TV Center Talk

Castiel forbid they give a girl a starring role on Supernatural

Hey, at least she didn’t die!

Last week, we had one of the best Supernatural episodes of the season. A geeky but feisty computer hacker named Charlie was featured as an everyday heroine, helping the Winchesters get important intel on Dick Roman and injuring herself—indeed, almost being killed—in the process. But she was so brave and badass—a lesbian wisecracker who looked up to Hermione and Princess Lea, one who could rival Dean’s mouth and Sam’s intelligence with a huge dollop of wit and sheer brain power that neither possesses. I am telling you, this girl would make such an awesome hunter and such a fantastic character to follow; even Dean said she was like the little sister he never had (okay, and wished he never had).

But we’ll never see her again.

Sigh.

Like my husband said, at least they didn’t kill her off like they do with every other interesting female who wanders on the show like a lost faun only to be slaughtered by some monster or other. That woman hunter we saw a few weeks ago was fantastic! And she died within minutes of us meeting her, of course. We’ll never see her again.

Oh, sure, Bobby and Cass and anybody else—including both boys—can die and be brought back multiple times in multiple ways, but Castiel forbid it ever happen to a woman. I know that Jo and Ellen both had single reprises on the show; I am talking about frequent recurring roles. (By the way, does anyone else wonder if Frank is really dead or not? First I thought he might have faked his own death—it sounds like something he would totally do—but now I’m not so sure.)

We have had so many amazing female protagonists on Supernatural—from Ellen and Jo to the young teen hunter to the monster who was only trying to feed her son to Charlie—and it’s absolutely no use to get attached to any of them because they’re gone in the same instant they’re introduced. It’s almost not even worth it; just keep the women as demons, victims, or monsters, boys. Leave the heroics to the menfolk.

Charlie was certainly a refreshing character. I wish we’d see more of her, or of any other female protagonist other than a dubious demon. I guess the writers might think that fangirls wouldn’t go for strong protagonists to identify with; no, we’re just there for Dean’s dreamy grin and Sam’s overall hotness.

Well, there is that, at least.

CBS Renews Shows

Did Your Favorites Make the Cut?

This week, CBS renewed several of its Primetime hits. Monday and Thursday night comedies offer strong ratings for the TV channel. Shows to be renewed are hits, "2 Broke Girls", which debuted strong this season; "Mike & Molly", "Person of Interest", "How I Met Your Mother", "The Big Bang Theory", "Hawaii Five-O" and "CSI", among several others.

As you may have noticed, "Two and Half Men" was not on the list. However, creator, Laurie insists that they are in talks with Warner Brothers and CBS for more episodes. Although this has yet to be seen or announced by CBS, we could probably count on it since the show has seen consistently strong viewership since Ashton Kutcher replaced Charlie Sheen. If the show is not renewed, I am sure Charlie Sheen will be letting everyone know what "winning" feels like.

Shows that are on the bubble include, "Rob", which is lackluster and received poor viewer ratings; "Rules of Engagement", which surprises me since this is one of my favorites on the network. I also consider it to be one of the funnier shows, definitely funnier than "Mike & Molly". Other shows in danger are "CSI: Miami", "CSI: New York", "Unforgettable" and "A Gifted Man".

As for reality and news shows, long time favorites, "The Amazing Race", "Undercover Boss", "48 Hours Mystery" and "60 Minutes" will be returning.

Are there any shows you are concerned about? I am certainly hoping that at least a few of these shows get another chance to prove that they can compete with the other shows and make a come back.

One Life to Live Characters Arrive at General Hospital

Loving the "New" Characters

Within the last week Blair, Starr and Todd from One Life to Live began their stint in Port Charles. I was not sure how this would work out since I was never big on One Life to Live. I never really watched it and was not familiar with any of the characters. However, I have to say, I am pleasantly surprised at how much I am enjoying these characters.

Starr came in a dramatic turn of events, which led her to Michael. Her vehicle was ran off the road by Anthony Zacchara after his tires were shot out, and her daughter and boyfriend were trapped in the car when it plunged off of a cliff and exploded. Before the car fell, Starr managed to escape and asked Michael to save her baby and boyfriend. Although Michael did his best, he was unable. He has developed a bond to Starr and does not want to leave her side. I am hoping that Starr stays in the neighborhood because I am liking the energy between her and Michael. I would love to see them as a couple.

Next, Blair showed up to her daughter's side, followed by Todd. Her and Todd are at odds because he killed his brother, back in Llanview. He is not supposed to leave Llanview as he awaits trial. Blair is angry with Todd over what he has done and does not want him near Starr. He leaves without too much of a fight, but stays at the Metrocourt with his own agenda. They are ultimately going to make Todd one of Sonny's new enemies. Although Todd is not a mobster, he does believe Sonny is responsible for the accident.

John McBain will be arriving next. He will prove to Sonny that he is not to be toyed with. It is rumored that McBain and Sonny have a history, which is sure to make it more interesting. I wonder where they will go with that story line?

Finally, I know that they have already signed Trevor St. John (Todd) to a contract, so he will be lengthening his stay. I am hoping that the others stay as well. I am really a fan of the new energy they are bringing to the show. I believe that if GH is on its last leg, this just might save it.

How do you feel about the new characters? Are you enjoying the show more?

Teen Mom 3

New Girls Get the Green Light

It has been reported by MTV this week that the popular series, Teen Mom, will get a new spin-off with Teen Mom 3. Teen Mom 3 will feature 4 all new girls and their stories. There is no word yet on which girls will be on the show, but I am excited to find out.

Many girls have gained popularity and notoriety on these shows. For example, Maci Bookout and Leah Messer tend to be favorites among Teen Mom viewers, whereas, Amber Portwood and Janelle Evans are among those who are most hated due to their wild behavior and bad attitudes.

Teen Mom and 16 and Pregnant have long been the target of controversy, as some believe that these shows glamorize teen pregnancy. There was a time when it was actually a a fad for girls to get pregnant because they all wanted to be on 16 and Pregnant. However, Maci Bookout recently made it clear at a conference that none of the girls are getting rich from doing this series. They all have to go to school and get real jobs because being on this show is short lived and will not support them and their children for the long haul.

Some of my favorites from the third season of 16 and Pregnant that I would like to see on the show include Markai Durham, who subsequently got pregnant again and had an abortion; Kayla Jordan who had a sweet story, which is sure to attract many fans and possibly make her the "Southern Sweetheart" of the season; Ashley Salazar, who let her aunt and uncle adopt her baby; and Christinna Robinson, whose relationship with her boyfriend faced turmoil due to him giving up his college scholarship and his family's disdain for her.

I am definitely looking forward to Teen Mom 3 and watching the young mothers grow stronger and more independent. Whose story do you want to see unfold?

Teen Mom 2 Finale

What You Expected or Not?

This past Tuesday was the Teen Mom 2 Finale. I built it up so much in my head, and to be honest, I was kind of let down. To start, I have been pretty proud of Chelsea this season. She was finally starting to get over Adam and move forward with her life. She began taking the GED (and passed), got a job and started hanging out more with friends. This is a big deal for someone whose world revolved around their jerk of a baby's daddy. At the end of the show, her and Adam were seen on a motorcycle ride. I am assuming the season ends with them rekindling their dysfunctional relationship? Oh well, so much for smart Chelsea. I suppose the next season, or even the reunion special will have them broken up or trying to work on their issues, as per usual. I wish she would find a nice, good man who WANTS to and CAN support her and her daughter.

Leah and Corey began their divorce proceedings. This was as expected. I cannot believe she actually went through with the wedding after cheating. She obviously did not have her heart in it. Anyway, I was yelling at her the whole time as she got defensive about "not losing her girls". Honestly, no man WANTS to have full custody of the kids, unless the mother is unfit, of course. Leah is a good mom, she just does not have her mind in the right place. There is no way Corey would get the girls, even if he wanted to. On previous episodes, Corey was barely capable of babysitting for a few hours. Leah needs to worry less about losing the girls and fighting Corey and more about making the split amicable for the girls' sake. At the end, she said this isn't what she wanted; however, if it was not, she should not have filed. We all know where this goes anyway, she is currently engaged to someone new. It did not take her long to move on. I wonder if she will cheat on this one with Robbie too?

I know Janelle's situation is serious, but I could not help but laugh at her a little bit. First of all, she is not "addicted" to smoking pot. She simply does it because she is bored. She went to rehab for dramatic effect and brownie points with her probation officer. We had to make her story more exciting somehow, right? I think it is a shame that she is crying in rehab because she is bored, but that is part of the process. Did she think it was going to be fun in rehab? I think Janelle really needs a hobby that makes her happy and keeps her out of trouble. Some new friends would not hurt either. It was nice; however, to see her mom say she was proud of her and to see them get along at the end of the episode. I am curious to see where they are on the reunion show.

Finally, I was most surprised at Kailyn. Although she seems a bit whiney, I have always had respect for her. She took it upon herself and made a better life for her and Isaac on her own. When she was down and life kept kicking her, she kept moving. I never in a million years thought she would cheat on Jordan, let alone with Joe. I was even more surprised that she began having feelings for Joe again. I was in shock that Joe did not share those feelings with Kail, because he was always the one that wanted to keep his family together. I guess it was a slap in the face for Kailyn. I was sad, because in a way, I was routing for them to get back together at the end of the show. I do hope that one day after they both get over their freedom and achieve their own goals, that they can get back together. For some reason, I just like them as a couple.

What did you think of the finale? I don't know about you, but I am looking forward to watching the reunion this week!

Madonna's Super Bowl Performance

Love it or Hate it?

Madonna's Super Bowl performance was the most watched Super Bowl performance of all time. People who did not even care to watch the game tuned in to watch Madonna do her thing at half time. Her performance was one that was appreciated by fans old and new. She did a medley mixing some of her greatest hits, such as Express Yourself, Open Your Heart and Like a Prayer, with her newer songs, such as Music and Give Me All Your Lovin'. She mixed the old with the contemporary, having Cee Lo Green collaborate with her on Open Your Heart and Like a Prayer.

I will say, Madonna still has "it"', at least in my eyes. I grew up listening and dancing to her music everyday, like most girls my age. If I can still get down like her when I am in my fifties, I will consider myself very lucky.

From viewing comments from friends on Facebook, some people loved her performance and some hated it, while others thought it was a joke. As one of my Facebook friends said, "Madonna really broke a leg out there. And possibly a hip." Everyone has an opinion, but she is definitely the most talked about performance since Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction. I have to say, her performance was the best since that dreadful incident.

Either way, I am sure it gained the ratings that the Super Bowl desired and gained Madonna, Cee Lo, Nicki Minaj and MIA some much appreciated publicity. What did you think about the performance? Did you love it or hate it?

The Battle of the Exes on MTV

DRAMA. A Step Up from Last Week.

The Battle of the Exes first aired last Wednesday on MTV. It consists of several teams of past players who are paired with an ex, but an ex can be someone they had a serious relationship with or someone they simply kissed on a previous season. The teams consist of Dunbar and Paula, Wes and Mandi, Jasmine and Tyrie, Sarah and Vinny, Nate and Priscilla, Robin and Mark, Leroy and Naomi, Camilla and Johnny, Heather and Dustin, Ty and Emily, Abram and Cara Maria, Diem and CT and Aneesa and Rachel.

After a slow start last week, that unsurprisingly sent newbies Nate and Priscilla home, last night, drama finally erupted. Jasmine and Tyrie got into a heated fight in which hurtful words were hurled. Jasmine was running around telling everyone that Tyrie still wants her, but that she wants nothing to do with him. Tyrie heard this and lost his cool. This made them an early target, although, they made up hours later.

The competition of the night consisted of the pairs making their way from beam to beam hovering over the ocean. Most teams did poorly; however Johnny and Camilla did the best, with Vinny and Sarah coming in second. The two teams then had to square off to determine who would be the power couple of the week. Vinny and Sarah, who were the underdogs, beat Johnny and Camilla, earning the top spot of the week. The team that did the poorest in the competition was Leroy and Naomi, which immediately placed them in "The Dome".

Sarah and Vinny discussed who to vote in to fight Leroy and Naomi. While Sarah wanted Jasmine and Tyrie, Vinny wanted to put in Wes and Mandi since he had personal issues against Wes. Ultimately, they decided on Wes and Mandi, since that is what the rest of the house would have wanted.

The night before "The Dome" competition, the teammates went out to a bar. There, Vinny became completely intoxicated. He went up to Mandi and ripped her top off, which left her hurt and humiliated. It also enraged many of the other cast members. This made for an interesting morning since Vinny tried to act as though he meant it as a "joke". Come on, who really does something like that as a joke? No one I know, that is for sure!

In the fight to stay, Leroy and Naomi shockingly beat Wes and Mandi. Naomi had a tough time ripping the "X" from Mandi; however, Leroy easily manhandled Wes for the win in a "sudden death" round, which broke the tie-breaker. Nobody was sad to see Wes and Mandi leave, although, most people only cared to see Wes leave, as Mandi did not have that many enemies. She simply hooked-up with he wrong person in the past.

At the end of the episode, TJ Lavin came into the house and informed Vinny that the behavior that he exhibited is not tolerated and that he had to leave the show. Also, in an even more shocking turn of events, Sarah was told she had to leave too, which devastated her completely.

Most of the cast thought it was unfair, since they usually replace the teammate who gets sent home and allow the innocent party to stay. This season the rules are different. Tune in to find out what happens next week on an all new Battle of the Exes. It airs every Wednesday night at 10 p.m. on MTV.

Mob Wives Shocker: Karen Gravano's Filthy Mouth

"All in all, I have always been Team Drita, but never disliked Karen."

If you tuned into Mob Wives this past Sunday, then you know what the title is referring to. I used to think Karen was a semi-nice person until this season. She has been trying WAY too hard to prove that she is "hard". In the most recent episode, she went for a sit-down with Carla, because she wants to get some issues off of her chest.

As soon as Karen walked into this sit down with Carla, she got straight to the point by telling her that all summer, she "hated her f#$%ing guts". Once that was said, you knew that the conversation would only go down hill. The topic of their sit-down eventually turned to Drita, who Karen very clearly has some sick obsession with. Karen tells Carla that she felt like she thought she was a joke at her and Drita's roof top showdown, in which she failed to pull Drita off of her. Carla pretty much told her that she was uncomfortable and was unable to pull Drita off of her. The topic of Karen supposedly going to the hospital after the showdown also came up. Carla said she told her that because she honestly heard that Karen went to the hospital for her ribs. Karen denies that and asserts that it never happened. Although Karen relentlessly bashes Drita, Carla does, however, stay loyal to her friend the entire time. Karen went as far as to say that Drita could do unthinkable acts to her in the middle of Macy's. If you watched the episode, you know what was said.

Karen threatened Carla since she was defending Drita so fiercely and told her that she was gonna "Go to war" with her, and she don't wanna go to war with her. Karen has been declaring war like crazy and the season just started. The conversation was ultimately resolved by them agreeing not to bash Drita or Ramona to the other. However, I am left wondering, what has gotten into Karen this season? Is Ramona pumping up her ego? Last season, she seemed a bit embarrassed by her mob ties and was so upset by what the mob had done to innocent people and families. This season, she is the extreme opposite, as she wants everyone to think she is some bad-ass gangster.

All in all, I have always been Team Drita, but never disliked Karen. She was okay, but struck me as two-faced. This season, a side of her is coming out that I think very few people are going to be left liking. Karen Gravano, please get help. Your comments are those of someone who sounds sick and twisted. Woman up and set a good example for your daughter, please.

Are General Hospital and One Life to Live Consolidating?

Last week, the final episode of One Life to Live (OLTL) aired, leaving many soap fans distraught and wondering what is next for daytime TV? It is no secret that ABC is looking for a slot to put Katie Couric's new talk show in, so is General Hospital (GH) next to get the ax? That, we do not know. Not for now anyway.

One Life to Live may have ended, but some characters are living on and moving to Port Charles. Those said to be moving are Kassie DePaiva (Blair), Roger Howart (Todd), Kristen Alderson (Starr) and Michael Easton (John). All of these Llanview citizens are set to bring their OLTL characters with them, so they will not be "new" characters. According to Raven Beauty Soap Diva, there is a lot of tension on the set of GH due to this big move. Not only is the cast reportedly being cut by 60%, which is sure to include big names, but other large egos are moving onto the set. The cuts are apparently in order due budgetary restraints AND to make room for the new characters, who were leads on their previous show, and therefore are accustomed to larger paychecks.

This may not be the end of characters moving to Port Charles. It is rumored that many contracts were broken when ABC decided to cancel OLTL. This left the lives of most of the actors in limbo and ABC is trying to make it up to them, or simply save their own back.

Will this "merger" cause GH to fall off its course and become OLTL 2.0? Many hope not. It is also a concern that a certain male lead or 2 may leave due to tension on the set. After all, it has been "their" show for years now. Viewers tune in just to see what is going to happen to these 2 unnamed characters, day in and day out.

What do you think? Could the new additions bring renewed life and higher ratings to GH and ultimately keep it afloat longer than expected? I guess all of us soap fans are hoping for the best no matter what. Just make sure you tune in and see!

Mob Wives: Drita vs. Karen and Ramona

Season 2, Episode 2: Who Won?

Mob Wives was full of drama last week. In the second episode of the season, we got to witness a huge fight go down. It all started at Renee's party that she threw because she wanted to "celebrate life", since she nearly lost hers during plastic surgery gone wrong. She wanted two of her closest friends, Karen and Drita present, who are not on good terms. Did she really expect nothing to happen?

During the party, Renee invited both girls up front with her, but Drita walked out. She was visibly upset and very uncomfortable with Karen being there with Ramona. Ramona is Karen's cousin, who also has deep rooted issues with Drita, which I believe we have yet to learn about. Drita was on the balcony when Big Ang came to talk to her. Big Ang is one of Renee's good friends. Many fans were wondering if she is a man or a woman; however, I am inclined to think that she has simply had too much plastic surgery and is left looking really, really awful. She talked Drita into smoothing things over with Karen. She went in and told Karen that Drita would like to speak to her. Immediately, Ramona got defensive and you could tell she wanted to start a fight.

Karen complied and went out to talk to Drita. Karen brought her bad attitude and was obviously very hostile with Drita. Drita tried to tell her that she was uncomfortable and unhappy with the way that things were between them, but Karen kept bringing up issues in a predatory manner. I believe that Karen had it in her mind that she wanted to fight Drita from the second she heard Drita wanted to talk to her. Ramona saw the girls going back and forth, so she took it upon herself to insert herself in the middle. All you saw is all three girls yelling and Ramona in Drita's face. Drita then reacted and threw a punch! It all went downhill from there. There were several men holding Drita back while Karen and Ramona both had a little bit of room to get a few hits in on her. Ramona was pulling Drita's hair and Karen kept running for Drita, looking like a linebacker in the process. The men helped Drita get out of the situation and took her to the van outside, in which Renee eventually accompanied her and tried to calm her down. However, Drita believed she was set up.

In the meantime, Ramona discovered that she had a bloody lip and accused Drita's friend, Derek Tobacco of hitting her when in fact it was Drita that gave her the bloody lip. Her and Karen kept throwing these hefty accusations around ,so Junior Pagan, Renee's ex husband got upset. He then gathered a crew together to go after Derek, because they thought he committed the ultimate sin of hitting a woman. Thank God for Renee, who was able to keep him safe and get him out of there before he suffered an awful beating due to a wrongful accusation.

After the fight was said and done, Drita was left with a swollen eye and Ramona sported a bloody lip, while Karen suffered from nothing except an inflated ego, because she felt like they beat Drita and put her in her place. In my opinion, nobody won that fight. What do you think? Who do you think would win one on one with Drita vs. Karen and Drita vs. Ramona?

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