I am really enjoying this temporary lull in the TV season as fall shows wind down and just before the summer shows start up—I actually have a chance to clear up my TiVo backlog and catch up on some movies! But as the networks move to year-round programming, this lull is getting shorter and shorter, and tonight, we’ve got handful of series/season premieres. In addition to those we are going to mention below, I’d like to point out that tonight, The CW is also premiering a 2-night miniseries, Labyrinth, which aired a couple of years ago in Canada and some other countries. Here’s what else we recommend you check out tonight…
Kyle’s Choice
Tonight, the new action-drama Gang Related joins FOX’s primetime lineup. The series follows the elite Los Angeles Gang Task Force as they try to take down the gangs that are corrupting the city. The task force is led by Sam Chapel (Terry O’Quinn), who is unaware that one of his team members, Detective Ryan Lopez (Ramon Rodriguez), had sworn allegiance to the leader of the Latino gang Los Angelicos as a child. Lopez finds himself trying to balance his two worlds—attempting to do what is right, while also feeding information to Javier Acosta (Cliff Curtis), the gang’s leader. The cast also includes RZA, Rey Gallegos, Jay Hernandez, Sung Kang, Inbar Lavi, and Shantel VanSanten.
I thought this was an interesting premise, turning the usual undercover cop idea on its head. I’m interested to see how the story moves forward, how Lopez manages to keep his double-life a secret, and if we will see him choose one loyalty over the other.
On tonight’s episode, “Pilot,” Ryan teams up with a street-savvy veteran cop after his partner is killed by a well-known hoodlum.
See how the story begins tonight on FOX at 9/8c.
I’ll also be watching/recording Bad Teacher, Hollywood Game Night, & Labyrinth.
Jump with us to see else we think you should watch.
Megan’s Choice #1
The last episode of Hell’s Kitchen had me stunned by the blue team’s performance, because it was like they had never cooked before. I think the chef that most annoys me is Anton because he seems to think he is a superstar and that he can boss everyone around, when in reality, it’s his lack of timing skills that kept messing everyone else up. Ralph had a bad week that had him feeling sick as a dog and then getting eliminated for putting up raw fish. Overall, I think that Chef Ramsay has some decisions to make about that blue team, because their communication is the worst I’ve ever seen on this show. I’m curious to see if it gets better tonight, but I’m not holding my breath.
On tonight’s episode, “10 Chefs Compete,” after an emotional elimination, Chef Ramsay challenges the contestants to a team competition, testing their knowledge of pork. The winning team is rewarded with an indoor sky-diving experience, while the competition gets nuts for the losing team as they prepare for the dinner service. Later during the dinner service, the competition heats up as one team struggles to divide responsibilities in the kitchen while the other team is unable to coordinate timing and food delivery. With both teams unable to successfully complete the dinner service, Chef Ramsay challenges the contestants to work together in a completely new way.
To see what has Chef Ramsay changing it up, tune in to FOX at 8/7c.
Jenny’s Choice
We last saw Last Comic Standing four years ago, in 2010. For whatever reason, NBC decided to bring it back this summer, and while I’m hesitant because Roseanne Barr is one of the new judges, I loved the show before, and I like the other new judges, Keenen Ivory Wayans and Russell Peters, as well as host JB Smoove. The top 100 comics in America will be narrowed down to the top 10. In the challenge rounds, those 10 will compete in different comedy disciplines, such as sketch, improv, and stand-up, proving themselves both individually and in teams. In the end, the winner will take the coveted title of “Last Comic Standing,” winning a prize package that includes $250,000, an NBC talent deal, and a half-hour scripted project to be developed by Universal Television.
On tonight’s 2-hour season premiere episode, “Premiere,” the auditions kick off with three new celebrity judges and a new host, but this time, not just anyone can try out, as the auditions are by invitation only, leaving 100 comcis to compete for the 20 spots in the semi-final round.
Laugh along with me (and groan at what are sure to be some terrible jokes) tonight on NBC at 9:01/8:01c.
I’ll also be watching/DVRing Hell’s Kitchen, Hollywood Game Night, Chopped Canada, & Food Court Wars.
Megan’s Choice #2
Chopped Canada is just as awesome as its American counterpart, and I love every episode. Last episode, we watched as the chefs had to cook with candy rolls in the appetizer round and were puzzled by the dates in the dessert round. You’d think that dates would be an easy ingredient, but they can be overly sweet if not prepared properly—then add the complication of habanero peppers, and you have a difficult dessert. Personally, I would have made sweet and spicy date squares with mango ice cream, but that’s just me. What’s your best idea when watching one of these cooking challenge shows?
On tonight’s episode, “The Spruce is Loose,” one chef finds himself in hot water when mussels and mushrooms appear in the appetizer round. A beverage from the space age makes for a sweet surprise in the dinner round. The chefs spruce things up in the dessert round with plantains and palm sugar.
To see what element involves spruce, tune in to Food Network at 10/9c.
I’ll also be watching Gang Related, Last Comic Standing, and Food Court Wars.
