April, 2013
April 6th, 2013, 12:49 p.m. - "You had me at lethal injection"
The Amazing Race - "Be Safe and Don't Hit a Cow": Aw, man! Guess I'm completely Team Hockey now. Rating: 3 fake animals
Modern Family - "The Future Dunphys": I loved the scenes in the restaurant. Those were scenes other shows could only dream of pulling off. Rating: 4 bowls of pho
Psych - "Cirque du Soul": Mostly just okay, and not that memorable. Except for the part where it made me remember I never saw all of Marlo's original episode. (My power went out 45 minutes in and I never caught up with the rest.) Rating: 3 chemicals that are really expensive, for some reason
The Big Bang Theory - "The Tenure Turbulence": Lots of giggling from me during this episode. I think Penny stole the show. Rating: 5 Roots DVDs
Grey's Anatomy - "She's Killing Me": Yiiiiiiikes. Poor Bailey. For her sake, let's hope there was some freak outbreak that wasn't her fault. Rating: 4 supplies stolen for the Syrian doctors
Degrassi - "Zombie, Part 2": Wait, that's it for the season? There were only eight episodes! And now all the cool people are leaving! And the only people who did anything this seasons were Maya, Zig, Clare, and Eli! What a rip-off. Rating: 3 cellos in the trash
5:12 p.m. - Never mind what I said before; I'm already Jen Lancaster
14. My Fair Lazy (Jen Lancaster)
Up next: Gulp (Mary Roach)
April 11th, 2013, 9:14 p.m. - "I'll be at Coachella, too! I'LL FIND YOU!"
Modern Family - "Flip Flop": Rob Riggle! Javier! Barkley! There was so much to love about this episode. But my favorite part was Haley, first as social-media genius and then as a blithering, lovestruck mess. One of the best episodes of the season. Rating: 5 "emeralds"
Psych - "Deez Nups": This was also one of the best episodes of the season. 57 minutes of hilarity, then three minutes of "holy cow, are they going there? They are." That was the best acting I've seen Maggie Lawson do. And I love that after six seasons, Vick finally got to do something fun. Rating: 5 shots
April 14th, 2013, 4:18 p.m. - Alimentary, my dear Watson
15. Gulp (Mary Roach)
Up next: Six Years (Harlan Coben)
April 20th, 2013, 12:13 p.m. - Back on the Coben train
16. Six Years (Harlan Coben)
Up next: Broken Harbor (Tana French)
April 21st, 2013, 1:16 p.m. - "Can you and your stupid hair let us in?"
The Amazing Race - "My Cheese Is Out of Control": Good, the Bickersons are gone. Let's get rid of Max and Katie next. And Joey. Meghan can stay, though. Rating: 3 cheese sleds
How I Met Your Mother - "Romeward Bound": I think they're going to be a flash-forward next season. That's the most reasonable way to send Lily and Marshall to Rome without writing them out or cutting them off from the other characters. Then when they come back and talk about their experiences, Ted won't be the only storyteller! Rating: 3 thrown reams of paper
Psych - "Right Turn or Left for Dead": A very interesting episode. I was actually disappointed when it looked like Juliet had forgiven Shawn so easily. Not that I don't like them together – I just didn't think it made sense. It's much more realistic for her to kick him out while she sorts through her feelings. By the way, Gus' trouble sorting through all the Swedish names was like me trying to read the third Stieg Larsson book. Rating: 4 pairs of Swedish shoes
April 27th, 2013, 12:26 p.m. - "Best possible outcome"
The Amazing Race - "The Ultimate Fun House": Are that many of the racers really that dumb? I'm embarrassed on behalf of my generation. This was the first week I actually felt any kind of camaraderie with Katie, because that labyrinth Roadblock would have left my hyperventilating in a corner. And I'm not even afraid of the dark or tight spaces! Rating: 4 flashing letters
Psych - "Juliet Wears the Pantsuit": The twists in this episode were clever – first, that Laura wasn't the killer (though that was pretty obvious, since it's never the most likely suspect), then that she was on the run, then that the real killer was a guy who'd had one (hilarious) scene earlier in the episode. Nice writing. Rating: 4 lockets
The Big Bang Theory - "The Closure Alternative": Amy is still one of the best characters on TV. Also, Leonard's mistake was starting Penny on season 1 of Buffy. He should have started with season 2. Rating: 4 still-lit candles
Grey's Anatomy - "Sleeping Monster": Dear Emmy voters, make sure you spell Chandra Wilson's name correctly when it's time to cast your ballots for outstanding supporting actress in a drama. Rating: 4 crappy gloves
April 28th, 2013, 1:32 p.m. - We all go a little mad sometimes
17. Broken Harbor (Tana French)
Up next: Such a Pretty Fat (Jen Lancaster)
If I didn't have a stack of other books I've been waiting to read, I'd be mainlining the rest of Jen Lancaster's right now.
I feel smart. That will go away in about two days.
It's been a while since I read one of Harlan Coben's thrillers; the last couple of them just didn't appeal to me. This one sounded good, though, so I got it as soon as it came out. Coben isn't always polished, but he tells a great story, and his pacing is always excellent. I may have to give the ones I've skipped a shot.
I was hesitant to read Broken Harbor after all the Irish slang in Faithful Place made my head spin. But it's toned down in Broken Harbor, as is the pace of the plot. That slower pace works, though; French gives a detailed overview of police procedure so the reader knows exactly how the investigation goes. That might seem boring to some people, but I found it fascinating.