Top Ten Episodes of the Decade ~ Comedies

On this final day of the oughts, it seems only right that we should reflect upon all of the important moments this decade has brought us. In that spirit, we present to you our top episodes from some of our favorite comedies of 2000 – 2009. There’s noticeable favoritism towards recent years – possibly because they are just fresher in our minds – or maybe comedy has just gotten significantly better over the past few seasons. We’ll let you be the judge.

So now, in no particular order, we present:

The Shapusens' Top Ten Episodes of the Decade: Comedies

(episode summaries are lazily stolen from imdb.com)

30 Rock, “Episode 210” (season 2)

Jack asks Liz to deal with a group of German TV execs so he can spend more time with C.C. but Liz has fallen in love with a piece of real estate. Tracy buys a cappuccino machine and gets Kenneth addicted to caffeine.

Why it makes the cut: The final performance of “Midnight Train to Georgia” is pure genius.


How I Met Your Mother, “Slap Bet” (season 2)

The gang discovers that Robin's been hiding a huge secret, but they have no idea what it is. Marshall thinks she is married, and Barney thinks she was a porn star.

Why it makes the cut: Not only did this episode introduce us to the pure magic that is Robin Sparkles, but it also began one of the best running jokes of any series – the slap bet. For those of you keeping score, we’re at four slaps down, one to go.



Pushing Daisies, “Pie-lette” (season 1)

Ned uses his unique powers to bring his childhood crush, Chuck, back to life and solve her murder. But he is also forced to keep his distance from her, because if he touches her, she will be dead forever.

Why it makes the cut: While it’s true that other episodes certainly have some funnier moments, there will always be a special place in our hearts for the one that started it all.



Arrested Development, “Mr. F” (season 3)

The family's meeting with Japanese investors backfires big time when Tobias mistakes a real government agent for a talent agent. GOB tries to connect with his father, who is controlling a Surrogate. Meanwhile, Michael has another encounter with Rita's uncle, and Maeby's romantic comedy is a total flop.

Why it makes the cut: There are so many great moments in this episode, like Lucille screeching like Godzilla when she is out of vodka and the big reveal that Rita is a “MR F” (mentally retarded female), but it is the epic battle between mole and spaceman destroying the village in front of the Japanese investors that lands this solidly in the top.



Gilmore Girls, “Love, Daisies, and Troubadours” (season 1)

Lorelai is becoming seriously involved with Max just as she finds herself getting in the middle of another relationship when Luke's girlfriend Rachel accuses him of being in love with Lorelai. Meanwhile, Rory has her own romance drama and tries to work up the courage to win Dean back.

Why it makes the cut: Don’t get us wrong, we 100% support Luke and Lorelai as the one true paring of this series, but Max’s proposal with the room filled with daisies gets us everytime.



Modern Family, “En Grande” (season 1)

Why it makes the cut: The whole family comes out to support Manny's newfound interest - fencing. It turns out he's quite masterful in the sport, but Jay's proud enthusiasm triggers an old childhood wound for Mitchell. Meanwhile Phil is determined to find where Luke's hidden talents lie.

Why it makes the cut: Claire and Mitchell’s reenactment of their pairs figure skating routine from their childhood team “Fire and Nice”. Laughed. So. Hard.



Community, “Comparative Religion” (season 1)

Shirley throws a Christmas party for the gang and much to her surprise learns her classmates come from various religious backgrounds. Meanwhile, Jeff is challenged by the school bully and faces the reality that he may fail Spanish 101.

Why it makes the cut: Best version of Silent Night ever:

Sensible night, appropriate night.

Snow on ground, left and right.

Round yon purchase of decorative things.

Tolerant rewrite of carols to sing.

Function with relative ease,

Function with relative ease.

Better Off Ted, “Racial Sensitivity” (season 1)

Veridian comes up with an extremely insensitive solution to a problem with its motion sensors that do not detect black people, and Ted finds out that Linda now has a boyfriend who is extremely likable.

Why it makes the cut: First the motion sensors don’t detect Lem because he is black and he gets stuck in the lab all night, then he gets stuck in the elevator with other black employees because the sensors won’t recognize him. Next the company installs special manual devices for it’s black employees only. Finally they hire minimum wage white dudes to follow all of the black employees around everywhere they go so that new sensors will recognize them. To top it all off we’re treated with a Veridian Dynamics commercial celebrating cultural diversity, but it shows all only white people ending with the phrase “Diversity, Good for us!”



Chuck, “Chuck Versus The Ring” (season 2)

Chuck is given an opportunity to rid himself of the Intersect but will have to protect Ellie from Fulcrum on her wedding day.

Why it makes the cut: The greatest fight scene in the series accompanied by the dulcet tones of Jeffster performing Mr. Roboto, which is topped only by the final line of the episode “Guys, I know Kung Fu.”



Glee, “Acafellas” (season 1)

Will forms the Acafellas, an all-male acapella vocal group, and spends more time building his own confidence than he does with the glee club. In Will’s absence, the glee club decides to hire a well-known choreographer to help coach them to Nationals. Meanwhile, Mercedes is bitten by the love bug, but her feelings aren’t reciprocated. When the Acafellas perform for the P.T.A., they get a surprise visit backstage from Josh Groban.

Why it makes the cut: Who’s Josh Groban? Kill yourself!!!! I don’t know much about you, Josh Groban, but after this episode I know that you love a blousy alcoholic – and that is enough for me. Also the above pictured thumbs up cake given to the guy who just had both of his thumbs cut off in a shop accident . . . I am still laughing.

That makes ten! We’re holding a bonus eleventh spot open in honor of The Office, but we don’t feel qualified to pick an episode since we are only at the beginning of the third season. Personal favorites so far have included “The Injury” (season 2) and “Gay Witch Hunt” (season 3).

Keep an eye out for our top episodes in Dramas, as well as a very special category!

SYTYCD ~ And America's Favorite Dancer is . . .

Well, here we are at the end of what was undoubtedly the most awkward season of So You Think You Can Dance ever. In case Tuesday’s episode didn’t make you uncomfortable enough (with only being 1 hour long, having too many dancers, no solos, and no group or all boy or girl numbers), last night should really have fulfilled your “what just happened to my SYTYCD” quota.

Highlights included faulty microphones, a bewildered Cat when her babies weren’t reporting to the stage on cue, an injured Russell with the disappointing loss of several live performances (we had to watch video of the originals instead), awkward guest judges who we haven’t seen since auditions, and 4 musical performers that we had no interest in watching (JLo’s was lip sync hell, but she does at least get props for using girls from current and past seasons of SYTYCD). Was it the universe’s way of saying “DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT DOING A FALL SEASON AGAIN. EVER.”? Methinks so.

Somehow amongst all the crazy they managed to name a winner. America’s favorite dancer of season 6 is . . .

Russell!!!

We admit that we were heavily rooting for Jakob or Kathryn, but we’re not totally bummed about Russell. We liked him from the beginning, and his versatility outside krumping was really impressive. But who else was surprised when he won and suddenly stopped leaning on people to begin jumping around and celebrating? We were so worried about him all episode and though that he was really really seriously injured. I guess the adrenaline kicked in?

Here’s the skinny on the injury straight from Russell to Eonline:

“I went to jump back up on stage during my three-man piece and I came down on my leg wrong. It got really numb and swollen and felt like something had gotten sprained.”

Like the rest of us, Russell was also bummed that he couldn’t perform for the rest of the finale.

"It hurt, but I was fine enough to walk, so I thought I could dance. After they tested me backstage, they told me I couldn't dance. That was the worst feeling because my family came all the way from Boston."

Well, at least his family got to hear his victory speech live and in person.

“Yeah! Yeah! I just want to thank everybody so much. This means everything to me. I’ve been dreaming of this ever since I was born. I just thank the judges so much for their criticism — you guys make me better as a person, as a dancer… I want to thank my parents, my mother, my father, my girlfriend’s over there, my little brother. I love all y’all.I messed my knee up… I mean my leg up.”

Throw in a few“God”s and a ripped t-shirt, and Season 6 was officially wrapped. We’re looking forward to SYTYCD’s return in the summer (so long as it stays in the summer – you hear that Fox?).

Golden Globes Nominations ~ All Things TV

I’m ashamed to admit that the nominations for Golden Globes completely snuck up on me this year! Glee leads the pack in TV with 4 nominations. To be fair, I think the world would have imploded if Jane Lynch hadn’t been nominated. As usual I hate the Golden Globes for smushing together the drama, comedy and miniseries for the supporting categories. How dare they make us try to choose between Michael Emerson and NPH? It’s simply cruel. There are certainly shows we would have like to have seen recognized which are noticeably missing (Fringe, Castle, Chuck, Community, to name a few), but over all there’s a lot to be happy about.

So not, without further ado, here are the nominations for all of the TV Categories (after all, this is a TV Blog!)

* = shows that we watch

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
  Big Love (HBO) (we are seasons behind, so I can't say we "watch" anymore)
*Dexter (Showtime)
*House (Fox)
*Mad Men (AMC)
*True Blood (HBO)

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
*30 Rock (NBC)
  Entourage (HBO)
*Glee (FOX)
*Modern Family (ABC)
 The Office (NBC) (we don't really watch, but we really plan too!)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
  Simon Baker, The Mentalist
*Michael C. Hall, Dexter
*Jon Hamm, Mad Men
*Hugh Laurie, House
*Bill Paxton, Big Love

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES –
DRAMA
  Glenn Close, Damages
*January Jones, Mad Men
  Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
*Anna Paquin, True Blood
  Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES –
COMEDY OR MUSICAL
*Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
  Steve Carell, The Office
  David Duchovny, Californication
  Thomas Jane, Hung
*Matthew Morrison, Glee

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES –
COMEDY OR MUSICAL
  Toni Collette, United States of Tara (we watched part of the first season and liked it)
  Courteney Cox, Cougar Town
  Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
*Tina Fey, 30 Rock
*Lea Michele, Glee

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
*Michael Emerson, Lost
*Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother
  William Hurt, Damages
*John Lithgow, Dexter
  Jeremy Piven, Entourage

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A
SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
  Jane Adams, Hung
  Rose Byrne, Damages
*Jane Lynch, Glee
  Janet McTeer, Into the Storm
  Chloe Sevigny, Big Love

BEST MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
  Georgia O’Keefe (Lifetime)
*Grey Gardens (HBO)
  Into the Storm (HBO)
  Little Dorrit (PBS)
  Taking Chance (HBO)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION
PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
  Kevin Bacon, Taking Chance
  Kenneth Branagh, Wallander: One Step Behind
  Chiwetel Ejiofor, Endgame
  Brendan Gleeson, Into the Storm
  Jeremy Irons, Georgia O’Keefe

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION
PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
  Joan Allen, Georgia O’Keefe
*Drew Barrymore, Grey Gardens
*Jessica Lange, Grey Gardens
  Anna Paquin, The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler
  Sigourney Weaver, Prayers for Bobby

How I Met Your Mother ~ Last Cigarette Ever

This week HIMYM got away with something that no other sitcom could ever think about doing. It was revealed that the gang have all been smokers to various degrees throughout the entire time we’ve known them. Sure, we’ve seen an occasional cigar, but actual hardcore addicted cigarette smoking? How could we have missed this? Simple: because Ted didn’t want his kids to know. Pure genius. Despite the title, this wasn’t anyone last cigarette ever - but they do all quite eventually. Robin’s smoking montage killed me (while brushing her teeth and doing yoga – awesome). Ted and Barney played the perfect casual smokers turned addicts. Lily’s smoker voice, supplied by the unmistakable Harvey Fierstein, was priceless. We also met Don Frank, Robin’s new co-anchor who is a total tool. They’ll be dating within 3 months. Eww.

What is an episode these days without a little time travel? Ok, this one was purely Marshal’s fantasy (unlike during “Window”, which I am taking to be completely true). He imagines going back in time and beating the crap out of 13 year old him for taking that first cigiarette. How is it that 13 year old Marshal looked like, well a 13 year old, but 15 year old Marshal looks just like present day Marshal with a rat tail and some zits? 14 was a rough year I suppose.

A couple of quotes:

Barney: What do you think cigarettes are doing right now? Do you think they're thinking of us?

Barney: I am not a smoker. I only smoke in certain situations: post-coital, when I'm with Germans, sometimes those two overlaps, coital, birthdays, to annoy my mom, pre-coital, on a sailboat, the day The Mets are mathematically eliminated every year, and, of course, wait for it, cause lord knows I have, pregnancy scares.
Ted: Why are you smoking right now?
Barney: I'm always pre-coital, Ted.

Thursday Comedy Christmas Spectacular: 30 Rock and Community

30 Rock ~ Secret Santa

Tina Fey got to lay low a little this week, which is fair enough after the Dealbreaker episode (the crying out of her mouth is still killing me). Nevertheless she still got to have some good moments, mostly trying and failing over and over to find a present for Jack. Ultimately she delivered with the best present possible – a bomb threat to Penn Station which forced Jack’s high school crush (Julianne Moore) to have to stay in New York a little while longer. Awwwww. What did people think of Julianne’s Boston accent? Was it wicked pisser, or too over the top? I’m not native enough to know, but it worked fine for me. Alec Baldwin’s made me uncomfortable though for some reason.

Hey, look who got some major play this episode! Cheyenne Jackson! Not only did he get to have some great lines, but he got to sing (or as we prefer to call it, he Cheyenne Jacksoned all over the place). His tone death duet with Jenna was hilarious and sweet. Dear 30 Rock, please don’t make us go another 2 episodes without seeing him! We start to worry!

Top quotes from the night:

“I'm sorry, are you being sarcastic? It's hard for me to tell. I'm Canadian and we don't have a big Jewish population.” ~ Danny

“That’s what religion is, K-Fed! Just a bunch of made-up rules to manipulate people! Why don’t Catholics eat meat on Fridays? I’ll tell you why. Because the Pope owns Long John Silver’s!” ~ Tracy

“Aww, sharkfarts!” ~ Liz

Community ~ Comparative Religion

I think it’s fair to say that I laughed harder at this episode than anything else on TV this week (so far – we still have some catching up o do). From the overly politically correct Dean to Shirley’s shock and dismay that the rest of their group wasn’t Catholic, the funny kept on coming. Anthony Michael Hall was an added bonus playing a super douchey bully that picks on Abed and then sets his sights on Jeff, resulting in one epic throw down. I loved Shiley’s insistence that Jeff couldn't fight because it would ruin Christmas, and the constant reminder that it was only December 10th.

Top visuals:

• Shirley shoving Annie’s menorah in the Christmas tree

• Annie gingerly placing baby Jesus in the Christmas tree

• The camera panning the room during Shirley’s rewrite of Silent Night, zooming in on everyone’s battle scars

• The giant menorah on the back of Annie’s sweater.

Quotes:

“Happy last day before winter break. Time to visit our loved ones. Some of you will travel as far as 3 miles! Don't forget to visit our winter wonderland in the quad where were giving away up to six semester of free classes. Wow, what's that sound? Is that the tip tapping of secular boots on the roof? That must be another sign that it 'tis the season because rumor has it that non-denominational Mr. Winter is on his way to the student lounge.” ~ the Dean

“Ha, ha, ha… Merry Happy!” ~ the Dean

Shirley: I made you all a little gift because you're like my new family.
Annie: WWBJD?
Pierce: If it stands for "What Would Billy Joel Do?", I'll tell you right now, he'd write another crappy song.
Troy: Yeah, in your face Billy Joel.
[Troy mouths who is that to Annie, who mouths back I don't know]
Shirley: It stands for "What Would Baby Jesus Do?"

Bully: Give me a winter doodle.
Jeff: If you're trying to be menacing, maybe you shouldn't call the cookie by its name.

Britta: The real reason men fight is to release their pent-up gayness.
Pierce: That guy wasn't gay, he had a mustache.

Troy: First time I got punched in the face, I was like oh no, then I was like this is a story.
Jeff: And a good one.

Britta: Then you move to Vermont...
Troy: I'm sick of you saying that fighting is gay.
Abed: You know she has a point, in boxing you fight with a purse and a belt.

Shirley: You think religion is stupid.
Jeff: No, no. To me, religion is like Paul Rudd. I see the appeal and I would never take it away from anyone, but I would also never stand in line for it.

Annie: Shirley, you are a guilt machine
Pierce: And annie knows a thing or two about guilt, am I right Jew?
Annie: Say the whole word.
Pierce: Jewey?

And last but certainly not least, Shirley’s carol to the tune of Silent Night:

Sensible night, appropriate night.

Snow on ground, left and right.

Round yon purchase of decorative things.

Tolerant rewrite of carols to sing.

Function with relative ease,

Function with relative ease.

Glee ~ Sectionals

We’ve known that this was coming for a while now, but still . . really, FOX? You’re making us wait until April for new episodes? I still can’t wrap my brain around this. Stupid American Idol. Well, at least they were good enough to give us one hell of a “fall finale” to tide us over. This episode really tied up all of the loose ends from this half of the season, and in a way that didn’t feel too forced or rushed. Well played, folks. In fact, if Glee hadn’t been picked up past their original 13 episode order (can you imagine?), it would have even made a passable series ending. So I applaud their foresight. However, if we are stuck with this split season crap next year (which wouldn’t surprise me) I will pitch a fit.

Moving on to the actual episode, there was so much to love! Emma and Will's kiss at the end was wonderful and so fulfilling. It made my little fan girl heart squee and reminded us that these two are H-O-T hot together (flash back to the chalk-on-nose scene if you need a reminder). Also, I love that she ended up taking the kids to Sectionals and that she got all hardcore on the cheater teachers from the other school.

Rachel caught on to the Puck/Finn/Quinn baby daddy drama (props to her for being the only one to actually figure it out on her own!) and revealed the secret to Finn, who consequently beat the crap out of Puck and quit Glee Club right before sectionals. Oh No! What will they do? Don’t worry, a rousing “sometimes it sucks to be special” speech from Will later on in the episode will send him off to save the day (in Will’s car, nonetheless). Is this the beginning of a new Finn? Or as the EW recap termed it, the end of Finnocence? Side note: Quinn is going to be like gigantically pregnant by the time Regionals rolls around, isn’t she?

Could the judging panel for sectionals have beeen any more awesome? Candace Dystra — 5th-runner up Miss Ohio 2006 (Oh hey there, Mrs. Newlin!), news anchor Rod Remington (who broke Sue’s little heart – emphasis on the little), and Donna Landries (disgruntled Ohio Vice Comptroller who hadn’t heard the term show choir until 3 hours earlier when her boss forced her to fill in for him). That room was pretty much full of win.

Can you believe that Figgins actually stood up to Sue and suspended her? You go, sir! Of course now Sue is filled with more hatred and rage than ever, which can only mean awesomeness for the viewing audience.

How cute was their last number when they did little dance tributes to all of the performances from season so far? I need to watch that about 10 more times to fully process everything.

And yes, Brittany did actually just semi-out her and Santana . . . so that happened? We're hoping that wasn’t just some throw away line, because it sure got a lot of people’s attention!

Okay, that’s enough rambling. On to what we are all really here for – Quotes and GIFS!!!!

“I say we lock Rachel up until after sectionals. I volunteer my basement.” ~ Kurt

''Sex is not dating. ~ Santana
''If it were, Santana and I would be dating.'' ~ Brittany

''She's the one they made me talk to when they found out I was keeping that bird in my locker.'' ~ Brittany about Emma

“I can't wait to see you sing that song at Sectionals. You're amazing, Mercedes, and you deserve it. I'm going to hug you now.” ~ Rachel

''We just pushed it back a few hours. Now it doesn't have to happen in broad daylight.'' ~ Emma about her wedding.

''I fully understand if you want to be beat me up. If you can just try to avoid my nose.'' ~ Rachel

''The kids are completely freaking out, Artie keeps ramming himself into the wall, and I'm pretty sure that Jacob Ben Israel just wet himself.” ~ Emma

''Bring it on, William. I am reasonably confident that you will be adding revenge to the long list of things you're no good at. Right next to being married... running a high school glee club, and finding a hairstyle that doesn't make you look like a lesbian. Love you like a sister.'' ~ Sue, ending by kissing her fingers, and bringing them to Will’s lips.

''Oh, what happened to the white guy with the Jheri curl?'' ~ Eve (whatever her character was named).

“Okay. I'm just gonna come out and say it. This is a singing competition. I don't know how those deaf kids got in. They weren't singing, they were like honking and everyone was crying and I was like, ‘Get off the stage. You're terrible and you're making me super uncomfortable.’” ~ Candace Dystra (judge)

''I don't understand what a glee club is, and I have never even heard the term show choir until about three hours ago, when my boss told me he had tickets to NASCAR and I had to fill in at this fool event.'' ~ Donna Landries (judge)

''Really, one blink from you, Will, and I would have been out the door.” ~ Emma

''Get ready for the ride of your life, Will Schuester — you are about to board the Sue Sylvester Express. Destination: HORROR!'' ~ Sue

(Sorry about the completely random order of the GIFS)