Sometimes I think fans turn on a television show simply because it’s been around a while. Has it really declined all that much in quality? Or has the viewer chosen to move on simply because it is no longer new and sexy? Take, for instance, the fourth season of Breaking Bad that is currently airing on AMC. Some claim that the show is having an off year; something I don’t see in the slightest. I should clarify that this is not a popular opinion, but I’ve seen it enough that it’s disconcerting. For my money, this fourth season maintains (but does not surpass) the high bar set by the third season. I say all this because another show that people seemed to trash last year is It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, the frequently uproarious comedy about what happens when the most terrible people on the planet hang out for 20 minutes. Even in its weaker episodes, this is a show that will always make me smile with glee.
And yes, there were some weak episodes early on in the sixth season, which gets its DVD release this week. (That’s why I’m writing this, after all. Forgive me if it took a while to get to the point.) But beginning with the third episode (“The Gang Buys a Boat”) the season hit a nice little stride that peaked with the rather brilliant episode “Who Got Dee Pregnant?” It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is not a show that constantly looks to transcend the medium—multi-episode arcs are a rare breed, and there’s little in the way of genuine character development—but it always milks its central premise for the maximum amount of laughs. At its best, it’s one of the funniest (not best) shows on television. At its worst, it’s a passable 20 minutes of comedy. This show is just a perfect example of what happens when a group of writers and performers are comfortable with each other and working at the top of their game. I will never make the case that it’s a superior show to comedies like Community and Parks and Recreation, but I will tell you that I watch it just as faithfully. Forget what you may hear from dissenters; this is a show that’s still going strong.
There’s another good comedy series out on DVD this week, and it is the second season of ABC’s Modern Family. I will always defend this show as incredibly funny and touching, but I will not disagree with the argument that the second season already seemed to lack the freshness of the first. Much of this may have to do with the writing, which refused to try very much beyond what had already been done on the show before. In my opinion, the best shows never repeat themselves, and it’s troubling to me that it didn’t take long for Modern Family to start feeling familiar. The second season is still some really good stuff—including great episodes like “Two Monkeys and a Panda” and “See You Next Fall,” among others—but I hope that in the future the writers choose to push forward rather than leaning back.
In the film department, there is the Marvel product Thor, which is unforgivably slight for what is supposed to be a summer blockbuster. Oh, but you’re the snooty type? Well, then perhaps you can invest in a new Collector’s Edition of the underrated obscurity Citizen Kane. What’s in this new version? Well, a crap ton of special features, and apparently Kane now screams “Noooooo!!!” while he destroys his room late in the film. There are also a couple movies getting a DVD release that I wasn’t able to see in theaters: the documentary Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop and the indie western Meek’s Cutoff. I look forward to finally checking these babies out, both of which have garnered much acclaim.
I leave you with the promo for the upcoming seventh season of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, which premieres this Thursday. Apparently Rob McElhenney gained 50 pounds over the summer, which is the greatest decision anyone has ever made in the history of television. Not necessarily a good decision for him, but still.
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