GMMR Heads to PaleyFest 2011: GLEE, TRUE BLOOD, SUPERNATURAL, COMMUNITY & More!

It’s that wonderful time of the year when some of TV’s best shows are honored by The Paley Center for Media at PaleyFest and Team GMMR will be there to get you the inside scoop.

Marisa and Kath will be on the ground getting the scoop from the cast and creative team behind some of your favorite shows.

So which stars are scheduled to be there? Keep reading to find out.

And would you like the chance to have YOUR questions answered? Leave your questions in the comments below or tweet @GMMRtv or @MarisaRoffman using the hashtag #GMMRPaley.

Here we go!

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THE OFFICE Clip: Do the Scarn

Are you ready to “Do the Scarn?”

This week’s episode of THE OFFICE thrust us into the world of Michael Scott’s long-in-the-making epic spy adventure film THREAT LEVEL MIDNIGHT, and it was a legendary adventure. (You can read GMMR’s review of the episode here.)

Along with great guest appearances by beloved characters from years past (welcome back, Rashida Jones!) and dashing action sequences, the episode also produced…a new dance craze?

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Tonight’s TV Spotlight…Thursday, January 20, 2010

Good Lord. Even with GREY’S and PRIVATE PRACTICE on hiatus, the amount of fresh TV on tonight is already giving my DVR a headache.

PARKS AND RECREATION (!!) is finally back and NBC is debuting their THREE-HOUR comedy block with the new show PERFECT COUPLES somewhere in there.

BONES is at 9. USA has the return of ROYAL PAINS and is premiering FAIRLY LEGAL.

Plus, IDOL is of course on again and so. much. freakin. more.

Which shows are you going to watch live, DVR for later, or skip altogether?

Peep the lineup and then let us know…

American Idol | 8pm on Fox
“Auditions #2: New Orleans”
The auditions continue on the second part of two-night season premiere of AMERICAN IDOL as the judges continue their quest to find the next singing superstar.

Community | 8pm on NBC
“Asian Population Studies”
Annie (Alison Brie) returns fromspring breakto find that her crush “Rich” (Greg Cromer “Justified”), the Dr., has enrolled at Greendale CommunityCollege, sparking a heated debate about whether to add Rich and/or Senor Chang to the study group. Shirley’s (Yvette Nicole Brown) ex-husband Andre (Malcolm Jamal Warner, “True Blue”) is back in the picture and Shirley has some big news for everyone.

The Big Bang Theory | 8pm on CBS
“The Love Car Displacement”
Tension runs high when everyone is staying at the same hotel for a science event and Bernadette runs into her ex-boyfriend. Rick Fox, three-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers, guest stars as Bernadette’s ex, Glenn.

$#*! My Dad Says | 8:30pm on CBS
“Corn Star”
When thehomeowners’ association president complains that the corn stalks in Ed’s garden are too tall, Ed harnesses his anger by running for president himself. Also, Vince is torn when he gets propositioned by his secret celebrity crush.

Perfect Couples | 8:30pm on NBC | Series Premiere
“Pilot”
When Dave (Kyle Bornheimer) and Julia’s (Christine Woods) plans for the perfect anniversary fall through, Rex (Hayes MacArthur) and Leigh (Olivia Munn) gear up for game night instead. Vance (David Walton) and Amy (Mary Elizabeth Ellis) break up and make up again.

Bones | 9pm on Fox
“The Body in the Bag”
An unidentifiable body is discovered in theshowerof an upscale home belonging to a young female socialite. With the help of nosey bones expert and Jeffersonian “squint” Clark Edison (guest star Eugene Byrd), skeletal reconstruction and evidence in thedrainreveal that the victim was a young girl employed by a counterfeit handbag distributor. The team learns that the victim supplied counterfeit purses to her socialite acquaintance, and after interrogating the self-centered socialite and sifting through footage on a hidden camera, they discover evidence linking them to the murderer. Meanwhile, Angela and Hodgins discuss their future home and where they want to raise a family, and Booth opens up to Hannah (guest star Kathryn Winnick) about Brennan’s feelings for him. [GMMR: In case you missed it… BONES Executive Producer Stephen Nathan Spills on the Brennan/Booth/Hannah Triangle]

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Do Your Part to ‘Stand Up to Cancer’ – Tonight!

Tonight, stars from TV, movies, sports and music will join together and lend their collective voices to a cause that seems to be one of the unfortunate common threads that connects us all — cancer.

For one hour we can forget about Twitter wars, ratings struggles and commercials. It’s a chance to see some of our favorite performers in a different setting and for a good cause.

Stand Up To Cancer is an initiative created to accelerate groundbreaking cancer research that will get new therapies to patients quickly and save lives. SU2C’s goal is to bring together the best and the brightest in the cancer community, encouraging collaboration instead of competition.

Tonight’s one hour, commercial-free telecast, hosted by Katie Couric, Brian Williams and Diane Sawyer, will help to raise money to find a cure for cancer.

Stand Up To Cancer will air at 8PM EST & PST / 7PM CT on ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, Discovery Health, E!, G4, HBO, HBO Latino, MLB Network, Showtime, The Style Network and TV One and streaming on over 30 websites.

Donations to SU2C can be made via telephone during the show, anytime online at www.su2c.org or Text STAND to 40202 to give $10 now. 100% of the funds received from the public go to research.

As someone who has lost friends and relatives to cancer, and who continually feels the need to stand up and fight for those friends and relatives STILL fighting their valiant battles against it, I’m drawn to this type of event.

Cancer is no respecter of persons. It doesn’t play favorites or choose its victims based on wealth or popularity. We’d be hard pressed to find someone we know who has NOT been affected by cancer in some way. And it’s that sort of human condition that makes it all so personal. And that is why it’s important for networks, musicians, writers, actors, bloggers, fans, all of us to join together as a united front and say, “We’re standing up”.

So even if you’ll be sitting at home on Friday night, I hope you’ll choose to StandUp2Cancer.

For a list of stars slated to appear, keep reading…
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The Night Owl – Late Night Lineups

The early bird may get the worm, but the night owl gets all the howls. Check out the stars pulling up some couch on the late night talk shows tonight.

• LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN : Jack Hanna, Jamey Johnson

• THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO: Katie Couric, Kurt Warner, David Gray

• JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE: Diane Sawyer, Donal Logue, Ray LaMontagne

• LATE LATE SHOW WITH CRAIG FERGUSON: Rashida Jones, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Blake Shelton

• LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON: Ali Larter, Mario Batali, Jerry Lee Lewis

• THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART: Meghan McCain

• THE COLBERT REPORT: Sen. Jim Webb, Joshua Bleill, Lt. Col. Brent Cummings, John Legend

• CHELSEA LATELY: Whitney Cummings, Ben Gleib, Jo Koy

• LOPEZ TONIGHT: Kathy Griffin, the cast of Jersey Shore

If I can manage to stay awake I’ll check out Rashida Jones on the Late, Late Show. Hopefully she’s spill a little on this season of Parks & Rec.

Tonight’s TV Spotlight…Thursday, December 3, 2009

I love when Thursdays sneak up on me. We’ve got a great night of TV ahead of us.  But it’s strange. Although I didn’t watch either before this season, Thursdays just don’t feel complete without THE VAMPIRE DIARIES and SUPERNATURAL (although both are repeats, if you need a brotherly fix). Can’t wait until January 21st for them to come back.

Speaking of coming back, FRINGE returns with all new episodes tonight.  I’ll never forgive myself for being out of work for a month and a half now and still not making the time to watch FRINGE. Well, I still have at least a few weeks before I’m back so maybe, just maybe, I’ll catch up on the show. No promises.

Of course, NBC has all the great comedies tonight.  I haven’t seen tonight’s THE OFFICE, but the episode synopsis alone sounds like it’s ripe with all kinds of awkwardness – just how I like my OFFICE. And if you’re a PRIVATE PRACTICE fan then you’re in for a treat as the show is a special 2 hours tonight. That’s lots of Taye Diggs my friends.

And what MTV show airing tonight has me giddy with excitement? Read on!

Here’s a look at highlights from tonight’s TV lineup. What shows are you most looking forward to tonight?

Flash Forward | 8pm on ABC
“A561984”
Demetri and Mark disregard Wedeck’s orders and pursue a woman claiming to have details of Demetri’s fate; Zoey learns the meaning of her flashforward.

Survivor: Samoa | 8pm on CBS
“Off With Their Heads”
The castaways bid on items that include food and an immunity idol. For immunity, the players take part in an endurance challenge. Also: Shambo dreams that Dave gets voted out; and Russell attempts to get Dave on his side.

Bones | 8pm on CBS
“The Gamer in the Grease”
The remains of a competitive gamer are found in a grease truck; Sweets, Hodgins and Jeffersonian intern Colin camp out for tickets to a movie premiere. [GMMR: If you follow me on Twitter, then you might know that I’ve been watching BONES almost every night. No, not on a mad dash to catch up. More like I have to watch whatever the folks do. But here in Boston the reruns are on at 7pm, just about the time we sit for dinner.  And may I just say that eating dinner and watching BONES just don’t go together. Yuck. Oh, and before I forget – next week we are having a LIVE BONES chat during the show. Mark your calendars.]

Community | 8:00pm on NBC
“The Politics of Human Sexuality”
Britta challenges Jeff to find a date for a night out with Pierce and his new girlfriend. Elsewhere, Annie learns about human anatomy in preparation for her health-fair presentation.

(The rest of Thursday night’s lineup is after the jump)

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PARKS AND RECREATION: Greg Pikitis

In the midst of a breakthrough second season, I have had very few complaints for the cast and crew of Parks and Recreation.  My biggest wish for P&R’s sophomore year was that the Pit debacle be replaced by a long term storyline that focused on the personal lives of Pawnee’s public servants.  Though stars Amy Poehler and Rashida Jones have onscreen romances to navigate, I have become fascinated by the unrequited love story between a man and his green card wife.

Aziz Ansari has shown considerable acting chops in Season Two.  Armed with a barrage of memorable one-liners and opportunities to show vulnerability, the young comedian adds more dimensions to Tom Haverford each week.  Tonight’s episode was Ansari’s best yet, particularly the revealing look at Tom’s true feelings for Wendy.  Hints of Tom’s affection may have been sprinkled into earlier episodes, but Ansari’s face said more than any indulgent monologue could have.  Tom Haverford is the life of the party, but we now understand who he is truly trying to impress.  Kudos to P&R’s creative guru Michael Schur for writing this scene and to director Dean Holland for letting the lens do the talking.

We may be entering new territory in TV fandom, as I cannot recall rooting for an onscreen husband and wife to consummate their marriage.  I am already looking forward to seeing more Tom/Wendy drama in the weeks ahead.  If they ever got married for the right reasons, imagine the size of the dance floor!

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PARKS AND RECREATION: Kaboom

I bought a car last week.  After my previous vehicle was stolen in the dead of night, I thought it wise to find something safe, sound, and affordable.  The best deal I found was on a used luxury sedan, priced far more reasonably than the tanks driven by my neighbors.  I am not a “car guy” by nature.  I could not tell you the difference between 4WD, AWD, and WD-40.  Though I began my search looking for a simple car to get from point A to point B, I am having great fun with the extra bells and whistles paid for by the original owner.

When Parks & Recreation premiered last year, Amy Poehler was enough “car” to get me to test drive the show.  Little did I know that the supporting cast would turn out to be the sitcom version of heated seats, keyless entry, and a Bose sound system!  This week’s episode featured the P&R crew in their full sports package.

Leslie Knope has become more endearing each week of Season Two, and I attribute the fuller character realization to Amy Poehler’s gift for dancing with different comedic partners.  Need to see Leslie struggle to figure out how to manage people effectively?  Plug in Aziz Ansari, whose playful demeanor with Poehler makes him the ideal example of a perplexing, yet impossibly likable, subordinate.  Want some girl talk from your female lead?  Call on Rashida Jones, who is never funnier than when Ann & Leslie are dealing with the ills of their personal lives.  Care for a little temper tantrum from your Deputy Director?  Schedule a meeting with Nick Offerman, because…..well, because he’s “Ron F’N Swanson,” that’s why!

Special recognition must be given to this week’s cold open.  The interplay between Leslie and her credit card company was vintage SNL Amy Poehler, aimlessly spinning her wheels to explain the array of “unique” purchases.  Is there anything cuter than a career woman who is obsessed with Gossip Girl?  Until Leslie confesses to watching Tool Academy on VH1, I think not!  Not to be outdone, Aziz Ansari has mastered a facial expression that mixes genuine surprise with childlike joy.  Any suggestions on a name for this trademarked look?  Tom welcomed the news of Leslie’s Harry Potter club membership as if he had just become a father for the first time.  Magical stuff!

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PARKS & RECREATION: The Practice Date

I feel obligated to reveal a few fun facts about myself before recapping this week’s PARKS & RECREATION. On my first attempt to drive, I totaled a car and almost killed an innocent horse. During college, I sold popular toys like Tickle Me Elmo and Power Rangers to pay for cheap pizza and Mountain Dew. While I enjoy a variety of live music, I have seen Dave Matthews Band in concert 35 times. Finally, there is an image floating online of me wearing a Tweety Bird hat, a fashion faux pas that I cannot explain or justify.

Now cleansed of a few embarrassing foibles, I can get back to business. In the midst of a gigantic night of comedy on NBC, the P&R team offered a fast-paced and hilarious lead-in to Jim & Pam’s nuptials.

Harris Wittels may not be a household name, but his script for “The Practice Date” provided moments for each cast member to shine. There were hosts of moments to celebrate, but I want to focus on the cold open. The 24 hour cable networks have been fed a steady diet of political confessionals recently. It would be easy to attach a left or right leaning tilt to the P&R creative team, were it not for an absurdly entertaining speech given by Councilman Bill Dexhart:

“And to my wife, I apologize. All I can say is, I wasn’t just having sex. I was making love to a beautiful woman…and her boyfriend…and a third person whose name I never learned! Furthermore, it was wrong of me to say I was building houses for the underprivileged when I was actually having four-way sex in a cave in Brazil.”

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PARKS & RECREATION: Beauty Pageant

I apologize for omitting a recap for last week’s Parks & Recreation. Much like Leslie Knope would expect, I have a good excuse and a note to return to class. Last Tuesday night, my car was stolen from my driveway. Because my local PD’s approach to public service mirrors Ron Swanson’s, I received very little help from the men in blue. A few trips to the insurance company, rental car office, and my real job later, my ability to connect sentences was shot.

Fortunately, my DVR delivered a miracle in the form of “The Stakeout.” Any lingering car-related stress disappeared as Ron Swanson tried to eat a hamburger using my strategy for winning “Ring Toss” at the local fair. Nick Offerman and Aubrey Plaza destroyed their scenes together, and the prospect of more Ron/April scenes is reason enough to add P&R to your Season Passes. Veteran stand-up comic Louis C.K. took a nice bow as Officer Dave, giving Amy Poehler a romantic foil that fits Leslie’s values. All in all, last week’s P&R was the best remedy for a victim of Grand Theft Auto.

This week, the selection of Miss Pawnee was a solid premise for generating consistent laughs. Unlike the pit-focused Season One, the writers of P&R have been wise to present storylines that are ripe for comedy, rather than dig for chuckles in the junk yard of local civics lessons. Once Tom Haverford finagled his way onto the judging panel, the stage was set for Leslie Knope to fight the good fight for talented young women who may not have won the genetic jackpot.

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PARKS & RECREATION: Pawnee Zoo

Though its sophomore campaign launched with considerably less fanfare than Jay Leno’s new 10pm experiment, the creative forces behind Parks & Recreation scored a huge win last night. In a time slot surrounded by comedic heavyweights, the Pawnee crew produced the funniest half hour of NBC’s Thursday premiere lineup.

During its abbreviated run last Spring, P&R produced a solid, if unspectacular, collection of episodes that focused on Leslie Knope’s daunting struggle to fill a gigantic pit. Many of the show’s early scripts were predicated on that plot point, and each cast member’s ability to flex their comedic muscles were limited. Most importantly, Amy Poehler’s gifts for killer one-liners and infectious silliness were given second billing, just behind a vast hole in the middle of Pawnee, Indiana.

The writers of P&R clearly spent their hiatus mapping out a tighter, funnier program that would consistently deliver the funny. “Pawnee Zoo” was loaded with pithy one-liners, ready to be Tweeted and Retweeted in the days to come.

Season Two’s maiden voyage began with a stroke of genius. Capitalizing on the lead-in audience watching Amy Poehler co-anchor “Weekend Update: Thursday Edition,” the cold open featured Leslie’s impromptu rendition of DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince’s “Parents Just Don’t Understand,” a not-so-subtle reminder of Poehler’s frenzied Sarah Palin rap during the 2008 Presidential Campaign. If fans of P&R needed a sign that this season would be focused on laughs, we were immediately hit with a dose of giggles and guffaws.

The Deputy Director’s team bolstered their boss’ efforts this week, as both Tom & April chose to support Leslie, rather than adopt Season One’s theme of condescension and insubordination.

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Tonight’s TV Spotlight…Monday, August 17, 2009

I’m back!!

Mostly.

After being without a computer for almost a week, the kind people at the Apple Store finally gave me back my baby last night.  He has a nice new keyboard and everything.  Here’s to hoping he’s all better…for good.  As pathetic as it is, I’m really at a loss without my computer.  Blogging from my iPhone just isn’t all that fun.

So we’re back. But given the overwhelming Sunday night lineup, I think it’s going to take until later tonight to get all caught up.  We’ll have thoughts on TRUE BLOOD and MAD MEN later this morning, but I haven’t even made my way to the DVR to see AMERICA’S BEST DANCE CREW, HUNG, or ENTOURAGE yet.  We sure are spoiled on Sunday’s, no?

It’s just about the perfect time to get my computer back because later today I’m going to be heading out to see the cast of GLEE. They’ll be doing press as part of their first stop on the GLEE summer tour.  I’m not sure exactly what the press situation will be like but I’ll do my best to cover what I can.  Be sure to follow my Twitter updates for the latest from the GLEE tour.  More later on this great event.

On to tonight’s lineup.  A lot to choose from.  Set those DVRs wisely.

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire | 8pm on ABC
Contestants answer trivia questions to win cash; Patricia Heaton plays for charity; author Jodi Picoult is the lifeline expert. [GMMR: Now normally I’m not that excited for ‘Millionaire’, but when my favorite author (next to Billy Shakespeare) is the lifeline, I might just have to tune in. Go Jodi!!]

The Secret Life of the American Teenager | 8pm on ABC Family
“Hot Nuts”
When Amy and Adrian’s quarreling begins to get out of hand, it’s up to Ricky to step in and try to alleviate the situation.

Make it or Break It | 9pm on ABC Family
“Where’s Kaylie?”
Carter tells the truth about his infidelity; the girls search for Kaylie on the night before leaving for Nationals.

The Closer | 9pm on TNT
“Maternal Instincts
A shooting leaves one dead and one person critically injured; Brenda and Fritz fight over how to handle Charlie; Provenza makes a big life change.

Jon & Kate Plus 8 | 9pm on TLC
“Battleship & Barber”
Kate takes the boys to explore the battleship USS North Carolina; Kate brings the boys to a barbershop for haircuts. [GMMR: Meanwhile Jon hops around the country with a different hoochie on his arm each night. Oddly enough, they are all named “Kate”.]

Raising the Bar | 10pm on TNT
“Bobbi Ba-Bing”
Jerry defends an inmate charged with stabbing another inmate; Richard works with Ashley, a new public defender, on a case involving a homeless man arrested for panhandling.

Weeds | 10pm on Showtime
“Ducks and Tigers”
Esteban’s daughter arrives, leaving Nancy with a whole new set of problems to deal with; Andy and Audra revel in a day’s worth of quality time together; Celia engages in some sexual exploration, while Dean, Isabelle and Doug plot revenge against her.

Nurse Jackie | 10:30pm on Showtime
“Pill-O-Matix”
Kevin buys a replacement for Jackie’s destroyed wedding ring; the new automatic pill dispenser leads to the hospital downsizing Eddie; and an injured movie critic (Victor Garber) is given the wrong dose of a painkiller and slips into a coma. Meanwhile, Coop breaks up with his girlfriend.[GMMR: FANTASTIC episode tonight.  It’s hilarious (please give Merritt Wever some acting award STAT!) with a big ol’ twist. Oh any Spy Daddy, Victor Garber – you can’t go wrong with that man!]

Also playing…

• How I Met Your Mother | 8pm on CBS: Ted walks into the apartment and finds Robin’s date sitting on the couch naked. [GMMR: I know I don’t usually spotlight reruns, but the “Naked Man” episode of HIMYM is classic.  It shouldn’t be missed…even in repeats.]

• Great American Road Trip | 8pm on NBC: The three remaining families travel to California and try to secure a spot in the final two.

• Dating in the Dark | 9pm on ABC: The participants try to determine their most compatible match by looking through the opposite sex’s cars.

On the late night couch…

• The Late Show with David Letterman: Quentin Tarantino, Eric Ripert, Robert Cray
• The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien: Adam Sandler, Peter Sarsgaard, Kate Voegele (R 7/20/09)
• The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson: Rashida Jones, Jose Andres, Jim Breuer (R 7/24/09)
• Late Night with Jimmy Fallon: Ryan Reynolds, Lauren Conrad, the Fray (R 6/18/09)
• Jimmy Kimmel Live: Teri Hatcher, Danica Patrick, Daughtry (R 7/17/09)
• Chelsea Lately: Jason Aldean, Jamie Kaler, Loni Love, John Caparulo
• Last Call with Carson Daly: Matthew McConaughey, Kaley Cuoco, Ida Maria (R 5/8/09)
• The Daily Show with Jon Stewart: David Cross
• The Colbert Report: Bill McKibben

Talk to me people…what will YOU be watching tonight? For the latest TV from GMMR, follow me on Twitter.

Tonight’s TV Spotlight…Friday, July 24, 2009

I can promise you this – the Friday TV spotlight’s that will be posted come this Fall will be WAY more interesting than the dreck we are faced with this summer.  With a few notable exceptions, Fridays during the summer are really depressing.

Check out a few of the shows that are new tonight. Anything of interest to YOU? Let me know.

Surviving Suburbia | 8pm on ABC
“Three End Tables”
When an end table the Pattersons bought is sent to a neighbor’s house, Anne asks Steve to get it back; Henry puts Courtney’s relationship with Jenna in jeopardy.

The Goode Family | 8:30pm on ABC
“Public Disturbance”
Gerald does his very best to rally the town in an attempt to bring public broadcast radio to Greenville.

Eureka | 9pm on Syfy
“Insane in the P-Brane”
Objects become ambulatory after Dr. Tess Fontana (Jamie Ray Newman) reopens Section 5, which may be the work of poltergeists.

Mental | 9pm on Fox
“Coda”
A drug dealer is killed in his apartment, leaving his autistic teenage daughter as the only witness; Arturo’s father thinks his experience playing a doctor in a soap opera will help him solve a real medical case.

The Soup | 10pm on E!
“The Week in Review”
A weekly recap of various pop culture and television show moments of the week. The show is hosted by Joel McHale, who provides sarcastic and biting commentary on the various clips.

Also playing…

• The Chopping Block | 8pm on NBC: The final two couples compete; opening night is filled with celebrities; a winner is determined.

• Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader | 8pm on Fox: Celebrities Bill Goldberg and Sugar Ray Leonard play for charity.

• Torchwood: Children of Earth | 9pm on BBCA: Gwen must stand alone as the world descends into chaos.

On the late night couch…

• The Late Show with David Letterman: Amy Poehler, Nick Griffin, Judy Collins
• The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien: Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne, Eric Hutchinson
• The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson: Rashida Jones, Chef Jose Andres, Jim Breuer
• Jimmy Kimmel Live: Tom Arnold, “Trailer Park Boys” Rob Wells, John Paul Tremblay and Mike Smith
• Late Night with Jimmy Fallon: Bob Saget, Anthony Mackie, John Mulaney
• Chelsea Lately: Michael Vartan, John Caparulo, Sarah Colonna, Ken Baker (R 7/20/09)
• Last Call with Carson Daly: Spraugue Grayden, the Pains of Being Pure at Heart (R 4/3/09)

PARKS & RECREATION Season Finale: Rock Show

After a pilot episode that earned justifiably mixed reviews, I have been riding a wave of enthusiasm for Parks & Recreation. Limited to only six chapters in its mini-season, I was impressed with the creative team’s focus on shaping meaningful storylines for each of its main characters and establishing a consistent comedic tone within the halls of city government. With Amy Poehler as our tour guide, viewers were becoming familiar with the local flavor of Pawnee, Indiana and the inefficient cast of characters who are entrusted with its care.

With so much momentum to build on, I was disappointed by a P&R finale that forgot the funny and indulged in melodrama. From a hasty twist in the “raggedy” Ann and Andy romance to a disastrous scene at the Pit between Leslie and Mark, the Pawnee crew felt more like a soap opera than a sitcom, and curbed my enthusiasm for its place on NBC’s fall lineup. Greg Daniels and Michael Schur are more than capable of plotting a season filled with moments that made episodes 2-5 so enjoyable, but the finale did raise some red flags about the pitfalls they need to avoid.

Chris Pratt has been a hilarious guest star in P&R’s initial run, and a worthy addition to the cast moving forward. Though his onscreen dynamic with Rashida Jones has never been magical, I was under the impression that the Ann/Andy breakup would be a slow process. During the “Boys’ Club” episode, Andy invested a lot of time and energy to clean both their house and himself. At the time, I assumed the writers wanted us to recognize Andy’s genuine feelings, and to ignore his various shortcomings. Following Andy’s confession that he delayed the removal of his casts, this love story is over. Despite a temporary victory for the aspiring rock star, reclaiming the couch while Ann tended to a fallen friend in the Pit, I am concerned that Andy might not be a permanent resident of Pawnee in Season Two.

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PARKS AND RECREATION: The Reporter

Years ago, an innovative advertising campaign told all of us that, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” In the pop culture of 2009, with on-demand access to our favorite movies, music, and television, that phrase rings especially true. The motion picture industry has all but abandoned the development of small films, since they are rarely held for more than two weeks in our concession-driven multiplexes. New CD sales of established artists like U2, stunted by the proliferation of peer to peer sharing sites, are unfairly judged against those produced in the pre-Internet era. Most drastically, TV shows are launched with a window of opportunity more narrow than the mind set of people who are critical of Adam Lambert’s personal life.

Parks & Recreation has improved steadily each week, with this particular episode offering a full range of comedic opportunities and overarching storylines. Lost in that growth, I fear, will be a barrage of entertainment journalists and bloggers who will focus on the show’s lackluster ratings. Rome wasn’t built in a day. In fact, if the bureaucrats of Pawnee were in charge of that particular project, then HBO could probably count on their historical drama running for seventy-six seasons. My hope is that P&R’s core audience, which boasts a strong number of 18-34 year olds, will overcome the Monday Morning Quarterbacks and spread the word that smart sitcoms can still be found on NBC’s Thursday lineup.

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