Back to Portlandia

After a December winter special, IFC's Portlandia officially kicked off their third season this past Friday night. While it's hard to review a sketch series in general, Portlandia has enough recurring characters and very specific situations to garner something to say about it. It also manages to be funny to a great number of people, despite it's very narrow subject matter, namely, that all bits revolve around the strange residents of the city of Portland, Oregon.

In the premiere hour, the Mayor (Kyle MacLachlan) has a mission for Fred (Fred Armisen) and Carrie (Carrie Brownstein). He would like them to go to Seattle, which has been poaching citizens, and recruit some of their people to move to Portland. The catch? He thinks a personal touch is needed, so Fred and Carrie should go door to door in their effort.

I've always loved MacLachlan's take on the Mayor, even when he isn't accompanied by his assistant (Sam Adams, the real life mayor), as he isn't in this episode. He seems the perfect mix of liberal hibbie and actual idea man to sort of keep Portland going, but never to push it beyond the elements that make it such a distinct place, and into the world at large. This newest project is fantastic in keeping with the themes of the series, and Fred and Carrie's willingness to take it on is perfect.

As the bit plays out in several scenes, Fred and Carrie take on the personas of Mormon missionaries. I like this because nothing in Portland ever seems entirely original, just an odd take on a thing that exists elsewhere, taking it to the extreme. Also, living in Portland and embracing the town is like a religion, so the concept works very well. It's also funny in plenty of places, such as where Fred introduces some young housemates to the "Portland invention" of the chore wheel.

I don't know why it's so enjoyable to watch Fred and Carrie play a version of themselves, but the times that they do, stripped of the utter goofiness of the other characters, are always fun.

Having never been to Portland myself, Portlandia makes me feel like I have been. It's not just a humorous series of sketches, but also a love letter to a town where the odd, lovable people are earnest and living the way they want to, uncaring about what others may think. Maybe it's not for everyone, and maybe we shouldn't be laughing at them. But there's no mean spirit present, so it's easy, rather than uncomfortable, to chuckle at.

Portlandia has some truly memorable personalities, so it's wonderful when they are brought back over and over again. In the first two half hours of this season, we revisit Peter and Nance, Malcolm and Kris, Kath and Dave, Spyke and Iris, and Toni and Candace. Each of these duos manage to stay completely unique, even when played by the same two, very talented, actors. There's also a level of comfort to find new situations for beloved favorites.

Not that Portlandia isn't accessible to newbies; it is. The structure of the show invites anyone to jump in at any point, and still laugh. But for those loyal viewers who watch week after week, the recurring people are a treat.

Doug and Claire also return. They are featured in my favorite episode of the series to date, season two's "One Moore Episode," and I love that their second appearance not only gives us more TV goodness, but also finds a way to once more, organically, stitch in the old, black Ron Moore and his wife.

Other characters not played by Fred and Carrie in the premiere include Alan (Jeff Goldblum), who now sells doilies, rather than knots, MTV video DJs, and Chloe Sevigny (Big Love, American Horror Story: Asylum) as Fred and Carrie's new roommate. This is her first appearance, but we should be seeing her quite a bit more throughout the year.

Portlandia airs Fridays at 10 p.m. ET on IFC.

Want to read some of my fiction? It's on my website, JeromeWetzel.com! Also, for the latest updates and article links, as well as commentary on episodes I don't fully review, please follow me on Twitter!

Article first posted on TheTVKing

The League scores a touchdown with the Complete Season Three

FX's The League now has its Complete Season Three out on Blu-ray and DVD.  If you have missed this fantasy football-based comedy, with the all-around amazing cast, up 'til now, it's time to start watching, as it has become one of the most original, funniest shows on television. Season three is a great entry point, and after watching every installment on this two disc set, you'll probably be motivated enough to go seek out the other seasons.

As season three begins, Ruxin (Nick Kroll) is still rubbing his victory from last year in everyone's face, being more insufferable than usual. The others plot to pick the draft order behind his back, giving them an unfair advantage, and hoping to allow them to knock Ruxin down a few pegs this year. This sort of back fires, as once that bond of trust is broken, even if Ruxin doesn't figure it out for a long time, the others begin not trusting each other, too, making for a trade-less, frustrating fantasy football league.

In The League, though, Shiva Bowl Champion is not the only title. There is still unfinished business to attend to concerning last year's loser, the Sacko prize winner, Andre (Paul Scheer). For that, the boys turn to former member Rafi (Jason Mantzoukas) and his friend Dirty Randy (Seth Rogen), who help them humiliate Andre with the ultimate prank.

All of this unfair backstabbing may sound mean, but it's not. The heart of The League is a group of friends who care about one another. Sure, they give each other a hard time, as friends do, and sometimes they go a little too far. But their shared love of football, and the good times they have picking their fantasy team and watching the games, are why they stick together. The characters do not have to express their emotions to feel the affection between them, as we see during a near-tragedy at the end of the season.

They do, however, have to be really, really funny, and The Complete Season Three showcases this in many fantastic ways. Whether Kevin (Stephen Rannazzisi) is "cheating" on his wife, Jenny (Katie Aselton), the sole female member of the group, with an ESPN analyst, or Ruxin is growing unhappy about his attractive au pair (Brie Larson, United States of Tara), whom Pete (Mark Duplass) has his eye on, there are lots of humorous moments. Toss in Taco (Jonathan Lajoie), who is basically a walking joke, especially when inventing an analog social network called "My-face," and you have the recipe for something pretty cool.

Among the best installments of this season are:

• "The Lockout" In which Ruxin is screwed over figuratively, and Andre is screwed over literally (sort of).
• "Bobbum Man" Kevin is afraid of Pete's made-up creature, the Bobbum Man.
• "Carmenjello" Kevin and Jenny search for the perfect paint color, but a defective can means awkward explanations to daughter Ellie (Alina Foley).
• "Thanksgiving" Ruxin's dad (Jeff Goldblum, Jurassic Park) and Andre's sister (Sarah Silverman, The Sarah Silverman Program) join the gang for a turkey with a very interesting and unique stuffing.
• "The Light of Genesis" Ruxin joins a cult that could help him win in fantasy football, while Kevin is worried his Krav Maga teacher (Eliza Dushku, Dollhouse) is attracted to him.
• "The Funeral" Every arc from this season comes to a head with the Shiva and the Sacko on the line.

The League The Complete Season Three is fully packed with bonus features. The best thing is that ten of the year's thirteen episodes are extended on the DVD, providing quite a few more laughs than as aired. There is also a gag reel, deleted scenes, and two featurettes, "Alt Nation" and "Taco Tones." For a thirteen episode comedy, this turns out to be quite a bit.

Check out The League The Complete Season Three, available now, and watch brand new season four episodes Thursday nights at 10:30 p.m. ET on FX.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Check out my website, JeromeWetzel.com! First posted on TheTVKing

"On My Way" to Glee

FOX's Glee ends its winter run in a big way with "On My Way." Karofsky (Max Adler) attempts suicide, rocking both the New Directions and the Warblers. This puts their petty feuding into perspective, leading to a unified front at Regionals in supporting a charity to help others like Karofsky. It also is another contributing factor in Rachel (Lea Michele) and Finn's (Cory Monteith) march to the altar. The pair pushes up the ceremony to just after Regionals, as their parents scramble to prevent it. And on the way to the wedding, Quinn (Dianna Agron) is involved in a horrific car wreck while texting and driving. 

Glee will never be blamed for not doing enough to promote a stop to the bullying of teens, especially gay ones. Karofsky's arc in "On My Way" almost comes to a tragic end, as he feels shamed enough to try to take his own life. It's with great relief that his father (Daniel Roebuck) catches him in time, and saves the lad. The scene is emotional, powerful, and one that no viewer will soon forget, especially with Blaine's (Darren Criss) haunting "Cough Syrup" laid over it. It is an excellent moment for Glee.

It's also a transformational moment for Max Adler. Originally introduced as a stereotypical bully, the character of Karofsky has really grown into a fan favorite, and deservedly so. His arc, which climaxes in "On May Way," not only affects every character on the series, as well as every viewer at home, but surely deserves at least an Emmy nomination for Best Guest Actor. This young man plays Karofsky in such a way that will tug at every heart string. It's no wonder that the characters rally around him, offering their support in their own ways, even after what he has done to them.

Also stand out is the scene where Kurt (Chris Colfer) visits Karofsky in the hospital. Kurt and Karofsky are not meant to be together, but their growing friendship is certainly a Glee highlight. Given the circumstances leading up to the suicide attempt, Kurt should not blame himself for not answering Karofsky's calls. He comes to see him, and that's what Karofsky needs.

The biggest impact comes when Kurt helps Karofsky imagine what might happen in a few years, and how his life could change for the better. One can easily picture hundreds of gay teens glued to their television sets, picturing their own futures, identifying with both guys, and wishing for their own happy ending. Glee delivers the ultimate "It Gets Better" video in this sequence. And it really does get better, and will only get more so as society adjusts away from this latest form of bigotry. If "On My Way" prevents a few real suicides by offering that hope, the series has more than proven its worth.

What is really surprising is how Sebastian (Grant Gustin) changes. He has taken over the villain role on Glee, but that comes to a abrupt halt this week. Sebastian previously insults Karofsky in a bar, and that comes back to jar him in "On My Way." He deals with his own guilty feelings. Will the change be permanent? Probably not, and who would want it to? Television needs bad guys to stay interesting. But it's great to see that Sebastian has some depth to him, and is not wholly two-dimensional.

"On My Way" contains a great moment for the staff, as Principal Figgins (Iqbal Theba) gathers Sue (Jane Lynch), Will (Matthew Morrison), Emma (Jayma Mays), and Bieste (Dot Marie Jones) in his office to discuss how to handle the Karofsky's situation. Each teacher feels somewhat responsible for not seeing it coming, and also compassion for their students. Their reactions are professional, but also show the deep personal connection educators feel to the children that they work with. In fact, it's among the finest behavior shown by their characters. If they were like this every day, they would be ideal teachers, instead of the caricatures they sometimes are reduced to.

Will is not at his finest in "On My Way." He sits the New Directions down to talk to them about suicide. Not only does he not tell his students that they can always call on him, which is what he should be doing, but he also tells a lame story about considering the final act of desperation himself after getting caught cheating on a test. Not even a test that will get him into college or anything, just a standard test for a class. It does not come across as sincere, and doesn't live up to the moment that it should be.

Facing change in "On My Way" is Sue. She is pregnant, somehow, and the father has still not been revealed. This softens her up considerably, allowing logic to easily be forgotten in favor of an engrossing story, and some character development. In the end, she even offers to help the New Directions win at Nationals, and claims there is no catch to her motives. Could she really be sincere? If Sue brings to bear her formidable coaching talents, which have won many a Cheerios national title, and doesn't try to sabotage them in some way, the group should be unstoppable. What an exciting prospect! And also a fitting, satisfying, happy ending to the three year arc of many of the characters. This would truly be a full circle moment for Sue, and one cannot help but wish that this spirit is genuine.

Quinn returns to focus in "On My Way." Looking forward to soon head off to Yale, she tries to leave things good between herself and her classmates. She does this by offering sympathy concerning Karofsky, and being less judgmental about Rachel's wedding. The scene where she asks Rachel if she is still welcome at Rachel's wedding is sweet, and reminds viewers of what these two characters have built over the years. It's not exactly friendship, but there is a special bond between them. Sue allowing her back on the Cheerios is just icing on the cake. Things put in order, Quinn can happily move on.

And then the car wreck happens. Setting aside the anti-texting-while-driving message that Glee is touting, which is probably an important one for teens, though not particularly appealing, how will this change the course of Quinn's life? The challenges she's had to overcome deal with body image and pregnancy. Is Glee really going to ask for more of her when her victory is so near? It seems a little off that Quinn gets into Yale, but now that fans have accepted that twist, would Glee dare to take that accomplishment, a reward for all the work she has done on herself, away? And certainly any chance of her cheerleading again is now gone.

Might Glee kill Quinn off? It seems unlikely, especially coming so soon after Karofsky's close call. It would also extend a depressing tone into at least one more consecutive episode, which doesn't seem like a move that Glee would make. However, the series should definitely consider it. Agron has had a nice run, and her death could really put things into perspective for many characters, even more so than Karofsky's. It would also give a Nationals victory, dedicated to Quinn, of course, even more umph. If the actress is going to depart the show soon anyway, why not leave in such a way that she will be fondly remembered for, and as a deeply powerful motivator?

Besides Quinn's wreck, the other cliffhanger in "On My Way" is whether or not Rachel and Finn will go through with their wedding. As the episode closes, it is time for them to take the plunge. They are at the courthouse, surrounded by family and friends and Sue. Both characters seem ready to go for it, with none of the hesitation or doubts that have plagued the past few episodes. In fact, Glee almost goes to lengths to get fans on board with the matrimony, something that hasn't really been attempted until this episode. So is the deal done? It seems certain, unless news of Quinn reaches them beforehand, which wouldn't be realistic.

The wild cards here are Burt (Mike O'Malley), Carole (Romy Rosemont), Leroy (Brian Stokes Mitchell), and Hiram (Jeff Goldblum). Setting aside that Burt has not been in Finn's life long enough to react so strongly, what plan might these four come up with? Carole is slowly getting on board with the marriage, and possibly Leroy, too, but Burt and Hiram are dead set against it. What will they do to try to stop the wedding? It would be very unlikely that they would come around this late in the game, and keep their mouths shut, barring something happening to change their mind. And there simply isn't time for that. But will whatever they do actually change Rachel and / or Finn's mind?

By the way, are we to assume that Hiram and Leroy have been at all of the New Directions' events, just unseen up til now? For their characters to be absent seems unlikely, and their attendance at Regionals really makes the hole left by them over the past two and a half years really felt. It is a big mistake to wait until now to bring them into the story, though it's too late to fix that. Thank goodness the course correction is happening now, but it feels a little too late.

As far as music goes, "On My Way" delivers pretty well, though most of the episode is lacking song. There is merely one performance outside of the Regionals contest, and that is Blaine's aforementioned number. While powerful in context, one gets the impression that it might not have stood so well on its own. Context does matter, though, so it gets a passing, but not spectacular, grade.

The Warblers are a bit of a let down while performing "Stand" and "Glad You Came" for their Regionals entry. The group is severely lacking strong leadership without Blaine this year. Sebastian is an interesting character, perhaps, but he pales in comparison on fronting the group. Neither song choice is particularly impressive or memorable, and it's a relief that the Warbler's third number is omitted.

The New Directions, of course, are much better. "Fly"/"I Believe I Can Fly" is a cool mash-up that features six different members of the glee club! The second song, "What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)," is, as promised, for the Troubletones, with each of the three main New Directions girls in the group getting solo time. Though where did the others come from? They haven't been practicing with the New Directions. One would be forgiven for assuming that they had quit choir until they suddenly show up here.

As great as Rachel does in leading the finale, "Here's to Us," it's also really neat that the so many other members of the group get to shine, too, in the first two songs. It's taken three years, but the other characters have been fleshed out enough to finally take a bit of spotlight of their own, without leaving everything on the shoulders of one girl.

So "On My Way" will stand out as a high point of this season. Not musically, perhaps, but definitely in terms of story and character development, as well as societal impact. Great effort for a mid-season finale.


Glee is taking a break, but will return to FOX in April.

MORE GLEE: If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for all of the Glee reviews I've ever written. To purchase Glee DVDs, streaming episodes, music, and more, please click here. Article first published as TV Review: Glee - "On My Way" on Blogcritics.

Glee considers matters of the "Heart"

FOX's Glee this week focuses on "Heart." Rachel's dads, Hiram (Jeff Goldblum, Jurassic Park, Law & Order: Criminal Intent) and Leroy (Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell) learn of Rachel (Lea Michele) and Finn's (Cory Monteith) plans to marry. They act very supportive, but secretly plot with Burt (Mike O'Malley) and Carole (Romy Rosemont) to derail the ceremony. Unfortunately for them, their machinations backfire, and the young couple decides they will tie the knot this coming May.

Rachel and Finn are too young to marry. They haven't known each other, or been together, long enough to take this step. They are both going into it for the wrong reasons, which have been expounded upon in depth in previous Glee episode reviews. So it's a little disheartening (hehe) that "Heart" chooses to overlook any of these elements, at least in the minds of the central couple, and instead, focuses on how they get along. Which is splendidly, for now. There is a little bit of a rocky start to a night spent together, but they come through it stronger than ever. Unfortunately.

When are parents going to learn that kids will do what they are going to do? Rachel and Finn are making a mistake, true, but it's far too late for their mom and dads to do anything about it. Hiram drops a few passive-aggressive comments, but other than that, both couples seem set on reverse psychology to undo the impending union. This fails, as all such plans do. How will Hiram, Leroy, Carole, and Burt cope with this, and what is their next move? Or will they just get on board, and do what Rachel and Finn want?

"Heart" introduces Hiram and Leroy to Glee viewers (apparently someone forgot that a picture of Rachel's dads was featured in the pilot, though with different actors). It's hard to think of two better men to play these pivotal roles than Goldblum and Stokes Mitchell. Both are fantastically flamboyant, in a way that fits the situation. As they croon "Chapel of Love" and "You're the Top," it's immediately obvious why Rachel is who she is. The two guys also have delightful chemistry, and it feels like a great home setting for Rachel's character.

Love is in the air at school, too. Artie (Kevin McHale) continues to hate being alone, and sets his sights on Sugar (Vanessa Lengies) as his next possible boo, thinking her Valentine's party is the perfect time to hook up. Unfortunately for Artie, Rory (Damian McGinty) has the same idea, and two end up competing over the girl, who doesn't really seem right for either one of them.

Rory wins Sugar, for now, but does so by lying about his upcoming deportation. Rory has had little to no plot all season, and so it's nice to finally get a little story for him, as well as a song when he uses "Home" to woo Sugar. But this plot seems to come out of nowhere, and his sneakiness doesn't exactly gel with the Rory first introduced all those months ago. While, perhaps, his character has changed from the time spent in Ohio, viewers not having been privy to such a change, or the reason for it, are left confused. This is a very weird plot.

The second Glee Project winner finally makes his debut in "Heart." Joe Hart (hehe again) is played by Samuel Larsen. Joe is an odd character, introduced as uber-religious, but also a bit of a live-and-let-live hippy. It's fun to hear him perform "Stereo Hearts" and a mash up of two songs, both titled "Cherish." Yet, it's totally bizarre when he decides not to judge Santana (Naya Rivera) and Brittany's (Heather Morris) relationship, given his character's introduction. Not only does Joe come out of nowhere, but his odd behavior makes him hard to pinpoint. Sadly, it's not in a complicated, deep manner, but rather, it feels like the writer's just aren't sure what to do with him.

Santana is hauled into Figgins's (Iqbal Theba) office for kissing Brittany in the hall. The broken rule isn't a PDA issue, which would be understandable, but rather, because the girls are lesbians. This kind of bigotry is completely intolerable, and thankfully Glee continues to highlight that. In 2012, homophobia is the new racism, and it's pretty darn ugly. Given what happened in New Jersey this week, this is incredibly relevant to the current news cycle.

Kurt (Chris Colfer) gets a surprise secret admirer in "Heart" when Karofsky (Max Adler) returns. Dressed as a gorilla at first, Karofsky makes a play for his former tormentee. Kurt is flattered, but gently lets him down. It's not surprising that Dave latches onto Kurt, given that Kurt is the only out gay teen Karosky knows while dealing with his internal conflict. It's only surprising that it's taken this long for Dave to act on those feelings. But Kurt is very happy with Blaine (Darren Criss), and Kurt and Karofsky just don't seem like a matching pair, anyway. However, hopefully Karosky will find a reason to return to Glee again soon, because his character arc has been neat, and any screen time for him is welcome.

The assignment Will (Matthew Morrison) gives his kids this week is to study the best love songs of all time. Yet, only two are featured in "Heart," which is pretty disappointing. Tina (Jenna Ushkowitz) and Mike Chang (Harry Shum Jr.) kick things off with "L-O-V-E," a great number, if not really being relevant to any of the episode's stories. Then it's not until Mercedes (Amber Riley) delivers a coincidentally timely (given Whitney Houston's recent passing) rendition of "I Will Always Love You" while pining over Sam (Chord Overstreet), that another example of this theme comes along. This is a truly powerful performance, and well appreciated. But that's it. Other songs, such as the guys' "Let Me Love You," are fun, but nothing deserves the "best" title other than those two numbers.

"Love Shack" is a strong ending for the episode, with Blaine returning in top form, to lead the group in a remarkably enjoyable version of the old pop hit. It surely shouldn't be on a "best love songs" list, but Glee turns it into something really fun with great choreography and tongue-in-cheek jokes. The best moment may be Finn's face as he cheesily pops up into frame near the end. The performance is an appropriate ending, even if it's mainly fluff.

Which is kind of what "Heart" is: fluff. The plots glosses over anything serious or real. The episode is amusing and entertaining. It's not bad, but there is so much missed opportunity here for it to be better.
With the impending end of many characters' runs on Glee, things will probably take a more dramatic turn soon. Maybe even next week, which is the winter finale, and features Regionals. Until then, this is a serviceable, if not overly impressive, entry.

Glee airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.

MORE GLEE: If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for all of the Glee reviews I've ever written. To purchase Glee DVDs, streaming episodes, music, and more, please click here. Article first published as TV Review: Glee - "Heart" on Blogcritics.

The League celebrates "Thanksgiving"

     "Thanksgiving" is in the air on The League this week, as well as the smell of cooking guinea pig when Ellie's (Alina Foley) class pet gets loose and into the turkey. Thanksgiving isn't known as the most sexy of holidays, but The League goes there anyway. Andre's sister (Sarah Silverman, The Sarah Silverman Program), who taught the boys everything they know about sex, comes to visit. Learning that Kevin (Stephen Rannazzisi) isn't using all his knowledge with Jenny (Katie Aselton), she offers a refresher course. While Jenny would like Kevin to step things up, she doesn't want Andre's sister to do anything more. Even worse is Ruxin Sr. (Jeff Goldblum, Jurassic Park, The Fly), who engages in a sorbet act with Andre's sister that cannot be named in decent company.

     The League can be pretty raunchy, and that's part of what makes it so funny. But generally it's the main guys who get invovled with that stuff, and it's usually regulated to talking-only, porn references, or marriage-based monogamy. In "Thanksgiving," it's the guest stars the get naughty, and quite a bit more so than usual. Andre's sister not only wants to retrain Kevin, with Jenny present, or showing Kevin on Jenny, but also sleeps with Taco (Jonathan Lajoie), and makes a play for Peter (Mark Duplass). Heck, she even wants to give her brother (Paul Scheer) some tips! That she is trying to take Ruxin Sr. home only makes her more of a slut. She's very promiscuous. And because she is played by comedian Silverman, also hilarious.

      Ruxin's dad goes more for the creepy factor, like his son. As an added bonus, Goldblum looks the part perfectly. Ruxin (Nick Kroll) thinks he can ditch both family Thanksgivings to stay home and masturbate, but is surprised when his dad showns up at his door with the same idea. Not knowing Ruxin will be home, Ruxin Sr. intends to use his son's house as a hideout. Disturbingly, not only does Ruxin continue with his plans, but it seems Ruxin Sr. likely does the same solo activity, and both in excess, given the reading Ruxin's pedometer shows.

     It's a testament to just how good The League is when it can attract talent the level of Silverman and Goldblum, as well as Ray Liotta (Goodfellas) and Seth Rogen, in previous episodes this season. While hidden away on cable, it's a series that should not be missed. The relationships feel real, and guys are authentic friends who act in a relatable manner. Some of the situations are unrealistic, of course; it's still a sitcom. But at the same time, every actor is fully committed to their role, and can deliver top notch comedy of both the zinger and physical kind. It is no wonder people more well known for their film roles want to play in this sandbox.

     Even with all the sexual tomfoolery, the only thing that really comes close to crossing the line is the cooking of the guinea pig. Escaped from its cage, it crawls into the turkey, which Jenny then places back in the over. Strangely, no one finds fur, even though Andre pulls the name tag out of his mouth. Guinea pigs are eaten in other countries, and if prepared properly, could be excused. However, in this case, as it is a pet, and it being cooked is accidental, it's stomach turning and wrong in a way that shakes the soul. Let's hope Jenny throws the rest of the turkey away.

     Watch The League Thursdays at 10:30 p.m. ET on FX.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

     Please click here to buy streaming episodes, DVDs, and Blu-rays of The League.