Hell’s Kitchen Review: Ramsay’s Diary – Entry 6

August 29, 2011

Dear Diary,

Whilst sitting on my bed of solid gold awesome and flipping through all my various shows that air concurrently on the telly across the world, I was interrupted from watching myself by a trailer for a movie called Contagion in which a rather stringent case of bird flu cripples the world, killing hundreds of thousands…and all I could think about was Elise. Because like a feathery airborne rat with a beak, she persists to peck and peck at you until there’s an open wound large enough for her to spit into and yet, she still remains in Hell’s Kitchen. YOU’RE WELCOME, FOX.

With six chefs left, this is the last service before I choose my Top 5 and swap a few tattered brigade jackets for the elite black chef jackets. But all the contestants had a ways to go before elimination. For today’s challenge, I wanted to test their coordination and time management, an integral component to running a kitchen and something that I could have bet none of these community college dropouts had. I asked each team to make three dishes – one in thirty minutes, one in twenty, and one in ten – and they all had to hit the pass at the same time. Just as I figured, Red team members were only concerned about their own dishes, whilst team Blue was much more Up With People, giving pointers to Tommy as he prepared his dish.

The first round up was for the thirty minute dishes and when Jennifer told me that hers was the worst dish she’s ever made, I nearly shit a brick. It’s hard enough to taste the gruel that these people serve up, but to let me know in advance is like knowing that someone is about to slit your throat. As it happens, her dish was quite nice even though she freaked out about it, but Tommy’s had the edge. All told, I didn’t vomit or spit my food out once, so I can say this was a significant improvement for all. I had to give the win to Blue, at which point Elise started to cry like someone ran over her dog. When I told Blue that their prize would be a Ted Baker shopping spree in Beverly Hills, the sobbing continued exponentially. I’ve seen the Academy give Oscars for subtler performances, but kudos to Elise for once again making everything about her. Well done, Crybaby.

Tonight’s service was a black tie charity event, a first for Hell’s Kitchen, in which the guest list was limited but each person was served a six course meal. I had one chef in charge of running their respective kitchens for two courses, off the back of which I’d be giving out the black jackets. Straight away there were problems in both kitchens. Elizabeth could not lead a fucking donkey to a donkey show. It was unbearable. I’d have had a better go at it putting a deaf and dumb pinball wizard in charge. And speaking of which, Tommy took his time in the Blue kitchen to completely screw the salads that were to top the scallop appetizers. But he wasn’t finished screwing the blue pooch, since his three pans of risotto had three different tastes. If there was one thing Tommy was showing me about his consistency, it’s that he was consistently bloody awful. Red team’s selfishness continued to pollute their work, coming out in the plating of the cappellini. It looked quite literally like a pasta machine took a huge shit on my plate. Elizabeth continued to derail, cooking the chicken dish far too ahead of time, causing the Red appetizer plates to be cleared early to in order to serve her entrée. Amazingly, Tommy’s lamb wellingtons were prepared beautifully and I had to stop and ask myself if someone swapped bodies with him and if this was an episode of Fringe, but then I remembered that PEOPLE ACTUALLY WATCH MY SHOWS, which brought me right back to reality. Also bringing me back to reality? The bitch-fest extravaganza that unfolded in the Red kitchen after I called out the apple tarts for being raw.  Jennifer blamed Elise and I nearly thought all those raw apples were going to get shoved right up Elise’s puckered ass, but Red was miraculously able to finish service without any sort of organic colon cleanse happening in front of the black tie guests. Blue team was the clear winner, showing exemplary teamwork and quality entrees, but I could barely get a word in between the women fighting amongst themselves. I swear to God, it feels like I’m running a goddamn day care service.

I prepared all the ladies to plea for their lives and plead they did, but only after bearing the humiliation of Blue team receiving their black jackets. The women further imploded right in front of me during elimination which further informed me that I knew I was making the correct choice in kicking Elizabeth out of Hell’s Kitchen for good. She was ill prepared to run any kind of kitchen other than the one in her apartment and wasn’t getting the types of ratings that Elise is able to conjure up. It was clear that her time was over. I wish I could say the same thing for myself, but I’m stuck here for another four eliminations where, God willing, I can bring a real chef kicking and screaming out of these line cooks whether they like it or not. Fuck me.

 

Season 9, Episode 12: “6 Chefs Compete” (originally aired August 29, 2011)

Try and stand the heat in Hell’s Kitchen, Mondays at 8/7c on FOX

For another take on this episode, read “Black Jackets For Everyone! Almost Everyone…” by Desiree Neall

Images courtesy of FOX

Jersey Shore Review: More Like Mike vs The Wall

I don’t think I have ever seen or known of a relationship as dysfunctional as Ronnie and Sammi. I mean, what is wrong with these people?! Sunday night’s episode, which preceded the VMAs, picked up shortly after Mike and Ronnie were about to kill each other over some stupid remark Sammi made. Apparently, it was SO DRAMATIC that MTV couldn’t wait until Thursday to air it.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not Ronnie that sent Mike to the hospital. It’s the wall that sent Mike to the hospital. That’s right, it was actually Mike who took it upon himself to slam his head into a concrete wall without realizing it was concrete. You’re not in Jersey anymore, Mike! Nineteenth century Italian homes aren’t made with drywall and cardboard! Here would also be the place where I make wildly inappropriate comments about Mike wanting to take his own life because of Jersey Shore but…I feel bad enough for the cast.

As I expected, it was all very anticlimactic. Pauly D accompanied Mike to the hospital where he was diagnosed with a small concussion and sprained neck and is not allowed to go out for a week (the horror!). The diagnosis is followed with Mike returning to the house wearing a “Head Rush” sweatshirt (oh, the irony) and moping around because he doesn’t have a hot, sexy nurse at his beck and call 24 hours.

In light of witnessing Mike almost kick the bucket (even though she looked bored and was fixing her hair during the whole fiasco), Snooki decides to bury the hatchet with him. For now. But we’ll need more drama soon so expect something else to come up within the next two weeks.

Ronnie and Mike are apparently on “okay” terms now, Ronnie feeling terrible about what went down and realizing he is an aggressive drunk douche. And props to Jenni for being the voice of reason during this shit storm and the only one who knows how to talk to Ronnie (omg, Ronnie/Jenni hook-up?!?!). Ronnie almost leaves the house, but decides against it and tries some honesty for a change. So he opens up to Sammi about this girl, Hannah, back in America who he’s been talking to. Sammi’s had enough though and calls it quits “for good.” But for whatever reason, Ronnie can’t let her go.

Alongside Jenni, Vinny also shows his intelligent side. Ronnie put it perfectly when he called him the “Dr. Phil” of the house. He says things like, “There’s a light at the end of the tunnel, I promise you” and “You gotta fix the problem.” Aw, they are smart!

And in this week’s cultural barrier, Pauly D finds himself getting accosted by a territorial Italian man who doesn’t like Pauly dancing with his lady. Surprising the Jersey Shore boys haven’t had this problem yet. If there’s one thing about Italian men, it’s that they don’t like anyone even looking at their lady. And they will let you know it. Let that be a lesson to you, young Pauly D.

Season 4, Episode 5: And the Wall Won (originally aired August 28, 2011)

Jersey Shore airs Thursdays at 10/9c on MTV.

Images courtesy of MTV.

Entourage Review: One Down, Two to Go

It’s hard to believe that Entourage has been on for eight seasons and we’re on the far side of its last few episodes. In two weeks it’ll be time to say goodbye to the boys for good, but for now, they’ve got a few final complications to work.

Eric (Kevin Connolly) should know by now he’s just unlucky in love, and sex for that matter, as evidenced by the drama unleashed from his hookup with new client Melinda Clarke. After booking a new J.J. Abrams pilot (apparently Entourage-Melinda isn’t on Nikita), she tells E over lunch she needs their business relationship more than their sexual one. Guest star Johnny Galecki pushes E a little more, admitting he’s seeing Eric’s ex, Sloan (Emmanuelle Chriqui).

As if this season hasn’t thrown him enough curve balls, this week Ari (Jeremy Piven) learns his wife might not only get the house and kids, but his business as well. Turns out Mrs. Ari (Perrey Reeves) fronted $11 million when he first started out and now wants her investment back. Ari, not having the cash, turns to Barbara for a loan in order to keep his ex out of the business. Against his lawyer’s advice, he heads to the house to talk it out, but interrupts her and her new manfriend Bobby Flay preparing a meal.

Just when Vince (Adrian Grenier) seems to be mounting his comeback and shooting the cover for his interview from last week’s episode, Shauna (Debi Mazar) reads the final article. Vince is hurt that the reporter (guest star Alice Eve) called out his womanizing, flirtatious ways. He confronts her, but is ultimately rejected again. Meanwhile, Drama (Kevin Dillon) struggles with his self-imposed strike to get Andrew Dice Clay back on his animated show, and Turtle (Jerry Ferrara) tries to entertain some New York friends in hopes of opening an LA-based branch of their restaurant.

It’s weird to me that now, with two episodes to go, the creative team has finally found something for Turtle to do. After last season’s tequila business that really went nowhere, in the next few episodes we’re going to watch him expand a friend’s business into a franchise? Still, it’s better than him sitting in the background of Vince’s scenes like he did last week. I’m also wondering how far Vince can take his relationship with Alice Eve in the remaining 40 minutes of the series. Sure, there’s the ever-discussed movie follow-up, but I’m a believer that you should wrap things when you say you will.

Ari’s downward spiral got a little of what it’s been missing – human emotion – when Bobby Flay called his ex-wife by her first name for the FIRST TIME in the entire series. It’s a blink and you could miss the moment if you’re not watching closely, but Piven plays it well as his character composes himself and leaves the house with little fanfare. This defeated side of his character is entirely new.

Eric has the most work to do over the next two episodes. I have an inkling Drama’s strike, which ended this week, may not be as simple as it looks right now. But Eric just asked his partner to drop Johnny Galecki instead of Sloan, who’s yet to make a significant appearance, and is still juggling Melinda Clarke as well. It doesn’t seem like EP Doug Ellin and Company are holding anything back, but are they building up more than they can pay off?

Season 8, Episode 16 “The Big Bang” (Original Airdate August 28, 2011)

Entourage airs Sundays at 10:30 on HBO.

Images courtesy of HBO.

Our Idiot Brother Review: It’s About Time

Hell’s Kitchen Review: Black Jackets For Everyone! Almost Everyone…

Last night’s Hell’s Kitchen showed just what each competing chef was ready to go through in order to obtain the famous black chef coat from Chef Ramsay, whether it be crying, screaming, or playing the blame game. Besides actually winning the competition, the chefs strive to make it to the final black jacket stage, ultimately solidifying their place in the final five. Despite last week’s elimination of Natalie which left us with six chefs, things were back to normal quickly and before anyone knew it, Elise was still looking for a new unsuspecting lamb to slaughter and replace as her nemesis, Carrie. Of course, that only left Jennifer and Elizabeth on the red team.

The first challenge for the day was based on timing, something the entire group on Hell’s Kitchen seems to have a massive problem with. Each team member was responsible for throwing together a dish in an allotted amount of time (thirty minutes, twenty minutes or ten minutes) and hopefully have all three dishes finished and make it to the service counter at the exact same time- no easy task for scatterbrained chefs like Tommy and Elizabeth but, that’s why it’s a challenge. Miraculously, each team finished their dishes, just by the skin of their teeth, and went head to head with each other. Jennifer was up first against Tommy and, despite being barked at from the sidelines by Elise and Liz the whole time, was able to put together a winning lamb plate. This would be the only win for the red team, however, as the blue team’s secret weapons, Will and Paul, blew away the rest of the useless enemy team. The blue team won an awesome shopping spree at Los Angeles’ Ted Baker of London clothing store. The blue team legitimately deserved the win and, faced with loss once again, Elise couldn’t hold back her whimpering and the tears soon followed.

The frustrated red team had the duty of setting up the dining room for the first ever Hell’s Kitchen private VIP black tie charity event dinner that night. Two tables, filled with twenty-four guests from the American Cancer Society and the American Humane Society, were to be served six courses by the remaining six chefs. Each team member was responsible for two courses and leading their team in the kitchen to get the job done. Sounds easy, right? Right off the bat, chefs Tommy and Elizabeth were back in their old grooves of going completely mute when it came to leading their teams. No matter how many times these two claim to be “fighters”, neither one of them has a shot in hell of winning this thing. Elise’s bossiness came in handy when it was her turn to play kitchen dictator and her well-timed risotto got the red team off to a strong start. Tommy on the other hand couldn’t get his risotto act together and needed to be saved by his team mates. Seriously, how many times are they required to make risotto in this competition, two-thousand?

Jennifer has been the obvious leader on the red team, contrary to what fantasy Elise has been living in her head where she’s the queen of Hell’s Kitchen.  So naturally, the clash of personalities is beginning to form, especially with Carrie gone, and Elise has set her sights on new teammates to torture. Jennifer finally blew her top this time around and let out complete shit-storm of words on Elise which was then followed by both red team members calling sabotage on each other. I’m just really waiting for the much anticipated day when Jennifer tries to go after Elise with an array of pointy kitchen tools because it’s become dangerously close to that. The arguing proved to be a great distraction for the Reds and became an advantage for the Blues who began smoothly coasting through their entire dinner service as Jennifer and Elise continued to black out on one another under Ramsay’s disapproving gaze.

The red team was declared the losers, again, and all three members were in danger of going home this time. Elise and Jennifer just could not resist the urge to battle with each other like to squabbling hens in front of everyone during elimination, which then went on for what seemed like eternity. Liz awkwardly stood by looking as uncomfortable as a child being witness to a family altercation at the Thanksgiving dinner table. The entire blue team was given the coveted black chef coats which left only two jackets up for grabs. Jennifer was called up for judgment first but was given the famous Ramsay fake out and awarded a black jacket. Elise and Liz were left basically pleading for their spots in the competition. This was literal groveling, mind you, the likes of which I had never seen on Hell’s Kitchen before. As I had predicted, it was Liz’s lackluster and barely memorable performances that cost her a possible chance at running the famous BLT Steak restaurant. With one black jacket left, Elise was shown mercy and pushed on to the final five. With the elimination round over, the remaining five will join together and become one big, happy, unified team. I can’t wait to see whose throat Elise goes for next. With one mixed up team of Blues and Reds, things are about to get very interesting.

 

Season 9, Episode 12: 6 Chefs Compete (originally aired August 29, 2011)

To read what Chef Ramsay “himself” thinks about this episode, check out “Ramsay’s Diary – Entry 6” by Keith Kuramoto.

Images courtesy of FOX.

The Real Housewives of New Jersey: That’s one pink coat.

This week, I will attempt to fill Ash Z.‘s impressive shoes, but I’m not promising anything.

The recaps of previous episodes show the ongoing fighting between Ashley and her mom, culminating in Chris telling Ashley she’s got to get out of his house.  This fills me with hope — will this be the episode where the spoiled, selfish Ashley will finally – FINALLY – be hoisted on her own petard, and sent to live in her free $50,000 car?  Will it???  Sadly, it is not.  This week, we only see Ashley show up (late, of course) to her cousin Lauren’s party, despite ostensibly designing the t-shirts Lauren generously used.  The expression on Lauren’s face when she sees Ashley is priceless.  It’s all, “I cannot believe I’m related to this asshat.”

The gap in motivation between Ashley and her cousins looks even bigger this week, as Chris and Albie are asked by their Uncle Chris to start a business that will be family run, which is based in the brothers’ grandma’s old house.  Can you imagine what would happen if he’d asked Ashley to do the same?  She’d have turned the place into a party house, accidentally burned it to the ground, and then felt entitled to the insurance money.   I’m sorry to be harping on this but I seriously dislike this girl.  She’s got every shot in the world, and actual talent (her art isn’t that bad) and to see her just run all her chances into the ground makes me yell at the television.  And yelling at the television is generally the exclusive provence of my watching 16 & Pregnant.

Kathy throws a party for her alleged hound dog husband, Rich, at a middle eastern club complete with hookah pipes and belly dancers.  Everyone looks like they have a great time, probably because Teresa isn’t there to drop a ton of awkward on the party by saying something belittling or underhanded towards her family.  She does interview that if Caroline and Jacqueline decide to be her family’s friends, instead of her friends, then she’ll just have to de-friend them.  Oh, Teresa.  That head space you live in has got to be such a lonely place. Luckily it’s got a bright fuchsia fur coat to keep it warm.

So, at the beginning of the season, I told my husband that when it came to catfights, the women on the show had nothing on the men.  Really, I think it’s the Joes of the show who are the real drama queens.  This week, Joe Giudice backed me up by sending his brother-in-law threatening texts after Teresa invites he and Melissa to her book signing.  Joe Gorga shows up anyway, and touchingly (for this family) buys 10 copies of Teresa’s book.  He then tells his sister that she’s got to get her husband under control if they are going to be a family again.  And he’s got a point, because Teresa really needs to confront her husband, but it’s kinda douchebag to ask her to choose between her family and. . .her family.  And if Joe Gorga wasn’t so eager to be ‘right’, he’d see that.  Truth is, I was a little verklempt to see Teresa tear up as she wrote her book dedication to her brother.  And I was happy to see her begin to confront her husband on his BS at the end of the episode, although at this point I really doubt it’s going to go anywhere.  It’s going to take more than a chipped tooth for that Joe’s head to get on right.

Also in this episode, we hear Melissa sing in her studio.  At least I think that’s Melissa — hard to say with all the auto-tune going on.  For the love of god, can someone get these housewives to stop singing?  How do you think this song ranks to those of other Housewives LouAnn and Kim?  And would you ever buy black water, even if was sold by Albie or Chris?

Season 3, Episode 15: Black as Ink (original air date August 28, 2011)

Images courtesy of Bravo TV.

Breaking Bad Review: One Day At A Time

Midway through Breaking Bad’s fourth season, series creator Vince Gilligan has carved an unexpected chasm between the show’s dynamic duo of meth-dealing anti-heroes. Although things began with cancer-stricken chemistry teacher Walter White enlisting the help of delinquent druggie Jesse Pinkman for the sake of his family’s well-being, the tides have shifted over the course of the series and now focus on Jesse’s anguished conscience as Walt’s moral compass points farther south each week. The widening gap between the two men is as organic as it is manufactured, both an understandable by-product of the evolving severity of their operation, and an intended result of Mike and Gus’s ulterior motives. In Sunday’s installment, “Problem Dog,” the titular metaphor serves dual purpose as both a statement on the concept of loyalty within the confines of illicit business and a reference to Jesse’s interpretation of Gale’s murder.

The episode kicks off with Jesse playing an eerily apropos first-person shooter video game that hits a little too close to home and echoes Jesse’s conflicted desire to wallow in his guilt and punish himself. Even though he tries to cover his unhappiness with a fresh coat of paint on the walls of his former meth den, Jesse’s real despair is brought to light when he visits an NA meeting and expresses how the 12-step doctrine of acceptance and forgiveness shouldn’t apply to him. Aaron Paul’s astounding monologue reaches its peak when he lambasts his drug counselor for daring to suggest he overlook the past. How can he ever accept the fact that he’s responsible for someone’s untimely death, let alone forgive himself? His inability to move forward after committing cold-blooded murder is inversely proportional to Walt’s evolving nihilism, never more present than when he blows up Jr.’s new Challenger rather than pay the $800 restocking fee to take it back and heed Skyler’s wishes. As Jesse’s guilt and grief enter new phases, Walt ignores his partner’s angst and instead tests his loyalty by asking him to take care of the next “problem dog” nipping at their heels: Gus.

Although Jesse agrees with stone-faced seriousness to eliminate Gus “the first chance I get,” he finds himself torn between the relationship he’s begun to build with new mentor Mike and his obligations to Walt. Jesse’s blooming involvement in a different side of the business is almost a Bizarro version of his beginnings with Walt, as an over-eager, uncharacteristically naïve Gus prepares for his meeting with the cartel with yet another untouched crudite platter and bare bones conference room. When Gus’ offer of monetary compensation in exchange for a cease-fire is met with silent incredulity, the first chink in Gus’ seemingly impenetrable armor is visible. The message scrawled on the fry batter lid last week indicated his rival’s desire to discuss their ongoing discord, but this week’s virtually silent encounter lends vulnerability to a character who, just in the season premiere, sliced open a man’s throat to convey the stonewall loyalty he has to his business and perhaps nothing else. Before, Gus reveled in his audience’s silence; now, he’s desperate for any verbal response.

Jesse isn’t the only one aware of his own deepening conundrum. When he confronts Mike about the intentions behind bringing him on board with their side of the business, Mike reveals that he believes the “something” Gus sees in Jesse is, in fact, loyalty, regardless of whether it’s for the “wrong guy” or not. Despite Jesse keeping his “lucky cigarette” of homemade ricin handy for the perfect opportunity to poison Gus, his last-minute panic over slipping the substance into Gus’ coffee at the cartel meeting leads him to lie to an antsy, inquisitive Walt and say he hasn’t seen Gus since their brief encounter at the diner the previous week.

Hank’s rejuvenated mojo regarding his work for the DEA, meanwhile, is more than making up for his stint as a mineral-obsessed misogynist for the first few episodes of the season. Gale’s murder and Walt’s loose-lipped bravado have pointed Hank directly toward finally discovering Heisenberg, but his shrewd detective work has given him insight into a grander scheme that far surpasses the mystery behind Gale’s death. Thanks to Gus’ hospitable offer to refill Hank’s drink during his visit to Los Pollos Hermanos, Hank was able to match Gus’ fingerprint on the cup to one found inside Gale’s apartment, connecting the two with physical evidence even his curiously skeptical colleagues can’t deny. In the episode’s second major soliloquy, Hank presents his findings that uncover the possibility that an upstanding Albuquerque fast-food kingpin could be the real mastermind behind “the largest meth lab north of the border.” As the discord between Gus and the cartel escalates and Jesse and Walt continue to ponder their respective loyalties to the business, however, Hank’s continuing success in uncovering the big picture may result in him becoming the operation’s next “problem dog” to put down.

As the distinctions between each character’s respective positions in the series’ narrative continue to blur, it becomes easier to imagine their roles reversed. When Hank uses lunch with Jr. as an opportunity to snag the fingerprint from a clueless Gus, it’s suddenly clear that the season’s trajectory may not be prepping viewers for Walt’s downfall, but rather his ultimate transition into Gus’ position. Walt may not be holding a box cutter by season’s end, but with his skills in the laboratory on his side, his silent weapon will likely cut just as deep.

Do you think Hank’s fellow police officers are in Gus’ pocket already? Will Jr. get a job at Los Pollos Hermanos? How is Skyler going to pretend the car wash makes $7 million a year? Why does Marie like purple so much? Post your thoughts in the comments section below!

Season 4, Episode 7: Problem Dog (originally aired August 28, 2011)

Don’t miss Breaking Bad Sundays at 10/9c on AMC.

Photographs courtesy of AMC/Ben Leuner.

Sweet Home Alabama: Interview with Devin Grissom

So we’re down to the final week on CMT’s first foray into reality dating with the show Sweet Home Alabama, where country girl Devin searches for her Mr. Right. But before you go getting visions of stale roses, desperate contestants searching for their 15 minutes and producers chomping at the bit to create manufactured drama for manufactured romance, let me tell you that so far Sweet Home Alabama seems, dare I say it, normal.

Sweet Home Alabama shows Devin Grissom, a 20-year-old college student and country girl whose search for love sets her up with a group of 10 country boys and 10 city guys to see who will ultimately win her heart. Unlike those other televised searches for “romance,” Sweet Home Alabama sticks pretty much to the down home vs. big city feel that remains the crux of Devin’s decision for how her future’s going to be. Will she find love with a man from the big city? Or will Devin find that her heart’s always been in the South?

Ahead of the season finale airing this Thursday, September 1st, Poptimal.com got the chance to talk to Southern Belle Devin. Topics of conversation include her feelings for the final two guys, the show’s most difficult moments, and also her search to find that fairy tale.

Keshaunta Moton for Poptimal.com: What made you decide to do a reality show?
Devin Grissom: Actually I never even heard about Sweet Home Alabama, I had no idea what it was until the casting directors contacted me on Facebook. I guess people had been sending in applications, they were looking for girls in Alabama and they just hadn’t found the right one yet. They contacted me and wanted to do an interview with me because they said we really think you’re our girl. I was really skeptical about it at first because obviously if you get a Facebook message about something like that, you’re going to ask a few questions. So I definitely did that and got to the bottom of it. I realized it was something I was very, very interested in. Kind of like the opportunity of a lifetime. It’s been a whirlwind ever since.

Poptimal.com: What have you learned most about yourself during the process of Sweet Home Alabama?
Grissom: I guess I’ve learned that I’m really good in under pressure situations. Obviously, I’ve never experienced anything quite like this before, not very many people have. I didn’t really know how I would handle the situations. I didn’t know that I would get so emotionally involved in it. So, I definitely learned that I’m pretty good at listening to my heart and just handling situations as they come along with a good head on my shoulders. I’m kind of proud of myself for that.

Poptimal.com: That is something to be proud of. I mean, I’ve watched quite a few episodes myself and I don’t know how you can choose between 20 guys who want you. How do you deal with the emotional aspect of letting guys go week after week after week?
Grissom: People look on to this experience from the outside and they’re like, “Gosh you have it made” and “Any girl would love to be in your position.” But really it’s hard. People don’t really understand that it’s difficult; it’s emotional. Sweet Home Alabama isn’t like other dating shows where you get to just not give them a rose and then they’re kicked off and you don’t have to say anything to them. I’m actually sitting these guys down and having a heart to heart break-up talk with the guys and it really is tough. I just have to buckle down and realize that I’m going for an end result. I wanted to end up with one of these guys and I had to get through it to get to the end.

Poptimal.com: When you say a heart-to-heart break up talk with each guy, it sounds like a nightmare. But what are some of your favorite memories from the show?
Grissom: I would have to say my favorite memory would have to be our visit to Tuscaloosa. We pretty much started filming early in the summer not long after the tornado hit. It’s so nice to be back and give back a little bit and see more of the heart of some of these guys. See them on a real level of helping people, not just competing to win my heart.

Poptimal.com: On last night’s episode you narrowed it down to the final two: Adam and Tribble. You said that you didn’t expect to have these feelings for so many guys. What would you say you learned the most about love during this weekly process that you had?
Grissom: Like I said I didn’t really know what to expect going into this because reality television dating, people kind of have a bad taste in their mouth about it and a lot of people don’t think it will work and a lot of the time it doesn’t work. I definitely went in skeptical not knowing what exactly would happen, if I would even have a connection with any of the guys. But I went in with open eyes. I definitely learned that if you put yourself out there and the settings are right and the people are right, it could definitely work. And I am so, so happy with the guy I end up choosing. I can’t say that enough, how excited I am to actually be able to go out in public and do normal couple things, the whole dating thing. It’s going to be exciting.

Poptimal.com: That was actually my next question: are you happy now? But you said that you are very happy.
Grissom: Yes, I am. These past three or four months, just from the beginning of this process all the way through filming has been crazy. A once in a lifetime thing for me. I can’t see myself ever doing anything like this ever again. It’s just a lot of fun and I’m taking it day by day and I’m excited to see how the journey’s going to go after next Thursday night.

Poptimal.com: I understand that, of course you can’t say who. And I don’t want to spoil it, for myself at the very least. But you can’t go out and do regular couple things because you can’t let it be known who won; so do you guys hang out?
Grissom: I have seen the person a couple times, but we have to be very, very sneaky. We just have to do our best to talk to each other on the phone and text and just keep up with each other in other ways because if one person sees us it could come out. We have to be very careful.

Poptimal.com: On the show when the guys met your dad he seemed to think that this isn’t something that you should be doing, that it wasn’t the right path for you. Has he come around and changed his mind?
Grissom: Definitely. At the beginning of this whole process my dad was completely against it. He’s actually come around a lot. When I was first approached about it he was like absolutely no…that’s not the way to find love. I kind of decided on my own that it really was the right path for me and he respected that so he started to support more. And then when he actually came down to meet the guys he realized there really were four or five great guys. Ever since then, since the show’s been airing, he’s really gotten to see their personalities a lot more. They’ve grown on him a lot. He’s being very supportive and he loves his little TV debut. A group of friends came over and watched it with them.

Poptimal.com: Speaking of your parents, they’ve been married 34 years?
Grissom: Yes, they have.

Poptimal.com: That is awesome in and of itself. Can you give them a high five for me when we’re done?
Grissom: I surely will. My parents are the best role models I could possibly have. They have kind of a fairy tale perfect marriage and that’s what I’m basing my future off of. I want my future relationship to be just like theirs.

Poptimal.com: Did they give you any advice going onto the show?
Grissom: My mom was totally excited. My dad, his advice to me was don’t do it. But my mom just said, go in there, be yourself, and of course she was the sweet little Southern mom she is and she was like any of these guys would be lucky to have you. She kind of gave me a pep talk about it. I was so nervous going in; I didn’t know how it would work out. My mom was very supportive and she told me to be myself and stay true to my values and what I believed in.

Poptimal.com: Can you tell us about the most difficult moments for you on the show?
Grissom: The most difficult moment is coming next week, my final decision. I was in tears a lot as we were filming the last episode and most of it wasn’t while I was on camera, it was times when I was all by myself. I was so torn on what to do. I kind of felt it a little bit in this past episode, very emotional and not really sure with my decisions. I truly think that I made the right one so no matter how emotional and sad it was coming to the end decision, I’m very happy with how it turned out.

Poptimal.com: So, you’re down to the final two. You said it’s really hard for you next week, but before that can you tell us how you feel about each guy; let us in your head about your feelings for Adam versus those for Tribble?
Grissom: I took Adam on the first date. Just because of the first impressions, he was so warming and I could tell that this is someone I could build a relationship with. I think that’s so important in a relationship to have that first initial spark. He was such a gentleman; he was the only guy to not kiss and tell and not tell everybody that we shared that moment. That definitely scored brownie points for him. Adam [is] literally the sweetest guy. And just as charming and goofy in person as he is on the show. It’s so great to see that there are still guys out there like Adam.

And Tribble, I don’t think any woman in America can deny the fact that Tribble is absolutely drop dead gorgeous, just to put that out there first. He’s one of those guys that are just the life of the party. When I’m around him I’m just drawn to him and he’s just got that spark about him that makes you want to hang out with him. It’s hard to not want to be in a relationship with him. He was one of those guys that I was kind of scared of falling for way too easily and I definitely did. It just felt kind of natural. We have a lot of the same qualities.

Poptimal.com: So you’re a huge sports fan.
Grissom: I am.

Poptimal.com: What kind of fan are you? Are you a go to every game type of fan or go to every game painted head to toe, screaming til your lungs break kind of fan? Or somewhere in between?
Grissom: I have not gone to a game painted head to toe, but I don’t think that makes me any less of a fan. I definitely go decked out in school colors and I’m definitely screaming my lungs out at every single game. I’m a huge Alabama fan, not only the NFL, but NBA, baseball everything. I’m just a big sports fan all around.

Poptimal.com: Unfortunately I know nothing about sports, other than The Blind Side, The Replacements, and Remember the Titans.
Grissom: [laughs] All movies.

Poptimal.com: They’re all awesome movies. And they all revolve around these sort of “Hail Mary” moments. Can you tell us about your greatest real life sports upset?
Grissom: Last season, the Iron Bowl, which is pretty much the biggest rivalry in all of college football. Especially in the state of Alabama, it’s pretty much a religion. You’re either an Auburn fan or an Alabama fan. This past year at the Iron Bowl, which is the Alabama/Auburn game, Alabama got up 21 to nothing in the third pass. I don’t want to go into detail because I’ll start crying. We lost that lead and we just completely ruined the whole way and ended up losing the game 28 to 27. It was one of the most heart breaking moments of my entire life, I can honestly say that.

Poptimal.com: I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to dredge up bad memories for you. But on the other side what’s your favorite football memory?
Grissom: Definitely my favorite football memory would have to be the 2009 national championship with Texas. It was such an amazing year and it was pretty much all you could ask for as an Alabama fan. And I’m pretty sure we’re going to take it again this year. We’re starting off the pre-season at #2 and I think we I can see us going to the national championship game again, so I’ll keep my fingers crossed.

Poptimal.com: Well thanks for talking with us Devin and best of luck to you.
Grissom: Thank you.

Devin Grissom’s Favorite 5
Favorite Song: “Carolina” by Eric Church
Favorite Sound: My cat purring
Favorite Smell: My perfume, it smells like cotton candy
Favorite Memory: “I think my favorite memory would have to be with my dad. We used to go to the fair every single year together and eat corn on the cob. It seems insignificant but it’s always one I keep coming back to.”
Favorite Place: Bryant Deny Stadium.

Catch the season finale of Sweet Home Alabama on CMT this Thursday at 9/8c.

Images courtesy of Skip Bolen/Getty and Krista Lee Photography.

True Blood Review: The Sheriff Is Back In Town

Most Memorable Moments In This Weeks Episode:

1)   Eric, back to his witty self, telling Sookie, “I love you.” (BE STILL MY HEART!)

2)   Tommy Mickens kicks the bucket.

3)   Martonia having a spastic episode with herself.

4)   Jesus turning into a demon as he crosses Martonia’s protective spell.

5)   Eric, Pam, Jess, and Bill clad in black and exiting a van like the A-Team as they are about to blow up Moon Goddess Emporium.

Sookie (Anna Paquin) arrives in time to save King Bill (Stephen Moyer) as she erupts in a fury of lightning targeted at Eric (Alexander Skarsgard), who was still under Martonia’s (Fiona Shaw) control and about to kill Bill. She outs herself to Nan Flannigan as being more than just a waitress but it does sever the control the witch had on the sheriff and he regains his memory. The look he gives Sookie after realizing everything that’s happened…oh my heart did little flips of joy. The witch retreats with the other two vampires still under her control and the rest of team vampire regroups at Bill’s.

At casa de Compton, Eric and Sookie deal with the former having all his memories back and the latter admitting that she loves both Bill and him. She finds herself attracted to both vampires who have both manipulated and used her. In the case of Eric though it is his other side that he’s kept hidden (even from himself) for so long that she’s fallen in love with. As for Bill, well, I’m not really sure why she still loves him. Maybe it really is just chemical since he’s so recently fed her his blood again. Eric processes her words, everything that’s happened since he was bewitched, and his own feelings towards Sookie that still remains with him with his statement of “I love you.” This was telling her as much as confirming it for himself. Their moment is interrupted though as Pam (Kristen Bauer Von Straten) enters, relieved that her maker is back. This is another sweet moment between the two of them as Eric is the only thing that Pam cares about, aside from herself of course. Pam asks him why he didn’t summon her as soon as he regained himself, but Eric was too absorbed in re-acclimating himself and with this new dimension to his relationship with Sookie.

Bill declares that they are going to destroy Moon Goddess Emporium even with Tara (Rutina Wesley), Holly and the other humans still trapped inside. At the shop, Tara and Holly attempt to crack Martonia’s spell and free themselves. The “gift” must run in Tara and Lafayette’s (Nelsan Ellis) family if he’s a medium and she is able to cast spells. Perhaps Lettie Mae can rid houses of demons and there was truth to Ruby Jean Reynolds talking about how vampires and witches were after him because he was special last season. Foreshadowing much?

Sookie gets the aid of her brother, Lafayette and Jesus to try and rescue the humans from Moon Goddess Emporium. Jesus (Kevin Alejandro) says that Marnie must be doing this against her will and he needs to perform an exorcism to free her from Antonia’s spirit. Once he is able to break the barrier, we momentarily get a glimpse of a demon that we met back in Mexico via Jesus’s grandfather. We will probably learn a little more about this next season. Jesus finds out that Marnie is very much in control of the situation and is hell bent on exterminating the vampires no matter what the cost. Meanwhile Holly and Tara are busy casting a spell to help them break through Martonia’s and get the hell out of there. Just as they make it out of the store with Sookie and Lafayette running to meet them, Martonia appears and they all vanish. Jason is left behind wondering what the heck happened, again.

Last week Jason (Ryan Kwanten) and Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll) got physical but it seems that the guilt is laying in to heavy on Mr. Stackhouse. He admits that he wants the young vampire, but Hoyt (Jim Parrack) is like a brother to him and if he knew about this it would kill him. He asks her to glamour him into forgetting their truck sexcapade. Yikes, not what a girl wants to hear. Understandably Jess is pissed off and ready to just, “kill shit.”

In were and shifter news, may Tommy rest in peace. After getting beat up by Marcus and some of the other Shreveport pack members, young brother Mickens finds that he has shifted into Sam (Sam Trammell) one too many times. In the end it appeared to be shifting into another person that violently did something to him from the inside. As Alcide (Joe Manganiello) drives him to Merlotte’s, you can hear things snapping and breaking. Sam meets them there and with his brother at death’s door, he forgives him for all the crappy things Tommy’s done to him. Alcide helps him overpower a Shreveport pack member as they try to ascertain where Marcus is. Marcus is chatting up ol’ Debbie who looks to be setting her sight on the pack leader. She waxes on about how Alcide is a loner and doesn’t want kids while all she wants is to be normal, run with her pack, hunt and have kids. V-doing crazy Debbie looks to be making a comeback!

In a very heartening scene, Terry confronts Andy about his V addiction and takes him to Fort Bellefleur, a beloved tree house where they spent many days as kids. Terry went there when he came back from serving in Iraq and we learn that he became a drug addict as he coped with PTSD. Andy was unfailingly loyal to him throughout that time and now he’s repaying the favor. We witness some good ol’ male bonding.

Once night hits, Bill, Jessica, Pam and Eric make their way to Moon Goddess Emporium, armed with rocket launchers. I’m guessing they over powered Nan Flannigan. What I’m curious about is Eric’s ominous statement that, “her time is over.” Does he know something we don’t? Probably. The cheesiness of the song that was picked for the head on four person walking shot at the end, well aren’t we all glad they saved THAT for the last frame.

Till next Sunday, where it’s sadly our second to the last episode of season four. She’d better choose Eric dammit.

Season 4, Episode 10: Burning Down The House (originally aired August 28, 2011)

Images Courtesy of HBO

Doctor Who Review: You Will Experience a Tingling Sensation While Reading This Review

On Saturday, I moved into an apartment as Hurricane Irene’s storm clouds gathered. My roommate and I called the cable company demanding someone set up our service that very day because we had to watch Doctor Who in the evening. Believe it or not, said cable company told us we were crazy and scheduled us for next week (lame). This is just part of my “Must Watch Doctor Who” adventure from Saturday (which may or may not have seen me brave torrential downpours to get to a TV), but boy, was it worth it because the second half of season 6 is so far living up to the grandness from June.

“Let’s Kill Hitler” actually had very little to do with Hitler. In fact, it would seem our heroes just sort of left him waiting in a cupboard. But it was a terrific title nonetheless and definitely got a lot of people’s attention.

But anywho, the Doctor, Amy and Rory are all on the search for baby Melody when they reconvene in a cleverly made crop circle. Rory and Amy’s childhood friend Mels comes zooming in out of nowhere, escaping from the police, and is pleased to finally get the chance to meet the famous Doctor whom Amy was always talking about growing up. Long story short, Mels turns out to be none other than Melody, Rory and Amy’s daughter and I for one can’t help but find that really, really weird. I mean, you grow up being best friends with your daughter without even knowing it? That’s all sorts of wrong.

Mels pulls out a gun on the Doctor and chooses Berlin, 1938, as the next time traveling destination. The Doctor and crew are not the only ones in Berlin making plans to visit Hitler; the Teselecta is a robot put together by the Justice Department to time travel and torture people “deemed to have broken the law.” It can take the form of any person and is operated by miniaturized people. It’s definitely one of my favorite “villains” from this season so far. Especially when we get great lines from it like, “Welcome. You will experience a tingling sensation and then death.”

So, as mentioned, Mels is Melody and we all know from “A Good Man Goes to War” that Melody becomes River Song. Seeing Mels regenerate into River Song was amazing and not something I was expecting to see. And though she looks like River Song, she’s not technically the River Song we know yet. She’s still getting used to her new look and is programmed to kill the Doctor, which she nearly succeeds in doing. It’s a lot to take in, this new dynamic between River/Amy/Rory/The Doctor but Alex Kingston really does nail it in this episode and made it such a fun watch.

“Let’s Kill Hitler” answered many questions from part 1 of season 6, but it also leaves plenty of space for more adventure and intrigue for later in the season. I, for one, am so glad the Doctor is back!

Season 6, Episode 8: Let’s Kill Hitler (originally aired August 27, 2011)

Doctor Who airs Saturdays at 9/8c on BBC America.

Image courtesy of BBC America.

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