television this week was de-wait for it- lightful!

[spin]

I am full of love for the television industry this week. And by 'television,' I mean sitcoms. I got bored with Kings and apparently it's cancelled anyway. I apparently only have the patience for half-hour blocks of funny these days.



Okay, so. I haven't posted about 'The Office' in months, because even though I've been distantly enjoying it, it hasn't been on that heart-busting, joygasm level that I felt for season 2 and season 3. BUT THEN ALONG CAME THE MICHAEL SCOTT PAPER COMPANY.

This was seriously a genius way to switch up the format of the show. I haven't felt this warm towards Michael in forever, and I am rooting for him so hard. Plus, it is the funnest office environment ever. The cheese puff sequence was fucking amazing, and Pam and Ryan are pretty much the best coworkers ever.

Also, <3 ANDY <3. I think it's a huge testament to the writers and to Ed Helms that they could introduce a character to the show so late in the game and he could steal my heart so completely. You'll find someone to love, Andy Bernard, just you wait!

_____________




30 Rock

I really loved this one!

"Rayven Symone knows what she did." And so worth it for sliming fake-Helen Mirren. Also, Liz Lemon continues to be amazing at everything in life, even when sort-of-unemployed and harrassing doormen in her sweatpants. Though honestly, I would've thought Lemon would have been into a 'Fight Club.' She has a lot of rage.

___________



HIMYM

I'll keep this short since I've already bounced about this episode all over my friendslist, but this is probably my favorite episode of the season. I loved this one way more than 'The Front Porch,' probably because it was so harmonious and friendshippy. Marshall and Barney are pure magic together, and I loved the Ted and Robin friendship, too. Plus, you know, that whole part where Lily and Marshall ship Barney/Robin (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

So much good pretentious Ted in this episode: wisdom walks! He saw a shooting star! Robin is my favorite person to make fun of douche-Ted; she truly excels at it.

So wonderful and funny. A+++++ to this one.

______________



rashaka gave me topics for that '5 things I associate with you' meme:

1. Doctor Who
2. in-character Barney fic
3. Farscape (now!)
4. Barney/Robin
5. Arrested Development

If you want me to give you topics to ramble on about, just say so and I shall do my best!



Doctor Who
For me, Doctor Who is like that crazy, crotchety uncle that's always been hovering on the outskirts of you life, popping in and out and occasionally having these huge bouts of awesomeness. It's weird to think about, but my parents were totally on the outskirts of Who-fandom in the 70's (my dad had a douchey Tom Baker scarf and everything), so I grew up watching it. It's always been around, in the background of my life.

But it wasn't until New Who that I really fell in love, because Old Who just doesn't have that deep affection and hopefulness that New Who has running through every thread of it. I need that in a show: deep, believable friendships and people who delight in each other. And New Who is really, really good at that, balancing joy with the obligatory heartache. Hopefully that model will continue with the new Doctor and the new showrunners. Here's hoping!


in-character Barney fic

lol, thanks? Barney is such a great character, because he could so easily become a ridiculous caricature, but they did such a good job building this believable psychology for him that him trying to pick up girls dressed as an old man still feels genuine. I've been friends with a few almost-Barneys, and I think they pretty much nailed the personality type. Hyper-insecure, unwilling to change their lives, and terrified of getting hurt, with this intense, pathological need for people to look up to them (worship them, even).


Farscape

Farscape is just amazing. If you haven't watched it.... SERIOUSLY, WATCH IT. Yes, okay, it has muppets and a lot of what happens in the show is like thinly-veiled BDSM/fetish stuff, but the writing is unbelievably wonderful. The characterization is rich and true, the friendships feel incredibly genuine, and the romance is perfection. And it never fails to crack me up. John Crichton is probably my favorite television protagonist, ever, in the history of the Universe. It fills my heart with joy.


Barney/Robin

This ride has already been wonderful, and I have zero doubts that it will continue to be epicly amazing. I started watching HIMYM at 'The Limo" (which is, to this day, still my absolute favorite episode), which contains my favorite Barney and Robin interaction ever: when she makes Ted sing Bon Jovi with her to cheer Barney up. And yes, that's more a Robin/Ted thing since she's trying to re-psych everyone for his magical New Year's evening, but it's still such a sweet friendship moment. (Also, how great is it when she's like "is this all because you lost your 'get psyched mix?' HAHAHA ILU ROBIN).

That moment was when I fell in love with the show. (And then Marshall came running out of the smoke and kissed Lily AND gave Barney back the CD and I was pretty much SOLD FOR LIFE).

Arrested Development

Let's just say "The Final Countdown" has been my ringtone ever since Tobias accidentally took a picture of himself in the bathtub, and I have never been tempted to change it. I loved this show so much that it is sometimes physically painful, especially when people ask "who's your favorite character" and I go round and round for an hour: "Gob, no... Buster.. no... Lucille.. no... Buster... no... Gob..no... Lucille....Oscar?" It is a testament to the quality of the writing that even after like a trillion rewatches, I am still catching jokes that I missed before. ILU AD.

Comments

[afrocurl.livejournal.com]

Pretentious Ted might be the best Ted there is.

Also, Mashall (and Lily in absentia (sic)) made me giggle.

Which reminds me I need to open up your fic to read now.

[the-spin.livejournal.com]

Haha, yeah I loved the way they wrote Lily off! Fucking hilarious.

(and haha, warning: adult content XD )

[afrocurl.livejournal.com]

The way they wrote her off cracked me up like no other.

Oh yeah, I expected that from you. ;)

"Come on, Lily, nobody likes a Ted." --best running joke ever

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

Pretentious Ted might be the best Ted there is.

I think that if it weren't for that flaw, I'd probably hate Ted. It's like the one thing on the show that makes him accessible, that makes him not the writer's version of the perfect tv leading every-man. It keeps him from being boring. And I love that Robin even made fun of him when she was dating him.

Re: "Come on, Lily, nobody likes a Ted." --best running joke ever

[the-spin.livejournal.com]

I so agree; the fact that they let Ted be a pretentious jackass outright every now and then makes me feel less uneasy when he's being just-mildly-douchey in his relationships. Because then I can write it off as a character flaw instead of feeling like the show is approving the doucheness.

Re: "Come on, Lily, nobody likes a Ted." --best running joke ever

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

Because then I can write it off as a character flaw instead of feeling like the show is approving the doucheness.

Exactly. The writers go out of their way to show that Ted isn't always right or sympathetic just because he's the lead... sometimes he's a pretentious jerk, and that's just the way he is. So I accept it, laugh at it, forgive it as a part of a multifaceted character. He may not be my favorite character, but he has his moments, and he *can* be fun to write in fanfic.

I feel like this aspect of Ted's characterization isn't something I noticed from the first season, either. It's sorta crept up...I really noticed it mostly in season 3 and 4. I feel like the times when Ted's not cooing over Robin are the best times because it means we see other parts of his personality.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_jems_/]

A and B Song by Tom McRae came up on my mp3 player today as I walked to work, and I ached to get back to my rewatch and season 3. I think I know what I'll be doing this weekend!

[the-spin.livejournal.com]

Oh Season Three, such sheer wonderfulness. Best season of television ever. Enjoy it!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_jems_/]

Right? Season 3 is where John starts to become my favorite character, and season 4 is where he cements his position.

[hiddeneloise.livejournal.com]

Farscape! I loved it and I haven't watched or thought of it for years, but I just saw your icon and ... Aeryn!

Okay, that out of the way... I'm with Jim: Andy absolutely WILL find someone. Because he has to! :)) I mean, he is just bursting to be someone's "traveling pants"! ;)

[the-spin.livejournal.com]

Aeryn is the greatest! I love Farscape, clearly. I did a full rewatch last summer and was delighted with it all over again.

And I adore Andy way, way more than I should. He has a lot of love to give!

[loni212.livejournal.com]

Haha we watch all of the same shows...

I am obsessed with Jackie Jormpjump.

[the-spin.livejournal.com]

That's because we have a-maz-ing taste, obviously. And I wish that the Jackie JormpJomp movie was real. I would go see it at least sixty times.

[brandyleigh.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I can't believe how much I'm enjoying the Michael Scott Paper Company. I thought the idea was sort of stupid, but it's actually been pretty great. As for Andy, I love how much I love him now, since at first I thought he was really annoying. I'd like to see some more bro-ing out with him and Oscar. When they went on that trip to Canada and wingmanned for each other, it was maybe the best thing ever.

I can't even talk about HIMYM without going on and on about its wonderfulness and how much I love and adore it and all the friendships. I am so seriously in the mood to talk about this show right now - I'm in that crazy fannish place where it's like I can't read about it or talk about it enough. I'm really excited to see how this whole Barney and Robin thing is going to go down, because I'm convinced it's only a matter of time before it happens. "Hey Ted, this table just told me you're a douche." AHAHAHA I love Robin so much.

I'm in the midst of a Farscape rewatch, and the one thing I've decided is that I like S1 a lot more on the rewatch than I did the first time I saw it.

Someone said the words "Operation Hot Mother" the other day at work (but they weren't referring to AD) and I couldn't stop laughing. Obviously, I had to watch "Motherboy XXX" as soon as I got home.

[the-spin.livejournal.com]

I'll admit, I was biased to love Andy from the beginning because after Colbert, Ed Helms is my favorite TDS correspondent. But I never imagined I would adore the character so much, not in a million years! (And yesssss, I kinda ship Andy/Oscar after that episode. They were adorable).

Girl, I AM RIGHT THERE WITH YOU. 'Benefits' just like shot me to the crazy end of the fan scale, and now suddenly I am constantly stalking all the HIMYM LJ comms and rambling on everyone's friendslists when before I could just watch and enjoy the show like a normal person. I can't can't wait to see how the season plays out, and just feel so happy and excited and optimistic about it. And yes, ROBIN SCHERBATSKY= GREATEST EVER. She has been on such a roll lately, with the making-fun-of-Ted and the delivering-babies-on-live-TV and the Old-King-Clancy and the being-Barney's-manager. I love it.

LMAO, omg what other possible context could there be for 'Operation Hot Mother' :/ That is fucking amazing.

[blahblahologist.livejournal.com]

This was seriously a genius way to switch up the format of the show. I haven't felt this warm towards Michael in forever, and I am rooting for him so hard. Plus, it is the funnest office environment ever. The cheese puff sequence was fucking amazing, and Pam and Ryan are pretty much the best coworkers ever.

YES TO ALL OF THIS!

Marshall saying that he & Lily sit on the same side of the table was probably my favorite moment of this season so far. It's such a simple thing, but thinking about him & Lily talking about Barney & Robin being sort of perfect for each other makes me ♥______♥

I think 30 Rock is the closest thing to AD that's on tv right now, in that all the characters are slightly ridiculous, there are a ton of in-jokes and snark and brilliant guest stars.

[the-spin.livejournal.com]

but thinking about him & Lily talking about Barney & Robin being sort of perfect for each other makes me ♥______♥

I know right? And we all know that Lily always gets what she wants, so. Obviously it will happen. And it just makes me feel like... they wouldn't feel that way if there was no chance in hell Robin would want to get with Barney. It doesn't seem like they would misread the situation.

And yes totally about 30 Rock/AD. They do that same thing where they under-deliver jokes and then you don't catch them until like 2 rewatches later. I love it.

[anniestella.livejournal.com]

Every time I saw any part of Farscape, somebody was in some type of leather thing, and not much else...but then I stayed to watch it, and it rocked.

Andy in this latest episode was my favorite Andy yet. Also, Jim sobbing all over him.

[the-spin.livejournal.com]

Farscape is like a fetish club in space, seriously. And your icon! I totally forgot about that part. Oh, Dwight.

[tinamond.livejournal.com]

Lauren. You make me want to rewatch all of Farscape. And that is indeed an undertaking.

But I want to watch it all of the time. It is so good. And I miss it. Plus John and Aeryn are hotttttttt.

Also, Barney and Robin are like the best thing ever. I want them to be snarky together always and make fun of Ted and his "wisdom walks". Because Ted SERIOUSLY needs to be made fun of even more than he is.

I MISS LAUREN FACE!!!! That's basically all right now. I hope you are doing well, and not going too nuts with the end of your masters and everything. Also, you should let me know if/when you watch the Tudors and how you like it. Becca Gross and I are watching Season 3 now, and it makes me giddy with how silly and full of Protestant/Catholic angst-war it is.

[the-spin.livejournal.com]

I MISS YOU TOO DARLING! And I too am being tempted to rewatch Farscape again, mostly because of farscaperewatch. They're only watching an ep a week, which is pretty do-able. And I am weak in the face of John and Aeryn.

Obviously, I feel YES YES YES to your Barney and Robin sentiments. Every moment they are onscreen together is made of joy.

And I am totally going to Netflix Tudors; I'll let you know when I start!