Community (Grade: B. The show is on a minor slide; is it easier to be sweet than it is funny? Because, lately, it’s become a much better heartwarming comedy than funny one).
“An epidural is the only chance for a real Christian woman to get wrecked.”
“$500. That’s like a million bucks in dog dollars.”
“I didn’t even there was a difference between North and South Korean BBQ. I mean, M*A*S*H lasted longer than that war. Get over it, right?”
“If you can visualize a rabbit riding a dragon, it will increase its chances of winning the lottery.”
“Can you believe we come into the world, screaming and crying, covered in crap. And have the nerve to believe we’re destined for greatness?”
The Office (Grade: B+. On the one hand, that was it? On the other hand, kudos on a sweet, understated farewell. It’s fitting. Last year, when Steve Carell announced he was leaving, he was asked how he wanted his last episode to be. He said something along the lines of, “It’s not up to me, but if it were, I’d want it to be like a regular day at the office.”)
“You should never settle for who you are.”
“As a person who buys a lot of erotic cakes, it just feels good to be represented on one.”
“Can I give you a piece of advice? A little cover-up on your Adam’s Apple will make it appear smaller, making you look less like a transvestite.”
“They say on your deathbed you never wish you spent more time at the office. But I will. It’s gotta be a lot better than a deathbed. I don’t even understand death beds. Who would ever buy one?”
Parks and Recreation (Grade: A.)
“‘Four stars!’ says nobody.”
“Shut up. And look at me. Welcome to Visions of Nature. This room has several paintings in it. Some are big and some are small. People did them and they are here now. I believe after this is over they will be hung in government buildings. Why the government is involved in an art show is beyond me. I also think it’s pointless for a human to paint scenes of nature when they can go outside and stand in it.”
“Every great work of art contains a message. And the message of this painting is ‘Get out of my way, unless you want an arrow in your ass, Marcia.’”
“Do you know what cute means?”
“For viewers at home who many not know, Leslie, are centaurs real?”
“Brandi, how would you define pornography?” “For me, it’s when the penis goes in.”
30 Rock (Grade: B)
“Lizbianism means that I’m a dyke against the rising waters of mediocrity.”
“That’s from Invictus! Wait. Who’s the white guy in that?”
“President Inter-Bush is out of the question.”
“Mars Attacks! is awesome.”
“No one here’s ever seen an iPhone. I told them it was my razor. I have to shave my legs with it, but they have an app for that.”
Each Time You Like, Share, Tweet or Stumble a Pajiba Post, An Angel Does the Paul Rudd Dance
"Earlier this year..,.I delivered a baby in the back of an SUV."
"When did all this happen?"
"In the background."
Posted by: Socrates_Johnson at April 29, 2011 11:06 AM
Actually, I think what made that joke, Socrates, was that he said everyone else was in the background while he was delivering said baby. Also, does anyone else remember that it was Shirley who asked Abed, in that episode, what he'd been doing all week? If that wasn't foreshadowing, these guys are geniuses without even knowing it.
But, yeah, Parks and Rec was funnier (that painting was, without question, the best painting ever -- I NEED IT), and The Office was pretty damn good and important, so I think this ep of Community is going to feel a little less awesome. But, I loved it. I can't wait to watch these episodes back-to-back; that's when the series really shines.
I think B is a little generous for Community. Chang's lines were fairly amusing, but there wasn't much that was laugh-out-loud funny.
Posted by: Todd at April 29, 2011 11:17 AM
I hate stunt casting in any show, but last night it sunk to new depths with the lame attempt to rehabilitate Condoleeza Rice's image. I mention this because I don't know if that was what clouded my judgment or if 30 Rock has just become unfunny. I feel as if all the story lines/character jokes have played out a thousand times and there's nothing left to do with them.
On the other hand, Parks and Rec which I never watched until this season is delightful. Perhaps there should be a law that a sit com gets four years and that's it to spare us all from the embarrassing downward slide.
Posted by: PaddyDog at April 29, 2011 11:24 AM
Mars Attacks! IS really fucking awesome.
tata-tata-atatat-tata!
The Office was sweet, but a little disappointing. Not that I needed or wanted Michael to go out with a whole bunch of fanfare, but I was looking forward to getting a little emotional over the whole ordeal, and I...kind of didn't. Maybe that had something to do with the fact that I sobbed (again) at the end of the proposal episode that they replayed immediately beforehand, but I don't know.
Community has definitely been off it's game lately. Are they trying to set up some kind of real, let's-settle-down type thing between Jeff and Britta? Because NO.
But Parks and Rec just keeps being awesome, week after week after week. Seriously, I am so in love with that show, I can't even stand it. Rob Lowe was on Oprah yesterday, and I happened to catch the part where he was talking about being on the show and he said that he feels lucky because everyone involved is just so funny, and it's true. Even Ann Perkins had a couple funny moments last night.
Posted by: burpany at April 29, 2011 11:47 AM
The best line on Community was Starburns and the other recurring characters reminiscing about the fake clip show. "This day was almost not all about them. Remember when they went off on that St Patrick's Day river ride?"
I think Community is funnier than 30 Rock, whose format is 3 jokes a minute, so something's gotta land. Community seems to integrate everything into a funnier whole.
Posted by: Three-nineteen at April 29, 2011 11:51 AM
Did it bother anyone else that Pam was able to say goodbye after Michael had gone through the security checkpoint? All I could think was "How did she get through without a boarding pass?" "Did she buy a ticket just to say goodbye?"
..
...
....
....
Posted by: Phase10 at April 29, 2011 11:53 AM
I loved loved looooved Parks and Rec, but the teasing with Ben and Leslie? IT. IS. KILLING ME. To the point where I was literally screaming at the TV when Andy and April interrupted them. Just driving me insane. And we all know it's gonna happen!
I really enjoyed The Office send off. The final bit with Jim and Michael was well done, even though it very much felt like it was John and Steve saying goodbye rather than Jim and Michael.
I couldn't stop laughing when Michael was talking about his "gift" to Oscar, and how it looked like it was made by a 2 year old monkey. Just seeing him in hysterics over that was freaking hilarious.
Also "You guys will let me know if this ever airs, right?" and "So you're following people in the bathrooms now?" I'm thinking 2 reference to the camera crew (and Michael handing over his mic pack) is starting to set up the documentary finishing up. They were damn subtle about the Scanton Strangler and that plot is starting to get some play, so I can see this as laying the groundwork for a shakeup on the show.
I loved the part with Deangelo and the cake when Dwight turns to Jim and says "Uh-oh". I know the show loves playing those 2 against each other but it's always when they are working together that it gets a lot more fun so hopefully we'll see more of that as the parade of bosses begins.
Parks had far too many good lines. But the one about eating turkey chili off a frisbee was excellent.
I'm dreading 30 Rock. That promo with the painful Condoleeza Rice bit made the show look like it was planning to jump ALL the sharks. And maybe a whale. And an octopus. And Sharktopus.
I totally agree with burpany. I was expecting a little misty-eyed nostalgia, but I just didn't get too sad. I also think maybe re-watching the proposal made it feel less emotional. It's good to see him go out on that note. I really liked the part with the cake. I really liked Will Ferrell bringing back the mean and awkwardness to the show. And yes, it bugged me when Pam said goodbye to Michael after he was through the gate. Come on we ALL know you can't do that.
Parks and Rec was amahzing and I totally want that painting also. Too awesome. I love the fat baby.
Community was funny, and I agree with the B.
But, I was so not into 30 Rock. And the Condi guest spot was just totally squicky. Ick.
On another note, I just started reading Bossypants and that Tina Fey is too hilarious! I am lauging like an idiot on the Metro and I love it.
Posted by: Nimue at April 29, 2011 12:14 PM
Indecent Proposal...
"Woody"
"Demi!"
Posted by: Optimus Rhyme at April 29, 2011 12:18 PM
30 Rock had a short reign as the funniest show on TV, but seriously, Condi Rice? an extended Kim Jong Il joke? that "smooth move Ferguson" bullshit? How did that episode get a B, are we grading on the fucking metric system now? I used to love that show but with this week and last week's debacle, it's actually in danger of getting deleted from my DVR series recordings and I record Cougertown. Cougertown, people!
Posted by: Emcee Peepants at April 29, 2011 1:15 PM
I noticed that Pam had her shoes off and in her hand, as if she had also just gone through security. Therefore I assumed she pulled a "give me the cheapest ticket you have" type of deal at the airport.
With regards to 30 Rock, I actually only recently watched the entire series on Netflix, and have been catching up with S5 on demand. I am so surprised by how much I loved the first 3 seasons, and then 4 and now 5 are just....sucking!!! I hate the Avery storyline altogether, and that Condoleeza Rice bullshit...my god.
Posted by: anon33 at April 29, 2011 2:06 PM
"Hello, fellow lover of the arts. Welcome to the painting."
If you want to get behind security at the airport you shouldn't buy the cheapest ticket, you should buy a first class, fully-refundable ticket. You can use it to get behind security, say your goodbyes, then call and cancel the ticket and get your money back. Apparently people in Europe do this at the big airports in order to get to the airside duty-free shops.
Posted by: frequentflier at April 29, 2011 3:33 PM
My favorite line on The Office came from Deangelo - it was when he was in there with Andy trying to renew a contract or whatever and he was talking about Russian Roulette... Something like, "it's time to spin the cylinder, Morris."
Posted by: Mattfactor at April 29, 2011 3:45 PM
I thought Community was much better than The Office and 30 Rock. I loved all the Chang jokes and I like when they give the Dean extra lines. I constantly do the Troy/Abed handshake with one of my employees so I'm glad Pierce didn't ruin it.
Parks and Rec was hysterical again. Ron Swanson is the funniest character on television.
Posted by: becks at April 29, 2011 3:50 PM
"We have a couple of house rules. One, you can't come in through the front door, you have to climb in through the window. No personal phone calls. If you ever speak to me in Spanish you must use the formal 'Usted'*. And no electricity after 6pm. If you ever watch a sad movie you have to wear mascara so we can see whether or not you've been crying. There's no noise allowed on Mondays. And no TV after breakfast."
@figgy - I can't believe that didn't make the list. That was even better than Aziz's list of foods last week. Awesome.
Posted by: Ashley at April 29, 2011 10:01 PM
@PaddyDog - Now that you mention it, maybe the "end while you're still affecting people" philosophy is explains why many British sitcoms end on strange psuedo-resolutions (i.e. Coupling - What happens with Patrick and Sally??!?!) and others stay alive forever i.e. Dr. Who.
Incidentally, both formats seem to annoy Americans.
Posted by: kiyo-chan at April 30, 2011 1:44 AM
....er...not that Dr. Who is a sitcom at all. Just to clarify. I suppose I should have said "British shows." Apologies.
Posted by: kiyo-chan at April 30, 2011 1:46 AM
"Please let the record reflect that the fat baby, is referring to the painting."
Posted by: Alex00 at April 30, 2011 3:40 AM
The April quote was the best, but my favourite moment was when Ben was sneaking a peak at the painting.
Posted by: Uda at April 30, 2011 6:04 AM
Everything about Parks was great, but I just can't feel right about giving it an A when there was so little Ron Swanson. However, I don't see why the quote of his speech was cut short...
I liked Community's episode, and I think people are starting to get a little demanding with this show. Although I did find it funny that after parodying bottle episodes earlier this season, they did one the week before Paintball II.
I also loved Starburns' way-too-impressed reactions to things like Dean Magazine.
Posted by: Steve at April 30, 2011 6:56 AM
Riot Kerfuffle?
Posted by: kirbyjay at April 30, 2011 7:13 AM
I lost it at Community's Dean saying, "I'm sort of a father figure to the kids around here, with my out-side the box approach to education... Y'know, like in that film? Children of the Corn?"
Posted by: prestocaro at April 30, 2011 6:25 PM
Parks and Recs:
I love when Ben tells Andy and April he's going to teach them to be adults.
"Gee golly thanks, Mister."
the way she says it just kills me.
Posted by: ? at April 30, 2011 8:54 PM
"I think Community is funnier than 30 Rock, whose format is 3 jokes a minute, so something's gotta land. Community seems to integrate everything into a funnier whole."
YES. That. Co-sign.
Posted by: Anna von Beav at May 1, 2011 12:52 PM
I thought The Office was perfect. I cried so much. The silent "that's what she said" was just one of many perfect touches.
I hope they give Steve Carell his much-deserved Emmy this year.
"Earlier this year..,.I delivered a baby in the back of an SUV."
"When did all this happen?"
"In the background."