I have finally caught up on Community, and it did not disappoint. I think that what I'll refer to as the "blanket fort" episode was intended to be referred to as the "conspiracy theory" episode -- but for me, Abed and Troy will always steal the show. Annie did provide a good Bond girl/sidekick to Jeff, and the gun-pulling at the end was really funny. I'm glad, though, that their romantic plot wasn't significantly advanced, because she's only 19, and that's gross.
Troy's birthday episode was so great. The jokes around his 'expulsion', the relatability of the challenge of picking an acceptable bar for a group, and the added layer to Shirley's character were all very effective and very entertaining. The bottle episode was also great. The puppy parade concept was hilarious, and I, unlike Abed, love bottle episodes for the exact reasons that he hates them. There were no major love developments, but the possibility that Shirley is pregnant is crazy!
And finally, the claymation episode. It truly lived up to my expectations for it, which is high praise! The 'short, sad Christmas song' was incredible, as were Abed's claymation interpretations of the group. Even though the core of the episode was really sad, it was wildly entertaining, particularly John Oliver's character. I think I'll need to watch it again to truly appreciate it, and to catch anything that I may have missed.
Can't wait to see what the rest of the season has in store!
So, it doesn't look like it's a realistic goal for me to write a reaction to every episode of TV I watch. I am woefully behind on "my shows" as it is, and technological difficulties often force me to watch several shows in succession when I'm at my parents' house for the holidays, where there's a computer or On Demand that can stream or play the shows that aren't available on Hulu plus. I haven't even seen all of Community! I can't believe that it's not on Hulu plus -- it's the reason I ponied up the $9.99 in the first place! ... It's now $7.99/month, in case you were wondering.
Anyway, to start 2011, I'll just sum up some of my favorite TV episodes of the fall, with the disclaimer that I'm not caught up.
In no particular order:
- The Brittany/Britney episode of Glee. Brittany is a hilarious character and Heather Morris is an INCREDIBLE dancer -- and I will always have a special place in my heart for Britney. John Stamos, too. And since that episode is no longer available on Hulu, here's a close runner up for favorite Glee moment of the season:
I'm just mad that I didn't think of that mash up idea first.
- Bones and Lie to Me having good episodes, finally. I had just about given up on both of these shows. I lump them together because they're basically the same: crime-ish procedurals with just enough of a season-long character/plot arc to keep me interested week to week. But with Bones and Booth separated by Booth's annoying journalist girlfriend and no serial killer, and with Lightman interested in the dirty cop/the blonde lady who gave him money and very little face-reading being done, I didn't feel motivated to watch. I don't watch Bones because I'm dying to find out how the body ended up inside the giant chocolate bar (seriously?!) -- I watch it for the Bones/Booth tension, and a little bit for Angela and Hodgins. I feel a little bit differently about Lie to Me because the crime-solving is actually really interesting to me, when they get into the science of it (the facial expressions, etc.). But I also watch for the Lightman/Foster and Torres/Loker tension.
Anyway, to me, both shows had lost focus on the things that drew me to them, respectively. I was about to write them off (of my Hulu queue), but I gave them each one last chance one night while I was baking up a storm for a few cookie swaps. I was pleasantly surprised by the Bones episode "The Doctor in the Photo" and Lie to Me "Veronica." In "Veronica," Lightman's daughter, and somehow therefore Foster, play prominent roles. I think that Lightman's interactions with his daughter are much more interesting than watching him use his one move on his possible love interest of the week: talking up close in her face. Also, Loker and Torres get to interact for what feels like the first time since their one night stand before Loker's promotion killed whatever romance they had brewing. I feel like I could fill a whole blog with "weak plot devices that kill couples." Like when Joey breaks up with Dawson to draw. I digress.
"The Doctor in the Photo" was a doozey. Bones loses it! And confesses her love to Booth! Who rejects her! Emily Deschanel was great in this episode. And that helicopter pilot broke my heart. Lastly, I love Enrico Colantoni and welcome his presence in any show. It was a mini Veronica Mars reunion between Enrico and Francis Capra! (Someday, I will write a retroactive Veronica Mars post -- likely in conjunction with Party Down -- stay tuned!)
So whether it was November sweeps or just the producers and writers finally figuring out that they had lost their way, Bones and Lie to Me have effectively re-hooked me, easy target though I may be.
- The Office Christmas episode. I still have to rewatch it because it didn't have my full attention the first time, but Holly's return, the Jim/Pam gift exchange, and most importantly, the Jim/Dwight prank-off of the century had me cringing, clutching my hands to my heart, and belly laughing in all the right proportions.
- The season-long Serena Vanderwoodsen takedown on Gossip Girl. I already forget the schemer's name -- but her teaming up with Vanessa and Jenny was evil gossip genius. I wasn't even that mad about Blair and Chuck's getting back together only to break up again because I was too distracted that Serena was in mandatory rehab and Lily had gone over to the dark side! On a related note, I seriously heard the "Lincoln Hawk" song from Season 1 0r 2 in a coffee shop the other day. Luckily, I was with a friend who could corroborate that it was, in fact, a Gossip Girl original song. I wonder if the baristas threw it in the mix just to see if anyone noticed -- because I doubt that that song is in any kind of legitimate circulation.
- SNL: Paul Rudd and Jon Hamm as hosts, Stefan, Arcade Fire, the Miley Cyrus Show, Jay Pharoah's impressions.
- NOT THE MAD MEN FINALE. That proposal had the record-skip noise going off in my brain for days. Although, the scene with Peggy and Joan talking about it was almost worth it. I'll be very interested (as usual) to see what happens next season.
- So I still haven't seen the claymation Christmas episode of Community, but I'm willing to bet that it would make this list, if I had. The trampoline episode was pretty good. Donald Glover is so damn funny.
- The Barefoot Contessa and Scrubs: the TV I watch the most consistently is Ina Garten in the breakroom at work on my lunch break and old episodes of Scrubs at the gym. Ina inspired me to make chocolate truffles this Christmas, and sometimes I laugh out loud on the treadmill at Scrubs, even when I'm reading closed captions.
Things to look forward to in 2011: - Parks and Rec - the conclusion of Steve Carrell's tenure on The Office -- Michael and Holly riding off into the sunset - someday catching up on Community - Gwenyth Paltrow's return to Glee - Portlandia:
I CANNOT WAIT for the Portland, Maine response to this show.
