By Michal – Staff Writer

How I Met Your Mother – Jenkins

While I still enjoy watching this show, I’m not loving it as much as I once did.  Perhaps it is because Big Bang Theory has completely rocked my world, but I’ve long given up on ever liking Ted and caring about the mother of his children.  I think what I missed about this episode was Neil Patrick Harris.  He has really become the character I can’t wait to see in an episode.  Marshall and Lily’s storyline dealing with Jenkins was amusing, but for me, Lily’s violent reaction to Jenkins kissing Marshall wasn’t all that amusing.  Although, it was better than the Robin Scherbatsky Dinking Game, which simply fell flat for me.

Episode Grade: C

Big Bang Theory – The Bozeman Reaction

So Sheldon considers Penny one of his closest friends.  Awesome!  And while I do feel bad that Howard is simply a “treasured acquaintance,” I’m just so thrilled Sheldon thinks so highly of Penny.  I never want to see the two of them as anything more than friends, but I love them as friends.  It’s super cute.

But onto the actual plot of the episode…the robbery and Sheldon’s predictable over-the-top reaction.  While I expected the high-tech alarm system, I cracked up over Science Theory Pictionary.  It really was all there if only Penny had paid attention.  You’d think by now she would know everything.  All in all, this show keeps getting better and better.  Oh and I couldn’t resist printing one Sheldon-ism:

“My new computer came with Windows 7. Windows 7 is much more user-friendly than Windows Vista. I don’t like that.”

Episode Grade: A-

iCarly – iSaved Your Life

Confession time: yes, I’m in my late 20’s and yes, I watch this Nickelodeon show.  I can’t quite explain it, but it makes me laugh and I really enjoy watching the interacting between Carly, Sam, and Freddie.  Oh and I love Carly’s brother Spencer.  He is simply amusing and the entire show just brightens my day.  I really can’t ask much more from a show.  Besides they had the Plain White T’s on a while back.

Anyway, I was a bit concerned at the prospect of Freddie and Carly becoming a couple.  I’d like to see them together eventually, but the timing didn’t seem right and I’m glad Freddie showed inner strength and walked away from the only girl he has ever wanted.  I’m definitely interested to see how this affects their relationship and well as their friendship with Sam.  I don’t always like her, but in this case I’m glad she made Freddie see the truth.

Episode Grade: B+

Castle – Sucker Punch

Wow…there was quite a lot packed into that single episode.  I had really bought into the idea that Kate’s mother’s murder was simply a random accident and so the revelation it was actually ordered by someone else adds an interesting new layer to the ongoing mystery.

I really enjoyed seeing Beckett and her father interact in this episode. Plus the pep talk was sweet and was exactly what Beckett needed to hear after she kept asking herself throughout the episode if she had let her mother down. I wasn’t too sure of her father when he was first introduced, but after this episode I’m hoping he gets incorporated a bit more. I should add that Martha hugging Beckett when she came to the apartment was also quite touching in an unexpected way. For all of Castle’s flamboyance, he really does have a grounded home life.

While I loved Beckett’s interaction with her father, I couldn’t get over how far Beckett and Castle have come in the last season. Sure, the episode still featured Castle acting like a child (i.e. Castle preparing for a fight complete with thumb to nose action), but it also showcased the respect that they share for each other. The fact that Beckett let Castle pay the $100K and thought it was sweet it an amazing development. I also loved his reaction to her learning the connection to her mother’s murder. Castle was no longer pushing to solve the case, but instead offered to do whatever she needed…including nothing. Castle and Beckett have really come to understand each other and the strengths the other brings to the table. The final conversation between the two illustrated this perfectly, but I’ll conclude this portion of the review with Castle’s earlier pep talk for Beckett:

“Do you know why I chose you as my inspiration for Nikki Heat?”
“No, why?”
“Because you’re tall.”

Episode Grade: A-

Whiter Collar – Hard Sell

As I mentioned in my earlier review, while the actual case wasn’t all that intriguing, it was interesting to see Neal and Peter working through the “ring of evil” misunderstanding.  Even before he learned the truth about the ring, Neal went along with Peter’s plan to save the undercover agent.  Neal really does trust Peter and he actually listened to what Peter was saying about Kate and didn’t just fly off the handle.  While he didn’t agree with Peter’s assessment of Kate’s motivation, they really are partners and friends.

The Boiler Room scam wasn’t all that exciting.  However, it was great watching both Peter and Neal undercover and seeing the entire FBI gang work together on the case.   In conclusion, bring on the search for the music box!  I can’t wait to learn what’s inside…

Episode Grade: B-

The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien – Final Show

Conan is a classy guy and his tenure as Tonight Show host ended that way.  I was never a religious watcher of The Tonight Show, but I did watch endless clips on Hulu trying to get through my last job.  Watching him and Andy canoeing in LA or taking a tram full of tourist on the ride of their life made me smile and helped make many days bearable.  Plus there was his feud with Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert during the writers strike.  I know that was when he was still host of the Late Late Show, but I will love him forever for that and his version of Blue Moon of Kentucky.

In his final show, Conan not only thanked NBC for the last 20 years, but he gave some awesome advice:

“To all the people watching, I can never thank you enough for your kindness to me and I’ll think about it for the rest of my life. All I ask of you is one thing: please don’t be cynical. I hate cynicism- it’s my least favorite quality and it doesn’t lead anywhere.  Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you’re kind, amazing things will happen.”

I hope he lands on his feet somewhere and keeps us all laughing.  He really does excel at that!

Episode Grade: A +