The 2012 DVR Cleanup Project: Week 2

Hey there sports fans, we’re back with another exciting installment of the 2012 DVR Cleanup Project. Before we begin this week’s journey through my TV habits I’d like to tell you a story.

This past summer, on my birthday, my father, 2 of my closest friends and myself played a wonderful round of golf. That day we played a course my father and I knew quite well. When I was in high school he had a membership at said course so I was fortunate enough to play it constantly. It was a beautiful course, challenging but fair and one of my all time favorites. My father and I used to know every nuance of every hole, we played there that often. When we went back for my birthday it was the first time we had played there in at least 10 years. On the surface it was the same course we knew and loved, although we noticed it had changed a bit over time. Trees were felled, greens were changed, the front and back 9 were flip flopped so what once was hole #10 was now #1 and vice versa. It was strange. The name of the course was still the same but we felt like strangers there. At first we were not sure what to make of it. Would we still have fun? Would we still be challenged? (stupid question, that one. It’s golf, you’re always challenged.) Basically, would we be disappointed?

The answers were yes, absolutely, and a little but not enough to ruin the experience. See, we realized that because things, big and small, had changed we needed to treat it as a new course. The one we used to know was still there in subtle ways, but we were basically playing THIS course for the first time. And looked at from that perspective we were able to fairly evaluate the course. Good not great, still a challenge, and still enough of the old that we remember with fondness what the course used to be. The point of this story? It is exactly how I feel about one of the shows we watched on the ol’ DVR this week. Let’s get to it.

The New Girl

First out of the gates, The New Girl (episode entitled “Jess and Julia”). If you are not watching this show you are f@%$ing crazy. As much as I love Zooey Deschanel and her ability to play the title character of Jess with just the right combination of sweetness, goofiness and intelligence to make her so immensely lovable where a lesser actress would have made her annoying, the real star of the show is Max Greenfield and his character, Schmidt. He uses sculpting chutney (or as he pronounces it ‘chu-ti-nee’). He has an Irish walking cape. He is the best. Watch and you shall not be disappointed.

Raising Hope

Our next show up is Raising Hope (ep. “Gambling Again”). This show is very underrated. It’s not flashy by any means but it consistently brings the funny week in and week out. And this week we were treated to 2 cameos from creator Greg Garcia’s previous hit “My Name is Earl” in the form of Dale Dickey reprising her role as Patty the prostitute and Tim Stack as, well, Tim Stack. Just fantastic. Good, quality laughs and sweet but not saccharine moments abound. This is just a good show.

30 Rock

Now we come to 30 Rock (ep. “Today You Are A Man”), a show that for the past 2 seasons has gone a touch downhill in my humble opinion. This episode however, made me laugh uncontrollably numerous times. At one point during a contract negotiation with Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin), Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) pretends to take a phone call with the words “I have to take this. Yes may I please speak to pizza?” Hopefully this episode marks a turning point for the series. I typically measure my enjoyment of a show by how often I am checking things on my phone during it and recently my phone has received more attention than 30 Rock. Not this episode. Here’s to hoping it continues.

Parks and Recreation  

Now we come to what I firmly believe to be the best comedy on TV right now. Parks and Recreation (ep. “Operation Ann”). If you are not watching this show, shame on you. I laugh so much and so vigorously during each and every episode that it takes me at least 5 to 10 minutes longer to watch than it should since I have to constantly pause and rewind to catch the things I missed whilst in the throes of hilarity. This episode provided yet another classic line from the best character on TV right now, Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman). He opens a meeting, saying “Thank you all for being here.” When Leslie (Amy Poehler) comments that she’s surprised by his enthusiasm towards the group he responds, “Sorry, I was talking to these ribs.”  I implore you to watch this show. Do not let another great comedy slip through our fingers (please come back “Community”, I miss you desperately).

The Office 

And finally, remember that story I told you way back at the beginning? Well here’s the show that I compared to my beloved Blue Heron Hills Country Club, The Office (ep. “Jury Duty”). Is it as good as it was when Steve Carell was there playing Michael Scott? Absolutely not. But it’s a different show now. It’s not a showcase for the foibles of Mr. Scott. It has become an ensemble comedy with some very funny moments. It is quite inconsistent nowadays and I find Jim to be incredibly annoying now, but all in all it is not as bad as everyone says it is.

Well that’s all the time we have for this week. Keep watching TV folks. The outdoors are overrated. Unless there’s a TV out there. Then it’s awesome.

Christopher “Googs” Gadawski is a wise, handsome, worldly man. He is also a massive geek who devours anything Star Wars related. He loves beer, books & lots of television and can often be found wandering the streets preaching eloquently about the greatness of “Community” to all who will listen. He also loves his beautiful wife ( just covering my bases here). Hi dear.