September, 2014
September 6th, 2014, 3:14 p.m. - Hey, Ricky, you're so fine, etc.!
America's Next Top Model - "The Girl Who Is a Player": Too many people to keep track of. Bring on the makeovers and the eliminations! Rating: 4 cans of Silly String
So You Think You Can Dance - Finale: I can't believe my two favorites a) were paired together, b) both made it to the final four, and c) were the last two standing. I would have been happy with either Ricky or Valerie winning. Ricky totally earned it. He was a favorite from the beginning, and he spent the whole season showing why. Unfortunately, the finale itself was boring. Death to two-hour finales! Death! Rating: 3 new routines that still didn't make up for all the filler
September 13th, 2014, 12:17 p.m. - I was going to say A for effort, but...
29. Soldier Girls (Helen Thorpe)
Up next: The Secret Place (Tana French)
September 14th, 2014, 12:44 p.m. - Apparently Chantelle is already starring in a campaign, so I can't even get upset about her elimination
America's Next Top Model - "The Guy Who Gets a Beard Weave": How is it that the same show that gave Chantelle a genuinely fantastic weave – and I agree with whoever said it's the best in the show's history, not that that's a high bar – give Denzel a "beard weave" that was neither a beard nor a weave? Church Christmas pageants have better fake beards. Poor guy. Also, Kari's hair is horrible. It doesn't go with her coloring at all. Rating: 5 "optical illusions" that stretch the meaning of the phrase
September 20th, 2014, 2:02 p.m. - Please do let the door hit you on the way out, Romeo
America's Next Top Model - "The Guy Who Starts a Fight": Good for Adam for keeping his hands to himself. That's the most adult thing he's done all season. On another note, step it up, Lenox. You're in the big leagues. I wish they'd given her a different hairstyle, though. She'd look good with the Louise Brooks bob Brittany had a few seasons ago. Rating: 5 spiders
September 22nd, 2014, 10:39 p.m. - Not solvable. Next!
30. The Secret Place (Tana French)
Up next: The Bone Clocks (David Mitchell)
September 27th, 2014, 1:29 p.m. - "We just got free Cinemax!"
The Big Bang Theory - "The Locomotion Interruption/The Junior Professor Solution": Both episodes were fun, and right in the spirit of the series. I like that they're making some changes, especially in the areas of Sheldon and Penny's jobs, which shakes things up a little. I also enjoyed Amy feeling like she was reliving high school, but in a good way. Rating: 4 things Sheldon didn't know Howard knew
America's Next Top Model - "The Girl Who Got Five Frames": A 10 for Lenox? No. Just...no. Also no: Ben and Adam singing at panel. Is there a word for being embarrassed on someone else's behalf? There probably is in German. Rating: 3 notches Shei should rise in the ranks, because she's become really impressive
Survivor - "Suck It Up and Survive": This was a really solid opener. But I'm subtracting an entire point for all the sexism. Val is a cop, for the love of cheese – she doesn't need anyone taking care of her! Rating: 4 winces over Wes not being able to count
Modern Family - "The Long Honeymoon": I loved the energy in the scenes with all the Dunphys. Poor Alex, though. Rating: 5 fanny packs
Scandal - "Randy, Red, Superfreak and Julia": Good, but nothing happened. What's the ongoing mystery this season? Why Cyrus' hair looks like that? Rating: 4 boxes of cereal
How to Get Away With Murder - "Pilot": Possibly the best pilot I've ever seen. Great casting, great acting, great pacing, and intriguing mysteries that will definitely have me staying tuned. Also, I can never be upset about Liza Weil being on my TV. Rating: 5 statues used as murder weapons
The Amazing Race - "Go Big or Go Home": Another solid opener. No disappointment here about the personality-lacking pretty women going home first. Rating: 4 compasses no one was using correctly
I've never been so frustrated with a book I was enjoying. The lives of the women Thorpe writes about are fascinating, both inside and outside the combat zone, but Thorpe's writing and the editing of the book were maddening. These women and the topic deserved much better.
Definitely French's weakest outing. It was impossible to figure out who the murderer was, and the detectives' policing skills were less than impressive. All-around forgettable.