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Originally Posted by
John_Lee 
Wendy Wheelchair?
I'd like to think I'm not Larry David bad.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Hanson Yoo
This show is quickly becoming one of my favorites, and for all the hullabaloo surrounding Modern Family, P&R is the better, smarter, funnier Office clone. Last night made for four good to great episodes in a row (the one with Fred Armisen as the Venezuelan P&R head was almost non-stop hilarious). I can't get my wife to take the bait, but this is the first time in memory that all four comedies are excellent shows. Since the Seinfeld days, there's usually a stinker like Kath & Kim to create a hole in the schedule (CBS has Accidentally on Purpose fulfilling that role on Mondays -- bring back Rules of Engagement already!). I'm actually looking forward to P&R now rather than letting them pile up and play in the background while I surf the net on my phone.
P&R is still the stinker of the lot for me, but that says more about the incredible competition on NBC's current line-up than it does about P&R: "Community" is perhaps the best comedy NBC has aired since "Seinfeld" (maybe even "Cheers"). "The Office" will be remembered as a comedy classic, right up there with "All in the Family" among the best cross-Atlantic translations. And "30 Rock" is better than anything Tina Fey came up with writing for "SNL." Would I rather "My Name is Earl" survived another year? Absolutely. Comparing the last season of "My Name is Earl" and the first season of P&R, there's no question that "My Name is Earl" was more deserving of the renewal.
All of that being said, P&R has made huge strides this season. I still don't particularly like Lesley Knope, but her role has been scaled back dramatically and Amy Poehler has toned down her performance significantly. Both decisions have been to the enormous benefit of the show; it works much better as an ensemble than it did as a star vehicle. The introduction of Louis CK was an excellent decision, since his character is as genial and likeable as Lesley's character was grating and cringeworthy. Last night's episode proved the show could remain solid even with him anchoring things, though.
I don't think it's fair to compare this show to "Modern Family"; other than the single-camera documentary conceit, it has almost nothing in common with P&R and "The Office". For one thing, the humor in "Modern Family" is long form, whereas the humor in P&R is much more immediate.
I watched Chris Pratt for many years on "Everwood", that's the only reason I knew it wasn't him.
