TV Review: Parks and Recreation--Bus Tour

In season four's penultimate episode the loyal Knope2012 team is forced to use its final days of campaigning to overcome no small number of unforeseen obstacles, including but not limited to a broken bus rental agreement, Chris' lady troubles, a would-be pie assassin (don't worry, Burt Macklin was on the case), and of course, death.  And at the end of the day, Leslie and company find themselves about as certain as the rest of us as to whether she will emerge the victor in next week's finale, "Win Lose or Draw."

Though Leslie makes up for some of her (colossal) missteps by the episode's end, mostly due to Bobby Newport's naivete, there is still a lingering feeling of doubt in many viewers' minds.  I've found myself thinking of this election the same way I would any non-fiction one, wondering if Leslie has succeeded as a politician, and if her earnestness and candor will be enough to overcome the inherent corruption of politics, even local (and fictional) politics.  I also can't wait to see how this will be handled from a writing standpoint.  As we've all surely read by now, Mike Schur has been quoted on multiple occasions as saying that they've shot three different endings to next Thursday's finale, as per the title:  a victory, a loss, and a draw.  And what's more, his statement of only a few weeks ago warned us of his own uncertainty, and the possibility of a last-minute game change.  I'm hoping there will be a healthy dose of suspense in next week's episode, ideally even some kind of fake-out or last minute twist, because if I have to go to sleep that night heartbroken on Leslie's behalf, I want to at least feel like the journey was worth it. 

Some of the other things going on in the midst of Leslie's scramble to get back on Bobby Newport and the press's good side must be applauded, namely Andy's latest (and most hilarious) turn as Burt Macklin, erstwhile FBI agent.  His investigation of the pie incident, the reenactments of the crime (assisted by Jerry, naturally), and the code names he assigns--all of it is just about perfection, and a welcome lighter contrast to the semi-seriousness of Leslie's plot in this episode.  Chris Pratt has proven once again that he is a performer not to be taken lightly by any means, and that he ought to be a serious contender for some of this year's comedy accolades.

Also, Leslie's cold open, envisioning Obama at her swearing in?  Absolute perfection.

Basically, there's no way next week's finale could really disappoint me, or fail to bring this just about perfect season to a close.  In fact, I'm pretty damn certain it will prove more satisfying than any of us are anticipating.  Just think, in four days' time the results will be in, and we'll be all set for three months of television nowhere near the standard that has been set by Parks and Recreation this season.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Part 2

So what I've learned over the past week or so is that May sweeps as we once knew it basically doesn't exist anymore.  For one thing, it apparently starts in April now, which bumps the whole schedule forward by several weeks (remember back in the day when the season finale of your favorite shows would coincide with the last days of school?).  Most of the shows discussed below will end in the first two weeks of may, and have already begun to ramp up their plot lines accordingly.  Let's get to it.


Parks and Recreation

Last week's "The Debate" continues to present new things for me to gush about (especially now that I've watched the director's cut, which has even more glorious extra laughs).  And things are only going to get more exciting from here.  The remaining two episodes will determine Leslie's political fate, and rumor has it there are going to be some major complications before the end of the race.
*I've already watched this evening's episode, "Bus Tour," and am holding off on elaborating here so I can post a better review later.


Grey's Anatomy

I have to applaud the current arc centering on the residents taking their medical boards, which I thought might grow tedious but which has been really very interesting to watch.  It's the first time in a while that Grey's has really emphasized the journey each character is on as an individual, rather than simply exploring their romantic relationships with one another.  The hype for the finale has been on the rise for a few weeks now, with several cast members cryptically giving interviews about how anyone's death is fair game in the season finale, due to air May 17th (although rumor has it Meredith, Alex, and Christina are safe, at least from death).  Of course, anyone following the show knows that this has more to do with ongoing contract negotiations with the actors than anything on the creative side, but it definitely feels like things are in flux, and that everything is about to change, for better or for (probably) worse over at Seattle Grace-Mercy West.


New Girl

(Yes, this is the overrated freshman show I was talking about in my previous post.)  Although the writers and actors seem to have finally found something of a groove in terms of humor, storytelling, and minimizing the "isn't she ador(k)able?" aspect of Zooey Deschanel's character, I still think the finale of this show's first season will be (somehow) both predictable and anti-climactic.  Fans are rooting for a Jess and Nick hookup with a fervor reminiscent of the early seasons of Friends and the Ross/Rachel tension.  Now, New Girl could potentially pull off a satisfying conclusion and/or cliffhanger if they go a similar route (that is, resolving it and not resolving it simultaneously, a la season 1 of Friends, where Rachel goes to the airport having realized her feelings only to see Ross with Julie).  I predict that by the end of next Tuesday's episode, either Nick or Jess will have an epiphany of sorts (though it could be argued that Jess kind of did at the end of this week's installment), but I doubt that anything with a clear resolution will happen.  I'd also like to see Nick go through with his decision to move out of the loft, if only because it presents more possibilities for the start of season 2.


Cougar Town

Jules and Grayson are going to get married, which is probably the official moment this show will demand a new title, as there is no substantial age difference between the two.   But rumor has it that Laurie might be assuming the role of a cougar of sorts, if the murmurs of something real happening between her and Travis are to be believed.  My only reservation with this story line is that if the writers aren't careful about handling it, they may run into the same criticism that plagued the show in its early days about how appropriate and/or realistic its interpretation of relationships is.  As someone who's been very happy to see how far this show has come since the pilot, I'm hoping they can pull off an acknowledgement of the palpable chemistry between these two characters in a way that fits with the show we know and love.

TV Review: Glee Gets in Touch with Its Roots

(I picked this photo because of how excited they all look.)


My biggest problem with Glee this season (and parts of last season) has never been the show's theatricality.  I started out legitimately interested in a show that frequently referenced Broadway and made off-beat jokes that not everyone would get.  But this season has been spent too largely on trying to increase Glee's "cool factor" by featuring random guest stars, topical plot lines, and way too much unnecessary drama.  What I liked about last night's episode "New York" was that the writers seemed to remember what the initial forces behind this show were, and remind us all why we started caring in the first place.

It wasn't a perfect episode, of course, but it would have been difficult for anyone to pen perfection in the face of this season's mountain of plot debris.  The kids' excitement about New York felt authentic at times but too over-the-top at others, and I still don't know how I feel about the show basically whoring out a single 10-block radius of Manhattan in order to add color and interest to the show.  I'm also wondering if the people who own Broadway theaters are aware of the apparent break-in epidemic going on in their buildings.

But joking aside, there were some things I really did like about this episode.  Rachel finally did what I've been hoping she'd do all season, which was commit herself to her dream over boys (she got back together with Finn in the end, but it was very clear that the relationship now has an expiration date, and I hope the writers don't conveniently forget that conversation come Season 3).  Rachel's dream of being on Broadway was one of the first really intriguing points of the show, and so I was glad to see the finale revisit that.  I loved (loved, loved) her duet with Kurt, not least because "For Good" is my favorite track from the Wicked soundtrack--they were both phenomenal in that scene.  On that vein, I also loved Kurt serving as Rachel's go-to gal pal/guide in this episode; it gave us another chance to see how well their friendship works. 

I'm glad they didn't draw out the Schuester story too much; we all knew he was going to go back to the kids at some point, and though I predicted they might leave it up in the air over the summer, I think I'm glad he's already sure to be back for another year with the Glee club.  Speaking of people returning for another year, one of the episode's definite highlights was the scene between Santana and Brittany at the episode's end.  I loved Brittany's break down of the New Directions family and the honesty of her feelings toward it and toward Santana.  I liked that we finally got a glimpse of how much she has changed since the show started from the ditzy cheerleader indifferent about who she bullied to someone who actually cares, and not just about herself.  I also got the feeling that only the things she said would have persuaded Santana that she wanted to come back for another year.

Last two things, I promise, both of them praises.  Loved the Blaine and Kurt scene (if you remember, I was hoping, as I'm sure many others were, to have one more glimpse of them before the show went to summer hiatus); the way they said "I love you" was just about perfect, nonchalant and genuine in equal measure.  Another development, and one I was wondering about following the prom episode, was Sam and Mercedes' secret relationship.  I'm legitimately intrigued to see how this one pans out, not to mention excited for the possibility of a duet between the two of them somewhere down the line, because I don't think we've gotten to hear them together before.  Why are my favorite shows choosing right now to write really cute secret couples?  I don't know, but I like it a whole lot.

So Glee is done for the summer, and not much was left hanging.  This episode felt in many ways like both a conclusion and like the show coming full circle back to the beginning of its run, so I will be very interested to see how they intend to proceed for the third season.  My advice:  cut down on the guest stars, etc, and focus on the characters we know and love.  "New York" did exactly that, and I think that's the biggest reason it was a successful episode.

Parks and Recreation Season Finale: Two Roads

Wha...?  But they were (I was) so happy!  And then--but are they--wait, what did I just watch?

That's the summation of how I felt about the last five minutes of "Lil Sebastian," when we saw Leslie's game-changing moment and hints at the potential fallout.  But there is almost a full two episodes to cover before we get to that.  First, let's check how I did on my finale predictions:

*Lil Sebastian was the one to die, as expected.

*We did in fact see Tom hand in his resignation to pursue his dreams

*Ann did have an interaction with Chris, though it was different from what I expected.  Chris is surprisingly still in the dark about Ben and Leslie, and so their conversation had nothing to do with the wayward couple.  I did like that Ann seems to finally be over her past with Chris, and that they were able to talk as friends.  I initially hoped that Chris' musing after she left was a sign that he might relax his policy about inter-office dating just a little, but by episode's end that wasn't even the biggest problem on the Ben/Leslie front.

*In fairness, I think the interview I cited in my predictions oversold the Ron/Tammy thing a bit.  I was expecting an actual storyline rather than a relatively minute interaction, though I am interested to meet Tammy #1 (and see who'll be playing her), and to find out why she strikes so much fear(?) into Tammy #2, who bolted upon seeing her.

*As I forecasted, little developments with Andy and April were all we saw, like the show was trying to check in with them every time we needed a cute moment.

*I admit that I was completely off the mark in my assessment of what would happen with Leslie and her job.  Chris' overhaul of the Parks Department seemed not to affect her at all, busy as she was with other matters, and the political recruitment plot was not something I was expecting to see this early in the show's run (though in fairness I guess they want to move it along and set up for a potential game-changer in a season or two.  Leslie isn't going anywhere any time soon, but Ben might be?  I was disappointed and surprised by this, but we'll get to that, I promise.

First, let's go all the way back to the beginning of "The Bubble" when things were a little bit sunnier.  Ben was super awkward this episode, in a way that was almost difficult to watch.  His meeting with Leslie's mom was a particular example of this, and  I'm just glad they didn't put us through watching the entire exchange.

We saw Tom and Andy get banished to the fourth floor per Chris' revamping of the department, and I loved Andy's irrational enthusiasm about helping out with such a menial task, in contrast with Tom's loathing, which built nicely (I especially enjoyed him bickering with the elderly women in the office).

Leslie teaching Ben how to deal with her mother was amusing, and Ms. Knope Sr. liking him maybe a little too much was doubly so.  Two things bothered me about this plot initially:  one, Leslie and Ben were spending way too much time together to be legitimately passed off as just work, and two, I don't think Leslie actually did any of her own work all day.  These things both proved to be a hint of things to come in the night's second episode (their many failures at secrecy and the relationship in general impacting the quality of their work), but it seemed like they were being too reckless right off the bat.  Both of them said on several occasions that they both didn't want to break up and didn't want to get fired, I just thought that neither did a very good job of showing that they meant it.  The only person I was glad to have find out about their relationship was Leslie's mom, especially because her approval of Ben clearly meant a lot to her daughter.


 Let's move on to talk about "Lil Sebastian," where my heart started to crack (and not because of the mini-horse funeral upon which the episode's plot focused).  There is a lot that happened in a very short time, and a lot of questions left unanswered, which means I will undoubtedly spend my summer wondering where things are headed.

Right off the bat we got more of Ben and Leslie just sucking at keeping their relationship a secret, to the point of it being really frustrating.  I mean, they kept their attraction to each other secret for ages (Ben didn't even know for sure that Leslie was into him until "The Fight"), but now they're suddenly incapable of behaving like adults?  I know why it was written this way, and what it was intended to do, I just still don't know if I buy it.


I really liked Ron being the first one to find out about the relationship, although I'm a little disturbed by how long he stayed on the line after Ben accidentally called him (and more than a little disturbed at the content of the conversations he overheard).  I liked that he was upfront with Leslie about the risk she was taking, assuming that fatherly role he sometimes does (reluctantly) when it comes to her.  You could tell that he doesn't actually oppose their relationship, just opposes losing his most valuable employee.

Chris' struggle with death during the funeral proceedings and his health "scare" probably should have humanized him a little, but I couldn't not laugh.  It was just so absurd to think that someone so obviously concerned with prolonging his life and health has never fully realized that he's eventually going to die.



And of course that last scene with Leslie.  She and Ben had just agreed to really try to tone it down (in other words, to do what they should have been doing the entire time) and be as professional as possible, when she was approached by political recruiters (would that be their official title?  I know nothing about this).  The Leslie Knope enthusiast in me was overjoyed that she's finally being recognized for her work and offered an opportunity that she desperately wants, but the Ben and Leslie "shipper" part of me wanted to cry.  Of course they aren't just going to let her get away with choosing between her current job and her boyfriend; they're going to throw another wrench entirely into the machine and make her choose between him and her biggest aspiration.  The episode left it up to us to speculate on what her "no" to the scandals question meant (is she going to break up with Ben?  or did she just do herself in by lying about the first thing they asked?), not to mention that sad look through the window. 

I honestly don't know which way it will go; there are obvious downsides no matter what.  If she stays with Ben she risks her political career blowing up in her face before it's even gotten off the ground; if she dumps him she's sacrificing a relationship that at least two people in her life have expressed support for (not to mention the implication that she's already happier with Ben than she has been with anyone in the past).  Both the relationship and the career can make her happy, but Leslie (and the viewership) is learning that in a non-ideal world, you usually only get to choose one path to potential happiness.

I'm going to count down the days until September trying to find a loophole wherein she can have both.  Because Leslie is above all else an average gal, like you and me.  And if she can have the best of both worlds, maybe we can too. 

TV Discussion: Parks and Rec Predictions

I've been saying it since January, but Parks and Recreation is honestly the best show on television right now, and is getting about one micron of the credit it so deserves.   I will be sad to see it go after only 16 installments this season, but I am overjoyed that it is (rightfully) coming back for season 4 in September.  Four months isn't that long....right?

Anyway, I've been anticipating the finale a lot, as anyone who reads this blog or has had to endure my endless musings will tell  you, and I thought in anticipation of tonight's wrap-up I would put all my thoughts out there for consideration (not to mention I like having all my predictions outlined so I can check later to see if I was right).

First let me say that this is all speculation based on my analysis of the show and the sources I've read teasing what might happen in tonight's concluding episodes, so no all-out spoilers here.  I will warn though, without trying to sound arrogant, that I'm fairly confident in some of my predictions.  Most of my thoughts are in response to this article on Entertainment Weekly's website in which Mike Schur goes into some of what might be going on in the finale.

Let's start with Tom.  As much as I adore Aziz Ansari (and barring a big career jump for him, feel pretty confident they'd be able to work him back into the show in some capacity), I'm fairly certain that this is the end of Tom's run with the Parks Department, or at least the finale will leave it looking that way.  We saw in "The Fight" that Tom's attempts at entrepreneurship aren't simply gimmicks for attention; he really wants to make a name for himself, and believes he can do it. Chris' oppression of Tom's creativity is very likely going to come up again tonight, and based on the scoop about Jean Ralphio's business proposal, I think it's probable that Tom will decide that now is the time to cut his government ties and strike out on his own.

What about Ann?  This season has seen her devolve a little bit (although it has been nice to see Rashida Jones break from exclusively playing the straight-man to Leslie's crazy), and we haven't gotten as substantial a story for her as I would have liked to see (in a near perfect season, this was one of the few minor flaws).  I'm intrigued, though, by what Schur has to say about her finally coming to terms with her relationship with Chris.  I think the idea of Ann getting closure opens the door for her to communicate with Chris again, and I think we may see her either stand up for Leslie and Ben outright, or else say something to fundamentally change his mind.  The more I think about it, the more I think I like the idea of Ann being the unsung hero(ine) of the hour.

Ron (and Tammy) seem to have a lot coming up in this episode as well, though I'm more hesitant to speculate on this one because Ron is a much more difficult character to read.  I'm getting the impression, though, that while most of us would expect him to be the first to help Leslie out of whatever mess she manages to get herself and Ben into, the personal issues he's dealing with will take center stage and will either prohibit him from helping or simply make him dismissive to any concerns beyond his own.

From what I can tell, Andy and April are going to be very much the "B" storyline during these two episodes, which I think will be very fitting.  Their relationship was a critical thread at the end of season 2 and the first half of season 3, and they've been on such a fast track since reconciling that I think giving them a slow, steady series of bumps in the road, teaching them how to take care of one another, is really the best approach.

And of course we have to talk about Leslie and Ben.  I think I'm finally done squealing and giggling over the last minute of "Road Trip," but from the sound of it "The Bubble" (at least before the conflict ensues) is going to have me turning to mush all over again.  I hope they'll give us a few moments of giddy happiness before Ben and Leslie inevitably turn the situation into a disaster.  I'm interested to see how the news of their relationship spreads, and how other people react.  I'm most intrigued to see if Chris will be as much of a douche about the revelation as we've been set up to expect (at this point my money's still on 'yes').  It seems that their decision to be together is going to leave one (possibly both) of their careers hanging in the balance, and I was sure it would be Ben's until I read the article mentioned above.

Schur says that there will be an "out of nowhere curveball" for Leslie in the final scene, and my gut is telling me, against (almost) all logic, that we are going to see Leslie Knope step down as the Deputy Director of the Parks Department.  There are really only a couple of scenarios in which I could see this happening, so let me outline it as best I can:

*If it came down to one of them (Leslie or Ben) having to quit their job to keep their relationship (assuming they're committed enough to do that), my money would be on Ben 98% of the time.  He's not as attached, his skills are probably more transferable, and Leslie is much more established in Pawnee.  Additionally, I just don't think Leslie is serious enough about Ben to quit her job for him.

HOWEVER...

*There is this nagging plot point of Chris trying to drastically restructure the department, and it sounds like he's going to be pretty aggressive about it.  Let's suppose he wants to alter the Parks Department in such a way that Leslie's job and perhaps her staff will be very different, to its detriment.  The fact that Chris is actively preventing her relationship in conjunction with him making her beloved job virtually unrecognizable may well prompt her to issue her resignation by the episode's end.

I have to stop here; there are already way too many thoughts in this for one post.  But I am so excited to watch tonight, and even if I'm wrong about absolutely everything, I know the show will deliver like it has been all season, and leave me wishing September could start tomorrow.

TV Review: How I Met Your Mother Reveals Turning Points for All

This is the part where I gloat and do a virtual happy dance, because BOTH of my major predictions for this finale were proven right!

Naturally, I loved Barney and Robin working together to derail Ted from his ridiculous romantic tendencies.  And if that had been all I got from them this episode as a supplement to the Marshal and Lily plot, that would've been enough.  But this week the writers decided to give me (and a lot of other people) even more than we'd dared to hope for.  It was revealed that Barney is the groom in the wedding we saw Ted attend during the premiere.  The twist I was not expecting was the building of the mystery of the bride's identity.  In the scene directly prior to the reveal, we not only saw Barney get Norah (the cute British girl he was crushin' hard on a few weeks back) to accept a coffee date, but we saw Robin watching them with a sad "I wish I had another chance with him" face.  At this point I'd be happy to see either of the ladies walk down the aisle toward Barney (I will always be a loyal fan of Barney and Robin, but Norah is literally the first person I'd have dreamed up if that proved impossible), so I am excited to see how both relationships pan out.

The Marshal/Lily storyline.  I knew by the first time she vomited that it would turn out she was pregnant and that the food poisoning had been a misdirect, but it was still fun watching them get there.  It was made especially poignant by Marshal's speech right beforehand with him lamenting what a terrible year they've had so far.  I predicted when his father died that a baby would be their reward, but even I had moments of doubt that they'd do it before season's end.  That said, however, I think it was perfect timing, and a great thread to season seven, which I am now officially stoked for.

Craig Thomas, Carter Bays, congratulations are in order.  You just wrapped up a season that was emotionally stirring, hilarious, and suspenseful.  You revealed twists I've been predicting for months in a way that still had me tearing up and throwing every object within arms' reach.  You've restored my faith in this show, 100% and I am ready for a season 7 that delves deeper into all of the great stories you've set up.

TV Review: Parks and Rec's OMG-worthy Episode

So, it turns out the non-stop Blogger outage yesterday might have been a stroke of luck for anyone reading this, because I think if I'd tried to blog about "Road Trip" last night, it would have looked something like this:
                      "Leslie and BEn OMG SO HAPPYSFLDKSFJDSLGJ G."

Seriously though, I'm such a shameless fan-girl when I've really gotten invested in an onscreen couple.  But since I've now watched the episode through twice (and watched the last scene, as predicted, approximately 200 times-- not entirely my fault, Tumblr fans are notorious for posting repeat GIFs), I think I should be able to actually articulate some real thoughts about what happened (and yes, there were other things that happened in the episode, believe it or not).

Leslie and Ben were not the only couple that we got a romantic gesture from last night.  Andy and April, who got into a tiff following Tom's "Know Ya Boo" game (complete with CGI dog co-host!), found themselves at odds over April's lack of pride in Andy's music.  To be fair, I have to agree that Neutral Milk Hotel, which I doubt most of the people who watched last night have ever heard of, is amazing.  But you should know by now April, that your shoe-shining, formerly pit-dwelling husband has a bit of a fragile ego at times.  Anyway, they made up, with her playing one of Mouse Rat's songs in a public display of vulnerability (and unexpected musical talent).  The plot itself was a bit predictable, but I think the point was to let us focus on the Leslie/Ben goodness without too much distraction.

And of course, Ron's "lesson" about government with the little girl at his office?  Precious.  For some reason, I love it when a misanthropic grown up befriends a kid or a cute animal; it's never not hilarious and kind of endearing.  My favorite moment was probably him asking her to autograph her original essay (Prompt:  Why does government matter?  Her Ron-influenced answer:  It doesn't.).

Well now that that's out of the way, let's get to the good stuff.  Leslie and Ben's road trip was the perfect next step for them, especially following the opening scene ("that was the most sexual tension I've ever seen in a conversation about documents"), and I could not have been more pumped.  Leslie's attempt to be the anti-seducer was hilarious (Whale sounds!  Learning Mandarin!  Johns Hopkins' dorms!), as was Ann's "sabotage" via the one and only Al Green.  I loved that Ben didn't let Leslie's bizarre behavior deter him-- yet another sign of how great these two are together.  And when they were doing the presentation and he talked about how "special" Pawnee is?  If you watch Leslie's face during that, you can basically see her falling in love with him all over again.  Such a great moment.

The heart to heart at dinner was such an amazing payoff for weeks upon weeks of these two dancing around each other, and I think there was a collective audience half-sigh of relief.  We also got a classic Leslie line:  "I'm going to go make out with him now.  On his face."  Then of course Chris had to show up and ruin things, again.  I'm sorry Rob Lowe, but you are quickly becoming the face of the most annoying character on television.  Sleeping under the same roof at Chris' condo (at his insistence) must have been torture for Leslie and Ben-- I don't think I've ever felt such strong sympathy for two attractive people who are inevitably going to live happily ever after.

And that kiss.  Oh my goodness, that kiss.  Both of them seemed to shed their awkwardness in that moment and were just two people ridiculously in like (maybe love) with each other, and it was fantastic.  It was so reminiscent too of the first kiss Jim and Pam shared on "The Office" (makes sense, given the shows share producers and some writers), but it was also trickier because the tyranny of Chris and the threat of hurting their careers lingered in the room with them.  "Uh-oh" just about sums it up.

Season finale next week offers up an hour-long two-part episode that I for one cannot wait to see.  I've read some speculation on what's going to go down, but rather than spoil you I think I'm going to just advise that you watch it if you weren't planning to already.  I fully anticipate a fantastic conclusion to a phenomenal season of television.

TV Review: The Parks and Rec Gang's All Here...and They're Wasted

I've decided to recap each half of last night's Parks and Recreation Double-Shot Bonanza individually, if only because I'm anticipating having a lot to say, and most of my thoughts on "Road Trip" are still gushing and hitting random keys on the keyboard.

I don't think I fully realized that Leslie and Ann have never had an honest-to-goodness fight before, but I really liked the way the show handled it.  Each of them got a lot off her chest, and even though they were all viciously hungover the next day (literally and figuratively), they resolved it in a way that was very honest and realistic.  Bonus points for having Ben be the one to extend Leslie's olive branch on her behalf, and double bonus points for it leading to Ann's revelation that his feelings for their yellow-haired friend were mutual.

As someone with an absurdly high tolerance for alcohol, I'd be very interested to try Snake Juice.  It sounded right up my alley-- caffeine, booze, Kahlua-like flavor-- but I digress.  I loved the way that everyone jumped on board with Tom's latest crackpot scheme, with hilarious results.  Just seeing how everyone reacted to the drank was worth the entire episode, especially Leslie's angry demands that Jean Ralphio "dance up on her."

Overall, this episode was not only hysterical, but it was a great setup for the next installment.  It ended up being a huge blessing that they both aired in the same night, because I think I might have died of anticipation if NBC had made me wait seven whole days to find out what was coming next.

TV Review: Community Concludes in a Galaxy Far Far Away

City College Conspiracy!  Star Wars references that I (embarrassingly) only half-get!  Meta-analysis of the show and the group dynamics!  Must be finale time at Greendale Community College. 

And this episode delivered in true Community fashion.  We got an epic conclusion to the paintball war, lots of laughs, and some genuine chaos. 

Things I loved:  the “epic” score throughout the battle sequences; every joke involving Leonard (“I’ve been in several actual wars, but this is the most terrifying”); the smoothness of the motif switchover; Annie and Abed (wtf?); Pierce saving the day in a twist that felt straight out of a cheesy action movie; and so much more.

No shockers like last season’s conclusion, but some lingering questions.  Is Pierce really done with the study group (my money’s on no, but we’ll see)?  Will Annie and Abed pan out, or are we going to be treated to more of her acting like a whiny high school girl next season?  Where was the Troy and Britta payoff (or even additional tiny hint) that I’ve been waiting for?  Why is Shirley not home with her baby (I did love that they poked fun at that)? 

I liked that the show ended on a note that it’s spent most of this season on.  It didn’t leave me on the edge of my seat for next week, but it delivered a lot of unexpected laughs, and I can go into the season three premiere in September ready for more of the same.

TV Review: Glee Pulls Out All the Prom Stops

Glee's prom episode had all the cliche staples:  Shocking prom queen reveal?  Check.  Girl fight?  Check.  Fist fight over a girl?  Check.  Awful music?  Cheeeeecccckkk. 

If we're looking at it the way I tend to look at this show, though, it was actually a pretty successful episode.  That is, it showed us the cheesiness of the high school experience in a very authentic way, and I felt like the characters all acted their purported ages for once (I sometimes feel like they forget the New Directions members are only 17, on average).  Rachel was pretty fantastic this episode, from selflessly helping Finn with his corsage dilemma to coordinating Sam going to prom on the cheap (and inadvertently getting Mercedes her "Cinderella" moment), to the look of genuine heartbreak on her face as she watched Kurt go up to accept his Prom Queen crown.  Quinn continued her trend of being whiny and kind of one-dimensional, though I did like the obvious conflict in her feelings during the bathroom confrontation with Rachel.  I like that this season has tried to really drive home the point that Quinn feels as insecure as any other girl (if not more so), but I think now it's been beaten into us just a little too much.  Move on with this character, writers, there's so much more she can be, and Dianna Agron has a lot of potential that you're risking overlooking.  One other disappointment was Puck, who I feel they consistently shortchange on this show.  He started out with that moment of insight (using that term loosely) about his supposed loss of badass-ness due to his relationship with Lauren, and I was hoping that would head to a moment of genuine understanding for him (i.e. that he's willing to sacrifice his reputation because he really likes his girlfriend, or something similar), but instead we just got another petty attempt at coolness, and a manipulation of poor Artie (yes, I know he made a choice, but Puck should know better by now).  In any event, I just want more from Puck that isn't trite or silly, because I think they've dropped a lot of inadvertent hints at his compelling character, and have scarcely delivered on any.

The Kurt storyline was compelling as always (but that might be largely because Chris Colfer has blossomed into such an incredibly watchable performer), and I loved that they added some dimension to Blaine's character (though I am hoping we'll get an actual last name for him some time in the future-- it can't actually be "Warbler", right?).  I loved the two of them uniting against the hardships they've both faced, and for the first time it really felt like an equal partnership (I think there were early concerns, mine among them, about Kurt jumping into a relationship with the first gay "mentor" figure he encountered; but in this episode it really felt like they each had a lot to offer one another, and Blaine seemed a lot less idealized than usual).  I definitely felt sympathy for Kurt, but I also admired his strength, and I think the show actually sent a really great message out to the teen viewers who might find themselves enduring similar struggles; I really appreciated Kurt's coming to understand that the bullying might never fully go away, but that he could be strong in the face of it and realize that the support of his friends is much more powerful.

The song covers this episode were an even split as far as I'm concerned.  Rachel and Jesse's rendition of "Rollin in the Deep" was a showstopper and enjoyable to watch as well as listen to; "Isn't She Lovely?" as performed by Artie was downright precious; and I really liked the use of Blaine on "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend..." during the climax of the dance.  However, both "Friday" and even "Dancing Queen" seemed too over the top given the context, and as much as I love a good Rachel Berry ballad, the song she sang (basically just to Finn) didn't seem like the best choice for a slow dance tune. 

And since I haven't talked about it, I'll say a little about the return of Jesse St. James.  His arc in this episode seemed pretty boring all things considered, but since he's back for two more I'll be interested to see what happens between him and Rachel.  I just hope they aren't planning to use him exclusively as a Rachel/Finn reunion device; Jonathan Groff is much too talented for that.

TV Review: How I Met Your Mother Sets Up for a Game-Changer

Last night's episode of How I Met Your Mother was great in a lot of little ways.  First, it returned us to this season's standard of excellence, with drama and laughs in equal measure.  Josh Radnor was actually tolerable (I think I like him best when he's playing broken heart Ted, whatever that says about me...), and everyone else stepped up their game too.  But the most important thing was that the whole episode felt like it was setting us up for something big coming in next week's season finale.

Of course, I'll issue the standard disclaimer that I could be wrong; HIMYM has always been harder for me to predict, just because it doesn't always seem concerned with following its own narrative arc, but I really do think that last night's episode was fully intended as a lead-in into next week.  We saw the bust-up between Ted and Zoey that had been drawn out for far too long (though it was very eloquently done), and the wrap-up of the sometimes tedious Arcadian story arc.  So we're now headed into the finale with a pretty blank slate, which in television is a fantastic opportunity for just about anything to happen.  As I've mentioned previously, there is a confirmation that we're going to find out the identity of the groom at the wedding (which I'm now hearing will be one year in the future, not the five I predicted), and I'm feeling pretty certain that next week's episode will be devoted toward building to that reveal.  I for one still have my money on Barney, not only because of the evidence I've discussed previously, but because at this point I'm not sure what other direction they could go.  I'm more interested at this point to see how they get to the reveal than the reveal itself, and excited to see how they set us all up for a Season 7 that will live up to the standards set this year.

TV Review: Community's Western Cliffhanger

Loved the opening, and the performances all around.  I appreciated how willing they were to really go all out this time, and it really felt like a different show.  But that's the appeal of Community-- you get a fresh take every week.  I don't always like when they go for the straight up parody, but this time it worked really well.  The flashbacks particularly were really a great touch.

And of course, guest appearance by one Josh Holloway, last seen on LOST?  Phenomenal.  Although I am wondering whether he is capable of playing outside the rugged cowboy persona (not a complaint, merely an observation).  I loved his showdown with the gang, though, and the sheer volume of references to Sawyer was fantastic. 

I agree wholeheartedly with Abed's assessment:  Annie was "pretty awesome today."  Seriously though, I really appreciated them allowing her to step into the badass spotlight, especially since she's spent most of the season in the little girl role.  On a separate note, should Shirley really have been running around like that?  She just popped out a kid, guys.

Overall, "A Fistfull of Paintballs" really kept the sweeps streak going, particularly after last week's quieter, more dramatic installment.  I loved the ending, which really felt like a film for which I'm anxiously awaiting the sequel (especially with the epic-looking trailer for the next episode).  There's a conspiracy afoot, and I for one can't wait to watch it unfold next week.

TV Review: How I Met Your Mother Slows Things Down

I don't know exactly what it was about last night's episode, of How I Met Your Mother, but for me it just didn't go there.  It is sweeps after all, and this episode felt a lot like filler.  I think the biggest problem is that it is difficult to get invested in the Ted/Zoey relationship now that we've been explicitly told that it won't work out.  I didn't expect them to keep leading us on as though she were the mother, but I just couldn't feel anything about them exchanging "I love you"s or taking a turn in their romance because I'm already thinking about their inevitable breakup.  The show's writer's did this before, with Sarah Chalke's Stella, and it was equally frustrating to watch.  At any rate, I think I just expected more from "The Perfect Cocktail," and for one of the first times this season, the show did not deliver.

It wasn't bad, per se.  There were still a lot of laughs as always (especially in the Marshal/Barney plot), but with only a couple of episodes left to go I had really hoped the show would continue to ride the momentum it's spent the season building.  Instead, it stalled a little bit, and I'm wondering if the final two installments will be able to make up for that. 

TV Review: Community Delivers

"I don't want this baby's first memory to be Star Burns!"

My goodness.  Of course Shirley was going to deliver her baby on campus (with Abed as her "doctor", no less).  I loved Britta being terrified of the whole situation, yet still trying to be supportive.  This episode was a genuine triumph for her, and she was probably the least grating she's ever been.  And of course Chang trying to prove he was the father/offering advice, and then ultimately helping calm Shirley down.

Not to mention:  "Don't tell any doctors I said this, but at this point the bus kind of drives itself."

Also, any time Donald Glover brings himself to tears is gold.  I loved him in this episode.

NBC, you stop with those annoying, screen-occupying "The Voice" promos.  You stop right now.

Those are just my instantaneous reactions to this episode.  Overall, it was a weirdly joyful, silly installment-- in other words, the perfect May sweeps kick off for the Greendale gang.

May Sweeps: Where Do We Go From Here? Part Two

Okay, so apparently my dates are wrong, or I just didn't realize, but I've been reading more and more that this week is officially counted as part of May sweeps.  Ergo, I'd like to take a look at the Thursday night line-up (and make some probably incorrect predictions) before they air tonight.  These three shows have been pretty steadily wonderful all season long, so I don't know that any of them really need to pull out all the stops to impress me; they just need to keep doing all the fantastic things they already do.

Community:  First, Shirley is apparently having her baby tonight, at least according to Joel McHale's Twitter.  That should definitely provide the setting for both laughs and potential drama, so I'm looking forward to that.  However, didn't she only get pregnant in October?  That doesn't seem like enough time, but I guess that's one of those TV mysteries I just have to accept.  This sounds like it will be a pretty eventful episode by all accounts, and there will definitely be a May sweeps feel to it. 

As for what's coming in the next few weeks, we all know at the very least that we'll be getting paintball, round two, and my personal favorite thing, a guest-star appearance from one Josh Holloway (aka Sawyer from LOST!).  So excited/intrigued to see if he can actually pull off comedy.

Looking ahead to the finale and how they might wrap up this season, I think last week did a good job of catching everyone up on where things are at with all of the relationships and whatnot, so there's really a lot of potential for any number of story lines to be furthered or resolved.  I'm guessing we'll get something on the Jeff/Annie front, particularly since it was so skirted around (parody video notwithstanding) when Annie tried to bring it up last week.  The people behind this show know that there's a huge Jeff and Annie fan base, so I can't see why they wouldn't take advantage of that for sweeps.  I'd also like to see them come back to either Britta and Troy and whatever they have going on or a return from Abed's secret service lady (that was one of my favorite plots surrounding Abed, they'd make such a weird, fantastic couple).  Also, are all of them staying in community college for four years?  That seems a tad unrealistic, but if it's required for the sake of the show, I'll take it.  In any event, the episodes to come should be pretty interesting, and hopefully some of their best yet.

The Office:  There is no way that Steve Carell/Michael Scott's last day at Dunder-Mifflin is going to be anything less than epic.   The word "perfection" is being tossed around, and I have no doubts that it is accurate.  After that, I'm not so sure.  All I've read about the finale is the increasingly lengthy list of famous guest stars who will be appearing, and if that doesn't sound like compensating, I don't know what does.  I really will be interested to see what they do without Michael, especially given the not-so-enthusiastic response to Will Ferrell's potentially replacing him.

Parks and Recreation:  I'm going through a phase with this show that I've had at some point with all my favorites (Community being the most recent), where I just want to watch it all the time, and I find myself counting down the hours until Thursday so that I can see what's next.  This has been the show of the season for me, hitting it out of the park every single week (and still not getting the recognition it deserves...but I don't need to go on a rant now).  I am so excited for the final few installments of Parks, and to see where they leave us heading into Season 4.  A few of the things I'm particularly looking forward to:

 *Some drama:  Ausiello's May Sweeps score card lists Parks as having one of 15 "confirmed deaths" in the final leg of its season.  I know I talked about this a few weeks ago, wondering who in the office it'd be, but now that I've had more time to think about it I'm going to predict that the death will be Pawnee's own Lil' Sebastian.  Can you imagine the mayhem that will ensue?  I can, and I can't wait to see it.

*Ben and Leslie:  This couple has been an obsession for me all season, and it's only gotten worse as it's become clear that their feelings are reciprocated.  Rumor has it that they're going to have some pretty significant moments soon, and I just need to say that I am preemptively embarrassed of how many times I'll probably watch the scene where they inevitably get together.

*What's next for the Parks Department?  When we last left them, they seemed to be sifting through Leslie's ideas for the next big project.  I thought having Harvest Festival as a common thread holding the season and the Parks crew together was a great device, and I'd love to see them do it again with something even more awesome(sauce).  I'm hoping we will have an idea of the new endeavor by season's end.

Overall, I'm entirely too excited about television right now.  And it has nothing to do with the fact that I'm on the verge of mid-terms.  Nothing at all...

May Sweeps: Where Do We Go From Here? Part One

The first week of May is almost upon us (believe me, I'm as shocked as you are), and for the obsessive TV-watching world, this means Sweeps.  This is the time of year when our favorite shows will pull out all the stops to make us keep them as our favorites.  They'll try to shock us, make us laugh, and tug at our heartstrings (sometimes all three at once!).  As someone who's been tracking the progress of some of this shows all season long, I thought it fitting to have a little bit of a pre-Sweeps debrief to look at where we are and where we're going.

 
How I Met Your Mother:  This show has been notoriously difficult to really make predictions on, because of the writers' tendency to somewhat abruptly re-visit plot lines that most of us assume have long been forgotten.  However, I think this season has had a pretty clear narrative line, and of course there is the helpful addition of some revealing interviews with the two creators of the show, Craig Armstrong and Carter Bays.  According to the two of them, we will know by season's end whose wedding Ted is at during the premiere's flash-forward footage.  I have already discussed my heavy suspicion that the groom is Barney, but in case you remain unconvinced, here is my evidence:

*Ted is best man at the wedding, which would make sense given the obsession Barney has always had about the two of them being "best friends"
*The title of the episode is "Challenge Accepted."  This seems only fitting for a Barney wedding
*This entire season has shown us a different side of Barney, and we've gotten many indications that he wants to mature, but it unsure if he can.  Apart from him basically confessing as much in the most recent episode, we've also seen his brief relationship with Nora, in which he chickened out of trying to make it work, but for the first time seemed to genuinely want to.  There is also his eagerness to see Marshal and Lily start a family, and his ongoing issues surrounding his father.

Hence, even if the bride isn't Robin (despite how much I'd like that), I think we are definitely seeing Barney's wedding, and I'm going to guess it's taking place roughly 5 years down the road from the current episodes.  I think the wedding will be the major development of the finale, although I think there will be some drama surrounding Marshal, Lily and the baby situation-- I'm still predicting a surprise pregnancy, but the evidence for that is much more lacking.

 Glee:  Oh, geez.  This show is pretty impossible to predict lately, because of the sheer absurdity of many of the plot lines.  In fairness, there also hasn't been a very strong narrative line tying this season together, which does give the writers a little more freedom to do whatever pops into their heads (not advisable).  Given this knowledge, I'm going to make a bunch of predictions for what we'll see in the last leg of the season, some of them likely and some of them ludicrous, and we'll all have a good laugh after the finale when those in the latter group are much closer to what Ryan Murphy and company have dreamed up.

*Prom Queen?  Not Zizes, not Quinn, but Kurt.  Not only has Ryan Murphy said in multiple interviews that having a gay couple with the crown at prom is one of his dreams for the show, I don't think that Kurt is back at McKinley as any more than a plot convenience, and this could be where that becomes clear. 

*OR...Quinn will win Prom Queen, but Finn will break up with her that night.  Maybe I'm just cynical about proms, but I feel like she's not getting a happy ending in any event.

*Rachel and Sam.  I can't get this suspicion out of my head ever since reading an Ausiello blind item about two characters on one of his favorite shows hooking up, who've never had any romance/longing glances/tension, and the person they least want to see finds them doing the walk of shame, so to speak.  Rachel and Sam popped into my head right away, and I think it'll be Finn who finds them (cliche, but it's Glee).  However, an interesting alternative would be Quinn, and the tables would be turned from when Rachel knew her very big secret back in Season 1.

*Blaine transferring to McKinley.  At the very least, it will be suggested/Kurt will ask him before season's end.  I feel pretty confident about this one.

*New Directions makes the trek to Nationals...and wins?  I would have put my money on them to lose, however I'm wondering if they're going to add/subtract people again next season, and if that would make them want to give this version of New Directions a victory.  Though how they'll beat Vocal Adrenaline and their crazy-pipes vocalist, I still don't understand.

*Santana's secret will get out, probably to the whole Glee club.  I'll be interested to see how they react/support her.

*Schuester and Emma will, predictably, have a moment, probably in the finale.  And Schuester will probably screw it up.

*Sue will either become even more unbearably obnoxious, or more unrealistically redeemable.

*There's also going to be a death on Glee in one of the next few episodes, confirmed by various sources. 

TV Review: HIMYM Returns Just in Time for Spring

How I Met Your Mother:  Spot on.  Again, no fireworks, but a great installment in the lead-up to sweeps.  I felt like each plot line moved the respective pair's story forward (and yes, I'm going to persist with my belief that we are getting these charming little Barney/Robin interactions for a reason), and that we got a bit of a preview of what's to come.  Ted and Zoey are headed for a rocky place and an eventual bust-up, and given the level of discord in their relationship now I think I'm okay with that (provided he has even better chemistry with the mother).  As for Marshal and Lily, I still think we'll get a pregnancy announcement out of them by the end of the season-- there's been so much discussion of them conceiving on purpose that I think an accidental baby when they're least expecting it would be a great twist.  Honestly, I was kind of expecting something of the sort last night following Lily's secret plan to go to Spain.  I'm glad she came back in the end, but I think keeping us a little more in suspense, even until just next week, might have been a better move.  Then again, the seeming completeness of this episode convinces me that the next few will be more intertwined, and those are always the episodes with the biggest payoffs.

Additionally, I am convinced, not only by my own hopes for it but also by the numerous articles I've read positing it, that the end of the season wedding reveal will in fact prove to be Mr. Barney Stinson.  I think there's been too much growth for his character this season for that not to be the place where he ends it.  As to who the bride will be I only have guesses (and hopes!), but I think this theory is even more supported by the fact that the producers have said that the reveal will involve a jump pretty far into the future.  That gives Barney ample time to travel down the path toward monogamy on which he already seems poised, not to mention time for him to meet and court the lucky lady (or to get back together with Robin and make it work!).  Ignoring my over-enthusiastic parentheses, I think there's a lot of grounding here for a great final string of episodes and a finale that people will be talking about into the summer.