TV Olympics: Favorite Halloween Episode

The holidays are coming to TV Breakroom a little early this year, as today we kick a three-poll arc celebrating Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas episodes! First up on the calendar, it’s time to vote for the spooky and funny episodes that either give you great ideas for costumes and pranks or make you afraid to sleep at night.

If there are any great Halloween episodes I left out, please nominate them in the comments! Side note – I love the vampire/Spanish symmetry of the left and right pictures above.

Poll will be open for one week, and you can vote for up to 3 episodes. Be sure to check out our other ongoing Olympic polls and the medal results on our main event page!

What's your favorite Halloween episode? (Choose up to 3!)

  • Supernatural - It’s the Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester (34%, 130 Votes)
  • NCIS - Code of Conduct (8%, 30 Votes)
  • Bones - Mummy in the Maze (7%, 28 Votes)
  • How I Met Your Mother - Slutty Pumpkin (6%, 24 Votes)
  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Fear Itself (6%, 22 Votes)
  • Castle - Vampire Weekend (5%, 20 Votes)
  • Criminal Minds - Devil's Night (5%, 20 Votes)
  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Halloween (5%, 19 Votes)
  • The Big Bang Theory - The Middle Earth Paradigm (4%, 16 Votes)
  • Chuck - Chuck Versus the Aisle of Terror (4%, 15 Votes)
  • The Big Bang Theory - The Good Guy Fluctuation (4%, 14 Votes)
  • Angel - Life of the Party (3%, 11 Votes)
  • Community - Epidemiology (3%, 10 Votes)
  • Community - Horror Fiction in Seven Spooky Steps (2%, 8 Votes)
  • The Office - Halloween (1%, 5 Votes)
  • Suburgatory - Halloween (1%, 4 Votes)
  • Freaks and Geeks - Tricks and Treats (1%, 3 Votes)
  • Happy Endings - Spooky Endings (1%, 3 Votes)
  • Community - Introduction to Statistics (1%, 2 Votes)

Total Voters: 204

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Elementary Promo Photo

I couldn’t resist sharing this awesome promo pic for CBS’s upcoming drama Elementary. Now that BBC’s Sherlock, Benedict Cumberbatch has wished the show well and showrunner Rob Doherty has taken will they/won’t they melodrama off the table, the future looks even brighter for this modern take on Holmes. Adding the fact that the only scripted broadcast competition the show will get in its Thursdays at 10 timeslot is the lukewarmly-received Scandal, and I think its nearly certain CBS has a hit on its hands.

Full promo photo slideshow here.

How I Met Your Mother Spoilers — Season 8 – TVLine

A whole bunch of fun bits about the coming HIMYM season 8 – and whether there will be a season 9! The series co-creator and one of the executive producers share 16 spoilers, from the trio of doomed-to-fail relationships to baby vs. friends issues. Also – there will be a How I Met Your Mother soundtrack! It releases right as season 8 premieres.

How I Met Your Mother Spoilers — Season 8 – TVLine.

TV Olympics: Favorite Crossover Episode

I love crossover episodes – when characters from one show guest star on another. Often, this happens when one show is spun off from another. Since the shows are already set in the same “universe,” it makes crossover episodes easier, and you get the opportunity to see characters interacting who haven’t for a while. Other times, two similar shows are on the same network when it’s decided to have them do a crossover event (which sometimes creates logical inconsistencies, like with the Warehouse 13 and Eureka crossovers – main cast from both shows had previously guest starred on the other show, as different characters!).

I will be awarding medals to both (or all three) shows in each crossover. If I’ve missed some great crossover episodes, please let me know in the comments! I purposely am not including “planted pilot” episodes (like “The Finder” episode of Bones, or the two-part “Legend” episode of NCIS that launched NCIS: Los Angeles). This poll is about two (or three) shows connecting after both shows exist.

Poll will be open for one week, and you can choose up to 3 of your favorite crossover episodes. Remember to keep checking the main event page for all the current polls and results!

What's your favorite crossover episode? (Choose up to 3!)

  • Doctor Who (Torchwood, The Sarah Jane Adventures) - The Stolen Earth and Journey's End (13%, 45 Votes)
  • NCIS: Los Angeles (NCIS) - Random on Purpose (11%, 40 Votes)
  • The Finder (Bones) - Little Green Men (11%, 38 Votes)
  • The Finder (Bones) - Bullets (9%, 30 Votes)
  • Angel (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) - I Will Remember You (8%, 28 Votes)
  • CSI, CSI: Miami, CSI: NY - Bone Voyage, Hammer Down, The Lost Girls (7%, 24 Votes)
  • NCIS: Los Angeles (Hawaii Five-O) - Touch of Death (7%, 23 Votes)
  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Angel) - Pangs (6%, 20 Votes)
  • Angel (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) - Five By Five (5%, 19 Votes)
  • Eureka (Warehouse 13) - Crossing Over (5%, 16 Votes)
  • Warehouse 13 (Eureka) - Don't Hate the Player (4%, 14 Votes)
  • Hawaii Five-O (NCIS: Los Angeles) - Pa Make Loa (3%, 12 Votes)
  • Angel (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) - In the Dark (3%, 12 Votes)
  • Hawaii Five-O (NCIS: Los Angeles) - Ka Hakaka Maika'i (3%, 11 Votes)
  • Angel (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) - Orpheus (3%, 11 Votes)
  • Warehouse 13 (Eureka) - 13.1 (3%, 10 Votes)

Total Voters: 160

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Castle Season 5 Spoilers — Reader Questions Answered – TVLine

Scoop, lots of scoop on Castle season 5! Showrunner Andrew Marlowe and stars Stana Katic (Beckett), Jon Huertas (Esposito), and Seamus Dever (Ryan) answer 11 reader questions in the great interview linked below. It answers such questions as:

Will there be a time jump between seasons?

When will Kate be back at the precinct?

Will we find out more about Castle’s father this season?

Castle Season 5 Spoilers — Reader Questions Answered – TVLine.

Elementary on CBS: No Sexual Tension for Sherlock and Watson – TVLine

Yay! I’m so glad Elementary is going the friendship route for its unconventional Holmes/Watson pairing. It’s so much more true to the original stories. We already have great “will they or won’t they” crime-solving shows like Castle and Bones – Elementary needs to be different. And having the main guy/girl duo of a show being just friends is rare on TV today. The only current show I know of with that type of guy/girl friendship for the two most prominent characters is Warehouse 13, with Pete and Myka. (I’m sure there are others.)

And this isn’t just speculation, it comes straight from the top:

“For me, it’s completely off the table,” Elementary showrunner Rob Doherty told TVLine. “It’s just not in my head for Season 1 and, looking ahead . . . I just don’t feel like that’s a part of the show.”

He added, “People will ask us every week, and there will be people who want to see it happen, and I don’t want to break any hearts but it’s just not in our plans. And I have felt no pressure [from higher-ups] to pursue that kind of storyline.”

Also, Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch finally broke his silence about the show that many are claiming is clearly a ripoff of his own. “I wish them luck, I really do. I think it will be great. It will be a different spin on it, because obviously, theirs is modern-day as well, so it needs to be different from ours, and I think the more differences, the better, to be honest.”

He added, “I don’t see why they shouldn’t co-exist with us, I don’t think they’ll steal our audience. I think people who are Holmes fans who think they do a good job of it will have a treat in watching ours and the films. So I wish them good luck!”

Elementary on CBS: No Sexual Tension for Sherlock and Watson – TVLine.

Fall TV Casting: On NCIS: LA, Mom’s the Word – TVLine

Callen’s mom may be gone, and you might have already met Kensi’s mom on the show, but Chris O’Donnell and Daniela Ruah’s real mothers will appear in a scene of NCIS: Los Angeles this fall, as well the moms of actors LL Cool J (Sam) and Eric Christian Olsen (Deeks).

Fall TV Casting: On NCIS: LA, Mom’s the Word – TVLine.

Avengers — ABC And Marvel Eye TV Series

An Avengers TV show? Yes, please. Even though it probably won’t feature characters from the movie, I still think they can find some way to make this work.

Awesome ways they could go with this:

1. Joss Whedon. Superheroes. That’s all you need really. Look what he did with Buffy. He could make even something like Ant-Man work.

2. Hawkeye and Widow. Yes, I know the actors who portray them are big-time movie stars and unlikely to cut back on that for a TV show, but this would be all kinds of amazing.

3. Shield. Agent Coulson always seemed to be on the scene when something was going down, and while Cobie Smulders is a little tied up as far as a future-set story, anything could work as long as you have Samuel L. Jackson.

4. Lady Sif and the Warriors Three. Not sure what they have planned for these 4 in Thor 2, but they really needed more screen time in Thor. Also, since they’ve already replaced Once Upon a Time’s Josh Dallas with needs-a-great-new-TV-show Zachary Levi, this is plausible in terms of actor availability.

5. The Hulk. Mark Ruffalo didn’t get his own movie, but the incredible job he did on The Avengers deserves future exploration.

Also, I think it’s great that ABC is the one looking at this, considering the awesome job they’ve done with shows like Castle, Once Upon a Time, and Suburgatory.

Avengers — ABC And Marvel Eye TV Series.

Alphas Season 2 Episode 2 “The Quick and the Dead” Preview

In this second episode of season 2 of Alphas (which airs Monday at 10/9c on SyFy), the team is finally back together, but what havoc will their eight months apart wreak? Back on the job, the team hunts for a killer, but the Alpha they’re after turns the tables and starts hunting them.

Check out this preview clip of the episode:

‘Once Upon a Time’ scoop: ‘Pretty Little Liars’ actor is the new prince | Inside TV | EW.com

Julian Morris has been cast as the Prince Philip to Sarah Bolger’s Aurora. Does this mean we’ll see more of Kristin Bauer’s (True Blood) Maleficent in season 2 of Once Upon a Time?

‘Once Upon a Time’ scoop: ‘Pretty Little Liars’ actor is the new prince | Inside TV | EW.com.

TV Olympics: Most Annoying Teenage Character

I almost didn’t make this one of the mini-polls for this event, because how do I score this? Should I award negative medals for the characters that win? Award the bottom three?

In the end, I decided to award the top three, as usual. Why give an award for a negative attribute? Because most of the time, these characters are the one or two flies in the ointment of an otherwise awesome show. They seem all the more annoying because the rest of the characters are so great. Diehard fans of a show tend to be the most annoyed by these characters, as well, and to know how annoying a character is (and therefore vote for him/her), you most likely have to be already watching the show.

But I know there are tons of annoying teens who aren’t on this list yet, because there were only a few nominations in this category, and there are tons of teen-dominated shows I don’t watch. So come on, Glee fans and CW watchers – let me know which ones I missed!

Poll will be open for one week, and you can vote for up to 3 annoying teens.

Who is the most annoying teenage character? (Choose up to 3!)

  • Connor - Angel (16%, 29 Votes)
  • Dawn - Buffy the Vampire Slayer (16%, 29 Votes)
  • Harmony - Buffy the Vampire Slayer (13%, 25 Votes)
  • Elena - The Vampire Diaries (11%, 21 Votes)
  • Dalia - Suburgatory (9%, 16 Votes)
  • Caroline - The Vampire Diaries (8%, 15 Votes)
  • Kim - 24 (7%, 14 Votes)
  • Juliet - Ringer (6%, 11 Votes)
  • Cassidy "Beaver" - Veronica Mars (5%, 10 Votes)
  • Tyler - V (3%, 6 Votes)
  • Jackie - Veronica Mars (3%, 5 Votes)
  • Cassidy - Nash Bridges (2%, 3 Votes)
  • Dana - Homeland (2%, 3 Votes)

Total Voters: 91

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How I Met Your Mother Brings Back Ashley Williams — Season 8 – TVLine

Well, considering the season 7 finale of How I Met Your Mother, it’s to be expected that Victoria (Ashley Williams) would stick around for a few episodes of season 8. Did you like her character all the way back in season one? Are you glad she’s back?

How I Met Your Mother Brings Back Ashley Williams — Season 8 – TVLine.

NBC Orders New ‘Dracula’ Series – Ratings | TVbytheNumbers

For all that vampires have taken over modern culture, they’re not all that prevalent on TV currently. There’s one series on broadcast (The Vampire Diaries), one on basic cable (Being Human, plus its sister show, the original British version, re-airing on BBC America), and one on premium cable (True Blood).

And in addition to an uncrowded target audience, NBC’s straight-to-series 10 episode order of Dracula has two other benefits – casting the talented Jonathan Rhys Meyers in the lead role, and setting it in Victorian London.

Will you check it out?

NBC Orders New ‘Dracula’ Series – Ratings | TVbytheNumbers.

Community’s Dan Harmon Fox Pilot – TVLine

Catching up on posting some news from the past few days! Considering the awesomeness that is Community, I’m glad Dan Harmon’s doing a pilot for another show.

But a multi-camera show? I’ve found most of those boring. The only two I really enjoy are The Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother, and even they have quite a few off episodes and plotlines.

And Fox? They’re way too cancel-happy. Though they do seem a bit kinder to comedies than dramas, and they seem to be expanding their comedy time after the success of New Girl.

Community’s Dan Harmon Fox Pilot – TVLine.

TV Olympics: Favorite Alternate Media Episode

TV Breakroom doesn’t cover animated shows, but we do cover live-action shows that have an animated or other alternate media episode. Only a few were nominated for this poll, so if you know of any others, please mention them! They should be a main part of the episode, not just a brief clip. For example, Community’s anime scene in “Foosball and Nocturnal Vigilantism” doesn’t count, but the puppetry in Angel’s “Smile Time” was a driving force in the episode, so it’s allowed.

Poll will be open for one week, and you can choose up to 3 episodes. Please spread the word, and be sure to check out all our ongoing polls in this Olympic event!

Which is your favorite animated/alternate media episode? (Choose up to 3!)

  • Angel - Smile Time (26%, 37 Votes)
  • Fringe - Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (19%, 27 Votes)
  • Community - Digital Estate Planning (17%, 24 Votes)
  • Community - Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas (15%, 21 Votes)
  • Eureka - Do You See What I See (13%, 18 Votes)
  • Warehouse 13 - Don't Hate the Player (11%, 16 Votes)

Total Voters: 75

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