Having not yet watched the latest Office (has anyone seen or heard anything about this wedding?) or It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and eliminating Friday and Saturday’s television offerings (do they air shows those nights?) from my pool, I admit that the following claim might be under-researched…but you know what? I’m going to make it anyway: Last night’s Parks and Recreation was the most satisfying comedy of the week.
Sure, Curb Your Enthusiasm gave us the Seinfeld gang and Modern Family proved once again — even in its weakest episode thus far — worth all the critical fuss, but it was Parks that managed to be sweet and sharp and absolutely hilarious all in the same half hour. A show that just last spring was struggling to find a voice for its main character was able to combine juvenile office games, blossoming romance, and jazz saxophone all into a believable story line. Gold stars to Amy Poehler and company. You guys are making me so proud! READ FULL STORY »
On Zombieland’s opening night last Friday, EW.com accompanied the film’s stars, its director and the two screenwriters to four different movie theaters across Los Angeles to check out how the new horror comedy was playing with fans. Zombieland marks director Ruben Fleischer’s debut along with screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick’s first go at the big screen. The ride-along was also the first time Woody Harrelson checked out his film on opening night and it marked a break-through for Jesse Eisenberg: it’s the first movie he could stand to watch himself in. Check out some of the night’s highlights–and lowlights–below.
It looks like this show is about to get really, really good. Everything we wanted to happen is: Elena has pieced together the truth about Stefan (cue the flashback montage!), Bonnie is ready to accept who she is (enter GRANDMA JASMINE GUY, which made me feel as old as the first time I heard someone say they were born in the ’80s), and Vicki should be dead (drink, Damon, drink!). Yes! 
That whole “guys don’t make passes at girls who wear glasses” era is way, way over if Shirley Manson is any indication. The Garbage singer works it in various specs with Elijah Wood for the 2010 campaign from eyewear company Oliver Peoples, photographed by Autumn De Wilde. More photos of these gorgeous folks in sunnies and specs will launch on the Oliver Peoples website in November.
While reading your comments from last week, I noticed that some of you were under the impression that I didn’t like Community. Far from the truth. The show offers 30 minutes of satisfying entertainment (22 minutes without commercials, as Abed would surely point out). It’s just that Community hasn’t taken it to the next level. It sits there like a puppy desperately wanting to be loved, but it hasn’t earned its gold star, unlike, say, ABC’s delectable Modern Family. Last night’s episode, “Social Psychology,” continued Community‘s trend, which, let me reiterate, consists of providing a number of moderately funny moments, a couple of laugh-out-laugh zingers, and an overall agreeable aura. Top-tier comedy? Not so far, but that’s a tall order for any new sitcom, and I don’t believe this one will be sputtering out anytime soon. 
Aren’t social dynamics fascinating? I’m guessing that a lot of you watching the show this season are enjoying Shambo. And why not? She’s got a great sense of humor and a great head of hair. So why does Galu dislike her so much?
Ask not for whom the teen tweets, dear Pop Watchers; as of today, she tweets for no one.
Invite Danny Pudi, who plays the frenetic, socially awkward aspiring filmmaker Abed on NBC’s Community (now Thursdays, 8 p.m. ET), into your office, and, for a moment, it’s like the Gilmore Girls and Greek alum (who was the first recipient of the Chris Farley Scholarship at Marquette University) is doing a Keyser Söze sketch. “Pandas will love Community,” he says after spotting the stuffed animal behind you. (Don’t ask.) “We have an Asian Spanish teacher [Ken Jeong as Señor Chang], and pandas love Asians because they’re in China and they’re protected there.” But like Abed, Pudi is observant and just wants to connect. He’ll say whatever’s on his mind (“Sarah Michelle Gellar, gorgeous,” as he looks at a framed EW cover, “Is that a pillow hamburger?” as he spies yes, a pillow hamburger, and “Is that Showgirls the board game?” as he eyes the DVD VIP Edition); he’ll touch whatever he can get his hands on (a panic button that came with a screener of TBS’ 10 Items or Less). What else do he and Abed have in common: 
