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For the sake of how short all of our lives our, let’s look past how self indulgent both the Community “Law and Order” episode and the 30 Rock live episode were. I’m sure some of us were annoyed. I’m sure some of us were annoyed right when they heard the concepts of each of these episodes announced. I’m sure some of us are increasingly annoyed simply by how Community episodes can each be referred to by their theme. But, if we can, let’s relax. It’s Friday, after all. And I think they were both enjoyable! Though 30 Rockwas less enjoyable than Community. All of the surprise guests are fun and exciting, but watching them all pop out of a throw-away episode that kind of only exists for the surprise guests was not as fun and exciting. I liked Jimmy Fallon’s Chuck Bass-y Jack impression, though. And I liked when Tracy said he was a ridiculous man. As far as Community theme episodes go (exactly as far as Community goes), the “Law and Order” theme was particularly well done, I thought. And you got to see your guy again! Omar! You love him! From that show! Somehow the endless theme didn’t annoy me as much as the endless Ken Burns theme — I guess probably because it felt like something Community does kind of often anyway. Lots of speeches, Troy and Abed pretending to be detectives or whatever, the gang solving a mystery together, STARBURNS DYING! Ahhhh! RIP Starburns. You will not be missed. The Office was ok. There was a part that I laughed at, but now I forget when it was! The parts with Ryan are still going strong, though. Very funny character. Very good. I didn’t see Parks and Recreation, unfortunately, even though I know it was definitely the best one out of all of them because it ALWAYS is. And Paul Rudd was on it?! How was it?! What did you think of the rest of them?!
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Last night’s Community completely reinforced why I am so troubled by these “theme” episodes. They just squeezed in some project we’d never heard about before but are suddenly supposed to care about? What happens if they don’t get an A? Annie gets upset?
Where were the “stakes”? What did this have anything to do with the rest of the series? Or the characters? It’s just some jettisoned in device that we are supposed to laugh at because “Oh! Hey! It’s just like Law & Order!” – and done in way that every. single. mediocre sketch comedy troupe has done it. And did you think Michael K. Williams was going to go a full season without saying “A man gotta have a code”? (Maybe next episode he’ll send the gang out for Honey Nut Cheerios and they’ll do a “Honey, I Shrunk The Kids” episode?!)
Compare that with “remedial chaos theory,” the chicken/”goodfellas” send-up, or more importantly last week’s episode – which I didn’t see until last night, so the distinction was even more obvious – all episodes which involved not necessarily “theme” episodes, but bringing in narrative structures from familiar sources not simply just to do it, but because it called for them, or they did it to explore and reveal more about the characters and touch on something they have been building towards throughout the season and/or series.
I’m not arguing that they shouldn’t do it ever again, but they should really ease back and only go there when the character arcs and stories they want to tell might call for them, and those structures or “themes” would help reveal or further develop the characters. I understand they probably have these forced on them by the network – or at least feel pressure to do them because they get ratings/attention I guess? But they are seriously hurting the show and their characters every time they do this garbage. Otherwise it’s Glee, but for Simpsons fans.
“Glee, but for Simpsons fans.” You sir are correct, although I gotta admit I think they pulled it off and I enjoyed pretty much all of it.
I didn’t expect much from the tired court troupe. The Ken Burns episode was super annoying because it completely removes all the drama, at least the Law & Order structure is built with suspense, even if-as the pointed out- there are no stakes. Also, I enjoyed the 30 Rock. It was an A+ decision to have Kenneth give a history of live TV and have the cast act it out instead of just making a regular episode live like last time.
completely agree on 30 Rock. really enjoyed it, especially seeing Alec Baldwin sweat.
Fred Armisen’s cameo was spectacular, as was Jon Hamm’s.
THAT was Fred Armisen ? I thought it was Penny Marshall.
“The Ken Burns episode was super annoying because it completely removes all the drama.”
I know what you mean. I get so annoyed when my favorite comedies aren’t dramatic.
Steve, you do realize that all the comedies in the Thursday night block use drama to keep the story lines going, right? I mean I guess Whitney doesn’t but when you make a plot so prominent that it requires a cliffhanger and then you make the ending a 20 minute sketch… why? Why?
Steve?! That one ain’t steve. Ugh I need coffee. sorry everyone i suck. need coffee.
But I do get your point. And I agree. I just don’t think that’s how Community works. Harmon & Co. don’t strain to build dramatic tension each episode. That’s what’s beautiful about the show. Ultimately the substance is concerned with character, and the “plot” as-it-were, is nothing more than a delivery device. To me, complaining about tonal presentation in an episode of Community and how it relates to the story at large is like eating the best-tasting meal you’ve had and complaining that the presentation is sloppy.
It’s a tough argument to make in a short blog comment that three people might read, but Community tells a grand personal story in the moments in between. It requires a lot of attention, which can be tough because it’s so full of laffs.
If anyone reads this, I’ll likelI understand how bold of a statement this is but I stand by it 100%. For me, Community as a whole thus far is one of the greatest achievements in screen comedy history. I find little pockets of fucking brilliance in every single episode.
My passion for it is one of the reasons I don’t really contribute to this thread anymore. The majority hear seem annoyed by its, as Kelly so eloquently stated “self-indulgence”. Because mimicking a historically popular show’s aesthetic for the duration of an episode is definitely self-indulgent.
Wow, sorry for these comments, guys. Yesterday was my birthday and I got, well, a bit of a head start on things.
I had some concerns about the episode while I was watching because it didn’t seem to have any real point other than being a parody, but I ended up changing my mind about it for two reasons:
1. It was really, really funny.
2. I think killing off Starburns is going to have a definite narrative impact on the show. Of course only time will tell, but I think that there was an element of “If the study group hadn’t been screwing around and being wacky, maybe Starburns wouldn’t have died” going on. I could be totally wrong, but I think we’ll see the consequences in the next episode.
i didn’t find it really that funny. all of the Law & Order stuff has been run into the ground. it should officially be off limits to parody cop/forensics shows now. it’s been done.
Being a huge L&O fan, I really appreciated the authenticity of this parody. From the moment those janitors entered the room talking about nothing to the phone call at the end and the wire guy/bio prof’s single line “I understand.” and then he hung up to tell them Starburns died. It was so perfectly Law & Order! No matter how crazy or dumb the idea was, you have to give them credit for the execution of the whole thing. Bravo.
Yeah this is exactly how I felt. I wasn’t even that big a fan of Law & Order, but this was SO ON POINT that I was grinning at their audacity. I actually found it charming specifically in the WAY it made the L&O blue print so transparent. It’s like Dick Wolf gave them his fill in the blank script generator.
Also, I don’t think this show actually has a narrative arc. Looking for one kind of misses the point… They seem to go out of their way season after season to throw in some weird plot details that would be important, or at least the subject of the plot, on other shows. Like on the “clip show” episode when they revealed that Britta and McHale were repeatedly having sex all over the place.
I get the feeling the creators of Community don’t want the show to be like other shows in a sincere sense. They want it to be EXACTLY like other shows in a flippant, slightly mean-spirited sense.
by narrative arc, i mean character arc and their gradual evolution, which Harmon puts extreme emphasis on. in interviews all he talks about is Joseph Campbell and how he graphs his stories as character journeys. so it becomes a narrative arc, especially when you look at it over a season. like last year they really put Pierce through the ringer and this year they seem to be trying to focus on Troy’s transformation.
HIS NAME WAS ALEX!
Try Again. This time don’t get too worried about character arcs and all that; it’s a half-hour comedy, not a Faulkner novel.
buddy garrity + heapin’ dose of hamm + zou bisou bisou + roadhouse x perd hapley = a pretty great thursday night.
I learned that Ann Perkins gives the best camera stare:
She doesn’t even have to move her head!
I’m not going to burst any mind grapes about Thursday night comedy TV. I laughed. And when I was bored, I picked up my phone to play “RELAX” for 13 points on Words With Friends.
That’s all you got? You need to save the X for the double letter score, at least.
I almost peed when I saw this.
1000 LOL’s
one more
BANJO!
John Hamm really does look like a confused cat with those lips sometimes…
I feel like P&R isn’t as laugh-out-loud funny as it used to be, but it’s still my favorite. I actually applauded for Leslie. I thought April and Andy were hilarious, posturing as rich people. Ron is still the best.
I agree. I’m getting bored. Andy and April were all I laughed at.
Usually if I’m yelling “Holy shit!” at my TV at the end of a Thursday night show, it’s The Vampire Diaries. This week it was Community.
I feel like P&R isn’t as laugh-out-loud funny as it used to be, but it’s still my favorite. I actually applauded for Leslie. I thought April and Andy were hilarious, posturing as rich people. Ron is still the best.
I thought 30 Rock was fantastic. Although everyone looked all sweaty – from nerves? The lights? Both? The John Hamm/Tracy Morgan sketch was the best. Kristen Schaal was also the most relaxed live I thought. Well, her and John Hamm. I love John Hamm. He can make a guest appearance any time. The penis touching joke was my least favorite. Haha, straight male gay uncomfortable…yawn.
I pretty much agree with what Explainer Guy Tries Again about Community, but I still really enjoyed it.
This is a fun gif because it looks like Troy is in a never ending loop of rooms in which the dean is hula-hooping.
How did I miss this?!
Britta was barely in the episode, but I think she had the best moment. I laughed so hard at her drawing it out and the way she was banging on the keyboard.
Ha! Didn’t hear her say that last line!
This killed me. Also, we got Brian Williams on the West Coast.
Not sure how you LIBERAL LOONIES on the coasts did, but Fred Armisen totally stole the show in the Central Time Zone’s 30 Rock. I haven’t lol’d that hard at this show in a few seasons.
sadly, he was barely in the west coast version
Here neither, but he didn’t have to do a damn thing besides look at the camera for me spit my beer all over the TV screen.
Agreed! Easily the best part of the night.
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Why no contacts?
How has Kristen Schaal not hosted SNL yet? Is it because she’s not as funny as Eli Manning?
dumb joke.
Yes. Homophobic. So clever…yawn….
yeah, what was this?
besides HOT?
I was gonna say…
Paul Rudd was understated perfection as Bobby Newport. I love him when he plays the smart-ass, but I think I love him more when he plays dumb. In a night of many well-chosen guest stars (Especially Donald Glover as Young Tracy and Jimmy Fallon as Young Jack), I’d give him the top prize.
As good as Rudd was, though, how great was Perd Hapley telling Leslie that her time was going to be up, and then telling her it was up because he’d been talking for so long? SO GREAT!
and then they changed paul mccartney for kim kardashian…
Are you kidding me!? The East Coast got Paul McCartney and the West Coast got Kim Kardashian? Ug.
“Oh, THAT kind of taco.” I enjoy crunchy shell tacos even though they are indeed messier.
Also, Champion had a cameo on The Office last night!
WOW!
Mind. Blown.
Speaking of blown, someone tweeted this at Dan Harmon :
( https://twitter.com/#!/thesourabh/status/196350413446983680
+
https://twitter.com/#!/danharmon/status/196368333925388288 )
I really need to see a GIF of Professor Kane talking about how they’re going to dissect pinecones next semester. Or more Professor Kane GIFs in general. Michael K. Williams hasn’t made me laugh so hard since Trapped in the Closet.
Who’s working on the character assassination by Annie to Todd followed by “withdrawn” gifs? Who?
Thank you, as always, C_A!
Seeing Andy act out all of those movies was the best storytelling scene since C3PO retold the first 2 Star Wars movies to those Ewoks.
That was BUKKSH!T because C3PO’s story had parts in it that he never witnessed and the Ewoks all understood it with no point of reference.
…I am now outed as a nerd…
…and a bad typist…
And furthermore, C3P0′s Rambo impression is nowhere NEAR as good as Andy’s Rambo impression!
A few years ago I told anyone who would listen to watch Community because it was the best show on TV. Yesterday I canceled my series recording because I can’t even bring myself to watch it anymore. In the beginning, Community was about this unlikely group of friends forming, but this season the writers turned all of the characters into assholes.
I like how Jon Hamm is pretty much the Justin Timberlake of 30 Rock live shows
Ha! I took that *EXACT* screenshot and made it my wallpaper, because it made my sexy bits tingle having Hamm and Baldwin looking at me that way at the same time. My roommates don’t like my redecorating job that much, but then they’re two straight dudes and a lesbian, so fuck ‘em. (Yeah, yeah, you see what I did there.)