Please be aware that there are several spoilers in the following review.
This past Wednesday saw not one but two new episodes of the wildly successful "Modern Family." A quick note about "Modern Family" - this is the show that I judge all other pilot episodes of sitcoms with. The pilot episode of this show was genius and quite frankly the best I have ever seen, and it set the bar high for the series. I don't think any of the episodes have truly been as hilarious as the pilot episode was, but several have gotten close. Neither of the two new episodes were one of the ones that got close.
Both episodes were fine and were filled with laughs (my favorite being the family's reaction when Claire shows the security camera footage to prove that she was right about Phil pushing her at the grocery store), but they weren't the best of the series. I like all the plot lines that were set up for the season, including Cam and Mitch deciding to adopt a baby boy. And Gloria was hysterical as usual. But what was the deal with Lilly?!? I knew they were recasting her, but she is walking around and talking now! She aged three years in three months! And no one acknowledged it - they just kept on going like it was normal. I think this is going to be a huge plot line this season - who this Lilly impostor is and who she works for and why she is infiltrating this innocent family.
I liked the second episode more than the first one, but neither one really stands out to me as spectacular. Oh well... I'm sure they'll knock it out of the park next week.
Final score for Dude Ranch: 6.0 out of 10
Final score for When Good Kinds Go Bad: 7.0 out of 10
Saturday, September 24, 2011
"Parks and Recreation" Episode Review: I'm Leslie Knope
Please be aware that there are several spoilers in the following review.
"Parks and Rec" is a show that, quite frankly, amazes me. When the show was being created, it was going to be a spin off of "The Office" - just a different branch of Dunder-Mifflin headed up by another dim-witted but lovable manager. That idea was quickly turned into a brand new concept, which then became "Parks and Recreation." And it is incredible to me that this show feels so different and so much more fresh than "The Office" usually does. And it genuinely makes me laugh more than any of the other sitcoms I watch.
There was a lot that had to happen in this episode, and it delivered. It picked up just minutes after the past season ended, with Leslie deciding that she is going to run for office and Ron freaking out because his first ex-wife, Tammy I, was in the building. I love the lengths that Ron went to to safe guard himself from her, including hiding a survival back pack in the ceiling vents. Tom no longer works for the Parks department but definitely has enough swag for his new company - I just have to wonder if his new company actually does anything. The plot line with Anne constantly getting texted images of men's penises was hilarious and was quite frankly the best part of the episode. But the main meat of the episode was Leslie trying to decide if she was going to run for office or stay with her boss, Ben.
I like Leslie and Ben a lot, but I really want to see Leslie succeed. I would love for this show to follow her all the way to the white house, but I doubt that would happen. So I was glad when Leslie chose to run over staying with Ben, but I am sad to see them break up. I doubt that's the last we will see of their relationship, as I am sure that once Ben leaves Pawnee, they can then be together again. And I want Leslie to have success in both her love life and her career. But more her career.
Final score: 8.5 out of 10.
"Parks and Rec" is a show that, quite frankly, amazes me. When the show was being created, it was going to be a spin off of "The Office" - just a different branch of Dunder-Mifflin headed up by another dim-witted but lovable manager. That idea was quickly turned into a brand new concept, which then became "Parks and Recreation." And it is incredible to me that this show feels so different and so much more fresh than "The Office" usually does. And it genuinely makes me laugh more than any of the other sitcoms I watch.
There was a lot that had to happen in this episode, and it delivered. It picked up just minutes after the past season ended, with Leslie deciding that she is going to run for office and Ron freaking out because his first ex-wife, Tammy I, was in the building. I love the lengths that Ron went to to safe guard himself from her, including hiding a survival back pack in the ceiling vents. Tom no longer works for the Parks department but definitely has enough swag for his new company - I just have to wonder if his new company actually does anything. The plot line with Anne constantly getting texted images of men's penises was hilarious and was quite frankly the best part of the episode. But the main meat of the episode was Leslie trying to decide if she was going to run for office or stay with her boss, Ben.
I like Leslie and Ben a lot, but I really want to see Leslie succeed. I would love for this show to follow her all the way to the white house, but I doubt that would happen. So I was glad when Leslie chose to run over staying with Ben, but I am sad to see them break up. I doubt that's the last we will see of their relationship, as I am sure that once Ben leaves Pawnee, they can then be together again. And I want Leslie to have success in both her love life and her career. But more her career.
Final score: 8.5 out of 10.
"Community" Episode Review: Biology 101
Please be aware that there are a lot of spoilers in the following review.
I am a huge fan of "Community." I think it is quirky, weird, and just plain hilarious. Needless to say, I was very excited for this new season to start. Unfortunately, I wasn't that impressed with the episode. At the end of last season, Pierce (Chevy Chase) decided that he wasn't going to be in the group anymore, but five minutes into the season premier he is back. I found that kind of sloppy. I did like, though, that Jeff (Joel McHale) got kicked out of biology class, allowing Pierce to join it, so now, technically, Jeff is out of the group. I thought that was a nice little reversal.
Abed's (Daniel Pudi) plot line was pretty funny - he was upset and verging on a mental breakdown because "Cougar Town" was moved to midseason, so he had nothing to watch. Britta (Gillian Jacobs) trying to find him new shows, like the British original that "Cougar Town" was based off of, "Cougarton Alley," - was pretty funny. And, on a side note, I was watching "Cougar Town's" season premier and the gang are sitting at a restaurant patio talking, and in the background is Abed watching intently, like he is watching a TV show. It was hilarious and just the sort of thing that "Community" would do, but I thought it was so cool that they were able to work that out, with one show being on NBC and the other being on ABC. Pretty cool.
I like that Troy (Donald Glover) and Abed are finally living together, and I thought it was hilarious that when they announced it everyone thought they were announcing that they were gay. The two new additions to the cast (John Goodman and Michael K. Williams) were good and I am interested to see how they pan out for the rest of the season.
Overall, the episode was fine and it definitely set the stage for what seems like a very interesting season, but that is about it. It doesn't stand on it's own legs, it just sort of serves as a precursor of what is to come. That's not a bad thing, it was just a little bit of a disappointment. That being said, I am very excited to tune in next week and see how all of the set-ups that happened in this episode pan out.
Overall score: 7 out of 10.
I am a huge fan of "Community." I think it is quirky, weird, and just plain hilarious. Needless to say, I was very excited for this new season to start. Unfortunately, I wasn't that impressed with the episode. At the end of last season, Pierce (Chevy Chase) decided that he wasn't going to be in the group anymore, but five minutes into the season premier he is back. I found that kind of sloppy. I did like, though, that Jeff (Joel McHale) got kicked out of biology class, allowing Pierce to join it, so now, technically, Jeff is out of the group. I thought that was a nice little reversal.
Abed's (Daniel Pudi) plot line was pretty funny - he was upset and verging on a mental breakdown because "Cougar Town" was moved to midseason, so he had nothing to watch. Britta (Gillian Jacobs) trying to find him new shows, like the British original that "Cougar Town" was based off of, "Cougarton Alley," - was pretty funny. And, on a side note, I was watching "Cougar Town's" season premier and the gang are sitting at a restaurant patio talking, and in the background is Abed watching intently, like he is watching a TV show. It was hilarious and just the sort of thing that "Community" would do, but I thought it was so cool that they were able to work that out, with one show being on NBC and the other being on ABC. Pretty cool.
I like that Troy (Donald Glover) and Abed are finally living together, and I thought it was hilarious that when they announced it everyone thought they were announcing that they were gay. The two new additions to the cast (John Goodman and Michael K. Williams) were good and I am interested to see how they pan out for the rest of the season.
Overall, the episode was fine and it definitely set the stage for what seems like a very interesting season, but that is about it. It doesn't stand on it's own legs, it just sort of serves as a precursor of what is to come. That's not a bad thing, it was just a little bit of a disappointment. That being said, I am very excited to tune in next week and see how all of the set-ups that happened in this episode pan out.
Overall score: 7 out of 10.
"The Office" Episode Review: The List
Please be aware that there are several spoilers in this review.
I have always loved "The Office." Sure, it has had a lot of less-than-great seasons lately, but I still love the characters and want to see what they are doing every week. Last season ended with a pretty big bang - Michael Scott (Steve Carrell) quit his job to move away with his fiance, Holly Flax. A lot of people, myself included, thought that the show should end with Carrell's departure. Sure, the show has been praised for its ensemble cast, but it really centers on Michael Scott as the boss of these lovable workers. A lot of people doubted that the show would last for long without him. I am EXTREMELY pleased to say that I was wrong to think that. This Thursday's episode, entitled "The List," was a fantastic episode that showed off the strengths of the cast and showed everyone that "The Office" will be around for a long time - even without Carell.
The plot of the episode was simple - the gang at Dunder-Mifflin Scranton find a list left behind by new CEO Robert California (James Spader) that separates them into two separate columns. They try to figure out why certain people are on the side that they are on for the majority of the episode.
Let's just talk really quick about the cold open - the scene before the credits. There were enough laughs and enough info packed in there to fill up an entire episode. Pam is pregnant again! Angela is too! And she is married to the gay (?) senator! Robert California got the regional manager position, but on the first day convinced Jo (Kathy Bates) to give him the CEO job! So Andy Bernard gets Michael Scott's old job! WHAT IS HAPPENING!!! Also, the scenes of people planking were hilarious, as well as Stanley's "shove it up your butt" joke. My wife and I had to rewind the opening scene because we were laughing too much to really get what was going on. I thought it was a brilliant way to start the episode - as an ensemble cast. It was like they were saying, "Yes, Michael Scott is gone. But we are still a hilarious cast and here is why you love us." Speaking of Michael Scott - I'm glad they had a little reference to him in this episode. I'd love for them to refer to him every once in a while. Oh - and in the opening credits when Andy tried to rearrange his desk toy and he knocked it over: I thought that was brilliant. If the opening credits can make me laugh, we know we are in for a great episode.
And that's really what this episode was. It reminded me of the show in it's hay day, circa season 2. I think Carrell leaving the show helped breathe new life into the show. I really like what is happening with all of the characters. And I think that Andy replacing him as the boss is a genius move. They have already established that he is a terrible salesman - but maybe he really is good at managing. He definitely stepped up to the plate this episode. And I'm glad they didn't pick someone new, who would just have been a Michael Scott wannabe. We already know and love Andy, so we can just see what he does as a manager now. Pam's story line had me laughing a lot too, and there was even a cute Jim and Pam moment towards the end. About Robert California - he was my least favorite of the candidates, but I am enjoying seeing him interact with each person in the office more and more. I think it was an inspired choice to cast him and then quickly promote him to CEO.
I know this was a long review, but there was a lot riding on this episode. And it absolutely delivered. I can't wait to tune in next week.
Final score: 9.5 out of 10.
I have always loved "The Office." Sure, it has had a lot of less-than-great seasons lately, but I still love the characters and want to see what they are doing every week. Last season ended with a pretty big bang - Michael Scott (Steve Carrell) quit his job to move away with his fiance, Holly Flax. A lot of people, myself included, thought that the show should end with Carrell's departure. Sure, the show has been praised for its ensemble cast, but it really centers on Michael Scott as the boss of these lovable workers. A lot of people doubted that the show would last for long without him. I am EXTREMELY pleased to say that I was wrong to think that. This Thursday's episode, entitled "The List," was a fantastic episode that showed off the strengths of the cast and showed everyone that "The Office" will be around for a long time - even without Carell.
The plot of the episode was simple - the gang at Dunder-Mifflin Scranton find a list left behind by new CEO Robert California (James Spader) that separates them into two separate columns. They try to figure out why certain people are on the side that they are on for the majority of the episode.
Let's just talk really quick about the cold open - the scene before the credits. There were enough laughs and enough info packed in there to fill up an entire episode. Pam is pregnant again! Angela is too! And she is married to the gay (?) senator! Robert California got the regional manager position, but on the first day convinced Jo (Kathy Bates) to give him the CEO job! So Andy Bernard gets Michael Scott's old job! WHAT IS HAPPENING!!! Also, the scenes of people planking were hilarious, as well as Stanley's "shove it up your butt" joke. My wife and I had to rewind the opening scene because we were laughing too much to really get what was going on. I thought it was a brilliant way to start the episode - as an ensemble cast. It was like they were saying, "Yes, Michael Scott is gone. But we are still a hilarious cast and here is why you love us." Speaking of Michael Scott - I'm glad they had a little reference to him in this episode. I'd love for them to refer to him every once in a while. Oh - and in the opening credits when Andy tried to rearrange his desk toy and he knocked it over: I thought that was brilliant. If the opening credits can make me laugh, we know we are in for a great episode.
And that's really what this episode was. It reminded me of the show in it's hay day, circa season 2. I think Carrell leaving the show helped breathe new life into the show. I really like what is happening with all of the characters. And I think that Andy replacing him as the boss is a genius move. They have already established that he is a terrible salesman - but maybe he really is good at managing. He definitely stepped up to the plate this episode. And I'm glad they didn't pick someone new, who would just have been a Michael Scott wannabe. We already know and love Andy, so we can just see what he does as a manager now. Pam's story line had me laughing a lot too, and there was even a cute Jim and Pam moment towards the end. About Robert California - he was my least favorite of the candidates, but I am enjoying seeing him interact with each person in the office more and more. I think it was an inspired choice to cast him and then quickly promote him to CEO.
I know this was a long review, but there was a lot riding on this episode. And it absolutely delivered. I can't wait to tune in next week.
Final score: 9.5 out of 10.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
"New Girl" Pilot Review
"New Girl" is the story about newly single Jess (Zooey Deschanel) learning how to move on with her life as she moves in with three guys she does not know (Damon Wayans Jr., Jake M. Johnson, and Max Greenfield). This was another show that I was looking forward to, but it was pretty low on my list. I just really like Deschanel, and that is the only reading why I wanted to watch this show. And I was right - she is the best part. She is quirky, funny, cute and down to earth. A lot of the time that she was on screen I found myself at least chuckling. That's a good start, in my opinion.
The rest of the cast were fine, but none of them really stood out. Just like in "Up All Night," a lot of this episode felt tired and old - not a great start for a new series. However, there were some truly funny parts - my favorite begin the douche jar. That made me laugh every time it was mentioned.
Now on to the real question: did it live up to the pilot episode of "Modern Family" - my pilot episode measuring stick? No, not even close. While that is disappointing, it is ok. I didn't like "The Office" until well into season 2, and now I can't get enough of that show. The good news is that this pilot made me want to see more from these characters, and that is really all that a pilot episode is supposed to do. It's supposed to give you enough of a taste of what the show could be, and then entice you enough to come back for more. So I'll definitely be tuning in next week. If you missed this episode on tv, you can download it for free from iTunes.
Score: 5 out of 10
"Up All Night" Pilot Review
There are several new shows this fall season that I am interested in, but the one that I am the most excited about is "Up All Night." Why am I so excited about this show? It's simple really - the cast. I am a huge fan of all three of the main actors, from Christina Applegate ("Anchorman") to Will Arnett ("Arrested Development," "30 Rock") to Maya Rudolph ("Bridesmaids," "SNL") - they are all hilarious. And they are the one thing that makes me want to give this show another chance.
"Up All Night" tells the story of a married couple dealing with their first child. Bucking tradition, Chris (Arnett) decides to quit his job as a lawyer and stay at home with daughter Amy so that Reagan (Applegate) can go back to work for her crazy tv talk show host boss, Ava (Rudolph). Sure, there were some laughs to be had, but the entire pilot felt a little tired. I know that it was just the first episode and they are trying to figure out what kind of show they are, but the bar has been set with the phenomenal pilot episode of a little show called "Modern Family." To me, the pilot episode of that show is the episode that all pilot episodes will be judged by, and, unfortunately this one missed the mark by a long shot.
That's not to say that I am not going to give this show another chance. Again, Applegate and Arnett have great chemistry and both are hilarious, so I am interested to see where this show takes them. And I hope that Arnett can finally have the hit show that he deserves. I also am interested to see what they do with Ava's talk show. Should "Up All Night" prove to be a hit, I could see Ava's talk show to function as a vehicle for hilarious guest starts to visit. So I am hopeful that enough people tune in so that we can really see what this show can do. If you missed it on tv, you can download the pilot for free from the iTunes store. That's what I did.
Score: 5.5 out of 10
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