Five Mad Predictions for Mad Men Season Five

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Kris M.

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The last time we had a new episode of Mad Men to watch was back in October of 2010. Since then we’ve watched shows like Pan-Am and The Playboy Club try, and fail, to recapture the retro-dramatic intrigue that makes Mad Men so popular. March 25^th marks the debut of Season Five on AMC and with such a long gap in between the production schedule, we’re guaranteed to see some changes to the show. Here are just a few things we think will be different when Mad Men returns from hiatus.

Time Travel

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Mad Men season premieres have been known to fast forward the story ahead a few years. With an almost two-year hiatus between seasons, we can be sure to see another time jump this year. We left the show in 1965, so it’s anyone’s guess as to what year the next season will be. Could Mad Men jump five years ahead and become the next That 70’s Show?

The Next Mrs. Draper

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The finale cliffhanger from last season was Don proposing to his secretary Megan. The couple didn’t have a long courtship, so we’re thinking that a long engagement is out. We’ll start the season either with Don and Megan’s wedding or with a happily married couple who are expecting their first baby together.

Sally the Teen

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We watched Sally mature in Season Four and it’s sure to be a continuing theme as the show progresses. With Sally going through puberty we can expect plenty of clashes between her and Betty—and possibly new stepmother, Megan. Sally is likely to be a bigger part of Don’s life as he struggles with his little girl blossoming into a woman of the 60’s.

Joan the Widow

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We all know now that the Vietnam War was brutal and bloody, but Joan will probably find that out the hard way. As the only main character with a loved one serving in the war, the odds are not in favor of her husband Greg returning home safely. However, Joan is also carrying Roger’s baby, so her husband’s death might just make a complicated situation much easier to deal with.

Peggy Breaks Out

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We’ve watched Peggy go from meek typing girl to full fledged copywriter, but she’s not done getting hers just yet. She seemed unsure of her future with the company when we last saw her—could this be the season where Peggy breaks out on her own? It would be entertaining to watch the student take on her teacher and have Peggy working at a rival company, competing with Don over a client

Spoiler Alert: New Casting Reports May Have Spoiled The Walking Dead

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Kris M.

[WARNING: This article may contain spoilers] When Frank Darabont was let go from The Walking Dead, it was rumored that a cast member who was loyal to the director had asked to be let go from his or her contract. A recent casting report by Variety magazine may have spilled the beans on which actor that had been.

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Frank Darabont is beginning casting for a pilot called L.A. Noir for TNT, based on the book by John Buntin. Darabont has tapped Jon Bernthal as the lead actor. You know Bernthal on The Walking Dead as Shane, the disgruntled deputy and Rick’s number two. Although nothing is concrete, it’s safe to assume that Bernthal was the actor asked out of his contract, and judging by the way Shane has been conflicting with the rest of the survivors in season two, it’s almost a sure bet.

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Of course, this comes as no surprise to fans of the graphic novel series by Robert Kirkman. Shane was killed early on in the comics, although the television series has made a number of changes from its comic counterpart. The question that still remains is how Shane will bite it in the television series. Pretty much everybody is leery of Shane at this point—but who will be the one to actually pull the trigger?

Rick

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Rick and Shane have been battling it out as co-leaders for too long. Perhaps Shane’s stunt with the barn will be the final straw for Rick, or maybe it’ll be an act of self defense on Rick’s behalf. Either way, it’d be poetic justice for Shane, who always said Rick couldn’t make the hard decisions.

Dale

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Dale and Shane have already had some nasty words with one another and Dale seemed ready to do what needed to be done—if it ever came to that. Dale might not be much in a one-on-one fight with Shane, but he’d have a good chance of sniping him off at a distance on top of his RV.

Hershel

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Hershel already hates the fact that Rick and company have decided to crash on his lawn, but when Shane slaughtered his zombie friends and family that might have just crossed the line. If Hershel does take him down, we’re betting Shane takes him down with him.

Lori

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Now that Lori is pregnant, who knows what she’ll do to protect her family. If Shane gets too possessive or wants to be a part of the baby’s life, she might just kill him off to keep him away for good.

Carl

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Carl might look young, but he’s not so innocent anymore. Fans of the comic know that Carl was the one who originally killed Shane—it might just play out the same way on screen.

Patricia

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If Patricia ever found out that Shane killed her husband Otis in order to save Carl’s life, who knows what she might be capable of.

Zombies

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Oh yeah—this is a zombie show after all.

AMC Releases Lackluster “The Walking Dead” Sneak Peak

Posted on January 16, 2012 by Dabney B

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As you may have gathered, I’ve got mixed feelings about AMC’s The Walking Dead. All of the great things about the show can be summed up in two words: “Season 1.”

Similarly, all of the terrible things about the show can be summed up in two words: “Season 2.”

Sure, sure, I’m exaggerating just a tad. Season 2 wasn’t all bad, especially for those of us who love to watch television shows about love triangles and baby-daddy drama. The only problem with that is that there are a whole bunch of shows like that already, and there is only one show on TV that suggests zombies in the title. Is it really too much to ask to keep our one and only zombie show sacred and make it focused on, oh, I don’t know… zombies?!

Well, after a disappointing second season, AMC has released a sneak peak of the next episode, Nebraska, set to debut on February 12. I know you’re all a-titter in anticipation, so I won’t make you scroll through any more of my commentary before getting to the good stuff:

Two mystery men have just appeared on the scene, revealing nothing about themselves except that they’re surprised to see people alive, and that they’re probably from Nebraska (I’m basing that assumption entirely on the title). As tantalizing as these new characters and the mysteries that they bring to the show might be, do any of us actually care?

I can’t help but notice that there is one thing rather conspicuously absent in the clip. Can you guess what it is? It starts with a “z,” has a cult following of nerds, and is one of the sole reasons for turning on the telly. No, it’s not Zooey Deschanel.

Image: Zooey Deschanel Tumblr

Zombies! Where are my zombies, AMC? How are you supposed to make any of us care about these new characters when there isn’t a very serious and constant threat of zombies? Are these strangers rough-and-tumble ruffians here to stir up some trouble?

Pfft, whatever. Without any zombies around, the group can just pick up and drive to any of the supposedly dozens of perfectly safe scenic farmhouses in the area. I pray that “Nebraska” is the name of a character or a boat or something, and not where these two new mystery men are from. If they really did make it all the way from Nebraska to Georgia shortly after a zombie apocalypse, then that means that America really isn’t all that dangerous. At all.

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Well, the first step after surviving an apocalypse of any type is to begin rebuilding and repopulating the world. Maybe that’s why the writers have been focusing on all of this frou-frou love drama.

Top 10 Most Unexpected TV Character Deaths of 2011

Posted on December 30, 2011 by Kris M.

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(WARNING: Contains potential spoilers)

Yesterday we paid tribute to television actors who passed away in 2011, but they’re not the only familiar faces we’ll no longer see on TV next year. We watched some of our favorite TV characters die in 2011— many of them when we were least expecting it.

10. Charlie Harper – Two and a Half Men

It wasn’t much of a surprise when CBS decided to kill off Charlie Sheen’s character on “Two and a Half Men” after his massive falling out with the network. What was shocking, however, was the gruesome way they killed off Charlie Harper—by hitting him with a train (that presumably ran on tiger blood.)

9. Li’l Sebastian – Parks and Recreation

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This enchanting equine may have been small, but his death left a big impact on the town of Pawnee, Indiana. The loss of Li’l Sebastian did, however, give Andy’s band Mouserat its biggest single yet with “5,000 Candles in the Wind.”

8. Sophia Peletier – The Walking Dead

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When little Sophia disappeared in the woods earlier this year, we were sure she was zombie bait from the start. But it was still shocking to see her come out of Herschel’s barn and watch Rick have to put her down with a shot to the head.

7. Jesus Velasquez – True Blood

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Lafayette’s Brujo boyfriend Jesus taught him how to awaken his magical powers—although it would have probably been better for Jesus had he not. While Lafayette was possessed by the spirit of Marnie he killed Jesus to gain his Brujo powers.

6. Ben Harmon – American Horror Story

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When a show openly admits to being a horror story, you shouldn’t become attached to any of the characters—and yet, Ben’s death in the final episode still came as a surprise. After his family talked him out of suicide, we thought he’d start a new life with the baby. Unfortunately the ghosts got to him before he could escape.

5. Bill Henrickson – Big Love

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After such a tumultuous final season, we were not expecting Bill to bite the big one in the last episode. Bill was shot in the chest over a petty lawn dispute with his neighbor and his death brought about the death of the show itself.

4. Gustavo Fring – Breaking Bad

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When drug lord Gustavo Fring crossed the line with Walter White, it was certain that one could not live while the other survived. Gus came to an explosive end when Hector Salamanca turned suicide bomber.

3. Mags Bennett – Justified

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We were completely expecting Mags to poison Raylan at the end of season two, so when she took a swig of her own poisoned moonshine we were stunned. We knew their cat-and-mouse game would eventually have to end, we just never expected Mags to do herself in.

2. Jimmy Darmody – Boardwalk Empire

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Nucky and Jimmy started out the series as partners, with Jimmy playing the role of the number two. When Jimmy wanted more than what was given to him, Nucky put him in his place with two shots to the face.

1. Eddard “Ned” Stark – Game of Thrones

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Although fans of the book series already knew it was coming, the rest of us were shocked when main character Ned Stark was beheaded by King Goffery, the son of his best friend. This unexpected death made it clear that no character is safe—not even the series lead.

Five Winter Show Premieres We’re Dying to See

Posted on December 26, 2011 by Kris M.

The holidays might be over, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to look forward to this winter. The word “mid-season” used to be a loaded term that was associated with low-quality replacements to recently canceled shows, but nowadays some of the best shows on television premiere during the mid-season. The premiere of these five fan-favorite shows are sure to keep the winter blues at bay.

30 Rock

Premieres on January 12

After the death of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il, comedy fans everywhere where left wondering “What does this mean for ‘30 Rock?’” Last season’s finale featured Jack’s wife Avery being kidnapped by the mad dictator (played by comedienne Margaret Cho) and previews for Season 6 show the plot line continuing, despite the leader’s recent death. Season 6 will also be Alec Baldwin’s last, so expectations are high that Tina Fey will pull out all the stops to mark the occasion. Continue reading →

1. Peaceful Countryside