TV Watch: 13 Highlights from Oct. 30 to Nov. 5, 2009

Project Runway recap: Ladies' Night

In a surprise double elimination, the final three find out they're going to Bryant Park

Even before the runway show began, it was painfully obvious who was getting the ax, yet the judges still insisted on torturing them (and us) by having them explain why they should go to Bryant Park and who should go with them. Their choices formed an imaginary Venn diagram of alliances and bad blood. Sweatergate notwithstanding, Irina and Althea both chose each other. (Huh.) Irina was the only one to choose Gordana, which is especially interesting considering that Mean-a has berated her talent a few times this season. Carol Hannah opted for Althea and Christopher. As for reasons why they should go to Fashion Week, Gordana and Irina both busted out the immigrant story, and Christopher sobbed about his lack of opportunity. But only Carol Hannah had a compelling argument: ''It doesn't matter how much you want it, it comes down to: I make beautiful garments that women want to wear.'' —Missy Schwartz

Read the TV Watch

Survivor: Samoa recap: Cannibals on the loose!

Instead of devouring their common enemy, the members of Galu begin eating their own

It was a delicious, wonderful mad scramble seemingly still in motion right up until the players left for Tribal Council, and left us looking at four potential people going home (Russell, Jaison, Erik, and Monica). Once again Erik had strong words for the Foa Foa folk at Tribal Council. He began by announcing that, ''To me, I struggle to see anything that Foa Foa has to offer Galu,'' and then proceeded to dis each person individually, pointing out each of their particular shortcomings. Entertaining? Sure! Smart? Uh, no. Making enemies with people who have the power to vote you out (and vote on whether to give you a million dollars) is never a good idea. —Dalton Ross

Read the TV Watch

Grey's Anatomy recap: Childlike

When the patients are all kids, emotions run high among the Seattle Grace docs

Calming our nerves a bit was that glorious group breakfast scene at Callie and Cristina's place. I am going there every day before work from now on. Callie was actually making breakfast to order for all the happy couples — Mark and Lexie, Cristina and Owen, her and Arizona. Oatmeal, side of fruit, and wheat toast hold the butter! (Owen.) Cheese omelet, extra butter cinnamon toast, crispy bacon! (Cristina. Wow, I'd rather be Cristina.) Banter! (Mark, on the $25 million gift Arizona had wrangled: ''Maybe I should start doing more cleft palate kids. Everyone's a sucker for those.'') —Jennifer Armstrong

Read the TV Watch

The Vampire Diaries recap: Best friends, birthdays, and brawling

It was Stefan's birthday (his 162nd, but he doesn't look a day older than 25) and in town for the special occasion was one of his oldest friends — 350 years old to be exact — Lexie. Best friends they were, but she didn't seem at all like Stefan's type. She parties, uses her powers for some perks (i.e. free booze) and is clearly more outgoing than Stefan. —Archana Ram

Read the TV Watch

Supernatural review: Changing Channels: Sam and Dean spoofed Grey's, CSI, and a sitcom

Supernatural may be surrounded by heavy-duty time-period competition — Grey's Anatomy, CSI, The Office, Fringe — but it just keeps doing its demon-ganking thing, and this week's episode, called ''Changing Channels,'' managed to beat a few of those competitors at their own game. We were told Sam and Dean are dealing with a familiar foe: the Trickster, who plunks them down in a variety of TV genres. The Grey's Anatomy spoof struck just the right tone of nighttime-soap mingled with Sam's utter disbelief... that Dean knows so much about this Dr. Sexy, M.D. show. — Ken Tucker

Read the TV Watch

V recap: Do they come in peace?

Jeff Jensen gives his take on the premiere of the alien-invasion series, including the death that pissed him off

Before the meeting could proceed any further, a floating crystal orb zipped into the warehouse and fired stuff at everyone, killing some and knocking out others. Death Bauble was followed by brawling baddies, and among them was Erica's partner, Dale, who turned out to be a treacherous turncoat — a lizard alien in disguise, presumably part of the Vs decades-in-residence advance team. How I despised this development! The Mitchell-Tudyk chemistry was easily one of the best things this show had going for it — a certifiable Reason To Watch — and it PISSED. ME. OFF! that it was all for naught, that Tudyk was basically stunt casting for the pilot. My only hope is that V's producers have realized they had gold with Mitchell and Tudyk and will invent some way to bring him back. — Jeff Jensen

Read the TV Watch

Modern Family: 'Who Da Manny?'

Manny's skill at fencing didn't end up being much of a good source for comedy. After the initial surprise of this athletic ability, his refusal to compete against a girl was just a momentary hitch in his unstoppable winning. And having the girl be so absurdly sympathetic (an orphan diabetic cared for by a nurse who brought a parade of wheelchairing friends to cheer on the girl) only undercut the humor more. If it wasn't for Jay (Ed O'Neill) making those ''Who Da Manny?'' t-shirts and slapping son-in-law Phil (Ty Burrell) too enthusiastically on the sidelines, the Manny-as-fencer scenes would have been less funny than Claire and Mitchell's sweet school-yard ice-skating. — Ken Tucker

Read the TV Watch

America's Next Top Model recap: Devoting full-time to floating

The modeltestants headed to the beach, where Erin complained that it was deserted. Indeed, who would ever want to go to a deserted beach? Redeem yourself with a pun, Crypt Keeper! The women were greeted by one Marisa Miller, whom they all claimed to recognize. Marisa gave them some bikini-posing lessons, like ''don't tuck in your booty,'' and use ''Barbie toes,'' which is known as ''tiptoes'' everywhere else in the English-speaking world. Then the ladies got all sandy and then took sensual model-y showers, which will serve as masturbation fodder for Internet-deprived teens all over the world. Work it, ladies! Model showers! —Margaret Lyons

Read the TV Watch

So You Think You Can Dance recap: Fearless

Legacy laps up the judges' praise for stepping up his game, while Russell deals with a whole different kind of props

Ellenore and Ryan might have received a standing ovation from the judges, but I was cheering from my couch for this season's most emotionally endearing couple, Kathryn and Legacy. How is it that the two people I felt were the human equivalent of nails on a chalkboard two weeks ago are quickly becoming my favorite SYTYCD couple? Last night, their Stacey Tookey routine about a woman struggling with fear, portrayed by Legacy, was nothing short of a revelation. I marveled at Legacy's rapid improvement, and it was refreshing to hear a dancer like Kathryn understand what made Stacey's choreography beautiful — her lines — and not just state the coolness of the routine to come. Yes, Legacy could have used some lessons from Kupöno on how to channel fear with his facial expressions, but let's not dock this duo points on mere technicalities. Because, quite simply, they were lovely. —Kate Ward

Read the TV Watch

Former Miss America Ericka's arms were not exactly made for pulling herself along a high wire but she stepped up and kept it moving

The Biggest Loser recap: Capital Idea

The remaining contestants head to D.C. and the monuments steal the show

For the second part of the immunity challenge, each of the six remaining contestants had a pile of 17,954 pennies lying on the Watergate steps. (17,954 is the number of pounds lost to date on The Biggest Loser.) They had to run up and down the steps and put the pennies into their containers (Because politicians have to ''Raise funds,'' get it?) Liz won the Pop challenge, so she got to sit out the Penny Challenge. Rudy had a simple strategy: ''These hands!'' He ran up and down the Watergate steps two at a time, carrying Ben Franklins of pennies. Daniel's girlish hands could only manage Alexander Hamiltons at best. ''Rudy's got banana hands!'' he complained. Rudy won the challenge so quickly that he had time to fix the American economic system before Daniel came in second. —Darren Franich

Read the TV Watch

Real Housewives of O.C. recap: The girls return

Oh God, Gretchen's laugh is back. Why did I never realize how much she sounds like the pregnant Playmate before? But she wasn't just laughing on last night's season premiere. There were some tears as well, as she described her cycles of grief since her beloved fiance Jeff's death six months ago. Clutching her exercise ball for comfort, counseling her mini-dogs through their own pain, she was a lost and broken woman. —Karen Valby

Read the TV Watch

The Office recap: Do not test my politeness

As always with The Office, the more Michael boasts, the harder he falls. This week, it was the childish scrapbook he made for Helene for her birthday, complete with lines from a Shel Silverstein poem. The whole lunch was awkward, but the pages of this scrapbook almost turned my stomach: Michael is so, so pathetic. Also, paging Dr. Mommy Issues. —Margaret Lyons

Read the full TV Watch