasim Pedrad (Saturday Night Live) wasn't far behind her in the funny department. Now these are comedic actors. This right here is comedy gold. I was also surprised and thrilled to see familiar face, McKaley Miller who I loved on Hart of Dixie.

Story wise, we begin with a tragedy in 1995 that sets the tone for the sorority all of these years later. There are so many secrets within a sorority already, add tragedy and more trickery and murder and who knows what else and you've got quite a lot of secrets to uncover! Needless to say, there's so much here to explore and it never seems overwhelming because the pacing is perfect for what is sure to be a very thrilling first season.

"You guys, what do you think Taylor Swift is doing right now?" - Tiffany

I personally love the mystery element of the show the most as that's being executed perfectly. The comedy is there but it could be raised a few notches. And the horror element is just a tease at this point. Hopefully the stakes will raise even more here and there will be some truly frightening moments.

So is it worth a watch? I think so. I'm not super crazy about it but I appreciate what's being set up here and I see the potential it has to become even better. Screams Queen doesn't take itself seriously. After all, it is a satire. So there are messages to be told through satire but it's also really just a ball of bubble gum fun that got caught in a horror spiderweb.

Scream Queens is a campy horror thrill ride for people who appreciate fine things such as Joss Whedon's The Cabin in the Woods. So Scream Queens is sure to have a cult following and if you're on board for all of the above, you might very well be a part of this following. So tune in tomorrow night and decide if you'll take the pledge to watch this season. I take the pledge!

Watch the TWO HOUR series premiere of Scream Queens Tuesday, September 22, 2015 8/7c on Fox.

Advanced TV Review: Minority Report Series Premiere "Pilot"

2015-09-20T16:36:00.000-04:00

Minority Report is officially on the small screen!

Minority Report is one of my favorite movies as you may remember from My Movie History. So to say that I was highly anticipating this television continuation is an understatement. Going into this, I was equally excited and terrified. I really didn't want to be disappointed. And I am so, so very happy to say that I wasn't.

Photo Credit: Michael Becker/FOX

SYNOPSIS
Based on the international blockbuster film by executive producer Steven Spielberg and the first of his films to be adapted for television, MINORITY REPORT follows the unlikely partnership between a man haunted by the future and a cop haunted by her past, as they race to stop the worst crimes of the year 2065 before they happen.

Set in Washington, D.C., it is 10 years after the demise of Precrime, a law enforcement agency tasked with identifying and eliminating criminals…before their crimes were committed. To carry out this brand of justice, the agency used three precogs – “precognitives” Dash, Arthur and Agatha – who were able to see the future. Now, in 2065, crime-solving is different, and justice leans more on sophisticated and trusted technology than on the instincts of the precogs.

Precog DASH (Stark Sands, “Inside Llewyn Davis”) – driven by his terrifying, but fragmented visions – now has returned in secret to help a brash, but shrewd, police detective, LARA VEGA (Meagan Good, “Think Like A Man” franchise, “Californication”), attempt to stop the murders that he predicts.

As they navigate this future America, they will forge an uneasy alliance with Dash’s manipulative twin brother, ARTHUR (Nick Zano, “90210”), an empire-builder who uses his ability to advance his own self-interest, and elude others who will stop at nothing to exploit their precognitive abilities. Also complicating matters is Vega’s newly appointed boss WILL BLAKE (Wilmer Valderrama, “From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series”); and Dash and Arthur’s ingenious, but reclusive, foster sister, AGATHA (Laura Regan, “Mad Men,” “Unbreakable”), who only wants the best for her two brothers, but may be playing a longer game than anybody knows.

A drama of crime and conspiracy, this is a timeless story of connection: two lost souls, Dash and Vega, who find friendship, purpose and redemption in each other.

Photo Credit: Bruce MacCauley/FOX

Fox was up for quite a challenge bringing Minority Report to the small screen. The movie was so grand. So futuristic and mesmerizing. Fox meets those standards with flying colors here. The show is visually stunning in each and every shot. From new ways to take selfies, to improved ways to skype loved ones, this future is a future worth heading towards. I love all of the visual and special effects...except when it involves Meagan Good which isn't so great because she's the lead. It seems too much like a choreographed dance when it involves her. Hopefully this will seem more authentic as time goes on. Since it's the Pilot, I can let it slide. Everyone is trying to mold themselves into their new characters and world and this isn't easy to do.

All of this said, bravo to Meagan Good being back on TV! I loved her on her last TV series, Deception and I love her overall delicate and sweet balance of comedy and drama and am so glad that Fox saw what everyone else sees when they look at Good's work because she's so great! I'm very excited to see her reign as a leading TV lady once again! This time, hopefully for more than one season because that kind of success is long overdue for her!

So story wise, the Pilot set up this world, these characters, and their journeys very well. The show lacks a ton of heart right now but that can change over time which I hope it does because the potential for the story lines with all of the characters that we've been introduced to so far is great. Now if it's been awhile since you've seen the movie, the TV show picks up ten years after Precrime is shut down and the show does a fabulous job of explaining where the world is now and the not so pretty aftermath of Precrime being shut down. And while I like the pacing as it is, I can definitely see it picking up a beat or two and becoming even more thrilling than it already is which I can't wait to see after all of the introductory pieces are completely in place.

Keeping in mind that this is just the Pilot, I must say this was a very satisfying set up. Moving forward though, I have really high hopes for this show to pick up the thrill and keep my heart racing in each and every scene. I just hope Fox doesn't jump the gun like it did with Almost Human because it's worth holding onto. This show has an audience, has a fantastic story to tell, and from what I can tell even from the Pilot, has really dynamic and compelling characters with arcs I can't wait to see unfold. If you think you're ready to get on this ride, buckle up and hold tight because this is just the beginning and we haven't seen anything yet!

Watch the series premiere of Minority Report Monday, September 21, 2015 9/8c on Fox.