Last spring, “Grey’s Anatomy” revived its dreary season with a two-part finale in which a widower of a former patient seeks vengeance against Derek Shepherd and commits mass murder along the way. Shonda Rhimes engineered the perfect ending doubling as a beginning: she created a conflict needing to be resolved specifically within the finale (given that the season was already lacking a major point of tension since Katherine Heigl’s departure) and carrying over its repercussions to a guaranteed seventh season. As we enter the week of finales, having seen “30 Rock” and “Fringe” conclude last week, let’s assess the field:
“Community” (Thursday, May 12):
A year that began so well for NBC’s underdog comedy has lost some of its narrative focus in the home stretch. The strength of the show’s experimentation with genre brought us the highs of the “Dinner with Andre” and recap parody episodes, culminating in the return of paintball wars last week. “Community” could address the lingering threads of Jeff/Britta, Pierce as villain or Shirley’s baby, or it could surprise us again with another pairing like Jeff and Annie in the season-one finale.
“Desperate Housewives” (Sunday, May 15):
The return of the dreaded Paul has steered this season of ABC’s aging dramedy away from the supernatural and back toward “reality.” Reality on Wisteria Lane means woe, be it financial or marital. The four protagonists all find themselves in dark places, as new character Renee (Vanessa Williams) has provided the spark of humor and hope all season. “Desperate Housewives” will be around for two more seasons, and hopefully Renee will be able to spread her positivity.
“The Office” (Thursday, May 19):
Though the future of “The Office” as a TV show is clear in that it will definitely return next fall, the future of “The Office” as a story is not. Will Ferrell has been enlisted as temporary star power, but I hope that the season finale will set up a new power structure at Dunder Mifflin and within the series to fill the void of Steve Carell, with more love for characters like Andy and Erin.
“Grey’s Anatomy” (Thursday, May 19):
“Grey’s” finds itself at an important juncture in that its progression as a television show seems to have aligned with its content: I hope that the season finale will redeem me for years of loyal viewership and name a chief resident of Seattle Grace. The arms race for the position has reached a fever pitch, reducing the residents to their achievements and empowering the attendings. I miss the banter of the old days and hope the drama of the announcement will bring some of that back.
“Saturday Night Live” (Saturday, May 21):
Justin Timberlake hosts the finale of a season that saw the rise of some great new characters (most importantly, Stefon) and the retirement of others (RIP Penelope and Gilly).
“Glee” (Tuesday, May 24):
The kids of “Glee” will finally have their day in the sun at Nationals. Undoubtedly, Fox will have pulled out all the stops for the team’s trip to New York City, but there remains the question of scope in my mind. For example, one of recent episode brought together Gwyneth Paltrow, Cheyenne Jackson, Stephen Tobolowsky and Mr. Schue’s ex-wife; I hope that the trip to NYC will keep the literal and figurative focus on the Glee club. Given season one’s expectedly unexpected loss at regionals, “Glee” won’t get off too easily by awarding our heroes the championship. This is also the night of the season finale for monster reality hits “Dancing with the Stars” and “The Biggest Loser.”
“American Idol” (Wednesday, May 25):
Though I admittedly don’t watch this show, the latest season on the reality program that pioneered the genre has undergone a tonal shift. The addition of Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler has altered the focus from spectacle to content, as summer hits like “The Sing Off” have done. The question remains whether “A.I.” can maintain its supremacy with new programs such as NBC’s “The Voice” or the imminent arrival of “The X-Factor” on the same network.