This Week in Television - Mar. 21-25, 2011

Survivor: Redemption Island
Ashley is coming off as spoiled and annoying. As much as I hate to agree with Phillip, those girls were laying around doing nothing and they knew it. Even if they had a point about Phillip being blunt when giving orders, it's still a job that needs to be done around camp. And if Krista was such a Bible thumper, why did she align herself with one of the most notorious villains in the game?

Community
Very awesome that this episode was, seemingly out of nowhere, directed by Richard Ayode, who plays Moss on The IT Crowd. Loved the Pulp Fiction stuff (is it racist if I say Shirley actually did look a lot like Samuel L. Jackson in the Jules costume?) and how Abed said "cool" 5 times like Annie predicted. I think Abed was telling the truth about everything, but his way of having a "real" conversation and feeling more like a real person still had to be done through a movie hommage because that's the only way he knows how to do anything. But I think it may have freaked him out a little when Jeff starting revealing personal things about himself, because as much he might try, Abed isn't good with that kind of thing.

The Office
Character development is a wonderful thing. If you watched the pilot and then this episode, and nothing in between, you would wonder how this crazy, insensitive fool who everyone hates could ever become this sweet, caring guy whom his co-workers actually kind of like (though still a goofball). Holly had a lot to do with it, of course, but I think it was also just the culmination of everything he's been through. All of Michael's previous relationships bombed because he wasn't able to put into them the proper amount of love and respect needed to get that love and respect in return. But he started the series in a high place of arrogance, and six and a half seasons of mistakes and embarrassment have humbled him. I always figured Michael was going to run off with Holly, and at this point he deserves the happy ending, though it is predictable. The sprinklers going off immediately reminded me of Jim's proposal to Pam in the rain, but not because it was mentioned earlier in the episode. The garage sale stuff was fun too, with another classic Jim/Dwight prank and a little Andy/Darryl/Kevin board game subplot.

Parks and Recreation
I felt like this episode was self-referential in Leslie's anxiety over a lack of ideas. After spending six episodes on the Pawnee Harvest Festival, it may well have been that the writers were wondering what multi-episode project Leslie could take on next, or they might have at least joked about it. But then again, after the pit was filled in early on in season 2, they went the rest of the season without really having any one big project and the show was still awesome. The group camping trip was an interesting idea because it basically split everyone into who was and wasn't an outdoors person without repeating last year's hunting trip episode. The bed and breakfast was a horrible, creepy place, and if Ron Swanson doesn't like the food then it's probably not worth eating. Was very happy to see that DJ Roomba has been rebuilt after being destroyed by Jerry last season.

30 Rock
You can never go wrong with a Jack vs. Devon episode. Took an interesting turn though, as I wasn't expecting Devon to show emotion. Really enjoyed the gag about everyone at TGS finding other jobs. It reminded me of the Parks and Recreation season premiere when we got a look at what everyone was doing without their government jobs. I just now noticed that Lutz wasn't involved in that, though. From now on, "bird internet" will be the first thing that pops into my head when I need an idea.

Fringe
I don't think I like the alt universe as much as I like our regular one, though I do enjoy the references to differences in pop culture, such as the line this episode about Coppola directing Taxi Driver. I did like that it didn't work when Fauxlivia tried to prey on the nurse's sympathies so she would help her escape. That's a cliche that's been done a lot, and I will only respect a cliche when it's been subverted. I'm betting she'll name the baby Peter, or at the very least some other name that Peter would love, but probably Peter.

Hero of the Week: Bird inter--I mean Michael Scott from The Office, for his amazing proposal to Holly. My favourite part was his comments as everyone asked if she would marry them.

Douchebag of the Week: Ashley from Survivor. Can't be good if you're making Phillip sound like the voice of reason.