Happy Endings – Is there such thing as a ‘Cool Boss?’

What a great surprise to get a new episode of ABC’s Happy Endings this week! Even though I’m even more impatient now for the Season 2 premiere on September 28, I was thrilled to have my Happy laughs a month early.

“Why Can’t You Read Me?” was similar to some older episodes in that some of the characters’ stories were really well done, and others were just amusing. I enjoyed the “Penny as Cool Boss” story the most, which tied in nicely with Brad and Max taking their reality show fantasies and making them, well … reality. Sort of.

I had the feeling that Penny would have overdone being the Cool Boss, the way she overdoes much else on the show (becoming an expert in hipster fashion; getting drunk in order to speak Italian; and ruling her class in Jazz-Kwon-Do are some examples). And I laughed out loud when she said, “I’m like Tina Fey, okay?” because nobody on 30 Rock really thinks Liz is cool.

But Penny’s over-the-top affectation made me wonder if there is such a thing as a “cool boss.” I’m sure Michael Scott thought he was a cool boss. And the way he tried so hard to be resulted in him being the complete opposite of cool.

I would define a “cool boss” as someone who is professional, respectful, communicative, and not too uptight. I would not favor a boss who constantly calls me by a nickname (like Penny’s “RiRi”) or who lets me do whatever I want. (I bet I’m not alone, either; people need boundaries at the workplace or nothing gets done!) In fact, the less “cool” he or she tries to be, the cooler of a boss they actually become.

I wish I appreciated sports so that I could have enjoyed Dave’s encounter with the lacrosse coach that much more. As it was, I thought that Kim’s commentary on his performance was funny as soon as I understood what she was doing, and then it lost momentum quickly and I didn’t care about their relationship anymore. (Although I was cackling as I watched her scroll down scores of past lovers, including roughly five Daves, in her digital “playbook.”)

Another good moment was when Paul, one of the graduates of the adult literacy program, read Alex’s letter to Jane. It made up for the rest of the scenes of Jane and her group, which showed her as an awkward and unfunny leader. Yet, like Penny and the Cool Boss Dilemma, what Jane’s literacy graduates really appreciated about Jane wasn’t her ability to crack a joke or be playful like her sister Alex, but rather, to be an organized, dedicated, and, most importantly, passionate teacher.

See you at the season premiere on September 28!

Happy Endings Quotes:

“I don’t want to see a documentary about penguins.” — Max
“What if the penguins got hammered off of body shots? Formed a couple of alliances and had night-vision sex in a hot tub? — Brad
“I’m listening.” — Max
“I’d watch the ass outta that.” — Alex

“In high school, my boss was such a jerk, I used to mess up orders just to get back at him.” — Alex, convincing Penny that she should be the “cool boss”
“Al, you worked at a pharmacy.” — Jane

“I didn’t order that.” — Dave, referring to the double shot of tequila the waitress brought him
“I know. I just can’t keep serving an adult man sangria.” — Kim

“Hey, I just heard about this mid-week spa deal. Two-for-one mani/pedis. Wanna go tonight?” — Alex, at breakfast with Brad and Jane
“Ah, I can’t. I have pilates. [Pause] Oh, you meant Jane.” — Brad

“Ooh, this looks complicated … and I just took a picture of my cleavage. And … yep, I just emailed it to my stepdad.” — Penny, trying to figure out her new smartphone

“Haven’t you ever had any fantasies?” — Kim, to Dave
“Well, I have always fantasized about doing it under a waterfall. Or maybe in the woods, or maybe in a room surrounded by thousands of candles, white shrouded curtains blowing in from the wind outside …” — Dave
“So, you wanna have sex like you’re in a Color Me Badd video.” — Kim
“Kinda.” — Dave

Clacked by Rachel Blum-Jose
on Aug 25, 2011 @ 11:21 EST5EDT