THE AUDACITY OF KNOPE:We also figure there might be some desire to discuss the remainder of NBC's "Comedy Night Done Right," so some thoughts to start you off. (Needless to say, this does not address The Jay Leno Show, which, based on my viewing of Monday's episode, qualifies as neither "comedy" nor much of anything "done right.")
Parks and Recreation had a shaky start last year, and both as it's progressed and over the summer, the show's had some time to find its footing. It's still not working as well as The Office does, in part because they haven't figured out how to use the supporting cast as well--this may be because The Office employs a bunch of writer-performers (Carell, Novak, Kaling, and Lieberstein all have writing credits), while Parks separates those functions more tightly. Also, they've clearly made the decision to make Leslie less nakedly-ambitious and more Michael Scott-y--in particular, the cold open was pure Michael Scott. But still, little touches and reveals like Leslie's "I was trying to be cute!" defense to the charges against her, the Shepard-Fairey-esque KNOPE posters, the discussion of April's romantic status, and where Andy is currently living make it a worthy addition to the lineup.
On the other hand, Community seems to have its footing instantly. I, like many of you, would happily watch Joel McHale snark next to a blank screen for 22 minutes (and do so most Fridays). I'd seen the pilot earlier when NBC streamed it on Facebook to build buzz, but a second watch made me catch even more jokes, and be reminded again of the timelessness of John Hughes. I'm not sure how long they can keep up a show with the lead being so relentless a douchebag (though, as revealed at the end of the episode, a douchebag with at least something of heart). It's a nice fit for the lineup, falling somewhere between the relative realism of The Office and the over-the-top cartooniness of 30 Rock, yet makes an awful lead-in to Leno, given that the show and McHale are plainly pitched at a Letterman/Stewart comic sensibility to which Jay is the antithesis.
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