An Orangechair Plea to NBC

BY: ORANGECHAIR

There are always rumors in the television world, whether it’s what has been cancelled, what is being renewed, what is coming back after a long absence for another season or what new shows are in the works. For being as obsessed with television as I am, I try my best not to pay attention to the rumors because it is often very difficult to determine which are true and which are not. Lately however, I have heard a few of the same rumors from a number of different sources about NBC’s Thursday night comedy lineup. These rumors, which I pray are not true, have been talked about so much that I feel the need to make my own personal plea to NBC about them.

The driving rumor behind this post states that one of the Big 4 (that’s right, my Big 4 doesn’t have shit to do with sports) NBC comedy shows, Community, Parks and Recreation, the Office and 30 Rock, is going to be cancelled. The rumor then goes on to state that NBC is trying to decide between Community of Parks and Recs as the show to be cancelled. Are you kidding me? Of the four shows I listed, those are the two that I would keep beyond a shadow of a doubt. The youngest of the four mentioned shows, Community has just really hit its stride. Every episode is full of pop culture references and seems to be an adventure in itself. The Troy, Abed, Annie trio that has formed is enough in itself to keep the show going but nearly every moment of the show is brilliant and clever. Parks and Recs on the other hand hit its stride last season and is still going strong. Initially only being added to revive the show, Adam Scott and Rob Lowe not only brought a dying show back to life but they made it their home. The show not only has some of the greatest characters on television right now, Ron Swanson and Chris Trager, but it also manages to be heartfelt and hilarious at the same time. Why NBC would consider taking such great characters off the air I will never know.

Now, if we believe this rumor is true, the fact remains that one of the Big 4 need to be cancelled so if not Community or Parks and Recs then what? I believe that the first of the Big 4 that needs to be cancelled or ended is the Office. Gasp! Blasphemy! Traitor! Office fans, give me a minute before grapping your flaming torches and pitchforks. Odds are if you’re reading this I’m as big of an Office fan as you are, if not bigger. I’ve seen every episode of the Office and have loved pretty much every minute of it, even this past season without Michael Scott. I think the Office needs to come to an end simply because I love it so much. Nothing ruins a television show more than watching it get run into the ground. I don’t want to see that happen to my beloved Office. We have had eight great seasons of laughs and at this point in time, going for too many more would just be greedy. Eventually, the show would lose what makes it so special and instead of having part with it, we will have to watch it die. I don’t know about you but I prefer a fond but sad farewell to watching a death any day of the week.

I do not want the Office to be cancelled in the sense that it is ripped from the air this instant. I want there to be one more season where the show ends and leaves audiences satisfied. This could pose a problem if NBC absolutely has to cancel something before the next season starts but I really don’t want to see Parks and Recs go. There is an argument to be made for Community being cancelled now that creator Dan Harmon has left (I don’t think by choice) the show but that is another post for another time. I think instead of cancelling one of the Big 4, NBC should focus on making this season a great but final season for the Office, ending everything with Holly and Michael’s wedding (once again another post for another time).

Well, there’s my response to these wayward rumors, now it’s your turn to tell me what you think. Do you think I’m crazy or do you love the possibly cancelled shows as much as I do? Most importantly, if you’re sure that I’m wrong about these rumors, let me know because then we don’t have to keep worry about them. If not, please NBC, keep some of your best shows alive.

An Orangechair Plea to NBC #2 and #3 soon to follow

Funniest Moment of the Week: Monday February 30th to Sunday February 5th

BY: ORANGECHAIR

While watching Parks and Recreation I often find myself wondering how they possibly continue to make Ron Swanson funnier. I feel like every new episode gives us a new, hilarious Ron Swanson scene that becomes my new favorite Swanson moment. A week later a new episode comes out and I have yet another new favorite moment. Well, this week Ron Swanson’s hilarious moment gives Parks and Recs its first funniest moment of the week.

This week, Parks and Recs aired their Valentine’s Day themed episode. The episode features lonely, single Ann, a Valentine’s Day mixer, a depressed Chris Trager, Orin (creepy), Ann and Tom on a date (WHAT????) buy most importantly, riddles. To figure out where he is supposed to meet Leslie for their Valentine’s Day evening, Leslie has left Ben a series of 20 to 30 elaborate riddles to solve. Enlisting the help of Andy (because April hates Valentine’s Day) and the seemingly begrudging Ron, Ben spends the episode traveling across Pawnee solving riddles.

At first, Ron tries to convince the camera that he hates riddles. Convincing everybody they encounter that he is only helping because he has nothing better to do, Ron can’t hide the truth for long. Ron Swanson, though he wants no one to know it, loves riddles. As they uncover more riddles, Ron grows giddy (it’s honestly the best word to describe it) with excitement. He is instrumental in solving the riddles and when the three men split-up, Ron comes back having solved the most riddles. The situation itself is highly amusing the funniest part comes with the episode closer. Ron, knowing Leslie’s tendency to give extravagant birthday presents, shyly asks for a long involved riddle for his birthday.

Close seconds for last week’s funniest moment came from the Office and 30 Rock. I thought Andy dancing to footloose was great and Jack Donaghy calling his negotiation with himself a “Jack off” had me rolling on the ground laughing. As funny as those moments were, Ron Swanson and his puzzle obsession came out victorious.