THERE WAS A TIME when Thursday nights were almost sacred. It was the turn of the millennium, and Thursday evening was all about the battle between watching Survivor and Friends. I would make the trek to some friends’ apartment, usually Sonic meal in tow, and we would talk and watch Friends, flip to Survivor, and then back to Friends again. (Then there was that unfortunate run of Push, Nevada that no one watched except me. Ah well.) Those were good times, times long gone and replicated only with the coming and going of LOST.
But I still enjoy Thursday night television, though the closest Sonic is thousands of miles away. Last season may have been the best for Thursday nights and NBC since Friends: 30 Rock, Parks and Recreation, Community, and the last great season of The Office. I don’t really get to talk TV anymore except with one or two students at random moments, but my love for the medium and even the message remains. Which is glad I finally came across the folks at Grantland.com and their weekly rehash of NBC’s Thursday night line-up. The rehash is done by a guy, Andy Greenwald, whose book I read, Miss Misery, a number of years ago and enjoyed. That’s a nice boost to an already good thing. Last night, of course, saw the return of Community after a months’-long hiatus. The show, about seven people from different walks of life taking classes together at the local community college, was in regular form, which means it was tight and hilarious. Mix in another quality episode of 30 Rock and another episode of a nice mini-revival of The Office, and you’ve got a quality night.
Greenwald’s commentary is, by the way, often spot on and insightful. He ranks the evening’s episodes in order (with whatever NBC puts on at 8:30 usually being the lowest mark). He points out the honest highs and lows of each and gives a good reminder of why good television, and good scripted comedy television, is such a good (and rare) thing.
Check out his most recent review here. And check out some quality comedy every Thursday night on NBC.
Space Enough, and Time 
Ah, good times. Don’t forget tomato soup and cheese cubes! I remember what a great TV night Thursdays were when I was in college. Friends, Seinfeld, ER. Now, I am a lot less dedicated to TV. I still watch but not as religiously and those shows I do watch faithfully, I tend to DVR (Big Bang, Modern Family, Cougartown, Suburgatory, Happy Endings).