DAY 3 Wrap

Thursday + No DVR = :(

Yeah, Thursdays are rough without the ability to Play, Pause, Fast Forward, Rewind, or Make TV My Bitch.

Had to make some tough choices tonight that will shape how the rest of this challenge plays out, so let's get right to the reviews.

1. "Community" over "The Big Bang Theory"

Wow, what the hell is up with the ad wizards at KFC? Last week's "Running Wilde" had mass amounts of product placement and now, in this week's "Kentucky Fried Community," we have an extra-crispy space simulator that’s the main focus of the show. Seriously? Is this awkward product placement a legitimate ad strategy due to the whole fast-forward-through-expensive-commercial-time-thanks-to-DVR-technology? Regardless, it has myself (and others) talking, so obviously something is working. Am I going to buy some chicken because Senor Chang told me so? Absolutely.

This episode's plot definitely was not the crispiest chicken breast in the bucket. However, when "Community" does a parody, they go all out. Even though I thought it was incredibly lame how they got the gang into the space simulator, we all knew Annie’s not leaving Greendale, and this seemed a lot flimsier than the last time it was threatened in the season finale. However, I can’t stay mad, especially because the whole point was just to get us to another hilarious movie homage.

Some of the better moments were Abed taking control of the situation and setting up his own Apollo 13 Houston Command in the study room, and the Dean’s “those aren’t thumbs” map of local truck stops and rest areas.

Other memorable quotes:

• “Our school may be a toilet, but it’s our toilet and no one craps in it but us.”
• “We are forty light years outside the Buttermilk nebula, although it’s possible–yeah, it’s a sticker.”
• "E. Pluribus Anus."
  

Enough said.

2. "The Office"

We have all seen how "The Office" has rewritten the rules on social behavior with some cringe-worthy moments of "humor." In tonight's episode, Michael Scott contacts his ex-girlfriends, all of them, believing he has a sexually transmitted disease.

Look, we all know that Steve Carell will be leaving at the end of this season. And because of this, I felt the writers needed to find a way to sort through his infamous romantic history with his various "ladies." However, I think the way they unveiled this compelling, complicated, and humorous past relationship storyline was - lame.

It isn’t awkward or funny enough to have Michael have to go to Jan, Carol, Holly, Helene, and Donna and tell them that he has herpes: he has to go there to tell them that he has imaginary herpes diagnosed based on Meredith’s personal experience.

I thought the whole thing was too far-fetched. Even for "The Office."

The jokes were flat and I thought the main character audition of Andy heading up the Sex Ed in the conference room didn't work for me. Last week's episode with Andy as the focal point, however, definitely worked and was humorous.

With only a few episodes left with Michael, I am wondering how the characters are going to transform their roles once Michael quits / gets fired / runs away.

3. "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia"

Damn I love this show. After playing "catch up" with previous seasons on Netflix over the course of two months, I am fully engaged and loving (most) every minute of this season so far.

I thought this episode was a very nice addition to this season, with a strong showing overall. I loved how the gang attempts to tackle class issues in the most inane way possible: through pools.

Dee and Dennis proved they didn't belong in the upper class, while Mac and Charlie proved just why they belong in the lower. Frank? Well, let's just say the "fringe" class won.

My favorite moments:

• Charlie's shorts. Inspired by Dennis, this free-balling jean shorts allow for optimum movement and are definitely, not white trash.
• The entire scene with Charlie and Mac trying to decide on what delivery food to order. Mac doesn't want to order Chinese food because he is afraid the delivery guy won't speak English and he will be too small to help them out of the pool. Instead, he orders pizza so that a big burly Italian guy can help lift them up to freedom. So, what happens? A Chinese pizza delivery guy shows up. Classic.
• Pretty much every scene at the public pool, but in particular, the "hot dog" guy.

So there you go, the first "Thursday Conflict." In order to keep myself, I figure I'll have to follow the same pattern next week...I don't want to kill myself going back and forth between shows that air in the same time slot.

Unless of course, I had a time traveling DeLorean powered by KFC.