RANDOM THOUGHTS:
First, an answer to the question I'm sure you're dying to get resolved: yes, there will be an "End of the Month" post sometime soon, specifically sometime between later tonight or tomorrow night. Now that I have you more excited than Twilight fans waiting for part 1 of "Breaking Dawn" to come out, here is a brand new Random Thoughts post to enjoy while you wait. The following were on my mind between Monday, May 2nd and Monday, May 9th:
- Man, that season finale of "Fringe" was a mind blower! All throughout the episode, I kept thinking to myself "What the what?!?! WHAT IS HAPPENING???" and then when it ended, I thought to myself "What the what?!?! WHAT JUST HAPPENED???" Anyways, I hope that the show's writers find a good way to interestingly and plausibly solve all of the questions posed after the finale during their fourth (and, judging by the ratings, final) season, and not wind up becoming a show that just becomes more and more complicated, filled with extra zany crackpot mythologies and plot twists by the episode (kind of like how I assume fellow J.J. Abrams show, "Lost," became during its run).
- Is it just me, or does the WWE seem to do a better job of igniting American patriotism than anyone else? First, there was the Iron Sheik, Sgt. Slaughter, Hulk Hogan and Hulk Hogan's theme song in the 1980s. Then, there was the inspiring edition of "Smackdown" two days after 9/11 (one of the show's best moments). And now, there was the video of John Cena sparking massive cheers in an arena after news that Osama Bin Laden had died, followed by Lilian Garcia singing the national anthem on "Raw" the next day. You can criticize the brand that Vince McMahon has put out in the last few years, but you can't deny the man's love of being 'Murican.
- This is just sad, but only because of the fact that Nirvana will never be able to counter with their cover of "Party in the U.S.A." (http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/poplife/content/miley-cyrus-sings-nirvanas-smells-teen-spirit-and-dances-elaine-seinfeld)
- I wonder must it be like for England's Queen Elizabeth II listening to an entire room singing "God Save the Queen"? I'd say it at least compares to God hearing all of the Psalm singings every weekend.
- So I'm guessing that opening the door of an airplane mid-flight is this decade's giving birth to a baby mid-flight. (http://gawker.com/#!5799781/why-do-people-try-to-open-airplane-doors-during-flights)
- Sad as it is to say considering its wonderful pilot episode last month, but I'm afraid that "The Killing" has evolved over these past few episodes from a show with a promising premise (see a crime investigated during not one hour, but thirteen!) to nothing more than a dragged-on episode of procedurals like "Cold Case" and "CSI" with a weak slate of interesting characters, no explanation about why we should care about this Rosie Larsen girl, noire cliches, unrealistic dialogue and situations (especially when it covers the Darell Richmond politics storyline) and now with an evolving plot that appears to be out of left field. Plus, in my opinion, it appears more and more evident who the killer is based on the traditional TV storytelling rule of person you'd least expect who is strangely part of the plot even though he has no reason to be (*cough*Belko*cough*). Personally, I think the show would have been much better off had AMC given it a six episode ordered like they gave to "The Walking Dead" for its first season.
-Two more weeks to go until I wrap up the 1st (and possibly last, depending on the Upfronts schedule) installment of the NBC Thursday Night Comedies Power Rankings. The penultimate standings for the episodes to air on May 5th:
1. "Community"- "Fist Full of Paintballs (Part 1)" (40 points)
Hot damn, this episode was fun to watch, wasn't it? While the episode didn't bring as many gut-busting laughter that last season's original paintball episode, the legendary "Modern Warfare," it certainly made up for it with an exciting premise, great writing, fantastic acting from everyone (most notably Alison Brie, who as Abed mentioned was awesome throughout, and guest star Josh Holloway), suspense, a great homage to the spaghetti Western that only "Community" can pull off, and (of course) some great laughs. And what's even more awesome about this episode is that this was only part one (with part two promising to be even more epic)! And, yes, from this week's penultimate episode, you bet your ass I'm excited for it!
(Also, any episode that gives Alison Brie to run in slow-mo is a great episode. I always knew that I liked her on the show more than Gillian Jacobs, but I never quite knew the reason why...but now I do!)
2. "Parks and Recreations"- "Eagleton" (30 points)
What about this episode that continued the show's impressive, perfect streak of good to great episodes this season? Well, for starters the entire Ron Swanson B-plot where he spends days obsessed with finding out Leslie's plans for his birthday was awesome. From the laugh-out-loud gag with Chris unexpectedly kissing Ron to the ending with the man watching "Bridge on the Rive Kwai" while enjoying his food in perfect silence was one of the better moments the show has ever had. Second, while the Leslie vs. the Eagleton fence improved as it went on. Overall, another impressive episode from TV's best sitcom that could've been #1 had "Community" not decided to have an epic episode this week.
3 (tie). "30 Rock"- "Respawn" (20 points)
Just a bumpy, overall forgettable end to season five, one that started off with the show's strongest episodes since season two but ended with a few underwhelming episodes (I personally blame Tracy Morgan leaving mid-season as the reason for this decline in quality). The Jack-Kenneth storyline was pretty entertaining and fascinatingly creepy, while the quick "Gavel! Gavel!" joke was very funny, but the Liz and Jenna storylines were just weak as a whole. Hope the show's writers come out next fall (probably the series' last) as strong as they did at the beginning of this season.
3 (tie). "The Office"- "The Inner Circle" (20 points)
Entering this first post-Steve Carell episode, I was actually bracing for the worst. However, what turned out was an episode was as actually...okay. I mean, yes, the fact that the writers once again showed their cluelessness towards dealing with Will Ferrell by having his fourth different personality in four episodes was frustrating, and the ending/formal ending of the DeAngelo arc was beyond ridiculous. Plus, considering how Will Ferrell is not going to be the permanent boss, this episode had little meaning other than slowly moving towards the star-packed season finale. However, there were many parts of the episode that I found both enjoyable and, well, funny, which put it on par with most of the show's episodes for the past two seasons. Still, I'm very glad that the uncomfortable Will Ferrell story arc and am interested to see how the road to the picking of the new boss develops.
And now, the second to last tally of the TV season before each we put this power rankings to rest, whether temporarily or for good (the future will be the decider of that):
1. "Parks and Recreations": 385 points
2. "Community": 360 points
3. "The Office": 305 points
4. "30 Rock": 285 points (final point total)
So, since the show aired its season finale, "30 Rock" wraps up its entry into the power rankings at a disappointing last place finish with 285 points. Its too bad, because had I actually started this power rankings in the fall (damn you, "Outsourced"!), the show might have finished in a much better position. So now, we are down to three shows with one more week of the power rankings to go, and from the looks of it, it is "Parks and Recreations" to lose, what with it airing two episodes next week and all (and FYI, the rankings next week will still be graded from the normal 10-40 point system, even if P&R is airing two episodes). Be sure to come back next week to see the final results!
Hoped you enjoyed this post. And now, I'm off, to complete a post I should have finished ten days ago!
Sincerely,
Your pal: mj15
If you have any opinions on today's post, or if you just have any suggestions or
tips for my next blog entry, e-mail me at: mj1599@aol.com. Your e-mails are greatly appreciated.
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