This week, sandwiched between the best episode of Community I’ve seen yet (Chevy Chase’s deviousness, Joel McHale’s histrionics, LeVar Burton’s magnificent cameo, the satire of single-camera filming in the context of a single-camera show: pretty genius) and the weakest episode of The Office I’ve seen yet (sorry, Office, but sometimes a parody of an unfunny movie just results in a rather unfunny half hour), Perfect Couples was pretty darn funny.
Sure, it’s partly because I share a fear of dead possums, but the slapstick surrounding Dave’s attempts to get rid of the deceased animal was clever, as were the food-poisoning antics of Rex and Leigh. (The whole NBC lineup aligned like the stars: Food poisoning turned up in 30 Rock as well.) The characters on Couples have become more sharply defined since the show’s premiere; I’m really enjoying the tough-love relationship between Kyle Bornheimer’s Dave and Christine Woods’ Julia (Woods is proving to be particularly good at firm outrage). And the show’s designated weird twosome, David Walton’s Vance and Mary Elizabeth Ellis’ Amy, have become authentically weird with gusto. I loved Amy’s impersonation of a helpless woman, gesturing to a fireplace and squeaking, “I sure wish a fire could start in that hole somehow.”
Even the show’s most stylized couple, Olivia Munn’s Leigh and Hayes MacArthur’s Rex, are now rooted in more coherent motives that work as comedy: They want the world around them to be as intense as the two of them are with each other.
No, Perfect Couples isn’t as good as Community, The Office, Parks and Recreation (another fantastic week for that show — Adam Scott and Chris Pratt were the MVPs this week), or 30 Rock, but Perfect Couples is getting better with each half hour.
Agree? Disagree?
Twitter: @kentucker
We really like “Perfect Couples”. Several laugh out loud moments, and despite each character’s quirks, very likeable. We’ll stick with the show.
And, I loved Amy’s hick ability to identify the possum.
Good god, you gotta be kidding. This show is HORRIBLE.
I agree, IT IS TERRIBLE, I think chimps could write a better show about relationships! I watched two episodes and I want the hour of my life back!
this show is ATROCIOUS. There is ZERO redeeming quality about this show
This show has been kind of a slow starter, but there have been enough truly clever lines sprinkled throughout each episode that I think once it settles in it should be very good.
I usually give new shows a three episode try. I gave both “the office” and “park/rec” a second try even as both had a bad first season and I’m glad I did, but the PerCoup pilot was so bad, I didn’t bother my “trial subscription”.
So what you are saying I should give it another shot??? Actually don’t think I can… I really can’t stand Munn
There was an “original” pilot that aired quite a while ago as sort of a random introduction to the show: it was terrible. But once the show officially started on NBC, I’ve enjoyed every episode. It’s not Emmy-worthy or anything, but I think it’s clever, funny and laid back. Give it another chance!
Couldn’t make it past the first five minutes of the pilot.What an awful show. Whatever happened to funny shows on NBC on Thursday? When did making the viewer uncomfortable become the new funny? (Office, 30Rock?)
You’re right, Seinfeld really tugged at the country’s heart strings and was never uncomfortable.
As far as I’m concerned NBC Thursday has the best comedies (not counting Outsourced). I didn’t give this show a chance because the promos looked awful but wound up watching them when I learned “The Waitress” was on it. It’s finding it’s groove and this week’s episode was funnier than Modern Family. I really don’t understand a lot of people’s unabashed hatred of this show which leads me to two conclusions either they never actually watched it or they should be watching the latest CBS sitcom where they tell you when you’re supposed to laugh. I think if a person likes the rest of the shows on NBC Thursday (not Outsourced) then they would like this show. It’s not the best but it’s certainly funny enough to stay on TV. Why do shows need to hit the ground running right away now? Watch the first 5 episodes of Seinfeld and I think it’s a miracle that it became such a great show.
The show is absolutely terrible, it is poorly written, acted, and directed. This “worst episode” of The Office was still a LOT better than this “best episode” of Perfect Couples.
I thought that was one of the best episodes of The Office all season. It hearkened back to the earlier seasons where the whole office was involved in one big project. You can’t tell me seeing Toby/the mannequin’s face blow up multiple times from different angles wasn’t funny.
agreed! i really enjoyed this episode of the office!
i am still not sold on Perfect Couples …
Love The Office – especially Andy’s scenes. A decent episode of Perfect Couples and it’s getting better. My favorite episode was still the one involving the man cave.
What’s with all the Office hate on this site??!? Stop recapping it, then!
These shows are all so much funnier and more enjoyable than your coverage of them. I think I’ve had enough of you, EW. If you were a possum, I’d lacrosse-stick you right into the woods.
I thought this was the funniest episode of The Office I’ve seen in years. And I do think Perfect Couples is getting better. What NBC really needs on Thursday is a better show to lead off the night. I love Community but sometimes I’m not quite ready for it at 8:00. It’d be better at 9:00 or later. They need to ditch Outsourced altogether…
I agree with you, Walty, regarding The Office and Perfect Couples. I don’t have any problem with Community being on at 7(my time). I’m just glad it’s on at all. Perfect Couples made me laugh last night and I definitely think it’s getting better.
What’s with all the aversion to criticism on these comment boards? Face it folks, it was not a great Office outing this week. A few funny moments, but the episode was really only saved by the fact that a genuine shift occurred in Michael’s self-awareness (him gaining the ability to laugh at his own stupidity), and remembering just how funny Melora Hardin is when she’s being interviewed in the documentary (watching her fumbling the car door open in her anger was priceless).
I totallt agree this was defimitely one of the best episodes of the office in a VERY long time. There was Jim amd Pam flirtation, the psychotic mess that is Jan, Pam’s mom as a slutty nurse and finally, a Michael Scott who has joined a reality of sorts by being with Holly. I loved that lucid moment he had at the end of the show when he just started making fun of his own movie. Personally, I loved this episode but this sitealways seems to pu the office down (and in favor of a show that will be cancelled in another few episodes because it is God awful.)
This is the same writer who claims to like Fringe but really can’t say anything good about it…
I thought the last Office episode was quite week and Perfect Couples seems to be getting funnier with each episode. I agree that many who don’t like it, either wrote it off after the first episode or go in not wanting to like it.
Ken, you’re the man, and I like reading you, but Perfect Couples is pretty bad.
Agree. I changed channels after 10 minutes – way too predictable/unwatchable. Besides, if – as the article pointed out – Community was so good, then why waste space on this space-holder of a show?
How can this guy hate Psych and like Perfect Couples? Inconceivable!
Perfect Couples is awful.
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Agreed that tonight’s Office was one of the best all season. I liked looking back on the characters at a different time in their lives.
Perfect Couples has great potential, and has become an enjoyable half hour.
… Per l’occasione ho certao un avatar, gli ho fatto indossare dei pantaloni a zampa e una giacca lunga. A mercoledì!
There’s a reason why Perfect Couples is a low rated show. It simply sucks. God Ken Tucker who in the hell hired you has a critic. You suck.
Don’t you just love idiots who are unable to comprehend that different people have different tastes, and rabidly attacks anyone who dares hold a different opinion from them?
Have you watched the show?! I wanted to hate but I’m sorry last week’s Man Cave episode was Laugh Out Loud funny!! I watched with my sis who was prepared to be “to good for the crap show” and she DIED laughing. She wanted to hate it too but if you really watch it and allow yourself to not be “too cool for school” It’s pretty darn funny and Ken said. Now I did NOT like this week’s episode of the Office but other’s seemd to love it. I don’t get it so clearly people just have different sense of humor. Oh and Parks and Rec is hitting it out of the Park this season hehe as is Community. I LOVE COMMUNITY!! Yes I know I shouldn’t yell but I need to make sure everyone hears me. I LOVE YOU COMMUNITY!!
@Jacopo dal basso verso l’alto, tnieccamente un gancio, non può prenderti sul cranio: dovresti stare, tu che lo prendi, a testa in giù: ammetterai che, a parte qualche film di jhon woo, è ipotesi improbabile per quasi tutti i tipi di lotta conosciuti. comunque: ne ho vista di gente andata al tappeto per un gancio ben dato. insisto. un pugno, dato come vuoi, ti stende, non ti sveglia.salud
Totally agree. This show is zany but hysterical. Lots of funny one liners that can get missed if you don’t listen closely. Hope this one makes it.
I too agree. At first, I couldn’t see the funny in this show but it has been getting better. My husband and I actually shared a couple of laughs over it. I actually didn’t get up to clean up in the kitchen. Hope it is not too late to save it.
JP like I said there’s a reason why this show is low rated. It might help if they recast a couple. Mainly Hayes MacAuthurs and Olivia Munn’s. But the show is downright horrible.
The age of critical darlings at NBC has to end if they want to get out of last place.
“The age of critical darlings at NBC has to end if they want to get out of last place.”
Great advice, tvcon. Let’s just get rid of Parks and Rec and 30 Rock and Community and replace them with Chuck Lorre sitcoms.
If NBC’s low ratings keep Community, Parks & Rec and 30 Rock on the air, I hope the ratings never improve. Community is breathtaking in its ambition. BTW, thanks EW for not recapping it any more. The best way to bring attention to a brilliant show is to ignore it.
JLC, I 100% agree with you.
Get Christine Woods a real show!
Nope sorry. Worst show in the 3-hour NBC comedy block. Yes, including Outsourced, which you seem to hate so to each their own I guess. Still, Perfect Couples low, low ratings will hopefully ensure a quick death.
Ken, you gotta be kidding me! This show is godawful!
i watched the first episode and could barley get through it. i even stopped recording it on the dvr. but if you’re saying that it is getting good, then maybe i could give it a second chance…?
oh and totally agree with you on this weeks community was amazing and pretty epic. and parks and rec was awesome! i love adam scott and chris pratt so much and this just intensified my love for them (especially adam! — i love how he was given a lot of screen time today)
We like Perfect Couples — don’t get Parks and Recreation or Outsourced at all. 30 Rock rules the night, with Community a VERY close second. The Office is very hit or miss (though tonight was pretty funny).
You like 30 Rock and Community and “don’t get” Parks and Recreation? That honestly makes no sense.
Actually, I agree with Jason. Comm and 30 rock are quantifiably funny. Parks and Rec is just so droll. I’ll tell you what happens on next week’s episode: Leslie will be spunky about a do-gooder project, Wyatt will be awkward and lame, Haverford wil act “ghetto” once again, Abry Plaza’s face will continue to melt of from boredom, and Rob Lowe will LITERALY love it all.
*yawn*
It’s not a bad little show and it is getting better. Like everything else it needs time. The one thing I have a problem with is the Vance Amy relationship. In real life, Amy is not hot enough for Vance. I’m not buying it. The other two couples are totally believable.
Perfect Couples is a pretty funny show, it’s not the best, but it is growing on me week by week. I guess TVCon doesn’t have a sense of humor if he’s not laughing out loud to this show. The Office was amazing! Now bring me the Will Ferrell episodes to make it even more epic.
This show is hilarious. Kyle Bornheimer is genius!