The Tom Baker love in this thread is close to restoring my faith in humanity.

Ava also pulled the same shotgun on Boyd in the first episode. I wouldn't call it fear, but I'm sure he respects her plenty.

Even when their fights begin as a result of their different backgrounds/tastes, what makes them bad is something they have in common: They're both ridiculously childish. So many times they could avoid that big fight if just one of them had the maturity to let it go. Neither of them ever do though.

There's more fun times than you'd think— probably because in the 2-part cliffhanger at season's end, things were so bad between them & this is what sticks in our memories. When you watch this whole season on DVD now though, there was really a lot more good times than bad.

The return of "What's Up With That?" should have automatically deducted a full grade from this episode.

I've got to agree with Nathan Ford's Evil Twin. Tom is too much of a clown and Ann already knows this all too well. It makes no sense for her to even consider dating him. In order for it to believable that Ann would go out with him, they'd have to change Tom's character completely, which would make him unfunny, so…

On the stuffed animal thing, I think you have to keep in mind that Diane— despite her intellect— is every bit as immature as Sam. Their fights are like those of little children (as we'll learn more and more as the season progresses). With the benefit of hindsight, the stuffed animals (and the silly names she gives…

I had given up on this show and then watched this episode based solely on this review. And I have to agree with Dasein that this is an episode I waited years for. Seasons three & four, especially, had devolved into mindless farce with gratuitous nudity thrown in. But when the show started, it was about (or so I…

This episode was pretty much perfect.

Paradox will pull the trigger, no doubt.

Yeah, you could see it coming. Still, there was a moment there when Johnny sold it so well I could almost believe he might betray Boyd. I had no problem at all believing that Devil would be dumb enough to make that play, however. He was obviously never a smart guy— that's why he was cannon fodder (like most cheap…

This may be the show's greatest episode. In addition to the comedy, it's just a great exercise in characterization. The main plot is all about Hank on the surface, but characterization is revealed in every other character's reaction to his situation. Just expertly done.

The finale is basically a primer in writing sitcom dialogue. Hell, any dialogue. It is almost literally a symphony, building to that grand crescendo when they finally kiss.

Yes, but Larry does not obsess over his show because of all the people who count on him for their livelihood. He obsesses over the show because he's a narcissistic ass.

Some sitcoms are lazy & some try a little bit harder.

"Penny and Leonard back together because why the hell not?"

Again, getting ahead of myself, but my fave Andy Andy episode is the one where Diane has a nightmare about him. Which ends with her fantasy image of a pipe-smoking, opera-composing Sam.

Yeah, Boyd's too smart to just openly attack Raylan in the Fed building like that. He clearly wanted to go to jail so he could get to Dickie & shiv him for shooting Ava.

Yeah, I was thinking more of a possible return to stand-up (or some other show biz gig) for the character and an appearance on Larry's talk show as a guest. Just think of how uncomfortable everyone would have been— the episode writes itself!

I loved this one. I only wish Piven had come back and reprised the role for an episode or two.