TV Recaps: 11 Highlights From the Week Ending August 20, 2010

Jersey Shore recap: Smashes, ashes, Ron falls down. And Sammi’s babies wrote her a letter
We open on Tweedle-Wee and Tweedle-Rum strolling past a store that only sells white clothing. Pshaw! ”What if you get your period?” Snooki wonders. Exactly. —Annie Barrett

Read the full recap

Project Runway recap: Hats on, hats off
Yet the episode turned out to be low on bat-crap cuckoo — and, for that matter, sublime creations. (If ever there was cause to cut loose and go avant-garde!) Ivy recovered from her Lindsay Lohan syndrome dehydration to return to fully delusional consciousness (”Really?…Me and Gretchen not even being in [the top]?!”). We got to see the designers eat, eat, and eat some more. And Gretchen further slithered toward her status as the designer most resembling a poisonous snake in the grass. —Missy Schwartz

Read the full recap

Big Brother recap: Don’t cry, Ragan! You’re rich
It was nice that Ragan’s final act of ”sabotage” convinced the houseguests that Kathy was the secret havoc wreaker, simply because she saw fit to make a few beds. (Who in their right mind would think about hospital corners at a time like this! She must have been the one to plant the ”I Know Your Secret” note in Capt. Meow Meow’s bed!) But even without Ragan’s so-called dastardly deed, Kathy was a goner, anyway. —Lynette Rice

Read the full recap

The Real Housewives of D.C. recap: Starving for attention
Meanwhile Tareq swanned around the party with his chest puffed out telling guests they better enjoy themselves after all he’d spent on the affair. Would somebody just pants that guy already and tell him he’s a no-good clown? —Karen Valby

Read the full recap

Top Chef recap: The Chef who came in from the cold
We also learned some of the contestants’ spy names. Ed is Muffin Winthrop. Alex: ”Dr. Zhivago. My mom always wanted a doctor in the family.” Tiffany: ”Brigitte.” (Tiffany loves La Femme Nikita. I’m not sure if she means the French movie or the Peta Wilson TV show, but either way, she’s my favorite forever.) —Darren Franich

Read the full recap

Louie recap: There will be bald
Most of us would have trouble relating to the hardships of being an ”international supermodel” who can’t score a date in the dark, but when it comes to eating pizza and hating yourself — come on, we’ve all been there. I might even visit there again tonight. —Annie Barrett

Read the full recap

The Real Housewives of New Jersey recap: Haunted by hair bows
Teresa had even purchased custom-made dresses for the final dinner of the trip, from the Little Bo Peep’s Crack-Bender Collection. Have you noticed how little Gia has been rendered speechless of late? The harsh realities of show business must be getting to her (Jillian knows). Stage moms heed my warning: What you think is just a hair bow will quickly turn into years and years of expensive therapy bills. —Emily Exton

Read the full recap

Bachelor Pad recap: I want to punch Gia in the face
And that’s when things get serious, you guys. Krisily so doesn’t want to cry, because she’s not that girl, but…she has no gall bladder, okay? And, like, she can’t digest fat. She has to sit this one out. Win this one for her, won’t you ”ladies”? Win it for Krisily. Not surprisingly, Captain Rage has no tolerance for Krisily’s desire to stay out of the hospital, proclaiming that she should have just ”tried to suck it up.” Ooh, he made a pun! —Kristen Baldwin

Read the full recap

Dating in the Dark photo recap: Coming together
Karolina and Christian enjoy their first one-on-one date. Christian, a radio host, demonstrates his talents for Karolina. ”That was John Mayer…Coming up next, we’ve got music from Sheryl Crow and Daughtry.” AND SHE LOVES THIS. ”That’s hot,” says Karolina. I am telling the truth. —Annie Barrett

Read the full recap

Mad Men recap: Pairs, pears, and despair
So much for the man who inspired a Banana Republic fashion campaign and countless Halloween costumes. He has more in common with the stooped janitor or the cardiganed man after his pears than anybody at that downtown party. —Karen Valby

Read the full recap

True Blood recap: More equal than others
Eric looked visibly nervous, and Nan told her boys to silver Eric, which made Ginger scream. Please, someone kill her. —Mandi Bierly

Read the full recap