Worth Watching: ‘Top Chef’ Restaurant Wars, ‘I Feel Bad’ Finale
A critical checklist of notable Thursday TV:
Top Chef (10/9c, Bravo): Arriving unusually early in the season, and providing a jolt to a sleepy post-Christmas Thursday, it’s time for Restaurant Wars, a highlight of any Top Chef season. The episode begins with an amuse bouche Quickfire led by Top Chef alums Nina Compton (Season 11) and Karen Akunowicz (Season 13), both James Beard Award winners. Then the remaining 12 chefs are split into three teams (instead of the usual two) to open pop-up eateries with little prep time. Adding to the fun: yet another twist announced by judge Tom Colicchio.
I Feel Bad (9/8c, NBC): Fans of this frenetic comedy may have reason to feel bad, as NBC burns off the final two episodes of the first (and most likely only) season. In the first episode, Emet (Sarayu Blue) goes to extremes to learn more about her emotionally distant dad (Brian George). In the second, perhaps prophetically titled “There’s Never Enough Time,” she mixes business with pleasure in an attempt to keep work from interfering with a planned family vacation. In what may be Emet’s worst idea yet, she asks the guys from GamePunch to housesit while they’re away.
Happy New Year, Charlie Brown! (8/7c, ABC): Repeat of the night: a 1986 installment of the Peanuts franchise that continues to draw big ratings during the holiday season. While not as memorable as A Charlie Brown Christmas — what could be? — there’s fun to be had as hapless Charlie lugs around a massive copy of War and Peace to Marcie and Peppermint Patty’s New Year’s party, to which he’s invited none other than that elusive little red-haired girl. The hour special also includes She’s a Good Skate, Charlie Brown.
Inside Thursday TV: Take the opportunity to catch up with freshman sitcoms airing on a different night. Fox’s The Cool Kids (8:30/7:30c) showcases the outrageous Leslie Jordan as Sid, who’s urged by Margaret (Vicki Lawrence) to come out to his visiting (and apparently super-clueless) son… Two episodes of ABC’s rambunctious family comedy The Kids Are Alright air: at 9:30/8:30c (“Christmas 1972”) and 10:30/9:30c (“Timmy’s Poem,” actually written by his mom — or so he thinks).
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G
I'm going to watch Believe Me: the Abduction of Lisa McVey. Sounds good to me, wonder why it wasn't mentioned. And it's new.
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C
Maybe he doesn't believe her. It's not like Lifetime Movies is on everyone's watch list. I seldom pay attention to what's on their schedule.
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R
Thanx crazy for mentioning it...I'll check it out!!!
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R
Is that a Lifetime movie? Otherwise known as "women in jeopardy or other horrible situation" movies, lol. I thought Lifetime was originally intended to empower women, not exploit their hardships.
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G
It was an incredibly empowering. Lisa McVey is an inspiration. Even my husband, who groans when I put on Lifetime or HGTV, really liked it.
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G
Um, it's kind of his job to know what's on ALL channels. Good TV is good TV, regardless of station.
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C
Oh, please! No one could know what's on ALL channels all the time with hundreds of cable channels and all sorts of streaming shows now. His job here is to recommend what he thinks will be worth watching, but he can't very well watch everything to know if it's worth recommending or not.
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R
"Empowering"...indeed...
I watched it last night...most people would have crumbled after what she experienced...but she held it together...and...remembered enough details to lead to the capture of that serial killer who had murdered (14?) previous victims!!!
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G
I loved the very end, when they showed her in uniform. Way to go girl!
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G
I agree, to a point. Lifetime isn't some obscure channel. And,with so many repeats at this time of year I think it deserved a mention. Too many people probably dismissed it like Jena H did. And they shouldn't. Maybe most of Lifetime's movies aren't great, but this one definitely was. His recommendation might have influenced some to check it out. Even my husband put his book down & watched. And then talked about how good it was. That was a Christmas miracle!
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C
Lifetime may not be some obscure channel but Lifetime Movies is.
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R
For those who are Jim Caviezel fans (i.e., from Person of Interest), he's going to be on an episode of Murder, She Wrote tomorrow (Friday) at 9am eastern on WGN.
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C
I didn't know he was around when that show was on.
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R
It was one of his earlier acting jobs, to say the least. After all, Caviezel is fifty years old.
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G
He's my age and I was around when Murder She Wrote was a CBS hit.
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R
Me too. Always interesting to see "big" stars in these small roles, early in their careers. In this show alone there's Caviezel, George Clooney, Kevin Sorbo, and Julianna Margulies, among others.
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C
It's not so much a matter of age but when they started acting. Some have been at it since they were little kids while others didn't start until their late 20s or so.
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R
Repeats, repeats, and more repeats.
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G
I might check out some of the comedies, if I don't find a worthy classic movie to watch.
I can't get the music of Meet Me In St Louis out of my head, especially The Trolley Song. Although not technically a Christmas movie, it featured one of the best Christmas Songs ever , Have a Merry Little Christmas and some scenes revolving around the holiday.
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C
Clang, clang, clang went the trolley.....
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G
So catchy.
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C
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Parts 1 and 2 is on USA from 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm. I might just run that all evening. I don't think I've ever seen either movie all the way through.
As much as I usually enjoy cooking competition shows, I've never fully gotten into Top Chef. I think it's because it's so serious that no one seems to be having any fun on it.
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G
I have the box et of Harry Potter movies on DVD. By the way thanks for recommending Meet Me in St Louis some time ago.
The music and performances by all involved were spectacular.
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C
You can't go wrong with anything directed by Vincente Minnelli...especially his great musicals. If you're not familiar with his work, look it up. He was responsible for An American in Paris and Gigi too.
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G
I'll also check out more Judy Garland musicals. That was her husband , I guess. We were all blessed with Liza from that union. What a talented family!!
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C
If you ever get a chance to hear Judy's other daughter, Lorna, do so. She's even better than Liza in many people's opinions. She's been a big star in England and Australia but never quite caught on here.
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G
Better than Liza! I'll look for her on her You Tube.
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G
I'm listening to Lorna Luft now, Excellent vocalist. Judy Garland certainly transferred some strong vocals to her daughters.
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C
It's like Barbra Streisand's sister, Roslyn Kind, who many critics thought was better than Barbra early on. IMO...she wasn't.
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G
Lorma Luft appeared in Grease 2 . I liked that movie. Barbara Streisand is among the best vocalists of all time. She also starred in so many great movies.
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G
Listening to Roslyn now. Very good and definitely underrated vocalist. But not stronger than Barbara. Similar vocals though.
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R
Is that the final movie (cut in two)? I was 'forced' (not really) to watch it a few years ago, and I think I fell asleep in the middle of it. Seemed like nothing but the kids wandering around the forest, arguing.
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C
Yes, it's the final one in two parts. No woods so far.
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G
Just watched Singing in the Rain. Wow! What a musical movie! Gene Kelly ,Debbie Reynolds and the entire cast were on top of their game. First time I watched it.
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C
Hard for me to realize that any mature adult hasn't seen that film before. It is one of the great ones.
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G
Because during my formative years I was too busy watching contemporary trash while my grandmother and great aunt were always in another room watching the classics. I probably peeked in time to time to see what they were watching out of curiosity. So catching up watching these treasures now.
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G
An American in Paris and Gigi cost money at the moment. But I'll keep checking when they become free.
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C
My house was just the opposite. I was watching old movies while my mother watched crap like The Cosby Show.
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G
My mom loved The Cosby Show and A Different World ! it was my grandmother and her sister that were watching the classics. Even today, my mom watches mostly new shows and movies and ignores the classics. I actually have to recommend classics for her to watch- now that most of her shows are on break she has been watching some of them.
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G
So I'm guessing you've seen Brigadoon. It was okay but I was indifferent to the theme of a "town that disappears for a hundred years before coming alive again for a day". Nice dance scenes of Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse, though.
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G
I've seen many of Ms. Streisand's comedies as well as her A Star Is Born and Yentl (most of which I liked) but I've yet to watch her Oscar-winning role in Funny Girl...
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C
I've seen a revival of Brigadoon onstage too. It's not one of the strongest musicals in terms of songs. I think Almost Like Being in Love was the only song from it that gained any popularity.
I guess you either buy into the fantasy theme or not. That didn't bother me as much as sitting through all those boring musical numbers.
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C
Funny Girl is great. Funny Lady...not so much so. Hello Dolly was great too.
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G
I also liked most of Streisand's movies.
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