If We Controlled Your Remote… 11/6/11

Happy Halloween! Well, at least it is today for many Massachusetts towns after last weekend’s disastrous Nor’easter that left many (including me) without power for 4 days! I have been madly trying to catch up on all the TV shows I missed last week, so it’s a good thing we got that extra hour today! We are now in the midst of November sweeps, and that means primetime is going to be loaded with new episodes and specials, and tonight’s another packed line-up!

Kyle’s Choice

The Walking Dead has become my new appointment show for Sundays. I really look forward to it each week! Last week, we discovered what a horrible person Shane could be, shooting Otis so that the zombies would have a distraction to feast on and he could get away. Meanwhile, Carl still struggled to hold onto life while awaiting the medical supplies needed to remove the remaining bullet fragments. It seems like Shane’s guilt is starting to overcome him, and I wonder what kind of karmic payback is in his future, especially if the others discover what he did to Otis. Maybe he should just run off with Andrea, who also seems to be losing her grasp on reality, due to the loss of her sister! Will Carl survive, and when is the group going to give up on finding Sophia?! How could this little girl possibly still be alive, unless she’s some sort of Rambo or MacGyver?!

In tonight’s episode, “Cherokee Rose,” Shane’s deadly sacrifice leads to strange behavior, while the rest of the group contemplate the fine line between living and dying.

See the new episode tonight on AMC at 9/8c. Learn where to find episodes online of The Walking Dead @ Clicker.
 
Jump with us to see what else we think you should watch.
 

Jenny’s Choice #1

I loved last week’s episode of The Next Iron Chef. These are some fantastic chefs, and that showed in the quality of their dishes. I was surprised when Spike Mendelsohn got sent home, but honestly, no matter who it had been, it would have surprised me. lol In the premiere episode, Mendelsohn won the draw of matches, and he got to pick his partner for the Chairman’s Challenge, as well as pair up the other contestants. He figured his best shot was with early favorite Marcus Samuelsson. The chefs then had to cook outside, where they had to butcher a pig, and then create two dishes. We saw everything from Crispy Pig Ear Salad to Grilled Pork Pork Chop with Pigs Brain Duxelle, and that was just from one team! It was an interesting challenge, that’s for sure! The team of Michael Chiarello & Geoffrey Zakarian (frequent judge on Chopped) won with their Pork Shoulder with Barigoule Spit-Roasted and Pork and Salsify with Pickled Kidneys. (Yum…Blech. haha) Coming in last was Mendelsohn & Samuelsson, which surprised everyone. The two of them had to then cook a dish using scallops. It was a close race, but Samuelsson’s Seared Scallops with Porcini and Scallop Corn Miso Sou won out slightly over Mendelsohn’s Scallop Sofrito, leaving Spike Mendelsohn as the first eliminated chef. It was a lot of fun, and I can’t wait until the new ep!

On tonight’s episode, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” the chef competitors journey to Petco Park in San Diego, California, where Alton Brown challenges them to create Iron Chef-quality cuisine by utilizing classic ballpark fare as their inspiration in the “transformation” test.

Check it out tonight on Food Network at 9/8c. Learn where to find episodes online of The Next Iron Chef @ Clicker.
 

Megan’s Choice

Growing up, we all loved our fairytales, and every week, watching Once Upon a Time is a glance into the world of our favorite characters – but with a twist. What happens after “And They Lived Happily Ever After”? Does the evil queen take revenge? Well, in this show, she did. That revenge is why our beloved characters are lost in the real world, without any knowledge of who they are. Prince Charming is in a coma, Snow White is a teacher, and the Evil Queen is the mayor. It’s enough to make your head spin, but it’s a wonderful journey. Both episodes so far have cultivated my love of the fairytales even more, and we are already so invested in these characters’ lives. I’m so excited waiting for each episode, week to week.

On tonight’s episode, “Snow Falls,” at Henry’s urging, Emma convinces Mary Margaret to pay a visit to a comatose John Doe in the hospital and to read to him from the storybook. But Mary Margaret is stunned at the outcome of her visit. Meanwhile, back in the fairytale world, Prince Charming meets Snow White for the first time in a most unexpected way.

To allow yourself to be swept up in the imagination of what happens after the story ends, tune in to ABC at 8/7c. Learn where to find episodes online of Once Upon a Time @ Clicker.
 

Lisa’s Choice

The sky is the limit when you watch Pan Am! Fans have been over the moon about the recent announcement of five new scripts that have been ordered for this epic drama that is set in the 60s. Last week, Kate was asked by the CIA to try and turn her beau Niko into a US government asset. Dean realized that his short fling with Ginny was taking a very dark turn and made a clean break. Maggie found herself almost at the brink of losing her job after a preflight mishap! Also, Laura and Maggie found themselves in over their heads while in Rio after trying to purchase a few souvenirs. Living the life of Riley does have its perks, but it also can have its price, so tune in and see what kind of high flying action or situation the crew of the Majestic will get involved in.

Tonight, on an all new episode, sparks begin to fly between Laura and a sailor (guest star Gaius Charles, Friday Night Lights) on a special, and very unusually wild, Pan Am flight that is bringing servicemen home. This leads Laura to realize what she actually is looking for in a man. This also opens her eyes to the malicious racial climate that is going on in the country. Meanwhile, Kate’s complicated mission to turn Niko to work for the US government culminates in dramatic fashion, threatening their personal relationship. While tuning in, be sure to tweet along with Gaius Charles (@GaiusCharles), who will be answering questions and providing insight into the episode!

Watch the drama unfold on ABC at 10/9c! Learn where to find episodes online of Pan Am @ Clicker.
 

Jenny’s Choice #2

Besides loving TV, I’m also a huge reader. I love books. I read some romance, but my main source of reading entertainment is cop & murder mysteries (I read like I watch, apparently!). And one of my favorite authors & series are the John Sandford “Prey” books. So imagine my excitement when I heard John Sandford’s Certain Prey was coming to TV, starring Mark Harmon, who I love on NCIS. I am so excited, because I love when my favorite books come to TV. (Example? One of my favorites: Rizzoli & Isles, based on the Tess Gerritsen series) Besides Harmon, who plays the lead character, the show also stars Tatiana Maslany (Heartland) & Lola Glaudini (Criminal Minds).

It centers on Lucas Davenport (Harmon), the Deputy Chief of Police for the city of Minneapolis. Davenport doesn’t need his job; he could have retired long ago with the money he made designing computer simulations. But Davenport loves what he does just as much as he loves nice suits, fast cars, and women. When a cop is shot after witnessing the murder of the wife of a local real estate lawyer, Davenport is called to the scene. The cops quickly zero in on the husband as the prime suspect until a team of FBI agents (or “feebs” as Davenport describes them) descends on Minneapolis with evidence linking the crime to elusive hit woman Clara Rinker (Maslany). Taking charge of the investigation, Davenport suspects that Clara is not working alone and sets his sights on Carmel Loan (Glaudini), a high-powered attorney with an intense obsession for the real estate lawyer. As Carmel and Clara try to cover up their crimes, the body count grows and Davenport does what he does best – break all of the rules to nab this deadly duo.

Tune in tonight on USA Network at 9/8c.