Happy Memorial Day! Before I talk TV, I just want to remind everyone to remember those men and women who gave their lives while serving in the armed forces. Men and women in the military have a hard, often thankless job, and they and their families deserve to be remembered. As for TV, it’s a slow night tonight, but there’s some great, fun stuff on, so check out what we’re recommending.
Jenny’s Choice #1
American Ninja Warrior is back, baby! I love this show. If you haven’t seen it, it’s the American version of a Japanese competition, where men and women across the country run an insane series of obstacle courses in both qualifying and final rounds before the national finals in Las Vegas for a chance to win a cash prize of $500,00 and the title “American Ninja Warrior.” The challenges are just seriously insane, and the contestants are amazing. This season, there will be school teachers, firemen, current and former members of the military, amateur sports enthusiasts, and even a few Olympic gold medalists competing for the chance to go to Vegas, where they face the hardest course yet: modeled after the famed Mt. Midoriyama in Japan. Just as a side note… There are additional episodes that will air on Esquire this season. (Last season, they were on G4.) On the next episode on NBC, they will show highlights from the Esquire episode, but I recommend watching those episodes as well. They will air the day after each NBC episode.
Tonight is a 2-part episode. The first is a one-hour special, “Countdown to American Ninja Warrior 2014,” where they count down the most exciting moments of the series. Then, on the 2-hour season premiere, “Venice Beach Qualifying,” competitors must tackle ten obstacles in the qualifying round including three brand new obstacles; the Slack Ladder, the Jumping Bars Into Cargo, and the Cannonball Alley. Olympian rower Susan Francia and luger Kate Hanson tackle the course along with Ninja veteran David Campbell.
See all the action tonight on NBC at 8/7c & 9/8c.
Jump with us to see else we think you should watch.
Megan’s Choice
It’s time for MasterChef to start its fifth season, and I am super excited. First, we have Graham coming back with a surprising new look after a big weight loss, and second, we have lots of exciting new challenges coming up. A couple of seasons ago, I enjoyed Hell’s Kitchen more than I did MasterChef, but due to the quality of the competition, I am now putting MasterChef as my favorite. The combination of all three judges and the great challenges make this show some must see TV that I hope you’re as anxious to see as I am.
On tonight’s episode, “Top 30 Compete,” 30 of the best home cooks in America compete for a chance to win the “MasterChef” title, a cookbook deal, and $100,000.
To see how this new group of home cooks measures up, tune in to FOX at 8/7c.
I’ll also be watching American Ninja Warrior, The World Wars, 24: Live Another Day, and Mystery Diners.
Kyle’s Choice
On last week’s episode of 24: Live Another Day, Jack used a riot outside the embassy as a distraction to make his way inside and retrieve the flight key from Tanner. However, he got trapped inside and took hostages while Chloe tried to download the data on the key. Elsewhere, Navid was starting to have second thoughts about his role in piloting the drones, so Margot put pressure on him by threatening to chop off Simone’s fingers one at a time until he complied. After seeing the pinky removed from his wife’s left hand, Navid had a sudden change of heart. Meanwhile, Jack spoke to Heller and told him all about the threat; and Kate helped him escape, but not before taking the flight key and promising to get the data on it to Chloe.
It must have been a frightening experience growing up in the Al-Harazi household—a mother who’s willing to chop her own daughter’s fingers off in order to influence her son-in-law?! Talk about crazy in-laws! It’s already been a busy day for Jack, and he’s still got 20 more hours to go! Even if he does manage to stop the drone threat, is there any way for him to live freely once again? I’m looking forward to another action-packed hour tonight!
On tonight’s episode, “Day 9: 3:00 PM-4:00 PM,” an impending attack brings two unlikely people together to stop it; Margot makes her demands known; and President Heller’s order for a military lockdown may be too late.
See which two people come together to stop the attack tonight on FOX at 9/8c.
I’ll also be watching/recording Friends with Better Lives, MasterChef, and Rewrapped.
Jenny’s Choice #2
My second pick tonight is the TV movie Petals on the Wind. This is the sequel to the TV movie Flowers in the Attic, which was based on the book of the same name, written by V.C. Andrews. I read the book as a kid, and I watched the movie. Even as controversial a subject matter as it is, I loved it and was happy with how it was translated from what I remember of the book. When I learned about the sequel last week, I was thrilled.
A decade after Cathy, Christopher, and Carrie escaped from their grandparents’ attic at Foxworth Hall, Petals on the Wind continues to follow the twisted plight of the family as they attempt to put their sordid past behind them, but soon discover certain secrets can’t be left behind. When Cathy finds herself in an abusive relationship with a fellow dancer, she and Christopher are forced to face the forbidden feelings they developed for each other while coming of age during captivity. And when tragedy strikes the Dollangangers once again, Cathy returns to Foxworth Hall to confront her grandmother and seek revenge on her mother with a plan to seduce her husband. When Christopher runs to Cathy’s side, the two are determined to start over again – together. Starring Heather Graham, Ellen Burstyn, Rose McIver, Wyatt Nash, Bailey Buntain, Dylan Bruce, and Will Kemp.
Check out the insane family drama tonight on Lifetime at 9/8c.
I’ll also be watching/DVRing MasterChef, Rewrapped, Friends with Better Lives, & Mystery Diners.
