January, 2012
January 7th, 2012, 2:17 p.m. - "See you in Hell, Klaus!"
How I Met Your Mother - "Tailgate": Does anyone else find it funny that Alyson Hannigan plays a character who doesn't believe in werewolves when ten years ago she played a character who dated one? Rating: 4 gigantic teddy bears
Modern Family - "Lifetime Supply": More Javier! I love Benjamin Bratt. I also love when all or almost all of the characters get together for a wacky scene. They play off of each other so well. Rating: 4 trophies
Top Chef - "BBQ Pit Wars": Huh. Ed's kind of a jerk, isn't he? Rating: 3 beer can chickens
Grey's Anatomy - "Suddenly": The last scene of this episode was easily the most awesome thing on TV this week. (Second most awesome: Cam checking out Javier on Modern Family.) And that was on top of an already-amazing episode. I'm so glad the show has turned itself around from previous dull and/or stupid stories (cough**ghost sex**cough). Rating: 5 pizzas that turned out to be adorable babies
January 12th, 2012, 8:56 p.m. - It's like Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, except with video games instead of chocolate
1. Ready Player One (Ernest Cline)
Up next: The Virgin of Small Plains (Nancy Pickard)
January 14th, 2012, 3:43 p.m. - "I'm a princess and this is my tiara!"
Modern Family - "Egg Drop": Do schools really do that egg-drop thing in real life? I've only seen it on TV and read about it in books. Next are they going to have Haley carry around an egg and make her pretend it's a baby? Actually, that would be pretty funny. Rating: 4 eggs
Top Chef - "Restaurant Wars": Ha, in your face, people who think Beverly's a loser! She won what's generally the toughest challenge on the show! By the way, until this week, I didn't really like Grayson, for some reason I'm not really sure of, but after this episode, I kind of love her. Rating: 3 homemade Crackerjacks
The Big Bang Theory - "The Shiny Trinket Maneuver": All I remember of this episode is Amy's line from above and Bernadette making the "I'm watching you" gesture at a kid. That's all I need to remember, really. Rating: 4 fake pitchers that weren't really fake
The Office - "Trivia": Predictable, yes, but still funny. Sorry, Oscar. Rating: 4 medals
Grey's Anatomy - "This Magic Moment": Thank you, April. You're a saint. Now can you make Alex stop being grumpy all the time? Rating: 4 toothbrushes Bailey's going to keep at Ben's house
January 16th, 2012, 6:02 p.m. - Like a...well, you know
2. The Virgin of Small Plains (Nancy Pickard)
Up next: A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty (Joshilyn Jackson)
January 18th, 2012, 10:57 p.m. - It's too late for me, but run! Save yourself!
"Midnight in the Garden of Good and Idol"
January 20th, 2012, 8:51 p.m. - Ironically, the title was trending on Twitter just after the episode aired
January 22nd, 2012, 4:53 p.m. - "She looks like a Lite-Brite"
How I Met Your Mother - "46 Minutes": The Marshall/Lily/Mickey stuff was kind of lame, but I enjoyed the Robin/Ted/Barney/Kevin plot. That, and seeing Stripper Lily again. Rating: 4 fake credits sequences
Glee - "Yes/No": I was skeptical at the beginning, when I realized they were going to do "Summer Lovin'," but the episode won me over in about five different ways. Yes, I teared up a little at the proposal. I'm a romantic – what can I say? Now can someone PLEASE give Romy Rosemont an Emmy? Rating: 4 letterman's jackets
American Idol - Savannah and Pittsburgh auditions: Well...it could have been worse. Rating: 4 horrible Seacrest impressions
Modern Family - "Little Bo Bleep": Those who boycotted this episode because of the stupid controversy missed what was probably the best episode of the season. I laughed through the whole practice debate, and I'll never get the vision of Lily in that light-up dress out of my head. Rating: 5 doggie lifejackets
Top Chef - "Fit for an Evil Queen": My favorite episode of the season, by far. I was looking forward to it as soon as I saw the previews after the previous episode. I may have a little girl crush on Charlize Theron, by the way. I loved the stories the chefs used for their dishes, and I loved how creative some of them got. Paul's "bloody" handprint was awesome. Rating: 5 chicken feet
The Big Bang Theory - "The Recombination Hypothesis": I felt a little cheated to learn the whole episode was a daydream, but I'm willing to let it go because I like where things are going. And Leonard and Penny's second first date was really cute. Rating: 4 life-size stand-ups of Zachary Quinto
The Office - "Pool Party": Weird. That is all. Rating: 3 meatballs
Grey's Anatomy - "Hope for the Hopeless": And that's why you don't work for your spouse. (End J. Walter Weatherman voice.) Rating: 4 repurposed cakes
January 23rd, 8:46 a.m. - Recapped while my bed mocked me from ten feet away
January 26th, 2012, 6:41 p.m. - I was busy yesterday
January 27th, 2012, 8:47 a.m. - I can't believe they didn't play "I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing," since it was from a movie about space and all
January 28th, 2012, 1:58 p.m. - "Ich bin eine pretzel!"
American Idol - San Diego, Aspen, and Houston auditions: I can feel Idol fatigue setting in. Send help! Send Cat Deeley! Rating: 3...I don't know. Just 3
House - "Better Half": I was sure House was going to find out that the patient of the week didn't actually have Alzheimer's. That would have been an unexpected twist. Except that I expected it. Okay, whatever. Rating: 3 aspirins
Top Chef - "Block Party": Chris was definitely the hanger-on this season, the guy who probably should have been gone weeks ago. Similar to Beverly, I guess. Paul is definitely the one to beat here. If he doesn't make the finals, I'll be shocked. Rating: 4 turkey meatballs (mmm, turkey meatballs)
The Big Bang Theory - "The Beta Test Initiation": I liked all three plots! But I think Sheldon and Amy's was the best. I mean, Amy in a pretzel costume? Unforgettable. Rating: 5 flags
January 29th, 2012, 5:23 p.m. - I want a Big
3. A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty (Joshilyn Jackson)
Up next: Random Family (Adrian Nicole LeBlanc)
If you like video games, computer games, '80s music, '80s movies, contests, virtual reality, quatrains, and/or Matthew Broderick, you should read this book. Even if you don't like any of that stuff, you should give it a try. It's just a fun read.
Very well-paced, and the right mix of scenes from the past and present. The book is a good example of how horribly things can go when you don't have every piece of information.
Of Jackson's five books, I've enjoyed four. Should we pretend The Girl Who Stopped Swimming never happened, or should I try reading it again?