The Step Up and Downfall: Wednesday Night Drama

The Mysteries of Laura "The Mystery of the Crooked Clubber"

This week's episode takes Laura and the gang in searching for the murder of a young man that was part of a robbery of the rich and famous. This case really took everyone for a ride.

Laura and Billy examine the dead victim and when there was a clue of substance in the victim's shoe, Laura had some idea where that might have lead to. Laura discusses to Jake about going to this club that the rich people or kiddies go to. But when discussing it, Frankie wanted to go and as they get there both Frankie and Laura dressed up as 80's teens that are about to go to a party.

But as Laura when looking, Frankie saw the bartender give something to someone so she investigated that by asking him for a drink and a good time. The guy soon gave her her water but soon admitted that he put something in it and soon Frankie was a totally different person. Laura soon put her in jail for a night so Jake wouldn't find out.

The case when left and right at times but when they figure out when was the next bank robbery, they got in front of it and had Frankie and Meredith working the jewelry shop. The two robbers showed up and both Frankie and Meredith couldn't do anything due to a hostage. But Laura came in with a plan and drove the van into the building having both of them arrested.

The two robbers turn out to be were questioned until they didn't want to talk. Which gave Billy and Jake the perfect time to go get lunch. Billy brought a Subway lunch to one of the robbers and left them alone. Soon they were arguing about confessing until Frankie showed up and asked for the robber's cell phone.

That almost ruin the whole thing until it really didn't. It gave Laura on who did it which turned out to be the victim's own brother that killed him. The brother was ashamed as his brother for what he was doing, going to parties and dressing up weird.  

I thought that this episode was pretty good. We did get to see Frankie and Laura together in this episode and Frankie who is was Wisconsin, wants to show Laura that she can be a better detective than we all assume.

All in all I give it a 7/10 this week. There was a lot of humor, twist and hunger with that Subway.

You can catch The Mysteries of Laura Wednesday nights at 8/7c on NBC

Chicago PD "There's My Girl"

After the events of last week's episode, it's hard to come to terms of a lost of a member of the team. 

This week's episode deals with a bombing in a neighborhood, the CPD went to investigate it and found nothing much, but Jay knows a witness that seen it all but she's only 12. 

The teams learns that the bomb was made out of same material as was the bomb used at the Boston Bombing. They soon get a suspect. As they went to the suspect's apartment, both Erin and Jay see the suspect and chase after him. 

After chasing him for a good mile and one hell of a joy ride I would love to have been in, they caught the guy. Atwater and Dawson interviewed him. As Dawson left, Atwater talked to him and soon left to give him time to think it over. 

It was until Voight goes in and sees the suspect had cut his throat with a soda can that Atwater left in there. This isn't looking good for Atwater at all. 

Later on, Mouse found out that someone had planned it and it turns out to be the guy who was looking for his wife at the time but later on in the episode his wife died. The team learned the guy's history on how his first wife died in a car accident that he set up. So Voight had him in the cage and boy did he give him one heck of a talk. But the guy confess of doing it.

Throughout this episode, Trudy has been trying and waiting to get an accepted order for Nadia's memorial stone. When she got word that the department is going to allow it. Boy did she showed her temper but also emotion as well. She really and I mean really left the Chief had it but the guy said no. 

She talked to Voight and had Roman and Burgess go get a file for him at a warehouse, which had information on the Captain and one of it was his little special time with a showgirl. Well, that turned it around and Nadia got her memorial stone. 

But I think the main part of this episode was about Erin and her dealing with the lost of her best friend that she had saved. She acts tough, she's sad but acts tough about it. She even let Halstead drive the car because Nadia told her that she should let him drive. 

After the case and after the memorial, she was invited to go to Molly's with Jay and them but she didn't go there at all. She went to her mom's bar, talked to her and started having shots. She admits to her mother that she was the one that got Nadia killed. Oh she's in a very dark place and this is what Voight was talking to her about back at the house. 

She's not even suppose to be near her mother at all. Erin is going into a deep dark place. She's going to be thinking about what she's going do next: be a cop or leave? 

All in all, I loved this episode. This was such an emotional episode of the aftermath of Nadia's death. I think it was Trudy that kind of stole the emotional scenes. Just seeing her act like that was something you don't think or see of her at all. I give this episode 9/10 overall.

You can catch Chicago PD Wednesday nights at 10/9c on NBC

The Men and Honor: Tuesday Night Comedy & Drama

Undateable "A Live Show Walking Into the Bar" 

ER, The West Wing, Will & Grace, 30 Rock, and now Undateable is part of the history of shows to do a live episode. But it was a first for a sitcom to air a whole hour's worth, and it wasn't a disappointing hour.

Justin, still upset about his ex-girlfriend getting married, outcomes in Amanda (Victoria Justice), and soon he and Henny fight over each other to go out with her. Plus, Candice tries to stand her ground on her ex-boyfriend. 

It was one of the most hilarious episodes in a long time. I think they surpassed the number of guest stars that 30 Rock has had. Not only Justice makes a camo, but Ed Sheeran, Zach Braff, Donald Fusion, Kate Walsh, Minnie Driver, Christa Miller, Scott Foley, and many, many more. 

There are significant insult bits between Danny and Justin. Even when Danny acted like a wombat over Justin to prove he couldn't get Amanda to go out with him. It was soon that Danny would walk and sound like a wombat which also meant that he pretended to throw poop at Justin, not once but twice. 

There were great moments, like seeing Braff and Fusion together again. Ed is performing, but Justin kicks him out; I didn't realize. Ed got upset, and soon, Ed fans came out and slapped Justin for what he did to Ed.

But it was seeing Justice and Bridgit together and singing the song "Undateable" at the end, which was just amazing. 

This episode did have an arc to it that will be discussed in next week's episode: Candice might have feelings for Justin. Uh oh!!!

You can catch the one-hour season finale of Undateable next Tuesday at 9/8c on NBC.

Chicago Fire "Category 5"

This week's episode of Chicago Fire deals with an accusation of a Squad member ducking during a call. That has gotten a separation between both Truck and Squad.  

With Otis's accusation about Rice ducking during a season, Severide isn't too pleased about what's been going on. Later, things became the way it was when we first saw this group of firefighters after the death of their own. 

There was a separation between them that you see in high school. But I think that after Severide and Casey talked to Boden about it, it didn't quite go as it did under Casey's view when Severide agreed that he should take more control of it. 

Boden did get to talk to Otis about it but asked him if he needed a vacation. Otis tells him no, but then Boden lets him have it with him having a gut feeling about a firefighter ducking calls.

Severide did confront Rice about it, and now that friendship between them is gone.

In the meantime, Casey gets a gift from Jake, who hopes he returns and agrees to do some business. The best gift came when Voight stopped by to ask Casey for help to get some information about Jake. Voight has info that Jake is in some illegal trafficking. 

At first, Casey was like, hell no, but after Dawson talked to him about it. He agrees, and I hope to let the past be the past between Voight and him. 

Just as he agrees, he takes a cell phone that Mouse gives him, and as soon he sees one of Jake's girls with a worried look. Casey sees Jake and is introduced to the guys. But before any talks, one guy asks to see his cell phone, which goes black screen. 

Next week is the season finale of Chicago Fire, which is the one not to miss. From what the promo shows, it will be a jaw-dropping episode. I don't think anyone will die because that's what one of the producers said in an interview.

You can catch the season finale of Chicago Fire next Tuesday at 10/9c on NBC.  

The Threat Is Here: The Blacklist "Quon Zhang"

A threat is coming and it might be too late to stop it. This week's episode of The Blacklist digs into so many things that I couldn't write this recap until the following day. So much into my tiny little mind.

Let's start with Liz, who found a photo of what is her swing with a person but the face is hard to see who it is because the sunlight makes it bright. Liz is determine to find answers and with the help of Tom she gets a bit close until the name Bill Kreshaw comes in.

Bill Kreshaw is a name that Red uses and when she goes back to Red's apartment, she goes all freaky talking to what she thinks is a recording somewhere in the room. She finds it in the small clock and soon Red calls her. Red tells her that it's her mother in the photo with  her and not to mention that her mother and father was a KGB agents. And the reason why her mother died or one of the reasons was that she was weak of all the regret she has done.

That pretty much set Liz into an emotional state and goes to Tom for comfort.

Cooper doesn't want to be part of this dirty politics as the new State Attorney tries to tell him how to handle of the events of last week's episode. He wanted Cooper to leak stuff to the newspaper. Cooper doesn't want to do it but too late due to hi wife doing that to save him.

The new state attorney tells Cooper that this thing is bigger than what it is. So I guess we better get our seats ready for the next two weeks.

This week's blacklister is known as The Smuggler or Quon Zhang. From China, he seeks revenge on the person who has killed someone and hunts and kills them. HE has this kind of ceremony type of thing. He gets caught by Liz and Russler, but when he talks to Liz, he tells her that there's an agent that is a threat.

Liz and the gang expected this agent in a couple of days or weeks but Zhang tells them that the agent is already in the states. This is the threat and by the way, he came in a coffin. So there you go!

And I can't end this without talking about Red because it's mostly about him, right? Red is recuperating after last week's injury. He's doing rehab by walking. Let me just say he has that Don Corleone and Ultron thing when he walks. He seems tied and weak but still the same Red as we always knows.

Anyway, he's trying to find a man name Kenneth Jasper, who works with The Director. Red takes Jasper and has him in a room, has a bit of fun wit him. Samar comes and helps. Red had Jasper's tongue taken out and sent to The Director by mail. Playing more of a game that will lead to more and more threats.

I enjoyed this episode a lot. I mostly enjoyed the part when Red tells Dembe the plan to go out and destroy Jasper's boat. It was so good the way it went that it felt like a scene from Oceans 11.

Next week's episode: someone or somewhere will be under attack and who or what it will be who will know but in this promo it just leaves me wanting to see it now. And the creator of the show told me on Twitter that these last two episodes will be  "implosion."

You can catch The Blacklist Thursday nights at 9/8c on NBC.

A Tale of a Creep in Two Cties: Crossover Week: Chicago Fire, Chicago PD & Law & Order: SVU

If last night's indication of this week's Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, and Law & Order: SVU's Crossover Event is that it was NOT disappointing at all.

Let me recap what happened in this giant episode that spanned three hours of great television, and then I can give my thoughts.

Let's start where it started: Chicago Fire. With everything that had happened last week, Mills left for North Carolina to be with his family and run their restaurant. The gang at 51 was a bit down and not alive when a new member introduced herself.

She is named Chili, which I like, and it's cute. She's the new replacement for Britt on Ambulance 61. As soon as she was done, Boden told her to see Connie for some paperwork, and by then, Boden got to be the Boden we all know: laying down the law and telling them to get over it.

"You look like someone just pissed in your coffee" I love that line.

Soon, a call comes in, and it's a house fire. It might be too quick to judge what started the fire. Squad went up while the Truck team took the first and basement. Dawson found one named Billy. He was a bit big and had Otis help drag him out. Soon, Severide and Rice got to the second floor, and Rice had to leave because his oxygen mask wasn't getting oxygen to him. Severide found a victim who was severely burnt.

Herrmann talked to Billy briefly, asking him about the computer wiring because that could be what started the fire. He told him and Dawson that he unplugged it all before he left.  Dawson gave him the benefit of the doubt and told him to keep the faith that the truth would come out. That's one reason I love Dawson.

Meanwhile, Otis talks to Cruz about Rice and what he saw. Could Rice not be trusted, as he left a fire when they went in? Soon, Cruz does his investigating and checks Rice's mask. And soon Cruz and Otis talked to Mouch and Herrmann about it. They would have to tread lightly with this, and soon Severide heard what was happening. And boy, did he give it to Otis about it. There will be some serious issues.

The news of the victim is that she's badly burnt and rapped as well. Antonio came by and talked to Dawson about how trustworthy Billy was. That's when Billy came over and spoke to her and Severide. That leads to both of them going back to the house and getting a look at it for themselves.

They found it wasn't Billy's fault that a flammable substance was used. When they walked out, a neighbor asked them if it wasn't an accident and mentioned seeing a doctor walking in and out. That led to taking him to the CPD and gave his statement.

Dawson tries to find Billy, who then calls and leaves a message that it is his fault. They got to him as he was on a bridge about to jump. Dawson talks him down and rescues him.   For that brief moment, I think that we saw Casey still having feelings for Dawson, not as a lieutenant but as a person who still loves her. He called her Gabby.

Voight gets on the face-time with Benson and talks about the case. This gives Benson some idea of a case 10 years back (say about season 5 or 6).  Soon, Benson gets on the first flight to Chicago, and when she comes, she is at Firehouse 51. Her, Boden, and Voight, all together in one room, gave me the chills. WOW! is one word to describe it.

After Benson talks about the case, we're moved into Chicago PD.

We come to Benson and Voight at Chicago Med, hoping to talk with the victim. The doctor let them speak to her, but as she was given some description of the suspect, he coded and soon died.

Benson talks to the gang at CPD about the previous cases that went cold. The suspect is a doctor who likes to use green nail paint.

One suspect they looked into was Jay's brother Will, who knew the victims as they were nurses. Jay goes a bit protecting for him, but Will wants to answer the questions. Then, they got hit by a car that was one of the victims.

Burgess and Roman hit out and found the car. Soon, the suspect walks towards the car and gets in. They call for backup and move in. They get asked for his license and paperwork. He tells Roman he was using it by a friend and I'll have the papers he owns soon.

This suspect, known as Greg Yates, had this creepy fab. Roman decides to take him in. Lindsay and Aramo talk to Yates about the car and his thoughts on these victims. If he knows them or not. Then, he looks, and soon he leaves, but it is walking down the hall that he spots spots

Soon, Yates calls Lindsay and asks if he could talk to her somewhere private. They meet at a park but soon drag her and talk to her. He talks to her about how one rat could make many more in one area. And then he leaves.

It wasn't until Voight got a call that another house fire with another victim that was inside had died. Yates gave a distraction for them so that he could have a witness of his whereabouts. But soon, things worsened as CPD returned to the House and figured things out; Nadia was nowhere to be found.

Nadia was planning a surprise birthday for Erin. She is using her car to get the cake when Yates suddenly comes and knocks her out cold. Yates kidnaps her and takes a trip back to New York City. Now, it gets personal for CPD, and that's where we go into SVU.

Voight talks to Benson about the whereabouts of Yates and what car he was driving. Benson calms Voight down, which seems to work in this case. Maybe they're meant to be?

Yates switches plates with other cars to make a getaway after finding the vehicle with no one in it. But Nadia leaves a clue of stained blood under the seat. Erin is getting increasingly worried by the minute, as I assume we all are, too.

When a call of attack happens in the building again, b,y Yates. The team finally tracks him down and busts open the door like the fourth of July. Yates is engaged with a woman who was asked that same day a couple of hours ago.

They take them in, and Rollins and Halstead talk to him while Erin and Aramo talk to the Yates' fiance. Of course, she doesn't believe it but gives one clue about his favorite spot that he goes to the beach.

They go down there and search. They found old bones from years ago, and soon, the unforgettable news was that it was hard, like a stone sinking in the ocean. They found Nadia dead.

Now, it's up to SVU to bring down Yates and get justice for Nadia. That took some work. Yates, who represented himself, asked questions and told many lies about Nadia that make you want to do the same things he did with his victims.

But a helpful clue had emerged as he got excited about hearing how Nadia died and the other victims. Barba decides to take it and use it. After asking the Medical Examiner about it, Yates was distracted from seeing the photos and listening to the details.  Then he started asking questions, and well, he was asking more questions about the victim's death, from how long and how painful. Yates looked like he enjoyed it very much.

The jury came back with a guilty verdict. And well, Yates was taken to hold up until he was set up to go wherever he was going. But it wasn't until he was in his holdup cell that he got the surprise of his life. Never doubt what Nadia had told him. Voight comes in and gives him a choke hold of his life, threatening him, but let him go because wherever he's going, he's going to need one eye open to protect himself from the people that he's going to be around.

The gang celebrated the victory and held a glass in honor of Nadia. It was sweet and moving and made you want to shed some tears. I bawled my eyes just a bit.

Overall, this was an excellent crossover episode. IT held up to its expectations and was a lot better than the first crossover back in November. Which I still love that episode. Nadia's death was both not a surprise and a surprise. I had a feeling that she was going to be the one going to die. It pains to see how she died, though.

As a fan, I had high hopes for her to be a cop, and I think we all were, too, right?

What did you think?

There's something between Voight and Benson that I can't put my finger on, but there's something there. This was, all in all, a 9/10 rating. Heck, it had my parents watching it, and they loved it.

I can't wait to see what happens next: Another war between  Team Casey and Team Severide. Who's side are you on? Dawson and Casey: are they going to be back together? I heard that Casey and Voight are going to be working together, so that's going to be a real must-see episode moment. And what will happen to Erin now that she lost her best friend?

You can catch Chicago Fire on Tuesday nights at 10/9c, Law & Order SVU on Wednesday nights at 9/8c, and Chicago PD on Wednesday nights at 10/9c on NBC.

A Spring-full of a Tune

With the crisp night of the spring, it was at Illinois Central College that brought a performance that was quite spring-full.

On April 27th, the ICC Music Program of the Arts and Communication Department presented the ICC Concert Choir at the Lecture/Recital Hall. The show was directed by Julie Clemens.

The night started off like one of those sing-off style performances when the pianist Ryan Klaus played a couple of tunes and then the choir comes out walking from both sides of the entrance and onto the stage, singing “It’s a Grand Night for Singing” from the Broadway show “State Fair” by Rodgers and Hammerstein.

Besides Broadway songs, the Choir also performed to other tunes from Folk songs to even Jazz.

They performed a set of American Folk Songs, one them “Stop Your Foot” by Aaron Copland. It had not one pianist but two playing this piece.

One performance that got every applauding even when it was during the performance was the song of “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Aint’s Got That Swing)” by Duke Ellington and Irving Mills. There were two solo performances by Mariah Russell and Haley Jones that had everyone amazed.

The final performance was a medley from one of Broadway’s greatest shows, “West Side Story.” Song from “Tonight” and “I Feel Pretty” to “Maria” and “One Hand, One Heart.”

But it was when they performed “Somewhere” where the choir comes out of their choir bench and spread out and got closer to the audience.

The choir did a fabulous performance.. It was such a great show and that I sung “Maria” all the way home and all night.

"We're The Lucky Ones": Chicago Fire "You Know Where to Find Me"

It's hard to say goodbye to a character you've known for a long time, and when it's time for a change, it's time for a change. This week's episode of Chicago Fire sparks onto one man, Peter Mills.

Mills decides to leave Firehouse 51 after he just got back into Squad. His family wants to take the restaurant left by his grandfather in North Carolina.

Many things happen in this episode, like Severide and April spending time together. I'm thinking she'll be back after her trip.

Herrmann has become that coach who puts his kid first before the team because he thinks that his son is good. Otis and Cruz tell him he must bench his son for the Peewee hockey Championship. Herrmann didn't like it at first, but he did it.

Since Mills was back in Squad, Dawson had to same the House and Britt from Mills' replacement. Dawson is back on 61, YES! It felt great seeing her back working as a paramedic.

And, of course, Casey and Dawson, who may see to let their one-night thing go, but I'm not so sure that it's going to end like that. Something is going to happen.

There was a call from a man who was stuck on a lamppost and tried to commit suicide. He kept saying banana, but we found out he was telling his wife's name, who died in another country due to a civil war there.

For this being Mill's last shift, it sure wasn't wasted at all. When a car accident call comes, Severide checks the driver and says he's not breathing and is dead because he wasn't wearing his seat belt. But Mills found out that the driver had an issue with his arm and took it off, which got Mills to get him out and do CPR and finally got him to breathe again.

That was one hell of a save.

So we come to where Casey is at the strip club, where he's doing a little work for the owner and meeting with some business folks. Something may be fishy with that guy.

And, of course, the going away party. You can feel the emotion in the air or, in this case, by watching. Everyone gave great speeches, including Mills. In this case, we're feeling what Cruz and Britt are feeling. We don't want him to go, but we respect his decision to leave to be with his family.

He'll always be part of 51. I loved that one big group hug.

I thought that this episode was terrific. It had everything from humor, drama, and an emotional goodbye. I hate saying goodbye like that; I get misty eyes at times.

I do understand what the producers are doing. Suppose you want the show to keep going; changes must happen for the stories to get good. I know I wouldn't say I like goodbyes, and I didn't think that Shay's death was tremendous, but it did tell one hell of a story arc for our characters.

This episode was one of the most emotional episodes.

And, of co, this coming week is the start of #CrossoverWeek. Fire, PD, and SVU reunite for the television event that no one should miss. This case will be anything like the one in November. So hang on and sit tight for that one.

I will probably write Fire, PD, and SVU all in one, and with Fire rearing Wednesday night, I might do that.

Who's excited for #CrossoverWeek?

You can catch Chicago Fire on Tuesday nights at 10/9c on NBC.

Here We Go: The Blacklist "Leonard Caul"

With what turned out to be one of the most shocking moments of this season, Red gets shot. And we were left of two weeks to think that over. Now The Blacklist returns with answers and yes more questions.

Red get shot, point blank we all know. Liz give Red the fulcrum and Red tries to tell her about that he hired Tom to be part of her life.

Liz and Dembe protect Red from the shooter who keeps shooting from a building just behind the cars. Soon they put Red in the car and off they went to get help and save Reddington.

It was like 15 minutes of intense scenes that I had to hold my breathe til the commercial break.

Dembe had Liz talk to Mr. Kaplan, and was given an address to go. While Kaplan was messaging doctors and nurses from hospitals to come at once and they brought everything.

The doctors worked on Red and found that the bullet was still there. They get a visitors who were acting like agents. Kaplan shot them and gave them an extra couple of minutes to get things ready to move out. Red wasn't stable but they had no choice and moved him to where....Tom's place.

And we're back with Liz and Tom. Tom is only helping Liz not Red.

Red is recovering, but soon a hit on him is still on. Meanwhile before Red put out for surgery he told Liz to look for a man named Leonard Caul.

Liz ask Cooper and the gang to search for him. That wasn't hard because Caul is searching for Liz. They soon meet up at an apartment, where Liz found the suitcase, which he took and used the fulcrum.

Caul's the guy who's been talking to Red on the phone the previous episodes.  

When Caul and Liz was on their way to see Red, they spot a swat about to come in. It's not FBI and so Dembe, Tom and Kaplan get ready for the attack.

Liz on the other hand go to the source who ordered the attack. He's the guy who let Braxton escape to find the fulcrum.

Liz gave him an offer he can't say no to, and called off the killing of Reddington.

As Reddington is recovered he talk to Liz and told her only half the truth and not the whole truth. So as Liz walks away, she goes to Tom and ask him for help on finding out about Red.


This episode set a new tone as we get close to the end of the season. We're only three episodes away til the season finale and I have a feeling that every episode is going to be big and ever so surprising.

You can catch "The Blacklist" Thursday nights at 9/8c on NBC.