Time after time, episode after episode, Parks and Recreation continues to own Thursday nights.
- Community: I've been staring at my computer screen for 20 minutes now, trying to think of something witty to say about "Advanced Documentary Filmmaking." And I've got nothing. I liked the episode, I guess, more than I thought I would (my opinion of Chang are similar to the MacGuffin Institute's on Pierce's hand puppet show). It started off slow, but midway through, right around the time Annie and Troy, I mean, Houlihan and Partner, investigated the trout farm, I found myself sucked into the episode's weird charm, and appreciated a more reserved Ken Jeong than we're used to seeing, especially in his scene with Jeff in the cafeteria. Shirley's unrecorded camera confession with Britta was golden, too, as was the Hoop Dreams burn. But did I really like it? Not really, no — I wish the documentary aspect had been a little tighter (there were moments where neither Abed nor Garrett were shooting, but the gimmick remained, as if there was a third mystery cameraman we never saw) and the tag a lot more deleted. It undercut all of the episode's hard-earned character work for an eventual season finale gag that no one wants to see. Seriously, does anyone like Chang the Villain? To quote Jeff, "You gotta be f*cking kidding me."
- Parks and Recreation: In 50 years, when I'm a husk of the human I am today, who can't remember any of his loved ones or his address or even what his name is, I'll remember Donna bursting into Ann and April's "Time After Time" duet and Perd's E.T. review, and I'll laugh my ass off. Then I'll probably die, what with the SARS-ridden robot-bees who track laughter. Worth it.
- The Office: It's never good when the biggest chuckle from an episode of the once mighty Office involves Andy MC Hammer'ing over Kevin's bloated, drugged out carcass, and yet, here we are. Maybe it's because I've been rewatching season four for the 17th time, or maybe it's because without Michael Scott Dwight is too cartoonish of a leading man, or maybe it's because it was just plain awful, but "The Farm," a would-be backdoor pilot for a series of the same name if NBC hadn't said no, was just plain awful. (Good job, NBC.) It felt like an episode of entirely different show, which I guess it was. What happened to Andy's evilness? Why was Jim in one scene and gone the next? POISONED CUPCAKES? Most importantly, what the hell was that? (I did like one last Mose run and the Decemberists song, though.)
I'm with you, Perd — E.T. ain't so great.
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I have not had the chance to watch Parks and Rec yet, but that picture of Perd gives me high hopes.
You won’t be disappointed.
I would have been happy just watching the Ann and April storyline.
Everything was wonderful, though.
Its the best.
Incredible.
The whole episode was heat warming and believable.
How is a show that funny and that sweet at the same time?
Frackin’ For Friends.
So wonderful.
It was wonderful except for Mona Lisa. She was the WOOOORST.
(No, really, she was awesome. My first laugh out loud moment was “My shrink got me and him tickets to a Pitbull concert” and it escalated from there.
“I wish the documentary aspect had been a little tighter (there were moments where neither Abed nor Garrett were shooting, but the gimmick remained, as if there was a third mystery cameraman we never saw)”
This is true of the first two documentary episodes as well. Go back to the first one and watch the scenes in Pierce’s hospital room for instance. The Redux episode addressed it really well though, with Abed looking directly into the camera of the “third mystery cameraman” in the last shot of that episode as they’re leaving the study room.
Gotcha. I couldn’t remember if the same thing happened in parts one and two, so to speak.
Pavel’s the third cameraman.
“I’m dead! I am DEAD BRO!”
Maybe it was the low expectations but Community sucked me in way harder than I thought possible.
Going to agree with this.
yeah i really enjoyed it. and i think the tag at the end was necessary. as shitty as Evil Chang may be, Kevin is an even more useless character.
Agreed. I thought it was the first really enjoyable episode so far this season.
In all fairness, haven’t we all been saying that Community has been pretty decent the last few episodes? I know it will never feel Harmon-y (I’m so sorry) ever again, but can we agree that the new showrunners seem to be doing pretty well? Ultimately though, I think they should have left it at 3 seasons. That would-be finale was perfect.
Also, I see you, Sir Digby. “Quick Ginger, we haven’t a moment to lose!”
I think at this point the ratio is at the very least even at good episodes to bad episodes. which i can live with. and it also means that if by some miracle the show got a 5th season i would be interested in seeing where they could take things with more time to find their legs and write episodes after taking in all of the feedback.
Just to be clear, I haven’t hated this season so far, just think it’s felt forced and obviously not quite as good. My low expectations were more due to the episode being Chang-centric and the re-visiting of the documentary style by the new showrunners.
Troy’s revelation that he was actually named after his animals was the best part of Community.
Britta, Troy and Annie are the remaining study group members whose families haven’t appeared on camera. I really hope we get to see them at some point after all the backstory that’s been established through the years.
Danny Glover as Troy’s father or GTFO.
We had an encounter with Troy’s grandmother in season one. Britta had a whole situation about loving elderly people and Troy’s grandma ends up using a switch to spank Britta.
Good catch, CP.
That’s right. Can’t believe I forgot about that weirdly erotic scene. So if it’s just Annie and Britta left, it does make me wonder why it hasn’t happened yet. Like maybe there was a storyline plan for Jeff to meet them.
Ron Swanson was in fine form last night.
Dong Swanson was in better form.
No show does a better job playing to their supporting casts strengths like Parks&Rec. Jerry’s advice was great, Perd was fantastic as usual and Jean-Ralphio all kinds of hilarious.
Jerry not used to being allowed to talk that long – perfect
When Jerry started babbling because he’s not used to being allowed to talk that long was priceless.
Agreed. I had no idea where that joke was going, which isn’t something you can say about most network sitcoms.
Jean Ralphio is the best.
That was a beautiful point. And very well said up to that moment when you started babbling incoherently.
Greatest “Time After Time” cover ever. And I loved Ann’s “fracking for friendship” line. And we have the same floral print shirt.
And The Office would’ve been better if it was just Andy and Kevin tripping balls for 25 minutes.
They almost got me singing along. Damn it Cyndi Lauper is infectious.
In college, we had 6 AM weight lifting for cross country and that song came on the radio. It was stuck in our heads for weeks. Pretty much the whole season and was a callback for anyone that was there that morning. It is a great song, but does it ever get stuck in your head
Commenters just wanna have fun.
Like most trilogies, they should have stopped the Documentary Filmmaking one at 2.
I do believe this is actually the fifth time they’ve used the “we’re making a video” theme.
1. Abed’s Daddy issues, 2. Messiah, 3. Hospital, 4. Greendale recruitment, 5. Changnesia… which is OK with me. I liked this ep just fine.
Correct
I thought the episode was pretty decent (for this season) until the forced “Oh, Kevin” at the end. Way too sitcomy.
Just me or was Aubrey Plaza exceptionally pretty in last night’s episode?
She’s been pretty all series, but I think this season in particular they’ve started putting more make up on her. Not sure if that’s Aubrey changing it or creatively they think she’d wear more as she’s making this transition into a grown up
I think it might be part of her growing up and getting more professional, or I could be overthinking it.
No, I think they’ve girlified her a bit this year, part of the “maturing” of the character.
They’re trying very hard to make me fall in love with her. And it is working.
Gonna sound weird, but that gif with the needle is all kinds of hot
I was torn between not liking the reveal at the end and liking it. On the one hand, having him genuinely have :sighs: Changnesia feels like a network note: “Let’s make Chang more likeable, k?” On the other, supervillain Chang was a little off to me (though like most of Season 3 it worked better upon second viewing).
Parks & Rec was it’s usual amazing.
Anyone else think this was the episode that prompted Chevy Chase’s tirade during filming, where he said the writers would have him saying “the N-word” next? They’ve really turned his character into a loathsome, half-senile bigot. That said, I laughed for an uncomfortably long time when Senor Wences’ Asian wife came out.
“Turned”?
My biggest complaint about the new writing team is that they’ve Flanderized the characters. And considering Pierce was the least developed of the study group to begin with he’s getting killed.
“That said, I laughed for an uncomfortably long time when Senor Wences’ Asian wife came out.”
As did I.
“Go make me a burrito…”
I said the same thing to my wife when the scene came up
“That’s a party platter. It serves 12.”
“I know what I’m about, son.”
picks off strawberries. “Won’t be needing these…”
“I know what I’m about son” was the line of the night.
“alright, party time”
Seriously, there needs to be a gif of that. It was glorious.
Leslie to waiter: “You should stay and watch. He’ll finish this in four minutes.”
Parks and Rec is the most consistently great comedy, and maybe show, on TV right now. I don’t remember the last “bad” episode.
Yeah, I’m hard-pressed to think of an episode that I didn’t think was hilarious.
From season 3 on I’d say that every episode has been in the “great-to-flawless” range.
Agreed.
“Does anyone like Chang the villain?”
What the hell show have you been watching for the past 4 years?
I liked this more reserved episode. Parks and Rec was great, especially Gerry not knowning what to do when someone let him talk for to long. And the Packer plot on The Office was great. The payoff of fat guy in Andy’s shirt being the capper.
I like Chang the villain. I liked when he staged a coup to overthrow the dean. I liked when he and Pierce became best friends. And I REALLY liked the dungeons and dragons episode when he was in full black face.
Just me or is it possible that Gillian Jacobs is getting prettier? I’m still an Annie fan, but Britta isn’t “her-ing” it up right now
I forget where I read it…Vulture? Something along the lines of “whether we love the new Community or hate it, we can all agree that Britta’s new glasses are HOTT!”
Gillian Jacobs is getting prettier. Follow her on Instagram and you’ll see just how awesome of a person she is as well.
THIS. I didn’t know if it’s because my wife and I are trying to have a kid, so I’m SUPER SEXED UP, but Britta is looking GD fine. I nearly fucked my screen (It’s a Sony, it’s cool)
From episodes of the Comedy Bang Bang podcast, I have definitely switched my allegiance from Allison to Gillian. She comes off as a more real person. Allison is constantly nerd pandering.
Hey, isn’t anybody talking about that terrific episode of 1600 Penn last night? Of course not, because that never happened ever.
I’ll say it, 1600 Penn was better than Community last night. I made it through maybe 2 minutes of Community before quipping that it was retarded and turned it off.
I just cannot get into Community this year. IMO, it’s been terrible.
Ben falling over as Jean Ralphio sang to him was delightful.
Had we seen the guy who played Ron in the porno before?
You mean Ron Dongson? I don’t believe so, but I sooo want that to be my screen name for things now.
It was DONG SWANSON.
I love Ken Jeong when he’s not doing his over-the-top schtick. He was a highlight in Season 1 of Community, and perfect for Knocked Up… which was his entrance gig.
Also, Jenny Slate is pretty great.
Hangover 1 & 2 or GTFO
Fuck part 2. But Hangover 1 he was admittedly amazing. Dude had his own gag reel on the DVD.
Apparently the best way to get post snl success is f-bomb live on the show and get fired.
Glad they brought back Señora Chang from Season 1. As much as I enjoy seeing long hair Annie and glasses Britta, there have been a lot of gorgeous women that appeared on the show that need to return: Pierce’s stepdaughter, Professor Slater, the Librarian, Dean Pelton’s assistants, the Red Dragon, Abra…
And the FBI chick that Abed had a thing for
Holy shit, wasn’t that Eliza Coupe? I totally forgot about that until now. That episode was so good.
^ Eliza Coupe
oh man, Jean-Ralphio’s hair wasn’t wackily bigger this time
theory, he did some time in jail for that crime he did Tom mentioned some time ago and had to get a haircut there. He got out earlier due to a *singing* technicalityyyy!
also, that “Worst”gif (#7|) should be changed to the second time he said it and include Ben falling
Donna busting in and singing was great. Also – Jenny Slate casting as Jean Ralphio’s sister was dead on.
They’re working together on House of Lies, the chemistry is crazy good.
I don’t know how they do it, but Parks and Rec just continues to be amazing. I don’t think there is a single episode this season that has been weak in any way. Amy and co. know what the show is and it functions, and they run with it so well.
ANd I still heart you Community, even with your strange moments of unfamiliarity.
Also: Porno Parks department is sooo sexy.
I wanted to see their take on other Parks employees.
Watching Schrute Farm was exactly like that time I saw the first episode of Taz-Mania. Taz has a brother? And a sister? And they’re normal?
I, for one, am happy that The Farm was not picked up. Those sections were terrible in the episode.
Parks and Rec is such just exceptionally good
It’s honestly fighting with Arrested Development as my favorite comedy ever now.
And nobody’s even talking about April being a vet.
It makes sense; all of her department projects have been animal related.
plus she generally hates people in addition to liking animals.
I’m not saying it’s weird. I’m saying it’s awesome.
I find it a but odd since people usually go to school for years before being able to get into veterinary school (which is harder to get into than medical school)
Don’t care though, it should be great!
pretty good parks, jenny was great as jean ralfs sis…
gerry just rambling on after his words of wisdom was great ” i dont usually get to talk for this long”
I might catch hell for this, but I gotta do it….I think Gillain/Britta is officially > Alison/Annie for me
I’ve spent more time in this camp the entire series than the Alison/Annie one. I tend to switch it up depending on the episode. It’s like a 70%-30% Britta thing most of the time.
But that 30%…Spectacular.
TEAM BRITTA!
The tide has turned! Huzzah!
Britta has become much more attractive this season in general (exception: Goth Britta is and always will be the best). However I am still Team Annie, although it’s gotten much closer of late.
I mean I don’t want to say the glasses did it for me…..but the glasses kinda did it for me.
Counterpoint: Pusssay
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See, I understand that, but so does she, and that’s starting to be a bit of the problem for me.
I’m on board with this sentiment completely.
I am in full support with this statement! Britta in glasses is the best Britta
Chang has always been one of my favorite parts of the show. People who say he wasn’t over the top in season one need to go back and watch season 1.
All I can do is echo how great Parks and Rec is. Just great.
As for Community, despite the context (Changnesia…ugh) my heart lept a little when the first title graphic appeared on my TV. Then it sort of settled back down to normal. Better than expected episode, overall, though.
Uter-you, uter-me, uter-us. Was the biggest laugh of the night for me.
I didn’t even realize that The Office was new…wow…what does that tell me about my love of The Office? Even my DVR told me it was a repeat.
Your DVR is trying to protect you.
“Record: The Office”
“I’m sorry….I can’t do that Scott”
Wonder how many DVRs caught that Matlock special the other week, though.
On Community, can we just get to the paint ball episode already?
So while watching Community last night I came to the realization that I despise Ken Jeong. I despise him not because I don’t think he’s not funny it’s because he takes the lazy route to a laugh, also I’m sick of Chang. For the first time history I didn’t laugh once during an episode of Community.
Wow, that Office episode was abysmal. I’ve seen beheading videos that were funnier. Can we just end this thing and be done with it. Drag it behind the Schrute Barn and put a bullet in it. Though the scene where Dwight almost wrestles his brother into the grave and then shoots his Aunts corpse was funny.
Yeah, despite the rest of the episode, and as fantastic as P&R was all around, Dwight unloading multiple shots into his aunt’s corpse was the best moment of the night for me.
When Jeong hosted the MTV awards is when I realized how terrible he was.
The day they decide Chang was no longer a teacher but a student is when I stopped caring for the character.
THIS ^^^ Harmon’s greatest fuck up was removing Chang as a teacher. After that the character became stupid and forced.
Makes me sad to agree with all of this about Jeong. Especially after that beautiful moment I’m sure only three other people here saw a while back: he won one of those stupid ass MTV Movie Awards for Best Asian or whatever it was, and when he go on stage, he was crying and so happy. He thanked his wife, who apparently was his inspiration to get into acting after she got cancer, and it was just so awesome to see someone appear so genuine about what they were doing. Ever since then, though, it feels like it’s all been downhill.
Where is the gif of Ron giggling? I was on the floor in that scene. Also, Jason Schwartzman’s delivery of that “no, no. No.” was hilarious. I think that was one of their most laugh out loud funniest episodes yet.
In response to Michael Bay? That was awesome.
Ron giggling was the highlight of the episode for me, that and the variations between the “Ann Perkins” that Chris does when he is happy and sad.
I just almost posted a giant paragraph about skewed expectations, especially when it’s paired with Parks and Rec, but I’m going to try and limit being a Community apologist this week.
Last week’s Community was solid, I thought this week’s was too.
Ron Swanson said England was okay. I feel so validated right now.
I thought last night’s Community was Kevinly.
Seconded.
My God, Parks and Rec is pretty crappy now. Yes, it still has it’s moments, but it’s way past it’s prime. That time after time bit, with all three of them singing. Terrible. Forced humor at it’s finest.
Oh, COME ON!
We don’t believe you, you need more people.
Thats a troll if ive ever seen one.
file:///Users/ryanwilliams/Desktop/reaction/disbelief%20laughter.gif
“That was a beautiful point. And very well said up to that moment when you started babbling incoherently.”
I wanted to sex up Jenny Slate something fierce in last night’s Parks.
Tom freaking out when she jumped him was hysterical
“But seriously, she’s the worst. The WERRR-herst!”
Biggest laugh: Porno Ron Swanson was black.
OK NBC, here’s what you need to do to save your network – give every single character on Parks and Rec a spin-off show. And yes I’m including Perd and Jerry.
If the Libertarian Party was smart they would ake Ron Swanson their spokesman.
How come there’s a Community Porno, but not one for Parks & Rec?
Perd has a point, ET was totally not believable.
It is kinda eerie how much Ben Schwartz and Jenny Slate look related.
I think I’ve figured out why Community feels so much different. This season it seems like they made Abed the central character, whereas it used to be Jeff. It’s like looking through all the same situations as someone with pretty prominent social and emotional issues vs someone that’s more or less a normal person (albeit a self-centered egotist)
Completely agreed with your observation of Ben and Jenny. Crazy great casting for that reason and like 400 others.
Perd Hapley kills me every damn time pops up. Ron Swanson telling the waiter ” I know what I’m about, son” made me lose it for a good ten minutes. And after watching last nights Office, I can say that I’m actually a bit intrigued by what a full spin-off with Dwight would have been like.
Community? Sad, man. Real sad.
The end of the Office episode made me want there to be Farm spin off and has had me listening to The Decemberists all day. I do not mind at all.
This was my favorite episode of Parks and Rec this season for the Perd E.T. review alone. I wan’t to see more of his reviews. As for the other two, they were both pretty mediocre to bad this week. I can see why The Farm was not picked up. Even with Badger in a big role, the show would still be awful it seems.
Most complete, tightest and wittiest episode of Community this season. Seeing improvement as season progresses.
Has Abed worn that StarFox shirt before, or have I seen it elsewhere?
I enjoyed this episode of Community. The writers are starting to get a feel for what the show can be.
I think that was the hardest episode of “The Office” I’ve ever watched. I just had a hard time trudging through it. I wanted it to end.
Troy has been the best part of Community for me this season
Agree that Community has been steadily improving with each ep. Unfortunately nobody’s watching. Last night was “near series low” in ratings. Too bad the nerds couldn’t keep their powder dry, maybe given it a chance to find its legs. Instead, its guns blazing. Potential new viewers read that stuff, unfortunately. I think the only chance the show has is if the rest of schedule craters (entirely possible.) They’ll probably give Community another 13-ep run to “wrap it up.”
I have a question. Perhaps I’m off base, but this episode may have been a bit of send up of Grizzly Man? The music, the scene with Abed watching the clip of Jeff going crazy, and the refocusing of the footage from the initial commission (Chang) to Jeff’s crazy attempt to prove Chang wrong. All that stuff was pretty prominent in the Grizzly Man documentary.
I was reading an interview with Nick Offerman and I couldn’t help but read his quotes in the Swanson voice. The best part was that he answered questions just like Ron Swanson would, so I’m not entirely convinced that he’s acting at all on the show. The parts about Ron’s woodworking, love of Scotch, etc. are also on the show because that is actually Nick Offerman’s thing.
I still think they missed a great chance of doing a “Memento” styled. episode.
That’s a fantastic idea.
Just caught up with these, community’s been steadily improving (and I’ve enjoyed most of the episodes so far), Parks is on a different level to any other comedy at the moment
It seems like one of the glaring problems with season 4 of Community was that it was filmed in a vacuum without the dialogue with the audience, which seemed to have a definitive effect on the latter half of season 3.
The Office’s problem…. where to begin?
When they decided not to do the spin-off, this episode should have been canned. I’ve actually enjoyed The Office this year compared to last year, but this was just tur-ble.
I think Community has been more consistently funny than season 3 was. Season 3 was extremely hit or miss in the plots and jokes department for me, going way too meta at the expense of being funny. What I think is now that Dan Harmon was fired in a public manner the internet fans are being more critical of the show and finally seeing the faults the show has pretty much always had.
“If you’re lost you can look and you will find me, time after time…”
I want to see Perd’s review of Jurassic Park, if he thinks that E.T was not believable.
“I heard ‘sack of flour’ and ‘high school.’ Are you ding dongs making fake drugs for sophomores? Because IF TRUE, this guy wants in.”
Glorious.
That was indeed a glorious line…. this show’s writing: A-MAH-ZING (yeah, I just worked in some Happy Endings, just cuz I love that show too).
best laugh of the office this week was dwight for me though…bashing people liking baseball for the nostalgia.
Also, how has no one commented on the fact that Dong Swanson was wearing the “I just had sex” red Polo? Awesome.
Never watched Jenny Slate on SNL but she’s pretty damn funny. Love her on Kroll Show.
“I need a letter of recommendation and since you work in a hospital as a janitor…..” “Nurse.”
Not that I like any of them but…
1. Senor (Professor) Chang
2. Kevin
3. All other forms of Chang
I at least found Kevin bland and boring as opposed to distracting and horrible like the other forms of Chang.
parks and rec please never go away. amazing episode like always
Jean-Ralphio makes an appearance? Say no more!
I thought they should have killed Community after last season, but I liked this episode, and I’ve liked the last few.