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'Bachelor' Brief: Chapel Hill in, Charlotte out

Confession: I didn't even watch "The Bachelor" last night (too many DVR conflicts now that "The Voice" is back!) but I did monitor the situation in Panama so that I could report to other slackers that Blakeley Shea, the Charlotte/Rutherfordton contestant, was eliminated in last night's show.

Blakeley (left) ended up as one-half of the dreaded two-on-one date last night, which means two women leave for the date and only one woman returns. Reports indicate the date included Latin dancing and a weird "scrapbook of feelings" (made by a weepy Blakeley). Let's face it. Even a "VIP Waitress" from holy Charlotte cannot pull off a stalkery move like that, and Blakeley was dismissed. Blakeley was livid and stormed out in tears without speaking to bachelor Ben Flajnik.

In other local developments, Emily O'Brien, the Duke grad and UNC-Ch PhD student . . .

What to Watch on Monday: Is this NBC's comeback night?

The Voice (8pm, NBC) - 'The Voice' follows their post-Super Bowl debut with a two-hour episode containing more blind auditions. Coaches Cee Lo Green, Christina Aguilera, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton at left.

House (8pm, Fox) - Following a violent incident involving a patient, House and the team are placed under review by the neurology chief.

The Bachelor (8pm, ABC) - The remaining women (both North Carolina women are still in the mix, but something tells me that changes tonight!) visit Panama, and hopefully, Emily from Chapel Hill can stop talking about Courtney for five seconds.

Alcatraz (9pm, Fox) - We've only seen prisoners up to now, but tonight an old guard resurfaces and encounters an old acquaintance.

Hart of Dixie (9pm, CW) - Tonight's Valentine's dance episode features a performance by Raleigh native Tift Merritt.

Smash (10pm, NBC) - This much-hyped debut of NBC's (much better!) answer to "Glee" follows a group of professional adult people staging a Broadway show. In tonight's debut, a writing duo come up with the idea to base a musical on Marilyn Monroe, and an experienced chorus girl competes against a promising newcomer. It has a great cast, which includes Debra Messing, Angelica Huston and Katharine McPhee. Here's my full review.

Lost Girl (10pm, Syfy) - Bo protects a human woman after a fury tries to hire Bo to kill her husband's mistress.

What to Watch on Monday: NC's 'Bachelor' women play ball in Puerto Rico

The Bachelor (8pm, ABC) - The eleven remaining women (including Emily O'Brien from Chapel Hill and Blakeley Shea from Charlotte) travel to Puerto Rico where nine of them play baseball. Blakeley is pictured here with Ben Flajnik. Also, one woman has Ben to herself for a tour of Old San Juan and another goes yachting. And there's taunting from one of the women. Or, I should say, more taunting.

House (8pm, Fox) - A teen Jane Doe needs surgery that requires adult consent. House and Adams debate whether to call Social Services until her mother shows up. Also, House threatens to exploit Foreman's relationship with a married woman.

Pretty Little Liars (8pm, ABC Family) - Hanna believes her pals are acting chilly toward her because of her stance on Caleb. Meanwhile, Emily has high hopes for her mom's visit to town.

Alcatraz (9pm, Fox) - A bank robber from the past causes mayhem in the present and puts Rebecca in a difficult position.

Cake Boss: Next Great Baker (9pm, TLC) - In the Season 2 finale, Marissa, Nadine and Ryan battle for the top spot, which includes a $100,000 prize, a feature in Brides magazine and a chance to work at Carlo's Bakery.

Being Human (9pm, Syfy) - Aidan goes on a date with a human while he is cut off from his blood supply. Also, Sally delves into reincarnation and Josh and Nora get ready for their second change together.

'Bachelor' Brief: Tears and table-dancing as Chapel Hill and Charlotte advance

Neither of the North Carolina women were really the focus of attention on last night's episode of "The Bachelor."

That is, until the cocktail party at the very end when Duke grad/UNC PhD student Emily O'Brien (right) made up her mind that she'd had enough of phony ice queen/fashion model Courtney (I don't care enough about Courtney to look up her full name) and made the terrible decision to tell Ben Flajnik that Courtney's intentions were not true.

Problems here: 1. Emily had gotten no alone time with Ben in the period of time during which this episode was filmed (a few days can be an eternity if your man is picnicking by a mountain stream with another woman!) and she used the teeny bit of time she had with him to complain about another woman. Never a good move! Never! 2. The other problem, and it's a much larger one, is that Ben really likes Courtney.

That means Ben is a fool, of course, but it was still a pretty disastrous move by Emily. A move made even worse when she told Courtney's one friend in the house what she'd done. That woman, Casey from Kansas I believe (?), defended Courtney and then ran straight to Courtney and told her what Emily had said.

What to Watch on Monday: Local women still in the 'Bachelor' battle

Gossip Girl (8pm, CW) - Amy Heckerling directs this episode in which Blair has a bachelorette party and Nate gets more information on Blair and Chuck's car wreck.

The Bachelor (8pm, ABC) - Chapel Hill and Charlotte ladies are still in the fight! Tonight the gang goes to Park City, Utah, for some outdoor activities (Charlotte's Blakeley Shea pictured here on the far left) -- and lots of drinking and crying, of course.

Antiques Roadshow (8pm, UNC-TV) - The show starts a three-episode run in Eugene, Oregon, with a Ty Cobb-autographed memorabilia, an original "Rosemary's Baby" drawing by art designer Clem Hall, and a 1919 oil painting by Norman Rockwell valued at half a million dollars.

Alcatraz (9pm, Fox) - On the loose tonight: a child killer, who would kidnap his victims and return their bodies to their homes.

Being Human (9pm, Syfy) - Sally wields new powers thanks to some new ghost friends and Josh tries to deal with a change (to say the least!) in his relationship with Nora.

Castle (10pm, ABC) - A popular reality TV star becomes a murder suspect when a well-known dog trainer turns up dead.

'Bachelor' brief: Chapel Hill gets a date, advances along with Charlotte

I skipped "The Bachelor" last night to watch Betty White's Birthday tribute on NBC, and wouldn't you know it, it was the night that Emily O'Brien -- Duke grad and UNC PhD student -- got a one-on-one date with bachelor Ben Flajnik.

But luckily (?), there's a video (below) of the date on youtube, so here's what happened:

Emily and Ben's date involved climbing San Francisco's Bay Bridge. Emily was extremely nervous and had a tough time dealing with the whole "fear of falling to my death on a reality show" issue. But Ben gave her a magical kiss that removed her fears and they completed the climb.

At their dinner later, Emily asks Ben about his rejected proposal to Ashley Hebert in last season's "Bachelorette" and he explains what was behind that (he loved her in the moment, etc.). Then Emily tells Ben her most embarrassing dating moment, which the rest of us already know if we saw her profile page on ABC's website: she once signed up on an online dating site and they "matched" her with her own brother.

What to Watch on Monday: Betty White's birthday and new series debuts

Betty White's 90th Birthday: A Tribute to America's Golden Girl (8pm, NBC) - Stars salute Betty White as she celebrates her 90th birthday. The tribute, which was taped on January 9, includes music performances and remarks from White, who shares memories and offers her thanks. Some of the guests offering their regards are Mary Tyler Moore, Carol Burnett, Carl Reiner, Amy Poehler, Ed Asner, and Gavin McLeod.

How I Met Your Mother (8pm, CBS) - Lily and Marshall move to the suburbs and the rest of the gang deal with their departure by hitting a strip club.

Alcatraz (8pm, Fox) - The 2-hour opener of a new drama in which prisoners who mysteriously vanished decades ago from Alcatraz prison reappear in the present. Tonight, a task force comes together when a sniper starts targeting young victims. It's good! WATCH IT! My longer review.

The Bachelor (8pm, ABC) - Ben returns to his other hometown, San Francisco, with the 16 remaining girls and goes skiing with 11 of them. The big event tonight is the cocktail party crasher -- Ben's former girlfriend who wants to join the competition. The other girls are not amused. There's a lot of crying.

Being Human (9pm, Syfy) - In the Season 2 premiere, a vampire power vacuum weighs on Aidan, Sally's powers grow stronger, and Josh and Nora try to live "normal" lives.

Betty White's Off Their Rockers (9:30pm, NBC) - A sneak peek at the hidden-camera comedy series featuring Betty White and a group of seniors pulling pranks on unsuspecting folks. It's "Punk'd" for the blue-hair set.

Lost Girl (10pm, Syfy) - The debut of a new supernatural drama about a seemingly ordinary girl who suddenly finds out  she's a succubus.

'Bachelor' Brief: Chapel Hill and Charlotte advance

North Carolina should be proud. This season's "The Bachelor" has two Carolina girls competing for the affections of Sonoma winemaker Ben Flajnik.

One is Emily O'Brien, a 27-year-old PhD student at UNC-Chapel Hill who did her undergrad work at Duke. Emily is studying epidemiology at Carolina, so we know she's smart. And apart from a brief, awkward moment where she rapped in the first episode, Emily has so far done nothing she should be embarrassed about.

Charlotte's Blakeley Shea (pictured here), on the other hand ... Well, let's just say Blakeley (who alternately cites Charlotte and Rutherfordton as her hometown) has distinguished herself for many things in just two short episodes, and none of them good.

What to Watch on Monday: Tar Heel gets group date on 'The Bachelor'

Antiques Roadshow (8pm, UNC-TV) - An installment from Tulsa features a 1960 first edition of "To Kill a Mockingbird" inscribed by author Harper Lee.

The Bachelor (8pm, ABC) - UNC PhD student (and Duke undergrad!) Emily O'Brien (pictured here on the right) joins Ben on a group date with 11 other women. They enact a play written by children of Sonoma, California, Ben's hometown. Later, things get steamy between Blakeley (from Charlotte) and Ben.

Pretty Little Liars (8pm, ABC Family) - Hanna's friends want to use Caleb's computer skills to help them uncover A's identity, but Hanna is hesitant to involve him and instead throws him a surprise party.

First Week In (9pm, Discovery) - Three first-time inmates adjust to prison life in the debut of a new reality series following newly incarcerated criminals through their first week in jail.

Rock Center with Brian Williams (10pm, NBC) - An interview with George Clooney and a look at Mitt Romney's roots.

Castle (10pm, ABC) - A womanizer leading a double life falls to his death following his latest conquest, and a surprising revelation in the investigation may interfere with Ryan and Jenny's wedding.

What to Watch on Monday: UNC student looks for love on 'The Bachelor'

The Bachelor (8pm, ABC) - It's back. California winemaker Ben Flajnik got rejected last season, so he's ordering up more manufactured public romance (and fabulous free trips!). One of the hopeful bachelorettes is Emily (right), a 27-year-old PhD student at UNC-Chapel Hill, so we'll pay attention for as long as she's on the show. You know, for the news value.

How I Met Your Mother (8pm, CBS) - Marshall visits his father's grave to carry on their tailgating tradition. Also, Barney and Ted open a bar and Robin fills in for a drunk news anchor.

2 Broke Girls (8:30pm, CBS) - Caroline becomes obsessed with collecting coupons and discovers the secret ingredient in Max's cupcakes.

It's a Brad Brad World (10pm, Bravo) -  The best part of "The Rachel Zoe Project" now has his own show. This reality series follows the adventures of Zoe's onetime assistant, Brad Goreski, as he embarks on a solo career -- with a limited budget and no assistant.

Rock Center with Brian Williams (10pm, NBC) - Harry Smith reports on boom farmland real estate. Also, the dangers of lobster diving, an interview with "Saturday Night Live" comics Fred Armisen and Darrell Hammond, and the process of cleaning Times Square after New Year's Eve.

Celebrity Wife Swap (10pm, ABC) - I wish I was making this up. Organized actress Tracey Gold swaps places with laid-back singer (i.e. "slob") Carnie Wilson in the first episode of this new reality show in which the matriarchs of two celebrity families swap spouses, kids and homes for a week.

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