Elementary - CBS

The Gist

Elementary
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Sherlock Holmes is a recovering drug addict living in New York City. He's also a consulting detective from Scotland Yard in London who's working with the NYPD while he finishes his rehab. Assigned to him by his father is a sober companion named Joan Watson, who got more than she bargained for with an overly logical, unemotional, and closed off patient who drags her to bloody crime scenes and forces her to think in new ways to help the police solve the toughest crimes.

What We Think
Reviewed by Living Destiny
Number of Seasons: 1
This show at first glance appears to be an attempt at beating out the BBC version of Sherlock Holmes, titled Sherlock. I haven't actually seen Sherlock, so I can't compare them, but as soon as I watched Elementary I was pretty sure it would be able to stand alone. First of all, Watson is a girl. And when I first saw the ads, I hated that fact. I mean, I love Lucy Liu, but John Watson was written as a man, and the character is a man, so why change that? Also, people already think Sherlock and Watson should end up together in Sherlock, where both characters are men. Turning Watson into a woman would just add fuel to those thoughts, and I don't think Sherlock and Watson should be a couple. Upon watching the show, I realized that it works. The character Joan Watson, not John Watson, needs to be a girl. It's hard to picture a sympathetic but stern sober companion as a man. She has to be a woman to balance out this version of Sherlock. And as I said, I love Lucy Liu, and she does a great job. The star of the show, however, is Jonny Lee Miller. He plays Sherlock, and he's absolutely brilliant. He's aloof, obnoxiously intelligent and self assured, breaks all the rules, and is never wrong. It's perfect. Watching him play Sherlock is the highlight of the show. The plot almost doesn't matter, although the plot is also good. Miller and Liu have great onscreen chemistry, and they play off of each other incredibly well.
It's an interesting twist to an old story that Sherlock is a recovering drug addict. In Sir Conan Doyle's books, Sherlock occasionally did cocaine to stimulate his mind. It's hinted at in the modern movies with Robert Downey Jr. But it's never addressed as a serious issue. It's sort of acknowledged that he does drugs, but never fixed. In this version, it's a Sherlock without drugs, getting over his addictions and being a detective anyway. I like the healthy him, who doesn't need to do drugs. He has a brilliant mind, and though he doesn't seem to struggle with his rehab, the threat is there in some of the episodes, and he always contains himself well. Watson, who is usually a doctor, as a sober companion makes the character more necessary to the plot. The doctor Watson can come and go as he pleases, but the sober companion Watson has to stay with Sherlock at all times, not only to keep him out of trouble, but to keep him away from relapse. It's a good creative decision for the show to make Sherlock a recovering addict, because it changes the dynamic between the characters for the better.
The story lines themselves are pretty typical. It is a cop show, after all. There are only so many crimes that can be committed. Nothing extraordinary there. It's the dialogue and characters that make this show so stellar. Sometimes it gets a little predictable, but again, it is a cop show. But it's a higher end cop show. A classy cop show, shall we say. Jonny Lee Miller really steals the show, and it's a show that has me hooked.

Real Teen Rating ~ A: Definitely check it out!

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Partners - CBS

The Gist

Louis and Joe have been best friends since they were little kids. Now they own an architecture firm together, and they perfectly balance each other out. Their friendship is as close with each other as they are with their romantic partners, Ali (who is engaged to Joe), and Wyatt (who is dating Louis), which can occasionally cause problems. But nothing can come between a bromance like this, and it brings the four of them all together through all the ups and downs of life.

What We Think
Reviewed by Living Destiny
Number of Seasons: 1
First and foremost, I apologize for the gist. I've never been very good at them, and lets be honest, it's a sitcom. You try to summarize Friends as anything other than six friends who live in New York City, and you'll figure out how hard explaining a sitcom is. I'm a winner here.
Anyway. So the theme song is awesome. It's a little detail, but the theme song is "On Top of the World" by Imagine Dragons. The playful words and upbeat music fit the comedy of the sitcom, and I honestly just love the band, so anything that uses their music is already great. 
The characters are great too. Louis is my favorite. He's a loud, flamboyant gay man who has no boundaries, and thinks mostly of himself, but really cares about his friends and loved ones. It's almost how I picture myself if I were a gay man. Michael Urie (the actor playing Louis) is just adorable, and he has fantastic comedic timing. He's the funniest part of this show. He and David Krumholtz (who plays Joe) have great onscreen chemistry, and they just work well together. Joe is much more tight laced, but he's still funny in a sarcastic, almost dry sort of way. Because he and Louis are so opposite from each other, they make good foils for one another, and their scenes always had me laughing out loud, much to the chagrin of my sleepy parents. Ali and Wyatt aren't exactly smaller characters, but I thought of them that way, mostly because I liked them slightly less than Louis and Joe. Wyatt's character is funny because he's completely stoic. He hardly ever smiles, even when he thinks something is funny. If he purposely tells a joke, no one really knows until he says it's a joke. He's so deadpan all the time, it's fun to watch. He and Louis are a cute couple, and they obviously really care about each other. The same goes for Ali and Joe. The characters were written really well, so that a relationship between all of the four main characters is seen with the other three as a pair. If that makes sense. Ali was my least favorite relatively, but even she was good. She didn't make me laugh as much as the others, but it's not like she ever detracted from a scene. I think she was funny because she would question Joe's relationship with Louis, and it caused interesting conflict. 
That's it. Four main characters. There are a few bit players, sure, but there are just four main characters. I really love that. A show doesn't need lots of people or intense action to be entertaining. Look at Friends. Yes, I'm making another Friends reference, but it's been stuck in my head lately. There were six recurring characters in that show, and it was immensely popular. People still love it today, and it ended in 2004. What's necessary is lovable characters and interesting conflict, which I think Partners has. Some of the episodes have more serious issues, like financial problems, and some are completely fickle, like sleeping with a celebrity, but they're always amusing, and they always highlight the complexities of adult relationships. I can't say enough good things about this show. 
The plot lines were interesting. I know I just said that, but it's really true. They had creative ideas. The best part of the plot is definitely the conflicts caused between Joe and Louis, and their thoughts on how relationships work. Obviously, most of their differences of opinion come from the fact that they are very different people, but some of them stem from the simple fact that Louis is gay and Joe is straight. I appreciate that difference. It seems to me that there is a trend appearing in modern sitcoms where they have to add in a gay character. Whether that's for social diversity and acceptance, or because writers think gay characters can be funny in a more stereotypical-for-gays-but different-than-straight-guys way, I don't know, but I do know that it's usually done in a hit or miss way. Gay characters can work, but sometimes they're just too over the top to even be believable. And I've seen some over the top gay people, so that's legit. This show does gay well. Louis is loud and silly, but that's more of his personality, and less of his sexuality. Wyatt, however, seems much less like the basic idea of a gay man. He's quiet, reserved, doesn't flaunt his sexuality - although he is very proud of his boyfriend and loves him very much - he's even a Mennonite, which I just had to look up to get facts on, but is a religion that isn't very supportive of homosexuality. Passing him on the street you wouldn't expect him to be gay, you'd notice him because he's ripped and looks like Clark Kent. The comparison between Wyatt and Louis' relationship and Ali and Joe's relationship is a big part of the show, both in how different they are, and also how similar. Most of the contrasting elements come from the people in the relationships, not their sexualities. Some of it, as I've said, is the gay/straight difference, but it's really because they don't act the same. They're both loving, supportive, caring relationships. It's nice that the show can clearly contrast two dissimilar lifestyles, and show how similar they actually are. It seems to me to be a great way of promoting the idea of acceptance and equality by showing how totally equal Joe and Louis, and Wyatt and Ali, really are. 
There's really nothing wrong with this show. Some of the humor is brash, inappropriate, or just plain silly, but it's funny, and it has lots of affection as it demonstrates the real relationships that grow between two close friends and their romantic partners. And that is why I was so devastated and confused when it was canceled after only six episodes. I sincerely considered finding the president of CBS and shouting at him until he put the show back on the air. The ratings, apparently, just weren't up to the standards of the station, and so Partners was cut midway through the first season. It was a tragic loss to my night time television schedule, as it left me with only one show to watch, which ended its season about a month ago. I can't describe how angry I was. I became very attached to this show, and then it just disappeared. I read the story lines for the seven episodes of season one that didn't air, and I just became more upset, because they sounded hilarious. This review, it would appear, is too little, too late, but this show shouldn't have been canceled. It was one of the funniest shows I've watched in a long time. Television isn't very funny anymore, and this made me laugh out loud, which doesn't happen often. It's disappointing, and there isn't anything I can do but pout. It should still be on the air, because the characters and relationships are well developed, the conflicts are creative and interesting, and the dialogue is witty and well written. It's a loss to the entertainment world, and I wear black to mourn in its honor.

Real Teen Rating ~ A+: Most definitely should watch!!! You know...if it were still on...

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Wilfred - FX

The Gist

Wilfred
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After a failed suicide attempt, ex-lawyer Ryan Newman (Elijah Wood) feels like everything in his life is slipping through his fingers. Hours after the attempt, his cute neighbor, Jenna (Fiona Gubelmann), who's hardly given him the time of day before, asks if he could watch after her dog, Wilfred (Jason Gann), for a few hours. But Wilfred is no ordinary dog. Though he may appear a normal, average dog to everyone else, to Ryan Wilfred appears to be a full grown, Australian man in a scruffy dog suit. Freaked out at first, Ryan isn't sure what do to with this dog who can speak and act like a person. But after a bit of bonding, Ryan finds that he'd have a hard time finding a more loyal friend than Wilfred.

What We Think
Reviewed by Dream Catcher
Number of Seasons: 2
I've been meaning to watch this show forever, but have never known what channel it was on, or what time or what day or what ever. I finally got around to it this summer - like a lot of TV shows, actually. I had a feeling just from the premise and the few commercials I'd seen that this show would be quirky to say the least. And I was right. But it's the kind of indie quirkiness that makes you laugh and think and love. In short, I think this show is pretty great.
So I'll get this over with first. It's pretty inappropriate. Lots of swearing, sexual references, drug use, and whatnot. For a TV show, how scandalous! But honestly, if you've ever watched a PG-13 movie, you're all right. There's a lot of crude humor, and more pot-smoking than is really necessary, but you'll live. I don't really mind it, but I just thought I should warn you.
Characters, and I'll start out with the greatest; Wilfred. I may never look at a dog the same way again, but he's hilarious. He's the crudest of them all, but he's a dog. The humor of it is voicing the thoughts of dogs, but also adding some swearing and drug-addiction and stuff that absolutely makes no sense for a dog to be doing (ex: in one episode Wilfred is using a typewriter to write his will, in many episodes he smokes a cigarette - how could a dog do that?). The simple blunt-ness and ridiculousness of Wilfred as a character is what makes the whole show so funny. He's so well-written that even when he does something obviously wrong, or mean, or stupid you still be angry with him. And Jason Gann does such a ridiculously good job playing the part. Ryan, played by Elijah Wood, is very different from Wilfred. Having almost killed himself, he's pretty much hit rock bottom by the time he meets Wilfred. And if you think about what it would be like to be him for a moment and hallucinate a talking, cussing, smoking man in a dog suit in place of your neighbor's pet...that would be pretty freaky. Ryan is the constant voice of reason to Wilfred's constant voice of insanity. I think that Elijah Wood plays him well. As far as the first season goes (I haven't completed season 2 yet) there isn't really a point where I got annoyed with Ryan or even Wilfred, which is good considering they're the main characters. So many shows now write characters that annoy you so easily. They're too whiny, they're too harsh, they're too boring, blah blah blah. You know? But not here. Sure, the show has some annoying characters -  but only the ones that are so obviously meant to be annoying are actually annoying. I root for Ryan to get his life together, and for Wilfred to help him and be his friend. I want things to work out for the both of them. A refreshing change of pace since lately shows such as Glee have left me hanging on so many fronts (yes, I'm calling Glee out on it's increasingly awful character-problem). I believe that Wilfred has some well-thought-out, lovable characters that (to my delight) and actually well-written.
I'll just mention one more thing, and that's plot. I know this wasn't an original. This was adapted from an Australian show by the same name (which, trust me, I intend to watch right after season 2 is over), and it really is one of the stranger things I've watched in my life. But I think that's what makes me like it so much. I've read a few other reviews that have, disappointingly ended with vague well..it's strange verdicts, and I have to say that a lot of people would not like this show in the slightest. A lot would think it's not even funny. Some would say that the only reason it airs at all is because it's different, not good. I dunno. I guess I don't believe it. Yeah, it's strange. Yeah, it's unlike anything else on TV, and that doesn't necessarily make it award-winning and legendary, but it means something, right? If it's different enough...I dunno. I always think different is worth a shot. People thinking outside the box is rare enough these days. Let's not squander it.
I've gone on a tangent and I apologize. Plot...let's see. Like I've said, it's about a guy and his best friend...who's a dog. Different. I like it. There's a lot of comedy, a lot of heart (surprising, but there really is some feeling in there, too!), and even some wonder. What is Wilfred, exactly? Is Ryan just hallucinating? Or is there something a bit more mysterious to the whole thing? I honestly have no idea. They've lead me to believe both at one time or another. I enjoy not really knowing, having them trick me every few episodes, throw in a HUGE twist at the end of season 1. To the writers of Wilfred: You are Awesome.
That's all, folks. I guess this show isn't for the faint-of-heart or what-have-you. But I like it. I do. It's different, it's funny, it's indie, it's addictive.

Real Teen Rating ~ A : Definitely check it out!

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New Girl- FOX

The Gist

New Girl
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Jess is a fun and quirky girl (who sometimes likes to sing to herself) looking for a home after she finds her boyfriend cheating on her.  She see's an internet add for one opening in an apartment, thinking that she will be sharing her new home with 3 girls she arrives to find 3 guys (Nick, Schmidt and Winston) who based off the internet application seemed like women.  After much reluctance all 3 guys agree to let her move in.  Together the four of them form an...interesting relationship as they become more comfortable with one another living under one roof.  


What We Think
Reviewed by The North Star
Number of Seasons: 1
When I first saw commercials for this show over the summer I was sure that it was going to be AWFUL.  The commercials did not make me chuckle or even smile in the slightest and I was not the least bit interested.  Dream, Living and Shore kept saying that it was going to be good and they couldn't wait and I was the only one is the group skeptical and not that eager to watch.  Truthfully, the only reason that I ended up watching the first episode was because they put it directly after Glee but before Raising Hope, so I didn't think that it would hurt to at least try.  Boy, was I COMPLETELY wrong about this show.  The entire episode had be smiling and having my sides hurt I was laughing so hard.  Even the jokes from the commercials were 10 times funnier in context.  This show really gave me hope for comedy shows (which have seem to have become not funny at all) and I think everyone should be looking to higher the writers from this show.
I started this review when the show first started and I was completely in love with it, but as the season went on the episodes weren't as funny and I started to get really sad.  This show had started out so strong but then it feels that they tried to hook the audience on the first 5 episodes and then ran out of really good jokes by the end.  Don't get me wrong this show still has its funny moments but they are very rare.  But, when the show has these moments they have me laughing for an hour after the show ends.  The characters kind of lost the little quirks that I used to love about them.  Nick and Jess used to have fun flirty banter but now Nick is just obsessed with girls and making sure that he has a girlfriend at all times which at points it extremely annoying.  Jess is still quirky and funny, but for some reason to me it seems like she whines a little to much now which is disappointing.  One of the things that I loved about Jess was that she took any challenge that faced her and overcame it in an empowering and funny way.  Now all she does is complain about her problems and usually finds a way around them but it is not the same as it used to be.  I still love Schmidt just as much as I did before.  His character is constantly jerky and funny at the same time, which I love, so it is good that he is still the annoying "douche bag jar" guy that the audience knows and loves.  Weird enough I actually liked Winstons character more as the series went on for some reason. He isn't featured as much in the later episodes but I think that is how his character works best because when he does have a part it is really funny and one of those rare moments that I talked about above (singing to unexpected music in the car).
The plot of the show is still a great idea and the good thing is that the writers haven't lost complete sight of what the show started out being.  A girly-girl living with guys that only use girls for their bodies and then she teaches them how it is to live with a girl.  That is a great concept and so I am hoping that next season they stick with it and don't try to make it more about some of the other characters in other places, (which is a possibility if you have seen the season finale).
I just want to take a second to give credit to Debra McGuire who does costumes for this show because they are truly awesome and I wish that I owned a lot of Jess' clothes and I also think that the guys are always dressed in the appropriate attire.  Whatever they are wearing, totally matches their personalities and I know that usually don't notice that kind of thing but it is really good, so great job!
If you haven't watched this show and you are looking for a good show to watch over the summer then I would recommend it but just let yourself know now that as it goes on you will get some episodes where you will not laugh AT ALL but there are some episodes that are worth watching.  I will watch next season, but I really hope they get the old humor back because that is what made this show from ok to fantastic!

Real Teen Rating ~ B- : Worth watching, but no need to DVR 

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The Walking Dead- AMC

The Gist

The Walking Dead
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Rick is an average guy just like everyone else in the world.  He a wife, Laurie, a son, Carl, and a best friend, Shane, who along with Rick is a local police officer.  One day Rick and Shane get a call about a hit and run and so they head off in their cruiser to respond.  When they arrive the criminals start shooting at the officers and in the line of fire Rick is shot and rushed to the hospital.  When Rick wakes up he notices that his room hasn't been tended to in a long time.  He tries to call the nurse but no one answers.  When he finds a way out of his room everything is destroyed and blood is everywhere.  He walks around and sees a door marked "Do not open. Dead inside." which is written in blood.  Once he successful gets out of the hospital Rick learns that the world has been over run with a disease that turns people into "walkers" or the living dead.  Now Rick has vowed to find his wife and son in this world of hopelessness. 


What We Think
Reviewed by The North Star
Number of Seasons: 2 
Ever since this show started I had been hearing about how good it was.  I read about it in every magazine at the stores and even heard my friends talking about how good it was.  The final straw for me was when the season 2 finale premiered and it was on the cover of Entertainment Weekly and the basically the whole issue was about this show.  At that point I decided that I was going to watch this show no matter what.  Luckily, the show was on Netflix and so I asked my mom and sister if they wanted to watch with me and they were glad to.  After the first episode I was completely hooked and wanted to sit on my couch for 24 hours just watching all the other episodes in a row.  I was skeptical of this show because of all the good ratings but it lived up if not exceeded the things that I had heard about.  Everything from start to finish is perfect.
First off, the characters/the script.  This show is actually based off of a graphic novel series originally written by Robert Kirkman. From what I hear, the comic books series is very different from the TV show, so if you have read the comics then you can still watch the TV show without anything being ruined.  The script for the TV show is brillant.  Every episode is interesting from beginning to end and keeps you rapped up in the characters the whole time and it is nearly impossible to tear your eyes away from the screen.  Each character is developed so much (with the exception of a few) and it feels like you really know them and everyone I have talked to has been able to connect with a couple of the characters, but different traits from each.  That fact that this show portrays characters that could be actual people in real life is rare because most TV shows now-a-days just portray characters for the audience to fantasize about but in reality would never exist.  I would start talking about my favorite characters *cough*glenn,rick*cough* but I am afraid that I am going to give something away because with this show there are so many twists and turns if you aren't careful it is easy to give away something really big that happens to someone who has never seen the show.  Speaking of twists and turns, one of my favorite things about this show is that at the end of every episode there is a cliff hanger so you want to automatically want to watch the next episode.  I was lucky enough that I was able to watch the next episode because the first two seasons were over but next season I am going to be in trouble!
The next thing about this show is the plot.  One of the reasons that I actually wanted to watch this show was because I had never seen a movie/tv show about zombies, which was surprising because everyone always talks about zombie apocalypses.  Just to warn anyone who doesn't like gore in any way, if you are the least bit grossest out by blood and guts, I strongly suggest that you DO NOT watch this show.  This show is quite graphic but that is realistic, because in a zombie apocalypse things wouldn't be neat and clean.   This show is also very gritty and at points some of the characters are downright evil to one another but that makes sense because the whole world around them has turned into anarchy. It makes sense that people would be rude and harsh because they have been losing people, but everyone still has their moments of kindness.  This is the main reason that I say to watch it, because it is a real result of a zombie apocalypse and I'm not afraid to admit that in the event of a zombie apocalypse I feel a lot more ready now!           
In short, if you are reading this and haven't seen the Walking Dead, you should go and buy/watch it right now because it is totally worth it and you will be demanding season 3 once you finish! 


Real Teen Rating~ A+:  MOST DEFINITELY SHOULD WATCH!

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Charlie's Angels - ABC

The Gist
Kate Prince, Eve French and Abby Sampson aren't saints.  A dirty cop, a car thief and a cat burglar, respectively, they all tangled with the law and lost.  And then they were given a second chance.  Charlie Townsend runs a detective agency in Miami, Florida, and he employs these three girls to work for him.  Talented, smart and gorgeous, they are a force to be reckoned with as they take down crime with the help of John Bosley, a computer hacker-turned-detective.  The four of them lay down the law under the orders of their always mysterious and never seen boss Charlie, and help people who have nowhere else to turn.  They're angels.

What We Think
Reviewed by Living Destiny
Number of Seasons: 1 (7 episodes)
In a growing trend within the entertainment world to not be able to think of new or original concepts, this show is a remake of the old 1970's show Charlie's Angels.  Yes, the one with Farrah Fawcett.  The idea for the show is actually a good one.  Three girls gone bad who get a chance to go good again, and then kick butt and fight crime.  I know I wanted to be a crime fighting super spy when I was little, and part of me still does.  Unfortunately, this show does not live up to any expectations of anything.  At all.  In fact, it was cancelled after only seven episodes aired, it got such bad ratings.  The plot was pretty good, but like I said, it was a remake of an already-made show.  There's nothing original going on there, just the same thing that happened in the 70's, made with people who are considered attractive by today's standards, as opposed to the standards of the 70's.  Same old, same old.  The acting is sub-par at best.  I feel cliched saying that, but it's also true.  The actresses are all very pretty, but none of them are very deep.  They're better at standing and looking dramatic than they are at fighting.  There was one episode where one of the angels got beat on for a good three minutes, then just miraculously made a comeback and took the guy down.  That's realistic and believable.  Not really at all.  Also, the guy who plays Bosley?  Well, he's not a bad actor, but he's nothing like the real Bosley.  The original John Bosley was a rather large white man, who looked nerdy and awkward.  This John Bosely is a mildly attractive, young, hispanic guy.  He just isn't Bosley.  They cast him because he was good-looking, not because he fits the character.  He's the best actor on the show, but he shouldn't be on it.  Minka Kelly isn't a bad actor either, but her character is a little weird.  She was introduced in the first episode as the replacement to an 'angel' that is in only the first two minutes.  It's an awkward transition.

None of the plot lines are very exciting.  They aren't exactly boring, but there isn't anything that grabs the attention.  I've gotten up and left to make tea in the middle of an episode.  It just doesn't matter.  If a show claims to be an action-spy-type show, I expect something riveting.  I don't expect something that can serve as background noise to my tea-making.  It was also semi-predictable, and any show that can be even remotely predicted isn't fun.  The bad guy was obvious, or the action and fate of the characters was evident.  Dull.  Lame.  Don't care at all.  Charlie maintained his ever-present and very important mysteriousness, but it tried to bring his personal life into the show by plugging his family into the plot.  It didn't work at all.  I don't want to know about Charlie's life, because he isn't supposed to be a well-known or relatable character.  He is supposed to be removed, aloof almost, never showing his face or doing anything other than conversing with the angels and Bosley about cases, and congratulating them on a job well done.  No contact.  And yet, he's stuck right in there.  NO.  Not acceptable.  If you're going to remake a show, it has to at least try to follow the original version, and it absolutely HAS to get the details right.  This one just doesn't.  Details seem to be something lost on the current world of entertainment, and I'm so tired of it.  Please, get your head out of general concepts and remakes for two seconds and focus on expanding and deepening your ideas.  Of course, that won't happen.  I was born into an era of an entertainment holocaust, and while some people are going down swinging, most are just dying.  I'm so sick of it.  Ick.

This is not a good show.  I watched six of seven episodes, and I wasn't sure how much more I could take.  The characters were trying to develop, but it wasn't working.  None of the little details were working.  It all mixed up and spat back out some very poor television.  It's a good thing those actors are pretty.

Real Teen Rating ~ D: If there's absolutely nothing else for you to do...then maybe...

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Teen Wolf- MTV

The Gist

Scott McCall is about as average as you can get.  He has his one best friend that he trusts with everything and his name is Stiles.  One night Scott is in his room and he hears something happen downstairs so he runs down with a bat and finds that it is just Stiles.  He tells Scott that his dad (who is a police officer) is trying to find a killer who killed a girl in the woods and only left half of her body and that Stiles wants to go and try to find the other half.  Scott reluctantly agrees to go and they embark on their journey.  As they travel through the woods they get split up and Scott starts to hear things so as Scott runs away he is attacked and bit by something on his side.  He returns safely home and readies himself for school the next day.  From the second he gets up the morning things don't feel exactly right.  He can hear things from far away, his reflexes are sharp and everything just seems a little more heightened.  That day in one of his classes Scott overhears a conversation from a girl that he has never seen before.  Her name is Allison and from the second that he sees her she is on his radar.  Meanwhile, Stiles is trying to figure out what Scott is and what is happening to his best friend.  He soon figures out that Scott is a werewolf and that the one who bit him was the mysterious Derek Hale who lives in the woods by himself.  Scott goes to confront Derek but Derek says that he was not the one to bite him and it was someone else. Now, Scott has to figure out who bit him, if Derek can be trusted, why someone would want him in their pack and if he can capture and keep Allison's heart. 


What We Think
Reviewed by The North Star
Number of Seasons: 2
I never EVER thought that I would admit the statement that....I LOVE TEEN WOLF.  The journey of Teen Wolf all started on a day where my sister and I were watching TV and we saw a commercial for Teen Wolf and laughed our heads off because it looked like one of the stupidest shows ever.  Naturally, we had to watch it so we set up our DVR recording and went on our way.  As the date of the pilot came closer and closer  my sister and I found ourselves more anxious to watch and see what a train wreck this show was gonna be.  After watching the first episode we realized that we were completely WRONG.  This show is awesome!  I never thought that I would be the person to religiously watch a TV show but after watching Teen Wolf there was no going back.  First off, the script is written by the same guy that does Criminal Minds and so in that sense you really can't go wrong.  Second, there is no one famous in this series (besides the Aunt, played by Jill Wagner from Wipeout) and I am finding this year that the less famous people in something generally, the better that it is.
The plot of this show was actually really good too although on the surface it seems really dumb and main stream.  The screenwriter did a great job of developing all of the characters and making the audience feel for them.  When one of the characters gets hurt then I was hurt watching it and I wanted all of the characters to be happy at all times (except the bad characters).  The script was also good because it was witty and believable.  Unlike most shows about teenagers on television nowadays this show has the teens talking like actual teens.  Conversations that the characters in this show have are conversations that me and my friend would have on a regular basis.  Each episode also has me hooked from beginning to end and my eyes are glued to the TV.  This is something that is rare nowadays because half way through each episode I lose interest and start staring at random things in the room and completely forget that I am watching an episode.  This has never happened with Teen Wolf and the only time I have ever taken away my eyes from the TV was to talk to Dream or Living about what was happening.


The characters of this show are awesome!  My favorite character on this show by far is Stiles.  He is Scott's best friend who is the comic relief of the show and helps relieve Scott's stress in tense situations.  Every time there is a scene with Stiles my friends and I anxiously wait for his lines and usually end up having to pause the episode because we are laughing so hard and can't hear anything else going on in the scene.  After every episode there is always one line of Stiles that we repeat for a straight week and there are jokes that we still talk about today and laugh just as hard at as if it were the first time we had heard the joke.  The main character of the series is Scott and he is probably my third favorite character in the series just behind Derek.  Scott is a great character because he is very true to a lot of teens in high school.  He is caring and loyal to his friends but sometimes he is extremely stubborn and ignorant.  Scott is also going through the most changes out of everyone in the series and so it arguable that he has the most right to be upset out of all of the characters.  Tyler Posey (who plays Scott) is a really good actor and makes you believe that one minute he is happy and the next he is extremely upset about something.  Derek is my second favorite character in the series and I'm not really sure why.  He is a complete jerk to everyone but on the outside but on the inside he really cares about Scott and Stiles and wouldn't want any harm to come to them.  There is something about his character that I really like and whenever he is onscreen I believe that the actor is Derek and no one else.  It is really funny to see pictures of the cast behind-the-scenes because Derek never smiles but in all of the photos he is smiling and that was really shocking.  My forth favorite character in the series is Allison and she plays Scott's girlfriend.  She is a good actress and at points I really like her character but then at other points I can't stand her character and she annoys the heck out of me, but that is what she is supposed to be doing at that point in time.  After Allison there really is no list all of the other characters (Lydia, Jackson, Kate and more) are all kind of equal and they are all special in there own little way.
If you are reading this and you have never watched Teen Wolf, then you must go home and record or go to the store and buy Teen Wolf.  I guarantee that you will not regret it and you will like it even more if you start watching it with friends.  Bottom line. Teen Wolf is absolutely fantastic.
Real Teen Rating~ A+:  MOST DEFINITELY SHOULD WATCH!

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The Lying Game- ABC Family

The Gist
Sutton Mercer and Emma Becker have just found out that they are identical twins. They were seperated at birth but Sutton ended up in a high society Californian community, Emma ended up in the foster system, with a horrible foster mother and perverted older brother. Sutton wants to find her birth mother in L.A but can't tell her parents about and Emma runs away from her foster home and jail. They set up a plan where Emma takes Sutton's place in highly sophisticated life while Sutton goes to find their birth mother. Emma doesn't know anything about Sutton except that she dislikes her home life and she is rich. This puts Emma in a difficult position, she ends up juggling secrets and friends that she has never met before.

What We Think
Reviewed by ShoreWhisperer
Number of Seasons: 1
The advertising for this show made it look very intense and it is. I really enjoy this new show. It always leaves you hanging. There are so many loose ends that you never know what the next week is going to reveal. I guess ABC family is big on reusing things though because this is a series based on the book series by Sara Shepard who consequently wrote Pretty Little Liars, their best reviewed show (ironic? I think not). Also, Ethan the charming bad boy was also in their new series Switched at Birth as the older charming bad boy. Personally I think he is better shown off in The Lying Game, but that is my personal opinion. The show in general is just so eccentric and non realistic that its appealing. Its that weird thing where if a show is just a little bit realistic the rest of it can be complete fantasy but it still feels realistic. This show is using that to it's advantage.

The actual plot of the twins being split and all the drama would never really happen but they put in the drama of teenagers and high schoolers and homeless kids and magically it's realistic. I caught up in this show. I can't wait to watch this show every monday. It actually makes my mondays bareable. During my classes while I am about to fall asleep I think just six more hours till The Lying Game, which is what I am guessing they want to be doing.

Acting wise, it's not too too bad. Alexandra Chando is remarkable as both Emma and Sutton. Blair Redford is charming and steals the hearts of many as Ethan and Allie Gonino also stands out. She plays Laurel and she plays it perfectly. I really enjoy watching her. I don't particularly like Kristen Prout in the role of Char. I think that this show has potential for being very big and popular just like Pretty Little Liars. It's coming along with every episode, and I really love watching this show (I think that I have said that already). Also, like most ABC family show they don't relate to both sexes. This is mainly watched by teenage girls although guys could watch it, that isn't their biggest viewer. They need more variety in their shows because all that they show is mostly for teenage girls and their mothers. They need more shows like Kyle XY again. This is not a criticism on the show though, it's not the show that it doesn't intrigue boys. The show itself is going to be good and it is getting better every episode.

Real Teen Rating ~ B : Check it out...

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Raising Hope - FOX

Real Teen Award
- Best New Show of 2010


The Gist
Jimmy never thought he'd have to raise a baby. But then his daughter shows up. Turns out her mother - Jimmy's one-nighter - killed a bunch of people and got the death penalty. So now Jimmy and his dysfunctional family - consisting of his mother Virginia, his father Burt, and his certifiably insane grandmother Maw Maw - have to figure out how to take care of a baby. And not like how Jimmy's parents raised him. No, they have to raise Hope the right way, so she turns out normal. But with this family, you never know how things'll turn out.


What We Think
Reviewed by Dream Catcher
Number of Seasons: 1
When I first watched this show I really had no idea what it was. I had just finished watching Glee one Tuesday and it just came on afterward. It was laziness that actually kept me from turning the TV off and watching this show. Well, maybe a little curiosity. What I found was that it was a really funny show. Very quirky. Very odd. But I loved it.  By far the best thing about this show is the characters. Jimmy, played by Lucas Neff, is funny in his awkwardness. He has absolutely no idea how to be a good parent but still tries really hard to get everything right. His hopeless crush on a girl who works at their local grocery store is sad and still somehow funny. Sabrina, played by Shannon Woodward, is someone I didn't mention in the gist. She's the girl Jimmy has a huge crush on. She's great because she's completely oblivious to Jimmy's feelings for her, and always treats him like a buddy. One of my favorite characters is Virginia, Jimmy's mom. She's played by Martha Plimpton and she's one of the funniest characters in the whole show. Yeah, I'm using the words funny and funniest a lot. But it's a comedy! It's funny. Anyway...Virginia is a big part of the family, and kind of holds them together. She has some great lines and always delivers them well. The show would not be the same without her. Her husband Burt is played by Garrett Dillahunt is always hilarious. He's not very bright and always says whatever pops in his head. He has some great lines that are sometimes so random you can't help but laugh. He's my dad's favorite character. It's always my dad and I who watch this show. Sometimes my younger sister does, but usually after watching glee she'll just trudge up to her room in a half-asleep zombie state. Gotta love her. My mom actually doesn't like this show...but that's only because she doesn't like this kind of humor. You know, the kind of uncomfortable, awkward humor that some people love and others...well it just makes them uncomfortable. I think it's hilarious. ANYWAY, this brings me to the last but certainly NOT least character: Maw Maw. There are no words to describe her except maybe FANTASTIC and COMPLETELY INSANE. She's crazy. Played by Cloris Leachman, Maw Maw is like no other character in the show. Most of the time she either believes she's a young girl again, or a young woman still married to her now-dead husband. Either way she's always a little loopy. Sometimes she remembers her family and sometimes she doesn't. Sometimes she thinks she's a dog about to deliver a litter of puppies. Occasionally she's sane. Key word being occasionally. She's amazing. So for characters, this show gets an A++. They're funny and sometimes have some touching moments. Okay, maybe not touching moments, but pretty close. The script, kind of going a long with the characters, is funny and unique. A good word that comes to mind is SPUNKY. That's what the script is. Spunky. No, QUIRKY. That's the perfect word. Quirky. I never miss an episode, and am always laughing with this show. Tuesdays after Glee (even if you don't watch Glee, watch this)! Watch this for a good laugh and jokes you don't expect. 


Real Teen Rating ~ A+ : MOST DEFINITELY SHOULD WATCH!

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Pawn Stars- History Channel

The Gist

Pawn Stars
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Rick (The Spotter), his dad (The Old Man) and his son (The Big Hoss) own the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop located in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Every day they see hundreds of cool historical items come on the shop and some that are complete fakes.  They have to be able to spot the difference or they will lose the trust of their buyers and sellers.  With the help of some specialist they will buy, sell and pawn things you could have sworn were destroyed years ago.

What We Think

Reviewed by The North Star

Number of Seasons: 4

I apologize in advance for the crappy gist.  This is a really hard show to explain because it isn't exactly a reality show, but it's not fiction either so it is kind of in the miscellaneous section.  I found this show from my dad, one day he was watching it and I started making fun of him for watching "educational"  TV, but after watching it for a while I found that it was actually really interesting.  Sometimes these guys will find some really, really interesting stuff.  Something that they find or people bring in you didn't think existed or how it was saved after all these years.  The guys on this show are also really funny and personable.  The one problem that I have with show is that after you watch 7 or 8 episodes you feel as if you have seen them all.  I don't really watch this show anymore because of my last statement.  For these first 7 or 8 episodes you are completely engrossed and can't wait until the next episode but after that oh great, they found another 100 year old artifact worth a lot of money.  Then sometimes they mix it up with a piece of artwork, a car or some sports memorabilia but I have seen it all before.   The great thing about this show is when you watch the episodes with things you haven't seen before you learn without knowing it.  I learned a bunch of history that I didn't know existed from watching this show and I didn't mind because I was entertained.  If school taught like they do on pawn stars people may start doing better on tests and actually look forward to going every morning.  In the end, this is an above average show but can't be watched in marathons and should be taken in small amounts in long time span.

Real Teen Rating: B- :Worth Watching but no need to DVR

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Harry’s Law – NBC

The Gist

Harriet “Harry” Korn is working at a typical patent law firm. But one day she just decided everything there was too boring and got herself fired. On her way home from the firm a suicidal man falls on her. He attempted suicide by jumping from a high window to land on the concrete below  – but instead of  dying he lands on Harry Korn, sending her to the emergency room. When the doctors tell Harry she can leave she heads home – again – and this time is hit by a car. And so she returns to the emergency room. This series of events bring four people together. Harriet and Jenna Backstrom - her assistant from her patent firm – start their own firm known as Harry’s Law and Fine Shoes. The man who hit Harry with his car, a lawyer named Adam Branch, finds out about Harry’s firm and comes to her, asking to work there, too. He insists it’s just until Harry gets on her feet again, so she allows him to stay and take a case. Then the man who fell on her, Malcolm Davies, comes to her and asks for her to take his case – so he won’t have to go to jail for illegal drug use; so he can stay in college. The four of them working together as one firm prove to make the perfect team as they battle egotistical lawyers and sell fine shoes.


What We Think

Reviewed by Dream Catcher

Number of Seasons: 0 (and 8 episode)

So far I’ve only seen the first eight episodes. But I intend to see more of the show. Now you may have heard some people or reviewers say that this show wasn’t good. I’ve heard that some gave it one star (that means you, People Magazine). But I don’t see why people thought it was bad. Honestly I thought the show was really entertaining. The script was great, the characters were awesome and the acting, I thought, was awesome.  Kathy Bates plays the sarcastic and smart Harriet Korn. I loved her characters. She always had the best lines and the way she delivered them kept me laughing the whole time. Brittany Snow is Harriet’s shoe-obsessed secretary. She turns their law firm into a law firm/fine shoe store. I thought that was a funky twist. How many other law firms have fine shoes for sale? Um, zero. Another great character was Adam. He always had the FUNNIEST things to say ever. He was so random and over-the-top. He was awesome. He was played by Nate Corddry. I’d never heard of him before but I thought he played his part well. To complete the team was Malcolm, the guy who fell onto Harriet. He was played by Aml Ameen and I think he also did a great job playing the part. His character was really likeable, too. So sweet and sincere. A good guy tangled in a mess of problems caused by poor choices. After the first few episodes they added a character named Tommy Jefferson. He's my favorite. He's this insane and egotistical lawyer. He always hilarious - especially when he's not trying to be - and is a great addition to the show. The plot is about lawyers and a law firm. It’s court cases and all that jazz. Some people just don’t like that kind of show, and if you are one of those people you aren’t going to like this show. But if you like the occasional honest-to-goodness GOOD law/cop show then I think you’ll enjoy this as much as I did. It was funny and dramatic and at the end of the first episode Harriet had the best monologue. It was really good and made you think about the difference between law today and justice. Overall I think this is a really good show that lots of people would like. Even people who aren’t crazy about law and lawyer talk. Give it a try, at least. Personally, I can’t wait to watch the next episode.

Real Teen Rating~ A : Definitely check it out!

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Mike & Molly - CBS

Real Teen Award
- Worst Show in 2010

The Gist

Mike is a police officer, alone and a bit overweight.  Molly is a forth-grade teacher, alone and also a bit overweight.  The highlight of both of their weeks is a Overeaters Anonymous meeting where they can cope and joke about their “obesity” to others who struggle.  At one of the meetings Mike notices Molly when she is giving a speech in the front of the room.  He tries to ask her out that night but chickens out and just saying gibberish.  The next  he realizes what a big mistake he had made and decides to visit her at her school and ask her out.  When he gets there he finally works up the courage and asks her out.  She says yes and throughout the rest of the series the audience travels through their relationship from beginning to end, whether that means marriage, break-up or something else. 


What We Think

Reviewed by The North Star

Number of Pages: 0 (and 18 episodes)

I saw a commercial for this show and thought that I might give this a try because it looked somewhat funny and it had all this critics saying how amazing it was so I thought why not.  I went to my DVR and set up a recording and was excited when I saw the first episode had recorded.  After watching it I think my brain has literally melted.  This show was literally unwatchable but I thought to myself that maybe the pilot was just bad and that it would get better…… I was very wrong.  I think this show actually got worse if that is even possible.  The whole time they just make fat jokes and they aren’t even funny they are just offensive.  I mean regular people can’t make fun of overweight people or it is just mean but overweight people can make fun of overweight people because they are just laughing at themselves which is fine.  Well in this show when they make fun of themselves it is still somehow OFFENSIVE!!  Which I didn’t think was possible but they somehow found a way.  The romance in this show is just plain awkward….I mean really awkward.  Before and after each date Mike asks his best friend/police partner for advice about Molly and what to do to impress her and etc.  First off, his friend lives in his mother’s house and hasn’t had a girlfriend in years so why would you be taking advice from him in the first place!!  Second, you should not be asking your best guy friend advice for every date I mean I can get it if you need help on a few dates but EVERY date that is a big no-no!  The stupidest thing about this show though would have to be Molly’s sister Victoria.  She is this drug-addict/drunk who just complains the time about how much her life stinks.  If you ask me she should just sober up and get a job and a steady boyfriend.  I know this is a hard thing to do but I mean if you’re gonna complain then it must be pretty bad.

On a positive note once in a RARE occasion this show will make me chuckle a bit which is what saves it from the ultimate fate that is zero.  I am sad to report that I do not even think about watching this show any more because after 4 episodes I gave it a fair chance and it was TERRIBLE all four times.

Real Teen Rating~ F: I wouldn’t waste my time

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iCarly- Nickelodeon

The Gist

When 13-year-old Carly Shay and her best friend Sam Puckett are  forced to judge the talent show auditions they don’t believe life could get any worse.  That is until they start cracking jokes at the auditions and getting it all accidentally recorded on camera.  They soon post their jokes on splashface.com (their version of YouTube) and get people demanding more of Carly and Sam.  Intrigued by the idea Carly, Sam and Freddie (Carly’s other best friend, who is hopelessly in love with her) put together a web-show titled iCarly.  Carly and Sam as the hosts and Freddie behind the camera as the technical producer.  The show follows the crazy things that happen to the group as their show becomes bigger and bigger as they post more web shows and Carly’s crazy brother Spencer.  Spencer is an abstract artist just trying to get a break and along the way he finds himself in some interesting positions and meeting some interesting people.  Together they create a hit web and TV show!

What We Think
Reviewed by The North Star
4 Seasons
I remember when this show first came on air and everyone was excited because it was a new funny show.  After the first few episodes I was hooked and wanted to watch the show all the time.  As the seasons went on I found myself disappointed because the episodes were no longer funny or creative.  Every new episode was a TV movie and their was no normal regular episodes.  There was also the fact that Miranda Cosgrove was getting older.  Not to be mean or anything but I find her really annoying and not genuine.  Don’t get me wrong I loved her on Drake & Josh but on this show… she seems….. extremely stuck-up.  In the beginning when Freddie would ask her out she would let him down gently but on the later seasons she became more rude to him when he asked her on a date or to a dance.  The lines are meant to be portrayed kinder but the way she says them comes off impolite and that she doesn’t care whether or not his feelings get hurt.  In truth, Spencer is the only character that sometimes gets a giggle out of me but besides that I just sit and watch with an expressionless face.  Sam can be funny on VERY rare occasions but mostly she is just obsessed with food.  Freddie is just kinda there most of the time, sometimes I forget that he is in the scene.
Enough about characters and on the plot of the show.  The thing that I do like about this show is that the plot line of show is really original and interesting.  The only problem that this show has is that they can’t come up with entertaining episodes.  It doesn’t matter how amazing your plot is to make it a great show you have to follow an idea with good episodes so people will keep watching.  Again no offense but the writers for this show are lacking in that department.  Overall, this isn’t a great show at all and even though you may get a rogue episode that is watchable and somewhat funny don’t expect it every time you watch.
Real Teen Rating~ D: If there’s absolutely nothing else for you to do…then maybe…

Reviewed by ShoreWhisperer
I personally love this show. My little brother has a obsession over this show because of this I end up watching this show on a regular basis. Not only does my little brother like it but my dad and the rest of my family think that it is a great show. The first couple of seasons were funny and then they went downhill  from there. I will admit I still find them funny but they aren’t as funny as they used to be. I think that the characters are played well but I don’t like Miranda Cosgrove or Carly she just isn’t that funny. I like Spencer and Sam. Alot of the time I find that Sam annoys me because her jokes have been reduced to “I like beef strips and chili”. That is what her response to everything is now, that or some stupid joke about Freddy’s clothes or hair. That also bugs me. I am pretty sure that Freddy has gone through puberty now and is quite attractive no, so they can’t make fun of him really anymore because he dresses really nicely too. Other than that the show is good. I enjoy watching it and it still makes me laugh. They still have good concepts and Spencer, is really the only thing holding the show in my opinion right now. He makes the show. The guest-stars are good too. I was happy when Jane Lynch starred as Sam’s mom it was quite funny.
Now I know that North doesn’t agree with me but the acting is decent and if the producers weren’t trying to aim the show at little kids then the show would be hysterical. There have been comments that are what I deem not Nickelodeon ediquette and belong on a channel more like ABC or something. Thisis what drew me in. I thought that it wasn’t going to be like every other Nick show. It was refreshing, and it still is at points. There are points that I will find myself really laughing hard.
What really gets me is when they advertise these hour long episodes and make it seem like it will tell you all these things and then it’s the most pointless episode ever made and you are disappointed. Thats my only complaint about the show though. Otherwise the show is pretty decent. I think it is a show that will get very many different reviews so its a hit or miss whether you will like it or not.
Real Teen Rating~ C + : Just Average

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Big Bang Theory - CBS

Real Teen Award

- Best TV Actor in 2010- Jim Parsons

- Best On screen Couple in 2010- Shamy (Sheldon+ Amy)

The Gist

Big Bang Theory
Buy it here and support our blog

This show is a shout-out to all the nerdy people out there. The comic book lovers, the fantastically smart, the hopelessly desperate and highly uneducated people in the area of getting girls are represented in this hilarious sitcom on CBS. The five characters are all highly different and the same at the same time (if that even makes sense). Sheldon Cooper, who is the “beautiful minded genius guy” is a theoretical physicist, he has no idea of the outside world because he sticks to a strict schedule and has problems with OCD and realting to other people. Leonard Hofstadter is an experimental physicist. His family has forced him to diligently stick to academics and he also has no idea of the outside world. He is ignorant on the subject of trying to get a girl fails miserably at all his relationships. Howard Wolowitz is an enigneer at the college that Sheldon and Leonard work at. He is extremely desperate and tries way to hard to get girls and really turns them off by his attempts. He lives with his mother and is Jewish.Then there is Rajesh Koothrappali, he is an astrophysicist. He came from New Dehli, India to study science in America. As it turns out he has a case of pathological shyness towards women resulting in muteness except when under the influence of alcohol. The four of them all share the love of science and the love of comic books. That is their only way into the actual world and only way of consorting with people who aren’t as smart as them. Then finally there is Penny. She moved across the hallway from Sheldon and Leonard. Leonard falls in love with her and tries to get her as a girlfriend. She becomes friends with them and Sheldon finally feels at ease with her, he no longer thinks of her just as an improvement of the “two hundred pound transvestite with a skin condition,”. The show follows them in their quest of getting girls and the endlessly surprising Sheldon Cooper who always has something to say. It is on every Thursday from eight to eight thirty.


What We Think

Reviewed By ShoreWhisperer

Number of Seasons: 3 (and 18 episodes)

This show is right next to Drop Dead Diva for my favorite television show. I love watching this show. Sheldon always does something that is endlessly funny and I find myself watching the episode multiple times and still thinking everything is funny. I usually quote the show daily becuase the episodes focus around everday things that might actually happen and make them funny and unique. The characters are so hopeless that you have to laugh at them, also compared to Penny they seem extra smart and extra dumb at the same time. Their lack of knowledge in pop culture would be justified by Sheldon as that he only needs to know things that are important. Penny on the other hand looks endlessly dumb and she changes extensively over the seasons. This show is my one thing that makes me feel better. I watch it all the time. I just recently bought the latest season on DVD so I have all the seasons on disc. I can watch them whenever. It’s definately worth it. I recommend this show to everyone. I think it’s hilarious because my family has forever been in love with the Lord of the Rings and I have had to sit through role playing games and the movies and stuff that these characters do. I love seing this condition to the extreme and in a way you can say at least I am not like them! Watch this show right now, you will benefit from it, I promise.

Real Teen Rating~ A+ : MOST DEFINITELY SHOULD WATCH!!!!!

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Toddlers & Tiaras – TLC

The Gist

Toddlers & Tiaras
Buy it here and support our blog

Every episode, this show follows three contestants in a beauty pageants.  Each episode follows three different contestants, and features a different pageant.  The three kids, usually between the ages of 2-9 (but sometimes younger) are shown from a couple weeks before the pageant to the last day of the pageant.  They are shown preparing to go, getting their ‘beauty’ all ready, and then performing.  The crowning is shown at the end, and then the reactions of the kids and their parents are recorded.

What We Think
Reviewed by Living Destiny
Number of Seasons: 3
This is the product of a television station with no good ideas and too much time on their hands.  I saw the ads and was shocked about the topic.  It’s like manipulating little girls (and sometimes little boys).  But one day there was nothing on tv and I was bored out of my mind.  So I checked it out.  I didn’t really know whether to laugh or cry.  It was pathetic and scary and somehow kept my attention for an entire hour.
Most of these girls have been brought up in the lap of pageants.  Quite a lot of them are spoiled rotten.  A lot of the parents are horrible parents who either spoil their kids or are super harsh and rude to their kids.  It’s really a sad thing when a little boy goes up on stage to have fun and his mother yells at him and drags him off because he ‘wasn’t doing it right’.  These kids get spray-tanned.  They get fake eyelashes.  They get fake teeth (called ‘flippers’).  They get these fancy dresses costing thousands of dollars.  Manicures, pedicures, hair pieces, lots of makeup.  It’s all fake.  It costs so much money.  It makes girls cry when they don’t win.  It creates a lot of stuck up brats.  I know I’m biased against pageants (I think they’re a waste of time and female intelligence), but pageants for young children?  Like under 10 years old?  That’s so beyond wrong.  Picture a third grader all dolled up with huge curly hair and poofy dresses parading around on stage.  Now picture this little kid dressed up in a short skirt and a belly-top shaking her hips on stage.  Sound like fun?  I don’t know what they’re paying these people to put their kids on tv as pageant girls.  Not enough, that’s for sure.  Some of them probably enjoy having their kids shown in ‘all their glory’, but I find it a little offensive.  And ridiculous and freaky.  I hate this show, but I watch it anyway because…I don’t even know why.  It’s addicting in a strange way.
Bottom line: this show is completely horrible.  I feel so bad for these children.
Real Teen Rating~ D: If there’s absolutely nothing else for you to do…then maybe…

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