Sitcom Superlatives – The Saddest Goodbyes

When I first heard that Don’t Trust the B—- In Apartment 23 was cancelled, I thought that was the saddest news I would hear this week. While Don’t Trust the B was not perfect, it was enjoyable, with undeniable chemistry between June (Dreama Walker) and Chloe (Krysten Ritter), and my weekly recommended allowance of James van der Beek. But Don’t Trust the B was not the only sitcom or even the saddest sitcom winding up towards a finale or cancelled, and so for this week we have a special Sitcom Superlatives where we bid adieu to two very special friends.

Ben and Kate
It’s rare a comedy as warm and unrepentantly sunshine-y as Ben and Kate comes along. And despite my constant gushing over Go On, Ben and Kate was my pick for best new show of the season. It was effortlessly delightful, sweet, and… cancelled?

I don’t pretend to understand FOX’s internal decision-making on this one. I’m sure it had something to do with ratings (which I maintain are bullshit), or maybe no FOX executive had ever had a sibling, because if they did, I’m not sure how they ever could have said no to this show, which portrays family and especially sibling relationships so perfectly and tenderly. I can only hope that this is a stepping point for all of the lead actors to bigger and better things – specifically Dakota Johnson and Nat Faxon. Call me, you guys. I have ideas.

30 Rock

As a warning, at this time next week I will not be calm, composed, or otherwise okay with having just watched the last episode of 30 Rock. 30 Rock is one of my favorite shows week after week after week, a smart comedy for people like me who love comedy, who love to see how it’s made and watch it take shape. It’s smart, always on-point, and manages to take complicated, upsetting issues and make them effortlessly funny. Liz Lemon is the first character I’ve watched on television who I ever felt like was me – not an aspirational version of me, but a me that had flaws, and that having those flaws was okay. And the way this show is ending has been pitch-perfect, from Liz getting married to adopting miniature Jenna and Tracy, but that doesn’t make saying goodbye any easier. 30 Rock is a show that’s been with me through thick and thin, good times and bad, helped me articulate thoughts I didn’t even know I had, and given me phrases such as “blergh” and “I want to go to there”, which I use pretty much every day of my life.

I’m not sure how sitcoms are supposed to go on without 30 Rock. I’m not sure I’ll ever be ready to know.