January, 2017
January 7th, 2017, 1:51 p.m. - "Dog fraud." "I sold a man a fake Pekinese. 'Twas a cat"
Brooklyn Nine-Nine – "The Fugitive, Parts 1 and 2": Love, love, loved this. They use Doug exactly as they should and in almost the right amount (I could handle him slightly more often). The Jake/Amy competition was also excellent. Rating: 5 texts from Charles
America's Next Top Model – "Major Key Alert": I can't believe they sent home Tash, who brings the drama, instead of Coryanne, who brings nothing. I also can't believe that we keep seeing people piling on Courtney without being told what else is going on, because there has to be something else there. Rating: 3 falls down the stairs
Teen Wolf – "Ghosted": This was the perfect amount of creepy. I still don't get what's going on, or why banshees get left behind, or whatever, but it seems like it's starting to come together, at least. Rating: 4 additions of honey
Speechless – "R-O-Road T-R-Trip": Excellent stuff here for Ray. Kenneth's plot was boring and unnecessary, but everything else in the episode was fun. Rating: 4 family items Jimmy shouldn't have sold
Modern Family – "Ringmaster Keifth": The underuse of Faith Prince was almost criminal. And I don't believe for a second that Cameron dated someone like Kelsey Grammer's character. Rating: 3 go bags
The Big Bang Theory – "The Holiday Summation": Boring. That was in no way Leonard and Penny's worst fight ever. Rating: 3 cribs Bernadette can fit into
The Good Place – "Chidi's Choice": There was a lot going on here, but I loved Eleanor and Tahani starting to bond, especially the way they acted at Jason and Janet's wedding. I'd love to see more of that Eleanor. Rating: 4 impromptu weddings
January 8th, 2017, 6:06 p.m. - I'm not completely sure what I just read
1. The Regional Office is Under Attack! (Manuel Gonzales)
Up next: But What If We're Wrong? (Chuck Klosterman)
January 14th, 2017, 2:22 p.m. - "If you can do it, I can do it." "Do what?" "...I'm not sure"
America's Next Top Model – "Avant Garde": Aww, Giah. I'll miss her. I don't know who to root for now. Maybe Paige or Tatiana, though they haven't gotten enough screen time for me to think either of them is going to win. I don't want to get my heart broken again! Rating: 3 dairy aisles
Teen Wolf – "Heartless": There was nothing particularly wrong with this episode, but most of it was kind of ho-hum. Exceptions: the Lydia/Sheriff Stilinski scenes and the scene where Melissa dropped Peter on the elevator. Next week looks a lot more interesting, with Mason leading a charge to rescue Corey. Rating: 3 lacrosse jerseys
Speechless – "H-E-R-Hero": I was already leaning toward giving this episode a 5, but Minnie Driver's "dressage" dance made the decision for me. Rating: 5 makeshift wheelchair ramps
Modern Family – "Sarge & Pea": I pretty much forgot about this episode 20 minutes after it aired, so...yeah. Rating: 3 fridges
The Good Place – "What's My Motivation": I can't believe this season is almost over and I have to wait months for more episodes. SO UNFAIR. Rating: 4 whip-its
January 20th, 2017, 9:50 p.m. - This book made me use too much of my brain
2. But What If We're Wrong? (Chuck Klosterman)
Up next: The Dinner (Herman Koch)
January 21st, 2017, 1:18 p.m. - "You crushed a baby day." "I don't believe you. I crushed a big-boy day"
Homeland – "Fair Game": Not very interesting, but I can acknowledge that this was mostly setting up the rest of the season, which I think could be really interesting. I like the plot with Sekou and think the timeliness is going to make it really good. And though I highly doubt that Quinn would have survived anything he went through last season, least of all be as functional as he is (even with his limitations), I'm really glad they didn't write him out. Rupert Friend adds so much to the show. Rating: 3 terrorism tour videos
America's Next Top Model – "Out for the Count": Poor Krislian. Yeah, she was never going to win, but she's at least better than Kyle (who also is never going to win). All the likable people keep getting eliminated. But at least we got more of Ashley this week, which was great. I like her more and more each week. Rating: 4 trampolines
Teen Wolf – "Blitzkrieg": I feel like they had plot for fewer episodes than they needed to fill, so they're dragging it out a little, but I like where it's going. And the stakes are different now that this is the last season. Everyone's expendable. (Dear show, please just don't kill Lydia.) Rating: 3 investigation boards
Speechless – "S-I-Sick D-A-Day": I like that we got to see a couple of combinations this week that we don't get to see much: Maya and Kenneth, and J.J. and Dylan. This show is just consistently strong, no matter who's in a scene, and almost always delivers. Rating: 4 germ curtains made of plastic wrap
The Good Place – "Mindy St. Claire"; "Michael's Gambit": I still don't know how I feel about the big twist. I think I'll have to see how things develop next season (and there BETTER BE A NEXT SEASON) before I decide. But I will definitely watch more. Rating: 4 VHS tapes
January 28th, 2017, 3:16 p.m. - A history of violence
3. The Dinner (Herman Koch)
Up next: California (Edan Lepucki)
January 29th, 2017, 12:24 p.m. - "You made a stupid deal, and I broke it. You're welcome"
Homeland – "The Man in the Basement": I don't know where this is going but it can't be good. Rating: 3 things thrown at Carrie's head
America's Next Top Model – "X Marks the Spot": I'm glad Kyle is finally gone, but I would have been okay with her staying one more week if it meant awful Marissa had gone instead. No one who disrespects Stacey McKenzie like that will ever succeed in this business, or win my support. Shut up a million times, Marissa. Rating: 4 horrible dance moves
Teen Wolf – "Memory Found": I like the way things are coming together. Maybe stop sending everyone to the rift, though? It's getting a little bare in Beacon Hills. Rating: 4 chambers for freezing yourself
Supernatural – "First Blood": YESSSSS, CASSSSS! Excellent ending. I'll miss Billie, though. Rating: 4 screws
Part of me thinks there should be a sequel, but part of me thinks that's just because there wasn't enough character development. Still, it was interesting, even though I never quite knew what was going on.
This was different than I expected, but very interesting, and gives me a lot to think about it. Maybe too much. I need a nap.
Everyone in this book was horrible, but somehow, the one who started out the most annoying ended up being the only one who wanted to do the right thing. Go figure.