TRAVIS AND LAURIE FROM COUGAR TOWN CAMEO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The rest was pretty good, too. I thought you guys were crazy last week for trying to figure out who was behind the ice cream company. Instead you guys were totally right (but also totally wrong). City College made sense.
Hey, they actually redeemed Pierce!
It is the policy of the documentary crew to remain true observers and not interfere with its subjects. "Well. Shit." -hansen9j Go Pack Go! (Champs!) Let's Go Riders!
Originally posted by hansen9jCity College made sense.
Yeah, but it was... uninspired. I really thought someone going after the group itself (with Pierce making the save) would have been better. And it really felt like they were building something with Rich that they just dropped.
I think this season was good, but not as great as it could have been. I have a good feeling about season three, though...
And by next season I'll be living on the East Coast, so this whole "making me wait to read the thread until I get to see the show" will not be an issue. Just sayin'.
I pretty much knew it was the City College's dean when I rewatched last week's and heard the ice cream cone talk then matched her voice to his inflections in the astronaut episode. That was a sentence packed full of strange things.
Tough to live up to the expectations of paintball, last week's episode, and a Community finale. But the Pierce stuff carried some legit emotional weight, which is impressive since the show itself always makes fun of the group breaking up.
Towards the end of last season, Cubs said that we were looking at a Fernando Valenzuela '81 situation and to enjoy it while we can. Well, after season 2 I would say Fernandomania is still running wild. I'd put it up there with the best seasons there have ever been. Seems like an even more direct comparison to Arrested Development than usual, with season 1 laying the groundwork with perfect execution and season 2 getting to roam free in the now-established playground. I tried to pick a favorite episode from this year and couldn't believe how many awesome things have happened since September. It's between Dungeons & Dragons, clip show, last week, documentary -- geez, see, a lot of awesome things happened.
Originally posted by StaggerLeeAnnie and Abed making out was odd.
A solid done for all the fanfic-ers out there.
Have they been pining ever since that Don Draper impression last year?
Troy's come a long way from the dumb jock he started out as.
Remember when Annie used to pine away for Troy? Troy Barnes, surly high school football idiot? Strange days.
I would call Annie and Troy the MVPs for the year. Donald Glover is on his way to Michael Ceraing a film career as an affable non-traditional leading young man, except black, except somehow whiter than Michael Cera (those Childish Gambino beats are fooling no one!). A.Brie is even more talented -- at acting, at least; jury's out on her writing and hip-hop -- and I'm sure that talent will be recognized and honored in a top 10 finish in Maxim-type Sexiest Hotties lists next year.
Britta is actually my favorite character, but she wasn't as much of a fulcrum. And a large part of the year seemed to be about destabilizing Jeff as the lead and going full-on ensemble. The Corre is a group of equals.
Originally posted by JustinShapiroI tried to pick a favorite episode from this year and couldn't believe how many awesome things have happened since September. It's between Dungeons & Dragons, clip show, last week, documentary -- geez, see, a lot of awesome things happened.
Forced into this Sophie's Choice-esque position of... choosing, I'd probably go with clip show (which inspired some of the heartiest legit-LOLs I've experienced in years), but Abed's speech about pooping his pants on the set of Cougar Town was genuinely like nothing I've seen before from a sitcom. It was the show's anti-Jump the Shark moment for me, where it truly and definitively transcended from something reliably funny and clever to being really brilliant.
Since I know everyone is going to be bummed about no new episodes for months, I took the liberty of writing some fan fiction to help bridge the gap:
Troy: Dude, do you think Jeff and Annie might get together during our Hawaiian vacation? The idea of that is really bending my brain!
Abed: I know what you mean. It's like they're the two protagonists of "Something to Talk About." Both the song and the movie. Mostly the movie.
Annie: I know for you guys this Hawaii trip is just a vacation, but for me it's a study abroad program! I need to study! Also, I think Jeff and I should get together.
Jeff: Can't you relax for just one second, Annie? This is the kind of trip I used to take all the time when I was a lawyer. Also, I think you and me should get together.
Britta: How can you guys talk about getting together when the indigenous culture of this once proud island has been ravaged by the tourism industry! But I do think that you two are going to get together.
Shirley: I don't want to get involved in any of this drama! I'm here for a nice family vacation with my kids. The only thing I'm concerned about is having a relaxing time, and Jeff and Annie getting together.
Pierce: I can't believe you didn't invite me to this little tropical shindig of yours! I could have missed Jeff and Annie getting together!
Chang: Oh snap, yo! Jeff and Annie are totally going to Chang!
Originally posted by JustinShapiroWell, after season 2 I would say Fernandomania is still running wild. I'd put it up there with the best seasons there have ever been.
There were some high-water marks that the show definitely hit - and I like that they're taking chances.
But I think there were some serious low points as well. "Messianic Myths and Ancient Peoples" was a real scary episode, proving that Community can REALLY suck.
What bugs me most about this season is the lack of follow up. Yeah, the Pierce arc nicely transversed (and is apparently on-going), as did the Shirley storyline, but there were a lot of things that had no follow-through or consistency.
Chang went back and forth from episode to episode - one minute he's being chewed out by Jeff for being a horrible person (or nearly being sent to prison for 25 years) and the next show the study group is acting like nothing happened. They spent a lot of the early episodes building up *something* with Rich, only to have him entirely disappear halfway through the season.
Abed's monologue in "Critical Film Studies" was great - but the episode itself REALLY left me flat (I know that I'm alone on that one, but I still think it could've been better).
Honestly, if we're going to get into "best season of all time", I still think Parks & Recreation is far more consistently funny and developed than Community. Granted, the last half of the season was just stellar - I think it just missed a few spots from being "the best thing ever".
Originally posted by hansen9jTRAVIS AND LAURIE FROM COUGAR TOWN CAMEO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Where the hell was this?? I actually watch Cougar Town and didn't notice.
They were amongst the happy people celebrating Greendale's victory, and by "amongst" I mean there was one shot that was just them. I noticed Laurie, my wife saw Travis, and we went back to confirm.
It is the policy of the documentary crew to remain true observers and not interfere with its subjects. "Well. Shit." -hansen9j Go Pack Go! (Champs!) Let's Go Riders!
Originally posted by JustinShapiroTowards the end of last season, Cubs said that we were looking at a Fernando Valenzuela '81 situation and to enjoy it while we can. Well, after season 2 I would say Fernandomania is still running wild. I'd put it up there with the best seasons there have ever been. Seems like an even more direct comparison to Arrested Development than usual...
Fernando Mania is really the best way to describe this show. The high points of this season were really something else, but if felt like some of them came because there were points where the show was dragging like never before.
The only thing this show has in common with Arrested Development is it is quirkier than anything else on television right now. Community is far to inconsistent. I don't ever remember a bad AD episode.
Bill Simmons and Phil Jackson often say there will never be another Michael Jordon so we all need to stop looking. The same can be said for Arrested Development.
As for the finale. I thought they got caught reaching again. I really liked part one. Part two felt like to much with to many characters leaving their lane.
I look forward to seeing what they do next season, but I've also come to accept the fact that for all the hits there are going to be a fair share of misses as well.
Towards the end of last season, Cubs said that we were looking at a Fernando Valenzuela '81 situation and to enjoy it while we can. Well, after season 2 I would say Fernandomania is still running wild. I'd put it up there with the best seasons there have ever been. Seems like an even more direct comparison to Arrested Development than usual, with season 1 laying the groundwork with perfect execution and season 2 getting to roam free in the now-established playground. I tried to pick a favorite episode from this year and couldn't believe how many awesome things have happened since September. It's between Dungeons & Dragons, clip show, last week, documentary -- geez, see, a lot of awesome things happened.
Originally posted by AlbySureForced into this Sophie's Choice-esque position of... choosing, I'd probably go with clip show (which inspired some of the heartiest legit-LOLs I've experienced in years), but Abed's speech about pooping his pants on the set of Cougar Town was genuinely like nothing I've seen before from a sitcom. It was the show's anti-Jump the Shark moment for me, where it truly and definitively transcended from something reliably funny and clever to being really brilliant.
(I liked both of these)
My concern last year was half worrying the show would go from Community to "7 Talented Individuals Looking Forward To Cashing In On The Buzz Of This Show", which would've first made for an awful name for a television show but also damaged the fun of the show. That still hasn't happened; certain people are probably going on to do bigger things at some point, but it's still an ensemble show - maybe even more in Season 2 since Chang is more around and they've done more with the other characters around the school.
My other worry was that they'd clone what worked last season (to play it safe or just running out of ideas), instead of just keeping pushing. More shows like "Basic Rocket Science", with some hilarious bits not at the level of inventiveness of the mid-late first season. It was pretty clear I was way off on that by "Critical Film Studies" (maybe it was clear all the way back at "Aerodynamics of Gender".)
Fernandomania ended, in large part, because of overuse. He was throwing a crazy amount of pitches per start, stuff they'd never allow a pitcher to do today and probably had a notion not to do even twenty years ago, but let him do it because he was so unbelievably great. Community brought so much to the table this season, I'm not worried about them gassing themselves out the same way. If there's any concern, it's that not enough of the world is watching it, but NBC is so ratings and programming challenged that they're probably safe at this level for a while longer.
Originally posted by LeroyChang went back and forth from episode to episode - one minute he's being chewed out by Jeff for being a horrible person (or nearly being sent to prison for 25 years) and the next show the study group is acting like nothing happened. They spent a lot of the early episodes building up *something* with Rich, only to have him entirely disappear halfway through the season.
I was surprised there was no resolution to the "is Chang in or out" question that was raised in the season premiere. But with Pierce leaving it may've confused the impact.
I was excited for Rich teaching Jeff to pretend to be a better person, but maybe in hindsight that was never intended as anything more than a joke twist on the Annie-Jeff obsessed. Or maybe it went the way of Britta taking mandatory counseling with Duncan in season 1.
These might be questions Dan Harmon has been asked and answered on Twitter or Reddit or one of the hundred other modern internetworking things he does.
Originally posted by AlbertChangSince I know everyone is going to be bummed about no new episodes for months, I took the liberty of writing some fan fiction to help bridge the gap:
Troy: Dude, do you think Jeff and Annie might get together during our Hawaiian vacation? The idea of that is really bending my brain!
Abed: I know what you mean. It's like they're the two protagonists of "Something to Talk About." Both the song and the movie. Mostly the movie.
Annie: I know for you guys this Hawaii trip is just a vacation, but for me it's a study abroad program! I need to study! Also, I think Jeff and I should get together.
Jeff: Can't you relax for just one second, Annie? This is the kind of trip I used to take all the time when I was a lawyer. Also, I think you and me should get together.
Britta: How can you guys talk about getting together when the indigenous culture of this once proud island has been ravaged by the tourism industry! But I do think that you two are going to get together.
Shirley: I don't want to get involved in any of this drama! I'm here for a nice family vacation with my kids. The only thing I'm concerned about is having a relaxing time, and Jeff and Annie getting together.
Pierce: I can't believe you didn't invite me to this little tropical shindig of yours! I could have missed Jeff and Annie getting together!
Chang: Oh snap, yo! Jeff and Annie are totally going to Chang!
Seems to me like you're tired of waiting and you really, really want Chang to be made a permanent member of the study group.
Episode title "Hawaiian Culture 5-0 and Rhetoric of Jeff & Annie Getting Together."
Originally posted by LeroyHonestly, if we're going to get into "best season of all time", I still think Parks & Recreation is far more consistently funny and developed than Community. Granted, the last half of the season was just stellar - I think it just missed a few spots from being "the best thing ever".
I will have similar exultant things to say about Parks in the thread for its season finale. Albeit... well, one second.
Originally posted by BigDaddyLocoThe only thing this show has in common with Arrested Development is it is quirkier than anything else on television right now. Community is far to inconsistent. I don't ever remember a bad AD episode.
Bill Simmons and Phil Jackson often say there will never be another Michael Jordon so we all need to stop looking. The same can be said for Arrested Development.
There will undoubtedly never be another Arrested Development, because I don't think a showrunner and writing staff will ever be that devoted (or humanly able) to overstuff a show with jokes, plot, layers, continuity, language tricks, fanservice, etc. It's just not tenable, and, based on Mitch Hurwitz's negotiations with FOX for Running Wilde, prohibited.
But my comparison was strictly in how each season 1 built the sandbox and then season 2 got to build in the sand. The comparison between the two shows, though, is in terms of massive ambition and pure risk-taking, as well as their explorations and subversions of the sitcom as a genre/medium in and of itself (AD - sitcom families, C - sitcom groups of friends). Plus the Russo brothers (not that one) were AD's go-to directors and they seem to be Community's too.
Originally posted by JustinShapiroOr maybe it went the way of Britta taking mandatory counseling with Duncan in season 1.
But Duncan WAS counseling Britta, as he advised her in the Season 1 finale that, "There are bugs on the windshield of your mind you may never be able to squeegee" leading her to enter the pageant and confront Slater.
See... that's kind of my point. So much of the Season 1 finale was spent wrapping up all of the loose ends. Hell, even the Dean's Dalmatian fetish was referenced in an earlier episode, "I hope this doesn't awaken anything inside me."
(Yeah - I basically spent all last summer watching season 1 over and over again, sue me.)
Originally posted by JustinShapiroThe comparison between the two shows, though, is in terms of massive ambition and pure risk-taking, as well as their explorations and subversions of the sitcom as a genre/medium...
Which is why Community usually gets a pass from me when it stumbles. It's trying - and even if only succeeds 75% of the time, that 75% is just brilliant.
ABED FROM COMMUNITY CAMEO ON COUGAR TOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
EDIT: TED FROM SCRUBS CAMEO ON COUGAR TOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(edited by hansen9j on 25.5.11 2020) It is the policy of the documentary crew to remain true observers and not interfere with its subjects. "Well. Shit." -hansen9j Go Pack Go! (Champs!) Let's Go Riders!
I think any major storyline is probably game. In some cases, they are better because they don't have the weight of comic continuity to them. The Red Hood film was a LOT better than the comic, mainly due to the lack of Superboy's Magic punching BS.