NBC Thursday Comedies - Week 28

The Thursday night finales have begun with The Office and Parks and Recreation finishing off their seasons this week.

Community - "Curriculum Unavailable"
A fake clip show and a fine followup to last's year "Paradigms of Human Memory."  While "Paradigms" had a few running stories throughout the clips, this year's was like a bunch of short vignettes, a bunch of funny vignettes.  The framing story was pretty stand out as well.  I love me some John Hodgman.  It's such an easy fit, I'm actually surprised that they hadn't used him in the past, but it was great to see him on the this.  It reminded me that fellow Daily Show actor John Oliver hasn't shown up yet this year as Prof. Duncan, I hope that gets remedied before the season is out.  Stand out clips include anything with Troy being stupid (which was a few), Abed's narration of Pierce, and all the Chang clips, especially him tasering his groin repeatedly.  They've also put into the motion the impetus for the next few episodes, them realizing Chang has replaced the Dean and trying to get back into Greendale.

30 Rock - "The Return of Avery Jessup"
It was so great to Elizabeth Banks back on the show.  She was never a main character, but her occasional appearances were always welcome.  Here we get the wonderful game of Jack trying to get her to admit to having an affair with Scott Scotsman.  Even though Jack admitting that he kissed her mother should be a horrible thing, in this particular relationship, it just confirms how awesome their relationship is.  Liz is still trying to figure out if her and Criss should get a "plant" together, and delves way to far into the woman being the breadwinner feminist mode.  Jenna even had a subplot I liked with her trying to deny her hillbilly roots.  I've actually been pleasantly surprised by a lot of Jenna stories this year, I'm glad they've been able to revitalize that character. One more episode to go this year.

The Office - "Free Family Portrait Studio"
Well, that destroyed any good will I was feeling going into this week.  Except for Nellie still being around and Robert leaving, everything else was a complete reset.  I never warmed up to Andy as manager, and I was kind of starting to like Nellie there.  I don't get it, almost everything since Michael left has been a misstep, and this episode was one of the worst.  Andy acting pathetic was just not funny in the slightest, even if we know he was just acting.  Robert's drawn out leaving to help young gymnasts was way too creepy, even for him.  Dwight concocting the plan to get DNA from Angela and the Senator's baby was alright because it led to the only thing about the episode I found funny.  Jim's terror that it was an elaborate prank against him.  I'm sorry, Office, you and I had a lot of good times, but I'm done.

Parks and Recreation - "Win, Lose, or Draw"
Now here was a perfect episode.  Everything was just so well executed it reminiscent of the amazing season 3. Paul Rudd had some nice final moments will the Bobby Newport character.  I'm not sure if anyone can pull of being so endearingly stupid as Paul Rudd.  The real stand out moment, though, was Leslie's speech.  From Ben's line that he didn't write a concession speech to Leslie adding an amazing coda once the written speech was done, great stuff all around.  And now that Ben put things on the back-burner to help Leslie, she gets to do the same for him (with the same box!) and let him pursue his dream job in Washington.  The Ben and Leslie story is a true testament that fulfilling a will they/won't they can still lead to great stories, Moonlighting be damned!  There were a bunch of other smaller great moments, too.  Now that April has grown leaps and bounds, it's time for Andy to do some growing up next year by trying to become a cop.  Ron has another great moment with Leslie, Donna saves the day with the file erasure, Jerry doesn't actually mess up for once, Chris gets to keep his job, and Ann lets Tom's dream come true (at least until she sobers up).  Even Jean-Ralphio had a funny quick cameo.  Like I said before, a perfect ending.