PARKS AND RECREATION: Greg Pikitis

In the midst of a breakthrough second season, I have had very few complaints for the cast and crew of Parks and Recreation.  My biggest wish for P&R’s sophomore year was that the Pit debacle be replaced by a long term storyline that focused on the personal lives of Pawnee’s public servants.  Though stars Amy Poehler and Rashida Jones have onscreen romances to navigate, I have become fascinated by the unrequited love story between a man and his green card wife.

Aziz Ansari has shown considerable acting chops in Season Two.  Armed with a barrage of memorable one-liners and opportunities to show vulnerability, the young comedian adds more dimensions to Tom Haverford each week.  Tonight’s episode was Ansari’s best yet, particularly the revealing look at Tom’s true feelings for Wendy.  Hints of Tom’s affection may have been sprinkled into earlier episodes, but Ansari’s face said more than any indulgent monologue could have.  Tom Haverford is the life of the party, but we now understand who he is truly trying to impress.  Kudos to P&R’s creative guru Michael Schur for writing this scene and to director Dean Holland for letting the lens do the talking.

We may be entering new territory in TV fandom, as I cannot recall rooting for an onscreen husband and wife to consummate their marriage.  I am already looking forward to seeing more Tom/Wendy drama in the weeks ahead.  If they ever got married for the right reasons, imagine the size of the dance floor!

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PARKS AND RECREATION: Kaboom

I bought a car last week.  After my previous vehicle was stolen in the dead of night, I thought it wise to find something safe, sound, and affordable.  The best deal I found was on a used luxury sedan, priced far more reasonably than the tanks driven by my neighbors.  I am not a “car guy” by nature.  I could not tell you the difference between 4WD, AWD, and WD-40.  Though I began my search looking for a simple car to get from point A to point B, I am having great fun with the extra bells and whistles paid for by the original owner.

When Parks & Recreation premiered last year, Amy Poehler was enough “car” to get me to test drive the show.  Little did I know that the supporting cast would turn out to be the sitcom version of heated seats, keyless entry, and a Bose sound system!  This week’s episode featured the P&R crew in their full sports package.

Leslie Knope has become more endearing each week of Season Two, and I attribute the fuller character realization to Amy Poehler’s gift for dancing with different comedic partners.  Need to see Leslie struggle to figure out how to manage people effectively?  Plug in Aziz Ansari, whose playful demeanor with Poehler makes him the ideal example of a perplexing, yet impossibly likable, subordinate.  Want some girl talk from your female lead?  Call on Rashida Jones, who is never funnier than when Ann & Leslie are dealing with the ills of their personal lives.  Care for a little temper tantrum from your Deputy Director?  Schedule a meeting with Nick Offerman, because…..well, because he’s “Ron F’N Swanson,” that’s why!

Special recognition must be given to this week’s cold open.  The interplay between Leslie and her credit card company was vintage SNL Amy Poehler, aimlessly spinning her wheels to explain the array of “unique” purchases.  Is there anything cuter than a career woman who is obsessed with Gossip Girl?  Until Leslie confesses to watching Tool Academy on VH1, I think not!  Not to be outdone, Aziz Ansari has mastered a facial expression that mixes genuine surprise with childlike joy.  Any suggestions on a name for this trademarked look?  Tom welcomed the news of Leslie’s Harry Potter club membership as if he had just become a father for the first time.  Magical stuff!

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HOUSE: Brave Heart

The entertainment world has been short on big news lately. While showbiz insiders and bloggers whispered stories about how Jay Leno’s 10pm show is crippling the American economy, the average person has had little to get excited over. In this vacuum, a low-budget horror movie, “Paranormal Activity,” has given audiences a reason to jump from their seats. Playing to sold out audiences all across the country, the little flick has defied Hollywood’s norms and achieved “Blair Witch”-like cult status.

This week’s episode of House made me jump from my couch on several occasions. Unfortunately, it was to scream “NO!” in a panic, concerned that the show would take a disappointing turn for the worse.

My biggest source of fear was the looming presence of Amber in Wilson’s guest room, and House’s possible relapse. Hugh Laurie is always enjoyable to watch, but I almost hid my eyes during those critical moments, afraid that Anne Hudek would reappear as Wilson’s lost love. I was not a huge fan of last season’s closing arc, particularly the bait and switch tactics stemming from House’s hallucinations. Though my greatest fears were calmed by episode’s end, I shudder to think how mind-numbing this season would be if the writers had hit the reset button on House’s cognitive ailments.

Next on my list of fright-inducing scenes: the completely unnecessary “resurrection” of our patient of the week. Much like last season’s promos, the preview for this episode gave away a “shocking” moment for House and Foreman, so I anticipated Donny’s new lease on life. Instead, I was turned off by director Greg Yaitanes’ insistence on shooting that scene in the style of Eli Roth. Medical shows frequently tread the line between realism and appropriateness. In this case, I thought we could have done without the gratuitous use of the surgical drill.

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PARKS AND RECREATION: Sister City

My college years were spent in Atlanta, Georgia. In addition to playing host to the 1996 Summer Olympics, the ATL is home to approximately six million Waffle House restaurants. If you have ever had the pleasure (and by pleasure, I mean the joy of punishing your internal organs with copious amounts of comfort food) of visiting the little diner with the big yellow sign, you may have learned a special phrase. Instead of ordering hash browns with specific toppings, longtime customers know to order them “Scattered, Covered, & Smothered.”

In breakfast terms, that expression indicates that your breakfast potatoes should be spread on the grill and topped with cheese and onions. In TV terms, it describes why my recap of this week’s Parks & Recreation took days to assemble. Despite a clever premise and a number of standout scenes, I cannot give this episode an enthusiastic thumbs up. Instead, I feel scattered, covered, and smothered by Fred Armisen’s overpowering presence as the leader of the Boraqua delegation.

As an admirer of the institution of Saturday Night Live, it pains me to direct any criticism at Fred Armisen, a genius at sketch comedy who has made me laugh out loud for years. His unique work during “Weekend Update” as Governor David Paterson, political comic Nicholas Fehn, and musician John Oates is the stuff of legend. Amy Poehler had the best seat in the house at the Update desk for those gems. The idea of reuniting the SNL veterans seemed like a no-brainer.

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HOUSE: Instant Karma

On the eve of the 1992 Presidential election, political strategist James Carville shared a simple message with the Clinton campaign staff assembled in Little Rock:

“There’s a simple doctrine. Outside of a person’s love, the most sacred thing they can give is their labor…and anytime that you can combine labor with love, you have a merger.”

If we are lucky, the workplace can bring us a second family. People who accept us for our shortcomings and help celebrate our successes. Corporations spend millions of dollars trying to manufacture this type of camaraderie. Sadly, there is no magic formula. We have to be in the right place at the right time.

The staff at Princeton Plainsboro has rarely been mistaken for a Norman Rockwell painting. Their world is driven by competition, petty jealousies, and oneupsmanship. Since House’s return from Mayfield Psychiatric Hospital, however, the first signs of togetherness have emerged. Against the backdrop of a father’s uphill battle to save his son, the diagnostic department took their first steps toward a true merger.

Hugh Laurie was able to add a new responsibility to House’s resume this week, that of protector. Though the caustic wit and subtle charm remains, I feel that we are seeing the “House 2.0″ version that was foreshadowed in the standout season premiere. By nurturing Foreman on how to become a better leader, stepping in when Thirteen was attempting to throw her life away, and saving Chase from the consequences of his actions, House was taking care of his family. I am thrilled to see this forward momentum. There’s even a chance I might not mind seeing House and Cuddy move toward an adult relationship, considering the new energy Laurie has brought to the character.

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PARKS & RECREATION: The Practice Date

I feel obligated to reveal a few fun facts about myself before recapping this week’s PARKS & RECREATION. On my first attempt to drive, I totaled a car and almost killed an innocent horse. During college, I sold popular toys like Tickle Me Elmo and Power Rangers to pay for cheap pizza and Mountain Dew. While I enjoy a variety of live music, I have seen Dave Matthews Band in concert 35 times. Finally, there is an image floating online of me wearing a Tweety Bird hat, a fashion faux pas that I cannot explain or justify.

Now cleansed of a few embarrassing foibles, I can get back to business. In the midst of a gigantic night of comedy on NBC, the P&R team offered a fast-paced and hilarious lead-in to Jim & Pam’s nuptials.

Harris Wittels may not be a household name, but his script for “The Practice Date” provided moments for each cast member to shine. There were hosts of moments to celebrate, but I want to focus on the cold open. The 24 hour cable networks have been fed a steady diet of political confessionals recently. It would be easy to attach a left or right leaning tilt to the P&R creative team, were it not for an absurdly entertaining speech given by Councilman Bill Dexhart:

“And to my wife, I apologize. All I can say is, I wasn’t just having sex. I was making love to a beautiful woman…and her boyfriend…and a third person whose name I never learned! Furthermore, it was wrong of me to say I was building houses for the underprivileged when I was actually having four-way sex in a cave in Brazil.”

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HOUSE: The Tyrant

James Earl Jones is an imposing figure, and his guest appearance on House was bound to be more impactful than a lesser known actor. The story of President DiBala altered the formulaic presentation of the show, foreshadowing personal & professional struggles ahead for Princeton Plainsboro’s staff.

Before I dive into the key story arcs, let me say two things. First, it took me almost half the episode to believe that Mr. Jones was portraying a cruel, calculating dictator. I was distracted by the thought that his entire story was a series of deleted scenes from “Coming to America,” hoping that any moment could bring a cameo by Arsenio Hall or the rose-carrying servants who would administer the royal sponge bath! Second, Cuddy’s decree that House avoid patient contact denied the audience a showdown between Hugh Laurie and the voice of Darth Vader. Was it too much to ask for House to “accidentally” sneak into DiBala’s room while grabbing a cup of coffee. After all, breaking and entering is one of House’s most cherished hobbies.

Based on last week’s teaser trailer, I assumed that this story would focus on House’s relationship with Foreman. With House’s medical license still pending in bureaucratic limbo, it was logical that his understudy would continue to assert his new authority, leading to a series of tense squabbles. Wisely, the creative team allowed that tension to boil temporarily, but tabled it for later episodes. Season Six is shaping up as a year of transition, and Foreman’s journey is paramount to that end result.

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