1. Community - "Beginner Pottery"
This week, the cast was divided into two groups taking easy-pass elective classes with Jeff, Abed, and Annie taking the titular "Beginner Pottery" and Pierce, Britta, Troy, and Shirley taking a week long intensive sailing class in the parking lot (with the ever-present Starburns). Musings:
- Sailing in the parking lot was great for highlighting the absurdity of how a real-world skills class is taught in simulated circumstances and was also a fantastic sight gag when Shirley sailed into the "storm" to "save" Pierce.
- As someone who has taken classes that are non-competitive and has then become intensely focused on competing with the best/most praised student in the class, I really, really liked Jeff's obsessive and competitive approach to Beginner Pottery.
- Excellent use of Arrested Development's Tony Hale (late of Chuck) as the laid-back pottery teacher (his students are his "Blueberries") with explicit rules against "Ghosting" in any form and The Righteous Brothers' "Unchained Melody."
- Mother-related flashbacks.
- Best line: "You just failed a class so easy people passing by in the hallway get a contact credit."
2. Parks and Recreation - "Park Safety"
Parks and Recreation has been working on developing the characters and their nuances a bit more this year (which is why things have gotten so darn funny) and one of the main avenues this week's episode traveled down was developing Jerry, the perpetual butt of every joke at the Parks Department. Even Leslie Knope, do-gooder and sensitive boss extraordinaire can't help but pile on the Jerry jokes. The inexplicable annoyances and humor that Jerry causes is reminiscent of the way Micheal (and all managers) respond to Toby (and most HR people) on The Office, only it seems to be more well-done here on Parks and Recreation. Impressions:
- The office dynamic around Jerry was both hilarious and balanced, with Mark as the voice of reason noting that there might be a problem when an employee worries about teasing from his co-workers. Yet Jerry couldn't stop being hilarious and frustrating (and actually doesn't really mind it much), so Mark's preachiness didn't ruin our fun.
- I don't know what to think of Ann's desire to warm up to Andy again, though it's probably being done to prepare for Mark's (Paul Schneider's) exit at the end of the season. I like the general idea of a love triangle, and there's definitely been some tension added to the Mark-Ann relationship after the Valentine's Day episode, but I'm not sure I like this particular love triangle. Or maybe I just really like the idea of Andy and April and think that Ann could be off doing something better with her time, like being a nurse.
- A time share in Muncie, Indiana. Love it.
- Jerry's presentation made for a fun day at the office and good t.v.
- Andy Samberg's guest spot didn't do much for me. I liked the outdoor voice joke all right, but I felt that he didn't add much to the episode. Or maybe I'm just comparing his guest spot unfairly to Fred Armisen's turn as the Venezuelan sister-city ambassador.
- My two favorite moments from last night's episode were Tom-related. First, I loved Leslie's dead on impersonation of Tom. (Thinking about it now, I sort of knew Amy Poehler's and Aziz Ansari's voices were pitched similarly, but I didn't realize she'd nail him that awesomely. But it's Amy Poehler, so I shouldn't be surprised). Second, I loved the "hop off and run along side the golf cart" gag.
3.) The Office - "New Leads"
With another solid work-related episode in place, it seems like The Office is trying to slowly win back my trust. We're not there yet, but it's nice to know that they're trying to make up for what they know they did (hint: clip show). And while the Sabre plot is still clunky as all get-out, showing its effects on the behavior of the employees - particularly the sales staff - was a smart move. Thoughts:
- I sort of liked the way that the changes in management have prompted an office culture in which it's not the staff vs. Michael but sales vs. everyone else (at least, until Michael screws up). I guess sometimes all you need to do is re-draw the battle lines.
- I liked how Michael's actions actually had a purpose - to be a teachable moment - rather than simply being vindictive (though there was that, too). I also liked how Michael's actions forced other action, specifically, making members of the cast interact with each other in individual and varied ways. Best examples: Stanley manipulating the argument between Ryan and Kelly (love those) to win back his leads and Erin and Andy's extremely awkward game of hot and cold.
- Michael and Dwight's garbage fight was a nice little bit of physical comedy.
- We got another winning Kelly Kapur line: "Jim, don't use your cute baby to make us like you."
- The final scene where Erin gives Andy her jacket because he's cold at the dump makes me think there are hilariously awkward possibilities for the future of that relationship.
4.) 30 Rock - "Don Geiss, America and Hope"
This week's episode flowed nicely from last week's episode as Jack struggled to find something to do with himself now that Kabletown (with a surprisingly Comcast-like logo) has entered the picture and Liz struggled with the recurring presence of her "Future Husband," Wesley (Snipes! HA!). Observations:
- I really sort of enjoyed the Liz/Wesley plot and how they couldn't avoid each other. I also like the added benefit of Welsey's presence: his British vocabulary ("Gangway for the footcycle!")
- Tracy's sex "scandal" because he doesn't cheat on his wife - and the fact that his faithfulness is a reputation-killer - was a good showcase for Tracy Morgan this week. Especially because that showcase had Tracy Jordan trying to seduce Liz Lemon and dissolving in tears.
- I like how the "settling" plot has sort of gone unresolved. The only place it was problematic, however, was the "porn for women" joke at the end of episode. It seems like the writers settled for an easy, sort of tired gag.
- I would personally like to thank all parties involved for the Liz-related vocabulary the show has developed over the season ("Lizzing," "Lemoning it"), but I will never be more grateful than I am for the word "Lizaster."
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