Thursday Night NBC Power Rankings

Ratings may not reflect it, but Thursday on NBC is quite possibly the greatest night for SitComs since, shit, I don't know when. I know the glory days of The Cosby Show, Friends, Frasier, Seinfeld, etc. were all solid nights, but one through four, I'm totally buying into Community, Parks & Rec, The Office, and 30 Rock.

Not only are they dynamite when it comes to foolish one liners and hysterical plots, but all four are intensely character driven. So while hopped up on some cold meds, unable to comfortably speak and finding myself having staring contests with a coffee cup, it seems like a perfect time to bang out an NCAA style power rankings of the Thursday night characters. 

Rankings are based on each character's performance for the entire season.
25. Britta Perry (COM) More ups than downs this year.
24. Darryl Philbin (OFF) Thought his move upstairs would have provided more humor, it hasn't.
23. Stanley Hudson (OFF) Sentimental pick. We need more Stanley. Lots more.
22. Shirley Bennett (COM) Skyrocketed into Top 25 with major performance last night.
21. Erin Hannon (OFF) Rising Star on the flagship show. Her lunch with Michael might have been the season's highlight.
20. Oscar Martinez (OFF) Voice of reason getting more exposure this year. That's a good thing.
19. Creed Bratton (OFF) Could use a little more Creed, but he's best at the awkward one liner, and fits that role perfectly.
18. April Ludgate (P&R) Unlikely youngster becoming indispensible to the show.
17. Jim Halpert (OFF) Slow and steady decline from a one-time stud. Jim the father, Jim the husband, Jim the supervisor (however short lived) just don't compare to original Jim.
16. Troy Barnes (COM) Greatly outplaying expectations.
15. Kenneth Parcell (ROCK) Maybe it's just me, but aside from the one liner, The Page may have run his course. He still brings a lot to the table. He just may have peaked.
14. Jeff Winger (COM) The shtick is a little contrived at times but Community's point guard has shown he can hang with the big dogs.
13. Liz Lemon (ROCK) Season's been a little too Lemon-centric and her standing suffers for it.
12. Kevin Malone (OFF) After lurking in the shadows for a few seasons, Kevin's hitting the prime time. Pregnancy Lunches, Baby noises at Pam's breasts and most recently, the cookie monsters are just a few of the reason's he's knocking on the door of the Top Ten.
11. Leslie Knope (P&R) Every episode, it goes too far. Leslie has you in stitches by 8:35 and by 8:50 you're screaming "Enough"
10. Pierce Hawthorn (COM) Archie Bunker meets Homer Simpson. Nobodies loses in that equation.
9. Andy Dwyer (P&R) Another hidden gem in Parks has been vital to a most successful sophomore campaign.
8. Andy Bernard (OFF) I despised his character in the Stamford office and loathed the decision to bring him to Scranton. But it's been all uphill since he broke off the engagement with Angela. The Nard Dog is for real!
7. Tracy Jordan (ROCK) I suspect if I were doing Thursday Night Power Rankings all along, he'd be a former number one. Recently he's been creeping back into the discussion, I expect the trend to continue, he's got MVP potential.
6. Dwight Schrute (OFF) Many parallels to Jordan, along with the suspicion that a Schrute Rennaisance is coming. He hasn't been at his best this year, but he's regaining his old form.
5. Abed Nadir (COM). Community's gem. Every subplot he's involved him turns to gold. Every main plot is must-see-TV. I have a hunch it will eventually get old, but let's enjoy it while it's fresh.
4. Jack Donaghy (ROCK). Another contender for MVP, there's no such thing as too much Jack.
3. Tom Haverford (P&R). At first, you find him annoying. Then you get used to him. Then you never stop laughing.
2. Michael Scott (OFF). Never gets old, and he's rounding into tip top shape. You can feel a run coming on. "Date Mike". Lunch with Erin. His testicle-and-breast post it notes designating gender in an attempt to learn Spanish. And possibly the funniest moment of the year, when he informed his homosexual employee Oscar that he was scheduled to have a colonoscopy, and was there anything he could do to make the experience more pleasurable for the doctor. We may take him for granted at times but in the end, he nails it every time. That's what she said.
1. Ron Swanson (P&R) Put it bluntly: This has been the year of the Swanson. Highlights too numerous to recount. Turf and Turf. The Breakfast bar at the strip club. Bacon Trail Mix. "I need more Ron Swansons". "Boolay Boolay Boolay". And that moustache. He began the year as just another Thursday night character on a show that may, or may not make it. He finds himself in the homestretch as the MVP.