re: Community v Parks & Rec

quote:

---

Wife binged Community twice a few months ago and I didn't care for it. The writing was pretty good but the characters and the setting were all really tiresome. There wasn't a single character who I looked forward to seeing or hearing. It was the opposite of the "great episode for Randy" South Park meme - "This would be a great episode for, well, none of these characters but maybe some different ones."

Parks and Rec you wanted Ron and Donna and Gary and Andy and Harris in every episode. Even the unlikable characters (minus Mark) were likable and funny.

---

Community and Mark Brendanowitz slander in one post??

Legally I have to fight you now.

Yeah outside of the first season, the two shows are really nothing alike. I think that’s a lazy critique of the show

I love both but the easy answer for me is P&R.

Only one had a guest appearance by Vince Gilligan. Point to Community.

But then again, only one had Cones of Dunshire. Point to Parks.

Community

Not close

quote:

---

Parks and Rec is good, but a great example of a show that did nothing to push the bounds of comedy. I agree Community has a lot of flaws but it was great a lot of the time when Parks and Rec was only very good at doing stuff I have seen a lot before.

---

I'll chime in again and although the topic has sparked good opinions, it's not a zero sum game.

Both shows and many more should be watched by all.

Parks is great, not good. Parks is an easy and consistent comedy with awesome writing and actors. The initial intent was to spin-off The Office and that's seen in S1. Then it found it's better footing in S2 and beyond. It's amazing for what it does. Even if it doesn't push boundaries, it's still intelligent and funny.

The same chain of show-runners is The Office, Parks, Brooklyn 99 and The Good Place. Brooklyn 99 is my real favorite comedy all-time now supplanting Parks. 99 pushes boundaries, but not in the same mold. The Good Place is where they really pushed the boundaries intellectually and it's a great show. My opinion is fairly well known here, I think Daniels, Mike Schur, Dan Goor and that whole circle have contributed to the most likeable and smart comedy shows in recent TV history.

That said, Community is a more interesting show than Parks. It dives a lot deeper and explores who you are - not necessarily what you think you are. Although McHale is the lead, it's really the Abed show. And that's a testement to Dan Harmon's own struggles.


TDLR: Watch good stuff. And for your effort: