Parks and Recreation - Page 14

Any one else notied yet another joke crossover between NBC shows this week? Both P+R and Community featured Battle Royales.

Tonight's NBC Thursday Night Movie:  Kinji Fukasaku's BATTLE ROYALE!

Good god, he has a chestache.

By Crom!

I'm kind of unhealthily obsessed with Community so it pains me to say this, and I don't want to sound too hyperbolic, but this show...  is the one true heir to Arrested Development's throne.  Just amazing all around.

Adam Scott killed tonight.

She's going to powder her VAGINA?

My favorite...

"Just talk about nerd stuff."

"Actually, nerd culture has become mainstream, so when you use it as a pejorative, you're the one who's outside the zeitgeist."

"Perfect, just like that."

"Who's your favorite character on Sex and the City?"

"Alf."

I love the Ron and April dynamic.  The look of bemusement and pride when she called him Lester was so good.

I LOVED that even Chris couldn't make it in Eagleton.

Adam Scott's "What the hell?!" when they entered Joan's bedroom was PERFECTLY delivered.

I love how they keep pairing up Ben and Tom.  I could watch an entire show of just those two.  

I think it's safe to say that Parks and Recreation is the earlier front-runner for funniest show of the season. And I say that not having seen Charlie's Angels.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacob Singer 

My favorite...

 

"Just talk about nerd stuff."

"Actually, nerd culture has become mainstream, so when you use it as a pejorative, you're the one who's outside the zeitgeist."

"Perfect, just like that."

And then, that punishingly authentic fan-speculation on the Star Trek sequel.

The Gotcha Dancers. I honestly found it difficult to breathe. This show has become phenomenal.

Nefertiti's Fjord...holy crap, I can't believe they actually made the music for that joke.  And it was perfect.

Dey awe-ah lesbians!

I love Dan Castellaneta's voice!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hammerhead 

And then, that punishingly authentic fan-speculation on the Star Trek sequel.

Ben's initial sarcastic reaction, immediately followed by genuine nerd interest is becoming one of my favourite running jokes on the show.  Last week with the 'break evens' and this week with this bit.

I wonder if the identity of whoever gave Joan the anonymous tip about Leslie's birthplace is going to be revealed in a future episode...

Good question.  Is her father still alive?  I don't recall them ever saying anything about him on the show before last night.

I was actually in a Barnes and Noble yesterday and spent a good 10 minutes skimming through the "Pawnee: The Greatest Town in America" book and chuckling to myself.

When I watched the episode that night all I thought was how much I regretted not buying it. Quick Art, post that Baldwin pic again!

Oh shit, that Pawnee book is REAL?  I want it!

Also, what was up with Retta only showing up with one line at the end of the episode?  She's barely in the show as it is.

http://www.amazon.com/Pawnee-Greatest-America-Leslie-Knope/dp/1401310648/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1318036339&sr=8-1

So we're all buying this now, right? Joan Callamezzo did put her sticker on it.

Ordering now, although I kind of wish it did come with a Joan sticker.  Maybe I should wait...

Just scanning through the Amazon preview there are so many brilliant things ('Zorp is dead.  Long live Zorp!').  I think I'll have to go Barnes & Noble tomorrow.

We haven't yet seen who Leslie is running against right? I'll be interested to see who it is, seems that they would be responsible.

Ben was the funniest one today, the way he looked at the camera when Chris said he was a speed reader was perfect.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deanburger 

We haven't yet seen who Leslie is running against right? I'll be interested to see who it is, seems that they would be responsible.

My guess:  Leslie's mom.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fafhrd 

My guess:  Leslie's mom.

As a longtime Pamela Reed fan, I hope you're right.

Can we give some credit to Mo Collins?

She has been fantastic in every episode she's been in, with the last one easily being her best appearance.

PARKS AND RECREATION is building a stable of supporting players that may rival ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT at some point

Mo Collins is SOLID AS A ROCK!

Funny how this pulled ahead of the Thursday-night pack so radically.

I mean, The Office and to some extent 30 Rock are winded now — they're in syndication now, they can coast and probably will. Community gained tons of good will last season but, to these eyes, seems to be frittering it away so far this year. Whitney I don't even watch; nobody does, I think, including Whitney. That leaves Parks & Rec to be this glorious bright smear of lunacy in what's become a somewhat rote evening, where Community used to be the jewel in the crown and P&R used to be the weak offspring of The Office and 30 Rock.

Community has flop sweat — all those writers are gone, and as hip and knowing as it strains to be, it feels like it's beseeching you, "Watch our show! Tell your friends!" Everyone in it is an asshole to some degree, and the novelty of that is wearing a little thin; Chevy Chase does the most with it, but then he's an old hand at being a dick. P&R is more likable, has the rare great ensemble cast where every character would be the breakout wacky Kramer on a lesser sitcom (Chang is fast becoming the Kramer of Community, and not in a good way), and sort of humbly goes about its business of maintaining its strong stride and being funny as fuck.

The Office continues to have fine little moments. I find myself looking forward to whatever Erin is going to do. She alone still has a Michael Scott kind of surreal, unpredictable energy; most everyone else is going to do what they're going to do, I think you know what I mean. Any time Spader drops in is worth my time.

30 Rock is, I think, getting hurt by being away and not coming back along with the rest of the line-up — I know it's because of Tina's pregnancy and she and the show can't help it, but it still kind of gives the show a pompous air of specialness — "You will wait until 2012 for more 30 Rock," and when it comes back it's only going to be more of the same. Catching the occasional Season 1 episode in syndication doesn't help. The show used to be hungry, like P&R is, and it was easier to forget you were watching the pains and problems of a group of massively overpaid untalented people (TGS with or without Tracy has never been held up as an actual quality show).

But yeah. P&R, the little show that could.

P&R pulled ahead of the pack seasons ago IMO. Absolutely love the show, and this ep in particular. While I still love Community dearly, last season it headed into darker territory and this season doesn't seem to be letting up. But everyone on Parks and Rec genuinely likes each other, and it is such a joy to watch a show where there is such positive rapport between EVERYONE. Each actor holds their own, and the writers really flesh out each character whether they are leads or supporting players. I can't say enough good things about this show.

     Quote:

Originally Posted by Diva 

P&R pulled ahead of the pack seasons ago IMO. Absolutely love the show, and this ep in particular. While I still love Community dearly, last season it headed into darker territory and this season doesn't seem to be letting up. But everyone on Parks and Rec genuinely likes each other, and it is such a joy to watch a show where there is such positive rapport between EVERYONE. Each actor holds their own, and the writers really flesh out each character whether they are leads or supporting players. I can't say enough good things about this show.

I really liked the pilot for Community. I mean, really, truly liked the pilot. The script was sharply plotted (despite the limitations of the location, mind you), and defined the characters in ways that could mostly work regardless of who would eventually be cast. Of course, it was helped by having such great performers in place, but this was a rare pilot that felt crafted, like an exceptional short film.

Most pilots are not great. I hate that all the creative people in television have to make their first impression with a product that will be nowhere near as refined as the best episodes to come (assuming the ratings-gods smile on them). I don't think these characters were meant to be jerks when the pilot was made. But like all series, things evolve after the pilot. Community is still funny and fast-paced, but has taken on more of a whimsical, yet occasionally dark, tone.

However, most sitcoms tend to go in the exact opposite direction, towards flat-out cartoonishness. Fans of The Office and How I Met Your Mother have had issues with that sort of thing, but it's nothing new. When shows like Growing Pains were breaking the fourth wall, you knew the writers were running out of ideas.

It would be nice if the study-group characters could have a chance to be more grounded like they were in the pilot, but as long as they're still in that one location, I think the interpersonal conflict inherent to the premise is going to make them a tad jerk-ish from time to time.

I don't get that. P&R is set in mostly one location. My issues aren't about the setting or premise of the script. It is in regards to the ways in which the characters interact with one another. Sure, the Community gang at their core are friends. But almost every episode has them bickering or pointing out each others flaws. While some folks get teased on P&R (Jerry, Ben), it is never mean-spirited, petty, or reactionary; it's playful. Whereas I find Community widely entertaining and funny, I would never want to be one of the gang. I absolutely want to work in the Parks Department and hang out with these people.

Speaking as someone who's never seen Parks & Recreations. How funny is it?

30 Rock Seasons 1-3 funny? Or Season 4-5 funny?

By the way, read a preview of Leslie Knope's Pawnee: The Greatest Town in America.

http://www.amazon.com/Pawnee-Greatest-America-Leslie-Knope/dp/1401310648/ref=sr_1_72?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1318143358&sr=1-72#reader_1401310648

Town Slogans over the Years

1939-1945

"Pawnee. Welcome German Soldiers!"

1964-1974

"Pawnee. Welcome Vietnamese Soldiers!"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin Blank 

Community has flop sweat — all those writers are gone

Care to expand?

Quote:

Originally Posted by felix 

Speaking as someone who's never seen Parks & Recreations. How funny is it?

30 Rock Seasons 1-3 funny? Or Season 4-5 funny?

IMHO, it's the closest thing we'll ever get to a live action, classic era Simpsons. Not just on the surface level comparisons (backwards town with rival neighbour town, crazy town inhabitants at meetings, etc), but in the amount of funny, the amount of heart, and the variety of comedy styles (wordplay, slapstick, sarcastic, playful teasing, geek humour, political humour, parody) packed into every episode. This is not only the best comedy on NBC, but the best comedy currently on television, period. Better than 30 Rock's classic era. Better than The Office's classic era. There is not a more likeable, hilarious collection of characters currently on the hypnosis box.

That's how I feel. And I was amongst the people that was only meh on Season 1.

Very well said. I couldn't agree more. P&R Season 1 was funny but finding its legs. By season 2, the revamped Leslie to not be a Michael Scott clone, got rid of a boring lead character in the show, and ramped up the ensemble aspect of the show by really fleshing out the supporting and  background characters, and I'm including Pawnee itself and the surrounding towns as characters. P&R has really fleshed out a world; one I want to spend all my time with.

I want to know more about the writers leaving. Megan is still there.

Echo what Dr and Diva said. I could not spend more than 22 minutes a week with the Community ensemble. I want to go home and drink some beer cans with Andy and April instead. 

 I'd love to drink with April, especially if she was single. However I don't think she could get past my unironic love of hair metal.

Hahahahaha, that nobody cares about Paul Schneider's character never fails to get me giggling.

You didn't care when he was there.  You didn't care when he disappeared.

BrandanoQUITS!

Hasn't this season convinced everyone that Community is a bunch of asinine non-sequiters in search of a cohesive idea, thought, theme, or laugh? That show has "heart"? Fucking news to me.

I liked and watched the show, but this season they are stretching this shit thin.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gabe T 

Hasn't this season convinced everyone that Community is a bunch of asinine non-sequiters in search of a cohesive idea, thought, theme, or laugh? That show has "heart"? Fucking news to me.

 

I liked and watched the show, but this season they are stretching this shit thin.

I know its "hip" to like COMMUNITY and there have been several episodes that I really thought were genius, but I find myself WANTING to love COMMUNITY more than I actually do quite often.

I happily leave it on my dvr for a couple days before getting to it, as opposed to PARKS AND REC that I watch almost immediately.

My love definitely shifted hard and fast from Season 1 of Community to Season 3 of Parks & Rec.  

Season 1 of Community was a perfect balance of what we love about that show.  I rewatched those episodes often.  Not nearly as much with Season 2.  

But that was right as I was starting to really get into Parks & Rec after initially dismissing it from the first impressions I got from the pilot episode.  I have to thank my fellow Chewers for convincing me to give the show another shot.  Thanks to Netflix, I rewatched Season 2 a lot more than I should!  And now Instant has Season 3 available!

Wow, apparently Parks and Rec declared war on Community while I was sleeping one off.  Weird.

I still like Community, Schwartz!  I like it very much!  Looking forward to seeing how this 3rd season develops.

I've been loving the 3rd season in the early going.  But the comparisons here seem to suggest they're trying for the same things, which is obviously not the case.  Put in simplistic terms, Community is all head while Parks is all heart.   I understand preferring one to the other, but peanut butter doesn't need to suck in order to enjoy chocolate.

Amen.  All I know is it makes for one amazing hour of television.

Season 1 of Community had a really nice balance of head AND heart.  I think it lost some of that balance in season 2 just as P&R continued to get better.  Just in terms of comparing each show to itself, P&R has the 'advantage.'  Also, heart is easier to love and I'm always about convenience!

But still... there's a reason that all of my comedy comes from NBC's Thursday nights.

Plus, we're only 3 episodes in.  There's a long way to go.