Far be it for this TV Addict to rain on the ‘Comedy Night Done Right’ parade. But SCRUBS aside, one thing was abundantly clear when it came to last night’s return of 30 ROCK and THE OFFICE. The members of the Writer’s Guild of America weren’t messing around. Pencils down meant pencils down.
When did THE OFFICE turn into CURBED YOUR ENTHUSIASM? Michael and Jan’s dinner party from hell was quite possibly one of the most horrifying, not to mention cringe-inducing half hours of comedy I’ve ever experienced. Sure, there were a few funny moments. Particularly Jan dancing to Hunter’s CD, Michael’s $200! Plasma TV, the video camera in the bedroom, Michael’s ‘bed’, Jan’s candle business, Dwight’s ‘date’… Okay, so there were more than a few funny moments. But there were also long stretches of awkwardness. And while most fans undoubtedly reveled in the awkwardness that was last night’s dinner party from hell. This TV Addict wasn’t one of them. To me ‘Comedy Night Done Right’ should have me genuinely laughing, not curled up in the fetal position, fearful of what will happen next.
Moving on to 30 ROCK, it’s not that it was a bad episode, I just expected more after a five month hiatus. Specifically more Jenna and Tracy, more MILF island [hilarious!] and far less Kenneth. Kenneth, in the grand tradition of Sookie, Deanna Troi and Kramer work best in small doses.
Three other things that bugged me about the episode. Liz was totally not herself allowing Kenneth to take the blame for the leak. The ending with Jack knowing all along that Liz was responsible was ridiculously predictable. And the Pete subplot, seriously!?! Getting his hand stuck in the snack machine was funnier on THE SIMPSONS and SCRUBS five years ago.
Agree, disagree, put on your critic hat and post away. 
