2012-2013 Scott Comedy Emmys

I have a difficult time analyzing the Emmys.  Whereas for the Oscars I only need to see one movie at a time, to analyze the Emmys I would need to keep up with a lot of series.  I watch television differently than I watch movies.  I watch TV series casually and just watch what I enjoy, I don't keep up with what everybody seems to be watching I just watch what I watch.  Which are pretty much all comedies.  So out of the series from last season that I watched here are my picks for my personal comedy Emmys.  Just to spread the wealth I am naming shows and performances that were not nominated this season.  Just more fun that way.


Best Comedy Series
I thought that 1600 Penn had a great debut, especially considering the weaker first seasons of many other now critically loved series.  Had a great ensemble, some clever jokes that did not get too political and quite a bit of optimism despite the well constructed dysfunctional family.  Saturday Night Live was more consistent that usual with its balanced ensemble and a few well selected hosts.  There were many ups and downs in the final season of The Office but the moments that worked were among the best of the well loved series.  Most of all it was very ambitious.  Parks and Recreation remains the best ensemble of on television and even at its weakest it is still clever and entertaining.  New Girl really came into its own this season and was must see TV for many with some classic sitcom unresolved sexual tension that it put its own spin on.  However my favorite comedy series this season was the dramedy Parenthood which continued to balance all aspects of family life, including the more difficult and uncertain ones with a lot of fun moments.  It is the type of series you keep going back to, because you feel like a part of the family.

Best Actor in a Comedy Series

Personally I would nominate the Modern Family cast in leading categories.  They are an ensemble, but they all lead their own stories.  So I will put a good word in for the funny Eric Stonestreet who was the sole member of the main cast not nominated this year (although I do not think all six need to be nominated every single season).  Despite this being the weakest season of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia the increasingly prolific Charlie Day still stood out with his unique energy and entertained.  I did not anticipate liking Josh Gad on 1600 Penn as I can find him insufferable, but he brought a lot of heart and wit to his role on the series.  He got a lot more subtle and varied than I expected while maintaing his annoying character persona.  Rainn Wilson really became the lead of The Office by the end of the season and his character arc was really the sweetest part of a very good season.  Dax Shepard remains surprising and a stand out on Parenthood.  But my favorite leading male performance would be his co-star Peter Krause who is so relatable and charming.  He balances strength and vulnerability and really leads the large cast.

Best Actress in a Comedy Series

Jenna Elfman, who I normally don't care for, worked for me on 1600 Penn.  Patricia Heaton continues to do great work on The Middle (a series that I need to watch more of because I haven't seen enough episodes from last season to consider it in many other categories).  Kaitlin Olson still was a stand out on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.  Her unique interpretation and delivery always impresses me.  While not every Pam development worked this season Jenna Fischer did some of her best work on The Office especially in the finale where she was very much the heart of Dunder Mifflin. Zooey Deschanel was a terrific lead for her improving series and is growing her character in interesting ways.  My vote for best actress not nominated goes to Mindy Kaling in the first season of The Mindy Project.  The show has been struggling with staying consistent in quality but she remains a fascinating, likable lead with her earnestness and ability to combine intelligence and naivete.

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Always the most difficult category for me to limit to six nominees, because there are so many great character actors on television.  Of course my thoughts always go to Parks and Recreation which is full of incredible actors who have never received a nomination.  The ensemble dark horse Nick Offerman was able to maintain his static characterization during big new character developments.  This was also the best season for Adam Scott who manages to stand out, despite being the most understated and normal citizens in Pawnee.  My favorite cast member on Saturday Night Live this season was actually Kenan Thompson who really came into his own after a decade on the series and the show is figuring out how to use him in lead and supporting roles.  Tracy Morgan brought his A-Game in many non-sequitirs on 30 Rock but also had some of the most heartfelt scenes in the powerful finale.  I am surprised at the lack of critical love towards the dependable Chris Messina on The Mindy Project who is such a fun sitcom character.  The highlight of last year though was the increasingly popular Jake Johnson with his work on New Girl where he brought excitement and emotion to every episode while still being hilarious and delivering some of the year's best jokes.



Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Saturday Night Live did not use all of its female cast members to its fullest potential, however for me Kate McKinnon and especially Vanessa Bayer stood out this year in every role they had.  How I Met Your Mother had its weakest season and I found it uncomfortable to watch at times.  However Cobie Smulders was the only cast member who consistently seemed fresh and invested, she still works on the show for me and doesn't seem too stupid like the rest of the great cast has unfortunately kind of become.  Rashida Jones, often cited as the most difficult Parks and Recreation character to get a handle on, did great work this season.  Not only in her attempts to get pregnant, but in her attempts at trying to hard to be an individual and convince herself that she is interesting.  No matter how bad an episode of The Office got in the past few seasons Ellie Kemper was always dependable and stayed hilarious.  This season her character's prominence expanded and she was able to stay at the emotional center of the series.  Again I have to go back to Parenthood.  Erika Christensen did her best work yet on the show, as she is the sibling who is often the least memorable.  But Monica Potter brought some real emotions to her difficult character arc and really deserves recognition.

Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

One of the highlights this season of The Office was Bob Odenkirk's perfect send up of Michael Scott. Bruce Campbell was well cast on 1600 Penn as the president's brother where he had great chemistry with Bill Pullman.  On New Girl David Walton was an ideal suitor for Jess no matter how much we liked Nick.  Comedy veteran Rob Reiner also scored big laughs as Jess's father.  Ray Romano did some of his best work as an actor and really surprised in his recurring role on Parenthood.  I still have to go back to Seth MacFarlane who was one of the best Saturday Night Live hosts I have ever seen.  He worked perfectly with the cast and seemed just like an ensemble member.

Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Collette Wolfe made every moment count on her small role in an episode of The Office and I actually was wishing she would join the cast, despite how incredibly large it was.  Often over looked comedic actress Kerri Kenney-Silver anchored the gang's outlandish behavior on the best episode this season of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.  No matter how many big stars that 30 Rock got and the Emmy's noticed one of the best side characters will always be Chloe Grace Moretz as Jack Donaghy's teenage arch nemesis.  Parker Posey had a perfect cameo on New Girl and I hope her shot girl character makes another appearance this season.  I loved Pamela Adlon's nosy neighbor on Parenthood.  But Tammy II had her finest hour this season on Parks and Recreation where the great Megan Mullally went all out and really deserved an Emmy.

Best Episodes of The Office

The Office is having its series finale this Thursday.  Throughout its nine seasons the American adaptation of the critically acclaimed British series has seen many lows but it has never ceased to be interesting.  Even though it constantly makes mistakes I keep tuning in.  The characters still work and the premise is solid.  The writers have been able to experiment and expand on a great foundation which is always executed by an ever expanding talented ensemble.  I know there are sitcoms that people consider to be perfect, but I don't watch a sitcom for perfection.  A sitcom is something pleasant, familiar and relatable that you can pick up at any time and enjoy.  And a great sitcom is one that makes you makes you think and feel amidst its familiarity.  I think that The Office accomplished quite a bit and I was more than happy to be along for the ride.  For my tastes here are the fifteen best episodes of The Office, I left several out.

15. Search Committee

This is the most recent episode on this list and the first episode of the series without Steve Carell.  This is a very strong follow-up to the exit of the series' main character.  There were certainly gimmick candidates such as Ricky Gervais, Warren Buffett and Jim Carrey but there were some funny bits from the unqualified Kelly, memorable James Spader (who to be fair got off to a great start on the show until his character just absolutely failed) and a hilarious Ray Romano cameo.  The main thing this episode did was show that the characters could do business as usual.  They were still funny and could carry the show on their own.

14. Michael Scott Paper Company

Most fans enjoyed the few times the series had story arcs that switched up the setting such as the Florida arc and especially The Michael Scott Paper Company.  It shows a nice proof of Michael Scott's competence as a salesman and actually gives Pam and Ryan something to do.  The combination of these three characters, who the show often struggled with really worked.  All of the episodes in this arc were a nice diversion, but the different opening titles in this episode was a highlight.

13.  Christmas Party

I had to limit myself to the number of season 2 episodes I included.  It is undoubtedly the best season of the series and I wanted to give a series overview (The Fire is the episode that I should have probably included).  This one has Michael at his most selfish, forcing a gift exchange because he hated Phyllis' homemade present.  It is also one of the most visible Jim and Pam developments.  This is one of the episodes that really perfects their chemistry and tension in their unrequited romance.

12. Sex Ed

I always love when sitcoms go back through the main character's past relationships (Don Juan is in Hell Part 2 is my favorite episodes of Frasier).  There is something really reflective about that that is relatable to me.  Michael revisiting Jan, Donna, Helene, Carol and Holly gave a nice view of where Michael had been and where he was heading.  I have a number of season 7 episodes because they really have such a great arc for Michael Scott (the episode Counseling, which I almost included, also did something similar).  Also Rainn Wilson's delivery of Dwight saying he is going to find the operating theatre in the hospital is also one of my favorite Dwight moments.

11. Ben Franklin

Michael throws a bachelor and bachelorette party at work and tasks Jim with hiring a male stripper, Jim instead chooses to hire a Ben Franklin impersonator.  The entire premise is hilarious but the women who egg the actor into talking dirty is executed perfectly.  Dwight trying to prove that the impersonator is not the real Ben Franklin is just as funny (he is 99% sure, no matter what Jim says).  Also in this episode the tension between Pam and Karen is compelling as the two get a long but both care about Jim.  The addition of Karen to the cast really got some extra mileage out of the Jim and Pam courtship that really worked.

10. Goodbye Michael

This was the finale to many people and it was a great one.  Steve Carell refused to come back for a large cameo in the series finale because his character arc ended so strongly.  It is full of sweet moments such as his being a father to Erin (something I wished they had utilized more in previous episodes), Jim's farewell, Pam saying goodbye at the airport and Michael throwing away his World's Greatest Boss mug.  The Office is known for being just as sweet and sincere as funny and clever.

9. Stress Relief

Sometimes stunts work.  The energy and choreography of the fire scare and CPR training is very well executed.  Full of fun character moments and just really well edited.  Dwight's meetings at corporate with Michael failing to reprimand him properly and Dwight's efforts to get employee signatures without apologizing are very fun.  The episode may have lagged a bit after the roast but there were more than enough laughs to grow around.

8. Dinner Party

What I love about this episode is that it is a work com doing a dom com episode.  A very dark, very messed up dom com episode.  The look into Jan and Michael's personal life is uncomfortable but completely in character.  Their little obsessions such as Michael's $200 plasma screen and Jan's terrible CD really expand the characters' lives outside of The Office.  Some of Steve Carell's best moments as a comedic actor too in the vasectomy scene.

7. The Client

I always enjoyed when Michael proves how his unconventional personality gets results.  His budding relationship with Jan is a great foundation for this episode and the understated Tim Meadows cameo is hilarious.  The B-plot is also great with The Office reading Michael's screenplay and Jim and Pam's developing relationship.  The look Jim gives to Michael at the end when they are both dealing with their own unrealized romantic desires is a really sweet moment.  Standard solid season 2 fare.

6. E-Mail Surveillance

I never see this episode mentioned much as a favorite but I feel that it showcases the main characters perfectly.  Michael's character is expanded so much as he is racist towards the IT guy, spies on everybody's e-mails and breaks every rule of improv.  This episode really showcases how good of a person Jim really is.  I think that one of the sweetest moments of the series is Jim joining a desperate Michael in karaoke.  Just great characterization at the height of the series.

5. The Injury

The funniest idea this show ever had was Michael Scott burning his foot on a George Foreman grill.  And they got a lot of mileage out of the very simple, strange premise.  Michael acts like he is handicapped for the entire day, giving a ridiculous tolerance conference which includes multiple Tom Hanks visual aids.  His commitment to this delusion is almost admirable as he tries to take attention away from Dwight's concussion.  Also Dwight his a brain injury and his short friendship with Pam is both touching and funny.

4. Casino Night

This episode finally saw Jim and Pam acting on their feelings.  It gave a perfect point for the series to wrap up story arcs but also the perfect jumping off point for future seasons.  A very well written episode and the perfect season finale.  Even if this is where many people felt the series should have ended it was impossible to not want more after the sincerity and relief of Jim and Pam's kiss.

3. Threat Level Midnight

I always love when you get to see a character's fantasy or idea of what is cool (one of the reasons why I love Homestar Runner so much).  This episode is Michael Scott's movie (that they read a draft of way back in season 2) and is a perfect look into the character's mind, work ethic and accomplishments.  The movie shown in the episode is just as delusional and ineffective as The Office's main character and feels as if it was written and directed by him.  The actors doing bad bad acting is hilarious and just a really creative diversion.  Ludicrous and absurd while advancing Michael's departure.

2. The Dundies

The first episode of season 2.  The turning point of the series after a less than perfect first season got the characters right, it is the perfect introductory episode.  Michael was inappropriate and disliked but sincerely and desperately needed attention.  Dwight was a loyal lackey that would make any threat to protect his boss (such as taking away the women's bathroom privileges).  Jim and Pam were both unhappy in their lives but loved being together.  Just all perfect character moments.  Definitely the best Pam episode as Jenna Fischer's gives an accurate performance of inebriation while keeping the character's sincerity.

1. Garage Sale

This is my favorite episode, I don't think that the series had ever been better.  I love it mainly because it really shows how far the characters had developed.  The show started out with an office full of employees who would not invite Michael to a party to really caring and supporting his happiness.  Every time in the past when Michael was about to be fired or quit nobody cared but his announcement of leaving has a visible effect on him.  The great thing about this episode is that it shows Michael maturing without losing the character's signature immaturity.  His initial impulse is to write Holly a message in flames (leading to the brilliant Pam quote of "Michael, you had two ideas today.  One was great and one was horrible.").  Also this episode has Jim selling Dwight magic beans, one of the show's best pranks.