Rachel MacGregor, TV Blogger

An admin assistant by day and a TV blogger/fanatic by night. Part of the Orphan Black Clone Club and a big fan of MTV's Catfish, soon to have a UK edition.

[rachelmacgregor16-blog]

6 reasons to watch How to Get Away with Murder on Netflix

Season two is now on Netflix - so it’s the perfect time to get hooked.

How To Get Away with Murder has captivated viewers since its first episode aired in 2014. It’s now on its third season in the US and viewers from the UK are slightly behind as Netflix has just released the second series.

But if you’re looking for your next binge-worthy show, look no further. How to Get Away with Murder is Shonda Rhimes (Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal) latest form of genius.

The show follows law professor Annalise Keating, played by the phenomenal Viola Davis, who becomes entwined in a murder plot along with five of her students.

With an amazing cast and a great premise it comes as no surprise that How To Get Away With Murder is a huge hit with critics and fans alike.

If you’ve not yet seen it, here are just a few reasons why you should be watching How To Get Away with Murder:

1. Dysfunctional relationships

The show explores not only the relationships between couples, friends and Annalise with her students, but also how these relationships fail without trust, commitment and faith in each other. It explores the idea that if one person in the group shows a weakness, the rest can easily turn against them, leading to much greater consequences.

2. Intriguing plot lines

While a murder mystery series is nothing new, How to Get Away with Murder feels fresh and unique. The show successfully uses cliffhangers and big reveals to keep you captivated - don’t be surprised if you end up binge-watching an entire series in a few evenings.

3. Compelling narrative

So far, each series has alternated between the present day and the future and/or past. This is a great way of having reveals in each episode that tell us a little more about each character. The flashforwards in particular set up each season as we witness the aftermath of a murder and are left to put the pieces together as the show cuts back to present day.

4. Humour

For a show with such a dark undertone, there are great moments of humour on How to Get Away with Murder, especially from Matt McGorry’s Asher Millstone. Millstone is initially on the outskirts of the younger group, cast aside due to his louder personality and the difference in his background compared to the rest of the group. That’s not to say there’s no further depth to his character, however, as season two explores his background in more detail and the audience begins to understand why he often acts out.

5. The Cast

The show benefits from an amazing ensemble cast, headed up by Viola Davis, who has received universal acclaim for her performance as well as numerous prestigious awards.

How to Get Away with Murder also features the talents of Alfred Enoch, known for his performance in the Harry Potter film series, Jack Falahee, Aja Naomi King, Matt McGorry, Karla Souza, Conrad Ricamora, Charlie Weber, Liza Weil and Billy Brown.

6. You have no idea who to trust

Every single character on the show has a certain amount of intrigue that always leaves you suspecting they could have more involvement in some more sinister deeds than we first imagined. This constantly leaves the audience on our toes and it’s incredibly difficult to predict what will come next.

(Image Credit: ABC)

[rachelmacgregor16-blog]

Is The X Factor’s Honey G a fake? All the rumours so far...

When I say ‘Honey’, you say ‘G’

She’s undoubtedly one, if not the most, controversial contestant to ever make an appearance on The X Factor.

Fans were initially outraged that Honey G made the live shows over a number of ‘more talented’ singers. In fact, before the first live show, over 16,000 viewers signed a petition saying she shouldn’t have made it this far in the competition.

Remarkably though, Honey G seems to have won over Simon Cowell. The fact that Cowell has turned from Mr Nasty to Mr Nice this year is leading viewers to question whether Honey G is actually an actress, planted on the show to increase viewing figures. 

However, that’s not the only conspiracy theory to emerge about Honey G this year. From the outlandish, to the probable, here’s a round up of all the rumours about Honey G so far: 

That she’s somebody in disguise 

Some have gone as far as to suggest that Honey G could really be former Prime Minister David Cameron or businesswoman Karren Brady. Obviously, this is far from the truth.

Underneath the sunglasses, Honey G is actually Anna Georgette Guilford who has had a successful career in recruitment. 

Honey G is tricking the viewers and X Factor bosses

Could Honey G really be catfishing us all? Will a tell-all book be released this time next year, as we discover that she wanted to prove that talent shows are no longer about talent? Only time will tell...

X Factor bosses planted Honey G in the show to cause controversy and increase viewing figures

Some have pointed out that whereas novelty acts are usually dismissed by Simon Cowell straight away, he seems to have a soft spot for Honey G - could he be masterminding her appearance? 

With Jessy from Little Mix recently commenting that she thinks Honey G is an actress, could she know something we don’t? 

It’s no secret that viewing figures have dropped in recent years, but Honey G certainly has a lot of people talking this year. Could this all be a ploy from Cowell and co?

It’s already been decided when Honey G will be leaving the competition

With reports that she has signed up to do a guest appearance at a club on the night of the live final, does Honey G know that she will be leaving earlier than this? Or is it just that she does not have the confidence that she will remain in the competition until the final 3? 

The club in question has since released a statement saying that Honey G’s appearance will be dependant on when she leaves the competition, but conspiracy theorists think there could be more to it.

Honey G actually just wants to entertain the public

It could be as simple as that - Honey G could just be a contestant, hoping to change her life and entertain people on a Saturday night.

[rachelmacgregor16-blog]

Is The Apprentice past its peak?

Once upon a time, as the weather turned colder we could all be comforted by the fact that great television was on its way.

We would long to hear those two words infamously said each week by Lord Alan Sugar on The Apprentice - ‘You’re Fired’ - but after witnessing the first two weeks of this series, could viewers be on the way to saying goodbye to the show?

It’s no surprise that you’re unable to watch The Apprentice without cringing and questioning how these business minds are considered some of the best in the country. Those without any background in business are surely likely to come up with some better ideas than some of Lord Sugar’s potential candidates. But usually, you are able to identify a few potential diamonds in the rough.

This year, however, viewers are calling the participants the worst candidates to ever appear on the show.

In this week’s episode alone the girls turned up to their photoshoot for a pair of jeans without the jeans in question and the boys had no idea what ‘unisex’ meant, despite branding their denim as being so.

The boys didn’t manage to stick to deadlines, the girls had a conflicting advert and, as usual, both teams argued throughout.

Understandably, Lord Sugar decided that neither team should be called winners here and he asked both project managers to bring two of their team back to face him in the board room.

The candidate who was ultimately told it was her time to leave the process was Natalie Hughes who, under the pressure of the board room, told Lord Sugar that her role in the task was to style their model’s hair for their advert.

Realistically though, any of the candidates could have been fired and it wouldn’t have been shocking. What will be shocking, is if any of them are able to show their business acumen in the next few weeks.

Fingers crossed they will though, otherwise The Apprentice would have lost its appeal and will be just like most of the other talent shows on our screens at the moment - putting entertainment before skill.

[rachelmacgregor16-blog]

9 reasons why you must watch Freaks and Geeks on Netflix

If you’re looking for something new to watch on Netflix, look no further than Freaks and Geeks.

The show aired in America between 1999 and 2000 and now has a cult following, despite only having 18 episodes.

The show, created by Paul Feig and executive produced by Judd Apatow features some of the most popular names in comedy today.

Here’s why you must watch Freaks and Geeks if you haven’t already:

1. The Opening Credits

Freaks and Geeks has outrageously cool, yet simplistic, opening credits. Set to the amazing soundtrack of Joan Jett’s ‘Bad Reputation’ the cast line up and take their yearbook photo, one by one.

Sit back and be amazed by how many big names feature as well as their poses and actions, which perfectly summarise their characters.

2. The Music

The show’s good music isn’t limited to the opening credits. Expect plenty of Van Halen and The Who and, without giving too much away, a little ditty sung by Jason Segel’s Nick.

3. The Familiar Main Cast

If you’re a fan of American comedy movies, you’ll recognise the main cast. 

James Franco, Seth Rogen and Jason Segel star as the ‘freaks’, while Samm Levine, Martin Starr and John Francis Daley are the ‘geeks’.

Linda Cardellini and Busy Philipps are the main female cast members, portraying Lindsay and Kim.

There are no weak links amongst the cast and you will end up loving every single character.

4. The Recurring Cast and Guest Stars too

Not only does the show benefit from an amazing main cast, there are so many familiar faces in recurring or guest starring roles.

To name a few of these actors, you can expect to see Ben Foster, Lizzy Caplan, Kayla Ewell, Dave “Gruber” Allen, Samaire Armstrong, Alex Breckenridge, Matt Czurchry, Rashida Jones, David Krumholtz, Jason Schwartzman, Shia LaBeouf, Leslie Mann and even Ben Stiller across the show’s 18 episodes.

5. You’ll Actually Care about the Characters

Freaks and Geeks has always been applauded for its realism and the show will seriously take you back. The Geeks will make you think back to the days when you were just becoming a teenager and learning about the ways of the world with such naivety and the Freaks will take you back to the indecision of where you wanted to be and what you wanted to do after school.

6. The Geeks’ one liners

There are so many moments of ingenuity throughout the show but Sam (John Francis Daley), Neil (Samm Levine) and Bill (Martin Starr) have the most quotable lines on the show.

Whether they’re commenting on adolescent life or joking with one another, theirs are the lines that you will remember at the end of the 18 episodes.

7. You’ll Want More

Unsurprisingly, with only 18 episodes, the series features on pretty much every “TV shows cancelled before their time” list.

While the show had a nice enough open ending, none of the characters really knew what they wanted to do next so it’s up to the viewer to decide from endless possibilities.

The cast have shared their thoughts on what the gang would be up to at recent reunion panels, but there was never really a sense of finality.

8. The Pop Culture

As the show was set between 1980 and 1981, it isn’t modern culture that is referenced, but some amazing blasts from the past.

There are moments of genius throughout the 18 episodes, including Bill watching that episode of Dallas.

Watch and be taken back to a wonderful era.

9. It’s Binge-Watch Worthy

You’ll get through the 18 episodes in no time, and then you’ll want to watch them all over again.

(Image Credit: Variety)

[rachelmacgregor16-blog]

11 reasons to watch Once Upon a Time on Netflix

The first episode of Once Upon a Time’s season six has just aired in America. 

While we have to wait a few more days for it to arrive on Netflix, it is bound to be worth the wait, with intriguing new characters and concepts set to fill the next 22 episodes. What’s more, some old favourites are also set to return to Storybrooke.

In case you haven’t watched Once Upon a Time before, here are eleven reasons why you should add the show to your watch list before season six returns to Netflix on Wednesday.

1. The Cast

Once Upon a Time benefits from an incredible cast. There are recognisable faces including Ginnifer Goodwin and Robert Carlyle and it has also introduced us to lesser known actors who are just as incredible.

2. You have no idea who is good or evil anymore

While Lana Parrilla’s Regina Mills has been more firmly on the side of good in more recent times, season six will see her dark half, the Evil Queen, back and declaring war on the heroes.

3. The Jekyll/Hyde arc will undoubtedly be incredible

Now separated from Jekyll, Mr Hyde is expected to be one of the main villains of the series - especially considering the fact that he is already facing up to Gold. Something tells me he’s going to be causing plenty of trouble in Storybrooke.

4. Aladdin and Jasmine are on the way…

Fans have been saying that they want to see Aladdin and Jasmine on the show for years and finally our prayers have been answered. Rumour has it that Aladdin will have more in common with Emma than you would first imagine. Jafar will also be making an appearance in season six…

5. Cinderella is set to return

First seen all the way back in season one, Jessy Schram will be reprising her role as Cinderella in the third episode of the season. Not only will Cinderella be back, we will be introduced to her stepmother and stepsisters. Intriguing...

6. The Land of Untold Stories

While Once Upon a Time has worked its way through many of the most popular and famous fairytale characters we’ve known since childhood, it is such an inspired idea to introduce those from ‘The Land of Untold Stories’ as season six is set to do. Naturally, the show is likely to flip tradition and show these stories from a new angle.

7. The season six episode titles sound intriguing

The first few episode titles include ‘The Savior’, ‘The Bitter Draught’, ‘The Other Shoe’, ‘Street Rats’, ‘Dark Waters’, ‘Heartless’ and ‘I’ll Be Your Mirror’.

8. Captain Swan

Handsome pirate? Check. Kickass woman? Check. Is Captain Swan one of the best couples on television? For sure.

9. Tradition with a Twist

Once Upon a Time turns traditional fairytales on their head. In this story Captain Hook is a hero and Peter Pan is one of the scariest villains around. With this show you need to expect the unexpected...

10. Female Heroines

If you’re looking for a show with badass women who can most certainly hold their own, look no further. Led by Jennifer Morrison’s Emma Swan, there are so many great female role models (both on and off the screen) on Once Upon a Time. We’re looking at you Ginnifer Goodwin, Lana Parrilla, Emilie de Ravin and Rebecca Mader.

11. If you are a fan of LOST, you’ll see plenty of easter eggs

Not only are loads of actors from Lost (including Emilie de Ravin, Jorge Garcia, Lana Parrilla, Rebecca Mader, Alan Dale and Elizabeth Mitchell) in Once Upon a Time, there are also many other ties to the show. This comes as no surprise as creators Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz are the brains behind both shows.

(Photo Credit: ABC)

[rachelmacgregor16-blog]

7 thoughts you will have whilst watching Channel 4’s Hunted

How far would you go for £100,000?

That is the question posed to those taking part on Channel 4’s reality show with a difference, Hunted.

Returning this week for a second series, Hunted sees civilians, billed as fugitives on the show, attempting to out-run and avoid former police and intelligence officers for 28 days.

During the first series the fugitives were extremely motivated to complete the task, with four competitors eventually succeeding, but with a cash prize now on offer, the stakes are much higher and, as such, the challenge has been made even harder - expect drones and police dogs.

If you haven’t seen the show before it is definitely worth a watch. It will certainly make you think and question what you would do if you were being ‘hunted’.

Here are seven thoughts you’ll have whilst watching Hunted:

1. ‘This is ambitious television’

In the age of Big Brother and Geordie Shore, Hunted is reality TV with a difference. It’s ambitious, unique and completely captivating. There’s no way that you will space out whilst watching the show. You’ll be analytical every step of the way, whether praising or ridiculing the fugitives’ decisions.

2. ‘This is tense’

You will undoubtedly be perched at the edge of your seat whilst watching Hunted. There are unbelievably close calls between the fugitives and the hunters and you see just how intense it is for the participants. As they become stressed, you will find yourself becoming more and more tense, eagerly anticipating what is going to happen next.

3. ‘I wonder how far I would get…’

At the start you’ll be very sure of yourself. Everybody you’re watching with will be professing ‘I could do this, easily’ but, by the end of the hour, you will most probably all be in the agreement that you would been captured within the first few days (or hours).

4. ‘I’d get further than most of my friends’

After wondering how long you would last, you will start to get competitive - although you’ve come to the realisation that you probably wouldn’t last the whole 28 days, you’ll also start telling yourself you would probably get further than quite a few of your friends and family.

5. ‘How can a show that has such a serious undertone be so funny?’

There are ingenious moments of humour on Hunted. Whether through editing (someone cockily saying that they’re doing amazingly, only for the action to cut to the hunters trailing close behind them) or through simple moments such as the fugitives having to cut down on their ‘essential’ items or trying to run whilst holding on to all of their belongings.

6. ‘Who would you trust?’

During the first series some fugitives were honest with passersby, who were all too willing to help. However, when the hunters put a notice up in the paper asking anyone to report sightings of one of the fugitives, things quickly took a turn and the general public were not as willing to help as they were before - especially as the hunters were offering rewards for information.

7. ‘How long would I last not being able to talk to my loved ones?’

Most of the fugitives from season one were caught while taking risks trying to talk to their parents, spouses or children. It will make you wonder whether you would risk capture for a quick phone call or if you would be brave enough to arrange a meeting with those you miss.

(Image: Channel 4, Youtube)

[rachelmacgregor16-blog]

I’m a Celeb is right to ban reality TV stars

The show bosses at I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here reportedly dropped quite the bombshell this month - they do not want reality television stars to appear on the upcoming series.

Whether this will be the case remains to be seen. After all, those best known for stints on the likes of The Only Way Is Essex, Geordie Shore and Made In Chelsea have dominated I’m a Celeb, Celebrity Big Brother and similar shows in recent years.

Some argue that these popular figures have an unfair advantage going into these shows, because they are used to being in front of the camera regularly, knowing exactly how they wish to be portrayed in the media and how they wish to be perceived.

With the likes of Ferne McCann, Joey Essex and Vicky Pattison doing so well on I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here in recent years, you can just imagine their colleagues begging producers for a stint on the show, but, banning reality TV stars from these entertainment shows is a great move in my opinion.

While ‘constructed reality’ was once a new media, and one that interested and intrigued viewers, we now know the truth - very little of what we see on screen is real and events are overdramatised. You only need to look at this year’s Celebrity Big Brother to realise that when constructed reality stars go on entertainment shows, their actions can seem forced and pre-meditated.

Showmances dominate - remember when Ferne McCann and George Shelley had a will-they-won’t-they fling in the jungle? And you can’t tell me Marnie Simpson and Lewis Bloor, despite insistence from their shared management, didn’t know exactly what they were doing when they got together on CBB.

While this may be a viewing highlight for some, it takes the focus off of participants as individuals and dominates screen time that could be placed elsewhere.

In some cases, it’s good to see these people in more natural surroundings, but when things kick off it’s difficult to establish what’s real and what’s not.

With reality stars out of the way, will we have more natural (and hilarious) moments like John Lydon in the Ostrich pen, Vanessa Feltz’s shopping list chalk-on-the-dining-room-table meltdown, and David Gest’s incredible anecdotes.

So, before anyone suggests it, no, Gemma Collins should not go back in the jungle…

Let’s bring in some unpredictable familiar faces who just want to get on with it and enjoy their experience, not dominate screen time with crocodile tears and over-the-top tantrums.

(Image Credit: ITV)

[rachelmacgregor16-blog]

Michelle Keegan is the perfect replacement for Lacey Turner in Our Girl

In case you haven’t watched BBC One’s incredible drama, Our Girl, before, you’re missing out. Lacey Turner previously ran the show but now that she’s preoccupied with causing drama in Albert Square, reprising her role as Stacey in EastEnders, former Coronation Street actress Michelle Keegan has taken over the role of the “2 Section” medic in season two.

When I first heard the casting news I felt uneasy - Lacey Turner did such a fantastic job in the first series, alongside Iwan Rheon, that I couldn’t imagine a new cast member bringing the same heart and emotional depth to the show. I wondered whether the show should even continue with only one remaining cast member. How wrong I was…

Aside from the leading lady, some other things have changed going into series two - the setting has switched from Afghanistan to Kenya and things are more dangerous than ever, as we immediately discover that Corporal Georgie Lane’s (Michelle Keegan) six week humanitarian tour is taking her to a place where there is plenty of unrest and armed enemies at every corner. Naturally, within minutes there will be casualties and we quickly learn that the other side may be more tactical than they let on.

Ben Aldridge is the aforementioned returning actor, gracing our screens again as the delightful Captain James. His character offers our connection to Lacey Turner’s Molly, quickly letting us know what she has been up to, and it is revealed that he and Molly are old friends with Georgie.

This is one of the reasons why Michelle Keegan is a great addition to the cast - as she speaks about Molly, you can imagine the two characters being friends and, as Captain James quickly proves himself to be her shoulder to cry on, it is clear that Georgie and Captain James will look out for each other during the series.

Joining Our Girl seems to be a great career move for Keegan as the drama allows her to show off her great acting range. The show has everything - romance, comedy, action and plenty of drama and Keegan excels in every aspect.

Unfortunately, due to the press attention that has followed Keegan since she was first introduced to us on Coronation Street, it’s easy to forget just how talented she is - by the end of the episode you will realise that during the more dramatic scenes you will be watching with bated breath, and that’s only expected to continue as the series goes on.

Within minutes you’ll forget that Michelle Keegan didn’t front the show previously and you’ll warm to Corporal Georgie Lane quickly, just as we did with Lacey Turner’s Molly.

Be prepared to have many questions by the end of the first episode, and to be desperate to see what’s next.

(Image Credit: BBC)

[rachelmacgregor16-blog]

Has The X Factor officially turned into a complete farce?

After twelve years we know what to expect from The X Factor - sob stories perfectly timed to sad music, Simon Cowell’s tight tops and, sometimes, some fairly decent singing.

This week’s episode, however, proved that music definitely isn’t at the forefront of the show anymore and that entertainment through laughing at auditionees is far more superior.

There were as many bad entrants as there were good on Saturday’s episode and a quarter of the show was dedicated to two hopefuls, who turned up with their own sob story, although it wasn’t like the usual anecdotes we are used to hearing on the talent show.

Participants Ottavio Columbro and Bradley Hunt were supposed to be auditioning together, until they fell out when Bradley fed Ottavio some uncooked chicken - yes, really.

A huge segment of the show was dedicated to the pair auditioning separately, before a bewildered-looking Dermot O’Leary was sent out to reunite the pair and encourage them to see the judges later on in the day to audition together as planned. It’s great to see Dermot back on the show, but it was so soul-destroying to see him getting pulled in to the whole facade.

In case you thought Ottavio and Bradley looked familiar, these two are no strangers to entertainment television. Ottavio has also auditioned on The X Factor before and the pair have already appeared on Coach Trip, Strip Date and Judge Rinder - by now, they know how to make good television.

That’s where the boundaries are blurred with The X Factor - we want to be able to have a laugh when watching the show on a Saturday night. These comedic scenes are always prominent at the audition stages, and you have to wonder whether viewers miss them when the show gets on to the live stages - where viewing figures usually drop. The problem was, it all seemed so forced and scripted, it was more cringe-worthy than anything else.

There’s no denying that the whole Ottavio and Bradley spectacle made unique telly - you couldn’t help but laugh as Sharon Osbourne agreed that Ottavio should be upset as he “could’ve got salmonella” while Bradley commented he didn’t even get a thank you for cooking, but even Simon Cowell looked bored by the end of it all.

Surely there must have been a few more good auditionees to show in some of the time that these two dominated the screen? It makes you wonder what will happen to The Voice when it returns on ITV because, after all, The Voice is meant to be completely about singing.

One thing has to be said though, this year’s X Factor judging panel is spot on. It’s just a shame that, if it turns into a wannabe scripted reality show over the coming weeks, viewers may finally stop persevering with The X Factor after all these years.

(Image Credit: ITV)

[rachelmacgregor16-blog]

6 predictions for the Pretty Little Liars mid-season finale

Pretty Little Liars hasn’t been the easiest show to watch (and keep up with) this season. 

Whilst fans were optimistic about the five-year time jump, the first half of season seven has been incredibly disjointed. So far, the season has had a number of great action-packed sequences, but at times events have been so far-fetched (even for Pretty Little Liars) that you find yourself saying “really?” 

Fortunately, it would appear that the mid-season finale is being lined up to have lots of reveals, plenty of action and life-threatening danger for the girls at the hands of Jenna and Noel. 

Check out the promo for the next episode below, but be warned it contains some potential spoilers, which will be discussed in this blog: 

Pretty Little Liars is notorious for leaving fans with more questions than answers, but, with rumours that the show will be coming to an end soon, what will be revealed in the mid-season finale?

Here are a few predictions for ‘The DArkest Knight’:

1. Hanna will seek vengeance, and it will go wrong 

The last few weeks have seen Hanna go rogue, leaving the rest of the girls so that she can track down Noel and get her revenge, as she believes he is the one who captured her at the beginning of the season. Judging by the promo though, things will take a sinister turn when Noel manages to escape his restraints.

We’ve already seen Hanna record a video just in case anything goes wrong, will it fall into the wrong hands?

2. The rest of the girls will want to stop Hanna, get the evidence of Noel’s involvement back and (finally) go to the police. But will they want answers from Noel first? 

And the question is, is he hiding any other secrets? At the moment all signs are pointing towards Noel being Mary Drake’s second child, as his father presided over the adoption. 

One thing is for sure, now that Spencer knows that he was working with Charlotte and Sara Harvey to mentally torture them in the dollhouse, she won’t remain calm when they come face to face. Will the girls be able to get the evidence back and go to the police?

3. Plenty of romance

The promo has shown that some former couples will reunite in the episode, with Toby and Spencer sharing a kiss and Hanna and Caleb doing a little more than that... 

Emison shippers will be glad to see Ali and Emily snuggling on the couch, but will all couples still be as content by the episode’s end? Judging by the promo, we don’t think so. Which leads us on to the next prediction...

4. A death 

There are plenty of rumours surfacing that a main character, or one of the boyfriends, won’t make it to the latter part of the season and, judging by the promo’s hashtag of #PLLDeathTrap and the promo’s description saying the “chaotic fight” ends “fatally” those rumours could have some truth to them...

5. A huge revelation for one (or more) of the liars

The description for the promo video also says “One of the PLLs learns a secret about her past that changes everything while another Liar discovers something about her future that could alter her course forever.”

This has led fans to speculate that Noel may not be Mary’s second child and that one of the main characters could be instead. Could Aria or Ali really be -AD? Or is this another Hastings secret? 

What’s more, many fans are speculating that one of the girls could be pregnant. At the moment, signs are pointing to Aria, who recently got engaged to Ezra. A more sinister theory, however, is that Ali, who vomited earlier in the season, may have been impregnated with Emily’s eggs, which were stolen, whilst she was at the mental institution. 

A twisted theory, but one that wouldn’t be too far-fetched in Pretty Little Liars. 

6. More Jenna revelations

Let’s face it, Jenna used to be one of the most exciting foes of the liars in the early days of the show and now that she’s back we’ve been waiting for things to kick off. Considering the promo shows her wielding a gun and asking after Ali, that time seems to be now. 

We hear a gunshot at the end of the promo and a limp leg. So, who will be shot? And more importantly, why? 

(Image Credit: Freeform)

[rachelmacgregor16-blog]

Has MTV’s Catfish gone too far?

(Image Credit: MTV)

In case you missed the headlines earlier this week, one of the most outlandish episodes of MTV’s Catfish aired in the US. 

The latest episode focused on a man, Spencer Morrill, who was convinced that he had been dating Katy Perry for six years. 

Yes, that Katy Perry. 

This blog is going to discuss events in the episode, so if you haven’t watched yet and want to avoid spoilers look away now.

Naturally, from the offset hosts Nev Schulman and Max Joseph warned Spencer that it was highly unlikely that he was speaking to one of pop’s biggest superstars and that he shouldn’t get his hopes up. 

The problem was that Spencer was adamant that he was going to marry Katy Perry and he had even crafted an engagement ring which cost him approximately 25% of his savings.  

Even after Nev and Max presented their findings to Spencer - that it seemed likely that he was being catfished by a girl named Harriet, who lived in Gloucester - he continued to tell viewers that he was almost certain he was speaking to Katy Perry and that he was convinced that she was sending messages to him through her music.

Perhaps even more worryingly, when Spencer met Harriet, who confirmed that she had been speaking to him for all of these years, he continued to say that Katy Perry was behind all of this and that she was probably laughing at the joke from afar. 

That’s when the episode took an awkward turn. 

Cameramen were seen laughing, Harriet was shown looking extremely uncomfortable but Spencer remained convinced. 

Even at the end of the episode Harriet admitted that after filming Spencer emailed her as if she was Katy Perry, still believing that this was all an elaborate ruse from the pop star. 

In the history of Catfish there are a number of episodes which made for uncomfortable viewing, but for the first time there wasn’t a sense that there were lessons learned and instead it seemed like the joke was on Spencer and viewers were meant to find his naivety funny - overall though, it wasn’t funny in the slightest and the heart and warmth that was prominent in Catfish’s earliest episodes was nowhere in sight. 

Looking at Spencer’s Twitter feed is reassuring as he now admits that he knows he was talking to Harriet all along and that he remains positive following the experience. Harriet, on the other hand, has allegedly closed her account after bragging about being one of the best Catfishes ever. 

Now that Catfish has been on for so long, maybe producers feel that something new and unique is needed to add some flair to the show. In my opinion, bring it back to the old days where the hopefuls actually have some hope - nobody likes it when not even Nev believes there could be a happy union by the end of the episode. 

[rachelmacgregor16-blog]

11 things that need to happen on the Brooklyn Nine-Nine/New Girl crossover

(Image: FOX/Collider)

In incredibly exciting news it has been announced that Brooklyn Nine-Nine and New Girl will share a special comedy crossover episode that will air in the US in October.

The plans were announced at the Television Critics Association’s press tour and, keeping in theme with the shows, New Girl creator Elizabeth Meriwether and Brooklyn Nine-Nine co-creator Dan Goor made joked that the cast would be making the rounds on some other unexpected shows and that they’re already expecting to disappoint.

But, with a cast as enigmatic as these two and with the quick-witted writing of the shows, it’s hard to imagine the crossover episode being a let down.

Here’s a few things that need to happen on the episode. Share your own hopes for the episode in the comments below.

Schmidt gets locked in a cell and ends up writing a lot of IOU’s for the Douchebag Jar before he gets out

Imagine the puns!

Gina and Cece getting into a war off sass-filled words, only to bond immediately afterwards

Cece can hold her own but she stands no chance against Gina!

Winston sharing some of his stories from the L.A.P.D with a very unenthusiastic Captain Holt

He might find it interesting, but his face will say the opposite...

Terry talking to Winston about his family, only for Winston to share pictures of his cat, Ferguson

To be fair, Ferguson is the cutest.

Charles becoming enamoured with the girls, who will naturally bond with him straight away

They’re bound to be drawn to his wonderful ways.

Schmidt and Andy comparing their muscles only for Terry to walk by and put them both to shame

He doesn’t even need to try...

Rosa’s reaction to Jess

Because, let’s face it, they are complete opposites...

Amy and Jess bonding

It could go either way, they could be BFFs or just not get each other at all.

Jake and Nick bonding over their relationship woes

Or just, in general. Surely they’ve got to have some similar anecdotes to bond over.

The New Girl crew admitting that they’re fans of Charles’s blog

Imagine Charles’s reaction - they need to include this!

A game of True American in the 99th Precinct

Because the best New Girl episodes feature True American!

Bring on the crossover!

[rachelmacgregor16-blog]

The 8 Best Moments from The Hills: That Was Then, This Is Now

(Credit: MTV.co.uk) 

Unbelievably it’s been 10 years since The Hills first aired and MTV have treated us to a special with Lauren Conrad herself.

Lauren was always the heart, soul and voice of The Hills and any fan will admit that the show was never the same after she left.

The special looked at Conrad’s life now as she reflected on her time starring in the reality show. Here are just a few of the best moments from the special:

Lauren’s reaction to her parents watching her original Laguna Beach casting tape

As she said in her audition to be on Laguna Beach, she wasn’t always focused at school and, quite sadly, at the age of 17 she didn’t see herself being successful, even saying “My parents have never been proud of me at school.”

Kathy’s response of “Common sense goes far in this world… Academics wasn’t what you did best” wasn’t quite what Lauren was expecting. Queue shocked faces all around…

Realising just how naive Lauren was in the beginning

Undoubtedly winning the award for the cutest moment of the show, Lauren’s dad revealed that Lauren was incredibly nervous about getting the internship at Teen Vogue, and even that she immediately noticed that the girl who was interviewing for the position too (Whitney Port) was wearing a mic pack, which confused her. Little did she know that this girl was lined up to be her co-star.

Talent Producer Sophia Rossi put it most endearingly as she said “She literally thought she worked at Teen Vogue, she didn’t realise she was on the cover of the magazine.”

The additional break-up scenes

Seeing Lauren and Jason break up on The Hills was very difficult to watch at the time, and the additional scenes were even worse, as Lauren admitted she could tell he wasn’t sober and felt a responsibility for his welfare, feeling like she abandoned him when they broke up. What made it more difficult was hearing Lauren say that those behind the camera kept asking her to go back and talk to Jason when she wanted to leave. What made for very difficult viewing had a happy ending, as we heard that Jason is now sober and happily married.

Queue another classic Jim Conrad comment - “oh we were so happy, that was a disaster.”

Lauren fighting for her rights with MTV

Never before heard audio footage heard Lauren shouting at producers that she didn’t want to film with Heidi and Spencer and that the network should care about what they did to her. It was great to hear Lauren standing up for herself, but quite heartbreaking that these “meetings” at clubs would continue for years afterwards.

As Lauren said, when she wasn’t living the kind of life that made her happy and her heart was no longer into filming - having admitted she previously felt an obligation to share everything she was going through - she knew it was time to leave.

Hearing Lauren talk about her husband, William Tell

Not only do they look adorable together, the way they spoke about each other was lovely. The fact that Lauren admitted that Tell has never watched the show and that the only clip he had seen was one of her telling Brody Jenner she was “at the Roosevelt Pool every Sunday” with an embarrassed look was so funny. She admitted that he turned it off straight after, saying he didn’t want to know the old version of her.

The behind the scenes dating gossip

Turns out Lauren DID have a crush on Brody Jenner, but there was “zero chemistry” between them. Lauren admitted this was one of the first times she realised that she was being put in situations that were “made for TV” - something that made her quite awkward considering the blooper where she said kissing him was “the most awkward thing ever” in front of him.

It was equally awkward when the crew admitted that they told Lauren’s date in France to kiss her, something she found out before the end of the date and refused to partake in. As she quickly said goodbye with a hug and ran up the steps to her hotel, her date said “She ran like a thief. She knew everything, you know?” Luckily MTV managed to edit in him blowing Lauren a kiss…

Seeing Lauren give something back with The Little Market

Lauren admitted that being more fortunate with her career gave her some perspective, which led her to create The Little Market with her friend, Hannah. The pair give women with fewer rights from multiple countries a platform to sell goods on the online store.

Lauren’s final piece of advice

All those years after Lauren famously said “I should just keep my opinions to myself,” she admitted that the biggest lesson she learned from her time on The Hills was that “It’s important to be asked for your opinion.”

[rachelmacgregor16-blog]

9 American TV comedies on Netflix to get you through the Summer

There’s nothing like curling up in front of the telly during the Summer and watching something that’s not too heavy-hitting after a long, hard day of coping with the blistering heat (here’s hoping it stays for a bit longer!)

Fortunately, with on-demand TV we’re no longer forced into watching unlimited re-runs of You’ve Been Framed because nothing else is on.

Here’s a selection of the best American TV comedies on Netflix to watch this Summer. Think I’ve missed any? Share them in the comments below for others to see.

The Family-Friendly:

While not always suitable for youngsters, the ruder jokes are subtle and these are certainly more PG than the other shows Netflix has to offer.

Gilmore Girls

Fancy a bit of family drama and teenage angst? Follow the lives of Lorelai and Rory Gilmore as they cope with their overbearing extended family, relationships and living in a town where everyone knows everything about everybody else. Watch the series now before the revival, Gilmore Girls: A Year In the Life is released later this year.

The Big Bang Theory

If you’re one of the few who hasn’t watched TBBT yet, now could be the time to start. Seasons 1-8 are all ready to watch on Netflix. Introduce yourself to Sheldon and never look back. The series starts incredibly strong as Leonard falls for neighbour Penny, but it’s their friends Howard, Raj, Amy and Bernadette who provide some of the biggest laughs.

How I Met Your Mother

Another popular US sitcom that you may have already seen but if not, one that you cannot miss. All nine seasons are on Netflix UK and follow Ted Mosby as he searches for love in New York City. Along with his friends, couple Marshall and Lily, on-again off-again crush Robin and Barney, played by the incomparable Neil Patrick Harris, Ted navigates his late twenties and early thirties teasing about meeting his eventual wife whilst Bob Saget narrates his story to his future children.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

With an incredibly strong cast including Terry Crews, Joe Lo Truglio and Chelsea Peretti, Andy Samberg leads the crew in this police sitcom. The Emmy-award-winning show features police who do a little more play than work. The show was recently renewed for a forth season. Unfortunately only seasons one and two are on Netflix at the moment, but fingers crossed season 3 will be online soon.

(Credit: Scott Schafer/FOX) 

The Kooky:

If you like your comedies a little more zany, these are for you.

Community

If meta-humour, pop culture references and film and television clichés are your thing, look no further than Community. The ensemble cast features the incredible acting skills of Joel McHale, Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi, Yvette Nicole Brown, Alison Brie, Donald Glover, Ken Jeong, Chevy Chase and Jim Rash. Community has to go down as one of the smartest sitcoms to grace our screens in the last 10 years.

Master of None

Sometimes a little more of a drama than a comedy, Master of None follows Dev (played by the incredible Aziz Ansari) as he makes his way through life, trying to breakthrough with his acting career following a Go-Gurt commercial while also starting a new, very dysfunctional romantic relationship.

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Following her escape from a doomsday cult in Indiana, where she was held for 15 years, Kimmy moves to New York City, eventually  befriending her streetwise landlady, an out of touch socialite and her roommate, struggling actor Titus Andromedon. The Netflix original has had great critical acclaim and benefits from its seriously impressive cast.

The OTT:

Like to watch telly which leaves you thinking ‘did that really just happen?’ These are the ones for you.

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Just when you think It’s Always Sunny has gone as far as it possibly could, a new episode comes along and makes you wonder whether what’s going on on-screen can actually be aired on television. The Gang, a group of underachievers, are all dishonest, egotistical, selfish, ignorant and lazy and they get themselves into unbelievable scrapes. Things only get better when Danny De Vito joins in season 2.

Arrested Development

Following the fictitious Bluth family, Arrested Development is often cited as the inspiration for some of the most popular single-camera sitcoms airing today. Seasons one to three aired from 2003 onwards before season four debuted on Netflix. Several recurring characters, as well as main characters, returned for the revival. The entire series is available to watch on Netflix UK.

[rachelmacgregor16-blog]

5 reasons why you need to start watching Gilmore Girls right now

In preparation for the upcoming Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life, Netflix have uploaded all seven amazing seasons of the show from its original run. You know what that means... it’s time to binge watch.

If you are already a Gilmore Girls fan (and you don’t own the DVDs) I know that you will be adding the show straight on to your watch list and telling everybody you know to do the same immediately.

If you haven’t seen the show before, start now, prepare to be amazed. There’s nothing like immersing yourself into the world of Stars Hollow. Here’s why you need to watch Gilmore Girls (again):

1. Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel

The mother-daughter pairing of Lorelai and Rory is unlike most on telly. Their bond is one that has a foundation of friendship first. Because of this their chemistry on-screen and the rapport between Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel is amazing to watch. In fact, when they argue on the show you want to watch the subsequent episodes as soon as possible just so you can see them happy and bantering with each other again.

2. Emily Gilmore

The third Gilmore Girl, Lorelai’s mother Emily, is the queen of the one-liners on the show and her relationship with Edward Herrmann’s Richard was lovingly endearing. Emily’s role on Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life will undoubtedly be an emotional one following Herrmann’s death but if anyone can pull off that emotion on-screen it’s Kelly Bishop.

3. The Men

Over the years the Gilmore Girls have dated some pretty amazing men, so much so that the online community of fans have debated who Rory and Lorelai should be with for years (Jess and Luke, FYI). With many familiar faces returning to Stars Hollow for the reprisal a little refresher of the romances wouldn’t go amiss...

4. The Supporting Characters

What would Gilmore Girls be without the residents of Stars Hollow? Well it would certainly be a bit more dull. 

The likes of Taylor and Kirk completely steal the show - whether they’re arguing with the Lorelais about town events or staging the latest wacky celebration. There’s never a dull moment in Stars Hollow. 

5. Stars Hollow

The town is like a character in itself. It would be hard to find any Gilmore Girls viewer who wouldn’t want to live in Stars Hollow. With the picturesque lawns and beautifully romantic gazebo it is truly beautiful. 

When you watch the show you can just visualise yourself popping into Luke’s for your morning coffee (because you know he serves the best), getting the morning gossip from Miss Patty and Babette before stopping off to collect dinner from Al’s Pancake World. 

Every part of the town has character - even the seemingly never-changing stop lights and, like all the other fans of the show, I can’t wait to be reunited with Stars Hollow in all its glory for Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. 

(Image Credit: TV Line)

[rachelmacgregor16-blog]

8 reasons why Rory and Jess need to get back together in Gilmore Girls

Gilmore Girls fans went crazy with excitement earlier this year when it was announced that the show would be returning to Netflix with four feature-length episodes, titled Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life. 

Naturally, each episode will centre around a different season and all of our favourite characters are set to return - yes, even Melissa McCarthy as Sookie!

All three of Rory’s ex-boyfriends will also be returning for the series. The question is, will she end up reuniting with either Jess (Milo Ventimiglia), Dean (Jared Padalecki) or Logan (Matt Czuchry)? Or will she have a new flame? She might even be happily single? 

Like many fans I am fully a Rory and Jess shipper and I hope that the new series will see the couple reunite. Here’s why Rory and Jess are endgame: 

1. Jess's romantic gestures were never predictable 

From destroying a rival’s snowman, to jumping in a moving horse-drawn carriage Jess didn’t exactly go down the usual chocolate and flowers route of romantic gestures. 

Some stand-out moments include getting into a physical fight with Dean, rescuing Rory from water sprinklers, getting soaking wet, and then turning them back on when he found out Rory’s then-boyfriend was on his way to help and secretly researching how far away Rory would be once she moved to college. Life with Jess was always exciting!

2. Jess wasn’t afraid to call Rory out (and vice versa)

When Rory tried to use Jess to make Logan jealous he called her out on it and didn’t try to hide his anger that Rory would use him and hurt him in that way.

Likewise, when Jess first turned up in Stars Hollow and acted like he didn’t need anyone else and showed disrespect to our favourite residents, Rory told him to get his act together.

3. Jess didn’t get on with Rory’s family but still encouraged their reunion

When Rory dropped out of Yale, stopped talking to Lorelai, and spent most of her time being reckless with Logan, Jess stepped up and told her she wasn’t acting like herself. His disapproval hit Rory hard and he was the only one that could get through to her. Ultimately, his voice of reason reunited the two Lorelais. 

4. They had mutual interests

While it’s often said that Dean was the “perfect first boyfriend” for Rory, it’s fair to say that she and Jess had a few more shared interests. While she had to push Dean to read her favourite books it was more likely that Jess had already read them twice over and had his own annotated copy.

5. They had incredible chemistry

With just a look you could see the intensity of feelings shared between Rory and Jess. It’s unsurprising that Alexis Bledel and Milo Ventimiglia dated when Gilmore Girls was originally filmed as there was such incredible chemistry between the pair. They are no longer together, so here’s hoping that the magnetism between the two is still the same in Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life. 

6. Jess had the most complexities out of Rory’s boyfriends

Life wasn’t simple with Jess and Rory - they fought, they were passionate and they were melodramatic. Their relationship was so intense and full of emotion, it ended up being incredibly interesting to watch. 

Jess had connections to Stars Hollow but also a complex upbringing. These layers of his character made him so interesting and multifaceted in comparison to Dean and Logan (although both also had their issues, they were a little more predictable).

7. Rory and Jess never had a sense of finality

Unlike Rory’s other relationships, there was never really a sense that Rory and Jess were over. It’s unlikely that Rory and Dean will get back together after their complicated breakup (and because Jared Padalecki’s only filmed for one day) and it’s hard to imagine Logan getting back together with Rory after she turned down his proposal. It never really felt like the book was closed on Rory and Jess, but what will their next chapter bring? 

8. Jess left too soon 

Show creator Amy Sherman-Palladino has admitted that she originally imagined Rory and Jess staying together but had to change the plan due to studio conflicts. With Sherman-Palladino at the helm of the new Gilmore Girls episodes, will she reunite the pair as she originally imagined? Here’s hoping!

(Credit: The WB)

[rachelmacgregor16-blog]

9 things we want to see in Orange Is The New Black Season 5

It’s fair to say that the fourth season of Orange is The New Black righted the wrongs that left some viewers feeling a little less satisfied after watching season three.

If you’ve not finished season four yet, stop reading this and go and binge-watch it right now. You won’t regret it. Otherwise, be prepared for *SPOILERS*.

In season four Orange is The New Black wasn’t so much “the Piper show” as background characters were brought to the forefront and lesser known characters got to shine. 

While it was a shame that some favourites, like Daya and Sophia, were not as prominent, it was great to learn more about the likes of Maria, Judy and Bayley. 

The show was funny, scary, gut-wrenching and, as always, heartbreaking. The events of the final two episodes have set us up for a very dramatic, and different, season five. 

With that in mind, what do we want to see when Orange Is The New Black returns? Here are a few of my thoughts. Share yours in the comments section.

A cameo by Samira Wiley

Let’s start with the obvious and get it out of the way. The death of Poussey was, by far, the most heartbreaking, upsetting and traumatising moment of the show so far. 

To see a character who had grown to be so happy, who was looking forward to and planning her next steps after prison, die in such a traumatic yet simplistic way was almost too much to handle. 

While Samira Wiley has stated that she will be heading into movies now it’s hard to imagine Litchfield without Poussey. It would be amazing to see her pop up in a flashback of some kind, although that’s likely to be wishful thinking. 

Bayley

The prison inmates may never want to see him again but, let’s face it, despite what happened with Bayley and Poussey, he is potentially the nicest staff member at Litchfield and Poussey’s death was the result of a tragic accident, there was no malice on Bayley’s part at all. 

With Caputo saying that Bayley will return to the prison after a short leave of absence, how will the girls react upon seeing him again and will he be able to live with the consequences of his negligence? 

Daya making the right decisions 

Daya is one of my favourite Orange is the New Black characters. With her mum out of prison and John still AWOL, as she is left holding a gun aimed towards sadistic Humphrey, will she make a decision that could see her staying in prison for the rest of her life? 

My hope is that, despite her claims that she will seek vengeance on Humphrey, one of the other characters will step in and stop Daya taking her first steps down a very dark path.

Maria and Piper sharing a scene

The race rows in Litchfield became difficult to watch at times throughout season four. As Maria, who was previously not a prominent character, became somewhat of a leader for the Dominicans there was a great rivalry between herself and Piper as Maria began her own underwear business in competition with Piper’s. 

After Piper told Piscatella what Maria was up to, Maria’s sentence was extended and, as retaliation Maria branded Piper with the swastika. 

Understandably, Piper was traumatised after the incident and we have yet to see the pair have a discussion following the incident.

A happy ending for Lolly

It was horrible watching Lolly go to the Psych ward after confessing to the murder of Aydin. Hopefully, now that she has been separated from the rest of the inmates we will not see any less of her. 

It will also be interesting to see how Alex reacts to the guilt of knowing that Lolly did not actually murder Aydin and whether she will take any steps to get Lolly out of Psych. 

More Maritza and Flaca

Even though they had their fair share of traumatic moments this season (let us never discuss the mouse incident ever again), Maritza and Flaca provide the light relief that is all too often needed in Orange is the New Black. 

As the press are likely to want to talk to Litchfield inmates, let’s see if they manage to get in front of the cameras as planned.

Humphrey’s Comeuppance 

I don’t even know where to begin when talking about Humphrey. Remember when we thought Pornstache was bad? He was a saint compared to the sadistic, immoral and disgusting new guard. 

His treatment of the inmates, particularly Maritza and Suzanne, was truly evil this season and it would be great to see him take responsibility for his sickening actions in season 5. 

The question is, will he make it past the first episode of season 5 if the inmates have their way? 

Piscatella vs Caputo

Now that Caputo has caught on to the fact that Piscatella and his staff might not be as good as he was led to believe, who will end up taking control of Litchfield?

We know that Piscatella isn’t concerned about going behind Caputo’s back, so will he push for more authority?

More Sophia 

Sophia obviously struggled with life down in the SHU but, now that’s she’s back in minimum security along with her friends, she seems to be slowly returning to her old self. 

Sophia is such a great character and Laverne Cox is amazing, so it would be great to see more of Sophia in season five as, in my opinion, with her limited appearances this season, she was sincerely missed.