Thursday Night TV Open Thread
Last night was a classic textbook case of the Thursday Night Difficulty. That is to say, I got home late and knew that I would only have time to watch one show. But which show to watch? There are so many great shows on Thursdays again. What a golden era we live i! Treasures abound! I'm pretending like the Thursday Night Difficulty is a real thing, but it's not a real thing, because the answer is 30 Rock. Without hesitation. 30 Rock, full engines ahead, as they say on the sea (they do not say that anywhere on the sea). And it was great. Lots of laffs ("I don't know if you saw the crawl on the TV Guide Channel..." "if your man has seven cell phones and he won't give you any of the numbers"), a cameo by Jon Glaser, and it even had an Easter egg for the superfans:
The Easter egg is a puppy and we're all the superfans. Of puppies. PUPPY TOWN!
Boy, it is clearly Friday. Anyway, how were the other shows? Great I bet. Isn't TV great? BFFs forever.
Posted by Gabe at 11:30 AM in Love-Watching
Tags: 30 Rock | Community | It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia | Parks And Recreation | The Office
Let the record show that Thursday night tv funnies are the greatest... SUSTAINED!
Score = 7
RIOT PUNCH
Score = 12
The Office continues to kill because gay gay gay.
Score = -3
This weeks Office: TBS Not Very Funny. I'm glad they're giving Pam something to do other than gaze at Jim, but did she have to just be stomping around screaming the entire episode?
And was with the whole "don't put the candy up here until I get Michael's approval" bit? That set-up never really paid off. Everything was just a bit off last night. Same with Always Sunny.
Score = 13
Aw. It may be because reading her MySpace for three years has given me the false impression that I "know" Jenna Fischer, but I loved watching her do some broader comedy, especially when it involved Pam getting to speak her mind. Her progression from adorable to fearful to destroyed on the "Who, Michael? Who?" part, followed by the screaming in the parking lot, was priceless and supporting-actress Emmy-worthy.
Score = 15
I also thought her face changing as she realized what Michael was talking about was grrrrrrreat. The follow up was definitely a let-down though. She came off as extremely childish (understandable, but not super realistic for where they've taken her character). I thought the whole episode was definitely off except for Dwight.
"Where did you get that mallard?!"
Score = 9
Yeah. It was a thirty minute hissy fit. Not very fun to watch.
Score = 1
A book hasn't caused me this much trouble since Where's Waldo went to that barber pole factory...DEAL BREAKER!
Score = 25
I only watched 30 Rock too because I don't have tivo and I'm stuck with live programming.
These are the moments when I realize how terrible my life is.
Score = 11
I only got to watch It's Always Sunny in Philly because I don't have a Tivo on campus and was busy until 10, but holy shit was that a hilarious episode OR WHAT.
Score = 4
In a related story, someone was dressed up as Green Man at the actual Phillies-Dodgers Game 5 this week. He was hanging out in the right field corner and got a little airtime as TBS was coming back from commercial.
My favorite comedy performace last night came from the Yankees bullpen. Lots of laffs! Hey Joe Girardi, why the face?
Score = 10
Ugh! Not to turn this into baseballgum (Big League Chew. That's baseball gum) But he had a notorious bad pitch chaser in Vladimir Guerrero set up 1-2; he just made him look ridiculous on a filthy curveball, so what does Phil Hughes throw next? A straight fastball that Vlad hammers up the middle to score the game-tying run. Was your curveball button broken?
And I missed all the stellar Thursday night programming to watch it. Oh well, at least I have it Tivo'd.
Score = 14
I haven't watched beisbol since the Red Sox didn't make the playoffs, but I love the fact that the rain delay during last year's World Series was a plot point on Sunny.
Score = 2
... my aunt, but she just blocked me on IM.
Score = 17
"I'm not trying to make this sound gay on purpose."
"I know; it's just happening."
30 Rock is for LOLers.
Score = 21
I loved Community. I'm really glad they gave so much of the episode to Troy. Oh Abed. Fourth wallopolooza "I can lay low for an episode."
Parks and Rec may have been second only to last week's Fred Armison episode. Paul Scheer was on. I'm sooooooo glad that the SPOILERALERT pit got kaboomed.
Office was bad for me. Parts are amazing "Where did you get that hat?" "I'd rather not say." But over all the main story line frustrated me.
30 Rock was great but not as tight as last week. Good lols, but only Tracy and Kenneth were compelling and funny on the normal 30 Rock level this time. I did really like Banks, of course, but maybe my favorite part was "Which hand was I holding the flashlight in?"
Score = 1
As far as Community goes, the main plot of the series gets very boring. You can one 2 different episodes and think they are the same one.
Score = 1
Community really won for me this week. The "It's in your blood" "That's racist" "Your soul" "That's racist" "Your eyes" "That's... gay?" exchange made me laugh.
Is it just me or are Pam and Jim becoming genuinely hateable? It's like they were the only two self aware people in the office apart from a few rare moments, and this series they've just racked up a whole bunch of those cringing moments. Whereas every other character has their lovable quirks, Jim and Pam's "FRANK AND BEANS" thing annoyed me. They appear to have passed the likeable normal people mantle to Erin and Oscar.
Score = 18
Erin is now one of my favourite characters, top 3 probably. I love how eager to please she is. She needs more screen time, her and Kelly need to do more stuff.
Score = 17
Exactly!
Score = 0
Apparently the Scranton Banana Republic had a 2-for-1 Suit Special
Score = 20
It is definitely not you. Jim and Pam are indeed becoming genuinely hateable. Though Jim was fine in this episode. Voice of Reason has always been his role, so the past few episodes of this season when he was trying to be Billy Badass and compete with Michael were noooo good. So maybe they cleared that up, but then they made Pam go insane? WTF?
Score = 7
To be fair, I think we were supposed to find them obnoxious this week. Regardless, I found myself rooting for Michael and Dwight and their inanity last night.
Score = 1
Leslie Knope talking about how seeing the pit filled in gave her waves of pleasure. So good.
I found last night to be good on all 4 shows (I've never seen Always Sunny... always sorry), but my favourite interaction was between Jack Donaghy & Devon Banks (Will Arnett). I desperately want Kiefer Sutherland to guest star and they can have a "talking like this" 3-way (and by "talking like this" I mean talking with deep gravelly voices).
Score = 6
"My baby told her daddy she was don' the microwave"
"Did that actually happen?"
Score = 6
I think Pam is easily the least likeable character on The Office, which is hard for me to admit. With her new-found confidence, she doesn't have any weaknesses anymore to make her charming, or any stand alone wittiness or humor. Her best moments are when she's assisting Jim with his funny or silently reacting or attempting to discourage Michael's zany. On her own, she is basically a bully and everything she does seems forced. Last night was the worst of all.
This makes me sad because we should love Pam because Jim loves her, and when we look at her through Jim's eyes, she's likeable, but without that filter she's not as good a character. Her petulant child act and temper tantrums weren't funny last night, they were annoying.
But what's really annoying is that on a show filled with brilliant characters, the writers really should be doing a better job of writing Pam. Maybe it's Jenna Fischer's fault (and I like Jenna Fischer! We have the same birthday, and once she left me a myspace comment saying "Happy Birthday, birthday buddy!"). But I really think that it's the writers' failing that they aren't able to create a female Jim equivalent who can be funny without having a major quirk/gimmick (like Meredith's drunkenness or Angela's uptightness), and can be stand alone funny, not just reactionary funny.
There has to be a way to make Pam funny while still being likeable. Right? Maybe it's just not ladylike and what is hilarious in Jim seems unnatural in a woman. Anti-feminism! Discuss!
Score = 17
I've been a huge, huge Pam-fan since day one, and she's basically been my filter for the show all along (um, I might have cried at the end of "Beach Games"? a little?), so it's hard for me to admit when I'm not thrilled with her character, but it's true that ever since she finally came into her own and started speaking her mind her characterization has been uneven. I think the real problem is the "dramedy" line the show is always walking, where things have to be realistic but still funny, means that likeable characters also have to be broadly comedic at times. I remember wondering all through S3 where they were going to go with Jim and Pam, since obviously the happiest ending for them is, uh, getting the hell out of Dunder-Mifflin and possibly out of Scranton. Jim the Boss and Pam the Saleswoman is better than their previous roles, but they still have sucky jobs ("...cover stock, which is the thickest paper that will still move smoothly through your desktop printer"). It's a half-hour ensemble show that takes place at work, so they can't exactly devote tons of time to showing how a modern couple compromises a shitty work situation with needing to make money by basically having a good life while not at work, and they're obviously not going to move the characters off the show entirely (though I wondered for a while if they might be moving up to that). Last season was a mixed bag -- I liked Pam deciding that her graphic design dream wasn't all that fun, but hated all their relationship problems being solved in one episode (like Jim buying an ugly house in a bad market without even telling her, yikes yikes).
I don't really have an answer as to how to make a funny and likeable female Jim. I miss Karen (and hated when they decided her quirk was insane jealousy). I also don't think they always know how to make a likeable male Jim -- he was a huge dick for most of S3. I guess the real problem is that the story I want to see for the characters isn't something that can be properly told on a half-hour comedy ensemble show, which is what the internet is for.
Score = 14
I like that the show doesn't spend more time on the Jim/Pam relationship. I think that's where The Office is successful at maintaining its popularity by good writing and good characters, rather than having to convolute a plot to create a will they/won't they focus on them. They get to have a natural progression of a relationship without plot devices interfering. When I see people getting annoyed at their relationship/wedding/getting pregnant, I'm like, "But look how awesomely it's done! The show doesn't entirely focus on it, it happens in the background, and just compare it to how Friends did it, and you see the brilliance!"
I just think Pam should be MORE likeable now that she's out of her shell, growing more confident, and becoming more successful. I can't quite pinpoint what it is that is actually making her less. It's just that what's funny when Jim does it - his tormenting of Dwight like in last night's episode with the recording device - is simply obnoxious in Pam. Her version of tormenting Dwight is causing the entire office to sympathy puke. The scene itself was hilarious, but Pam came off like a dick.
Maybe Pam just needs her own foil. Or maybe she just needs to not have her "thing" be that she's shrill and judgmental. I like that she's one of the level-headed people that recognizes the absurdity of the people around her, but she's better when she's simply observing the chaos rather than outwardly attacking it.
I'm getting super analytical, but it bothers me that Pam bothers me, and I want to figure out why so I can write them a letter and tell them to stop it! Love, Grandma.
Score = 5
(This was supposed to be a reply to you, but Sophia too, yes, both of you, okay!)
I don't have anything intelligent to add, just YES. Agreeing on every point!
Score = 0
I don't have anything intelligent to add, just YES. Agreeing on every point!
Score = 0
BlargBarfWords!
Community continues to prove it's one of the best sitcoms in years. The entire episode was top-notch. From the creepy Human Being mascot (and the racism in creating it ("Get me a Desmond Tutu with enough cream to turn it into a Lou Diamond Philips.")), to Brita's softening toward the girls ("(Crying) I've peed alone my whole life." (and especially the part where Shirley hugs her instead of Annie)), to Troy and Abed rocking the end credits (as always), I really love this show!
P&R takes after the office in more ways than one. One of those ways is the absolutely massive shift in quality from S1 to S2. Just like The Office, which was stiff in the first season but evolved into smooth (?), great humor in the second, so has P&R. It astounds me how much this show has become golden. The opening segment with all of Leslie's embarrassing purchases heard by Tom was freaking hilarious ("Who's your man-pillow shaped like?-->"Daniel Craig."), Jerry's continued dislike by everybody is becoming a great take on The Office's relationship between Michael and Toby ("Okay, everybody just pretend that Jerry was never born."), and Paul Sheer knocked it out with his guest Appearance (Kaboom it!). Seriously, freaking huge improvement.
Speaking of Micheal and Toby, were they great in The Office or what!? That Michael would stoop so low to make up with Pam as to be nice to Toby shows how much he wanted the situation to end. Of course, it couldn't end without Michael telling Toby to go to hell once it didn't work. Dwight's entire thing with the Mallard (or what did Kelly call it? Professor Featherstein?) is a brilliant sub-plot (especially the twist ending). Also, I knew that Pam's reaction to Michael boning her Mom would be worth seeing. Jenna Fischer nailed it, especially the No's right after she figured it out (second also, Michael telling her something like "It's okay" is great").
I know Videogum is all "30 Rock is the best!", but I honestly don't see it. Every season I tune into two episodes of this show (the first one, and one halfway through) to give it a chance, and it always ends up strictly sub-par to me. If I need to waste a half-hour (and I do, with Sunny being on 30 min. after that) and there isn't something more interesting on, there are certainly much worse things I could watch, and it gets an occasional laugh from me, but I can't really see why the rest of Videogum thinks it's so brilliant. Is it something I would have had to be with since the beginning to get?
Sunny for me was a bit of a disappointment this week. The episode was strictly average, with nothing good or bad really coming out of it. It felt like a less than great sequel to "The Gang Gets Invisible" mixed with the story structure of "The Gang Cracks the Liberty Bell", but with none of "The Gang Gets Invisible"'s brilliance (of course, that episode had the McPoyle's, so it's a bit of an unfair comparison). Maybe it just seems disappointing compared to the last two episodes utter greatness, but I still feel it's probably just a meh episode.
Peace out, Ya'll!
Score = 4
I think you mean Invincible
Score = 3
Whoops! Minor mistake. Thanks for correcting me.
Score = 0
It's nice to have someone agree with me about 30 Rock. I did watch it from the beginning, and every week it felt like a chore. I still catch an episode every now and then, but I don't see what's so amazing about it; I laugh, but there's nothing I haven't seen before. And I feel out of the loop and very :( about that. But not enough to pretend to like it.
Score = 1
The Office needs more Creed this season.
Score = 18
Creed crying during that aria killed me. More Creed indeed.
Score = 9
I'm OK with Sunny doing a full season of Charlie-as-lawyer.
Score = 20
Bonus points for 30 Rock casting real porn star Lisa Ann as porn Liz Lemon. She played Sarah Palin in the classic "Who's Nailin Paylin"
Back to ye olde sex shoppe for me!
Score = 17
Pretty sure she played Liz Lemon in the real life 30 Rock parody porn.
Score = 14
The Office was, for me, easily the MVP last night. From Blindguy McSqueezy to the 60 Minutes 'hit job' about the working conditions in the Peruvian paper mill, it was easily a classic episode.
Love Lawyer Charlie, but Always Sunny was weak last night. Community was boring. Parks and Rec and 30 Rock were enjoyable but nothing great. That concludes my completely worthless rundown of Thursday night comedy.
Score = 0
Community and 30 Rock killed it this week. The Office had a few laughs so I can't complain. Honestly this is the first week I can remember when 30 Rock was better that Sunny, but it was. That upsets me a little but I know they will kill it next week. This was the first week I watched Parks and Recs, but for all the hype you guys have been giving it I expected it to be alright. I was terribly wrong. This show is like a boring version of the Office. Amy Poehler's character is just a hybrid of Michael Scott and Liz Lemon. Its completely uncreative. The best part of that episode was Aziz and Paul Scheer, and they had about five minutes of combined air time. I won't be coming back to that show.
Score = 1
Loving the small details on 30 Rock:
The Cigarette Diet
by Dr. Spaceman
Classic.
Score = 16
Micheal Scott = Quizno's
Score = 1
For all the missteps they've had this season, I think It's Always Sunny just killed it last night. It even made up for that weird episode where they were sponsored by Dave And Buster's. Anytime you have Sweet Dee dry-heaving, you have gold. When you have Dee, Mac, and Frank dry-heaving? You have Cash for Gold as far as I'm concerned. Plus Green Man! The whole re-telling reminded me of "Who Pooped The Bed?" Our relationship's going to be REAL HOME RUN!
Score = 6
Wow, lot's of different opinions today on diversitygum. It might be good to have a poll every Thursday for ranking the five episodes to further compartmentalizegum this mess.
That's a terrible idea, but I do think the monsters are the real winners today.
Score = 4
Hi, get out of my brain please.
Score = 0
Umm this was supposed to go to FistfulOfAwesome, now it just looks awkward.
Score = 4
When it involves me, everything is awkward! (Baby!)
Score = 5
too soon.
Score = 5
Despite The Office being a little off this week it did have one of the best sequences in the show's career. Jim blasting opera and the silent exchanges between him and Dwight were cinematic.
Score = 4
30 Rock was great, even though there was very little Kenneth.
And now, tonight guys - UGLY BETTY! Amirite or am I right?
... Right?
Score = 3
all of these shows were terrible this week because they made glenn beck cry with their message promoting volunteerism.
Score = 7
Your President, who incidentally is Kenyan and smokes cigarettes...
Score = 10
"What's for dinner tonight? I want pierogies!" - Tracy Jordan
30 Rock killed it last night. The Office was okay. It's amazing how much joy I get out of Jim and Pam swearing. Those beeps and blurry mouths slay me.
Score = 5
What was the world even like before Thursday Night Television?
Score = 4
They're all kind of explorers right now and that's inspiring...I would just urge universal to loosen that ONE friggin' tentacle in the musical guests on SNL department...creative synergies happen that way...
Score = 0
2 fave moments from 30 Rock this week:
Jack inserting himself and Connie Chung into the "Touching the Void" story
"I will take the top have, for that is the part with the face."
Score = 3
*top half* sheesh...
Also, what's with all the spam on here, lately???
Score = 0
Lemon numbers among my employees
Score = 2
A book hasn't caused me this much trouble since Where's Waldo went to he barber pole factory!
Score = 0
*the
>.>
Score = 0
I just got around to 30 Rock on hulu, and praise be. Thank the Gods of LAFFS that this show just gets better and better. I literally laughed out loud so much that...let's just say I had the room to myself. "Cold pizza better than hot pizza? That's insane." Will Arnett? ACTUAL elephant in the room? Cut the baby in half, I will take the top half, cus that's the half with the face? Loooooooots of Love, over here. Lots. Of. Love.
Score = 0