If We Controlled Your Remote… 2/13/14

This past weekend, I was lucky enough to secure a 4-day pass for San Diego Comic-Con, so I’ll be attending the show for my fifth year in a row. The rest of this week has been pretty slow—I knew that the primetime TV lineup would be a bit lighter during the Olympics, but I didn’t expect it to be a ghost town! The one good thing is that it has given me some time to make some progress on a large pile of Blu-rays I need to review. If you’re not watching the Olympics, then we’ve got some other suggestions for you to check out tonight.

Kyle’s Choice

Tonight at midnight, Netflix will release the 13-episode second season of the hit original series, House of Cards. I was pleasantly surprised by the series last year. I had waited for Netflix to release it on Blu-ray before I watched, and then I pretty much watched it non-stop, completing the entire season in one weekend. The series follows congressman Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) and his ambitious wife Claire (Robin Wright) as they ruthlessly manipulate those in power in Washington, D.C. as they make their way to the top. As the first season came to a close, Frank had managed to convince the current VP to step down and run for governor of Pennsylvania. The President then asked him to fill the vacancy.

Will Underwood actually become the VP, or will the President change his mind? Will the press figure out the truth about what Underwood has been up to or about his involvement in Russo’s death? Who or what will Underwood set his sights set on next? Will this cockroach ever get what’s coming to him? I can’t wait to see where the series goes next.

On the season opener, “Chapter 1,” allegiances are abandoned after a promise is broken.

Check out all thirteen episodes starting tonight on Netflix at 12AM/11PMc.

I’ll also be watching/recording Rake and King of the Nerds.
 
Jump with us to see else we think you should watch.
 

Jenny’s Choice

I can’t believe two of my favorites—Josh and Mary Kate—are gone from King of the Nerds. Zach ended them both. He is a piece of work. My husband thinks he lives in the basement of his parents’ house and has never grown up. I think he has anger management problems and has parents, family, and friends who have made him think the sun shines up his behind. Whatever. Maybe he’s very different in real life. That wouldn’t be the first case of someone coming off different on TV than they are in the real world. But if I were him, I’d be ashamed to watch these episodes as they aired and see how my behavior came across.

As for last week’s episode, it was a lot of fun. The teams had to participate in a LARP, and I was THRILLED when the purple team won. I don’t know technically if one was more “LARPy” than the other, but the purple was more fun to watch. They had AMAZING costumes and makeup, while the yellow team was very…lackluster and seemed very last-minute—except Jack, who looks adorable with a shaved head. Then poor Mary Kate’s luck ran out when she rolled 1 too many times. I think she’d have taken Zach out if she’d rolled 2 or more a few more times. Ah well. It’s a fun show regardless of (& sometimes because of) the tension and craziness.

On tonight’s episode, “Ready, Set, Robot Dodgeball,” the teams are evened out as they must build their own robots to compete in “Robot Dodgeball.” And an alliance is shattered in the Nerd Off against a horde of familiar zombies. Matt Winston (co-founder of the Stan Winston School) and Al Kaplon guest star.

See the coolest game of dodgeball ever tonight on TBS at 10/9c.

I’ll also be watching/DVRing The Taste, Chopped Canada, & two episodes (including the season finale) of Panic Button.
 

Megan’s Choice

The Taste has had a lot of ups and downs this season, but overall, it’s an enjoyable cooking show. I enjoy watching some of my favorite professional chefs mentor their teams. Of course, Ludo is always easy on the eyes—I can even overlook his pompous attitude because at the heart of it, he’s a pretty decent guy. Last week, Anthony lost Shellie and Brad from his team, and I have to be honest that I’m not surprised, because Ludo’s team has been dominating the competition as of late, although Marcus has a strong team, as well. I think that it’s going to be Anthony’s team eliminated completely next, with both Marcus and Ludo having chefs left in the finale.

On tonight’s episode, “Good With Beer,” beer is the featured ingredient of this week’s challenge. With six remaining cooks in the kitchen, the mentors and their teams get out of the studio and into some of their favorite Los Angeles-area restaurants for beer and food pairings. From salty animal flesh and shellfish to spicy and exotic foods, the competitors are feeling the pressure knowing that this week’s challenge will determine who will be sent home and who will move on to the finale. Chef Jonathan Waxman is the guest judge for this challenge and serves the remaining cooks a curve ball they never saw coming as time ticks down during the group challenge.

To see how the teams handle this week’s challenges, tune in to ABC at 8/7c.

I’ll also be watching Chopped Canada, Appalachian Outlaws, and American Idol.
 

JJ’s Choice

I must say that I was really skeptical of another season of American Idol, where JLo would be judging again. At the time, it seemed like such a step back after the step forward by losing Randy Jackson on the judging panel. But Harry Connick Jr is great, Keith Urban seems to have upped his game, and JLo has, so far, been quite acceptable as a judge. It will all be revealed at the live shows, but for now, I’m excited. And some of the contestants have really made an impression, but I’m reserving judgement until we’ll know which contestants will show up in the live show.

On tonight’s episode, “Hollywood Round, Week #3,” the contestants have one final round to go, as the judges reveal the Top 15 Boys and Top 15 Girls. The Hollywood rounds end with a new twist as the judges reveal the top semi-finalists.

Find out who make the cut and what the big twist is tonight on FOX at 8/7c.