The League – Season three in a nutshell

Thanks to the real world and the real world holidays, I had to step away from reviewing The League for a while. But now that Christmas is over and a new year brings new possibilities, I felt it was only right to go back to one of my favorite comedies on TV. Of course, the season is now over … cue the loudest Homer-Simpsoneque “d’oh.” Well, now I feel it’s only right to go back and talk about the episodes I missed and how the season was overall.

3.08 Thanksgiving
A lot worked for this episode. Sarah Silverman was hilarious as Andre’s very open, very sexually educational sister. I loved that she was mentioned many times as a mocking point for Andre, but I would never have guessed when the guys told Andre that they all banged his sister that they were telling the truth. Well, maybe Taco, but not the others. I don’t think his character was really mentioned before this episode, but Jeff Goldblum was stellar as Ruxin’s dad. He was still very Jeff Goldblum, but he also took on some of the physical quirks of Ruxin. I totally believed they were related. I still can’t believe that we’ve all seen Jeff Goldblum’s vinegar strokes. No one should have to see that.
Best quote:
“I don’t really like sorbet, but I love watching women eat it.” — Taco

3.09 The Out of Towner
We have another guest star in Will Forte‘s now sober Chuck. The episode was OK, but the gang pressuring their old friend out of sobriety leaned a little too close to Always Sunny‘s narcissistic tendencies. I found it interesting that the episode where Ruxin does lots of disgusting things in a drugged haze is also the episode Nick Kroll co-wrote.
Best quote:
“My dry spell is all your fault. This guy is like a street sweeper — he just cleans up any prospects I had and takes them in the bathroom and stuffs them.” — Pete to Taco
“Hey, I can lead a horse to the water, but I can’t make the water not want to have sex with me, okay?” — Taco

3.10 The Light of Genesis
Far and above, the cult storyline was the better one of the episode. I was just happy to get back to some storylines that directly connect to their fantasy football obsession, and it makes perfect sense that Ruxin would turn away from his entire religion to win the season two years in a row. The resolution with the Shiva was very funny, showing that even Ruxin has some loyalty. They could have gone so much farther with Eliza Dushku‘s guest appearance. I would have loved to see Taco try to hit on her or really anything else to make her plot-line more interesting, but it felt like they were just stretching her scenes out for time and couldn’t think of anything else to do with her.
Best quote:
“Cult is such a pejorative term, like ‘creep’ or ‘Andre.’” — Ruxin

3.11 The Guest Bong
The auto-correct that hurts so many modern tech-users. It was nicely woven into different aspects of the episode, which is what you have to do with the C story or else it just seems tacked on. It was good to know the year of Ruxin was not going to have a sequel (side note: I’m pretty sure his PR guy was the dad from Clarissa Explains it All). Also nice to show that not all women are good at fantasy football. In other words, women like Jenny are special. Respect the cool chicks. And “Plaxidentally shoot yourself” needs to be a real phrase used by all.
Best quote:
“Taco, get out of our attic!” — Kevin
“I like it here. It’s got internet! And heat!” — Taco

3.12 St. Pete
I love how much Taco and Ruxin have been pushed together this season — the two are comedy gold because Ruxin hates Taco so very, very much. There was also that nice moment where Kevin put Jenny first. Then of course the collusion is finally revealed, and Ruxin falls. I did like that this first episode plot point has been hanging over everyone’s heads the whole season, only to come crashing down now.
Best quote:
“You know Ruxin, you keep making that face it might freeze that way.” — Jenny
“If I keep making this finger, you think it will freeze this way, too?” — Ruxin

3.13 The Funeral
The cold open was hilarious with Rafi trying to put Ruxin out of his misery despite Ruxin’s insistence that he stay alive. Andre being Ruxin was also pretty great — Paul Scheer does great bad impressions. It’s a little scary that Andre talked to Matt Forte about his knee when sometime after this episode was shot Forte actually destroyed his knee for the season. My boyfriend now thinks The League screwed over his precious Bears. With how ridiculously awful Ruxin is, I would not be surprised if Sophia leaves him next season. I commented earlier in the season how Pete can be almost cruel when it comes to screwing over Andre, so having him officially branded the Sacko seems very fitting. Poor Kevin, not getting the trophy once again … although becoming a father for the second time is an OK parting gift. I guess.
Best quote:
“Any asshole can be a father. I want to be a champion!” — Kevin

How was the season all together? Well, the laughs were way up there, with some really funny moments. There were less NFL cameos, but more guest stars playing characters, and most of them worked (especially Seth Rogen and Jeff Goldblum). It finally got back to basics towards the end with the season with the focus being back on the football season itself. I give the writers props for giving the characters lots of storylines not involving football in case the lockout went long, but it didn’t feel like the same show and the stakes weren’t as high. That’s probably why they had Ruxin burn the Shiva, the Sacko and even Kegel the elf … start fresh next year.

Clacked by Katie Schenkel
on Jan 03, 2012 @ 18:34 EST5EDT