“Oh, Ann, you beautiful sunflower.”
Leslie Knope and Ann Perkins are friends. They’re two people who understand each other, make each other better people, and are inseparable. Yet, that’s exactly what happens tonight; Ann and Chris are leaving Pawnee, and it’s all tears and laughs and goodbyes in a heartwarming episode of Parks and Recreation.
Moving on in life is a difficult thing to do, especially so for the people of Pawnee, the small town that’s been the one constant in all these characters’ recent adventures. Parks and Recreation‘s 100th episode deals with this idea in a funny, touching manner that serves as both a conclusion and a new beginning.
In fact, it seems like a lot of storylines have run their course, and we’re getting closer to the series’ inevitable end. For one, we definitely wouldn’t have needed to see Leslie running for city council again; that would’ve frustrated me beyond belief. Thankfully, the writers take a step back and zero in on Leslie and Ben, highlighting exactly what’s great about their relationship. It’s understandable that Leslie wouldn’t want to let go of her past, but Ben is a smart guy; he realizes that she’s destined for greater things, a greater future that elevates her beyond Pawnee’s borders. So, he brings in Kathryn Hahn’s Jen Barclay for a little motivational speech, so to speak. The “I don’t care enough about you to lie to you” line is very telling; Leslie’s often bogged down by her emotions and her interpersonal relationships, and she not only needs her husband to motivate her, but also someone with little emotional ties to the situation.
Due to the unsurprising failures of Ironside and Welcome to the Family, as well as the general awfulness of NBC as a whole, it was announced today that the beloved sitcom Community would return on January 2nd with a one hour premiere. So, two days after getting drunk on New Year’s Eve, we can all sit down and watch, all six of us.
Nevertheless, that is better than the half of a person that watched Ironside and Welcome to the Family, but enough about those shows because they’re already sinking to the bottom of the ocean along with Blair Underwood’s remains.
Of course, although this is good news, that also means we won’t have new Parks and Recreation episodes for three weeks, as NBC has decided to throw The Voice and whatever other crap they want into the 8 pm hour. Parks will return on Nov. 14, and it will move to 8:30 on January 9th.
Community will most likely run its first seven episodes, then take three weeks off for the Olympics before airing its final six of the season. This is good, as three weeks off is better than the thirteen they took off last season. Also, the show will have to be renewed for a sixth season and a movie, or all will not be right in the world.
Finally, as NBC likes to mess with us every chance they get, today is October 18th. It’s not October 19th like it should be.
In other news, Brooklyn Nine-Nine was renewed. This is good.
Credit to NBC and Community for all pictures. I own nothing.
First, let’s get this out of the way….Tatiana Maslany freaking rocks.
There. All right, now onto the rest of the episode.
LESLIE RECALL
Councilman Jamm’s back, and he’s out to get Leslie once again; this time, he’s using one of Donna’s tweets against her. It’s a nice storyline because it seems as if the show’s transitioning from Ann to Donna; whereas this is something that Leslie and Ann would’ve had to go through before, Donna handles it in a different way. It’s a nice setup for a potentially fantastic relationship going forward.
RON AND HIS WILL
Ron’s storylines do seem repetitive at times, but his interactions with Ben are just good enough to sell it. I would like to see him interact with Diane more, but I understand that he’s a person that’s afraid of commitment; it might not be in character for him to move fast. Nevertheless, Scott and Offerman are fantastic here, as always.
TOM AND NADIA
Guest star Tatiana Maslany plays a more straightforward character here, but she and Plaza play their respective characters perfectly. The storyline could’ve easily become cliched (Tom is pretty insufferable here), but the two are able to ground the storyline and make it endearing. Still, I don’t like that Tom gets Tatiana Maslany. He’s one lucky man.
GRADE: B+
Other thoughts:
-“Upon my death, all my belongings will transfer to the man or animal that has killed me.”
-“She was talking dirty to me.” “She was reading the emails you sent to the first woman!”
-“Another word for ‘joke’ is ‘lies’.”
-#Bossbitch vs. #bitchboss
-“Nice meeting you, April….kinda. You’re weird too. “Thank you.”
-“I will leave my children 50 dollars apiece for the cab ride home from my funeral and a steak dinner. That’s all.”
-“We need to talk.” “That has never been true.”
-Ethel Beavers reading Donna’s tweets is perfection. “Number sign.”
-Maslany looks good in a lab coat.
-Speaking of, you should all watch Orphan Black.
Credit to NBC and Parks and Recreation for all pictures. I own nothing.
Due to my lack of time to write 3 separate reviews, I’ve decided to introduce TV Round-ups to provide abbreviated thoughts on shows I’ve watched.
DATE: October 10, 2013
SHOWS COVERED: Parks and Recreation, The Vampire Diaries, Parenthood
PARKS AND RECREATION, “DOPPELGANGERS” (6×04)
Now here’s a much better way to handle Leslie Knope. Last week, she bordered on insufferable because 1) No one called her out on her actions, and 2) Her relationship with Eagleton isn’t as deeply personal as her relationship with Ann. While at times she may seem childish, her actions here are understandable. She’s acting out because her best friend has told her she’s leaving (the scene where Ann goes to Leslie with waffles and a picture of Joe Biden is sweet and hilarious).
We also have a bunch of Eagleton Doppelgangers joining the proceedings, and it’s absolutely fantastic. I like that all of them aren’t really straight up “rivals”; there’s a spin on each that subverts my expectations of what the show would do with the character. Billy Eichner and Sam Elliott are wonderful here.
GRADE: B+
THE VAMPIRE DIARIES, “TRUE LIES” (5×02)
This is a slower episode than last week’s, seemingly more of a “move the pieces into place” episode. It’s not bad, but there seems to be a bit of wheel-spinning going on. It’s always entertaining to see Silas-Stefan, especially when he’s battling it out with Jeremy, and I think Bonnie’s storyline is better handled this week. Her scenes with Matt are touching, and she doesn’t feel as superfluous here. In addition, Katherine is becoming increasingly entertaining; I could watch her complain about her sinus infection all day.
However, I’m finding that the Damon-Elena scenes don’t work for me. Elena’s made her choice, and bringing up the Stefan drama again is tiring.
GRADE: B
PARENTHOOD, “Nipple Confusion” (5×03)
The episode has its ups and downs. I love the Crosby storyline; it really details the difficulties of parenthood in a moving, realistic way. In addition, the Zeek and Camille storyline shines; they never get enough to do, and this episode shows exactly why they’re great. It’s a very relatable and realistic conversation to have, and I’m looking forward to where this goes.
As for Sarah, I hope that she can settle down and focus on photography. I love that Hank calls her out on her “flightiness”, and I like that he doesn’t sugarcoat things too much when she visits him later with the photos. She has a need for validation from others, and I like that Hank just compliments her on her photography, not her person.
The Drew college adventures are pretty inconsequential, mainly used as an excuse to have Matt Lauria act all badass. Don’t get me wrong, it’s fun to watch. Joel and Julia’s spat seems a little excessive, but it’s still rooted in reality. I hope that Julia’s relationship with Ed doesn’t turn romantic, as I think it’s an extremely interesting premise to explore an emotional connection, not a physical one.
Now, on to Kristina. She acts childish in this episode; I’m having a hard time believing that she wouldn’t worry about their finances. Also, it’s unrealistic that she would get going this quickly. I love Monica Potter, but this storyline’s dragging a bit.
GRADE: B
Credit to NBC, The CW, Parenthood, The Vampire Diaries, and Parks and Recreation for all pictures. I own nothing.
Parks and Recreation brings a smile to my face every time it’s on. Yes, last season suffered from a bit of wheel-spinning, stranding the show in a static phase that soured my opinion of the show. However, this premiere is a nice return to form, setting a new direction for the show’s characters.
The cold open is among the best in Parks history. The show truly understands its characters, something that seems to slip away from other shows as the seasons wear on (due to necessity of plot, which makes this episode even more impressive because it gives the show a new direction). This scene doesn’t get too sappy, but it’s the right amount of sweet. Ron Swanson is not the guy who needs an elaborate wedding; he truly cares for Diane, and the quicker they get it done, the better. Leslie is someone who wants to make everything perfect for everybody, and her childlike glee at the events unfolding is a joy to watch. It’s sweet, and more importantly, it’s true to her character.
Flashforward to a month later. Several storylines are prominent throughout, the main one being a trip to London. Leslie has to give a speech before the International Coalition of Women in Government, where she has to come to terms with the fact that her political career means ignoring the general awfulness of many people around her. It’s a very important moment for her character, one which Ron Swanson is every a bit a part of as her.
We also have Ben and Andy visiting Lord Covington (the great Peter Serafinowicz), and Covington and Andy’s interactions are absolutely hilarious. It’s a way to write Pratt out of the show for a while, but it’s incredibly well done.
Back in Pawnee, Chris and Ann are trying to tell everyone about their pregnancy, and Tom finds out that his main competitor is Jean Ralphio’s father. Both work well in the context of the episode, and fill out what is a very sweet and hilarious one hour premiere.
Part 1 Grade: B+ Part 2 Grade: B+
Overall: B+
Other thoughts:
-Henry Winkler is fantastic.
-Chris and Ann’s storyline ties in well with Leslie’s, as they continue to look for assurance that, yes, this is a good marriage. These are similar storylines, and I’ll be sad when the two leave.
-Ron visiting the Lagavulin distillery is really beautiful.
-I enjoy Ron’s hatred of Europe. “Fine, enjoy the fact that your royal overlords are a frail old woman and a tiny baby.”
-“Let’s go see if it was a goose.”
-Jerry imitating breastfeeding…oh, man.
-“Hogwarts is fictional. Do you know that? It’s important to me that you know that.”
-“Do you not think that, or do you not think that?” Welcome back, Perd.
Credit to NBC and Parks and Recreation for all pictures. I own nothing.
Welcome to my coverage of the 2013 Primetime Emmys. As it’s less than a month away, I’ve decided to start a series in which I offer up my dream ballot for each major category. Then, I’ll look at the actual Emmy ballot and offer a “Who should win?” and a “Who Will Win?” for each. I hope you enjoy! Today, we’ll be looking at….
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Dream Ballot
LOUIS CK, “Louie”
Season 3 of Louie was a masterpiece of writing, directing, and acting, all done by Louis CK himself. He was as hilarious as always, and his interactions with the guest stars were brilliant, whether it be with Melissa Leo, Parker Posey, or others. His acting in the season finale was wonderful.
ALEC BALDWIN, “30 Rock”
Jack Donaghy is one of the greatest sitcom characters of all time, and Season 7 did nothing to change that. In fact, the final season only strengthened that sentiment, allowing Baldwin to be hilarious as always. His relationship with his mom paved the way for some brilliant lines, and the central Jack-Liz relationship ended in a perfect manner.
JAKE JOHNSON, “New Girl”
While season 1 highlighted Max Greenfield’s Schmidt as the funniest male character, season 2 really allowed Johnson to shine. Other shows would’ve messed up the long-awaited Jess-Nick romance, tumbling into rom-com plots and turning up the cheese. However, this relationship was genuine, hilarious, and moving, and I couldn’t get enough of it. Jake Johnson was truly the breakout star of the 2012-2013 television comedy landscape.
ADAM SCOTT, “Parks and Recreation”
Although I wouldn’t count Scott a lead actor, he submitted himself as such. Still, he definitely shined in the moments he had on screen. Before Ben married Leslie, he was doing his own thing, hanging out with April and going through kidney stones. He was really perfect, though, during the build-up to the wedding, and was an essential part of the endearing relationship that was Leslie and Ben.
JASON BATEMAN, “Arrested Development”
Bateman’s always been great in Arrested Development, and although the new season focused on different characters in different episodes, he still was a hilarious presence. Michael and George Michael is still one of the best dad-son dynamic on television, and Michael’s interactions with Gob, Buster, and the rest were still comedy gold.
JIM PARSONS, “The Big Bang Theory”
I’m not a huge Big Bang fan, but there’s no denying that Parsons is consistently great as Sheldon Cooper. The most recent season made him out to be too much of a jerk, but his relationship with Amy saved everything; his work in the finale was magnificent.
Who should win?
CK
Others considered: Garrett Dillahunt, Johnny Galecki, Peter Capaldi, Rob Corddry, Joel McHale, Elijah Wood
On to the real nominations…
Alec Baldwin, “30 Rock”
Jason Bateman, “Arrested Development”
Louis CK, “Louie”
Don Cheadle, “House of Lies”
Matt LeBlanc, “Episodes”
Jim Parsons, “The Big Bang Theory”
Who should win?
CK
Who will win?
Parsons
Analysis: I’d love to see CK win. He’s absolutely magnificent. However, I feel like the top two candidates right now are Parsons and Baldwin, both respected actors with long-running shows. I could see it going either way, but I give the edge to Parsons. Don’t be surprised if CK wins, though.
Credit to CBS, NBC, FX, FOX, Netflix, Arrested Development, The Big Bang Theory, Louie, 30 Rock, Parks and Recreation, and New Girl for all pictures. I own nothing.
Welcome to my coverage of the 2013 Primetime Emmys. As it’s only a month away, I’ve decided to start a series in which I offer up my dream ballot for each major category. Then, I’ll look at the actual Emmy ballot and offer a “Who should win?” and a “Who Will Win?” for each. I hope you enjoy! Today, we’ll be looking at….
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Dream Ballot
NICK OFFERMAN, “Parks and Recreation”
It blows my mind why the Emmy voters would overlook such a fantastic character as Ron Swanson. He had a great year of food poisoning, wood-working, and wedding attending, and his relationship with Lucy Lawless’ character was unexpectedly sweet. He’s one of the best characters on television.
MIKE WHITE, “Enlightened”
First of all, this is one of my favorite shows of all time, even though it only spanned a woefully short two seasons. White is also the creator of the series, but he’s also an amazing actor. His character is awkward, heartbreaking,, and complex, and he and Molly Shannon created one of the best, most beautiful TV romances you’ll ever see.
MAX GREENFIELD, “New Girl”
I probably would’ve given this slot to Jake Johnson, but he submitted for the “lead actor” category. Greenfield is great, though, conveying a hilarious outer demeanor and spewing a ton of hilarious quotes. However, he took it a step further this year as the show explored more of his past, in particular a young relationship that was funny and endearing.
ADAM DRIVER, “Girls”
His character, and the show, are extremely polarizing amongst both fans and detractors. However, that’s because his performance is so fantastic. He did some amazing work at the end of the season, inspiring hatred, adoration, and discussion galore on the Internet, and his character arc was one of the most interesting on TV last year.
BILL HADER, “Saturday Night Live”
While SNL hasn’t been consistently good in a while, Hader’s been the anchor of the cast. His farewell season ended with a bang, as the fan-favorite Stefon married Seth Meyers in an amazing segment that involved Anderson Cooper and all of Stefon’s club friends. He’ll be missed, for sure.
RAINN WILSON/JOHN KRASINSKI, “The Office”
I know I’m cheating a bit here, but I just had to give them both credit. Krasinski has never been nominated for his work, which I find appalling, and Wilson hasn’t been nominated in a while. They both did fantastic work in this final season, especially near the end of the show’s run, and they deserve recognition for it. Jim-Pam was still the heart of the show, and you also can’t imagine the show without Dwight Schrute.
Who Should Win?
I’d narrow it down to Offerman and White, but I don’t know who I’d pick.
Others considered: Adam Pally, Damon Wayans, Jr., Ty Burrell, Will Arnett (Arrested Development), Tony Hale (Veep), Matt Walsh, Jack McBrayer, Donald Glover, Danny Pudi, DJ Qualls, Luke Wilson, Simon Templeman, Chris Pratt, James Van Der Beek, Jason Gann, Jim Rash, Jeffrey Tambor
And on to the real nominations…
Ty Burrell-Modern Family
Adam Driver-Girls
Jesse Tyler Ferguson-Modern Family
Bill Hader-Saturday Night Live
Tony Hale-Veep
Ed O’Neill-Modern Family
Who should win?
Driver
Who will win?
Burrell
Analysis: Driver undoubtedly delivers the most complex, layered performance here, but I think it’s a safe bet that the Emmy voters will give the award to one of their Modern Family darlings; in this case, it’s Burrell.
Credit to NBC, HBO, FOX, New Girl, The Office, Enlightened, Parks and Recreation, Saturday Night Live, and Girls for all pictures. I own nothing.
Polar Bears Watch TV 