Tag Archives: donald glover

30 rock recapping: live from studio 6H

Previously on 30 rock: murphy brown lied to us

Live from New York it’s 30 ROCK!!!!! Jack has made the decision that TGS will no longer be a live show. It’s less expensive to pre-tape, so that’s what they’re going to do from now on. Liz is hesitant at first, but when Jack tells her that she’ll only have to work two weeks a year, Liz changes her mind.

EVeryone in Tracy's dressing rom

Kenneth however is not having any of it. He locks everyone from TGS, except for Hazel and Jenna who are too self absorbed to notice anyone’s absence, in Tracy’s dressing room to convince them that TGS should stay live, 12 angry men style. Kenneth goes back in time and discusses the history of NBC’s live television programs. The result is a bunch of hilarious skits with guest stars like Donald Glover, Jon Hamm, Jimmy Fallon, Amy Poehler, Fred Armisen, Paul McCartney (or Kim Kardashian, depending on the coast). Though Liz and Jack hold out til the end, they realize that their big career breaks began with live television. So it’s settled: TGS will remain a live show.

Paul Proposing

While all of this is happening, Jenna had planned to use TGS’s last live show as the setting for her marriage proposal from Paul. However, Paul has his own plans. He wants to propose in a private setting. The two argue and Paul storms out. Jenna realizes that she doesn’t care where or when Paul proposes, she just wants to marry him. Paul proposes on live TV anyway, but Jenna says no. She wants their proposal to be private.

Chattertons Dr Spacemen

Best/Funniest Moments

  • Jack and Liz having heart attacks
  • All Dr. Spaceman skits
  • The Joey Montero Show
  • The Abner and Alfie Show

Quotes

Jon Hamm (as Chuck): “Honey you have a dynamite shape, but you’re gonna have to shut up and let a man tell us what’s happening.”

Dr. Spaceman: “Recent studies have shown that while pregnancy is disgusting, babies do not need tar or nicotine.”

Jack (as Tony): “We’ve got a great show. At least that’s what the Jews I pay tell me.”

Paul: “I may have a dress, and a wig, and a gynecologist, but I am the man.”
Kristen is a confused young adult who sometimes thinks TV shows are actually her life. Wouldn’t that be cool? Unless she was a victim on Dexter, or a deranged privileged teenager on gossip girl, or a wolf on teen wolf, or Liz Lemon! Never mind. It wouldn’t be cool. Kristen is a young adult. Follow her @kris10_Alyse or read frustrateddreamer.com
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tv’s best birthday themed episodes

Birthdays are generally a time for celebration, presents, cake and all those other festive trappings. There are the milestone birthdays that mean you can drive or legally drink or even magically turn into an adult (Hi 30!), as well as those where you’re just happy to see another year.

With my own 26th birthday coming up – I’m not quite at the point in my life where I lie about my age – I decided to celebrate the successful completion of 365 days by recalling my favorite birthday-themed TV episodes. Some made me cry, a few made me laugh, while several of these aren’t more than a year old so it’s too soon to wax nostalgic over them just yet.

Best Birthday Episodes…Ever (in order of birthday character’s age)

Rubber Band BallParenthood (S1Ep8)
Jabbar has a birthday party that’s heavy on the familial tension. I’m sure I had an awkward moment or two at one of my childhood birthday parties, but similar to Jabbar and other little kids at that age, if wasn’t toys and/or cake it happily went unnoticed.
Best Quote:
“Amber is from a broken home. She doesn’t know a real relationship from a sandwich yet.”

Stark Raving DadThe Simpsons (S3Ep1)
Simpsons never age, so arbitrary nature of her birthday aside, it was cute seeing Bart try to do something nice for his little sister. But try as I might, I could never make my name casually slide into the “Happy Birthday Lisa” song.
Best Quote:
Things change when you hit the big 1-O. Your legs start to go, candy doesn’t taste as good anymore.”

The AftermathSaved by the Bell (S3Ep3)
Although it was Lisa’s Sweet 16, the majority of this episode was focused on the legendary Kelly-Zack-Jeff love triangle. I never understood why Lisa was so rich and stylish, yet had such a milestone birthday party at her house.
Best Quote:
“Honey, if I were Kelly, you’d still be pulling a hairbrush out of your ear, now don’t get me started.”

Surprise/InnocenceBuffy the Vampire Slayer (S2Ep13+14)
Buffy never had especially enjoyable birthday celebrations and this was the episode where it all started. Teenage heartbreak is painful enough, but imagine the guy you love and passionately give your virginity to turning into a monster…literally. And I’m sure I wasn’t the only girl that asked her boyfriend for a Claddagh ring after seeing this episode.
Best Quote:
(Xander) “You coulda just said, ‘shh!’ God, are all you Brits such drama queens? Buffy, I feel a pre-birthday spanking coming on.” (Jenny) “I’d curb that impulse if I were you, Xander.”

Mixology CertificationCommunity (S2Ep10)
This was the episode when Troy realized that turning 21 doesn’t mean you’re a grown-up who is immune to being an idiot. We also saw the serious side of this character expertly played by Mr. Donald Glover. I’d have preferred Troy’s birthday filled with childlike merriment, there’s plenty of time for the disenchantment of being an adult.
Best Quote:
Hello during a random dessert, the month and day of which coincide numerically from your expulsion from a uterus.”

The Agony and the ‘Ex’tacySex and the City (S4Ep49)
Carrie turns 35…alone. It was pretty depressing watching the usually fabulous Ms. Bradshaw have such a lackluster birthday, but it also brought some realism to what your 30s are like if rom-coms and Cosmo are any indication. Big capped off Carrie’s birthday evening with red balloons and champagne, which was simple yet romantic…classic Big.
Best Quote:
“No special guy to wish me happy birthday. No goddamn soulmate. And I don’t even know if I believe in soulmates.”

Cliff’s BirthdayThe Cosby Show (S1Ep24)
Clair was the perfect wife and Cliff was the (very) deserving husband. On his birthday she did what any fictional, ridiculously upper-middle class wife does for her husband and got him a personalized birthday performance by Lena Horne. These two were always so cute because although Cliff was the man of the house, Clair ran the show.
Best Quote:
The joy of a birthday, is finding out what the present is, before one gets it. And you know I always do.”

Honorable Mentions:

Birthday Angel
Time FliesSix Feet Under
Michael’s BirthdayThe Office
Be Careful What You Wish For – Dawson’s Creek

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community recapping: biology 101

Nicole’s P.O.V.

The episode began with Jeff flying and singing, it was like they read my heart and made an opening that reflected how I excited I was that Community had finally returned (and delivered the laughs I so sorely missed this summer). I loved that everyone thought Troy and Abed were announcing their man-love and not that they were just becoming roommates, as well as the Chevy Chase-less National Lampoon reference. I’m not biased (well maybe a little), but Donald Glover has the best comedic ad-libs of anyone.

We met Dr. Omar Little Chalky White Marshall Kane, who kicked Jeff out of class after berating him for his phone constantly ringing, but in his defense, Jeff was kind of a douche about the whole thing. Regardless, this secluded him from the group and inspired a Supernatural-esque look, but he also got a taste of what it’s like to be Pierce. Outside of the Jeff drama, the group spent most of its time tending to Abed’s comatose state over the mid-season start date for Cougar Town and Dean Pelton dealt with Fred Flintstone Vice Dean Laybourne.

Was this the funniest Community? Hell no. But this show’s B game is the humor equivalent of everyone else’s A game anyway, so it was a solid season opener. I look forward to the school dealing with the major budget cuts that are surely around the corner and what class Jeff takes while the rest of the group is in Biology (assuming he doesn’t get back in, but it looks like he will thanks to Starburns).

I’m also convinced that:

  • Inspector Spacetime is a Dr. Who spoof
  • The Dean tells the group news before telling anyone else in the school
  • Pierce is lovable again
  • Britta is proof that people who study people are a little crazy

Will’s P.O.V.

Although we were berated by the notion that things are going to be more normal at Greendale Community College this year/season during a campus-wide musical number (contradiction at it’s finest!) I don’t think I believe them all too much. Dean Pelton’s no-nonsense policy is doomed immediately when we find out that Chang is living in the venting units and “monkey knockout gas” is to be used to counter that issue, also Vice Dean Laybourne (John Goodman) of the Air Conditioning Repair School Annex is apparently much more successful than, and is funding, Dean Pelton and Greendale Community College.

Jeff is excited that Pierce is no longer in the study group because he didn’t take Biology 101 with everyone else. But Pierce, being the rich and conniving antagonist we’ve grown to (insert emotion of your choosing), bribes Professor Kane (Michael K. Williams) so he can get Jeff kicked out and replaced. Except, Pierce being the softhearted guy we never realized he could be only said he bribed the professor to help keep his “villain” role in the group intact. Jeff finds out that life away from the “magical” study group table is lonely and maddening – even if it has only been a few hours since he left. He even took a page from The Shining and went all fire axe on the table.

Abed finds out that his favorite show Cougar Town – he said it would get six seasons and a movie – got pushed back to midseason (true story :/ ) and he is desperate to find something to hold him over until then. Britta finds him the show that Cougar Town was “based” on from England, “Cougarton Abbey” (WARNING!!! NOT A REAL SHOW). But after the show comes to an abrupt end Abed shuts down until they find him another ridiculously fake show to reinvigorate him. All in all, everything is back to the way it’ll always be at Greendale.

QUOTES

Annie- “Are we really doing this without Pierce? So sad.”
Jeff- “Yeah. We have parted ways with our closest, oldest, craziest, most racist, oldest, elderly, crazy friend. And he’s not coming back.”

Professor Kane (to Jeff) – “Get out!”
Jeff – “Seriously?! Hey dude, Sean Penn called he says to dial it back…Sean Penn is an actor w-
Professor Kane – “I know who Sean Penn is. I seen Milk. Now get out!”

Troy – “Why did everyone on “Cougarton Abbey” just die?”
Britta – “They only ran six episodes. That’s the greatest thing about British TV, they give you closure.”
Abed (in a key Mariah Carey couldn’t hold) – “AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!”
Troy – “We’ll find you a new favorite show, we’ll find you a new favorite show. C’mon buddy. (To Britta) You are human tennis elbow. You are a pizza burn on the roof of the world’s mouth. You are the opposite of Batman!”

Abed – “We’re registered at Linens ‘N Things. We have plenty of linen, we just want the things.”

Dean Pelton – “If I wanted to run a monkey hotel, I’d install a banana buffet.”

Vice Dean Robert Laybourne (to Dean Pelton) – “You look like a white Louis Gossett Jr.

*Thank you to dudemann over at Reddit for pointing out the things we missed.

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it takes a community…

I don’t know what I miss most about Greendale Community College. Could it be the the sheer joy of finding a magical trampoline? Building and organizing a dorm-wide “Blanket-Fort City” – a la EVERY awesome sleepover EVER?! Or maybe it was the school-wide paintball tournament? Either way, I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited to witness a group of people stay in school WAY longer than necessary like I have for the study group in Community.

I hope you see that scarf!

Jeff Winger (Joel McHale), the self-absorbed, faux-apathetic douche with all the witty “complisults” (compliment + insult). Jeff is always at the ready to tell the study group that he doesn’t care to deal with their shenanigans and always finds himself directly in the middle of the action and sometimes even spearheading the charge. Even though I feel this great ensemble cast doesn’t have a “lead character” Jeff has all the qualities to fit the bill.

 

Britta Perry (Gillian Jacobs), resident rebel with an adopted cause, is everything that Jeff is not but he just can’t get enough of. These two usually get tied together as the most polarizing forces in the study group. Britta has the ability to undercut any grandstanding with the surgeon-like precision of a veteran “Mean Girl”.

Pierce Hawthorne (Chevy Chase) is the epitome of what it means to be politically incorrect. Racial slurs? Sexism? General Jackassery? Pierce has more than enough to share with the class. Usually pegged as the antagonist of the study group – a role he fits perfectly – I’m actually starting to like his character more with each verbal/visual beating he gives me – because that’s healthy, right?

Troy Barnes (Donald Glover) is filled with a childlike exuberance – if you couldn’t tell by the picture – that is never annoying and always accepted. Whether he is making “dumb-blonde” statements or even a subtle facial expression, Troy takes advantage of all his screen time. Also, when you can throw this epic of a tantrum as a grown man you deserve some credit.

Abed Nadir (Danny Pudi) is the socially awkward and pop-culture poignant “android” character that spews information with no filter. He does a great job keeping characters in check because he only tells what he sees and doesn’t let characters build their ego too high before he makes them realize how blatantly mediocre they really are. Abed and Troy are one of the best “buddy” duos on television right now, and they even come equipped with their own handshake! Jealous yet?

Annie Edison (Alison Brie) is the young, straight-laced, naive beauty who usually has the best interest of the whole group in mind when she sets out. But this may change things a bit for the upcoming season. I actually like Annie’s character, maybe more than I should, and it’s not just because she is HAWT! She may feign oblivious to most her surroundings but she knows exactly what she wants and usually gets me it.

If Samuel L. Jackson's Pulp Fiction and Whoopi Goldberg's Sister Act had a baby...

Shirley Bennett (Yvette Nicole Brown) is the religious, sometimes single mother that is never opposed to gossip. She finds a way to know everyone’s business without shedding light on her own and passive-aggressively pits characters against each other. I like Shirley’s instigating methods because she can add a new twist to any episode with one line.

Get your #2 pencils ready class. School is back is session September 22nd on NBC.

 

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donald glover is a weirdo

It’s no secret that I’m a card-carrying member of the Donald Glover fan club. He tells a joke? I’m laughing. He tweets? I’m reading it. He makes AMAZING mix tapes? I’m listening to all of them. On repeat. But we’re not here to talk about my love for Donald Glover, so I’ll get to the point.

In March Glover recorded a comedy special for Comedy Central and on Nov. 5th it will FINALLY air. The special is titled Weirdo and unlike his I AM Donald tour, which was a mix of Childish Gambino and Donald Glover, it will be stand-up alone.

Honestly, he could stand in the middle of a dark room and whistle the title music for Metroid and I’d tune in. Suffice to say, November cannot come soon enough.

 

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