NBC Thursday: Season Premieres

My favorite line up of comedy starts tonight on the peacock network.

The final season of The Office commences, and despite my shouts of 'shut it down now!' I am sad that's it's nearing the end. Before the writers strike of 2007, this show was one of the most unique, funniest and emotionally sweet single cameras around. But something happened after the picket signs were put away and the ball got rolling again. Somewhere around the show's season four, it became a sitcom. Contrivances, continuity and lashes of deus ex machina with characters to which I'd grown ambivalent, The Office was not longer "must see" but just another DVR recording I'd delete.

Executive Producer Greg Daniels had mentioned during the hiatus, that The Office would return to form this last season. So, I'm hoping it's filled with heart warming Jim and Pam moments, less Andy and Erin and big name guest stars, with a nice Michael Scott cameo or two for good measure.

The video below made me sad. The ending is very much needed at this stage, but bittersweet nonetheless.



Also premiering is my new favorite show right on network television right now - Parks and Recreation. Leslie is now the new council-lady and Ben is off in Washington DC working on a new campaign. A little Jim-and-Pam-type long distance drama could be thrown in, but I think the powers that be have used up all their romantic-drama cards on the Halperts. Tom and Anne are moving in together, and Anne looks as annoyed as ever. Andy is moving toward a new career choice - policeman. Let's hope that Tom and Donna continue to include us in "Treat Yo-self Day"(misspelling noted) this season:



Up All Night has really grown on me. This cast is hilarious. Looks like Ava's show has been canceled, which could be a massive problem since Reagan has been the primary bread winner in the family.



SNL Election

Stevie Nicks on 'Up All Night'

I can't even get into how much I adore Stevie Nicks without gushing about my teen years and how I permed my hair into a dry mount of frizzy waves just to emulate this amazing lady. She appeared in last night's episode of Up All Night, where she quieted a crying baby and shushed a yapping dog all at once. She is the queen.


Here's Stevie talking about the experience.

Dean Winters on 'Up All Night'

Perhaps you've seen Dean Winters as Tommy Gavin's angry brother on Rescue Me, or as Liz Lemon's dummy boyfriend Dennis Duffy on 30 Rock. My first introduction to him was in the HBO series Oz as the terrifying O'Reilly. Now, he can be seen all the time as Mayhem in the ubiquitous AllState Insurance ads. But come Thursday, you'll find him on NBC's Up All Night, where he'll portray Will Arnett's older brother.