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"Everybody Pants Now!" and the Other Best Lines from NBC's Thursday Night Comedies

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under TV Reviews | Comments (36)

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Community. Grade: D+. The part where Britta spit in Chang’s face? That felt like a metaphor for what this episode did to me. The Model U.N.? An extended fart joke? A Uraguay/Your A Gay Joke? Lionel Ritchie’s “Hello”? That’s 17th episode of the season stuff, not the second episode of the season.

  • “Be careful Annie. They are ruthless … Not Asians. Women.” … “Sneak attack. That’s just like ‘em. Not women … Asians.” — Pierce

    Parks and Recreation (Grade: A-. The real key to the success of this show is not Andy and April’s relationship; it’s not Leslie Knope; it’s not the Tammys; it’s not even Ron Swanson. It’s alcohol. The best episodes of “Parks and Recreation” all involve alcohol.

  • “I’ll just put on my Star Wars pajamas, sit in my Mom’s basement, and pore over some spreadsheets. Sounds like a lot of fun.” — Ben

  • “I would guess that they would be bankrupt by the end of this … sentence.” — Ben

  • “I don’t think it will be necessary for you to speak again while I am here.” — Tammy #1

  • “I’m sure Ron will remember the meeting fondly while he makes toilet wine in a federal prison in Terre Haute.” — Tammy #1

  • “”Listen. Tammy One was my Sunday school teacher. too. She can pinpoint your weaknesses and then destroy you with just one word. And a jar of acid.”— Tammy #2

  • “Let’s do 1 more, then 5 more, then 20 in a row.” — Chris

  • “Why do you have so many guns?” — Leslie

    “This is America, isn’t it?” — Ron’s Mom.

    “Yes.” — Leslie

    “Then I don’t have to answer stupid questions while standing on my own property.” — Leslie

  • “Everybody pants now … pants, pants, pants, pants … pants.” — Leslie

    The Office. Grade: B+ Not a particularly funny episode, but one that was incredibly likable, and that’s something that the old Michael-Scott show rarely achieved. The dynamic between Robert and Andy has been pitch perfect through these first two episodes: Robert as the villain, and Andy as the earnest savior, although Andy’s anger management issues have seemingly disappeared. A couple of questions: Where’s Gabe? He was there last week, and I didn’t see him last night. And why was he there last week. And two: Darryl’s ex-wife? What happened to that subplot? Did I miss something, or did it just trail off?

  • “Invest in softer cotton, sir.” — Andy

  • “What do you think, C-Span?” — Andy

  • “There’s something about an underdog that really inspires the unexceptional.” — Robert









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    Comments

    I didn't notice until I watched it a second time (Mr. J was working and couldn't join me for the regularly scheduled viewing) that not only did Andy cock the sawed off shotgun, he had his fingers in the barrels.

    The key to Parks and Rec is the friendship between Leslie and Ron.

    The show is foundering (floundering). They have never hit their stride. They are all so funny, but they can't seem to find a groove.

    Posted by: Mrs. Julien at September 30, 2011 11:12 AM

    • Wow, do I disagree with that grade for Parks and Recreation. I would give that a C-, at best. The subplots with the PSA and the failing business were painfully unfunny, and even the main Leslie/Ron stuff wasn't all that great.

    Posted by: Todd at September 30, 2011 11:13 AM

    Huh. I thought the first three of NBC's comedies all knocked it out of the park last night. I laughed a helluvalot more at "Community" this week than I did last. It's possible I just happened to be in an exceptionally good mood -- Blue Moon's pumpkin ale tends to do that.

    Posted by: RobP at September 30, 2011 11:15 AM

    Losing Steve Carell has surprisingly reinvigorated The Office. This is the second week in a row it was funnier than Community. There were some really good touches in the episode too. I like the casualness of the "Tuna" nickname, it feels real. I've got friends at work that call me by a slang on my name that at first I hated and then just got used to it. Now it's just part of the day. I also liked Dwight in the tattoo shop gleefully watching with his arm draped over Pam's shoulder. It was a cute touch. The Office always feels the most real when everyone is involved because the actors seem to break out of their roles and you can see the evident affection all of these guys have for each other. It may not always be the funniest show of the week, but when it's clicking along there are few shows that are more enjoyable to watch.

    Parks & Rec was great but the Ann/Chris subplot was weak. It was saved by Rob Lowe's manic energy but just barely.

    Community was ok, but felt like a re-tread from the debate episode from season 1. The Britta/Chang subplot was really off the mark. the best line was "Don't worry, she's going to suck at it."

    Posted by: TylerDFC at September 30, 2011 11:23 AM

    For some reason they had a scene from last week that didn't air but you can see it on NBC's website. It's actually a really funny re-introduction for Gabe. Apparently he commutes from Florida to Pennsylvania almost daily.

    It looks like The Office could find new footing. Andy as boss is getting there, they just need to stop writing Michael Scott jokes (i.e. Andy sitting Indian style on Jim's desk) and start writing Andy Bernard jokes.

    I was wondering about Andy's anger management issues too. It seemed like last season, his rivalry with Gabe, was going to pay-off with an amazing Andy freak out (like punching a hole in a wall amazing), but it didn't pan out.

    Posted by: Brian at September 30, 2011 11:27 AM

    I loved the episode as a whole, as I do anything involving the Tammys and Entertainment 720, but P&R desperately needs to find something to do with Ann and Chris. That storyline was just weak and distracted from the awesome stuff. And I think now they need to get back to Pawnee--focus on the crazy town and the politics, since that's where the best parts of P&R happen.

    The Office is feeling all fresh and new again, and Michael's exit did it. The show just needed a new turn and I think that was the best thing they could've done, though I wouldn't have predicted it.

    Posted by: Figgy at September 30, 2011 11:29 AM

    "Community" was a mixed bag for me last night. On the one hand, I loved Professor Haverchuck and Abed's obsession with Earth 2, but on the other, the use of Lionel Richie's "Hello" wasn't funny no matter how many times they played it and what was up with 2 of the female leads throwing giant hissy fits? Britta freaked out about not being done "raging against the machine" and Annie threw a full-on temper tantrum that could put a two-year-old to shame. Ugh.

    I did love when Troy silently removed Annie's cup and replaced it sans lid. Even when he has so little to do, Donald Glover manages to crack me up.

    Posted by: MelBivDevoe at September 30, 2011 11:29 AM

    Where are the WHITNEY highlights?

    Posted by: Duvall at September 30, 2011 11:35 AM

    Also I hope we see lots more of Tammy 1. Clarkson is amazing in the role. Just driiiipping evil. But Mustache-less Ron was terrifying. He looked like a harmless gym teacher and it was just WRONG.

    "We're having trouble with break-evens"
    "Ooh, break-evens! Those ARE fun!"

    Doooork.

    Posted by: Figgy at September 30, 2011 11:37 AM

    I'm just so glad that they've moved away from the infinitely boring Beslie. Kudos to the writers for wriggling out of that mess.

    Posted by: Mrs. Julien at September 30, 2011 11:40 AM

    Wow. You are really grading on a curve. A really easy one for The Office, and and really hard one for Community. Not very funny, but a B+?

    For the first time ever, I liked a Britta storyline, and everyone else hated it. The Annie stuff was terrible though.

    Ron, as always, killed me, but HOLY HELL WHAT IS GOING ON WITH ROB LOWE'S HAIR? It's really distracting.

    Posted by: Three-nineteen at September 30, 2011 11:42 AM

    Your FACE is boring.

    Posted by: Figgy at September 30, 2011 11:47 AM

    That's why it's so easy for me to recognize borocity in others, Figgy.

    Posted by: Mrs. Julien at September 30, 2011 12:05 PM

    Hey, whatever, they're his grades, not some sort of compilation of what all viewers thought.

    I actually didn't hate Community, although given what I read about it, I expected to. I'm finding the first 3 or 4 episodes of each Community season tend to have a total mixed bag of LOVE and (the bad kind of) WTF. Like the Operation end tag and Annie's manic winning mood? Laughed out loud. Annie's insane temper tantrum and Britta existing in Chang's alternate over-the-top reality? Wtf. Pissing on the UN, Georgia, and the Jeff/Annie stuff - pleasant filler, for me, anyway. I think the show is better when it relaxes and stops feeling the need to spell everything out for us; "this is exactly how they feel and that should explain most of the last 2 seasons;" "Britta misses being a protester and we haven't really had a goal for her character in ages;" etc. We get it. Relax, move on, tell real stories, and let the internet do the commentary.

    Sorry that was so long. I JUST watched it, so my thoughts maybe aren't as organised as they could be, but whatever.

    I stopped watching the Office at the end of season 5 as it was pissing me off. I can't decide if it's worth going back to. The completionist in me wants to, but the "there are 24 hours in a day, dumbass" part of me...doesn't.

    Posted by: dsbs at September 30, 2011 12:05 PM

    Beslie are ADORABLE Mrs. Julien. This is indisputable fact. And usually, you are so right. Tsk tsk.

    Posted by: dsbs at September 30, 2011 12:07 PM

    "I hope the rest of your day is...cool beans." (With a thumbs up)

    Also: everything that Jean-Ralphio did or said.

    Posted by: Beth at September 30, 2011 12:24 PM

    I'm right about this too. They don't match!

    Posted by: Mrs. Julien at September 30, 2011 12:34 PM

    I'm 100% behind you Mrs. J, I find Beslie to be almost as boring and unnecessary as Rob Lowe. P & R should be all Ron, Leslie, Andy, April All The Time with a couple of HammyTammys thrown in.

    Posted by: kirbyjay at September 30, 2011 12:53 PM

    wow. please read the av club's recap and grades for community because clearly dustin has decided the show's going to be cancelled this year and seems to be letting go well before it happens. i understand the impulse. you're desperate for a show to really soar, to possibly avoid the inevitable cancellation so you watch in a state of perpetual angst practically demanding that the show impress you. i did the same thing last week. then, i just decided that it really is just so enjoyable to spend time with these characters that i don't care. and i laughed a lot at this week's episode. i'm sorry...how is a model u.n. not perfect community fodder? i understand how chang and britta's storyline faltered, but give me a break.
    also, the parks and rec love on this site is stilted like woah. i laughed maybe twice last night. patricia clarkson is a phenomenal actress but her character isn't very funny. it strikes the wrong balance of grim and serious. the only reason to watch this show is ron. i loved both shows last year and still do, but come the fuck on. community has been solid throughout, but parks and rec was a taint its first year and has only gotten better.
    don't start breaking up with a show just because the ratings were down and we see the writing on the wall. instead we should all band together to save it, unless you really want another arrested development.

    Posted by: anonymous at September 30, 2011 1:13 PM

    I can see why everyone finds Parks and Rec so hilarious. I actually have a monotoned voice, and I typed that in an even more deadpanned version of my voice in mind.

    Posted by: googergieger at September 30, 2011 1:15 PM

    Um, yeah. I laughed my ass off at that episode of Community. And I was not drunk, nor high, nor in a particularly great mood.

    Posted by: Anna von Beav at September 30, 2011 1:37 PM

    I thought Community was really funny I participated in Model UN, so it was like my own D&D episode.
    I loved Parks and Rec as well!
    I wasn't so into The Office....it was feel good for sure, but not particularly great. If this is the plan for the season I'll probably quit watching.

    Posted by: Nimue at September 30, 2011 1:53 PM

    @Duvall

    I got your Whitney highlights right here.

    I tuned in. I decided to give it one more shot. Sure, the first episode was so bad it made me throw up in my mouth, but first episodes can be like that. I got about ten minutes into the second episode, and I literally threw my remote across the room and left my house it was so bad.

    I've never seen it, but even 2 and a half men has got to better than this crap.

    Posted by: John G. at September 30, 2011 2:21 PM

    I liked Community too. I always love when Annie screams, "NOOOOO!!"

    And the cup thing killed me. It did. I'm dead. Hilarious.

    I admit, that as much as I have loved Chang, I don't think he's needed any more. It just seems a little forced. But I also still want him there. It's a strange situation.

    Posted by: Candee at September 30, 2011 3:16 PM

    Ehh Community was weak. Community is at its best when it is very clearly making a satire of pop culture and meta-jokes on the nature of tv itself. this episode didn't do it. it tried to do it...but it just felt off. the whole episode was off. the editing for that episode was particularly strange...they let jokes linger, but not in a good...this wasn't funny and now it is funny bc its still happening way...just in a...we don't have much to write for this episode so let's make 5 second jokes last for 15 seconds way, i.e. Britta's "rage against machine" rant which was neither funny nor charming.

    the success Parks & Rec and The Office have is that even when the shows aren't laugh out loud funny, they are endearing and flat-out enjoyable. Jim has gone back to his routes of voice-of-reason guy who likes to have fun. Andy is really filling in the role of boss well and James Spader's character is excellent.

    for people who don't like Parks & Rec...i pity you. though i will agree the Rob Lowe/Rashida Jones joke was unfunny after the initial scene.

    Posted by: Littlejon2001 at September 30, 2011 4:13 PM

    I third Mrs. Julien on Beslie. I'm sorry but I just don't see them as aocuple physically or mentally.

    I'm also apparently the only person who is bored to tears with the new Office. The Michael years were funny because he just didn't have a clue about how to behave and made things so awkward and it was that funny-awkward thing that worked.
    With Andy I feel he's just another under-qualified hapless boss and that's just too ordinary (we've all worked for that guy) and not funny. Sure they're still a lovable group of people with a few good lines, but I'm bored 10 minutes in.

    Posted by: PaddyDog at September 30, 2011 4:49 PM

    I'm glad someone else is bothered by Rob Lowe's hair. I kept thinking it was wig. I would of thought giving Ann a reason to be in the office would have helped, but, her character still doesn't have a real purpose and she's not really funny unless she's with Leslie.

    Posted by: KC at September 30, 2011 5:49 PM

    The Office bored me to tears as well. I quit watching last season and tried to give it another chance, but it's just not enjoyable to me at all anymore.

    I really liked Community, but it might have had a lot to do with Martin Starr's presence.

    Posted by: Uda at September 30, 2011 6:50 PM

    Definitely weirded out by Rob Lowe's hair as well. I'm pretty surprised by the downers on Parks and Rec, I thought it was even better than last weeks. I loved the Entertainment 720 stuff and another Ron transformation. Also I love all the Tammys.

    Posted by: Alex00 at September 30, 2011 8:08 PM

    I can't wait to see how the writers bring Beslie back together. It WILL happen and it WILL be glorious.

    Posted by: Figgy at September 30, 2011 10:34 PM

    The Britta/Chang stuff was my favorite part of the episode, and forgive me but that fart joke got me.

    Andy is the best part of Parks and Rec. Everything he says and does is hysterical.

    Posted by: ChristianH at September 30, 2011 11:12 PM

    The fart joke was too long but kinda redeemed by the way Shirley said it.

    Posted by: Kissing Girls Makes You Sleepy at October 1, 2011 11:42 AM

    Why no love for Wednesday nights funny lines? With The Middle, Modern Family and the return of Cougar Town there's gold in them there hills. How bout it Dusty?

    Posted by: kirbyjay at October 1, 2011 12:23 PM

    Oi, Dustin! It's Uruguay, not Uraguay.

    Posted by: Chachachuy at October 2, 2011 1:03 AM

    Well, no one else has mentioned it, but Dustin, you are absolutely correct on the Darryl ex-wife subplot from The Office; it completely fizzled out. If you look very closely, you can catch a quick glimpse of him looking awfully dejected at the back of the conference room during Andy's point-system-prize meeting. But that was it.

    Posted by: Cody at October 2, 2011 1:49 AM

    I fucking loved community this week. Annie was annoying as shit, but the earth 2 and Britta plots busted my shit up. I've never found Britta that hot until this episode. Rowr!

    Posted by: The_wakeful at October 3, 2011 2:25 AM