Another post about Mr. Yin Presents, just because it's my favorite Psych episode.

I cannot believe James Roday wrote and directed this episode. Why doesn't he do more?! He's fantastic.

Some Thoughts on the Cast of Parks & Recreation

Sometimes I can't believe how beautifully P&R is cast. I feel almost like they rounded up a bunch of funny individuals and then created characters for them on the spot. I'll show you what I mean...

Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) - One of the things I love most about Amy is she doesn't give a fuck what anyone thinks of her. Another thing is that she's a goofy dork. Throw in a little governmental ambition and you've got Leslie Knope.

Ann Perkins (Rashida Jones) - I feel like a lot of actresses could play Ann, but not many could create such great chemistry between Ann and Leslie. Rashida and Amy are close pals in real life, and it totally translates to the show. Also, Ann is such a refreshingly normal character...she's laid back and loyal, and I feel a lot of that is Rashida's personality coming through.

Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman) - Come on. Try and think of another actor who could play Ron like Nick does, or play Ron at all for that matter. Ron Swanson is a one-of-a-kind character (and one of the best characters on television for that matter) and no matter how awesome the writing is, a lot of the credit goes to Nick.

Tom Haverford (Aziz Ansari) - Aziz has the look, the voice, and the demeanor to completely embody the essence of Tom Haverford. I feel like so much of Tom comes from Aziz's actual life.

April Ludgate (Aubrey Plaza) - I don't know if anyone could be as fantastically deadpan as Aubrey is. I've seen bits of her stand up and such, and it seems like April is merely an exaggeration of Aubrey.

Andy Dwyer (Chris Pratt) - Usually these kinds of dim-witted characters can be exhausting after a few silly remarks, but not many have been as successful as Chris at making an idiot so lovable.

Of course Adam Scott as Ben Wyatt and Rob Lowe as Chris Traeger are great too.

Abigail Lytar (Psych)

I don't know what it is about Abby that I don't like. I'm sure the only reason I wasn't a fan was because I didn't like seeing Juliet get hurt by Shawn dating Abby. But Abigail is a great character, and perfect for Shawn; she's smart, witty, motivated, and almost as snarky and sarcastic as Shawn. She's a great person for any other character to date, but I like Jules too much.

Mr. Yin Presents...

I hold my shit together for the entire episode, through Jules being tied to the clock tower, through Shawn's reaction when Gus says Jules is okay, through Abigail breaking up with Shawn after he saves her life. But I lose it when Lassie holds Jules while she's crying in that montage at the end. That's just the sweetest, most tender, truly realistic moment...you see the relationship between Juliet and Lassie move to a place where they're not just co-workers, not even just partners: they're almost like family. They care so much about each other when it comes down to it. Obviously Jules being in that situation isn't plausible in real life, but the way she reacts (getting angry when people try to comfort her, but breaks down when she's finally around someone she feels safe with) is so well-acted. You truly feel her pain and Lassie's sympathy for her.
Anyways. It's one of my favorite moments from not just the episode, but the entire series.

Katie Rewatches The Office from the Beginning - Season 1, Episode 1, - "Pilot"

• Michael Scott's hair is terrible.
• This is so deadpan, it's absurd.
• "You're a gentleman and a scholar. Oh, sorry. My mistake. That was a woman I was talking to."
• I love how little personality Pam has in the beginning. It's so believable.
• Dwight singing "Little Drummer Boy" - some continuity later on
• "WAZZZUP" - so awkward after they wear it out.
• The special filing cabinet for things from corporate...
• Todd Packer on speakerphone - "I have one question. Does the carpet match the drapes?"
• "I'm sort of a student of comedy" - cue Hitler impression.
• Dwight moving all of Jim's stuff back on his desk. One word, two syllables - demarcation.
• Jim lining the desk border with pencils - "I could fall and pierce and organ." And when Dwight proceeds to whack all the pencils with his phone, whac-a-mole style? BRILLIANT. Never not funny.
• "I have been reccomending downsizing since I got here. Even brought it up in my interview."
• Six Million Dollar Man impression. And how badly it bombs. And when Michael looks back to see if Pam is laughing.
• Heroes - Bob Hope, Abraham Lincoln, Bono, and probably God would be the fourth one.
• Dwight wanting Michael to tell him the news first. Love seeing the power struggle, or lack there of.

• I feel like the production quality of this season was so low budget.
• "You ain't gonna be messin' wit my chillun.
• The stapler in jello, of course.
• And Pam's little giggle at the jello.
• And the fact that Jim is eating jello.
• "I've always been your biggest flan." "You should have put him in custardy."
• How we're basically lead to believe that Jim and Pam may be together, and then Roy walks in. Ugh.
• Fake firing Pam. What a dick. "Theft. And stealing. Post-it Notes."
• "My proudest moment here was not when I increased profits by 17% or when I cut expenses without losing a single employee. Nuh nuh nuh no. It was a young Guatemalan guy. First job in the country, barely spoke English. Came to me and said "Mr. Scott, would you be the godfather of my child?" Wow, wow. Wow. Didn't work out in the end, we had to let him go, he sucked."
• Jim not going out for drinks because Pam wasn't.

Overall rating: 7/10. It's so different than the following seasons, but it was trying to be like the UK Office. Viciously deadpan. Low production quality. But also hilarious.

Favorite Characters, Day 1 - Det. Juliet O'Hara (Psych)

I'm all about strong female characters, and I think Juliet is a great example of one. She's a badass detective: smart, strong, poised, and good at her job. But she's also feminine, and knows when to let her girly side slip out. She doesn't act like she's asexual; she shows attraction to the opposite sex almost as much as the male characters do. Well, not quite. But she doesn't pretend like she has no sex drive. For example, in Season 3, episode 13, "Any Given Friday Night at 10pm, 9pm Central" she admits attraction to football players, and looks at them the same way a man might gawk at a cheerleader. Strong females still are human beings, and still like to look at those they're attracted to.

Juliet also has a romantic side, but she doesn't let the prospect of a relationship make her act giggly and silly. She ignores Shawn's advances for almost three seasons while still keeping the relationship friendly and professional. She shows her romantic side in "A Very Juliet Episode" when she meets up with her college boyfriend.

Maggie Lawson is perfect in this role. She's sweet and innocent but also a serious professional who can kick some ass. Maggie's a beautiful girl, but she also kind of looks like a regular girl. She's not a supermodel (even if she played one in "Model Behavior") and she dresses like a professional would dress. It's nice that they don't make Juliet a sexy, coy plaything for men to gawk at. She's obviously attractive, but that's not what her entire character is about.

Favorite moments: Her & Shawn's kiss, of course, the close-talking scene is awesome, and the whole "Talk Derby to Me" episode.