Community
Last night was an episode that I thought was funny, but not as funny as some of their better efforts this season. There were a lot of funny bits that were better than than the whole I think.
I think my favorite part of the episode is how they took a tired, cliched sitcom staple - texting someone pretending to be someone else (before cell phones they were still doing this type of story with phone calls or letters, so it has been around a while) and having it blow up in the character's face, and made it work by taking it into such disturbing territory (having Britta's nephew lust after her and sending her an "emoti-penis" in one of his texts) that it is hilarious in spite of how tired that plot has become.
Not one of the best episodes of Community, but still funnier than most of what is on television.
Favorite Scenes: Pierce managing to turn an anti-drug play into a pro-drug rally where the children all shout "We Want Drugs!", Troy wanting a front stinger on his bee costume (and the Dean of course actually having one on his unrelated bee costume), the look Abed gave Jeff when Jeff tried to get Abed to help him resolve the texting fiasco, the fact that Annie lives above a store called "Dildopolis".
Grade: B
The Office
Like Community, an episode where I liked various bits of the episode more than I liked the whole, although I liked Community much more overall than I liked The Office.
Michael and Holly's whole plot (Michael's accent reminded me of Sebulba from The Phantom Menace - ugh, bad memories) just didn't do anything for me. I almost forgot about them for long stretches of the episode, and afterward I really had to think hard to remember what exactly they did, other than Michael;s awkward kiss attempt at the end. Also, Gabe came off as a real jerk in this episode. I know that they are trying to set up Andy and Erin again, so Gabe has to be the "bad guy", but I thought last night was too much (although Gabe is correct - Suspiria IS a fantastic horror movie).
Favorite Scenes: Kevin and "Crazy Train", Kelly's various titles for herself, Creed (as always) and his Lock Ness Monster speech, Jim getting zinged by a wronged childhood friend with one of the lines of the night - "Where's your jetpack, Zuckerberg?", and, of course, THIS:
Grade: C
Parks & Recreation
Another fantastic episode that gave almost everyone in the cast a chance to shine (even Jerry, who made the most of his 3 lines he had). The rampant flu allowed for some great interactions and let things get a little crazy, with hilarious results. Rob Lowe in particular was fantastic. I like where his character's relationship is going with Ann, and I also like how Leslie has finally won over Ben by showing him exactly why the rest of her co-workers like and respect her. And of course, the best relationship building of all was between Ron and Andy. That was comedy gold right there.
Favorite scenes:" You spent over 1000 dollars on waffles alone last year", Ron's idea of stuff to cheer up April - "magazines and lipstick - women's stuff", Pretty much anything out of Ron's mouth - "I'm not interested in caring about people", "You had me at 'meat tornado", "Its a whole new meat delivery mechanism", Leslie's delirium walk after she thought the floor and ceiling traded places, and finally - "STOP. POOPING."
Grade: A
30 Rock
While the subplot with the writers and their disaster plan didn't do much for me, it didn't take up much time so it didn't really drag down the rest of the show. That's good, because the 2 main plots were fantastic. Tracy and Liz battling back and forth and eventually trying to out crazy each other was incredibly funny. Tracy Jordan has been used really well as a character this season, mostly due to the added wrinkle of his quest for respectability by winning an Oscar. I think that has pumped new life into a character that was starting to become stale. Jack's attempt to pre-stage a telethon in advance of any natural disaster hummed along well enough throughout the episode, but the payoff of the actual disaster at the end involving Mel Gibson's island is what really made it work. Alec Baldwin was great in panic mode, as he always is when his character is forced into that situation
Favorite Scenes: Liz' repeated use of the term "snart" (and actually doing it), another in a long line of great fake NBC shows, "The Real Transvestite Hoarders of Orange County Penitentiary", while Robert De Niro's British accent didn't do anything for me, I did love his reading of the potential disasters (especially "these super-intelligent sharks"), all the Mel Gibson pictures during the telethon (the one where he was lighting Jon Gosselin's cigarette was the best of all)
Grade: A-
Archer -
Archer is back! One of my favorite new shows of last year returned last night with a particularly funny episode involving an assassination attempt on an underage European heiress who won't leave Archer alone. As with most Archer episodes, the plot really only exists to deliver rapid fire jokes and last night's was pretty damn funny. If you are a fan of anything on Adult Swim or just want to laugh at a lot of crude sex jokes, make sure you check out this show.
Favorite Scenes: Countess Von Fingerbang, "What is it, the Alabama of Europe?", "Afterward was all gendarmes and dick stitches?"
Grade: B+
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