Must-see TV?
Can it be? NBC’s much-heralded night of Thursday comedy is unequivocally and totally back. And fully without hideous shows. No Good Morning Miami, no Friends, no Jesse, no Union Square, no Tortellis – it’s actually four shows I plan on watching — one ambivalently, one proudly, one ecstatically, one pleasantly surprised. Cripes, the only way it could get better is if NBC bookended it with Newsradio reruns. Since it begins in four minutes — here’s your quick-hit predictions…
1. Earl. The hysterical Jason Lee continues to twist in the quicksand of a one-note premise.
2. The Office. Ed Helms’ Andy lusts after Pam(It was in the previews, I know. Also, oh, let’s say,Meredith has a criminal record.
3. Scrubs! It’s (ahem) the Best-Sitcom-Ever-Contender’s final season. What gives for the premiere? Well, first off, it ain’t J.D.’s baby. Seriously, will I shed a tear when the series ends in May? (Don’t answer that.)
4. 30 Rock. Are you kidding? Who cares. (1) Tina Fey is off SNL, where she and the show both floundered for, like, 49 years. (2) This show isn’t the painful Studio 60 — which promises 3 sermons per hour or your money back.
There’s no Cheers-Night Court heavyweights here - but Office/Scrubs is close. Oh, wait, Ms. Faded Glory wants to watch Grey’s Anatomy?
Sigh.