'The Amazing Race 12' East Coast Updates 12/23

The show is delayed here on the East Coast -- I'm not sure how long, but I will post an update when it starts. Important events and the Pit Stop arrival order will be posted in updates as it airs. A full review will be posted on TV Squad late tonight.

UPDATE 8:20 PM ET - 60 Minutes just ended, the real show will begin momentarily.

Thanks to the Fast Forward, Don and Nicolas won first place and a trip to Cancun.

Pit Stop arrivals after Don and Nicolas --

2. Nathan and Jennifer (grr)
3. Ronald and Christina
4. TK and Rachel
5. Kynt and Vyxsin, but despite what was said pre-season, it's one of two non-elimination legs. So, they're still in the race. But during the next leg they will encounter a Speed Bump -- a task they must do in addition to the others. It may slow them down and they won't know when it will happen.

Blue, Blue (Man Group) Christmas and Bloggy Bits, Too

Hey, all! I've still been working unbelievable hours at the day job -- up before five every morning, blech. However, it's dwindling down a bit, just one more real early rising day and then a few days off. (Yes!)

I haven't seen Roofus the cat because it's dark when I go to work and dark when I come home.

Television has been slim pickings for me as of late, but that's okay with the increased workload for year end. I don't feel bad about missing Letterman as it's still repeats due to the WGA strike. It sounds like the deal he was trying to work out with the union for the writers to return to his Worldwide Pants production company have fallen through. Leno will return without writers on January 2nd. I don't care much for him when he has them, so I probably won't watch unless I like a particular guest.

I watched the remake movie of Godzilla the other night on FX. I had been stuck in Manhattan traffic as they filmed it, but had never seen it before. Corny, but I was entertained.

This morning I followed my routine of CBS Sunday Morning with coffee. Huh. Charles Osgood wore an actual tie instead of a bowtie. There was a nice segment on James Taylor and it brought back memories of seeing him on the ski slopes of Mohawk Mountain back in the 80s.

Today I've had the VH1 100 Best Songs of the 90s on in the background as I did chores around the house. I'll have to turn it off for The Amazing Race, but it's reminding me I liked more 90s music than I thought I did. Yeah, I can get jiggy wit' it.

Speaking of The Amazing Race, I'll get the east coast update post up when it starts here on the east coast. It should be starting on time, I believe.

Until then, I made a nifty Blue Man Group holiday greeting for you. I get their newsletter and it provided the link to create it. Fun, fun, fun. I also noticed they're looking for writers. Now, that would be a dream job for me, but since I don't have any background in comedy and physical sketch kind of writing, it will just remain a dream. Plus, what would I do with my 401K and retirement pension where I am, huh? But, I can dream.

Create Your Own Video

'Survivor 15: China' - East Coast Updates - Season Finale

The show is starting on time here for a change. As it airs, I'll update this post with the more important events. My full review will be posted late tonight on TV Squad. Please feel free to jump in with your thoughts in comments!

Amanda won reward -- a personal feast. She can choose to share with one or two others (it's a feast for one). She invites Todd to share it.

They've gone for the memory walk and, after the commercial, immunity will be up for grabs.

Todd is the first out for immunity. Courtney is out of it. Denise is out. Amanda wins immunity!

Denise was voted out -- the spoilers were right on final four and final three.

"I would have won if I stayed in the game," said Denise. Well, duh. That "if" ruins it all, huh?

It will be a final three facing the jury once again.

Todd won Survivor China! Four votes for Todd, 2 for Courtney, 1 for Amanda. We know that Erik was the Amanda vote. Denise voted for Courtney. Since JR said well-played and you stole a million dollars, I'd guess he was a Todd vote.

I know many of the readers here didn't want Todd to win, but of the three remaining he was my choice for the win.

On the reunion show, James won the 100,000 from show fans. Mark Burnett stepped up to the plate and gave Denise 50,000 because she lost her lunch lady job and is working (unhappily) as a janitor.

New season-- select few superfans of the show versus favorites from previous seasons. Jeff says at least one is from Survivor China (James, I bet).

A Bit Off Topic - Some Sunday Randomness

I once again apologize for not being as blog-conscious as I should be. The holidays are a bit of a rough time of year for me on both a working and personal level. This year the personal level was dealt yet another blow. But I am alive and reviewing the shows I must do for TV Squad -- reminder -- the Survivor 15: China season finale and reunion show are on tonight. I'll have an east coast updates post here for during the show and post a full review on TV Squad late tonight. (And then get up at 5:30 AM to head to work ... sigh.) I haven't even been able to keep up with my email lately, but I'm trying!

Hopefully, once next week is done, I'll be more like my old self. In the meantime I saw Roofus sans his little friend sunning yesterday morning on his balcony window roof.


I took a picture of ice lining a tree on Friday morning.


I took a photo of the James Ward Mansion Building in Westfield (NJ) all decked out for the holidays which includes loud piped Christmas carols as well as a group of live carolers roaming the streets.

Then it was off to a rowhouse in Plainfield (NJ) for a photo of the traditional Christmas lighted Jack O'Lantern display. Diversity is a wonderful thing, isn't it?


A few observations and/or thoughts:

• Whenever I listen to the song "Smooth" I think of Trashy pledging himself to Randall Flagg in The Stand when I hear this line: "I would give my world to lift you up, I could change my life to better suit your mood."
• I work on Saturdays, coming home in the evening. There is always a group of Orthodox Jewish men getting on the train in Plainfield. Where are they coming from? Plainfield tends to be the home of P-Funk with a largely black and rising Latino population. It's supposedly also a gay mecca with folks like ex-Governor James McGreevey buying up the huge old Victorians and Colonial homes. I know there are a few synagogues in town, but I don't see the men on the streets. Yet there they are, about ten of them, getting on the train in Plainfield looking more like they're getting on the train in Crown Heights.

See you all later for the finale updates post!

'Survivor 15: China' East Coast Updates 12/13

As the show airs here on the east coast, this entry will be updated. A full review will be posted late tonight on TV Squad.

Happy belated birthday to commenter Nana! You share Frank Sinatra and my younger brother's day!

Thanks to Courtney, Denise won reward. She chose Courtney and Todd to accompany her on an overnight trip to the Great Wall of China.

Amanda won immunity.

Peih-Gee was voted out.

'The Amazing Race 12' East Coast Updates 12/09

Tonight's show here on the east coast is delayed a bit due to football. (What else is new?)

Once it starts, I'll update this entry with any big news, the arrival order at the Pit Stop and Philimination. My full review of the episode will be posted late tonight on TV Squad. As always, feel free to jump in with your thoughts in the comments section!

It's 8:25 PM ET and the show is finally starting here. Sigh.

Pit Stop --
1. Ronald and Christina
2. Jennifer and Nathan, but NO -- sent back because they took a private car not a taxi. Yay!
2. Kynt and Vyxsin
3. Nathan and Jennifer
4. TK and Rachel
5. Nicolas and Donald
6. Azaria and Hendekea -- Philiminated

'Survivor 15: China' - East Coast Updates 12/06

The show has started here on the East Coast. I'll update this post with important events (immunity, boot, etc.) as it airs. So, please refresh the page for the latest and definitely let me know what you think of the episode!

My full review is posted over on TV Squad.

Family members are being teamed up with them for the Rewards Challenge. Denise and her husband Robert won Reward -- a boat trip, meal, and phone call. Denise had to pick two others to go with them -- Todd and his sister, Amanda and her sister. The family members of the chosen will spend the night. The family members of those not on Reward go home immediately.

Peih-Gee win Immunity.

Not a shock ... Erik was voted out.

TV Newsy Bits - Thursday, December 6, 2007

Just a New Jersey house framed by barren trees and highlighted by the sunrise on a cold December day.

I'll be posting an east coast update post for tonight's Survivor around 8 PM ET. My review will be posted late tonight over on TV Squad, but the important show events will be in the update post here.

In today's TV Newsy Bits:

• Buddy TV has an exclusive interview with James Pickens from Grey's Anatomy.
• Reality TV World has a very interesting interview with Jeff Probst as he handicaps the remaining six castaways on the show.
  

Today's musical non-sequitur:
He said, "I dance now at every chance
in honky tonks for drinks and tips.
But most the time I stand behind
these county bars 'cause I drinks a bit."
--"Mr. Bojangles" by Jerry Jeff Walker

TV Newsy Bits - Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Well, well, well ... perhaps this is one reason Roofus has been not in sight lately (in addition to the weather). He seems to have a new friend. This is not the cat I used to see him with late last winter -- that one was white and black, mostly white. This one seems all black from what I could see. I suppose we need to come up with a name for the new addition to the roof?

Tonight is the first night of Chanukah -- Light, love, and joy to all!

In TV Newsy Bits:

• I received my fourth season DVD set of The Wire today. So far I've watched one episode. I'll probably watch another before bed as Letterman is striked out.
• Buddy TV has an exclusive interview with Philiminated Jennifer and Shana from The Amazing Race 12. I find it interesting that Shana was approached to audition for the show. Is she the one who was "seeing" Ryan Seacrest? They also said that they thought Lorena and Jason were the only team behind them when they used the U-Turn. Jennifer thinks they used it too early in the game.
• Whether there will be a second season of Kid Nation is still out to the jury, but official investigations into the child labor, etc., issues prior to the season have been dropped. A quote from the article -- "It has been determined that absent any formal complaints to this office or request for investigation by any state agency, the Attorney General's Office will not pursue any further inquiry into the 'Kid Nation' production in New Mexico," according to a statement.
• I know someone in comments within the last week asked about a discussion post for another show. If you'll refresh my memory, I'll get one up for you.
  

Today's musical non-sequitur:
I said to Hank Williams
How lonely does it get
Hank Williams hasn't answered me yet
But I hear him coughing all night long
Oh, a hundred floors above me
In the Tower of Song.
-- "Tower of Song" by Leonard Cohen

'Heroes' - "Powerless"

Tonight's season finale of Heroes made me wish the first several episodes of the season weren't as lackluster. It was old-time first season pacing tonight. They didn't jump around as wildly between the characters and locations and even spent more than a few minutes in one spot -- as it should be.

Here's the lowdown by character(s) --

Mohinder Suresh, Molly Walker, Sylar, Maya in Brooklyn
Sylar and Maya were waiting for Mohinder (who still has a screw loose if you ask me, but improves this episode). Mohinder tried to tell Maya that Sylar's a killer and she confesses to killing others, too. She wants the Ashanti virus to take away her powers while Sylar wants his powers back. When Mohinder learns Sylar doesn't have powers, he pulls a knife. But Sylar pulls a gun.

Maya does her eyes thing affecting Sylar, Mohinder, and Molly. Sylar made her stop and Mohinder agreed to help him.

Mohinder takes them to his "lab" -- Isaac Mendez' old studio. He told Sylar that he needed a blood sample, but Sylar is smarter than Mohinder -- he doesn't trust him. But Mohinder quickly drew blood anyway and noted he had to have been injected with the Ashanti virus to stop his powers when he was at the Company.

Meanwhile, Molly offered to find Alejandro (killed by Sylar last week unbeknownst to Maya) for Maya. "He's not anywhere." Maya freaked and went after Sylar. He shot her, then demanded that Mohinder give her the Claire blood cure. "Now look what you made me do," he said after he shot her.

Mohinder injected Maya with the Claire cure blood, and Elle (thinking she could impress her father Bob by going after Sylar after seeing him on their video monitor of Mohinder's lab), went after Sylar, but he escaped. She was tickled pink when Mohinder told her that even though Sylar escaped, she saved their lives. That Elle has issues.

Elle, Bob, and Noah Bennet at the Company in Hartsdale, NY
Elle was in hot water with her daddy for her confrontation with Claire. "You're benched! No more field missions." He was really cold and condescending to her. Which, of course, was perfect for the captive Noah when she asked about what he knew of her past.

He told her that her father experimented with her powers, pushing her way past the wattage he should. Bennet told her that no father who cared about his daughter would treat her that way.

Bob interrupted them, so Elle went off looking for her file. It was empty. But the monitors caught her interest and that's when she saw Sylar was with Suresh at Isaac's studio.

As she was doing that, Bob was blackmailing Bennet. He told him that Claire was "becoming difficult" -- planning to go public. In her best interests, Bennet needed to return to the Company and keep her from exposing it.

Matt Parkman, Nathan and Angela Petrelli in Manhattan
Matt and Nathan told Angela that Victoria (the woman in the group photo) was killed by Adam. She told them that Adam would need Peter to steal the virus at Primatech in Odessa, Texas, as only his powers could do the deed.

Angela told them that 30 years ago she trusted Adam. They were all going to "fix the world." Then she found out that the way Adam would fix it is to wipe out the population. (Reminds me of the Lathe of Heaven).

She told them the only way to kill Adam was a bullet through the head. She thought at Matt that if he needs to do it, only a bullet in the head would kill Peter.

Primatech Paper Adventures
My, what a busy place this was. Adam and Peter Petrelli were there to get the virus which would eventually kill 93% of the population. Peter thought they were going there to destroy it but Adam actually wants to release it. Peter used his powers to knock everyone out of their way.

But then Hiro showed up -- he wanted to kill Adam to avenge the death of his father. Since Peter's as stupid as Mohinder as of late, he thought Hiro was his enemy when Hiro froze time and went after Adam.

Hiro, on the other hand, knows that Adam is a bad dude and fought Peter the best he could so he could kill Adam. But Peter zapped him only ...

... to have Nathan and Matt fly in to town. All during this time, Peter had opened the vault and Adam had gone inside. Oh, no! Stop him!

Nathan convinced Peter that it was him (Peter) on the wrong side -- he was being used by Adam. Hiro had already come to and had gone after Adam in the vault.

Adam told Hiro that he was actually his inspiration. They struggled and Hiro transported them away leaving the vial of virus to fall to the floor ... only to be stopped from breaking by Peter.

Peter destroyed the vial in his hand with the radioactive hands power. Before the vial's dust disappeared, the "Godsend" logo (whatever) appeared in it.

Uh-oh.

Hiro solved the Adam problem at least temporarily by burying him alive in the graveyard where his (Hiro's) parents are buried.

Niki, Micah, Monica in New Orleans
Micha convinced Niki to drive him to save Monica from the hooligans who kidnapped her. For the crime of stealing back a stolen comic book and backpack, one thug was lighting her and an abandoned building on fire.

Micah used his powers to talk to the cell phones for GPS tracking and to change traffic lights to green. Once there, Niki went someone strong, beat up the thug, and saved Monica from the burning building. The building blew up with Niki still inside.

Claire, the Bennets (Butlers) in California
Claire is determined to expose the company. West showed up trying to convince her not to do so. She gave him the file on him and broke up with him. He flew away.

Then Noah showed up telling them that they had saved him with Claire's blood. But he also had to work for the Company once again to keep the family safe.

Claire wasn't to tell anyone of her powers and their lives would be as "normal" as possible.

Noah told them that everything was his fault -- he never meant to hurt anyone. When he went outside, Bob was there and he told him he told them.

Nathan at press conference in Odessa, Texas
When Peter destroyed the virus in the vault, Nathan decided it was time to expose the Company and go public.

He started going on about "ordinary people with extraordinary powers, heroes amongst us" when BANG.

Nathan was assassinated. We saw the back of the killer going out the door.

Cut to Angela Petrelli on the phone in Manhattan with the news of Nathan's death going on in the background -- "I know it was unavoidable. You do know you opened Pandora's box, right?"

Sylar shoots up in the alley
Sylar, pretty beaten by Elle, is like a junkie in an alley shooting up the "cure." His wounds healed and his powers, weak at first, came back.

"I'm baaaack."

So, it looks like Nathan and Niki are dead, but are they? Who was the assassin? Noah Bennet? The Haitian? Bob himself? Will the grave hold Adam long? I guess we won't know until it all resumes in 2008. My one real irk of the episode is that I was overjoyed that Maya was killed -- thus the end of the Wonder Twins ... then they brought her back. Grr.

'Big Brother 9' and 'Survivor 16' February Dates Announced

Due to the WGA strike, CBS big-hitter reality television shows Big Brother and Survivor are scheduled for February premieres. According to the CBS website, Survivor 16, an "All Stars" version currently in production, will make its debut Thursday, February 7 at 8 PM ET/PT in most viewing areas.

Big Brother 9 will premiere on Tuesday, February 12 at 9 PM ET/PT. This first winter version of the show will air Tuesday nights leading into a new season of Jericho. The other two episodes of the show will air Wednesday and Sunday evenings. Julie Chen will return to host the show, but there have been no cast announcements for either series released at this time.

TV Newsy Bits - Monday, December 3, 2007

Yes, that's snow. Well, icy snow. Yesterday we had our first snow adding up to more than a dusting -- about two inches here. But then it turned to ice coming down, then rain in the overnight hours. So, most of it is gone as I type this. What was left probably blew away with the wind gusts of up to 50 MPH here throughout the day.

Despite the snow, then ice, then rain ... I saw Roofus the cat this morning. He was jumping onto the roof of the abandoned building, his probable access to the roofs. Although the building certainly isn't safe for a human's weight on the upper floors (the entire back top story has crumbled), I'm sure there are plenty of hidey-holes for a small cat to get out of the weather.

On the home front, my remaining cat is still looking for Teaser -- crying if she's in a room alone, jumping at any noise and heading out towards it apparently thinking she's going to greet him. She's also grown very clinging even though she'll never like laps or being carried. It hasn't been easy.

In today's TV Newsy Bits:

• Tonight is the season finale of Heroes. I'll be watching it and writing it up, but don't expect to get it online until 11:30 PM ET or so.
• Tonight is also the big holiday-themed season finale of The Closer. It's a two-hour special event starting at 8 PM ET/PT on TNT. I have watched the screener of the episode and highly recommend it if you're a fan of the show ... even if you're not.
• Also, after The Closer, there's a new episode of Saving Grace, kicking up the start of four new weekly episodes of this show. I have them on screeners, but have only watched the one which is airing tonight so far. So, that would start at 10 PM ET/PT in most areas.
• The WGA turned down the most recent offer to settle the writers strike ... so it goes on. Leno (NBC) has terminated or is terminating employees after he promised them they'd be okay through the holidays. Letterman, in a different situation as his production company owns the show (Worldwide Pants), is paying the staff of both his show and The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson through the holidays at least. I always knew David Letterman had to be a good guy.
• A few folks have mentioned the upcoming Big Brother. As it's in open casting now, it's highly unlikely it will be a celebrity version. From what I've previously reported, we shouldn't expect it before March or so.

Today's musical non-sequitur:
Look around, the leaves are brown
There's a patch of snow on the ground.
-- "Hazy Shade of Winter" by Simon and Garfunkel

'The Amazing Race 12' East Coast Updates 12/02

The show is about to start here on the east coast. As it airs, I'll post major events up to and including the arrival order at the Pit Stop. Please refresh the page for the latest. My show review will be posted on TV Squad later tonight.

As always, please feel free to share your thoughts on the show in the comments!

Fun Detour! (Well, until Ron fell just before the commercial, that is.)

Pit Stop --

1. TK and Rachel -- won a trip to Japan
2. Kynt and Vyxsin
3. Ronald and Christina
4. Azaria and Hendekea
5. Nathan and Jennifer
6. Donald and Nicolas
7. Shana and Jennifer -- Philiminated

Karma strikes again.

'Survivor 15: China' - East Coast Update -11/29

I'll be updating this post with the major events of tonight's show as it airs on the east coast. My full review of the episode is posted on TV Squad.

Stop on back!

UPDATE -- They were held after at Tribal Council due to a Reward Challenge, not a second vote. Peih-Gee won reward and chose Erik and Denise to accompany her on a private jet trip to a temple.

Erik won individual immunity. Amanda wants to blindslide James.

And it worked. He thought Peih-Gee was the target and they blindsided him. He didn't use the idol because he didn't see it coming. Peih-Gee voted Todd, James voted Peih-Gee, all the rest voted for James.

Today's TV Newsy Bits - Wednesday, November 28, 2007

This is my cat Scherzo (pronounced Skairt-so). It's an Italian word which translates to Jester. (Which went well with a Teaser.) It's also the light and bouncy part in classical music. She's not as good with cameras as Teaser was -- she tends to close her eyes and move her head as if sensing the shutter. I want to thank everyone for their comments.

On another cat note, I saw Roofus the roof cat yesterday morning but he wasn't at a good angle for a photo.

In today's TV Newsy Bits:

• I'll be writing my weekly review of Kid Nation for TV Squad and it should be posted there later tonight.
• I found an interesting website set up by the striking writers for The Late Show with David Letterman. I'm still on the side of the writers in this action even though I'm generally anti-union. Maybe it strikes more close to home than some of the other causes, I don't know.
• I'm not on strike, just a bit quiet.
• Erik Estrada has decided to really become a Muncie cop even though Armed and Famous was canceled. Odd.

Today's musical non-sequitur:
Long ago it must be, I have a photograph
Preserve your memories, they're all that's left you
-- "Bookends" by Simon and Garfunkel

Tonight's 'Heroes'

It's a new episode tonight, but I want to take a pass on writing up the review. Due to circumstances I'm not up to undertaking it tonight. If you wish to comment on the show, please feel free to do so. I will be watching and might join in in the comments.

My apologies and thank you.

I'm updating this post and adding a recap from blog commenter Carla who was kind enough to write it up for us! Thank you so much, Carla -- you rock!

Here's Carla's take on the episode:

Peter and Adam

Peter and Adam are talking in the warehouse. Peter flashes to the streets of New York a year later. He sees the future Peter and Caitlyn and starts calling out her name. Next thing he’s back in the warehouse with Adam who is telling him that he never left the room. Adam tells Peter that the picture with his parents and the others are the people who created the virus he’s talking about.

Bob at the Bennett House

Mrs. Bennett is holding a gun up to him as he is trying to give (fake) ashes to them. After he’s gone Mrs. Bennett tells the kids to pack their bags because they are leaving tonight. Switches over to Bob sitting in his car talking to Elle, who has her arm in a sling. Bob talks about Elle regaining his trust by watching the cheerleader. She says she will.

Noah Bennett at the Company facility

It shows Noah’s eye fixing itself again. Noah calls for Mohinder who appears at his side. Mohinder tells him that Claire’s blood saved him and he gets very angry. Mohinder tries to tell Noah that the Company saves lives, but Noah tells him that he can’t trust the Company.

New Orleans

The cousins are talking about comic books, heroes, costumes, and secret identities. The boy cousin says he wants to sell the comics to make some money. Nikki comes back and tells Micah that she has a virus but that Jessica and all the rest are gone now. She tells Micah that Dr. Suresh is working on finding a cure and that she will get better. Micah talks about his father’s medal and goes to get it from his backpack but the backpack is missing.

Maya and Sylar

Maya and Sylar are sitting outside drinking wine together. Maya explains her power to Sylar and how her brother helps her when she has an episode. Sylar asks Maya what she would do if she was able to control her power without her brother. “You’ll never know unless you try” without him. Sylar kept talking to make her upset – she did her black crying thing. Sylar cries out “Help, you’re killing me” and Maya somehow controls her power.

Hiro and Ando

Hiro tells Ando he knows Takezo Kensei killed his father.

Peter and Adam in Searsmont, Maine

Peter and Adam are at Victoria’s house. Adam has a gun, but Peter insists on going in alone with no gun. Victoria is gardening when Peter comes and asks if she’s Victoria. She says she’s never heard of her but turns around with a shotgun pointed at him. Peter tells Victoria that the Shanti virus is going to be released in 24 hours and will kill billions of people in a year’s time. Victoria backs up, cocks her gun, and tells Peter to get inside the house, NOW.

Hiro and Ando, present day/Hiro, Kaito, Adam, and Victoria, 1977

Hiro finds a picture of Kensei/Adam with his father. Ando finds an order that Hiro’s father signed to lock Adam up in 1977. Hiro time travels back to that day at Primatech. In 1977 time, Kaito tells Adam he betrayed everything by releasing the virus. Adam says that he had to make a hard choice for the greater good. Victoria is there after Adam is taken away and is talking about Strain 138 and how it is good that Adam didn’t get a hold of it. Kaito takes it from her and says he is going to send it to Odessa. Victoria tells Kaito that it needs to be destroyed because Adam had to have help to break in and get a hold of anything at the Company. Victoria – “I can’t be a part of this anymore.”

Victoria and Peter, present day

Victoria has articles of Company members on her coffee table. Peter asks her to tell him where the virus is so he can save Caitlyn. Victoria tells him he’s looking for mutated strain 138 and that if it is released it would “kill us all.” Outside Peter tells Adam that it’s in a storage facility in New Mexico right before Victoria shoots Adam and then Peter. Victoria comes after Adam a second time to shoot him in the head/shoot his head off (the one thing he wouldn’t be able to recover from). Before she is able to shoot him in the head, Peter comes to and knocks Victoria out.

Maya and Alejandro

Maya tells Alejandro that Gabriel/Sylar helped her control her power. Alejandro tells her that he looked Gabriel Gray up and found out that he is wanted in the death of his mother. Sylar walks into the hotel room asking if Maya has told Alejandro the good news yet. Alejandro walks up to Sylar and confronts him in Spanish. Sylar shuts the door with a sinister look. Maya confronts him in English – this says you killed your mother? Sylar tells her it is true, that his mother didn’t understand when she learned of his powers and thought he was a monster. Her death occurred accidentally when they struggled. Maya tells him that she understands and that Sylar understands exactly what she’s going through and what she feels. She tells Alejandro that she’s staying with Gabriel/Sylar. Alejandro tells her that he’s not leaving her with him. Maya tells him that she knows he hates her because she killed his wife (Sylar put this idea in her head). Alejandro tells her he knows it was an accident but Maya says in her heart she wanted his wife dead. Alejandro rushes out of the hotel room and Sylar tells Maya that he’ll take care of her (with a creepy look on his face).

Victoria, Peter, and Adam

Peter wants to destroy the virus, but Victoria tells him that Adam wants to release the virus. Victoria accuses Adam of killing Kaito and the others. Peter reads Victoria’s mind to find out where the virus is being stored. Adam unties Victoria who grabs the gun and attempts to shoot Peter in the head. Adam beats her to the punch and shoots her, explaining to Peter that she was going to blow his head off and there’s no coming back from that.

New Orleans

Micah’s boy cousin has been beaten up and the backpack with comics and the medal are gone. Micah tells him that he hates him. He tells Nikki that they need to get it back and be heroes like his father. Micah’s power cousin (I can’t remember her name!) has a look on her face that she wants to do something.

Sylar, Maya, Alejandro

Alejandro goes to Sylar’s hotel room and attacks him. Sylar kills him. We hear Maya knocking on the door – Sylar opens the door drying his hair from the shower. Maya tells him that she has to do what she can to protect her brother and it’s better if he just goes back to Mexico. Maya tells Sylar that without him she would still be there. Sylar tells her that he just wants to help her. They kiss and the camera pans to Alejandro lying on the floor and Sylar slowly closing the door.

Bennett family

Claire is going through boxes and West is in the doorway behind her. Claire is sad about the death of her father. She talks about the things she’s done and overcome but says “this hurts more than any of that and it’s not getting better.” She also talks about the guy her father used to work with (the Haitian) who can take the hurt away by erasing her memories of her father. She pulls the wind chimes out of a box to summon him. She just wants to tell her father how sorry she is.

New Orleans

Micah’s power cousin wakes him up and she’s wearing a black hooded sweatshirt. She tells him that she knows where the kids who stole his back pack live and that he can come with her but he has to stay out of the way and out of trouble.

Mohinder and Bob at the Company

Mohinder tells Bob that Claire’s blood is going to work to cure Nikki. He talks about Strain 138 and how dangerous it is. Mohinder wants Bob to help him find it and destroy all strains of the virus. He then calls Nikki in New Orleans to tell her he’s found a cure and will bring it to her on the next flight.

New Orleans

Nikki goes to tell Micah the good news and finds that he’s not in his bed. Scene changes to Micah and the power cousin who is watching something to learn how to climb walls. She says something about it being too bright and she doesn’t want anyone to think she’ robbing the place. Micah touches the streetlight and it turns off. When she asks him how he did it he tells her that he told the light he needed it to be off for while. The power cousin does her climbing thing and gets tot the backpack which is now empty. As she’s looking at it, a car pulls up so she grabs all the comics that are close to her and hides up above the staircase. As the guys are walking up the stairs a comic drops. They look up, pull guns on her, then throw her in the back of their van. Micah runs off.

Bennett family

Claire is standing at the edge of the ocean with what she thinks are her father’s ashes. She says she is sorry and dumps them in the ocean waves with an “I love you, Dad.” Mrs. Bennett tells her to say goodbye to West so they can get going. Claire hugs West and tells him she’s losing everything she cares about. As she’s hugging him, she notices Elle sitting in a car watching her. Elle tries to start the car to leave but can’t get the keys in because her arm is in a sling. Claire confronts her and tells her that she’s going to tell everyone about her secret so that Elle and Bob will be the ones on the run.

Mohinder in a cab in New York

Mohinder is looking at a syringe when his cell phone rings. It’s Sylar! Sylar is with Molly! Sylar tells Mohinder that he is with someone else who can also use his help. Maya is there and she is smiling.

Hiro and Ando

Hiro tells Ando that he knows the virus is in Texas where they saved the cheerleader. Ando asks him how he can save the world with Adam around who can’t be killed. Hiro looks over at his sword and says that he has to try

Primatech Paper – Adam and Peter

Adam and Peter are walking through the factory when time freezes for everyone but Peter. Peter looks around and sees Hiro standing behind him. Hiro tells Peter that Adam killed his father and he must pay for that. Peter tells him that he can’t let him do that. Hiro tells Peter that he’s chosen the wrong side. Peter holds out his power hand then Hiro runs toward him with his sword.

To be continued…

Thank you again, Carla!

Tonight's 'Amazing Race 12' East Coast Updates 11/25

Football ran into overtime and 60 Minutes started nearly an hour late. When The Amazing Race finally gets here, this post will be updated with the major events. A full review of the show will be posted over on TV Squad later tonight.

UPDATE 8:54 PM ET -- 60 Minutes just ended, the show will start soon. Finally.

The U-Turn was introduced. How it works is that it's after a Detour. A team can U-Turn another team to send them back to do the other choice on the Detour. There are two if I caught it right and a team can only use it once during the race.

Shana and Jennifer U-Turned Lorena and Jason thinking they were right behind them. However, the team in back of them was Rachel and TK. Lorena and Jason were already behind everyone else.

Pit Stop --
1. Hendekea and Azaria -- each won a motor scooter
2. Jennifer and Nathan on their heels.
3. Christina and Ronald
4. Nicolas and Donald
5. Vyxsin and Kynt
6. Shana and Jennifer
7. TK and Rachel
8. Lorena and Jason -- Philiminated

Off Topic - The Death of a Good Friend

Those looking for a television-related entry might want to skip this one.

On Saturday, November 24th, my cat Teaser died. He was a constant companion and a great comfort in my life for fifteen years. He hasn't been in good health this past year, but took a sudden turn for the worse about a week ago. There have been issues with feline urinary tract disease, a hyperactive thyroid, and then kidney disease. Last week, he lost interest in food. I took this photo several months ago as he slept in "his" rocking chair.

Oh, but what a great friend he's been. In 1992, I lost my 19 year-old cat. After about a month, I knew needed to have a cat in my life and my veterinarian, an inner-city vet in CT, had a litter of kittens abandoned in front of his animal hospital. He found homes for all of them except one rather plain-looking little gray tabby. One look and I was hooked. He jumped right out of the cage and onto my shoulder. I took him home that day. He weighed less than a pound and a half.

Feeling guilty for leaving such a small kitten alone at home while I was off to work, I adopted another kitten the same age (give or take a week) about a week later. I chose her out of a litter abandoned at the same vet, the first cat I actually ever picked out -- others in my life, including Teaser, sort of came to me. She's a wonderful cat but he was so special.

Teaser and I would play "where's that cat" almost every day. I'd say "where's that cat," he would run and hide, and I'd have to look for him. I'd pretend to not know where he was and he'd leap out of hiding at me, run and hide once again. He was my lap cat, she doesn't like laps or being picked up (although she's very affectionate and a licker, too). He was the cat who could purr forever.

When I went to bed, he'd curl up in the crook of my arm after circling twice. Then he'd put one paw over my wrist, purr until he thought I was asleep, then get up. He never spent the entire night sleeping in the crook of my arm, but it was our 20 minute every night at bedtime routine. If I was sitting, I could snap my fingers and he would stand on his hind feet for a head rub. He was a head-butter and a kneader.

He was my best friend in so many ways. Yes, I know cats aren't people, but the bond is still one of the strongest one can have.

I still have my other cat and, unlike Teaser she hasn't really had health issues over the years other than being overweight. She's wandering around the apartment looking a bit lost, and so am I. She and I will eventually get used to being a one cat household, but I'll always treasure the memories of one of the best cats ever in the world.

Rest in peace, Tizzerfuzz.

TV Newsy Bits - Friday, November 23, 2007

The moon is almost full over New Jersey. Ah-oooo! I hope everyone had a great holiday and, for those who went Xtreme Shopping today on Black Friday, I hope you survived. I had to work, but made the mistake of walking into a Target store thinking I might want to buy a computer monitor which they have on sale. No computer monitor, even given away, would be worth fighting that crowd. I immediately left before I made it to the department.

I haven't seen Roofus the cat, but it's been raining, very cold, or dark as I've been by there. Unless he can get sun, he seems to vanish, perhaps to the inside of the condemned building. Also, his free rein can lead him all over the roofs of four buildings and I can only see the front edges from my vantage point. I think he's probably okay.

In TV Newsy Bits:

• Although it was a clip episode, I wrote a review of last night's Survivor 15: China over on TV Squad. I also think I forget to mention my Kid Nation review there this week.
• Later tonight I'll be reviewing The Next Great American Band over on TVS.
• NBC has announced that Leno will be airing some vintage episodes as the WGA strike continues ... I want Letterman to do the same!
• The Frank TV debut on TBS attracted 2.9 million viewers -- a great showing! If you missed the show, it will air on Tuesday nights at 11 PM ET/PT in most viewing areas.
• Reality TV World has an interview with voted off from Dancing With the Stars Jennie Garth.

Today's musical non-sequitur:
I saw a werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand
Walking through the streets of Soho in the rain
He was looking for a place called Lee Ho Fook's
Going to get himself a big dish of beef chow mein
-- "Werewolves of London" by Warren Zevon

'Survivor 15: China' - 11/22 Clips Show

Zoetawny made a special graphic for tonight's Survivor. It's not a regular episode -- it's clips and unaired stuff about the remaining castaways.

So far the most interesting comment was Courtney saying her strength in the game is that she's not a strong player. Um, okay.

A brief shout out to Sydney, home from her honeymoon adventures! Welcome back!