Grid Effect

The comedies over the past four or five days will be sharing posts in order to shorten the amount of time I spend writing here while I should be working, or at least pretending to work. We’ll have a post later tonight or early tomorrow reviewing the latest episodes of The Office and South Park as well.

But first thing is first, It’s Always Sunny got back on the right track last Thursday after a derailing of sorts the week before. For the most part, I though these episodes were more abnormal than anything I’ve seen from them in three seasons, which counts for a lot with this series (The “diaper time” thing was especially unsettling). Meaning, the gang seemed acutely oblivious about their goals.

I probably preferred the “Selling Out” episode, simply because the writing and acting seems at its pinnacle when they’re all backstabbing each other for marginal personal gain, but the “famous” episode had its high points. Namely, Dee getting the short end of the stick yet again, and the issues with excessive perspiration afflicting Mac instead of Charlie. However, little could be done to top the reintroduction of Charlie Day’s wife playing the manager at a local generic restaurant chain, and Dennis’ callous indifference towards her. Just a great hour of comedy.

In Curb, well, it seems that we’ve hit a rough patch. Last night’s episode entitled “The Freak Book” had a few absolutely laugh out loud moments, but they were intertwined with too much monotony, and frivolous yet unidentifiable arguments. I really didn’t understand the need to stretch Larry’s conversation with the bartender to over two minutes, considering they didn’t even reference it past the exchange with Ted Danson immediately afterwards. This, among many other mind-numbing scenes, had me checking the clock every five minutes.

Larry being ostracized, much like the freaks in his book.

It seemed this episode wasn’t going to be salvageable, until Larry caused an absolute semi-drunken scene because of the car service while Ted was opening his presents. Him and Jeff laughing hysterically at the freak book reminded me of Mac and Charlie in their penny suits after they stole Frank’s money. This along with the Jon McEnroe “partying” scene that had me in stitches (A similar scene with Johnny Mac takes place in Mr. Deeds with the tennis pro playing himself and showing Adam Sandler “The real New York”. Still remains the only noteworthy scene in that movie) almost saved the entire episode and earned a positive review.

As a side note, I wonder if Larry David inserted the Heather Mills joke as a way of empathizing with Paul McCartney, another uber-rich celebrity going through a very public divorce. The last time I can recall them using an off screen voice as a plot device was in the first season episode, “The Interior Decorator” with Diane Keaton leaving a couple phone messages. The Heather Mills voice was particularly awful, just a harpy, unmerciful thick British accent. Maybe the two of them will start a club, ” The borderline billionaires being taken to the cleaners in a divorce for no apparent reason” club. While I would hate giving up that much money I earned, I would love to be a member.

Still enjoyable, just not what it once was. Either way, it’s a good way to wind down at 3am after driving for eight hours.

Back later with more comedy recaps.