We've told you about our favorite guilty TV pleasures of 2011, and we've highlighted some of the underrated performances of the year. But what about the the stuff we just flat-out liked?
The episodes on this list -- which encompasses everything from "Breaking Bad" to "The X Factor" -- represent Zap2it's favorite dramatic episodes of 2011. Tell us yours in the comments.
Jean Bentley
"The Vampire Diaries" - "Klaus": It took the better part of Season 2 to meet the ultimate bad guy threatening our favorite Mystic Falls residents, but it was so worth the wait. In "Klaus," we finally met the evil half-vampire, half-werewolf hybrid played by sexy Brit Joseph Morgan. And since the introduction happened via flashback, there was plenty of long, luxurious medieval hair to go around. Plus: Clueless Aunt Jenna finally (Finally) found out about the vampires in her midst. Although it wasn't as sensational as some of the series' other episodes,...
The episodes on this list -- which encompasses everything from "Breaking Bad" to "The X Factor" -- represent Zap2it's favorite dramatic episodes of 2011. Tell us yours in the comments.
Jean Bentley
"The Vampire Diaries" - "Klaus": It took the better part of Season 2 to meet the ultimate bad guy threatening our favorite Mystic Falls residents, but it was so worth the wait. In "Klaus," we finally met the evil half-vampire, half-werewolf hybrid played by sexy Brit Joseph Morgan. And since the introduction happened via flashback, there was plenty of long, luxurious medieval hair to go around. Plus: Clueless Aunt Jenna finally (Finally) found out about the vampires in her midst. Although it wasn't as sensational as some of the series' other episodes,...
- 12/30/2011
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
We’ve got questions, and you’ve (maybe) got answers! With another week of TV gone by, here are some queries we are going to throw at you, from shows such as Chuck, Homeland, American Horror Story, The X Factor and more!
1 | How did Chuck‘s Ellie and Awesome escape the moving limo last week when it had been purposely established that the driver locked the doors? That nitpick aside, who else would totally tune in for a spinoff called The Awesomes?
2 | Why did Saturday Night Live host Jimmy Fallon conspicuously fail to pretend-play the keyboard at all, as is tradition,...
1 | How did Chuck‘s Ellie and Awesome escape the moving limo last week when it had been purposely established that the driver locked the doors? That nitpick aside, who else would totally tune in for a spinoff called The Awesomes?
2 | Why did Saturday Night Live host Jimmy Fallon conspicuously fail to pretend-play the keyboard at all, as is tradition,...
- 12/23/2011
- by Team TVLine
- TVLine.com
Best Fan Shout-Out: Soon-to-end One Life To Live used its soap-within-a-soap, Fraternity Row, to do a story in which a fan (the fantastic Ilene Kristen as Roxy) tries to save her favorite doomed soap.
Oddest Move: So Glee has cast Real Housewives Of Atlanta “star” NeNe Leakes? Huh. Anybody else think the casting couch over there reeks of desperation? And speaking of desperate measures…
Lamest Hail Mary: With the clock running out, Sunday’s Dexter finale had the writer’s room doing their best Tim Tebow impersonation by delivering the single biggest twist longtime fans had been clamoring for. Too bad, what should have amounted to a moment of epically cool proportions came off as little more than a sad attempt to save what has universally been deemed as Dexter’s most disappointing season to date.
Biggest No-Brainer: So scandal-ridden Alec Baldwin won’t be running for Mayor of New York City?...
Oddest Move: So Glee has cast Real Housewives Of Atlanta “star” NeNe Leakes? Huh. Anybody else think the casting couch over there reeks of desperation? And speaking of desperate measures…
Lamest Hail Mary: With the clock running out, Sunday’s Dexter finale had the writer’s room doing their best Tim Tebow impersonation by delivering the single biggest twist longtime fans had been clamoring for. Too bad, what should have amounted to a moment of epically cool proportions came off as little more than a sad attempt to save what has universally been deemed as Dexter’s most disappointing season to date.
Biggest No-Brainer: So scandal-ridden Alec Baldwin won’t be running for Mayor of New York City?...
- 12/23/2011
- by theTVaddict
- The TV Addict
On your TV this Wednesday: ABC’s a little bit country, while X Factor is (presumably) a little bit rock ‘n roll — plus an Up All Night getaway, romantic woes for my Jj Jareau, and more. All told, I’ve rounded up 12 programs to keep on your radar tonight.
8 pm The 45th Annual Cma Awards (ABC) | Hosted for a fourth time by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, this three-hour kudoscast is broadcast live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
8 pm Survivor: South Pacific (CBS) | A double eviction rocks the newly merged Te Tuna tribe!
8 pm The X Factor (Fox) | The Top 11 perform!
8 pm The 45th Annual Cma Awards (ABC) | Hosted for a fourth time by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, this three-hour kudoscast is broadcast live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
8 pm Survivor: South Pacific (CBS) | A double eviction rocks the newly merged Te Tuna tribe!
8 pm The X Factor (Fox) | The Top 11 perform!
- 11/9/2011
- by Matt Webb Mitovich
- TVLine.com
America has spoken, and the massive kid-pop experiment that was InTENsity was the first sent packing from The X Factor last night. Eleven acts remain, and their mentors are going to face some tough decisions in the coming weeks.
In the meantime, Simon Cowell, L.A. Reid, Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger, and even host Steve Jones spoke with EW after last night’s show to discuss the latest drama both on and off the stage. The judges weighed in on tough eliminations, contestant controversies, and what’s next for InTENsity, but poor Paula couldn’t fit a word in without Simon and L.
In the meantime, Simon Cowell, L.A. Reid, Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger, and even host Steve Jones spoke with EW after last night’s show to discuss the latest drama both on and off the stage. The judges weighed in on tough eliminations, contestant controversies, and what’s next for InTENsity, but poor Paula couldn’t fit a word in without Simon and L.
- 11/4/2011
- by Shaunna Murphy
- EW - Inside TV
We've got the Top 12 on "The X Factor" tonight - what did you think? Who is going home the first time America votes?
1. The Stereo Hogzz, "Rhythm Nation"
I don't love the opening. It sounds weird and thin to me, but once the "5-4-3-2-1" counts down and the group parts kick in, I love it. The dancing is great, the harmonies are tight, the costumes are fantastic. This song is 22 years old, but it sounds very current. (As an aside - I can't believe this song is old enough to drink). The judges are very complimentary and Paula is a proud mama. I feel like she choreographed that video for Janet Jackson, but I looked it up and she did not. But she did several Janet videos.
2. Chris Rene, "Superstar"
Great pick for him. How do you not connect lyrically with this song? It's gorgeous. The hip-hop...
1. The Stereo Hogzz, "Rhythm Nation"
I don't love the opening. It sounds weird and thin to me, but once the "5-4-3-2-1" counts down and the group parts kick in, I love it. The dancing is great, the harmonies are tight, the costumes are fantastic. This song is 22 years old, but it sounds very current. (As an aside - I can't believe this song is old enough to drink). The judges are very complimentary and Paula is a proud mama. I feel like she choreographed that video for Janet Jackson, but I looked it up and she did not. But she did several Janet videos.
2. Chris Rene, "Superstar"
Great pick for him. How do you not connect lyrically with this song? It's gorgeous. The hip-hop...
- 11/3/2011
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
Was Dexter Haygood just a pawn in The X Factor's reality-tv game? "There's no truth in this at all," a Fox rep tells E! News in response to Haygood's claim that he wanted to be cut early on because the show tried to make him into a kooky character instead of just let him be an aspiring artist. "Dexter always said he was very happy with everything leading up to last week's show and he had no conversation with either [mentor Nicole Scherzinger] or producers to the contrary. In fact, it was the opposite. He was always very positive about the song, the show and his performance." But that was last week. Tonight, the top 12 finalists took the stage knowing that, for the...
- 11/3/2011
- E! Online
The X Factor is live! Fox's talent competition returned Tuesday with its first live show, a 2½-hour presentation that seemed rushed as producers squeezed in all 17 remaining acts with commentary from judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger and L.A. Reid. Poor host Steve Jones looked stressed out as he hurried the night along. But in the end, they made their time, and 17 acts were trimmed down to 12. Keep reading to find out who made the cut - and who was sent home: Related: The X Factor's Top 17 Revealed!L.A. Reid and the Boys: Brooklyn's hip-hop wonder kid Brian "Astro" Bradley,...
- 10/26/2011
- by Aaron Parsley
- PEOPLE.com
The older singers on The X Factor are proving two important things: 1) You’re never too old to pursue your dream. 2) Music is a great anti-aging remedy. We caught up with each of the contestants in Nicole Scherzinger’s “Over 30″ group and dug a little deeper to find out what they’re still learning, what’s motivating them and what’s the best receipe for a musical burrito. Check it out:
Dexter Haygood
Dyk? Dexter has been pursuing music for a long time, and it’s a few words of wisdom that he learned as a kid that has kept him striving for his dream. We call it soul rockin’ advice.
Josh Krajcik
Dyk? Early in the auditions Josh became known as the “burrito man”, but that was before he busted out those pipes of his. Josh shares some of his guilty pleasures (which may surprise you), and gives us...
Dexter Haygood
Dyk? Dexter has been pursuing music for a long time, and it’s a few words of wisdom that he learned as a kid that has kept him striving for his dream. We call it soul rockin’ advice.
Josh Krajcik
Dyk? Early in the auditions Josh became known as the “burrito man”, but that was before he busted out those pipes of his. Josh shares some of his guilty pleasures (which may surprise you), and gives us...
- 10/25/2011
- by foxallaccess
- Fox All Access
The hundreds of thousands of contestants have been whittled down to just 17, but before preparing ourselves for next week's two and a half hour live show, let's take a look back at what has, and more importantly, has Not been working on the first season of The X Factor.
We all know that Simon Cowell wanted to create this show for America, and destroy his former series American Idol in the ratings. Taking a look at last season's Idol numbers (much lower than a few years ago), the episodes prior to the live shows brought in anywhere from 21 to 26 million viewers. Up to this point The X Factor has garnered only nine to 12.5 million viewers... not world beaters by any means.
Why hasn't it done as well? The name recognition and history of Idol for starters, but more importantly the television landscape has become saturated with singing and talent competitions.
We all know that Simon Cowell wanted to create this show for America, and destroy his former series American Idol in the ratings. Taking a look at last season's Idol numbers (much lower than a few years ago), the episodes prior to the live shows brought in anywhere from 21 to 26 million viewers. Up to this point The X Factor has garnered only nine to 12.5 million viewers... not world beaters by any means.
Why hasn't it done as well? The name recognition and history of Idol for starters, but more importantly the television landscape has become saturated with singing and talent competitions.
- 10/21/2011
- by d4cella@gmail.com (Dan Forcella)
- TVfanatic
L.A. Reid — music mogul, X Factor judge, and coach of the Boys category for Fox’s U.S. spinoff of Simon Cowell’s British competition series — talked to reporters today about why he’s looking forward to mentoring Brian “Astro” Bradley, Phillip Lomax, Marcus Canty, and Chris Rene. “It was tough to choose only four,” he said. “What would have been simple is if I could have had five. But I’m not Simon.” (Cowell ended up flying all the way to Miami to pick up a fifth team member for the Girls, 19-year-old Melanie Amaro. “I thought she was fantastic,...
- 10/20/2011
- by Annie Barrett
- EW - Inside TV
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