#190. The
Obsolescent Cryogenic Meltdown
The Middleman, Season 1, Episode 9 |
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Any episode that starts out at
the Batter of the Bulge Pancake House is sure to be a great one, and my
only complaint about this one is that Lacey was barely in it.
That's because it was a Middleman story, featuring the unfreezing of
Ida's old boss Middleman '69 who is more James Bond than Austin Powers.
Kevin Sorbo was fantastic as '69, but Ida was even better, skating
around mixing drinks like she was back in the '60s too. The
ridiculous card game '69 and Wendy join was hilarious, and it gave
Middleman a chance to swing in on a rope and save the day. The
Middleman is never a sappy show, but I was elated at the end when Wendy
and Middleman hug; watching their relationship grow has been one of the
best parts of the show. As for obscure references, this episode
scored points with The Third Man and Dr. Strangelove.
Wendy: It's a polite way of saying BLEEP! |
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#189. Flight 1
Mad Men, Season 2, Episode 2 |
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We open at the greatest party
the world has ever known: Salvatore (and his wife) enjoying
watching Ken hit on a girl, Peggy using and losing some guy, Joan
sparring with Paul's new girl, a black supermarket worker, and drunk
Paul with a beard and a cravat. The greatest follow-up? Joan
dressing Paul down ("falling in love with that girl just to prove how
interesting you are") a few days later. Of course the focus of the
episode was on the crash of American Flight 1, one passenger being
Pete's father. Pete, as usual, doesn't know how he's supposed to
react, so he temporarily turns to Don before falling under Duck's
sinister influence. And Duck gets Roger to force Don to cancel the
Mohawk contract, and for once, Don is lectured about integrity when he
was actually trying to be honorable. Oh, and Peggy visits her
crazy family. Roger: Can I just fire everyone? |
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#188. The Gang
Exploits a Miracle
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Season 2, Episode
7 |
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My favorite thing about this
episode is how every character gets involved in a subplot that is
hilarious and shows what bad people they are. Mac and Charlie try
to profit off the Virgin Mary water stain by getting it blessed and
taking donations from religious pilgrims, but then they fight for
control of the flock reenacting the struggle between Catholicism and
Protestantism. Meanwhile, Dee competes (with nobody) for the
affections of a Priest, whom she used to take advantage of in high
school. And Dennis stops eating because Dee and Rickety Cricket
tell him his face looks fat as a joke. It's awesome to see how far
they'll each go (Dee saying she loves him at a confessional), and of
course this episode introduces the glorious Rickety Cricket who ends up
leaving the church and getting back at Dennis.
Charlie: Am I gay for God? You
betcha! |
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#187. Episode 210
30 Rock, Season 2, Episode
10 |
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Unfortunately untitled, this
was the final episode in 2007, and they went out with a hilarious
musical number (the best part of which is when CC sings along with Jack
via television). As for the rest: Tracy's dream with a robot
and Jenna wearing an eyepatch, Liz's Frankfurt flashback, drunk-dialing
the Board, Jenna's condo in Clearwater, Liz selling NBC to some Germans,
Jack and CC discussing dinner plans on the House floor, Liz is two
payments away from owning her bike, the random German narrations,
Kenneth's caffeine addiction, porn by women for women, the children
miners, Jack's dream of selling cider under the name Pap, Liz's first
date with the Board, Kenneth's promise to kill any McKenzies, Kenneth's
been sodomized, and of course "Lott-Specter passes by one vote."
CC: I missed the vote on a bill to legalize
recreational whale torture. |
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#186. What to Think
Mr. Show with Bob and David, Season 1, Episode 2 |
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The premiere of Mr. Show
establishes the concept, a seamless counterculture sketch show, and
maybe because it's busy setting the show up, it's not as funny as I was
hoping. But the second episode is hilarious, every sketch a
winner. Where the pilot ridiculed Hollywood and television, "What
to Think" attacks the religious right via evangelism, ex-gays, the 13th
disciple, an easily aroused Dixiecrat senator, an anti-capitalism
advertising parody, and the absurd idea that people left to their own
devices will fall to sexual deviance. They let you know right away
that they're tackling big ideas, opening with Congress trying to control
the arts and interrupting to let us know that we're watching the What To
Think network, but the humor never lags behind the politics--and David
Cross' ex-gay is the highlight of the first season.
Bob: Look, lady, I don't come down to where
you work and slap the dick out of your mouth. |
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#185. Blink
Doctor Who, Season 3, Episode 10 |
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You don't need to know anything
about Doctor Who to enjoy this Twilight Zone-ish sci-fi yarn. I
was sold by the teaser, with Sally Sparrow investigating a decrepit
house and discovering a timely message to her under the wallpaper.
The Weeping Angels scare without ever moving, and credit should go to
writer Stephen Moffat for such a simple conceit. Later I was
enchanted by the Doctor's Easter egg message, and by the time Sally was
conversing with him (creating a paradox, but nevermind), I was immersed
in the world of "Blink." I want to know more about Sally's friend
growing old in the 1920s, or how the cop who tried to help her fared
throughout the '60s. And I definitely wouldn't mind learning more
about the Weeping Angels and where they came from. The world needs
a new Twilight Zone. The
Doctor: Don't turn your back, don't look away, and don't blink! |
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#184. Final Fantasy
Andy Richter Controls the Universe, Season 2, Episode
11 |
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Andy Richter Controls the
Universe is a spiritual brother to Scrubs (which premiered the same
year), Arrested Development and 30 Rock, with wacky but relatable
stories and nonstop comedy. In this episode, not unusually, we
open with the first life on Earth, and fast-forward to the next
important development, Byron's birthday where he politely declines a
stripper and she runs off crying about her daddy issues. Later, he
talks a nurse into becoming a stripper, which leads to my favorite event
on the series: Byron accidentally becomes a pimp. Meanwhile,
we get to see the cheesy medieval story Wendy wrote about her
relationship with Keith.
Byron: Turn around and let me get a good
look at that--oh, God, I'm a pimp! |
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#183. The Hub
Battlestar Galactica, Season 4, Episode
9 |
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When I think about this
episode, the best of Season 4, Part 1, I only remember how Laura, guided
by Elosha, learns to stop being a cold leader and love the bomb, er, her
new family. But so much else happened that propels this one to the
top: Helo meets a new Sharon who has all of Sharon's memories,
Three is resurrected and kills Cavil upon learning they can't resurrect
again, Helo and Sharon hatch an exciting plan for the viper pilots
and cylons to capture Three, Baltar foments rebellion among the
centurions, but is wounded and confesses his sins to Laura on his
deathbed. But like I said, all that pales in comparison to Laura's
visions every time the hybrid jumps, seeing herself dying, seeing her
family caring for her, seeing Bill put his ring on her finger after
death. And it leads to the most romantic scene of the television
year. Laura: I love you. |
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#182. Showdown
How I Met Your Mother, Season 2, Episode 20 |
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I love the explanation for why
Barney thinks Bob Barker is his father, and it leads to a tremendous
finale where Barney rocks The Price is Right. The way he almost
calls Bob "Dad" at first, the way he immediately stops and looks back
when Bob politely calls him "son," the way he stalls for quality time,
and when he asks Bob if he's proud of him--Neil Patrick Harris is
perfect throughout. Even better, he keeps winning and giving his
prizes to Marshall and Lily for their wedding, so we think he might lose
in the end (as most shows would have him), but he wins there too.
The rest of the episode features some greatness (the chocolate milk
history-rewriting, Ted locking Barney out as he's testing out his "come
on down"s), but nothing (not even Ted filming Marshall's night-night
tape) comes close to the climax. Barney:
You know how it's hard to be friends with me because I'm so awesome? |
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#181. Final Grades
The Wire, Season 4, Episode 13 |
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I could fill this box just
listing the characters who showed up for the fourth season finale,
possibly my favorite episode of the show. I love the ironic
Christmas touches, like Landsman's tie, the Christmas trees and lights
throughout the city. Bubbles' attempted hanging about killed me,
and I've never liked Jay more. We don't get into the four main
kids for a while, but when we do, they don't let up. Namond's
program is ending, but at least Wee-Bey had the sense to let Bunny adopt
him. Carver can't find a place for Randy, so he ends up in a
horrible foster house. Dukie, out from under Prez's wing, drops
out of school and ends up on the corner. And saddest of all,
Michael shoots someone and officially joins Marlo's crew. On top
of it, Bodie's death puts an end to the Barksdale era (Poot goes
straight and Savino joins Marlo in Season 5).
Jay Landsman: Let's throw this one back... |
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