Monsters of Television

It was a pretty low-key night for the ONLY REASONS TO WATCH NBC night, unless you were one of those outraged by the clip show episode of The Office, to which I offer condolences, but I don’t watch The Office. I do, however, watch Community and 30 Rock. I don’t have a great deal to say about either show this week, so I’m combining both into one post. Hope you don’t mind.

Community

“I am spending a lot of money on break-away clothing.”

This week’s episode wasn’t hilarious like “Introduction to Statistics” and “Debate 109” or engaged in the type of sharp meta-commentary from last week’s “Investigative Journalism” did. It, instead, went for something much quieter, more character-driven which, after last week’s episode, felt like a natural progression.

I was happy to see Donald Glover and Gillian Jacobs get some time together for a plot. Their interplay (“I know it’s tempting to sneak a peek, but I’m going to need you to keep your eyes up here.”) was spot on, and didn’t feel forced for two characters that haven’t spent a great deal of time together.  The fact that it didn’t feel forced actually speaks to how well the show’s ensemble works together as both a group and as individuals. And now that the show is finding its way to consistent tones for everyone (and for itself), I can only hope that NBC gives it a chance to find an audience.

In addition to the dance as a secret plot with Britta and Troy (which, really, is that something to be embarrassed about still?), we get the secret relationship of Jeff and Professor Slater (from “Introduction to Statistics”) coming back. While I was happy to see a return to this plot, the humor never really took off for me. That Greendale ranks its students and teachers on a hotness scale, and has forms if students and teachers get involved is a comedy goldmine that I don’t think was fully exploited, albeit for a reason.

That reason is to give time to Britta’s realization that she kind of has a thing for Jeff. The dance recital is a bizarre thing no matter what show it airs on, and Community is no different with a teapot watering flowers. But it also motivated character development for Britta in realizing that she has feelings for Jeff upon seeing him holding hands with Professor Slater, and for Troy jumping to Britta’s aid when she freezes in the recital. Additionally, it showed Jeff continuing to break out of his cynical shell by giving Britta a bouquet of flowers at the end of the recital. Big moves for all these characters.

The introduction of a love triangle is never my favorite thing to see, but the show’s won me over enough that I hope they play it out in a fun and different way.

FINAL THOUGHTS

• Greendale has the widest variety of courses I’ve ever seen. Seriously. I’m starting to think that Dean Pelton is trying to get accreditation as a 4-year college. (They have a boating class, for pete’s sake!)
• I think that there’s nothing Danny Pudi can’t do. His tap at the end of the episode was nice. Plus his delivery of “Sounds like a porno with Kate Winslet!” was the perfect mixof brilliant fanboy idea and answering a game show question.
• The fact that reruns of the much maligned (at least on this blog) The Big Bang Theory beat Community (as well as Parks and Recreations) in the ratings last night is appalling. While I don’t particularly care for Parks and Recreations, it is better than the Othering humor of The Big Bang Theory. I just don’t get it.

30 Rock after the jump!

30 Rock

“I’m tired of waking up to a porch full of dead squirrels.”

This week’s 30 Rock found the characters suffering from winter madness, that affliction in January (I hit it in February myself), when being cooped up in heavy coats and suffering from long periods of darkness causes people to get angry and snippy with each other. So, in an effort to boost morale, Liz and Peter plan to take everyone to Miami, but Jack makes it Boston so he can make on more go at Julianne Moore (I can’t remember the character name).

There’s not a lot of sharp material in this episode. Jack’s attempts to woo Julianne Moore continue to not take off (though they have chemistry, and Moore’s comedic timing is pretty good), leaving his story freezing cold. The cast at each other’s throat, while a promising idea, also fails to create any excitement. I’m always happy when the show does show biz plots (“Tracy Does Conan” being the best example) but this one felt really very narratively and humorously dead. Perhaps the writers themselves are suffering from winter madness.

It wasn’t a great 30 Rock. It happens and you move on, hoping for better things next week. As Nick noted, “At least it wasn’t a clip show.”

FINAL THOUGHTS

• As much as I’m always happy to see Julianne Moore on anything, her Bahston accent is grating. Can we get to Elizabeth Banks, please?
• The show does continue to lampoon business: “Cross promotional. Deal mechanics. Revenue streams. Jargon. Synergy.” was great, though not as great as the ownership flowchart from back in season 1.
• One thing does have me worried. The mention of Subway on any NBC show that isn’t The Biggest Loser has me on guard, and then you follow it up with a line about “certain people not being back next year” and suddenly I think I need to go across the street, order a turkey melt and tell the guy behind the counter that I support Liz Lemon.