Showing posts with label ABC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ABC. Show all posts

Thursday, March 2, 2017

Podcast Episode 159: Recapping the 2017 Oscars (89th Academy Awards)


In this week’s episode David, Kyle and John recap everything from the 89th Academy Awards including the surprise wins, Jimmy Kimmel’s hosting bits, and most importantly “Envelopegate” which led to Moonlight’s historic win. Finally, the loser of the annual Oscar bet settles up and performs his rendition of “City of Stars.”

The 89th Academy Awards took place on Sunday, February 26th on ABC and were hosted by Jimmy Kimmel.



You can also listen to past episodes of the podcast (including our annual prediction special) on iTunes or on our YouTube channel.

Friday, February 17, 2017

Podcast Episode 157: Predicting the Unpredictable 2017 Oscars (89th Academy Awards)


In this week’s episode David and Kyle try to predict the very unpredictable Oscars in a very special episode of Dual Redundancy. This year they try and forecast who will take home the Oscar in all the major categories for the 89th Academy Awards.

We discuss how host Jimmy Kimmel will do (2:25) and provide some Oscar nomination facts (4:40). We then discuss (in order) best adapted screenplay (15:00), best original screenplay (19:35), best supporting actress (23:45), best supporting actor (29:45), best actress (35:40), best actor (42:20), best director (47:05), and best picture (52:40).

The 89th Academy Awards are on Sunday, February 26th on ABC and will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel.




You can also listen to past episodes of the podcast on iTunes or on our YouTube channel.

Friday, February 19, 2016

Podcast Episode 124: Predicting the Unpredictable 2016 Oscars (88th Academy Awards)


In this week’s episode David and Kyle try to predict the very unpredictable Oscars in a very special episode of Dual Redundancy. This year they try and forecast who will take home the Oscar in all the major categories for the 88th Academy Awards.

We discuss how Chris Rock will do (2:10) and provide some Oscar related news (3:55). We then discuss (in order) best original screenplay (11:35), best adapted screenplay (16:10), best supporting actress (20:55), best supporting actor (26:00), best actress (33:00), best actor (39:05), best director (46:25), and best picture (50:35).

The 88th Academy Awards are on Sunday, February 28th on ABC and will be hosted by Chris Rock.




You can also listen to past episodes of the podcast on iTunes or on our YouTube channel.

Sunday, February 15, 2015

Podcast Episode 89: Predicting the Unpredictable 2015 Oscars (87th Academy Awards)


Every year David and Mike try to predict the very unpredictable Oscars in a very special episode of Dual Redundancy. This year they try and forecast who will take home the Oscar in all the major categories for the 87th Academy Awards.

We discuss how Neil Patrick Harris will do (2:48) and provide some Oscar facts and trivia (4:47). We then discuss (in order) best animated feature (11:33), best original song (14:12), best adapted screenplay (17:25), best original screenplay (21:45), best supporting actress (27:43), best supporting actor (32:03), best actress (35:34), best actor (39:10), best director (45:20), and best picture (50:40).

The 87th Academy Awards are on Sunday, February 22nd on ABC and will be hosted by Neil Patrick Harris.



You can also listen to past episodes of the podcast on iTunes or on our YouTube channel.

As an added bonus be sure to print out your very own Oscar ballot which includes our predictions. This way you can keep track of your picks and have an easy guide to follow along during the show. As for why we chose what we did, listen to the above podcast for all the details.

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Dual Redundancy's 2014 Fall TV Pilot Reviews


Every fall many new shows premiere with a pilot episode. With so many premiering at once we here at Dual Redundancy want to try and help you figure out which show you should try out.

Below are some of the pilots we have already covered on the podcast. As we cover more this page will be updated with their reviews. All of these can be heard on iTunes as well as a special YouTube playlist.

ABC: Black-ish, How to Get Away with Murder & Selfie

CW: Jane the Virgin

FOX: Gracepoint, Mulaney & Red Band Society

NBC: A to Z, Marry Me & State of Affairs

SHOWTIME: The Affair

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Dual Redundancy's Renewal/Cancellation Scorecard 2013-2014


The last few days have been a firestorm of cancellations and renewals. Unless you are glued to your various social media accounts you may have missed the fate on your favorite show. Thankfully we are here to help! Below are the current statuses for all the network shows divided by network.

Are we missing a show? Did something change? Help us keep this updated for everyone by letting us know either in the comments or on Twitter @DualRedundancy.



ABC

Renewed:
America’s Funniest Home Videos
The Bachelor
Castle
Dancing with the Stars
The Goldbergs
Grey's Anatomy
Last Man Standing
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
The Middle
Modern Family
Nashville
Once Upon a Time
Resurrection
Revenge
Scandal
Shark Tank

Cancelled:
The Assets
Back In the Game
Betrayal
Killer Women
Lucky 7
Mind Games
Mixology
The Neighbors
Once Upon a Time in Wonderland
Suburgatory
Super Fun Night
Trophy Wife


CBS

Renewed:
2 Broke Girls
The Amazing Race
The Big Bang Theory
Blue Bloods
Criminal Minds
CSI
Elementary
The Good Wife
Hawaii Five-0
The Mentalist
Mike & Molly
The Millers
Mom
NCIS
NCIS: Los Angeles
Person of Interest
Survivor
Two and a Half Men
Undercover Boss

Cancelled:
Bad Teacher
The Crazy Ones
Friends With Better Lives
Hostages
Intelligence
We Are Men


FOX

Renewed:
American Idol
Bob's Burgers
Bones
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Family Guy
The Following
Glee
MasterChef Junior
The Mindy Project
New Girl
The Simpsons
Sleepy Hollow

Cancelled:
Almost Human
Dads
Enlisted
Raising Hope
Rake
Surviving Jack
The X Factor


NBC

Renewed:
About a Boy
The Blacklist
Chicago Fire
Chicago PD
Grimm
Hannibal
Law & Order SVU
Parenthood
Parks and Recreation
The Voice

Cancelled:
Believe
Community
Crisis
Dracula
Growing Up Fisher
Ironside
The Michael J. Fox Show
Revolution
Sean Saves the World
Welcome to the Family

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Podcast Episode 52: Predicting the Unpredictable 2014 Oscars (86th Academy Awards)


Every year David and Mike try to predict the very unpredictable Oscars in a very special episode of Dual Redundancy. This year they try and forecast who will take home the Oscar in all the major categories for the 86th Academy Awards.

We discuss how Ellen will do (3:50) and provide some Oscar facts and trivia (10:18). We then discuss (in order) best animated feature (17:43), best original song (20:31), best adapted screenplay (22:34), best original screenplay (31:17), best supporting actress (38:10), best supporting actor (47:09), best actress (54:59), best actor (1:00:00), best director (1:08:19), and best picture (1:13:11).

The 86th Academy Awards are on Sunday, March 2nd on ABC and will be hosted by Ellen DeGeneres.



You can also listen to past episodes of the podcast on iTunes or on our YouTube channel.

As an added bonus be sure to print out your very own Oscar ballot which includes our predictions. This way you can keep track of your picks and have an easy guide to follow along during the show. As for why we chose what we did, listen to the above podcast for all the details.

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Podcast Episode 38: Winding Down: "The Good Wife" "The Michael J. Fox Show" & "Masters of Sex"


You're busy. We get it. Not everyone can spend hours all day monitoring and watching everything in television and entertainment news. That is why Mike and Dave are here to do it all for you. At the end of every week we will wind down all the important things you may have missed in a week full of entertainment.

In this week's episode we discuss the promotion for Anchorman 2 (1:59), the scandal involving ABC's Scandal (8:40), and Michael Arndt leaving Star Wars VII (13:15). We also wind down The Good Wife's "Hitting the Fan" (20:25), The Michael J. Fox Show's "Teammates" (32:04), and Masters of Sex's "Catherine" (47:29).



Every week we will discuss a show picked by the listeners and to vote on what show we should cover next week be sure to use our survey by clicking here.

You can also listen to past episodes of the podcast on iTunes or on our Youtube channel.

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

DR Rewind: TV Production with Jack Powers


For the next few weeks as our YouTube page catches up with all the great episodes and interviews we have done we will rewind and share some of our favorite Dual Redundancy moments.

When Dual Redundancy became an Ithaca College Television show in early 2012 we did various interviews with some of the Ithaca College faculty. In our sixth episode of 2012 we sat down with Professor Jack Powers and interview him about television production, writing for series television, and his time with ABC's Modern Family. Below is the interview segment for you to enjoy:


To learn more about ICTV you can visit their homepage by clicking here and you can also watch the episode this interview was edited down to fit in here.

Thursday, August 15, 2013

TV Review: Whodunnit? 108: "Frost Nixin"


DA- Now I have a new theory. No not about who the killer is but something even more important. Whodunnit? is…Breaking Bad! Don’t believe me? What does Breaking Bad and Whodunnit? have in common? Both air Sunday nights at 9 PM. Neither has won an Emmy for outstanding series in their perspective categories. Both deal with death on a weekly basis. But the most important piece of evidence both of these television programs include something that starts with a “rice” and ends with “-icn.” Icing? Interesting transition to…

Ronnie who was catapulted out of the hot tub to the pool, which somehow has ice chunks scattered around him. Exactly how did Ronnie end up floating in a pool? No, it has nothing to do with a trained monkey this week. To figure it all out this week four rooms are involved in the investigation but with exactly four investigators how we will decide who goes where? Let’s stab some blocks of ice in a challenge that clearly favors strength and power. Unsurprisingly the sole male contestant Kam wins and gets to head the mystery room (which is the attic) as well as spend three minutes in a room of his choosing (which turns out to be the last known whereabouts).

The other three contestants now have to choose where they will go but they all must go to a different room. Kam’s team asks Melina, who is all by herself, which room she wants and she chooses the last known whereabouts. Instantly Lindsey also wants that room but Melina does not want to budge. Kam says she has to and just because she said it louder than Lindsey doesn’t mean it is all her choice. Actually Kam I saw the whole thing you asked what she wanted and she decided so boo-hoo for you!

Giles settles any disagreement as any good butler would by providing three envelopes to the three girls. As luck would have it sends Lindsey to the last known whereabouts anyways. Melina gets to visit the morgue as Cris examines the crime scene. After Cris is confused by how the drink next to a hot tub could freeze, she wishes she picked the morgue but Melina “screwed” her out of that! Wait! What? Am I missing something here?

As for Kam’s advantage, in my opinion, it was actually a disadvantage. Sure he got to see Ronnie doze off and then explode from the hot tub to the pool on some surveillance footage but so what? This could have been figured out later. To top it off because he got this room he only had three minutes to explore another room making it hard to find any details in any one room alone.

After everyone left their respective areas, Melina requests their help and asks them if they are ready to play the game now and not be cowards to pick on the lone ranger. Kam does have to remind her that at one point this 3-1 split was a 6-3 split with him the minority against her! However in a perfect bluff Melina does not even need their info anyways after she accurately guesses out of nowhere very specific and detailed information about each of their rooms. Hmm…I wonder how she knows that unless she was in each room… planning to kill Ronnie!

Next it was time for the riddle and this week it looked like they wanted to make a huge mess for the production assistants and interns to clean up. First, let’s blow up a giant vat of ping-pong balls that will make them go everywhere outside. These balls then lead them to the kitchen where they have to search through a giant barrel of beans. Beans are going everywhere! Good luck getting them from behind the fridge! Inside the bean barrel is a word search that would lead them to the next location. While Melina wants to completely solve the word search before she searches any room, everyone else decides to do one at a time because this is a speed round after all. Finally, we make it to the pool equipment where Kam finds that liquid nitrogen was used in the hot tub to help propel Ronnie high into the air.

But like the audience the contestants do not have every single detail about how exactly Ronnie died. In the end it was a long, long process. The killer saw that Ronnie went to the library to write a letter to Giles “spilling the beans” about who the killer is. See what I did there? You know with the riddle round and the spilling of literal beans? Now I am confused. How does the guy who had the least amount of information last week and thought a trained monkey was involved, all of the sudden know who the killer is? Umm…don’t ask me!

Anyways, the killer decides to send a maid to deliver a tea set with powdered cream spiked with ricin, which as we all know thanks to Breaking Bad is extremely toxic. Why does someone choose to put powder cream in their tea when most people use it in coffee? Umm…again, don’t ask me!

Ronnie then brought his tea to the hot tub, which would be filled with liquid nitrogen when the timer went off. Somehow the heated water magnified the effects of the ricin, which again because of the science I learned from Breaking Bad normally takes three days to work. When the timer goes off the liquid nitrogen reacts and blasts Ronnie’s hot body (due to the ricin) into the pool, which also freezes him at the same time. Man! How come the killer never just shoots anyone and calls it a day?

After Melina and Lindsey are “scared” this is where the episode gets even more unusual then normal. The next day Lindsey sneaks up on the group laughing and giggling as though she was drunk. I was almost sure that it was Lindsey under some sort of gas making her act loopy and that her time was dwindling. However, they all are treated instead to a limo ride and are given gifts which Lindsey thinks is a bomb. Hey Lindsey, if the killer is one of the four and gave you a bomb all of you would die and thus the show would be over for not only the audience but also the killer. A better guess would be if the box had a trained monkey inside. Sorry Ronnie, I’m not letting this go.


Next thing we know the limo does a crazy U-turn and heads back to the house. Who is even driving the limo? Giles? Nope! He is now being held hostage in a scheme that looks right out of a comic book! Out of nowhere fog overtakes the room and Melina is gone! Is she dead? Is she the killer and is fleeing? Are those dancing zombies of previous contestants that are coming back? WHAT IS GOING ON? For a fun and cheesy summer reality show that is pretty crazy cliffhanger you just gave us. Who do you think you are…Breaking Bad?!

In and Out Points:

- When Lindsey is looking at the fake ricin in the last known whereabouts, was she told she could not try it by production? Sure while it is not actually ricin many detectives would often try a taste of substances they find to see what they are working with. What would happen if in the scope of the show she did take a lick?

- Melina is eavesdropping on Kam’s team after he solves the riddle. Originally I thought this was production’s way of allowing her to survive the week (because I think she is the killer and the killer can’t be killed). This way it could be argued her score with Lindsey was close to the same so for the audience it would not be a huge shock if Melina survived over Lindsey this week. But then production threw us a curve ball anyways so why am I even looking into this theory…

- Giles points out that Cris has never been “scared.” I think this was a way to raise suspicion that she is the possible killer to the audience but I don’t buy it. I think this is a classic misdirect to take the attention off of the other contestants who actually have been “scared.” If I was the killer I would “scare” myself to help take the target off of myself!

- There is some more evidence online that is leading to Melina as the killer. While this could just be a weird happenstance and not an actual clue, look at this. Most criminals and killers wear masks and which one of the four has a type of “mask” on? Conspiracy theory!!

So who is the killer? Who is going to take the golden knife or whatever the Whodunnit? winner receives along with the quarter of a million dollars? But most importantly, why is the prize money for a show about stopping a serial killer less than the prize for a show about mean people sitting around in a house for 100 days? Let me know in the comments or @eastwoodmcfly.

Thursday, August 8, 2013

TV Review: Whodunnit? 107: "Party Crasher"



DA- I hope I am not crashing your party tonight with my weekly Whodunnit? review but there has been another murder in Rue Manor and I need a trained monkey you to help me solve how exactly Geno got crushed by a chandelier. Before you say Geno was simply crushed by a chandelier stop monkeying around and let’s get started!

Even though I could have sworn last week that it was bright and right after dinner when they previewed Geno’s death it seems like this week it takes place precisely at midnight. Because nobody works well in the middle of the night (except for whoever just killed poor Geno) Giles tells everyone to go to sleep to rest up for the most complicated investigation yet.

The next morning Giles has them choose where they want to explore this week and he wants them to hurry and pick so he can rest. Hey, you just woke up! If you were actually doing your job instead of sleeping or tanning for the entire episode maybe you could be stopping every single one of your houseguests from dying!

As Ronnie focuses on the dance floor and belittles Kam for taking the time to search around the room (and finding a timer), Melina and Cris are in the morgue answering cell phones found inside Geno’s pants. Man is Giles mad that his cell phone was missing. After he yells at both of them for finding the phone, Cris and Melina tell them they found it in Geno’s pocket in the morgue. This leads Giles to ask “my phone is in Geno’s pocket in the morgue?” Yes! Talk about being redundant! (You see what I did there?) Maybe you should go and rest up Giles…

Before Giles can go back to sunbathing he leads the blindfolded investigators to a pitch-black room where they must find a clue after they find the night vision goggles of course. Ronnie is the first to make it to the morgue to start rearranging a bees beads puzzle with Cris, Lindsey, and Kam hot on his tail. (Meanwhile Melina is literally and figuratively in the dark). They all end up in the morgue and when Melina begins to help Ronnie with his beads and sees Kam trying to look on, she is not happy.  “Be a man and get your own beads!” Umm…Melina I don’t want to sound mean but maybe you should take your own advice and get your own too.

Despite Ronnie’s early lead Kam solves the riddle first, which involved locating a pair of monkey statues after the beads spelt out “hear no evil.” Between this and an earlier clue saying “monkey see, monkey do” Ronnie is lead to believe a trained monkey not only dropped the chandelier but used the gun to shoot Geno in the belly. And that ladies and gentlemen is a certified bounty hunter working alongside us everyday. This guy has been a detective for 17 years and he thinks a trained monkey is working with the killer this week based on the saying “monkey see, monkey do.” Speaking of this is it also weird that an attorney, ex-homicide detective, and a television crime reporter have also failed to piece together a fake crime on a network summer television show. These people are solving our nation’s crimes in real life. Yikes!

This week Lindsey, who got to hear what happened in the other two rooms and was the only one to visit the last known whereabouts, had the best theory. She figured out that the killer had two plans. First, the killer was going to strangle Geno with a nutshell lei that had fluorescent green paint on it. But when Geno decided not to wear it, he/she had to go to plan B. When the lights went out with the timer at midnight, the killer put on the night vision goggles and shot Geno in his stomach. With the help of the illuminated crest on the floor he/she dragged the body to the center and dropped the chandelier on him before hiding the goggles in the drawer. Somehow this was all accomplished in the fraction of the second when the lights went out.

Since they did not have any information from the riddle and because Ronnie thought it was a monkey (I’m not going to let this go), both him and Melina were “scared” this week. Before Ronnie heads to bed he checks the room for bobby traps. Yeah, good luck buddy! Meanwhile Melina starts crying and wants a hug. How old is Melina? It’s just a game here guys! Don’t go all bananas or anything!

Both end up making it to morning and to celebrate it’s a spa day! Everyone gets a fun relaxing spa activity except for Kris, who has to do yoga (which believe me is more work then play). While I thought Melina was going to suffer from some sort of asphyxiation like the secretary in Goldfinger thanks to her facial, it was Ronnie who dies after some sort of exploding hot tub. Now how exactly did this happen? Is the hot tub a time machine? Were there any monkeys involved? All these questions will be answered next week on Whodunnit?

In and Out Points:

- Kris knows how to shoot a gun because her father was a cop and taught her at a young age how to handle it because she may find guns just lying around I guess. I am not telling Kris’ dad how to raise his kids but perhaps you may want to invest in a gun cabinet and a good lock. But hey that’s just me!

- Why did the killer choose Geno? He/she asked him to steal Giles’ cell phone and in return he will be safe. So he does and this “dishonesty” is another reason why he must go? Wait, what? First off you already planned on killing him and secondly you told him in order not to die he must do what you asked. If I was the killer I would be angrier if he didn’t follow my orders. Besides why are you looking for a motive now anyways? You never needed one before.

- Kris at the end is the only one unsupervised at the spa day (except for the now eliminated Ronnie). While she does yoga alone the other houseguests had people tending to them like Kam with his massage and others with the pedicures. This would make it pretty easy to sneak out for a little hot tub fun…

- If Melina survives next week and she does not solve the riddle it could mean she is the killer. This week she was “scared” after only getting to hear what happened in two rooms and next week she is only going to get one third of the story while Kam’s team may get 100% (provided they all work together). If she does survive with only 33% of the story while others die with even more information it is safe to say she is the mastermind behind this whole season. Yes you heard me right. I am talking about Melina!

With only two weeks left who do you think is the killer? Did Ronnie deserve to die? Most importantly if there was not a trained monkey, who has been eating all my bananas? Let me know in the comments below or @eastwoodmcfly!

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

TV Review: Whodunnit? 106: "All The World's a Stage"


DA- We’re back on the case! Sorry about the absence for the deaths of Adrianna, Don, and Ulysses. I was actually fleeing across the country to escape a “scared” fate after one to many blog posts angered the killer. But now that I am safe in hiding I am ready to resume my Whodunnit? recaps and boy you better butter up that popcorn because we have a double feature to solve!

After Geno, Dana, and Sasha were “scared” the killer kicked off the night with a double murder. Both Dana and Sasha were found statue-like by the piano in Rue Manor. Despite five previous deaths contestants were perplexed that yes, some more contestants are “dead.” Man what is this killer’s problem?!

However, Giles was unfazed by two of more his guests being murdered and decided it was appropriate to bust a move with one of the housekeepers. After he showed off his dance technique, he spilt the groups up into the three sections yet this week there was two last known whereabouts instead of a “crime scene” to explore.

After their explorations the two teams that have formed (Kam, Cris, and Lindsey vs. Melina, Ronnie, and Geno) spilt apart to spill what they saw. One bright spot for the future of this show is the increase level of strategy involved. In weeks prior we had Geno tell only Kam and Cris information solely to try and get Ulysses “scared.” Now this week we have Kam trying to get Ronnie and Melina to completely shut out Geno so he definitely ends up murdered.

This plan goes into effect and involves Ronnie lying in front of Melina and Geno only to win the award for the worst poker face in history as he tries passing a note of the truth to Melina literally behind Geno’s back. Despite his best effort to shun Geno, Ronnie is forced to work with him when he is the one to figure out the first part of the riddle and that the clue is in the piano. In the end it is Cris who finds the morgue inside the morgue (MORGUE-CEPTION!) and thus solves the riddle this week.

Once they talk to themselves and state their case to cameras that mysteriously vanish as they cut back and forth between them, it is time for dinner. Ronnie should have known his lies would come back to him as they all shared their stories. Luckily for him, Geno, the person he stabbed in the back this week, ended up with a chandelier crushing his back instead. Close call Ronnie!

Despite Cris solving the riddle first, it was Kam who did the best on a written test did the best stating his case for the killer. To sum it all up, the killer broke into Sasha’s room and knocked her out with chloroform. He/she then loaded the body up in a cart and headed over to Dana’s room to get his/her next victim. Instead of knocking her out too, like a polite killer would, the killer threatened her with a knife and forced her to push the cart with Sasha to the elevator. After the lazy killer saw that Dana placed Sasha on the autopsy table in his second morgue, he/she finally knocked her out with chloroform as well. The killer then slashed their wrists, let the blood drain out, dressed them up, and let them stand by the piano to be found by the rest of the house. This killer is really getting violent if you ask me. They went from using a slingshot to knock Sheri out and a simple poison on Don as he made his breakfast to now forcing others to partake in the crime and redressing bodies as mannequins. Now this is where I draw the line!

Thankfully the killer saw the error of his ways and decided not to kill anyone tonight. Instead the contestants are all getting laid! No lei’d (because the next party is a luau). Then again after Giles starts undressing and holds a limbo contest maybe Lindsey is right that maybe at least Giles actually did get laid. This could explain his happy dancing from before. Then again he may just be ecstatic that all of his houseguests are dying and that means less people to take care and watch. Win-win!

However, the party is short live. When the lights cut out we find Geno crushed by a chandelier and next week’s question of “whodunnit?” lingers over the once gleeful luau.

In and Out Points:

- The last known whereabouts this week had crime tape blocking the doorway. Where did this come from? Did Giles buy some à la Kramer and set it up? Obviously it was not the police because I am not sure the police would first let untrained professionals solve crimes or secondly let a person continue to die every single week.

- As they head down to the movie theater, Melina says she does not want to go. She  fears they all may get trapped down there for two weeks and be forced to kill themselves. While anything is possible at Rue Manor, I am going to say this is highly unlikely. On the bright side it would be much easier to find the killer and figure out how they did it when they are all inside of a small room. So maybe this isn’t such a bad idea…

- For some reason a Hollywood theme overtook the investigation, which led to Giles to say every single cliché you could imagine. However, there were a few that irked the Emmy and Oscar obsessed side of me. Here they are one by one:

“Someone gave an Oscar winning performance…” 
Really, these guys? The killer must not be watching Melina crying over two of her competitor’s possibility of exiting the game next week. Melina, this is a good thing for you!

“…and the nominee is… KAM!” 
Actually Giles since he won the best theory he would be a winner. Since they all were eligible to win everyone else is a nominee.

“It looks like the other nominees were snubbed.” See you just said they were nominees yourself!  
Also to be technical “snub” usually refers to the people not nominated at all. These guys were not snubbed. They just lost. 

That is it for this week. Who did you wish won the award for “next to be murdered” and who actually was “snubbed?” But most importantly, do you think you could out limbo Giles? Let me know either in the comments or @eastwoodmcfly. Until next week watch your back! You never know when a giant chandelier may be on top of it!

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

TV Review: Whodunnit? 102: "Fire Starter"


DA- Oh my god! We’re having a fire…sale! No, unfortunately there is no fire sale or commercial starring Tobias yet, but we do have another episode of Whodunnit? to dissect and solve!

This week we have to piece together how Dontae (or the stunt man that pulled off that pretty amazing feat) somehow became engulfed in flames. This episode for the most part follows the same structure as the week before. The contestants chose between the three locations, they mingle over a nice lunch spread, receive a clue that leads them on a goose hunt around the house, and then they plead their case talk to themselves in a library trying to sound like they are a lawyer.

While I like solving the murder along with the houseguests, the biggest thing that I cannot stand about the show are the contestant reactions. Most of America knows that these contestants are not really dying but somehow this message is not getting to the actual contestants. Contestants are crying over Dontae’s death, Kam is disgusted to swim in a pool before they clean it since Dontae’s body was lying in it, and Giles tells them nobody is allowed to leave the house. Stop it! This is a reality show. I am okay with the puns about how if you don’t solve the case it will be the “death” of you and your game but you are not fooling anyone that this is real…well okay almost anyone.

One aspect I do like though is allowing the contestants to only choose one location to explore. This forces them to meet and collaborate with each other. However, like this week, each group decided they would change the information and withhold crucial pieces, which led to some interesting conversations. While Sasha (one of the best players on the show) sees right through it, others like Gino are confusing themselves on what actually he saw himself. The protector from fire is St. Agnes Gino, or wait it’s Agatha. No I’m sorry Agnes. Argentina?

Also these conversations post-investigation always creates some much needed drama and tension between the contestants. I love the alliance formed by Kam and how much it annoys the rest of the players. The other side thinks they need to work together to stop this killer but Kam at least is aware that this is all an individual game. However because you are only be allowed to see one of the three rooms you need a few others to at least help you make it to the finals. One thing I do not understand though about Kam is why he thought to choose Lindsey to replace Gino in his alliance. Last week she was almost “scared” when she was not close in solving Sheri’s murder and this week she is playing with Adrianne with a gas fireplace while everyone else is solving the flag clue in the laundry room. So to go back to another Arrested Development reference…her? What is she funny or something?

After all the clues were pieced together we find out that Kam’s alliance mate Ulysses was the best at piecing together Dontae’s murder. It turns out that Dontae was given special pajamas sprayed with benzene and socks that somehow created more static electricity than other socks. After the killer sounded the fire alarm, Dontae tried to run out of the room but the shag carpet and his special socks created enough static electricity that when he touched the door the small spark engulfed him in flames. He then proceeded to run out of the house (not catching anything else on fire mind you) and jumped into the pool. 

This time Dana and Adrianne are “scared” or nominated to be “killed.” I had a feeling I knew who was going home for a few reasons. For one, Adrianne said Dontae died from the exploding medallion the killer gave him along with his silk pajamas. Not only can she not figure out he died but I also do not think she knows how science works. If this is true then how did it reform and float to the bottom of the pool where you found it with Kam? As for Dana, she may not be the killer of the house but give her time and I think she could become one. After Ulysses did not run over to talk to her, Dana threatened to kill him and to pinch his head off. Dana! Don’t tell us how you are going to kill him! We need something to solve in the next episode.

Speaking of the next episode Adrianne has finally bit the dust and not a day too soon. How did the golf cart she was fleeing in explode? My money is on an exploding medallion…

In and Out Points:

- Donate’s death could have easily been avoided. Don’t they teach “stop, drop and roll” in elementary schools anymore?

- How did Giles get an ankle monitor on him to keep him in the house? We are told he has never met his employer but wouldn’t he have seen/heard someone strapping something on to his ankle at some point?

- Speaking of Giles, in next week’s preview it looks like he is either protecting or terrorizing the house with a shotgun. Is it too late to rule him out as the killer?

- For all you Ithaca College students out there, talk about a death by doorknob!

- Anyone else think ABC threw Donate’s last words at the end to try and convince America that a network television company represented by Mickey Mouse is not lighting people on fire for others to solve how and only win a quarter of a million dollars by doing so?

That is all for this week. Let me know who you think the killer is and how Adrianne died either in the comments or @eastwoodmcfly. Until next Sunday have a killer week!

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

TV Review: Whodunnit? 101: "High Voltage"


DA - There’s been a murder I do declare! Well okay, not really, but tell that to the people who watched ABC’s premiere of their new murder mystery reality show, Whodunnit? Because there were some people out there thinking that the Mickey Mouse network was offing contestants left and right in their series premiere Sunday night.

Thirteen contestants entered the Bachelor’s the Whodunnit? house all knowing that they were there to compete in a reality game show. However, they should have known that when Sheri Marsh, ex-NFL cheerleader (and probably aspiring actress) was killed for dropping a champagne glass, that this was not going to be Minute to Win It.

Out of the thirteen, one contestant is a “killer.” Really Whodunnit? is The Mole mixed with the board game Clue (or a direct rip-off of the ICTV show Suspicion, created by Dual Redundancy’s own Mike Ladue). Every week a character will be murdered and it is up to fame-seeking contestants to figure out how each one of them died and who the killer actually is.

While the show has its moments full of cheese and eye-rolls, there are many interesting ideas the show uses. After Sheri is murdered in front of the fish tank, contestants have to choose between three locations to explore: the crime scene, her last known whereabouts, or the morgue (which is conveniently located in the basement of the mansion). This automatically leads Kam, a homeland security attorney, to align with two others to get the full story. However, he does not know if one of his allies is lying or even worse the actual killer!

They are also given clues by a mysterious butler named cliché butler name Giles, who supposedly receives notes from the killer under his door. One clue was a key with the numbers “13:17” on it. Even though Kam was an early favorite of mine after he thought the numbers were military time and decided to disregard the key and start spinning the hands of clocks for a secret passage opening, I started looking for other strong players. 

After they figured it out was a Bible verse, it was Ronnie who realized there were two sides to the key (really? Nobody else saw this?!) and figured out the two crowns engraved on the key were referencing the book of Kings 2 in the Bible. Next he realized it was in reference to a nearby missing window, saw a number carved into the wood, and realized it was for a crate directly straight ahead from the window. Where Ronnie, the bounty hunter, failed was not only speaking out loud for the other contestants to hear but also sprinting throughout the house to the crate, thus bringing everyone with him to the clue!
Inside the crate we find a slingshot and a crowbar, which adds with the pebble found in the back of her head to point to a Dennis the Menace copycat killer. After all the clues they are off to the library where they get to pace around and talk out loud to the “killer” of how they committed the crime. This was easily the funniest moment of the show. Every single contestant thought they were the greatest lawyers ever to walk across the face of the Earth yet as a viewer we knew who was completely out of left field. Yes, I am talking to you Dontae and your idea that she drowned from the fish tank instead of the head shot wound you found.

In the end it was the journalist Sasha who correctly figured out that the killer broke into her room and used a fogged up mirror to lure her down to the fish tank. The killer ran back down, cut the wire of the nearby lamp, and aimed a slingshot outside waiting for Sheri. Somehow this killer made a completely remarkable shot from outside, through a missing glass pane, and right into Sheri’s neck severing major arteries. Next it was an elaborate Rube Goldberg machine only seen on TV or in an OK Go music video. This hit forced her to fall into the fish tank, cracking it, and the built up pressure made it break which caused the frayed wire to further shock an already dead Sheri. Moral of the story? Don’t drop a champagne glass in this psycho’s house!

Don and of course Dontae were the two that were “scared” after their accusations during a dinner that night. (It should be noted that despite a killer on the loose inside the house, Giles is always there with the best hospitality and food service you could ask for). That night at 4:38 AM the contestants are awaken to a fire alarm. Now in some insane special effects (especially for a summer network reality show) “Dontae” comes running out engulfed in flames. In the end, he jumps into the pool but it is too late. Now while it was more than likely not Dontae running around (doesn’t he know to stop, drop, and roll?) this sequence was still amazing. Between this effect and the makeup they used on an insert shot of Dontae in the pool, Whodunnit? may be after some Creative Arts Emmy nominations.

Next week assuming the killer does not also murder this show from ABC’s schedule, we will most likely piece together Dontae’s murder and possibly receive more clues on who actually “dun it.”

In and Out Points:

- Hopefully we receive more clues on who the killer is instead of just how he/she committed the crime. There is already speculation online that the killer is right handed based on the dramatizations but this may just be reading too much into it.

- I know it is a game show but it seems as though the killer wants to get caught. He/she leaves clues behind and picks his/her next victim on who was the worst detective. Shouldn’t he/she have kept Dontae around and killed Sasha instead? Sasha was the one who figured out exactly how he/she did it!!

- I find it ironic that Dontae finds his end in the pool since the whole time he thought Sheri drowned. Now I may be over doing it here but did production choose his death based on Dante’s first part of the Divine Comedy, which is “Inferno?” Despite the spelling both names are pronounced the same way. If so, anybody have any ideas for how others may die?

That is it for this week. Let me hear what you thought about the premiere and who the killer may be either below or on Twitter @eastwoodmcfly.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Podcast Episode 26: And The Next Oscar Goes To...


In their annual Oscar special, David and Mike give their predictions for the 85th Annual Academy Awards in all the major categories including acting, screenplay, director, and picture.

To listen to the episode use the player below or download/listen to the episode on iTunes!

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Podcast Episode 25: LL Dual R (Ladies Love Dual Redundancy)


In this week's episode we catch you up on the world of pop culture. We also discuss the Up All Night fiasco, Community's return to TV, and the latest in pilot casting news. We also wrap up the 55th Grammy Awards and recap the Survivor: Caramoan - Fans vs Favorites premiere. Finally, we also break up with the TV show Revenge in "It's Not You, It's Revenge."

To listen to the episode use the player below or download/listen to the episode on iTunes!

Sunday, October 14, 2012

TV Review: Revenge 2x02: "Resurrection"


ML- Revenge has gone through a cycle of life, death and resurrection since it began. The pilot was fun and full of life, and things kept getting good until the big Fire & Ice mid-season reveal. After that, however, the show ran out of steam and slowly became the kind of show you'd watch while doing other things (like how I'm writing this while "watching" Fringe from the other night). However, the season finale last year was outstanding and breathed new excitement into the show.

I fear the show is losing the signs of life it showed last year at too fast a rate. Emily's icy disposition used to be commanding and hot, now it's gotten monotonous. Nolan's one-liners are lacking in effort on the parts of both the writers and Gabriel Mann; he's just phoning it in, and I don't think it can be attributed to the character's personal struggles. And Daniel's hair cut makes him look awful.

Amanda and Jack do not interest me. I was hoping the baby really wouldn't be his, but instead it was Emily just being a bitch to the woman who changed her whole identity for her. Was I surprised? No. Nothing has surprised me these past two weeks, except how little my investment has become. Declan's storyline with his new "friend" Trey lending him his step-mother's expensive bracelet for $500? Predictably going to lead to some mediocre drama.

There was one thing that surprised me: The White-Haired Man's unexpected death at the hands of Emily's Revenge buddy, who I believe is still unnamed. He had the potential to be a lasting malevolence in the show's mythology, but they cut him out once he hinted to Mrs. Clarke still being alive when Victoria signed her out of the mental hospital. RIP, WHM.

Nolan's scenes with his company were awkward and didn't quite fit the tone that the show has established. Yes, it's a campy soap, but the humor was a little too light. Maybe it was just the terrible acting by his prospective CEO? Between her and Charlotte, this show needs to step up the casting.

Sorry to be such a spoil sport this week, but there was one bright spot to the episode: Victoria. Her plan to get back at the WHM by using Conrad to Chris Brown her was smart and dark, and in the meantime got Charlotte back in her good graces. Madeline Stowe is the most committed to the show, for better or worse, and she was particularly fun getting punched in the face.

Episode Grade: C+
Episode MVP: Madeline Stowe
Original Airdate: 10/07/2012

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

TV Review: Revenge 2x01: Destiny


ML- "Destiny" is a touchy subject when it comes to television- there are so many factors coming into play that character arcs and relationships don't always end up where writers and producers intend. And, let's be honest, the only God when it comes to television is the showrunner and the folks in the writer's room. If I were a betting man, I'd say Daniel was originally supposed to die on the beach in season 1, but the fan's reaction kept him alive and Tyler bit the bullet instead. On-set behind the scenes drama can lead to characters being written out long before their welcome. Low ratings can cut promising programs down within a matter of weeks.

Revenge survived to a second season and begins much like the first season- with a glimpse of a mid-season tragedy that will most likely not be what it seems. This time, we saw Jack Porter's boat, the Amanda, on the bottom of the ocean, along with it Jack's pocket watch and a body with manly arms. All signs point to Jack. So, naturally, Jack is destined to survive to Season 5.

This season premiere was much less juicy than the pilot last year, and hopefully that's a sign of the show setting up plot lines and not losing steam. Unfortunately, nothing new or exciting was really set up, we just got continuations of everything from last year. Victoria being alive was a surprise to nobody, except maybe Emily. Amanda's paternity test was something we all were clamoring for.

Everything about Conrad bores me and I wish they had killed him last year instead of fake-killing Victoria. His manipulation of Charlotte was smart and unexpected for me, as I expected Emily to be behind the blood-test snafu. Charlotte was less annoying already, and I'd love to see her join in the Revenge-ing with Emily and Nolan to form a team of superheroes called... wait for it... THE REVENGERS. Nolan can be Tony Stark with his money! Emily can be Thor with her blonde hair! Charlotte can be the Hulk with her pill addiction! (Stretching/completely making up that last one). Now just turn Declan from scrawny punk to buff hunk and he's Captain America.

A few characters seem to be in new, interesting places: Nolan's post-torture boxing regiment and the sale of his house signals a psychological shift, but his quippy lines felt tired already. Apparently we're getting an origin story for him, which I'm torn over. He's one of the most interesting characters on the show, but that's because everything about him is so ambiguous. Shedding light on his demons could remove all the excitement that surrounds him and ultimately let us down.

Daniel and Ashley are the other characters on the show that excite me. Sure, Daniel is currently being relegated to brooding with a drink in hand like some lowly Twilight vampire, but his history of reckless endangerment while under the influence should lead to some questionable decisions. And Ashley, who I've long suspected to be up to no good, seemed like a much more confident, sinister character, as if the actress was given a direction she can't share with the audience, but it drastically is affecting her performance. Either way, These two could be a dastardly duo to tear the Hamptons apart.

Lastly, Emily, who nearly drowned herself to unlock repressed memories about her mother, needs to step it up this season. Her take-down of the buff guy at Takeda's side was a fine reminder of her prowess last season, but I'm expecting more. I know, I know, they can't play all their cards in the first episode, but this is REVENGEEE, people. I need balls to the wall craziness or else I realize how primetime network soap this all is.

Episode Grade: B
Episode MVP: Emily Van Camp
Original Airdate: 09/30/2012