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”: Sweet Johnny

October 10, 2008 Ryan Berenz

Ten years ago, Sweet Johnny (David Arquette) was a daredevil stuntman known for wacky and outrageous stunts. Sweet Johnny’s woman, Sheila, had a very sweet behind that Earl could not resist. So while Sweet Johnny was rehabbing his injuries from his latest failed stunt, Earl took advantage of it to get busy with Sheila in Sweet Johnny’s van. So to keep getting with Sheila, Earl suggested even more wild and dangerous stunts for Johnny. Now Earl needs to cross Sweet Johnny off his list, so he goes to confess. But a brain injury Sweet Johnny suffered while putting on his […]

"Highway 18" Quick Nine: The Finish Line

October 8, 2008 Ryan Berenz

Posted by Ryan 1. And then there were two. The finale pits Rob and Charlotte against the Ashleys. I guess they’re not giving Rob and Charlotte any advantage for not having any strikes against them (the Ashleys have one strike). Credit the Ashleys for making a big comeback after getting their first strike in the second episode. 2. Trip down memory lane. This is sort of like those finale episodes of Survivor, when the last remaining contestants have to fondly reminisce about all the people they’ve screwed over all series long. Granted, no one really seemed to like or dislike […]

“My Name Is Earl”: Joy In A Bubble And Stole An RV

October 8, 2008 Ryan Berenz

Joy In A Bubble Earl spots a hottub lying on the side of the road. Remembering that “Cost Joy a hottub” was on his list, Earl gets Homeless Joe to part with the hottub he was living under. Joy loves the hottub, but it’s not the only thing that she got from Homeless Joe — she acquires a very strange flesh-eating staph infection on her big toe. Darnell is afraid of catching Joy’s infection, so he constructs a plastic quarantine zone for her in the house. Furious at Earl, Joy makes him complete a list of things she had to […]

"E:60": Ugueth Urbina, Sean Avery, Homeless Hoops And Jamie Nared

October 6, 2008 Ryan Berenz

Features on the Oct. 7 (7pm ET) edition of ESPN’s prime-time sports newsmagazine E:60: Ugueth Urbina He was one of the best relievers in baseball, a two-time All-Star and World Series champion. But his actions one night in October 2005 cost Ugueth Urbina everything, including his freedom. On his ranch in rural Venezuela, Urbina accused several men working as day laborers of stealing a gun. He attacked them with a machete, poured gasoline on them and lit them on fire. He was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to 14 years in a Venezuelan prison. Now, after nearly three years […]

"E:60": Brian Kajiyama, The First Family Of Drag Racing And Missouri's Jeremy Maclin

September 30, 2008 Ryan Berenz

Posted by Cubicle QB Features on the Sept. 30 (7pm ET) edition of ESPN’s sports newsmagazine series E:60: Brian Kajiyama’s “Heart of a Warrior”: Brian Kajiyama was born with cerebral palsy, which stripped him of his ability to speak and confined him to a wheelchair. However, his affliction has never been an impediment for the Hawaii native. Instead, it has propelled him to break as many barriers as possible. As a boy, he dreamed of playing football for the University of Hawaii Warriors. And while he knew this would never happen, Brian did become the team’s biggest fan. By the […]

"My Name Is Earl": The Magic Hour And Monkey Take A Bath

September 29, 2008 Ryan Berenz

Posted by Ryan The Magic Hour Ten years ago, Earl stole a pony from the Make-A-Wish foundation. A dying child, Buddy, was supposed to ride that pony in the New Year’s Day parade. Earl decides to make it up to the dead boy’s mother (played by Mindy Sterling, in a brilliant casting move). But when Earl and Randy show up at Buddy’s mom’s house, they find that Buddy (Seth Green) is still alive — the doctors in Camden County are not the best. Buddy is a huge film buff and always dreamed of making a movie, so he decides to […]

"Highway 18" Quick Nine: Finding The Keys

September 24, 2008 Ryan Berenz

Posted by Ryan 1. It’s a monster! The three remaining teams — Peach and Jay, Rob and Charlotte, and the Ashleys — start the day at the Blue Monster at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa. So why is the monster blue? Is it sad? Is it Cookie Monster? This question haunts me throughout the episode. I’m also a little confused as to why they have to start the day with what is essentially a clubhouse challenge that they usually save for the end. I guess they felt a simple pitch ‘n’ putt challenge wasn’t going to eat up enough […]

"My Name Is Earl" Season 4 Preview: The Legend Of Dan Coscino

September 19, 2008 Ryan Berenz

Posted by Ryan In advance of the Season 4 premiere of My Name Is Earl on NBC Sept. 25, NBC held a conference call for reporters with star Jason Lee and series creator Greg Garcia. I joined in, looking for the answer to a few burning questions: Who is Dan Coscino? How did he get involved in this show and are we are going to see a lot more of him this season? Greg Garcia: “Dan Coscino is a production assistant on the show and he’s worked — I’ve worked with him since Yes, Dear and he is a force. […]

"Hurl!" Here: Tempest In A Teacup And Sumo Arigato

September 18, 2008 Ryan Berenz

Posted by Ryan Well, we’ve mercifully come to the end of G4’s Hurl! Thanks to both of you for sticking this one out with us. We’ll wrap up our coverage of this truly groundbreaking and gut-wrenching series with recaps of the final two episodes, “Tempest in a Teacup” and “Sumo Arigato,” and we’ll never speak of this again. Tempest In A Teacup Our contestants today will chow on clam chowder (pronounced “chowda”) then get dizzied up riding the Spinning Teacups. Let’s meet the five guys mostly responsible for America’s economic downturn: Shane, an accountant and aspiring personal trainer; Gerald, a […]

"Highway 18" Quick Nine: Air Boats To Extravagance

September 17, 2008 Ryan Berenz

Posted by Ryan 1. Elimination lurks everywhere! I love the ominous intro from Keri Murphy. Elimination is waiting in the shadows, ready to strike at any moment! None shall be spared! Well, none except for Rob and Charlotte, who have no strikes against them. The remaining teams all have one strike, and it could be the end of the road for Raul and Jameica, Peach and Jay and the Ashleys. 2. Air boats are noisier than I thought. I’ve never been on one of those air boats that cruise through swampland, but they must make some serious racket. Teams have […]