Articles by Ryan Berenz

About Ryan Berenz

Member of the Television Critics Association. Charter member of the Ancient and Mystic Society of No Homers. Squire of the Ancient & Benevolent Order of the Lynx, Lodge 49, Long Beach, Calif. Costco Wholesale Gold Star Member since 2011.

“My Name Is Earl”: Little Bad Voodoo Brother

November 5, 2008 Ryan Berenz

Earl is supposed to do No. 94 on his list, “Ruined Dodge and Earl Jr.’s Halloween,” and Joy insists that Earl throw a Halloween party for the boys and everyone in the neighborhood. Catalina’s nephew Osgar (It’s like Oscar but with an “O”) just arrived in a crate from Mexico. Which reminds Earl that he also has to do another item on his list: “Cost Randy a Little Brother.” Earl and Randy decide to go to the charitable organization Big Bros Little Bros to see if they can get a needy kid for Randy to mentor. But the people at […]

"E:60": Deanna Favre, Carlos And Cece Boozer, And Manny Pacquiao

October 27, 2008 Ryan Berenz

Posted by Cubicle QB Features on the Oct. 28 (7pm ET) edition of ESPN’s sports newsmagazine series E:60: Deanna Favre For nearly two decades, Brett Favre has lived in the media spotlight, but the last nine months in particular played out like a daily soap opera. Deanna Favre is the woman behind the bright lights and the press clippings. In an E:60 exclusive, her first national television interview since her husband was traded to the New York Jets, correspondent Rachel Nichols sits down with the one person who knows Brett best. Deanna discusses what it was like to watch her […]

The Office: Crime Aid

October 24, 2008 Ryan Berenz

Posted by Mike, Ryan and johnnysweeptheleg Synopsis: Things are going well with Michael and Holly. They’re going on a third date, which, according to Michael, is the one on which you have sex. But does Holly share that opinion? “Oh, hell yeah,” she says. Dwight (“D-Money”) is upset after receiving the Save the Date card for Angela and Andy’s wedding. He confides in Phyllis, who tells him that he needs to give Angela an ultimatum. So Dwight tells Angela that she must choose between him and Andy by 6:14pm or she can say goodbye to this (pointing at Dwight’s groin […]

“My Name Is Earl”: Quit Your Snitchin’

October 24, 2008 Ryan Berenz

Randy’s birthday is coming up, and Earl wants to give Randy a special gift this year. Since Earl gave Randy the short end of the stick all their lives, Earl decides to get Randy a car — his very own Ranchero. But before Earl can give the car, it’s stolen by thievin’ hicks Clyde and Bedbug. There was an unwritten rule in Camden County that crooks can’t steal from other crooks, so Earl decides to invoke the rule and get Randy’s car back. But since Earl isn’t a thief anymore, the rule no longer applies to him. Earl has to […]

ESPN "Outside The Lines" Features On Barack Obama And Sarah Palin

October 23, 2008 Ryan Berenz

Posted by Cubicle QB News from ESPN today on a special Outside the Lines looking at Barack Obama and Sarah Palin through a sports lens. Of course, these features are nice little diversions from actual important political stuff, so don’t really let anything you see here sway your vote one way or another: Sunday’s Outside the Lines (Oct. 26 at 9am ET on ESPN, 12pm ET on ESPNEWS) will present two presidential campaign-related pieces: an interview with Gov. Sarah Palin and rarely seen footage of her playing in Alaska’s high school girls’ basketball championship game; interviews with Sen. Barack Obama, […]

How I Met Your Mother: Shelter Island

October 21, 2008 Ryan Berenz

Posted by Ryan Synopsis: Ted and Stella are upset with Stella’s New Agey vegan sister. She’s stealing all Stella’s ideas for a dream wedding. But four days before the wedding, Stella’s sister’s engagement falls apart. Stella decides to take over her sister’s wedding and get married in three days on Shelter Island. Ted’s a little freaked out, but he’s ready to be spontaneous! Ted’s first order of business is to call Robin in Japan and tell her she has to come back for the wedding. Despite Robin just starting her job, she agrees to fly back. Of course, Barney sees […]

"E:60": Chris Paul, Brock Lesnar And Competitive Eating

October 20, 2008 Ryan Berenz

Posted by Cubicle QB Features on the Oct. 21 (7pm ET) edition of ESPN’s sports newsmagazine series E:60: Chris Paul Chris Paul is one of the NBA’s top stars. His work ethic is exceptional. He won the league’s Rookie of the Year award in 2005 and last season was a runner-up for the NBA Most Valuable Player (2008). This summer, he was a member of the U.S. Men’s Basketball team that won the gold medal for the first time since 2000. On the court or in any competition, Paul hates to lose. Off the court, no professional athlete could be […]

“My Name Is Earl”: We’ve Got Spirit

October 17, 2008 Ryan Berenz

Earl discovers that Randy always wanted to be a cheerleader, but since Earl used to torment male cheerleaders, Randy never pursued his dream. So now Earl has to cross Randy off his list by enrolling himself and Randy in the Kimmi Himler Cheer Academy. (As a cheerleader in college, Kimmi [Jenna Elfman] had her face disfigured when the live badger mascot they were renting ran amok in the gym.) But the Camden cheer team — which also includes Preggers, Headgear, Chunk and Black Girl — doesn’t get any respect from the other squads or Kimmi. Randy and Earl rally the […]

"Sports Soup" On Versus: Our Compliments To The Chef

October 15, 2008 Ryan Berenz

Posted by Cubicle QB I checked out the Oct. 13 premiere of the new sports comedy show Sports Soup (airing Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10pm ET on Versus). I thought we were in for the worst when Matt Iseman opened the series with the joke, “I’m Matt Iseman, and like the Dallas Cowboys, I can’t prevent a blocked punt, either.” Ugh. Fortunately, after that Iseman got right into the clips, and the show got progressively funnier. True, a lot of it — like T.O.’s weird Urkelesque outfit, Def Leppard’s lead singer setting the Stanley Cup upside down, and Chinese table […]

"E:60": Simeon Rice, Tierra Rogers, Kelly Pavlik And Tyreke Evans

October 13, 2008 Ryan Berenz

Posted by Cubicle QB Features on the Oct. 14 (7pm ET) edition of ESPN’s sports newsmagazine series E:60: Simeon Rice One of the most feared pass rushers ever to play, if Simeon Rice were active in the NFL today he would have more career sacks than any player in the league. Two years after a shoulder injury ended his season, Rice and his doctors say he’s healthy and ready to play, but he can’t generate interest anywhere in the league. Why? Rice, who played for four teams (Cardinals, Buccaneers, Broncos and Colts) during his 12 years in the NFL, says […]