Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
2009 Honors so Far!
Third in LA Times’ list of the top 10 good things about TV in 2009!
Yahoo! TV names Ron Swanson one of TV’s most fascinating characters
Amy Poehler hits top 15 in People magazine’s top 100 people list
San Francisco Chronicle said Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman are two of 18 TV actors who truly stood out this season.
18 Standout TV actors of 2009 (San Francisco Chronicle)
Top 10 Shows of 2009: The Best, and the Rest (TIME magazine)
TV Gal names Leslie Knope as one of her favorite characters of 2009
Aubrey Plaza-The Twelve Days of Festivus: Eleven babes worth watchin’ (TV Squad)
Best and Worst TV of 2009: Allison’s list (TV Squad)
Best and Worst TV of 2009: Joel’s list (TV Squad)
Pop Candy’s 100 People of 2009 (USA Today)
Top TV Stories of 2009: The return of the sitcom (TV Squad)
NBC’s Parks and Recreation is one of TV’s finest comedies in 2009 (Examiner.com)
GQ’s Sitcom of the Year: Parks and Recreation
The Huffington Post names Amy Poehler and Aziz Ansari as two of the funniest people of the decade
TIME dubs Parks and Recreation one of the year’s best TV shows
Best of 2009: Comedy Series (IGN.com)
My Favorite TV Characters of 2009 (Zap2it)
My Top 20 TV shows of 2009 (Entertainment Weekly)
Best of 2009 (salon.com)
Killer Dads and Family Comedies: The Best TV of 2009 (New York magazine)
Yahoo! TV names Ron Swanson one of TV’s most fascinating characters
Amy Poehler hits top 15 in People magazine’s top 100 people list
San Francisco Chronicle said Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman are two of 18 TV actors who truly stood out this season.
18 Standout TV actors of 2009 (San Francisco Chronicle)
Top 10 Shows of 2009: The Best, and the Rest (TIME magazine)
TV Gal names Leslie Knope as one of her favorite characters of 2009
Aubrey Plaza-The Twelve Days of Festivus: Eleven babes worth watchin’ (TV Squad)
Best and Worst TV of 2009: Allison’s list (TV Squad)
Best and Worst TV of 2009: Joel’s list (TV Squad)
Pop Candy’s 100 People of 2009 (USA Today)
Top TV Stories of 2009: The return of the sitcom (TV Squad)
NBC’s Parks and Recreation is one of TV’s finest comedies in 2009 (Examiner.com)
GQ’s Sitcom of the Year: Parks and Recreation
The Huffington Post names Amy Poehler and Aziz Ansari as two of the funniest people of the decade
TIME dubs Parks and Recreation one of the year’s best TV shows
Best of 2009: Comedy Series (IGN.com)
My Favorite TV Characters of 2009 (Zap2it)
My Top 20 TV shows of 2009 (Entertainment Weekly)
Best of 2009 (salon.com)
Killer Dads and Family Comedies: The Best TV of 2009 (New York magazine)
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
In the top 3!
Parks and Recreation a top 3 comedy according to San Francisco Chronicle
December 14th, 2009
From San Francisco Chronicle:
It’s the Comeback Series of the Year after dropping six mostly uninspired episodes on viewers last season. Now everything is clicking and the laughs are smart and surprising. Another series with nary a creative misstep. NBC gets credit for sticking with it, and the writers should be applauded for fleshing out the supporting cast while spreading around the jokes.
Here’s the complete list:
30 Rock
Modern Family
Parks and Recreation
Better Off Ted
Curb Your Enthusiasm
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Bored to Death
Hung
The Office
Flight of the Concords
How I Met Your Mother
The League
Community
December 14th, 2009
From San Francisco Chronicle:
It’s the Comeback Series of the Year after dropping six mostly uninspired episodes on viewers last season. Now everything is clicking and the laughs are smart and surprising. Another series with nary a creative misstep. NBC gets credit for sticking with it, and the writers should be applauded for fleshing out the supporting cast while spreading around the jokes.
Here’s the complete list:
30 Rock
Modern Family
Parks and Recreation
Better Off Ted
Curb Your Enthusiasm
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Bored to Death
Hung
The Office
Flight of the Concords
How I Met Your Mother
The League
Community
Leslie is Zap2its TV Gals Fav!
TV Gal names Leslie Knope as one of her favorite characters of 2009
December 14th, 2009
From Zap2it’s TV Gal:
[Amy Poehler's] show easily wins the most improved award. Poehler has delicately balanced Leslie’s gung-ho enthusiasm and naïve optimism without ever making her seem incompetent or silly. Even last week, when Leslie pulled down her pants on live TV, I was proud of her not embarrassed by her behavior. Amidst a wacky work environment, Poehler has created a character I can’t help but root for – she oozes believable emotions (no one does a crestfallen face like Poehler) and I kind of think she’s pretty good at her job.
December 14th, 2009
From Zap2it’s TV Gal:
[Amy Poehler's] show easily wins the most improved award. Poehler has delicately balanced Leslie’s gung-ho enthusiasm and naïve optimism without ever making her seem incompetent or silly. Even last week, when Leslie pulled down her pants on live TV, I was proud of her not embarrassed by her behavior. Amidst a wacky work environment, Poehler has created a character I can’t help but root for – she oozes believable emotions (no one does a crestfallen face like Poehler) and I kind of think she’s pretty good at her job.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
Christmas Scandal Ratings
December 10, 2009: Christmas Scandal
Overnights: 5.62 million viewers, 2.3/6 rating/share in adults 18-49
Lead in: Community (5.98 million viewers, 2.3/7 rating/share in adults 18-49)
Lead out: The Office (9.24 million viewers, 4.4/12 rating/share in adults 18-49)
Overnights: 5.62 million viewers, 2.3/6 rating/share in adults 18-49
Lead in: Community (5.98 million viewers, 2.3/7 rating/share in adults 18-49)
Lead out: The Office (9.24 million viewers, 4.4/12 rating/share in adults 18-49)
Christmas Scandal Ratings
December 10, 2009: Christmas Scandal
Overnights: 5.62 million viewers, 2.3/6 rating/share in adults 18-49
Lead in: Community (5.98 million viewers, 2.3/7 rating/share in adults 18-49)
Lead out: The Office (9.24 million viewers, 4.4/12 rating/share in adults 18-49)
Overnights: 5.62 million viewers, 2.3/6 rating/share in adults 18-49
Lead in: Community (5.98 million viewers, 2.3/7 rating/share in adults 18-49)
Lead out: The Office (9.24 million viewers, 4.4/12 rating/share in adults 18-49)
35 Funniest People
Among the list are...
Aziz Ansari - “I’m actually a Caucasian who does the Fisher Stevens-Short Circuit 2 makeup technique every morning."
Amy Poehler- "President Bush threw out the first pitch Monday at Cincinnati's great American ball park. 18 Iraqis were killed."
Link: http: 35 Funniest!
Aziz Ansari - “I’m actually a Caucasian who does the Fisher Stevens-Short Circuit 2 makeup technique every morning."
Amy Poehler- "President Bush threw out the first pitch Monday at Cincinnati's great American ball park. 18 Iraqis were killed."
Link: http: 35 Funniest!
GQs Sitcom of the Year: Parks and Recreation!
With all due respect to fans of Modern Family, The Office and Curb Your Enthusiasm, when ?uestlove of The Roots wrote last week that Parks and Rec is the Wu Tang of Comedy, he nailed it. This, no doubt, comes as a shock to people who dipped their toes in last season and left disappointed. We know. We understand. The first six episodes blew. The creative team has said that run last spring was really one extended pilot. That's true—and a shame. Because it turned off a lot of viewers
But while no one was watching, the focus changed. Amy Poeher's parks commissioner Leslie softened. The limp romance between Mark (Paul Schneider) and Ann (Rashida Jones) moved to the background. The true lunatic weirdness of the show—from Chris Pratt's pit-dwelling, shoe-shining, Deal Or No Deal-auditioning Andy to Nick Offerman's lover of brown haired ladies and breakfast food Ron Swanson—started to emerge. It's got the deepest bench on TV. (Aziz Anzari = brilliant. Aubrey Plaza is our biggest entertainment crush right now.) The best guest stars. (LouisCK, Megan Mullally, Fred Armisan.) And, of course, Amy Poehler, whose warmth and willingness to totally humiliate herself confirmed what we always knew: she's one of the best comedians working today.
For all that, though, the real star of the show is Pawnee. Unlike The Office, which exists in a hermetically sealed lucite box of sadness that hits WAY too close to home these days, Parks and Recreation pulls back the lens and lets the town become a character. Just off the top of my head, here are a few details of what we've learned about Indiana's finest city. It has...
–An anti-semitic past that is celebrated in mural form
–A library department that is a group of "punk ass book jockeys" and the "worst group of people ever assembled"
–Raccoons that aren't nocturnal and tend to attack children
–A sewer department overrun with floozies
–A gay bar and a strip club and a nipple factory and a restaurant named The Jurrasic Fork
–And, of course, a giant pit that the government can't seem to get filled
Reminds you of something, doesn't it? Springfield. And while we know that any comparison's to the Golden Age of The Simpsons is heady praise that borders on sacrilege, it's deserved. Parks and Recreation is absurd. Hilarious. Packed with polished jokes, unexpected turns, and boasting real heart. Simply put, this is the funniest show on television right now. America, start watching. You're missing something special.
(We'll return to our regularly scheduled power rankings when the NBC lineup returns after the holidays.)
— Dan Fierman
But while no one was watching, the focus changed. Amy Poeher's parks commissioner Leslie softened. The limp romance between Mark (Paul Schneider) and Ann (Rashida Jones) moved to the background. The true lunatic weirdness of the show—from Chris Pratt's pit-dwelling, shoe-shining, Deal Or No Deal-auditioning Andy to Nick Offerman's lover of brown haired ladies and breakfast food Ron Swanson—started to emerge. It's got the deepest bench on TV. (Aziz Anzari = brilliant. Aubrey Plaza is our biggest entertainment crush right now.) The best guest stars. (LouisCK, Megan Mullally, Fred Armisan.) And, of course, Amy Poehler, whose warmth and willingness to totally humiliate herself confirmed what we always knew: she's one of the best comedians working today.
For all that, though, the real star of the show is Pawnee. Unlike The Office, which exists in a hermetically sealed lucite box of sadness that hits WAY too close to home these days, Parks and Recreation pulls back the lens and lets the town become a character. Just off the top of my head, here are a few details of what we've learned about Indiana's finest city. It has...
–An anti-semitic past that is celebrated in mural form
–A library department that is a group of "punk ass book jockeys" and the "worst group of people ever assembled"
–Raccoons that aren't nocturnal and tend to attack children
–A sewer department overrun with floozies
–A gay bar and a strip club and a nipple factory and a restaurant named The Jurrasic Fork
–And, of course, a giant pit that the government can't seem to get filled
Reminds you of something, doesn't it? Springfield. And while we know that any comparison's to the Golden Age of The Simpsons is heady praise that borders on sacrilege, it's deserved. Parks and Recreation is absurd. Hilarious. Packed with polished jokes, unexpected turns, and boasting real heart. Simply put, this is the funniest show on television right now. America, start watching. You're missing something special.
(We'll return to our regularly scheduled power rankings when the NBC lineup returns after the holidays.)
— Dan Fierman
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
TIME names P&R one of the years best!
TIME dubs Parks and Recreation one of the year’s best TV shows
TIME magazine’s James Poniewozik published his top 10 TV shows of 2009. You know what made the cut? Parks and Recreation, tied at No. 10 with another NBC Thursday night comedy, The Office.
Here’s what Poniewozik said about Parks:
After a shaky start, Parks found its offbeat voice, focusing on bureaucrat Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) and the citizens and civil servants of Pawnee, Ind. Knope fights doggedly for a pet project (turning an abandoned pit into a park), battling red tape, an evil library department and her own overenthusiasm. This sly but optimistic civic satire may be the first distinctive comedy of the Obama era.
And, of course, the list:
1. Mad Men
2. Modern Family
3. Breaking Bad
4. Big Love
5. Battlestar Galactica
6. Lost
7. Friday Night Lights
8. Glee
9. Sons of Anarchy
10. The Office / Parks and Recreation (tie)
Congratulations, Parks cast, crew and staff!
TIME magazine’s James Poniewozik published his top 10 TV shows of 2009. You know what made the cut? Parks and Recreation, tied at No. 10 with another NBC Thursday night comedy, The Office.
Here’s what Poniewozik said about Parks:
After a shaky start, Parks found its offbeat voice, focusing on bureaucrat Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) and the citizens and civil servants of Pawnee, Ind. Knope fights doggedly for a pet project (turning an abandoned pit into a park), battling red tape, an evil library department and her own overenthusiasm. This sly but optimistic civic satire may be the first distinctive comedy of the Obama era.
And, of course, the list:
1. Mad Men
2. Modern Family
3. Breaking Bad
4. Big Love
5. Battlestar Galactica
6. Lost
7. Friday Night Lights
8. Glee
9. Sons of Anarchy
10. The Office / Parks and Recreation (tie)
Congratulations, Parks cast, crew and staff!
TIME names P&R one of the years best!
TIME dubs Parks and Recreation one of the year’s best TV shows
TIME magazine’s James Poniewozik published his top 10 TV shows of 2009. You know what made the cut? Parks and Recreation, tied at No. 10 with another NBC Thursday night comedy, The Office.
Here’s what Poniewozik said about Parks:
After a shaky start, Parks found its offbeat voice, focusing on bureaucrat Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) and the citizens and civil servants of Pawnee, Ind. Knope fights doggedly for a pet project (turning an abandoned pit into a park), battling red tape, an evil library department and her own overenthusiasm. This sly but optimistic civic satire may be the first distinctive comedy of the Obama era.
And, of course, the list:
1. Mad Men
2. Modern Family
3. Breaking Bad
4. Big Love
5. Battlestar Galactica
6. Lost
7. Friday Night Lights
8. Glee
9. Sons of Anarchy
10. The Office / Parks and Recreation (tie)
Congratulations, Parks cast, crew and staff!
TIME magazine’s James Poniewozik published his top 10 TV shows of 2009. You know what made the cut? Parks and Recreation, tied at No. 10 with another NBC Thursday night comedy, The Office.
Here’s what Poniewozik said about Parks:
After a shaky start, Parks found its offbeat voice, focusing on bureaucrat Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) and the citizens and civil servants of Pawnee, Ind. Knope fights doggedly for a pet project (turning an abandoned pit into a park), battling red tape, an evil library department and her own overenthusiasm. This sly but optimistic civic satire may be the first distinctive comedy of the Obama era.
And, of course, the list:
1. Mad Men
2. Modern Family
3. Breaking Bad
4. Big Love
5. Battlestar Galactica
6. Lost
7. Friday Night Lights
8. Glee
9. Sons of Anarchy
10. The Office / Parks and Recreation (tie)
Congratulations, Parks cast, crew and staff!
Aziz Ansari teams with Dave Sitek for hip hop mixtape
Aziz Ansari teams with Dave Sitek for hip hop mixtape
From Pitchfork:
Fans of comedian Aziz Ansari know the guy loves hip-hop. … And now he’s putting out a rap mixtape under his blowjob-obsessed hip-hop comedian guise, Raaaaaaaandy (as seen in Funny People). TV on the Radio’s Dave Sitek is producing it along with L.A.’s the Have and Baltimore’s DJ Granwizerd. For fans of comedy, rap, and life itself, this is amazing news.
According to Sitek, the as-yet-unnamed tape is due in February and will feature “all original music and guest MCs,” who will be named soon.
From Aziz’s Tumblr:
If everything we have in mind comes together, I can promise three things:
1. Y’all ain’t ready.
2. Motherfuckers need to know.
3. Get yo’ shit.
Link: Aziz Ansari and TVOTR’s Dave Sitek Team Up for Hip-Hop Mixtape
Own a Jim O’Heir autographed bowl
Clothes Off Our Back is auctioning off a white bowl signed by Jim O’Heir (Jerry) at the American Music Awards. The auction began on November 27 and runs through December 16.
The opening bid is $25.
From Clothes Off Our Back:
Own the bowl signed by actor Jim O’Heir. Mr. O’Heir (”Parks and Recreation”) signed the bowl to support Feeding America and their “Fill a Bowl, Feed America” campaign. Remember that $1 provides seven meals for a child. Proceeds from the auction benefit Feeding America.
Link: “Parks and Recreation’s” Jim O’Heir Autographed Bowl
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Aziz at Comedy Works
Aziz Ansari to do 5 shows in Denver in February
December 4th, 2009
Aziz Ansari will do five stand-up shows over two days in February at Comedy Works in Denver, CO. Aziz last performed there in November.
Here’s the basics:
What: Aziz Ansari Live
When: Friday, February 19 @ 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.; Saturday, February 20 @ 6:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.
Where: Comedy Works Downtown at Larimer Square
Address: 1226 15th St., Denver, CO 80202
Phone: (303) 595-3637
Cost: $25 (+2 item minimum) | Get Tickets
December 4th, 2009
Aziz Ansari will do five stand-up shows over two days in February at Comedy Works in Denver, CO. Aziz last performed there in November.
Here’s the basics:
What: Aziz Ansari Live
When: Friday, February 19 @ 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.; Saturday, February 20 @ 6:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.
Where: Comedy Works Downtown at Larimer Square
Address: 1226 15th St., Denver, CO 80202
Phone: (303) 595-3637
Cost: $25 (+2 item minimum) | Get Tickets
Aziz in Tv.com
Aziz Ansari talks Jenna Haze, The League and Kanye in TV.com Q&A
December 4th, 2009
From TV.com:
I saw on your Tumblr that you are doing an interview with Animal Collective. I tried to Google it, and discovered that if you plan on typing in “aziz ansari animal collective” into Google, when you get to “aziz ansari a,” Google suggests “aziz ansari and jenna haze.” Given that Haze is a porn star, on a scale from “very” to “defining moment of career,” how proud are you of this?
That’s great to hear. Jenna worked with us on the Randy shorts and is a very nice lady. I was once looking through my wallet for my CVS card and accidentally sat Jenna’s business card on the counter without realizing just how graphic it is. I made quite an impression on the staff there.
Have there been any discussions about you appearing on The League?
Nope, but I would love to do something on that show. [Nick] Kroll and [Paul] Scheer are real good friends of mine.
Did Kanye invite you over for Thanksgiving?
No, I just had Thanksgiving with my family and Busta Rhymes.
December 4th, 2009
From TV.com:
I saw on your Tumblr that you are doing an interview with Animal Collective. I tried to Google it, and discovered that if you plan on typing in “aziz ansari animal collective” into Google, when you get to “aziz ansari a,” Google suggests “aziz ansari and jenna haze.” Given that Haze is a porn star, on a scale from “very” to “defining moment of career,” how proud are you of this?
That’s great to hear. Jenna worked with us on the Randy shorts and is a very nice lady. I was once looking through my wallet for my CVS card and accidentally sat Jenna’s business card on the counter without realizing just how graphic it is. I made quite an impression on the staff there.
Have there been any discussions about you appearing on The League?
Nope, but I would love to do something on that show. [Nick] Kroll and [Paul] Scheer are real good friends of mine.
Did Kanye invite you over for Thanksgiving?
No, I just had Thanksgiving with my family and Busta Rhymes.
Toms Divorce Ratings
December 3, 2009: Tom’s Divorce
Overnights: 4.83 million viewers, 2.1/6 rating/share in adults 18-49
Lead in: Community (5.38 million viewers, 2.2/6 rating/share in adults 18-49)
Lead out: The Office (8.06 million viewers, 4.1/11 rating/share in adults 18-49)
Overnights: 4.83 million viewers, 2.1/6 rating/share in adults 18-49
Lead in: Community (5.38 million viewers, 2.2/6 rating/share in adults 18-49)
Lead out: The Office (8.06 million viewers, 4.1/11 rating/share in adults 18-49)
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Rachel Axler off Broadway
Rachel Axler marks her off Broadway debut with Smudge
December 3rd, 2009
Parks and Recreation staff writer Rachel Axler will make her off Broadway playwriting debut with Smudge, a dark comedy directed by Pam MacKinnon. The show begins previews on January 3 and is scheduled to run January 11 through February 7 at Julia Miles Theater in New York.
Smudge is about a young couple who give birth to a “smudge” and was inspired by Rachel’s “most horrible thought.”
Says Rachel:
Probably a good topic for a play. I think most of my plays are hybrids, with comic dialogue and darker, or more serious, themes.
Here’s the basics:
What: Smudge
When: Monday, January 11 through Sunday, February 7 (previews begin Sunday, January 3 @ 3 p.m.)
Where: Women’s Project/Julia Miles Theater
Address: 424 West 55th Street, New York, NY 10019
Phone: (212) 239-6200 (212-765-2105 for WP members)
Cost: $52 ($15 for WP members) | Get Tickets
December 3rd, 2009
Parks and Recreation staff writer Rachel Axler will make her off Broadway playwriting debut with Smudge, a dark comedy directed by Pam MacKinnon. The show begins previews on January 3 and is scheduled to run January 11 through February 7 at Julia Miles Theater in New York.
Smudge is about a young couple who give birth to a “smudge” and was inspired by Rachel’s “most horrible thought.”
Says Rachel:
Probably a good topic for a play. I think most of my plays are hybrids, with comic dialogue and darker, or more serious, themes.
Here’s the basics:
What: Smudge
When: Monday, January 11 through Sunday, February 7 (previews begin Sunday, January 3 @ 3 p.m.)
Where: Women’s Project/Julia Miles Theater
Address: 424 West 55th Street, New York, NY 10019
Phone: (212) 239-6200 (212-765-2105 for WP members)
Cost: $52 ($15 for WP members) | Get Tickets
Aziz in AOL TV
Aziz Ansari’s Q&A with AOL TV
December 2nd, 2009
From AOL TV:
You’ve guest-starred on a number of shows, including ‘Scrubs’ and ‘Flight of the Conchords.’ What show would you most want to make a guest appearance on?
I think I should play David Palmer’s long-lost son in the next season of ‘24.’ But I’d work at CTU. I’m not a politician.
In terms of your own stand-up, it’s been said by older comics that you need at least 20 years to develop your style.
Yeah, there’s a quote from Jay Leno, I think, that said your first 500 shows don’t matter and I think that’s pretty true. I didn’t put out my first album until now and it’s been eight years since I started. You’re always developing as a comedian. You look at guys like Louis C.K., who’s been doing this for 20 or so years, and it’s like, wow, that guy’s been doing stand-up for about as long as I’ve been alive. He’s so far ahead of everyone.
You moved to Los Angeles from New York last year. What’s the best and worst part about living in L.A.?
The best thing is there’s a lot of really delicious taco trucks there and occasionally you’ll see Lorenzo Lamas walking around. And the worst thing is occasionally you’ll see Lorenzo Lamas walking around.
December 2nd, 2009
From AOL TV:
You’ve guest-starred on a number of shows, including ‘Scrubs’ and ‘Flight of the Conchords.’ What show would you most want to make a guest appearance on?
I think I should play David Palmer’s long-lost son in the next season of ‘24.’ But I’d work at CTU. I’m not a politician.
In terms of your own stand-up, it’s been said by older comics that you need at least 20 years to develop your style.
Yeah, there’s a quote from Jay Leno, I think, that said your first 500 shows don’t matter and I think that’s pretty true. I didn’t put out my first album until now and it’s been eight years since I started. You’re always developing as a comedian. You look at guys like Louis C.K., who’s been doing this for 20 or so years, and it’s like, wow, that guy’s been doing stand-up for about as long as I’ve been alive. He’s so far ahead of everyone.
You moved to Los Angeles from New York last year. What’s the best and worst part about living in L.A.?
The best thing is there’s a lot of really delicious taco trucks there and occasionally you’ll see Lorenzo Lamas walking around. And the worst thing is occasionally you’ll see Lorenzo Lamas walking around.
YOU REALLY SHOULD BE WATCHING P&R!
Parks and Recreation review in Slate magazine
December 2nd, 2009
From Slate:
In the world of meager TV ratings, the line separating a loser from an underdog can be blurry, but with its second season, Parks and Recreation has vaulted definitively into the latter category. Contributors to Salon, the Los Angeles Times, and New York are among those who have rallied on behalf of the show, which has gone from an erratically funny nonevent to astonishingly good.
Leslie has become less of a punching bag (or, rather, a more multifaceted one), and Ann has dumped Andy. These shifts in plotting have freed up the writers to make better use of the ensemble cast, where charm runs deep into the bench: Who knew that Jerry, a pencil-pushing piece of Season 1 furniture, would blossom into a hilariously tragic office Eeyore?
The season truly hit its stride with the fourth episode, “Practice Date,” in which the characters dug up dirt on one another in an office background-check game—a funny, economical way to bring them more vividly to life. Tom, we learned, is in a sham marriage, hitched to a Canadian hottie not because of his Casanova talents but because she needed a green card. The revelation at once punctured his slimy façade and deepened our sympathies for him.
Unburdened by the pit plot, the show’s writers have also taken aim at targets beyond an ineffectual City Hall: a hypocritical beauty pageant here (a turkey shoot no less enjoyable for its familiarity), hysteria over gay marriage there (as provoked by a pair of homosexual zoo penguins). And the writers have been making ever more frequent detours into an inspired absurdity that tugs against and tweaks the show’s bureaucratic backdrop. In “The Camel,” Leslie’s boss was brought to the verge of orgasm (and beyond?) by a good shoeshine; in “The Hunting Trip,” we watched as Tom and several others convinced themselves they were being stalked by the Predator.
December 2nd, 2009
From Slate:
In the world of meager TV ratings, the line separating a loser from an underdog can be blurry, but with its second season, Parks and Recreation has vaulted definitively into the latter category. Contributors to Salon, the Los Angeles Times, and New York are among those who have rallied on behalf of the show, which has gone from an erratically funny nonevent to astonishingly good.
Leslie has become less of a punching bag (or, rather, a more multifaceted one), and Ann has dumped Andy. These shifts in plotting have freed up the writers to make better use of the ensemble cast, where charm runs deep into the bench: Who knew that Jerry, a pencil-pushing piece of Season 1 furniture, would blossom into a hilariously tragic office Eeyore?
The season truly hit its stride with the fourth episode, “Practice Date,” in which the characters dug up dirt on one another in an office background-check game—a funny, economical way to bring them more vividly to life. Tom, we learned, is in a sham marriage, hitched to a Canadian hottie not because of his Casanova talents but because she needed a green card. The revelation at once punctured his slimy façade and deepened our sympathies for him.
Unburdened by the pit plot, the show’s writers have also taken aim at targets beyond an ineffectual City Hall: a hypocritical beauty pageant here (a turkey shoot no less enjoyable for its familiarity), hysteria over gay marriage there (as provoked by a pair of homosexual zoo penguins). And the writers have been making ever more frequent detours into an inspired absurdity that tugs against and tweaks the show’s bureaucratic backdrop. In “The Camel,” Leslie’s boss was brought to the verge of orgasm (and beyond?) by a good shoeshine; in “The Hunting Trip,” we watched as Tom and several others convinced themselves they were being stalked by the Predator.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Aziz in Movieweb
EXCLUSIVE: Aziz Ansari Brings the Laughs in Funny People
November 30th, 2009
Aziz Ansari Brings the Laughs in Funny PeopleBy now, if you're a comedy fan who doesn't know the name Aziz Ansari, you are in some dire need of comedic catch-up. Aside from his famous rants on the IMAX format Ansari currently stars as the mischevious Tom Haverford on the hit NBC comedy Parks and Recreation and he makes a brief but memorable appearance in the film Funny People, which is currently available on DVD and Blu-ray shelves everywhere. Although his role in the actual film is (sadly) fairly brief, he has a much bigger presence on the DVD special features with the documentary on his character Randy. I recently had the chance to fire some questions over to Aziz via email, and here's what he had to say.
You've had a rather meteoric rise through the comedy ranks in such a short period of time, so what was it like to get a call from Judd Apatow for a role in Funny People?
Aziz Ansari: It was great. I'd just lost the role of Chev Chelios in the film Crank 2 after coming very close to getting it (they decided to let Jason Statham reprise his role as Chev again for the sequel), so times were tough. The call from Judd came at just the right time.
Can you talk a bit about working with Judd on your Randy character? Did you write your own stand-up material or did he have bits scripted for you? How did the whole process of creating Randy come about for you?
Aziz Ansari: Judd and I talked a bit about what he had in mind for Randy and the early ideas he mentioned were about him being really cocky and very conscious about things like merchandise and how much money he made per gig. That attitude reminded me of those new young hip hop superstars like Soulja Boy, and that really became my inspiration. That's what triggered the ideas about the dance, the DJ, idiotic catchphrases, etc. Those to me are the defining aspects of Randy and it was not a shot at any particular comic, like many people think. Another notion that stuck in my head was the idea of the comic that kills with audiences but it is despised by the other comedians backstage. These guys are at every club, talking non-stop about their dick and their dumb stories about going down on girls, etc. This kind of was the jumping off point for when I started writing material specifically for Randy. Initially I started doing my own standup and just "Randy'ing" it up, but then I started writing Randy specific bits and that was really fun.
Like all of Judd's films, Funny People seems very much grounded in reality. Can you speak to the reality of these kinds of struggling stand-up characters and how it's reflected in the film?
Aziz Ansari: It seemed pretty real to me. The main difference I think is that now it's not as much centered around the comedy club scene. In NY and LA, most of the young talent seems to be coming out of places like the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre and small standup rooms around town, as opposed to the big clubs.
Now this Funny People DVD is just jam-packed with extras including this three-part Raaaaaandy documentary. Can you talk about the making of that? Was that done during regular production of the film, or was that something that came up afterwards?
Aziz Ansari: We were having so much fun with Randy that I asked Judd if myself and Jason Woliner, a collaborator from Human Giant, could make those documentaries. He was into the idea and let us run wild with it. It was shot after production stopped and many people that worked on Funny People worked super hard to help us make it happen and Jason and I love them all very much. The version on the DVD actually has some extra bits that haven't been seen before and is actually one long piece that tracks Randy's journey to getting a spot on the Jimmy Kimmell Live. It also features appearances by two of my favorite people ever - Nick Offerman and Eric Edelstein
I remember they released the videos of that "documentary" online before the film came out and they were quite popular. It seems that there could almost be a spin-off film for Randy seeing as how popular he was. Would you be up for something like that and has it been discussed at all?
Aziz Ansari: Judd talked to us about the idea of doing a movie with him and urged us to come in with some pitches, including one about Randy. We came up with 3 ideas. One about two guys that work for a motivational speaking company, a second about two disgraced astronauts, and a third that was a take on Randy. After the meeting, Judd and Universal decided to buy all 3. We were stunned and it wasn't what we're expecting, but we're totally up for the challenge. Right now, we're developing all 3 ideas and trying to figure out which we'll go with first. Our experiences working with Judd and his team have been great so we are thrilled to work on a bigger project with them.
You have Get Him to the Gig, previously titled Get Him to the Greek, coming up. Can you talk about your character in that film, and what it was like working with Jonah Hill again and the hilarious Russell Brand?
Aziz Ansari: Jonah is a good friend and hands down one of the funniest dudes I've ever worked with. I have so much respect for that guy. I didn't get to do a lot of scenes with him until Greek and seeing him work is incredible. He's a pro and deserves all the success he's gotten and more. I didn't have any scenes with Russell, but I did work with Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, who also absolutely kills in this movie. I have the utmost respect for Sean as well. Think about it like this - I've been working hard for years to establish myself as a comedic actor and after this film is released, Sean will have done that in a much shorter period of time, in addition to creating a successful vodka and cologne. Not to mention, I've seen a photo of him riding a jet ski in a tuxedo. What a life.
I'm a big fan of Parks and Recreation and, of course, of Tom Haverford as well. Can you talk about what we can expect from Tom as far as his relationship with his wife is concerned, and if there might be an office fling for Tom in the near future? At this point in the season, does Tom see Leslie as more of a big sister, mother or perhaps a lonely aunt?
Aziz Ansari: Tom's divorce hits him pretty hard and we end up at the Glitter Factory. It's the episode airing this week and I think it should be great. Not sure about future romances at this moment, but I imagine that should be an interesting new direction for Tom. As far as his relationship with Leslie, I think she's kind of like a great, great aunt; which is how I joke to Rashida and Amy that I see them in real life.
It was also announced that Will Arnett would be stopping by Pawnee this season. Are there any other big guest stars you can tell us about for the rest of this season?
Aziz Ansari: At this point, just Will and Justin Theroux, both of whom are hilarious and very nice dudes.
Since you've written for TV before, I was wondering if we might see an Aziz Ansari-scripted episode of Parks down the line? Are there any other writing projects you're working on right now?
Aziz Ansari: No thanks, I prefer napping/eating snacks in my trailer when I'm not acting, as opposed to slaving away at a script. Truth be told, that would be really fun to do. Even though I'm not a writer, Mike and Greg are really cool about hearing any ideas we have for our characters and when we're on set, I always pitch Tom jokes to the writer on set and the director; so I feel a part of the process even as an actor. The only writing projects I'm working on now are the Apatow projects I mentioned above.
You have a brand new stand-up special coming out on DVD in January called Intimate Moments for a Sensual Evening. Can you talk about some of the material you cover in the special, and if there are plans for future tours or stand-up specials?
Aziz Ansari: Its material I did on my Glow in the Dark standup tour. I talk about a bunch of stuff - thread counts in sheets, my chubby cousin Harris, and end with a special 10 minute Randy set that includes dancers, DJs, smoke, two minutes dedicated to making it rain. I'm still doing standup and working on new material to tour with in 2010, but with the shooting schedule of the show, it can be a difficult, slow moving process. I'd like to tour in 2010, it's just a matter of getting the set together. So far I have 25 new minutes I like, once I get it up to 45, I'll hit the road a little and then do a big tour in the Spring. That's the plan right now.
You can catch Aziz Ansari in Funny People, which is available on DVD and Blu-ray everywhere.
November 30th, 2009
Aziz Ansari Brings the Laughs in Funny PeopleBy now, if you're a comedy fan who doesn't know the name Aziz Ansari, you are in some dire need of comedic catch-up. Aside from his famous rants on the IMAX format Ansari currently stars as the mischevious Tom Haverford on the hit NBC comedy Parks and Recreation and he makes a brief but memorable appearance in the film Funny People, which is currently available on DVD and Blu-ray shelves everywhere. Although his role in the actual film is (sadly) fairly brief, he has a much bigger presence on the DVD special features with the documentary on his character Randy. I recently had the chance to fire some questions over to Aziz via email, and here's what he had to say.
You've had a rather meteoric rise through the comedy ranks in such a short period of time, so what was it like to get a call from Judd Apatow for a role in Funny People?
Aziz Ansari: It was great. I'd just lost the role of Chev Chelios in the film Crank 2 after coming very close to getting it (they decided to let Jason Statham reprise his role as Chev again for the sequel), so times were tough. The call from Judd came at just the right time.
Can you talk a bit about working with Judd on your Randy character? Did you write your own stand-up material or did he have bits scripted for you? How did the whole process of creating Randy come about for you?
Aziz Ansari: Judd and I talked a bit about what he had in mind for Randy and the early ideas he mentioned were about him being really cocky and very conscious about things like merchandise and how much money he made per gig. That attitude reminded me of those new young hip hop superstars like Soulja Boy, and that really became my inspiration. That's what triggered the ideas about the dance, the DJ, idiotic catchphrases, etc. Those to me are the defining aspects of Randy and it was not a shot at any particular comic, like many people think. Another notion that stuck in my head was the idea of the comic that kills with audiences but it is despised by the other comedians backstage. These guys are at every club, talking non-stop about their dick and their dumb stories about going down on girls, etc. This kind of was the jumping off point for when I started writing material specifically for Randy. Initially I started doing my own standup and just "Randy'ing" it up, but then I started writing Randy specific bits and that was really fun.
Like all of Judd's films, Funny People seems very much grounded in reality. Can you speak to the reality of these kinds of struggling stand-up characters and how it's reflected in the film?
Aziz Ansari: It seemed pretty real to me. The main difference I think is that now it's not as much centered around the comedy club scene. In NY and LA, most of the young talent seems to be coming out of places like the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre and small standup rooms around town, as opposed to the big clubs.
Now this Funny People DVD is just jam-packed with extras including this three-part Raaaaaandy documentary. Can you talk about the making of that? Was that done during regular production of the film, or was that something that came up afterwards?
Aziz Ansari: We were having so much fun with Randy that I asked Judd if myself and Jason Woliner, a collaborator from Human Giant, could make those documentaries. He was into the idea and let us run wild with it. It was shot after production stopped and many people that worked on Funny People worked super hard to help us make it happen and Jason and I love them all very much. The version on the DVD actually has some extra bits that haven't been seen before and is actually one long piece that tracks Randy's journey to getting a spot on the Jimmy Kimmell Live. It also features appearances by two of my favorite people ever - Nick Offerman and Eric Edelstein
I remember they released the videos of that "documentary" online before the film came out and they were quite popular. It seems that there could almost be a spin-off film for Randy seeing as how popular he was. Would you be up for something like that and has it been discussed at all?
Aziz Ansari: Judd talked to us about the idea of doing a movie with him and urged us to come in with some pitches, including one about Randy. We came up with 3 ideas. One about two guys that work for a motivational speaking company, a second about two disgraced astronauts, and a third that was a take on Randy. After the meeting, Judd and Universal decided to buy all 3. We were stunned and it wasn't what we're expecting, but we're totally up for the challenge. Right now, we're developing all 3 ideas and trying to figure out which we'll go with first. Our experiences working with Judd and his team have been great so we are thrilled to work on a bigger project with them.
You have Get Him to the Gig, previously titled Get Him to the Greek, coming up. Can you talk about your character in that film, and what it was like working with Jonah Hill again and the hilarious Russell Brand?
Aziz Ansari: Jonah is a good friend and hands down one of the funniest dudes I've ever worked with. I have so much respect for that guy. I didn't get to do a lot of scenes with him until Greek and seeing him work is incredible. He's a pro and deserves all the success he's gotten and more. I didn't have any scenes with Russell, but I did work with Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, who also absolutely kills in this movie. I have the utmost respect for Sean as well. Think about it like this - I've been working hard for years to establish myself as a comedic actor and after this film is released, Sean will have done that in a much shorter period of time, in addition to creating a successful vodka and cologne. Not to mention, I've seen a photo of him riding a jet ski in a tuxedo. What a life.
I'm a big fan of Parks and Recreation and, of course, of Tom Haverford as well. Can you talk about what we can expect from Tom as far as his relationship with his wife is concerned, and if there might be an office fling for Tom in the near future? At this point in the season, does Tom see Leslie as more of a big sister, mother or perhaps a lonely aunt?
Aziz Ansari: Tom's divorce hits him pretty hard and we end up at the Glitter Factory. It's the episode airing this week and I think it should be great. Not sure about future romances at this moment, but I imagine that should be an interesting new direction for Tom. As far as his relationship with Leslie, I think she's kind of like a great, great aunt; which is how I joke to Rashida and Amy that I see them in real life.
It was also announced that Will Arnett would be stopping by Pawnee this season. Are there any other big guest stars you can tell us about for the rest of this season?
Aziz Ansari: At this point, just Will and Justin Theroux, both of whom are hilarious and very nice dudes.
Since you've written for TV before, I was wondering if we might see an Aziz Ansari-scripted episode of Parks down the line? Are there any other writing projects you're working on right now?
Aziz Ansari: No thanks, I prefer napping/eating snacks in my trailer when I'm not acting, as opposed to slaving away at a script. Truth be told, that would be really fun to do. Even though I'm not a writer, Mike and Greg are really cool about hearing any ideas we have for our characters and when we're on set, I always pitch Tom jokes to the writer on set and the director; so I feel a part of the process even as an actor. The only writing projects I'm working on now are the Apatow projects I mentioned above.
You have a brand new stand-up special coming out on DVD in January called Intimate Moments for a Sensual Evening. Can you talk about some of the material you cover in the special, and if there are plans for future tours or stand-up specials?
Aziz Ansari: Its material I did on my Glow in the Dark standup tour. I talk about a bunch of stuff - thread counts in sheets, my chubby cousin Harris, and end with a special 10 minute Randy set that includes dancers, DJs, smoke, two minutes dedicated to making it rain. I'm still doing standup and working on new material to tour with in 2010, but with the shooting schedule of the show, it can be a difficult, slow moving process. I'd like to tour in 2010, it's just a matter of getting the set together. So far I have 25 new minutes I like, once I get it up to 45, I'll hit the road a little and then do a big tour in the Spring. That's the plan right now.
You can catch Aziz Ansari in Funny People, which is available on DVD and Blu-ray everywhere.
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