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Is Comedy Night Being Done Right?
The Cosby Show. Family Ties. Cheers. Night Court.
Since 1984, my TV has found its way to NBC on Thursday nights at 8pm. Ugly Betty and Grey's Anatomy just aren't my cup of tea, and Survivor and CSI are permanent fixtures on my TiVo. But what I really need is a live fix of half hour comedies courtesy of the peacock.
The blend of '84 comedies will never be equaled by any network, but NBC is doing its best with some critically acclaimed gems this spring:
My Name Is Earl, 30 Rock, The Office and Scrubs.
These are four solid shows, some clearly better than others, but NBC is not doing comedy night just right. Let’s tackle these programs individually.
8:00pm My Name Is Earl
Earl worked well when karma drove him to cross things off his list. It's tough to do that in prison or in a coma. It's still a quirky comedy worth watching, but its shortcomings are starting to show.
Earl: He's a great character, but coming up with wacky situations for Jason Lee to tackle week after week can get stale if the supporting cast isn't used correctly.
Randy: Good second banana, but you can't have too much Randy. Putting a supporting character out there for too much time is a major problem for all of these comedies.
Joy: See Randy times ten. I know she won an Emmy, but this has become the Jamie Pressly show. Cut back on the Joy. Please.
Darnell: The crab man's suspicious government background works for me, and his screen time is just about right. More crab man.
Catalina: She's great to look at, but there is absolutely no point of her being on the show anymore. And everyone knows it.
Solution: Get Earl back on the streets. Use the other characters in the right amounts, and keep those other crazy friends of Earl's coming.
8:30pm 30 Rock
30 Rock is a funny, funny show, but it's slowly becoming a victim of its own hype. The Office went through this during its second season. This isn't an 8:30pm show and should air at either 9:00pm or 9:30pm. Let's break things down.
Liz Lemon: Tina Fey is very funny, very talented, and very pretty, but she's not that hot. Stop shoving her down our throats as a hot leading lady.
Jack Donaghy: This is, and will always be, Alec Baldwin's show. But he can't be on for the entire half hour. Use him in spots, and use him wisely.
Jenna: Jane Krakowski plays this part perfectly. Well done.
Tracy Jordan: Whatever they're doing with Tracy Morgan, its working. Let him roll.
Kenneth the Page: Another supporting character that's getting too much time. Like all the other pages at NBC, let's take our Kenneth in small doses.
Pete: This is the guy whose arm was stuck in the vending machine. There's nothing left for this character. He should run off to Mexico with Catalina from My Name Is Earl.
Solution: Push the start time back, visit the writer's room (but don't spend too much time there), and have the not-so-hot Liz bring us into the lives of Tracy and Jack each week.
9:00pm The Office
The Office has taken its lumps and is the funniest show of the night. It's in dangerous shark jumping territory with the Jim and Pam romance, but there's enough wackiness in Scranton to keep the fin at bay.
Michael Scott: The show works best when there's the right amount of Michael on screen. Too much Steve Carrell does not mean a great episode. He's a great character, but he needs the others to make him better.
Jim & Pam: Good office romance. For now.
Dwight Schrute: My favorite character on Thursday nights. There should never be a Dwight-centric episode. Just let him raise hell on all others at Dunder Mifflin.
Angela: Why are we paying so much attention to her? She's angry and straight. We get it. It's boring.
Kevin, Phyllis, Stanley, Toby: Never too much, never too little. Just right.
Solution: Remember this is The Office and not The Michael Scott Show. Keep it in the workplace, and good things will happen.
9:30pm Scrubs
The folks at Sacred Heart are always an afterthought when it comes to NBC comedies, but this is the most consistent show of the bunch. A perfect combination of wackiness and good plotlines always keep things interesting and funny.
JD: He's maturing, but thankfully still having those immature daydreams. Don't ever let him grow up.
Turk: See JD.
Elliot: Sarah Chalke is getting hotter every season. That being said, her character has taken the most interesting path as well.
Carla: She needs to get in Cox's and Kelso's face more like she used to. I'm not wild about her maternal struggles, but she clicks with JD and Turk.
Doctor Cox: Stay mean. Please, stay mean.
Janitor: See Dr. Cox.
Kelso: Don't, don't, don't sap it up with him turning 65. Bob Kelso is at his best as an evil man. Let's keep him that way.
Solution: Avoid the "very special" storylines, stay goofy, and maybe NBC will notice how good of a show this is one day.
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Apr 22, 2008 7:54 AM
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I kind of fear that the Office might have jumped the shark when Pam and Jim started dating (this season). It was so much better when that "secret" and yet "obvious" flirting was going on.
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Apr 22, 2008 9:13 AM
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"Angela: Why are we paying so much attention to her? She's angry and straight. We get it. It's boring."
Totally, totally disagree. Angela is one of the funniest characters on TV. We need MORE of her, not less. She had the funniest lines in 'Dinner Party.'
"Jim & Pam: Good office romance. For now."
You know, you guys at TV Guide have been against this relationship on prinicple. But you know what I find refreshing? A functional, believable couple on prime time. Wow, what a concept!! Not to play the will they/won't they card till viewers are sick of it (I'm looking at you Frasier, Friends, etc, etc). Just because they're together doesn't mean the show has jumped the shark or is in danger of doing so. Please stop with the criticism already. It's tired. Surely you can find something else to write about.
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Apr 22, 2008 11:38 AM
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Someone at NBC must have been reading. 30 Rock has been moved to 9:30 EST, which works much better for me.
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Apr 22, 2008 1:52 PM
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"Randy: Good second banana, but you can't have too much Randy."
Jon - Did you mean "can" instead of "can't"?
Other than that, I more or less agree with you. I haven't seen Earl most of the year, although they're there for me on my DVR when I get to them. Earl is the least compelling for me.
30 Rock is too hilarious. You may have a point in it becoming a victim of its own hype but for now, it makes me laugh every, single week.
Scrubs is one of my all-time favorite shows. The characters are wacky and loveable. Scrubs is one show that can consistently make me laugh and cry in the same episode.
As for The Office, I am still enjoying it; it makes me laugh out loud at least once an episode (usually more), but I too feel that the Pam/Jim romance could easily venture into the "jump the shark" territory. I'm with you, Jon - for now, it's fine - but I hope they don't ruin the show with it. I sort of agree with bakyelli above - I liked it when their romance was unrequited.
Although I am a two DVR household (thank goodness), and Thursdays fill 'em both up (three networks at 8, four at 9, and two at 10), if I had to narrow it down to only one network, I would choose NBC for sure with these shows.
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Apr 22, 2008 2:58 PM
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Let's face it: 30 Rock is the new version of Arrested Development. I love the humor of Tina Fey but to me, it's not "must-see".
As for Scrubs, I felt it was so much in love with itself with musicals, inside jokes, etc. that I ditched the show, which now may appear to find a home on ABC in 2008-09. ABC, what are you thinking?!?
Of course, The Office is the best of the comedy bunch on NBC Thursdays. However, last week's episode about Michael having his staff find him a model-type woman while the other workers complain about parking spaces was very uneven and awkward. However, I think the show hits way more than it misses (examples include what may be the funniest scene in the series' history so far, when in the "Gay Witch Hunt" episode, Michael kisses Oscar on the lips to prove he's open to gays in the workplace; also, the hilarious April 3, 2008 episode entitled "Dinner Party").
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Apr 22, 2008 6:20 PM
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Great list! The only thing I'd add is that the Office has to avoid - at all cost - doing another hour long episode. The Office, for whatever reason, can't sustain an hour. The first half hour is usually solid, followed by filler crap for the 2nd half. Otherwise, it's my favorite show on that night.
And to the guy above me who wrote that 30 Rock is the new Arrested Development - you sir need to stop commenting on TV immediately. Unless your f'ing Tina Fey and that's why you wrote that, in that case - way to go bro!
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Apr 23, 2008 8:01 AM
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Excuse me, jasondk, but I firmly stand by my 30 Rock-Arrested Development analogy.
1. Both shows were heavily acclaimed by critics and the Emmy voters.
2. Both shows are smartly written.
3. Both programs have a small but loyal following.
4. But, both shows get minimal Nielsen ratings - for 3 seasons, Arrested Development was never a hit show. 30 Rock will never be a hit show, no matter how many years it airs on NBC, no matter when it airs on the NBC primetime schedule, whether it airs post-Deal or No Deal, post-Heroes, or even post-Super Bowl XLIII!
(And no, I won't stop commenting.)
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Apr 23, 2008 4:06 PM
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sonofthebronx - For what it's worth, I agree with your 30 Rock-Arrested Development analogy. And I love 'em both!
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Apr 24, 2008 8:37 AM
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Guys - 30 Rock is a great show, no doubt. But Arrested Development is in a league of it's own. It's one of the best half hour comedies on tv of all time. It was fresh, new, and the entire supporting cast was incredible.
30 Rock has Alec Baldwin, then a big drop off to Tina Fey and Tracy Morgan, then a huge drop off to the rest of the cast. The writing, while smart, is no where near the the writing on AD. It's just not in the same league, and that's okay, because there is almost nothing in the same league.
30 Rock, very good show most of the time. Arrested Development, great show all the time. And if AD got the support from Fox that NBC gives 30 Rock, it would probably still be on the air today.
So put that in your pipe and smoke it.
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Apr 24, 2008 8:46 AM
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I disagree, jasondk. I am a fan of both shows, but I disagree about Fox giving AD support. They lasted for three seasons, albeit a short third season, despite dismal ratings.
You make a point about the cast of each show; AD's cast was far superior. But I still think the shows are similar in their brand of humor.
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Apr 24, 2008 11:05 AM
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I agree with you, The office is a great show, I can't stand Earl, Scrubs is a good show but it is dying a slow death this season, seems like NBC never really gave it a good shake, 30 Rock is decent.
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Apr 28, 2008 2:36 PM
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