Best Episode of the Season: Lost

July 5, 2010

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“Happily Ever After”

Desmond-centric episodes have a knack for being game changers for Lost and putting the entire series in a new context.  “Flashes Before Your Eyes” introduced the issue of temporal paradoxes and confronted the matter of fate vs. free will head-on.  “The Constant” dealt with time-traveling and consciousness-jumping and foreshadowed the island’s own unstuck in time journeys.  If the middle of Lost’s sixth season needed anything, it was a Desmond episode.  With many fans fretting over the purpose of the Sideways World, it should have been obvious that Desmond would be the vessel to make the connection between the Island and the Sideways realities.  Before “Happily Ever After,” it still seemed possible that the producers had made the insane decision to mess around with the fans with a pointless plot device.  Afterwards, it still was not yet clear what the Sideways world was, but it was now clear that it was something.  The post-car crash moments were essential in this matter.  When Charlie put his hand on the window, I knew that Desmond was going to have a “Not Penny’s Boat” flash, and then it happened, and I still threw my hands back in shock (and hit one of them pretty hard on the couch).  The scene with Desmond and Penny in the stadium at the end could have come off as serial killer confronts jogger-style creepy, but we accepted it, because Henry Ian Cusick and Sonya Walger have had the most chemistry of any of the Lost couples.

Next up: How I Met Your Mother

Best Episode of the Season: Family Guy

July 2, 2010

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“Brian Griffin’s House of Payne”

Stewie discovers an old TV pilot screenplay in the basement written by Brian.  Brian tells Lois that she should read it, eventually she does, and – shock of all shocks – she likes it!  It turns out that Brian is capable of writing something other than pretentious drivel.  Then CBS is all set to pick up “What I Learned on Jefferson Street,” and Brian could not be happier, until everything is ruined, ruined in a way that could only happen on Family Guy: James Woods is cast in the lead role.  The show is revamped as a comedy and renamed “Class Holes,” and James Woods is granted a chimpanzee costar.  The take on TV executives’ and the pilot process’s knack for twisting shows into something that they are not was spot-on (signature quote: “Well, we thought it would be a lot funnier if it was a sitcom”), or if it was not spot-on, it was at least perfectly hilarious.
But the real treat of this episode was that other storyline.  Meg and Chris knock Stewie down the stairs, resulting in a gnarly head wound, rendering him unconscious.  A piece of skull is broken, and some brain is visible.  They hide the injury from Peter and Lois by dressing him in various goofy hats and dragging him around like a ventriloquist dummy.  This is exactly what I want from Family Guy: as much outrageousness as possible.  And just when you think they have gone as far as they can, they go even further:  When Peter finds out, he hides the truth from Lois … by tricking her into believing that she caused the injury.  He throws (the still unconscious) Stewie into the driveway as Lois is pulling out, causing her to drive over Stewie’s head.  And Lois, like everyone else, wants to hide the truth.  To which Peter responds, “I love you so much right now.”  And this is why we love the Griffin family.

Next up: Lost

Best Episode of the Season: The Cleveland Show

July 1, 2010

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“Brotherly Love”

“A-B-C-D-E-F-G
Someone should’ve told you not to f*** wid me”
And thus Cleveland, Jr. threw down the gauntlet in his rap battle with Kenny West.
Kanye West’s ego plays a big part in why he is so entertaining.  Ironically enough, when he is able to put that ego aside, he is refreshingly entertaining … even though he is already entertaining in the first place.  I guess the difference is just that he is refreshing, and that is good enough.  I am still not entirely sure that Kanye did in fact put his ego aside for his guest appearance on The Cleveland Show as Kenny West, but he was convincing enough.  It is generally a bad idea to rely on guest stars, but Cleveland has been at its best when employing them.  The spitting melee between Kenny and Cleveland, Jr. was the moment I was convinced that The Cleveland Show, which had been flailing about in search of an identity in the beginning of its run, did indeed have some promise.  The breakout character has been Cleveland, Jr. (he is appropriately described by his father, who is still not sure whether his son is an idiot or a genius) and Cleveland will rise or fall according to the strength of his storylines in the near future.

Next up: Family Guy

Best Episode of the Season: The Simpsons

June 29, 2010

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“To Surveil with Love”

In response to fears of terrorism, Springfield hires a British security consultant to install security cameras around town.  Marge and Ned Flanders become the resident Big Brothers when they are put in charge of surveillance of the security cameras.  Ned proceeds to nag the whole town for the most minor of infractions, but then Bart discovers a blind spot in the Simpson backyard.  Then all the Springfield residents head to the Simpsons’ to partake in debauchery for the sake of debauchery.  Meanwhile, Lisa has to deal with the dumb blonde stereotype; it is a joke as old as time, but one that never gets old.  Simply put, the gags were on, particularly the gay bar that Maggie was watching on a security camera because it looked like Sesame Street.  Putting everything in satisfying context was the twist ending, which revealed that the Springfield security camera footage was being aired as a British reality show entitled American Oafs.  And the true highlight of the episode was the opening, set to the tune of “Tik Tok,” Ke$ha’s hit for all ages.

Though it did not appear in the season’s best episode, the best scene of the year needs to be mentioned.  It appeared in “Love Me Tender,” in which Moe was hired as a judge on American Idol after showing off his judging skills in various local competitions.  Here is his encounter with a talent agent:
“So, what kind of reality shows are we talkin’ about here?”
“Well, to name just a few: America’s Ripest Bananas, So You Think You Can Judge, Who Wants to Be a Welder?, Poodle Vs. Elephant, Leg Swap, Old People Try to Figure Out Computers, American Idol, Dancing with Cars of the Stars, America’s Drunkest Nobody, Let’s Make a Veal…”
“Love that show.”
“Somali Pirate Apprentice…”
“Right, yeah, with those guys.”
“Fix Andy Dick…”
“It’s about time.”
“Bottom Chef, My Life on Kathy Griffin, Pimp My Crypt, Are You Fatter than a Fifth Grader?, and Grave Robbers of Orange County.”
“Geez, that’s, uh, quite a list.”
“Hang on.  I’m getting a text.  Ooh, those were all just cancelled, except for American Idol.”
“Did you just say Armenian Idol?  Cause that’s my favorite show!”
“No, no, no, no, no, American Idol!”
“Oh, yeah.  Who’s their Igor Glumov?”
“Randy Jackson.”
“Ah, good enough.”

Next up: The Cleveland Show

Best Episode of the Season: Saturday Night Live

June 28, 2010

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“671 – Jon Hamm/Michael Bublé”

Some of the greatest episodes of Saturday Night Live are those in which you get a sense that ANYTHING can happen.  The formula for an SNL episode has changed over the years, but it remains consistent over the course of a single season.  When that formula is broken, it is usually a good sign.  The Jon Hamm-hosted ep from January 30 broke the formula a bit by having three sketches in a row before the next commercial break after Weekend Update.  But the really notable instance of “anything can happen” came when SNL employed a technique that I do not believe has been employed for about ten years: a character from one sketch appearing in a subsequent, very different sketch.  First, we were treated to the relentlessly funny Closest Organizer commercial parody, and then in a scene in a bar, Will Forte played a guy who walked in and was recognized by Jon Hamm’s character.  How did he recognize him?  Why, he was Tarkey Fensington – the Closet Organizer guy!  That moment of revelation was not the funniest moment of the season, but it was far and away among the most satisfying.  It is moments like those when you know that the writers and cast of SNL are running loose and free, doing whatever they want to do, safety be damned.

Next up: The Simpsons

Best Episode of the Season: Fringe

June 27, 2010

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“Peter”

For anyone who wants to know how to make a great flashback episode, “Peter” can serve as the template.  It provided a backstory that we knew needed to be provided: how and why did Walter take Peter from the alternate reality?  John Noble turned in his best performance as Dr. Walter Bishop yet.  There was no question that this was the Dr. Bishop of 25 years ago.  The portrayal of every character was consistent with their 2010 counterparts; no hokey techniques were necessary to make clear that consistency.  Gimmicky jokes that scream “We are in the past!” were mostly avoided, except for a few moments (Eric Stoltz on a marquee for Back to the Future in the alterna-world, the ’80s-style opening credits) that did not get in the way and were satisfying because they stood out.  “Peter” worked because it was treated as any other Fringe episode – one that just happened to take place in 1985.

Next up: Saturday Night Live

Best Episode of the Season: 30 Rock

June 26, 2010

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“Don Geiss, America and Hope”

When Comcast bought NBC in real life, we wondered if this development would turn into a 30 Rock storyline.  In “Don Geiss, America and Hope,” we met Kabletown (with a “K”).  And we learned the secret of their absurdly successful company. (It has something to do with Fresh Ass Based on the Novel ‘Tush’ by Ass Fire.)  We also learned the big secret of Tracy Jordan, via a tell-all memoir that could only happen on a show like 30 Rock: Tracy’s former nanny revealed that Tracy has never cheated on his wife.  Life as charade has never been more gonzo.  We were also treated to the debut of the delightful Michael Sheen as Wesley Snipes.

Next up: Fringe

Best Episode of the Season: The Office

June 25, 2010

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“The Meeting”

The Office was decidedly different this season.  Some said it went downhill.  I say it became darker and purposefully ambivalent and definitely more interesting.  This turn resulted in a style in which the episodes ran together, and few particularly stood out, as they did in seasons past.  Those that did were typified by a consistent comedy style that is more or less the show’s traditional style.  “The Meeting” fit this model with Dwight getting involved in a crazy scheme (and teaming up with Toby, of all people) and Michael causing more harm than he can imagine with his meddling shenanigans.  The laugh-out-loud, belly laugh, and chuckle moments were in steady supply, including the cheese-cart sneak entrance, Michael feeling “partially responsible” for Jim not getting the promotion, Darrell’s sister, Michael texting David Wallace while he and Jim were on the phone with him, and Toby depressed by paperwork.  While I am fascinated by the recession-inspired storylines, I like to know that the traditional laughs of The Office can still be pulled off.

Next up: The Office

Best Episode of the Season: Parks and Recreation

June 24, 2010

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“Practice Date”

“What if he shows up with another woman? What if one of my sleeves catches on fire and it spreads rapidly. What if instead of tic tacs I accidentally pop a couple of Ambien and I have to keep punching my leg to stay awake?”
“Those are all insane hypotheticals and I promise you they won’t happen.”
“They have happened. All of these have happened to me.”

Less awkward and more endearing than Michael Scott and Liz Lemon, but just as hilarious, Leslie Knope has suddenly become the most likable lead character on NBC Thursday nights.  She is so upfront about her strangeness that you will either laugh or gasp nonstop, whichever one happens first.  “Practice Date” was an opportunity for Amy Poehler to run completely free and crazy with her performance.  It was one of those episodes whose hilarity is best explained by listing quotes, so here are some more:

“Do you have like a first-date outfit I could borrow? Like, I don’t know, a pair of cargo pants?”
“Yeah I wouldn’t go with the cargo pant.”
“What about like a sexy hat?”
“I don’t even know what that is.”
“Helping already.”

“What if I get drunk and talk about Darfur too much? Or not enough? What if I don’t bring up Darfur enough?”

“Another time I went to a really boring movie with a guy and while I was asleep he tried to pull out one of my teeth. I literally woke up with his hand in my mouth. We went out a couple times after that but then he got weird.”

“Let’s begin our conversation.”
“What’s on the note cards?”
“They’re possible topics of conversation.”
“Whales. Parades. Electricity. And the rest are blank.”
“Yeah, well I couldn’t think of anything else.”

“Is she practice laughing?”

“You’re 20 minutes late. I almost left.”
“Well, I was, dropping my niece off.”
“What’s your niece’s name?”
“Torple. What? I don’t know. That’s not a name. I don’t have a niece. My niece’s name is Stephanie?”

Next up: The Office

Best Episode of the Season: Community

June 22, 2010

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“The Science of Illusion”

The brilliance of Community is its uncanny ability to weave in every possible cliché pop culture reference and then build the entire show around those references.  The characters of Community, exemplified primarily by Danny Pudi’s Abed, are so steeped in these references that they are essentially reality for them.  This is the ultimate sitcom about sitcoms.  It was no surprise then in terms of what happened during Annie and Shirley’s stints as campus security guards.  As egged on by Abed, neither one of them would allow the other to be the badass in the classic buddy cop scenario.  Thus “The Science of Illusion” reached the pinnacle of the idea of life as clichéd storytelling, particularly when Abed asked someone to hold his spot when he took a bathroom break during Annie and Shirley’s show.  A moment of comic triumph worthy of Jack Donaghy’s therapy session with Tracy on 30 Rock occurred with Abed’s performance as a southern-fried police chief (“Agitating my sciatica”).  Let’s not forget that Chevy Chase is also on this show, and his ridiculousness is suitably hilarious without necessarily having anything to do with all the pop culture references, except perhaps in the sense that Pierce is aware of all the references, but not in any way in which he can keep it straight.  “The Science of Illusion” included the best Pierce-centric storyline of the season, when he donned a wizard suit after reaching a new level in his “Buddhist” church.  If you already watch Community, then you know I don’t need to say anymore.  If you don’t watch Community, then I don’t know how that description couldn’t be enough to convince you to start watching it.

Next up: Parks and Recreation

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