I agree with that to an extent, but
a) both actors are/were basically playing the “straight-man” surrounded by a bunch of more colorful characters.
b) and Joel McHale is way, way better than Rappaport was. I thought McHale was great in the latest episode during his “date” with the dean.
I just don’t really care for Jeff (is that his name?) as a character, or Joel McHale either on- or offscreen.
He’s best when he’s shirtless and not talking.
I just got into community. I do not like this plan, NBC.
Really, the same can be said of so many performers. OK, maybe not Kathy Bates or Ed Asner . . .
(Wait, someone lamented Outsourced? I did not know such a thing was possible.)
I’m not hugely worried. Parks and Rec survived being pulled from the Fall schedule last year and its third season began in January, and was picked up for season four. Also, it was awesome.
(And before anyone brings this up: no, this was not due to Amy Poehler’s pregnancy. P&R had purposely shot several third season episodes immediately after wrapping the second season, so they had a buffer and wouldn’t need a break. Then NBC yanked them anyway, the bastards. So P&R’s smart thinking-ahead plan was for nothin’.)
The thing that worries me about Community is that I find myself liking these characters less and less as time goes on. I wish they’d do fewer episodes where someone does something absoutely awful either to another member of the study group, or to the rest of the study group as a whole. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind misanthropy or horrible people as characters (hello, Arrested Development and Archer), but mixing misanthropy and attempts at being heartwarming (e.g. the Christmas episode) just makes the show seem a bit split personality-ish.
I watch it every week and continue to enjoy it in fits and starts, but I just… I don’t know. I’m doing so despite my dislike for the characters, rather than because I enjoy them. I do feel some loyalty to the show (which is a weird concept, really; why should one feel loyalty to a piece of entertainment? And yet I do!). But increasingly, whenever I watch it, I’m psyched for it to be awesome yet end up somewhat disappointed. The same thing happened to me with 30 Rock and The Office.
Anyway all that said, I really hope it returns. Smart TV is good to have around, even if this particular show doesn’t always deliver what I want it to. It reaches high, and sometimes that means falling flat on its face – but sometimes the result is sublime.
I, too, was sorry to see the demise of Outsourced. It didn’t start out well, but NBC gave it a little time and it was markedly improved after about half a season. By the time it got cancelled, it was a pretty good little show with a lot of fun quirks, and could have gotten even better. Many will recall that Parks & Recreation sucked it its first season and then a miracle happened and it was allowed to find its feet.
to Alley Dweller - no, everyone does not have a DVR or VCR for taping. The scheduling of the show does matter, and some scheduling decisions are just inane
Here’s something they can put in that time slot – NBC has ordered a pilot of a Munsters remake.
Shoot me. Shoot me now.
Sorry. NBC canned that too.
Luckily, NBC’s not a little bitch like Fox and is still throwing shows up on Hulu the day after they air instead of 8 days later and thus coincidentally just after the latest episode making it so that a more type A personality is never able to catch up if they miss an episode. Jerkasses.
Maybe it’s going to be a more mature retelling, like American Horror Story. Some people see beautiful Marilyn Monroe, others see the zombie of Bea Arthur. (All agree it’s the best sex they’ve ever had.)