In an earlier post I confessed my love for NBC's newest comedy Community starring Joel McHale. But I have a lotta love for some other TV shows this year as well:
Modern Family seems to have several of the elements that I like about Community, and I think they both wouldn't exist as they are if there hadn't been a show called Arrested Development. It is another ensemble cast comedy with great writing and rapid fire dialogue and jokes that you have to be ready for. It also lacks the dreaded laugh track. Like Community it boasts a comedy legend, Ed O'Neill known for his portrayal of Al Bundy in Married With Children. But the true stars of the series in my opinion are Ty Burrell as Phil Dunphy the "cool" Dad who is clueless and has spot on comedic timing. And the big scene stealer is the child actor Rico Rodriguez, who plays Manny Delgado who drinks coffee and wears cologne despite being in grade school-where he is on the fencing team.
I think I've mentioned my love for 30 Rock before, and some critics have been suggesting that a shark has been jumped. But I beg to differ, I still get many laughs out of it. The last Valentine Day's episode with the montage of Jenna's stalker had me laughing out loud continuously. Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey can do no wrong. Still love it.
Friday Night Lights has been pretty consistent as well (save the dreadful season 2). The 4th season, which is now available on streaming, looks a little more closely at some issues that were pursued more closely in the book: racism and the economic divide. Coach Taylor takes over defunct East Dillon team, which is on the wrong side of the tracks and has a large minority population (however very few Latinos which seems strange since it is Texas) while his wife butts heads over at Dillon. Several new characters are introduced, who will continue their stories thankfully for a season 5.
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