New at BOP: Review: Matrix Resurrections Movie Review: Moonfall Movie Reviews: Scream The #1 Movie in America November Forecast The Many Saints of Newark October Forecast New Trivia Question All site updates Share & Save   Tweet Print this column

Skipping over Parks and Rec for now, I’ll next expound on Ryan Howard’s uselessness on The Office. I mean really, what’s his deal? Yeah, the real-life dude who plays him, B.J. Novak, is an Office writer and co-executive producer, so his presence is probably rationalized as something fun for him to do. For kicks, man!

I don’t think, for instance, that he or anybody else could have envisioned Ryan’s left-field arc from temp wunderkind to Dunder Mifflin president or whatever. That whole thing, actually, was pretty nifty, and I don’t blame the writers for giving the new dynamic a shot. I mean, temp bossed around by Michael Scott to corporate bigwig supervising Michael Scott? That’s good.

But then they came down from their high, and Ryan has been relegated to the background since. But not in the way that works for characters like Meredith or Stanley or Creed. He’s just on the show, and I can’t help but think every time I see him: What the hell is he doing there? I mean, he’s got less ambition that ever, he doesn’t flirt with Kelly anymore… what’s he want from us?

The evening’s biggest problem child, though, is Kenneth the Page on 30 Rock. And as much as I’d like to say he’s been a nuisance since day one, this isn’t so. He simply developed into one. If memory serves me right, Kenneth wasn’t that bad early on. He was, I think, pretty likable and charming. You know, the necessary, squeaky clean straight man amongst a crowded field of oddballs.

Jack McBrayer must make a mean chai latte or have some sensational dirt on Tina Fey to warrant his continued presence on 30 Rock. Jack may be the most amusing man in the world, yet his funny is repelled by Kenneth’s constant stream of cringe-worthy exchanges.

It’s like I’m excited for anybody who tells me they’ll buy into the hype and start watching the show critics are in bed with. Then I include a practical disclaimer script: “Oh, but hey, beware of that Kenneth fellow.” You know, better wipe my hands clean now before they get too far into it and question why I’d support a show that keeps the page on payroll.

As I said, Parks and Rec may have ditched its dead wood, and man, hooray for that. For most of the series’ run, Mark Brendanawicz has been about as useful as an ankle wart. He had some play as Leslie’s dislikable love interest in season one, then got with Ann in season two and his character fell apart. It wasn’t before long, I think, that the writers realized they’d created one of the most boring couples on television.

In the second season finale, Mark accepted a job elsewhere and will, for some time at least, not be a regular presence on the program. Mike Schur covered that it was always in the cards for his character to come and go from the show, yet I think that’s industry speak for: “We realized Paul Schneider wasn’t a necessary fixture on the show and we decided to mutually part ways.”

If that’s the case, then bravo to the writers for recognizing the problem and implementing a formidable solution. Community, The Office and 30 Rock would be better for it, too.

Continued:       1       2