Friday, March 26th, 2010
06.00 Community
06.30 Hiccups
12.30 The Mary Tyler Moore Show
01.00 Rising Damp
02.00 WKRP In Cincinnati
Community. Episode 20. "The Science of Illusion" Britta's practical joke.
Clever. Britta's pretty much the only unfunny character in the ensemble, so they write that very quality into a script. And it works. The character's mistaken belief that a frog-on-the-teacher's-desk would be funny was genuinely endearing, and the ensuing accident with the cadaver was hilarious.
I love the show's ability to have the character's go insane (step into another reality) without ruining the reality of the world they inhabit. Annie and Shirley as badass cops? How awesome were Yvette Nicole Brown and Alison Brie?
Episode endings always push the envelope into deeply emotional territory. At first, I was reluctant to embrace this aspect of the show, but after a half-dozen episodes I had to admit that they were making it work week after week so I got used to it. This was the best one ever, where everybody was OTT crying. Like the show was having fun with itself. Only makes me love it more.
Hiccups. Episode 4. "Speed Ball" speed dating
Now this is more like the sort of episode I expected the show to provide: Stan introduces Millie to something in an effort to make her a better person. This week: speed dating, in an effort to have her meet new people and make some friends. It's a solid idea. There's aren't really any good gags here, but it's a solid idea.
Meanwhile, back at the office, lots of unfunny things happen to lots of unfunny people. I'm sorry but my interest in the show dies as soon as it moves away from Stan and Millie. And the fact that they aren't very funny is kinda killing my interest in them...
The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Episode 24. "The 45-Year-Old Man" Lou is fired
No episode of Mary Tyler Moore's first season is as good as the show's pilot, but the season finale is pretty darn close. There's also a great symmetry between the two episodes. The season opened with a show devoted to Mary's job, and ends with one devoted to Lou's job.
There are many reasons to love The Mary Tyler Moore Show and this episode illustrates one of them: the bond between Mary and Lou. Mary Tyler Moore and Edward Asner pretty much carry the episode and most of their scenes are downright magical. The moment where Lou takes Mary by the shoulders, tells her now 'nice' she is and urges her to leave him alone is beautifully written and performed. In that moment, we can see the considerable affection between these co-workers without the script ever losing sight of their defining characteristics, and considerable differences.
Sidney Clute, who would go on to appear in several Lou Grant episodes, has a small role.
Rising Damp. Season 4, Episode 2. "Fire and Brimstone" Religion
The story here is completely driven by the new tenant: a student with extreme religious views who soon has an effect on everyone in the house. John Clive is a very strong guest star, he's funny and able to hold his own in scenes with Leonard Rossiter who has some great material in this one, particularly when Rigsby makes an all-out play for Miss Jones. Best bit? The cigar.
The show has adapted very well to losing Alan. We don't get to see Rigsby imparting his (misguided) wisdom anymore, and there's nobody for Philip to play pranks with but the surviving characters are strong and diverse enough to sustain any series. Of the three, it is probably Miss Jones who benefits most from the extra screentime and the show is forcing the Rigsby-Jones romance for the first time.
WKRP In Cincinnati. Episode 78. "Love, Exciting and New" Andy & Mrs. Carlson
Season Four of WKRP seems to be the best and funniest. This is another solid entry with a great story and several fantastic laughs. Some of the comedy is slapstick (unusual for WKRP), and some is down to witty one-liners, but most is down to the interaction between the regular characters.
Story-wise this is a brave one. The flirtation between Andy and (the much older) Mrs. Carlson has been featured for several episodes, but it comes to a head here when it appears that Mrs. Carlson wants to take things to another level. The issues and the characters are treated with respect, it's always funny and there are no easy answers. Mrs. Carlson has always been written as an interesting and three-dimensional character and this episode is no exception. Her motives are kept suitably vague and mature. Is she just having fun? Acting for her own amusment? Or is she lonely?
When's the last time a TV show (a half-hour sitcom, no less) left you wondering these things?
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Community, Hiccups, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Rising Damp, WKRP in Cincinnati
