TV This Week

30 Rock continues its excellent run of episodes and The Office and South Park have good episodes as well . . .

The Office: Business Trip
Season 5, Episode 7

Michael, Oscar, and Andy go on a trip to Canada to sell paper. Ryan tries to get Kelly back. Everyone else waits for Pam to return to Scranton, but Pam fails her 12 week course and has to retake it. Everyone’s reactions to Jim were funny. Love the Stanley smile, the Creed shoulder massage, and Kevin’s butt-slap. Darryl’s strut to his car was a spectacular subtle scene. It’s great to see Andy away from Angela. The Andy-Oscar bonding was terrific and I can’t wait to see that marriage canceled. Nice magic hour lighting in the last scene. See it here. B

30 Rock: The One with the Cast of Night Court
Season 3, Episode 3

Another big-time guest star, another success. Jennifer Aniston is a long-time Chicago friend of Liz and Jenna visiting New York who ends up hooking up with Jack. Meanwhile, Tracy tries to cheer Kenneth up by getting part of the cast of Night Court to put on a fake finale. Alec Baldwin is hilarious in his addiction to Aniston. Aniston gives an inspired, against-type performance. Fey continues her hot streak and the dialogue is great – love her speech about getting “the business”. The Night Court stuff doesn’t work as well, particularly Jenna’s were-lawyer (WTF?). There are lots and lots of hilarious throwaway lines. Kenneth even manages a reference to Eyes Wide Shut. There's an interesting all-string musical score. See it here. B+

South Park: Elementary School Musical
Original airdate: 11/12/08

The High School Musical trilogy is satirized when most of the South Park kids keep breaking into song and dance. Kyle, Stan, Kenny, and Cartman refuse to participate. Overall, it’s a humorous episode with at least one great line from Cartman: “Well, I’m out guys. If this is what’s cool now, I’m done. I no longer have any connection to this world. I’m gonna go home and kill myself. Goodbye, friends.” The writers create a reversal when the expert child singer-dancer wants to play basketball, but this isn’t as funny as it needs to be. The children snapping behind Stan, encouraging him to sing, is hilarious. The guy slapping everyone is funnier the second time through. If you hate High School Musical or have been forced to watch it too many times, you’ll probably like this. See it here. B