What is it about Thursday night, NBC, and comedy that go so well together? The Peacock Network has had a strangle hold on Thursday nights since I can remember.
Back in the ’80s, it was the Cosby Show. I think that was when it all started, but it may go back even farther. Then came Cheers. When I was in college, Thursday night frolicking could not begin until 9:30 because we were all watching our good friends at Cheers until then.
It seems like it always has been that way. As one show wanes, the next comes along to pick up the slack. In recent years, My Name is Earl started strong but faded quickly. But not to worry, Thursday was still “must see TV” because The Office was just getting warmed up. Now, as that star begins to fade, not one but two new comedies really are hitting their stride.
Parks and Rec started off as The Office in a different setting but has come into its own this season. The focus has changed from Leslie (the main character in Parks and Rec) as the female equivalent of Michael (the main character from The Office) to more of an ensemble cast dealing with life in the public sector in the small town of Pawnee, Indiana.
This year’s biggest surprise to me is NBC’s latest entry into Thursday night comedy, Community. Community follows a diverse study group at a community college through their various misadventures in higher learning. The central character is Joel McHale, of The Soup fame (inasmuch as hosting a show on E! can be counted as fame), portraying a disbarred lawyer mandated to go back and get a real degree. He and his classmates in a Spanish study group form the nucleus of a show that pushes the boundaries of good taste but consistently delivers big laughs.
So, as sad as I am to see The Office on the downslide, I know that I can’t scratch Thursday night off my watching list because NBC is already serving up its replacement.
