TV Recaps

'Glee' Recap: 'Heart'

Posted 2/15/12 11:05 am ET by Kevin P. Sullivan in TV Recaps

Glee After several weeks of kinda lackluster episodes, "Glee" delivered a much-improved hour, thanks mostly to turns by Jeff Goldblum and Brian Stokes Mitchell as the long-teased Mr. and Mr. Berry. Finally, the character of Rachel makes perfect sense.

The episode kicked off with Sugar Motta—who I will remind you is a character on the show—inviting everyone to her couples-only Valentine's Day party. The problem was that both Artie and Rory wanted to take Sugar to the party, as if it wasn't something entirely invented for the episode.

Hilariously, Rachel's dads lured both their daughter and Finn to the school auditorium with a note from Mandy Patinkin. They knew about the engagement and, as usual, offered their unwavering support for their daughter. Both Goldblum and Mitchell fell right into their characters without resting on stereotypes.

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'Smash' Recap: 'The Callback'

Posted 2/14/12 9:59 am ET by MTV News in TV Recaps

Smash Megan Hilty Jack Davenport by Erin Strecker

If last week’s "Smash" was the overture—all loud and emotional and intoxicating—then last night’s episode, “The Callback,” was the exposition. We met a lot of new characters, like Ivy’s scheming friend who gave his gal pal updates on Karen’s less-than-impressive dance auditions, and also had a lot of plot set-up with producer conflicts and family drama. And, of course, a whole lot of singing and dancing.

Much like viewers, the “judges” (the show’s producers and director) couldn't pick their favorite girl to be Marilyn based off their stellar “Let Me Be Your Star” renditions that closed last week’s episode. They decided to have another callback, where both Ivy and Karen sang an emotional, ballad version of “Let Me Be Your Star” that didn’t make the Marilyn casting decision any easier. Karen is too green; Ivy too polished.

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'Vampire Diaries' Recap: 'Dangerous Liasons'

Posted 2/10/12 10:20 am ET by MTV News in TV Recaps

Vampire Diaries by Cassie Title

I’ve got to hand it to Julie Plec and Kevin Williamson: Just when you think they’ve run out of new ideas for town events, they slap you across the face with a full-on ball. Yes, that’s right—a fairy-tale-style ball, complete with gowns, tuxes, waltzing and cocktails. And the hosts of said ball? None other than the Originals, or shall we say, the Mikaelson family, as they’re calling themselves these days. (The homage to Mikael is nice, and I’m guessing they wouldn’t use it if he was still alive, because it would be pretty awkward if your name was Mikael Mikaelson.) But I digress.

Esther decides to throw the party to celebrate her family’s reunion, but we all know she has something else up her sleeve. Which brings us to the plan.

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'Secret Circle' Recap: 'Valentine'

Posted 2/10/12 10:02 am ET by MTV News in TV Recaps

Secret Circle by Ryan J. Downey

Shelley Hennig warned us that Diana would get all hopped up on Devil's Spirit and get into some silliness on this week's episode of "The Secret Circle." It was some welcome levity on the traditionally very serious hit series about a coven of teen witches in a sleepy boat town. This week "The Secret Circle" let its hair down, with some punchy dialog ("bitch, hurry"), teenage hijinks and an action-movie pace.

There was (finally!) the (almost) return of John Blackwell by episode's end (more on that later) and the negative effects of drug use were on display without any hackneyed heavy handed preaching from the show's writers, as is often the trap many shows have fallen into.

Trumping those exciting elements, of course, was all of the making out.

Cassie and Adam! Diana and Lee! Diana and some dude! Faye and Jake in bed together, post hookup! For an episode featuring an "anti-Valentine's" party, there sure was a lot of hooking up in "Valentine." Of course there was also some possession and some ghost witches… It was still "The Secret Circle" after all, not "90210." We depend on these supernatural series to give us some a seance with our soap.

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'Glee' Recap: 'The Spanish Teacher'

Posted 2/8/12 10:48 am ET by Kevin P. Sullivan in TV Recaps

Glee What did we just watch? I know time passed because the depression in my couch grew deeper and the bottle of wine next to me was empty, but I have almost no memory of the hour I spent watching "Glee." Which is probably for the best since my notes about the cover of "Sexy and I Know It" seem to be entirely made up of demonic verses in Latin. Best not to reflect on that.

Anyway, this week's episode opened with the purposely insensitive scene in Will's Spanish class. You do have to hand the writers one thing with the new episode. They finally acknowledged that there was no way Will Schuester would be a competent Spanish teacher, so he enrolled in night courses taught by none other than Ricky Martin.

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'Pretty Little Liars' Recap: 'The Naked Truth'

Posted 2/7/12 11:41 am ET by Amy Wilkinson in TV Recaps

In case you, like me, were wondering, "Truth Up" doesn't appear to be a real thing (at least according to Google), meaning last night's "Pretty Little Liars" wasn't a true "very special episode." But with bribes, illegitimate pregnancies and potential child abuse at the forefront, it sure did cover some heady ground.

As you could have predicted, the episode began in the vice principal's office, where a suitable punishment for Hanna's naked Kate text blast was the topic of discussion. Instead of expelling her, VP Tamborelli decided Hanna and Kate would have to work out their differences during the school's Truth Up event, a night of secret spilling meant to heal old wounds, build camaraderie and send teens into a panicky truth spiral.

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'Smash' Premiere Recap: We've Got Ourselves A Star!

Posted 2/7/12 9:29 am ET by MTV News in TV Recaps

Smash by Erin Strecker

Sorry, McKinley High. There’s a new musical show in town, and it’s loud, dramatic, emotional, engaging and captivating—and there are no regionals in sight. "Smash," the musical drama about the making of a musical—with some drama!—finally aired last night after being advertised pretty much non-stop. I kind of loved it.

The show takes place around the mounting of a new Broadway musical concerning the suddenly-everywhere Marilyn Monroe. (Seriously, I kept expecting Michelle Williams to walk through the audition doors to throw her hat in the ring.) Successful musical writers Julia (Debra Messing) and Tom (Broadway star Christian Borle) are working on a new collaboration. Enter Ivy (Megan Hilty), a chorus girl from another of Tom’s productions. She has her sights on being a star, and she definitely has the voice—and the look—for the part.

There’s no business like show business however, and from the get-go, "Smash" set up a lot of conflicts for down the road. While working on this brand-new top-secret Marilyn project, Tom’s assistant taped Ivy singing a demo and the footage wound up online. Bad news bears. Or it should have been, but people, particularly one hard-to-please critic, loved the track, and instead of quickly killing the project, the musical is now on the fast track for production.

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'Secret Circle' Recap: 'Medallion'

Posted 2/3/12 10:12 am ET by MTV News in TV Recaps

Secret Circle by Ryan J. Downey

What better way to celebrate someone's birthday in Chance Harbor than with witch drugs, sharp objects, evil jewelry and a steamy forbidden kiss? Adam's ex-girlfriend and his dad threw a birthday party for him on this week's episode of "The Secret Circle," but all of the real action happened elsewhere. John Blackwell is definitely alive! Cassie is getting darker! And Jake made out with Faye!

There were adults in peril, as well. Dawn got stabbed (!) and had to be rescued by Charles, who had just come from drugging Ethan and stealing back Henry's power crystal. Who stabbed Dawn? Witch hunter "psychic" Lucy Gibbons, who after betraying Dawn set about trying to trick the Circle out of their power, only to eventually have her own throat slit by her mysterious master.

"Medallion" reminded us that witch hunters are still stalking the child of Blackwell, at least the one whose identity everybody knows for certain (there's still a "Secret Sibling" after all) and offered further proof of Blackwell's aliveness. Diana, whose close friendship with Cassie doesn't stop her from ratting her out on the reg, made sure to spill the beans about the whole grave-digging escapade Cassie and Jake embarked upon in last week's episode whereupon they discovered John Blackwell's grave to be devoid of any human remains.

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'Vampire Diaries' Recap: 'Bringing Out The Dead'

Posted 2/3/12 9:51 am ET by MTV News in TV Recaps

Vampire Diaries by Cassie Title

This week’s "Vampire Diaries" has brought me to the following conclusion: Executive producers Julie Plec and Kevin Williamson must read my recaps. It’s the only logical explanation for how a mere two weeks after I confronted them via internet about cheating us out of meeting more Originals they’ve introduced us to TWO NEW ORIGINALS! (Hello, Kol and Finn!) I am so excited I could burst. In fact, I’ve already burst. My sanity has probably burst, because I am so overwhelmed that I’m convinced they are actually listening to me, when in reality, I’m just so obsessed with this show that we are on the same wavelength.

So now that I’m on the same page as Julie and Kevin, let’s (you and I) get us on the same page. Starting with:

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'Glee' Recap: 'Michael'

Posted 2/1/12 11:02 am ET by Kevin P. Sullivan in TV Recaps

Glee A "Glee" tribute episode always has the ability to elicit a special type of groan from the audience, but for all its questionable decisions and wall-to-wall song list, the Michael Jackson hour, at the very least, answered the cliffhanger from two weeks ago. That's right: We got the answer to the question that mildly annoyed us for two whole weeks, but that's for later. Right now, we've got to talk MJ.

The episode opened with a brief discussion of the competition at sectionals that happened "weeks ago," but that's the only natural segue to this week's main topic of conversation, Michael. Blaine fixed the issue, suggesting, "Guys, fear not. The world tour of the Cirque du Soleil tribute show, "Immortal," to Michael Jackson is coming to Columbus in June, and we should all go." Because that's how high school kids talk. (The show will, in fact, be in Columbus in June, for everyone wondering. I wonder if Fox made money off of that.)

Blaine then jumped right into a rendition of "Wanna Be Startin' Something" that worked because of the sheer awesomeness of Darren Criss, who was later sidelined because of an eye injury and a three-week Broadway commitment. The group decided that Michael was the deciding factor at sectionals, so in order to repeat the magic at regionals, they planned an all-Jackson routine.

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