This Week in Television - Jan. 8-13, 2012

Once Upon a Time
Rumplestiltskin's reason for turning evil was a little Star Wars-like, but it did set up a nice juxtaposition in showing that Emma made the decision he could not: to sacrifice the greater good and keep your integrity intact for the sake of your child. I found it predictable that David's wife supported the Mayor's sherriff candidate. The set-up was too obvious when he and Mary Margaret were posting posters next to each other.

30 Rock
I'm really glad 30 Rock is back because it helps soften the disappointment of Community's hiatus, but this episode wasn't really the strong start I was hoping for. It seemed like an episode that belongs in season four, 30 Rock's weakest season. I think my favourite joke of the episode was probably when Kenneth said Aroused Dog Heaven is the same place as Women's Hell. America's Kidz Got Singing was another of those things that is a terrible idea for a show, but still sadly in the realm of something somebody would actually do, and even sadder, it would probably be a monster hit. Happy Liz isn't really as fun to watch as miserable Liz.

Parks and Recreation
The scene on the ice rink with everyone shuffling along, falling and almost falling, panicking about the three-legged dog, and the stopping and restarting of the "Get on Your Feet" song were all very simple elements, but damn if it wasn't a hilarious scene anyway. The music especially is what made it - I kept forgetting about the song, thinking it was done, and then it would start up again and make me laugh. One slight criticism about Ben's claymation video: that is a lot less than three weeks' worth of animation, unless he's including all of the preparation and model building in that three weeks, or is just so inexperienced that he really is that slow with it.

The Office
I laughed at "The Einsteins" getting the Albert Einstein question wrong. The thing about trivia is that you don't have to be smart to do well, and you don't have to be dumb to do poorly. It is a random mix of common knowledge and obscure facts, and so it is possible for a gang of idiots to win if the right collection of questions comes up. I like that they had them losing the championship in the tag, just to quell concerns over plausibility and to show that it really was a fluke. When Gabe said that Robert has him "toilet" people for him all the time, I saw the ending to that segment coming (or I suppose the middle of it, because I didn't exactly predict Dwight going to Robert's home and watching him wrestle a physical trainer). But I wonder if Robert's promise to consider Dwight if a position opens up will result in anything.

Up All Night
I actually thought this episode was going to be Jason Lee's exit from the show, because it looked like Ava was overly interested in Missy's boyfriend, and Missy running off combined with Ava and Kevin hitting a rough patch would typically equal Ava leaving him for Missy's boyfriend. I'm glad it didn't turn out to be that predictable. I liked the stuff with Reagan and Chris listing each other's flaws and then erasing them, because I think that's what a relationship should be. Anyone and everyone you know is going to have things about them you hate if you know them long enough and well enough, but rather than force them to change, it's better to accept that the things you love about them are just more important.

Fringe
It might dilute the show somewhat, having four universes now instead of the initial two. I guess we have to be subjected to how different they are so that we, too, feel Peter's longing for the original universe we know. But I'm interested, now, in the idea of the universes working together. And if that Observer dies (if he can die?), I'm assuming there is no alternate version of him anywhere because those guys are outside the laws of time and space. Man, that ending was three cool reveals at once. It almost felt like a season premiere, but it sort of was, too; a mid-season premiere.

Hero of the Week: Ben from Parks and Recreation, because calzones and claymation are both awesome, even if everyone else seems to think they're not.

Douchebag of the Week: Ryan from The Office, for abandoning trivia just because he couldn't go a couple of hours without texting on his phone.