Community (Rating: A, maybe the best half hour of Christmas-themed television since “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”)
“That’s how I knew it was a special Christmas. We’ve entered a whole new medium. “
♫”Sad quick Christmas song.”♫
“Now that you’ve started it, how about ten more seconds on that button, eh?”
“We’re in Outer Christmas space. There’s planet holly. And planet jolly. “
“Everybody stay perfectly sincere. Humbugs are attracted to sarcasm … Wow. Somewhere out there, Tim Burton just got a boner. “
“Do you have any idea what you’re doing? … We’re learning to teleport and we’re helping our friend find the meaning of Christmas. “
“It’s the first season of “Lost” on DVD … That’s the meaning of Christmas? … No. It’s a metaphor. It represents lack of payoff.”
(Bonus Quote: Damon Lindeloff’s Tweet response to the above quote: @damonlindelof: Okay, COMMUNITY. It’s ON!!!! Now if only I had a show to zing you back. And if only you weren’t awesome. Sigh… )
30 Rock (Rating: B)
“Obesity is killing the African-American community … with laughter. “
“Quiet, battered women! A man is talking.”
“I didn’t care for the Gazpacho soup. Where’s the fun in sending it back because it isn’t hot? “
“We all make mistakes. I once French-kissed a dog at a party to impress what turned out to be a very tall 12-year-old boy.”
“Russell Crowe is having an auction to benefit the victims of his own mood swings.”
“Don’t worry, I sent her to the East Wing — it’s very confusing. It was designed by M.C. Escher.”
“You’re going to see poverty. Child abuse. And a bunch of babies having a hammer fight in a dumpster. “
“Can I get you a cup of coffee or an absinthe enema?”
“I dress as Natalie Portman from the movie Black Swan. And you dress as former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver and gubernatorial candidate, Lynn Swan. We’re two black swans!”
The Office (Rating: B+)
“Thank you Scranton Strangler! You just took one more person’s breath away.”
“I have no feeling in my fingers or penis, but I think it was worth it. “
“I can’t get anything lately unless I threaten to kill myself.”
“I’m sorry, I can’t help you. I’m waiting for my boss’ pretty lady friend to arrive. “
(Jim, in response to the gift he received from Pam) “I mean … “
“In the end, the greatest snow ball isn’t a snow ball at all. It’s fear. Merry Christmas.”
Each Time You Like, Share, Tweet or Stumble a Pajiba Post, An Angel Does the Paul Rudd Dance
Truth! This is the first episode of the Office I watched all the way through! And it was a whole hour long! Holly and Michael really do make a great couple but it is kinda heartbreaking that she's moved on so much. Erin's reaction to the entire situation was priceless and I love how it all adds up to the office coming to Michael's defense. Protectiveness really warms my heart.
Posted by: valerie at December 10, 2010 10:19 AM
Alec Baldwin was really kind of weird on 30 Rock. There was something off about the performance once the dinner sequence started. Some of his lines and delivery were very un-Jack like. The episode was ok, but not their best.
Community was stellar. Just incredibly well done even though the comedy was much more subdued in favor of the heartwarming and drama. I'll be re-watching it most definitely.
The Office was saved by Steve Carrell. It too wasn't as funny as it should have been, but for all Michael's bumbling you still want the guy to be happy. And Carrell did an outstanding job of bringing Michael's hurt over Holly to the surface and made it very genuine. I really don't see how the show will be able to fill the void when he's gone and that absence is going to shine a light on how good Carrell really is.
As usual Dwight took things too far, but Jim pelting him in the face with a snowball was a serious dick move. It was fun to see Jim so off balance and freaked out.
My damn DVR screwed up and didn't record Community. Mega sad face.
Posted by: Paultera at December 10, 2010 10:31 AM
When Dwight announced he had a wig for everyone in the office and then proceeded with a quick montage of his wearing wigs "disguised" as Meredith, Kevin and Stanley...I laughed so hard, I seriously didn't hear any line from the next scene. The episode, for the most part, delivered on a lot of levels.
Posted by: AlwaysSunnyinNJ at December 10, 2010 10:45 AM
I have to say you missed the best line from community. Right at the start when Abel revealed to everyone what he was seeing Jeff replied with, "I vote we just ignored this." I about died from laughter at this.
Posted by: Andy at December 10, 2010 10:55 AM
Hey, if you're gonna put in the LOST jab, you ought to put in the LOST affirmation, as well. Abed says both, "It's a metaphor for lack of pay-off," and, "Thanks, LOST," at the very end. Because like Christmas, LOST is meaningful because it has meaning for people. Duh-doy!
Like so many episodes of Community, when the show started, I was weary. How many times can they push their own boundaries and take so many risks before they absolutely fail? By the end, as I've said before, I was in love. That's one nice thing about this show, though: On re-watches, because the initial trepidation is gone, it's all joy all the time.
I really hope Holly is around for most of the rest of The Office's season. It's amazing how a character introduced so late to the series can suddenly be so integral to making it worth watching, and just good. I could've done without Dwight's terrorizing Jim to such a degree (or, alternately, have Jim retaliate successfully in some way and not look like a giant douche), but more Darryl is always welcome. I really hope, if the show continues after Carrel leaves, that they put Craig Robinson in the big office.
Last night was only the second 30 Rock episode I've seen, and that only because I messed up Community's start time. (I didn't anticipate that being good either, but I figured, based on those GIFs the other day, that if nothing else staring at Alison Brie for half an hour wouldn't be time wasted.) I think I laughed twice. Is this really the "comedy" that people get so excited about?
Posted by: Todd at December 10, 2010 11:21 AM
Last night was the best The Office episode of my life.
Posted by: Canada at December 10, 2010 12:05 PM
Yeah you're underrating the Office. That was the best one in years. Love, love, loved it.
Posted by: Justin at December 10, 2010 12:07 PM
Ooops.
Posted by: Lauren at December 10, 2010 12:12 PM
No worries, Paultera! It's already up on Hulu. i missed it last night 'cause of work, but watched it in the office this morning. Yaay!
Posted by: Anna von Beav at December 10, 2010 1:22 PM
The last shot of '30 Rock' was jawdroppinglyawsome.
'Community' was beautiful/hilarious/sublime.
...and my 9 year old daughter loved.
Perfect Xmas episode.
Posted by: oldSchool60 at December 10, 2010 2:07 PM
(Jim, in response to the gift he received from Pam) “I mean … “
killed me. it was perfect.
Posted by: sommer at December 10, 2010 3:33 PM
Anna von Beav,
I was going to whine that Hulu is blocked at my work but then realized that my DVR isn't at work either. I will watch it promptly on Hulu when I get home. (Unless my girlfriend got the hint and buys me Inception today and gives it to me early. Then I'm going to watch the SHIT out of that. Oh, yeah.)
Posted by: Paultera at December 10, 2010 3:46 PM
Seeing Dwight win one was both weird and awesome! We've seen Jim torment Dwight over the years and both accepted it and found it funny because "he had it comin'." It was interresting to see the tables turn. Especially since usually when Dwight offers up a challenge he ends up getting his ass kicked (karate).
Posted by: grizzle at December 10, 2010 4:16 PM
The best line of the WEEK was from Raising Hope.
Maw Maw (she had a fake beard on and was looking at herself in the mirror): Who the hell moved my vagina!?
Posted by: camila at December 10, 2010 5:31 PM
From 30 Rock, not a line but a sight gag. Tracy wearing a huge diamond encrusted gold necklace that read "poverty" at the homeless shelter. Hilarious.
Posted by: Gavin S. at December 10, 2010 5:39 PM
uh what about Troy's line who taught you therapy Michael Jackson's dad!
Posted by: blacksred at December 10, 2010 5:41 PM
Speaking of final scenes that were perfect, what about the final scene of the actual episode in Community. The reflection in the TV screen was beautiful.
Posted by: Shane at December 10, 2010 6:01 PM
I kinda wanted the Community episode to not be so self-referential ("That's why we're all in stop-motion-animation")and just run with the premise.
Oh, and CHRISTMAS PTERODACTYL!
Posted by: Parker Jammstein at December 10, 2010 6:22 PM
When I asked my husband, after Community was over, what he thought of it and he said "it was okay" in a meh kind of voice, I honestly considered divorce.
How did "I know all about that, Jack, the symbol on the Jessup family crest is a knight refusing to talk about his feelings" not make it onto the list??
Posted by: Upstate at December 10, 2010 7:13 PM
So, yeah.. I guess I'm the only who thought about turning off Community 10 minutes in.
Posted by: An Atlantan at December 10, 2010 7:54 PM
Nope, Atlantan, me too. Funny lines, but I didn't really feel it.
The Office was on fire. Didn't Mindy Kaling write that episode?
Posted by: Snuggiepants at December 10, 2010 8:09 PM
Finally got to see Community and I too want looking forward to a "very special' christmas episode but that was amazing! Turning a cute stop-motion gimic into an emotional cry for help was ingenious. It was fun yet heartbreaking at the same time and I was completely caught off guard.
On top of that I appreciated the gifs so much more now that I get how the characters were picked: Jeff-in-the-box, Britta Bot, BallerAnnie, TroySoldier, TeddyPierce, BabydollShirley tho?
Posted by: valerie at December 10, 2010 9:06 PM
Yeah, Mindy Kaling wrote that episode. I didn't really watch the whole thing, but I did love that moment after Pam gave Jim his present. I'll have to try watching the whole thing later.
uh what about Troy's line who taught you therapy Michael Jackson's dad!
That was my favourite line other than the Lost one.
Posted by: Uda at December 10, 2010 9:14 PM
Please don't shred me, but I didn't like Community at all. I didn't find it funny or touching, and I usually enjoy the show very much. Does this mean I have a Grinch heart?
Posted by: Geri at December 10, 2010 9:16 PM
In the Darfur region, the dead are often the lucky ones. Next slide.
Posted by: chayes at December 10, 2010 9:48 PM
You missed my favorite line of the night:
Jack Donaghy: What does our Christmas card say?
Elizabeth Banks' Character: Happy Holidays...is what terrorists say. Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Matt at December 10, 2010 10:37 PM
The Office was unbelievable last night. I haven't laughed so hard in YEARS, and most of it was just because of how EVIL Dwight has become. But Jim totally had that coming, specially after years and years of being tortured by Jim. Poor Jim looked dead on his feet and I just loooooved it.
Written by Mindy Kaling, of course. That chick is my HERO.
figgy, I've only been able to catch episodes of "The Office" off and on the past two seasons but, it's funny, because I usually end up catching the ones written by Mindy Kaling, which means that I was confuzzled when I started hearing all this talk about quality of eps going down. In my mind (based on the Mindy Kaling written eps) I was like "what do you mean...they've been HILARIOUS!"
Anothing interesting tidbit, this episode was also directed by "Rainn Wilson" (thus Dwight being mostly absent from this ep save a few scenes). So Mindy Kaling+Rainn Wilson=WIN.
My favorite scene was definitely when Pam goes after Michael and then he proceeds to have his mini breakdown. Steve Carell totally SOLD that scene and I found myself tearing up. I cannot believe that man hasn't won an Emmy.
Also, Erin's protective "NO" (as others have mentioned) was made of awesome, as was Jim's dorky, adoring reaction to Pam's gift. The episode was full of funny but my exchange of the night had to be the following:
Darryl: I told her Santa would be here.
Michael: Yeah well I was told Holly would be here, single and ready to date, and we all got misled.
Pam: Who told you that?
Michael: Nora Ephron...in every romantic comedy ever made.
Because...no kidding. Damn Nora Ephron and her unrealistic rom-com endings!
Posted by: smijca at December 11, 2010 12:54 PM
Hee. It was all heart and embarrassment and hilarity, which has always been what's made the Office so good.
Sigh, I haven't even got around to watching the last two Community episodes downloaded...but I am downloading all six seasons of The Rockford Files, now that is quality television!
Posted by: TrickyHD at December 11, 2010 11:00 PM
Christmas Pterodactyl!
Posted by: csb at December 12, 2010 7:48 AM
The Office was genius - really, really funny and touching and sweet and everything. Loved 30 Rock, but zeroed in on other lines:
a. Colleen yelling that Jack's scholarship "Should've gone to the other boy!" represents just about everything about my Irish-Catholic, Mass. upbringing in one line.
b. Loved Jack's insistence on using "Christmas" instead of "holiday", "druid", "winter", etc.
I didn't even hear the obesity line! The Chunks stuff was HILARIOUS.
Posted by: samantha t at December 13, 2010 12:16 PM
Truth! This is the first episode of the Office I watched all the way through! And it was a whole hour long! Holly and Michael really do make a great couple but it is kinda heartbreaking that she's moved on so much. Erin's reaction to the entire situation was priceless and I love how it all adds up to the office coming to Michael's defense. Protectiveness really warms my heart.