Brooklyn Nine-Nine

After tearfully finishing the series finale of Parks and Recreation, I needed to immediately watch another show to pick me up out of the post-finale sadness. I turned to Brooklyn Nine-Nine, a sitcom co-created by Daniel Goor and Michael Shur (Shur co-produced Parks and Rec in addition to The Office). So I figured this would be a good choice. As far as pilots go, it definitely caught my interest.

The sitcom follows smart but immature NYPD Detective Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg) and his fellow detectives plus conflict with the new commanding officer Ray Holt (Andre Braugher). The pilot opens with a very close up & melodramatic monologue from Peralta. Even though the opening is meant to be comical on Peralta's part, it still drew me in because there was dramatic music, a close-up shot to show intense emotion, and even some slow-motion movement. It was a quote from another movie, but nonetheless it made me want to keep watching. Peralta's monologue is cut off by his partner Detective Amy Santiago (Melissa Fumero) trying to solve the crime, and changes to a single-camera shooting method with many fast zooms. (very similar to The Office and Parks and Recreation styles). Throughout the episode, Peralta finds that all of his work methods are under scrutiny by Holt, including, but not limited to, his lack of cooperation to wear a tie, slightly offensive comments, and method of capturing criminals.

The secondary characters (the other detectives) are introduced by the Sergeant; there is b-roll of the character doing something ridiculous while he narrates the basic characteristics of their character. They include Detective Rosa Diaz (Stephanie Beatriz), Detective Charles Boyle (Joe Lo Truglio), and Gina Linetti (Chelsea Peretti). They are all very funny, have great chemistry with the main characters, and contribute a lot to the story.

The seeds of other funny storylines have also been planted, such as the rivalry between Peralta and Santiago. They have a bet for who can make more arrests; if she makes more arrests then he has to give her his nice car, and if he makes more arrests then she must go on a date with him. There is clearly a lot of sexual tension between them, so I suspect some sort of relationship will develop. It was also revealed later in the episode that the new captain is gay, so future episodes will probably lean on that fact heavily. 

I really enjoyed the pilot, and will most likely watch more episodes in the near future. (Especially since Andy Samberg is one of my favorite comedy actors).

Brooklyn Nine-Nine has been a hit so far and has recieved very positive reviews and awards! At the 2014 Golden Globes it won for Best Television Series (Comedy) and for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series (Andy Samberg). It has also just been renewed for a third season! 

You can catch episodes of the series on Hulu.

Parks and Recs' Mocumentary Style

My favorite comedy show by far is the sitcom, "Parks and Recreation" starring Amy Poehler and many other hilarious actors. The style that is used in Parks and Rec is "mockumentary" and the cinematographer, Michael Trim, conducts it in such a way that is so entertaining and flows beautifully. Many people compare the style of the show to "The Office," but I believe that "Parks and Recreation" exceeds the cinematography of "The Office" and makes it smoother and funnier.

The shots are sometimes rough and shaky, but that is an aspect of the mockumentary style that really makes it come to life. Throughout every episode there are several times where characters break the fourth wall and stare straight at the camera. The actress who stands out the most when doing this is Aubrey Plaza who plays the character of April Ludgate. In many scenes she makes hilarious faces and reacts to things that other characters say by breaking the fourth wall and it adds to the humor of the show perfectly.

The excellent zooms, pans, and various other camera movements follow the characters in a way that is intriguing and entertaining. There is never a dull moment because the camera is basically always moving. "Parks and Rec" has come a long way since its pilot episode, which was not the strongest, to their seventh and final season where I'm going to bawl my eyes out because this show became a television phenomenon. The mockumentary style was a perfect way to go about filming this series, and it really makes it easier not only to connect with characters but to be involved with the various different plots. The writing for this show is absolutely hysterical and the style of it keeps viewers entertained for hours on end. I highly recommend that everyone take some time out of their days and watch this show.

The Office(s)

I'm a sucker for sitcoms, especially sitcoms done mockumentary style.  Shows like Parks and Recreation, Modern Family, and Trailer Park Boys are among some of my favorite mockumentary-style sitcoms.  One of television's greatest sitcoms, The Office, also took advantage of the comedic spin this style offers shows. Michael Scott (played by Steve Carell) is a regional manager at Dunder Mifflin, a paper company in Scranton, PA.  The show follows him and his employees through their day-to-day lives in and sometimes outside of the office.

Over the years, there has been much debate between TV fans over the "better" version of The Office: the US or the UK version?  Perhaps it's because I first watched the US version, but I prefer The Office: US over The Office: UK.  This is not to say one is better than the other.  They're both excellent shows, and the UK version contains (in my opinion) better acting and a more realistic setting/reactions. Despite this, I find myself drawn to the American version.  They illustrate a more present/in-your-face type of humor, versus more subtle comedy in the UK version. I enjoy the silliness of the characters; Michael Scott is quirky, ignorant, and sometimes downright stupid.  His employees have contrasting personalities all over the board, from Angela's strict charisma to Dwight's nerdiness to Kevin's idiocy.  In comparison to the UK version, the characters in the US version are much more dynamic and exaggerated. This creates hilarious dilemmas and causes ago clashes within the office. 


While both shows have almost identical settings, characters, and story-lines, they're completely different in terms of tone. The Office: US hooks viewers by layering moments of sincerity within the humorous structure.  The show transitions focus to the characters and their personal lives as the seasons progress.  We follow Pam Beasley's love life as she struggles to choose between Roy Anderson and Jim Halpert; we watch Jim build up his dream business; we see Michael obsessively strive to create friendships and relationships.

The last episode aired almost a year ago, on May 16, 2013, and The Office: US unfortunately came to end.  Luckily, Netflix has all 9 seasons ready to be watched!  It also has the UK version of the show. The length of The Office: US series would make one believe that is was the better (or at least more popular) show, but that's for you to decide for yourself.  The first season of both versions of the show are nearly identical (literally -- script, blocking, framing, etc. is all the same).  Try watching the different versions back-to-back and you'll see the differences in the tones of the show.  Which version do you prefer?

                                         The Office: US cast                   The Office: UK cast

A Changing Steve Carell

My favorite comedic actor, Steve Carell, has recently taken a completely different path in his acting career. Steve is most know for his ridiculous, embarrassing humor is films like The 40 Year Old Virgin, and television show The Office. But this time, he is taking on more drama, and apparently doing an incredible job doing it. The last time I saw Steve act in something somewhat dramatic was Little Miss Sunshine, where he played Frank Ginsberg, an uncle who recently attempted suicide. Apparently Steve's dramatic acting has been thriving in the oscar community in his recent role in Bennett Millers Foxcatcher. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Steve is a highly regarded candidate to be the winner of best supporting or lead in the next year or two. This new project he has signed on to The Priority List, where he will play a teacher dying of cancer attempting to go on a road to connect with his students while making the most of his last days. This is a very different Steve Carell that we may be seeing very soon, one that can potentially be named best actor. Hey, if the main character in How To Loose A Guy in 10 Days can do it, why can't Steve?

Tina Fey's New Comedy

Tina Fey is at it again. The comedy genius, known for her funny impersonations on SNL, her role as Liz Lemon on 30 Rock, and writer and teacher in the movie Mean Girls, has signed a contract with NBC for a new single-camera comedy show called Tooken.   Written by Tina Fey and her 30-Rock collaborator, Robert Carlock, right after ending their Emmy winning comedy ended its last season,  they got together to make this new series.  Its going to center around a woman who escapes from a doomsday cult and starts her life over in New York City, where the show is going to be shot.  Tina will be playing the role of a character ,of course, as well as Ellie Kemper, who many know from the very popular, very funny show, The Office.

“Tina and Robert have created a new signature comedy for us that is audacious, emotional, and clever,” said NBC Chairman Robert Greenblatt. “While tapping into very relatable themes, there isn’t anything like this anywhere else on television.

As a big Tina Fey fan I am very excited to see what new comedy she will be bringing to the table. Tooken is expected to make its debut in the Fall of next year. I Can’t wait!!

Addiction to The Office

An addiction is defined as a persistent, compulsive dependence on a behavior or substance. For me, this substance is The Office. I spend most nights before going to sleep watching this show, but now it's getting to the point where I skip class jus to watch a few episodes. (Don't worry Arturo never your class). I even had a dream about The Office. 

I love this show because of the uniqueness and sense of humor this show has. The show is filmed in a single-camera set-up and shot sort of like a mocumentary. There are "confessionals" where the character's tell the cameras their personal opinions or thoughts about a subject, or just tell a story. For me these confessionals make the show. There will be cutaways during these to demonstrate what the character is talking about, or the facial expressions will show all that needs to be said. The characters on this show obviously are aware that the cameras are there, and the slight looks they give to the cameras directly make this show work so well. 

Although the U.S. version of the Office is a recreation of a british show, there have been many shows that base their camera style and show set-up like the Office. Currently, Parks and Rec is a very popular show that uses the same single-camera set-up with confessionals. Clearly this style seems to work, and I'm sure new shows are in the making working off of this style. Another popular show, although cancelled but being brought back next year with a similar style is Arrested Development. This show does not have confessionals but uses the single-camera method that makes you feel right there with the family. The Office is a great show for a good laugh, although there isn't much depth or complex stories. 

I'm a little obsessed with Parks and Rec...

I know I wrote about another NBC comedy, Chuck, last week, but I just had to do it again. Sorry. This past weekend I spent some time getting caught up on Parks and Recreation, and let me just say, it was a really good decision. Parks and Rec is shot in the super popular single-camera cinéma vérité style similar to The Office and Modern Family.

Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope

Parks and Rec centers on Leslie Knope, the deputy director of the Parks and Recreation department in a small Indiana town called Pawnee. Despite being happy at her seemingly boring and uneventful job, Leslie has high political aspirations. She is very optimistic and perky and she works extremely hard to keep the department from falling into ruin.

I think one of the very best things about this show is the amazing ensemble cast. Every single member of the cast adds so much value to the content, and they're really what makes the show. Nick Offerman as the stoic and hilarious Ron Swanson is by far my favorite character. While he pretends to dislike his job and his co-workers, it's very obvious that he enjoys his time there. His relationship with the intern/secretary, April, is definitely one of the highlights of the show. The similar way in which they respond to the craziness of the other characters combined with their excellent use of sarcasm really add a lot of comedy to the show.

Nick Offerman as Ron Swanson

Additionally, the rest of the department is composed of Tom Haverford (played by Aziz Ansari) whose hilarious business antics offer a constant form of amusement, Jerry Gergich (played by Jim O'Heir) who is constantly picked on by the rest of the characters, similarly to Toby on The Office, to name a few.

Overall, Parks and Rec follows along the lines of several NBC comedies, however, it does so in a way that makes it unique while still being one of the best written comedies on television. If you do decide to give Parks and Recreation a try, do yourself a favor and go beyond the first couple episodes in season one. If you do, you'll be rewarded with both a great comedy and you'll get to see Louis C.K. in his reoccurring guest role, which is really wonderful and hilarious. I hope you decide to give it a chance!

(And if you need any more incentive, here's a blooper reel from the show...)

NBC and Chuck

I know a lot of you probably enjoy NBC comedies. The Office, Parks and Recreation, and Community always seem to be mentioned when you ask a college kid what their favorite shows are. And while NBC as a network may have some issues (just ask Jack Powers about NBC if you ever get the chance) their comedies are almost always seriously underrated.

One of my favorite NBC comedies though, is Chuck.

Chuck is about a computer geek named Chuck, who accidentally downloads a bunch of CIA secrets into his brain. In order to protect him from various bad guys and criminals who don't want their identities compromised, the NSA and CIA send two of their own agents, Sara and John, to protect Chuck.

While it sounds like just another Get Smart spy-comedy, it really is a great show. Zachary Levi has excellent comedic timing, and all the characters, true to the NBC comedy way are diverse and amusing, especially Chuck's best friend, Morgan, and his sister and brother-in-law (nicknamed Captain Awesome) are equally amusing.

Despite being such a great and well-made comedy, Chuck was almost cancelled after its fourth season in 2009. However, the shows famously dedicated fan base put together a petition that got over 100,000 members. The petition, combined with a sponsorship from Subway restaurants, led to NBC renewing the show for a final, thirteen episodes.

Personally, I really love Chuck. It is such a funny, well-put-together show, and it is the type of show where you can sit down and watch one episode and then somehow mysteriously watch eight more and not realize how it happened. If you like NBC comedies, and you like good shows, I highly recommend Chuck.

Goodbye Michael Scott

For anyone who didn't watch the Office last night, it was Steve Carell's last episode. The episode featured the likes of Will Ferrell, Will Arnet, and a number of other guest stars. I really enjoyed the final episode because it was really different from what a normal episode of The Office is like. Yes, there was humor but it was also really sad. I think Steve Carell did an amazing job at showing the emotion of leaving your co-workers that you've been with for a long time. I also enjoyed the last episode because you get to see how much everyone loved Michael. They always criticize his antics during the episodes cause he's ridiculous but in this episode you get to see what everyone really thought about him. In the link is a review of the episode. I don't know why I put it up there but it's up there.

Green Screen Background image for Golden Doorknob

I built this background today for our GDK from about 5 different pictures by clipping out buildings, expanding skies, adding the river and foreground buildings. This is going to be the background for our green screen shot when the CEO is looking out his office window. I added clouds and also a few layers and blurs to make the image look like its through glass. I'm going to work on animating the smoke some more and adding a flock of birds.

clip from The Office

I found a clip of what inspired me to take this class. The entire episode is worth watching if you can find it