NBC has been famous for its Thursday night comedy before, and has been successful in recent seasons with The Office and 30 Rock. This year the network attempts to gain another monopoly on Thursday night comedy, with a two-hour lineup that includes one wonderful new series.
Thursday night began the network's comedy premieres, and showed that NBC still has some true development skill at its disposal.
Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday Still Needs Work
SNL's mid-week show opened confidently with a sketch about Rep. Joe Wilson that showed rare restraint and comedic timing. After the opening credits the show was taken over entirely by Amy Poehler and Seth Myers. This main segment of the piece was funny at times, but also struggled terribly during the interview and impersonation sections. Poehler and Myers would be even funnier if they could stay in character for the length of the show. The impersonations - Madonna, Jimmy Carter and Michael Steele - were dead weight on an otherwise entertaining and refreshing opening to the evening. But the sections Poehler and Myers have become known for - namely, the quick-fire puns and "Really?" section - were consistently funny.
Parks and Recreation Might Find Its Way This Season
Parks and Recreation is a very witty show that often fails at finding the right comedic timing. It is so fast-paced and over-edited that it can be hard to follow from one point to the next. Nonetheless, Amy Poehler still thrives as the adorable anchor to the show, struggling as always with the ins and outs of small-town politics. Her co-stars make up a quality ensemble cast. If the show can become more comfortable with awkward silence, as its counterpart The Office was able to do in its second season, the show might be able to grow a larger fan base. Poehler also will benefit in October when SNL leaves Thursday night comedy and she is able to focus her enery - and the viewers' - on her role as Leslie Knope.
New Episode of The Office Delivers
The highlight of the evening was in the second hour, beginning with the season premiere of The Office. In its fifth season, The Office has a lot to live up to. The British series of the same name ended after two short seasons, which allowed it to preserve quality and leave on a good note. After four years, the American version of The Office will need to remain consistently funny and refrain from the plot-driven episodes that were so prevalent in Season 4 and detrimental to the show's ratings. Judging from the season premiere, in which the entire ensemble made worthwhile appearances, it is on the right track and might even revive itself from the slump of Season 4.
Series Premiere of Community an Impressive Start
Community aired last in the Thursday comedy block, after weeks of anticipation. The new show was an exciting way to end the night, for viewers as well as for NBC. The cast gave a tremendous first performance in its series premiere. NBC has had a very difficult time retaining its comedies, but Community might be able to do for Thursday night what The Office and 30 Rock were able to do when they premiered - create a fan base that will keep the show running for its first season and gather more of an audience for it as the series continues to develop.
NBC's Thursday Night Lineup
The four shows complement each other rather well, with the exception of Weekend Update, which still feels awkwardly like a Saturday night show next to its primetime peersNBC's comedy block will only get more competitive when 30 Rock returns to the air on October 15, bringing its star Tina Fey and a cult following with it.
NBC Thursday comedy night airs every Thursday night:
- SNL Weekend Update Thursday airs Thursdays 8/7c.
- Parks and Recreation airs Thursdays 8:30/7:30c.
- The Office airs Thursdays 9/8c.
- Community airs Thursdays 9:30/8:30c.
(On October 15, 30 Rock will return with its season premiere. It will air Thursdays 9:30/8:30c. Community will then replace SNL Weekend Update Thursday at 8/7c.)
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