The Office thread

[BillBrasky]

Webisode #1

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[Michael Blacklist]

Amy Poehler may be 'Office' bound
In negotiations to join the spinoff of the hit NBC comedy
By Nellie Andreeva

July 15, 2008, 11:16 PM ET

Amy Poehler (Getty Images photo)

Amy Poehler might be joining her "Saturday Night Live" pal Tina Fey as a primetime player for NBC.

Poehler is said to be in negotiations to star in NBC's spinoff of "The Office."

NBC and creator Greg Daniels have been mum on details about the project. The only actor cast in the project so far is comedian Aziz Ansari, but there's been speculation that the show might be built around a name actor, similar to how the original "Office" is anchored by Steve Carell.

Poehler's name was first linked to the "Office" spinoff in April, shortly after NBC announced the project at its "infront" presentation and before the release of Poehler's first starring feature, "Baby Mama," in which she shared top billing with Fey.

After the movie's big opening weekend that elevated Poehler to a bankable film star, the rumor went dormant for a while until resurfacing with a vengeance in late June, when serious talks with the networks are said to have begun.

If the deal closes, Poehler, a key member of the "SNL" cast and "Weekend Update" co-anchor, will follow in the footsteps of Fey. She also left "SNL," where she shared the "Weekend Update" desk with Poehler, to topline an NBC comedy, her Emmy-winning "30 Rock."

NBC and Poehler's reps at Endeavor and 3 Arts declined comment.

Poehler would leave a void on "SNL," where her gallery of memorable characters includes Sen. Hillary Clinton.

Another issue is Poehler's pregnancy. She is due in the fall, and the "Office" spinoff is scheduled to debut after the Super Bowl in early February, though that might change.

Fey's 2005 pregnancy delayed production on the pilot for "30 Rock."

Does this mean the rumors of the spinoff being centered around Karen's office were false?

[Chaza8]

According to Variety

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117989011.html?categoryid=14&cs=1&query=amy+poehler

The show won't be a spinoff, it will just be a completely new show. This is good news in my opinion.

[BillBrasky]

Looks like it's (semi)official; from the New York Times:

Amy Poehler is leaving “Saturday Night Live” but joining a new prime-time comedy on NBC, which will be the next project of the creative team behind “The Office” but is not now expected to be a direct spinoff of that series.

Ms. Poehler’s new plans were first reported in the Hollywood trade papers and on deadlinehollywooddaily.com on Wednesday. NBC declined any official comment on Ms. Poehler’s status, saying the contract details had not been finalized. But an executive involved in her decision said she had indeed agreed to star in the new show, from Greg Daniels, creator of the American version of “The Office.”

But the executive involved in Ms. Poehler’s decision, who requested anonymity because NBC has been holding back details of the show to announce them itself, said the new comedy was not likely to be a traditional spinoff of “The Office,” as NBC announced last April. It may have some stylistic similarities, but none of the characters from “The Office” will be moving to the new series.

Ms. Poehler, who is pregnant, will continue to perform on “Saturday Night Live” through November or at least until her baby is born. She has become one of that show’s essential performers, especially for her impersonation of Hillary Rodham Clinton, which she will revive for a planned series of “SNL” election specials in prime time starting in October.

[BillBrasky]

From Deadline Hollywood (http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/more-info-about-the-office-spin-off/):

PREVIOUS: NBC is going to absurd lengths to keep its so-called "The Office Spin-off" hush-hush. For instance, I just found out that NBC pitched the new show to Amy Poehler with the ridiculous condition that she keep it secret and not tell anyone what it's about -- not even her representatives. C'mon, who does that? Meanwhile, the media debate rages about whether this will be a true spin-off or an unrelated show. Here's why there's such confusion: because nobody knows yet! (Which begs the question: what the hell did NBC actually tell Poehler about the show?)

I understand that not even showrunner Greg Daniels nor NBC has firmly decided which tack to take. This is being figured out right now. Here's what I'm know from insiders: Daniels wants to do an unrelated series with an Office-like tone and vision. But NBC wants a directly related Office spin-off, again with the same tone and vision as the American version of the original British series. "What NBC keeps arguing is that they want to cast Steve Carell in the first episode of the new show debuting after The Office on Super Bowl Sunday, and why would he show up if it's not related?" a source tells me. "But Daniels is a stubborn, stubborn guy. I bet Greg gets his way."

Certain sources insist to me the new show won't be a spin-off. Yet what's hilarious here is that the NBC pinheads are so lacking in imagination that they don't think Daniels can come up with an easy plot device to feature Carell in the first episode without the show being an actual spin-off. I really think NBC's founder David Sarnoff is spinning in his grave. "The General" helped Dwight D Eisnerhower win World War II. Thank god NBC's current corporate feebs weren't in charge of that war -- or we'd all be Nazis.

Amy Poehler just confirmed to the media what I reported back on Tuesday: that she'll be joining "The Office Spin-off". "I can kind of confirm that I will be working in some capacity on that show," Poehler told the AP. "I don't really have any other details yet." She just picked up an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series today for her great stuff on Saturday Night Live. (Poehler's husband Will Arnett also received an Emmy nomination today for his guest performance on 30 Rock). But Poehler will stick with SNL for its expanding programming during the election. Meanwhile, I'm going to keep calling this "The Office Spin-Off" even if it turns out not be, because "Greg Daniels' Other Show That Has The Tone And Vision Of The Office But Isn't An Office Spin-Off " is too damn long...

5PM UPDATE: It's Official: It's 'The Office' Un-Spin-Off. So my sources tell me showrunner Greg Daniels won, NBC lost, and all is right with the world. I'm glad everything is finalized because, geez, I'm sick of reporting on this. (And I don't even watch The Office. Not my kind of show. Don't hate me...)

[BillBrasky]

Webisode #2

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[BillBrasky]

http://www.thrfeed.com/2008/07/nbc-wants-both.html

NBC co-chair Ben Silverman says the network is not only doing a Greg Daniels comedy starring Amy Poehler, but is also still pursuing a separate "Office" spinoff.

"They came up with two ideas," Silverman says. "One that is totally a spinoff and planted in 'The Office' and may involve characters from 'The Office.' The other is a new concept that's stylistically similar to 'The Office.' We decided to put all our energy into getting Amy. We literally pursued her the entire year and it is incredible we were able to land her. Amy will never appear in the world of 'The Office.' The show is not a spinoff. It does not come directly from the world of 'The Office.'"

That said, "We are also going to continue to pursue the spinoff as well," Silverman says.

Also, Poehler's show will no longer debut after the Super Bowl, since the actress' pregnancy has pushed back the show's start date. The network has not yet decided what will air in the slot, but it could still be some iteration of "The Office."

[Cameron]

So now is Aziz Ansari going to be on the Amy Poehler show or the Office spinoff?

[Jouster]

The Amy Poehler one.

[BillBrasky]

Webisode #3

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[gloshi]

NBC.com has added the full Comic-Con 2008 'The Office' panel...

http://www.nbc.com/Comic-Con/video/clips/the-office/279939/

For more goods and info on The Office, check out http://www.officetally.com

[BillBrasky]

http://blogs.knoxnews.com/knx/telebuddy/archives/2008/07/spoilers_for_th.shtml

Here's what Greg Daniels, executive producer of "The Office," told me about the show's season opener, set for Sept. 25.

The season opener will be an hourlong episode and flash back to the summer weeks in the office. A weight challenge will be one of the plots, and every 15 minutes of the story will represent a period of time from the summer.

Production on the fourth season begins today in Los Angeles.

As for all the talk of an "Office" spin-off, Daniels says he's not focusing on that particular project right now. He says his first priority will be on the mothership "Office" and then a new comedy starring Amy Poehler from "Saturday Night Live." Amy's show will not be a spin-off or be connected to "The Office" in any way. Greg did not want to reveal the concept behind Amy's series.

However, he did state that Amy's series won't be off the ground for a while. Amy's pregnant and doesn't want to work on a primetime series for a few months after her baby is born. I suspect Amy's series could get off the ground in the 2009-2010 season.

And has a Dwight Shute spin-off starring the ever-pleasant Rainn Wilson been on the drawing boards? Greg says no, and Wilson says he would not be interested in a spin-off. He likes "The Office" just as it is.

[BillBrasky]

Webisode #4

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[frogmann]

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809909025/video/9030289#9030289

[BillBrasky]

NBC’s Olympian promotional push on behalf of “The Office” moves to the next level on Friday night.

The network is expected to premiere the second in what could be as many as five Olympics-themed spots created and scripted by “Office” executive producer Greg Daniels and his staff of writers.

The first promo, “Slap Face,” premiered last week during NBC’s coverage of the Opening Ceremonies of the Beijing Games.

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In the latest ad—making its premiere exclusively on TVWeek.com—Dwight (Rainn Wilson) declares that the decathlon is for wimps. He suggests a “centathlon” comprised of 100 various events, most of which only Dwight could imagine (think Battleship, Murder Ball and Murder Checkers).

Link (http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1726689853/bctid1731276803)


The new spot also marks the introduction of NBC’s overall pre-premiere marketing theme for “The Office,” which will play off fans’ desire to see how various cliffhangers on the show will be resolved. NBC has licensed the Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers song “The Waiting” to use in a number of “Office” spots set to air between now and the show’s season premiere.

NBC Universal Chief Marketing Officer John Miller is overseeing the campaign, working in conjunction with Adam Stotsky, the newly tapped president of marketing at NBC Entertainment.

[BillBrasky]

Interview with Amy Ryan and Paul Lieberstein (http://thefutoncritic.com/rant.aspx?id=20080912_office)

"The Office" also boasts a stellar list of directors and this season is no different. Lieberstein shared that besides directing a few episodes in the coming season, "Juno" director Jason Reitman has signed to helm an episode and Stephen Merchant, who co-created the British and American version of "The Office," is directing the Halloween episode. Asked what it was like to have Merchant around, Lieberstein obviously had a positive experience. He shares that Merchant "was in the writers room with us rewriting [the script] over the last several days so it was really exciting having him there. He brings with him a bit of that initial integrity of the documentary that the British [version] had so he calls us out every once in awhile. [Lieberstein adopts a British accent] 'How are they going to do that with a little documentary?' When we seem to go a little too far or get too personal with them like to set a scene in the bathroom and he says, 'Really, I don't think they'd follow them in there.' He's extremely funny and it's been great working with him.

[Famous Police Dog]

The Office premiered yesterday to little fanfare, especially from fans of Oregon State and USC.

Actor Steve Carell went to a Los Angeles bar and asked the locals to switch to The Office while fans were gearing up for the big football game. A group of men from the bar got pissed and "launched" Carell from the bar. Carell reportedly suffered a few cuts, but mostly "a bruised ego", said the Golden Globe winner and Daily Show "pun"dit

When asked for comment by the paparazzi he simply replied, "I'm too old for this shit."

[HeadEgg]

how old is pam supposed to be? I just think her dorming is weird. kinda.

[angryrobot]

She's 29 according to Pam's MySpace page

http://www.myspace.com/pambeesley

Also, did anyone notice her friend at art school was also the actor who plays Harry Crane in Mad Men?

[aenemaTron]

I was in kind of a shit mood last night but that sucked.

The whole dorm thing... what the fuck? They know dorms cost money, right? They're not just free-to-live-in premise factories?

[Marty_Malt]

I laughed really hard at Toby in the hospital. Also at Creed's "That wasn't a tape worm."

That was about it.

[Kentock]

I enjoyed it a lot. It suffered from some of the same problems with hour-long episodes that we hashed and rehashed last season, but overall I thought it was a really solid opener.

And Tron, they might have made her an RA to imply that she gets free room and board. Some colleges work like that.

[I love nny]

I was in kind of a shit mood last night but that sucked.

The whole dorm thing... what the fuck? They know dorms cost money, right? They're not just free-to-live-in premise factories?
So do apartments in New York. Did you think she was going to commute or sleep in her car?

[megalope]

Where are the romantics?

While I am (as is everyone else, I imagine!) way past being charmed by Jim and Pam's "quirky" relationship, that was an honest-to-god absolutely fabulous proposal scene.

[nadsat droog]

I thoroughly enjoyed the episode. It certainly wasn't among the best in the series, but I think the fact that I just missed the show so much made certain things forgivable. I will probably find things to bitch about next week.

My favorite moment: "Happy birthday Stanley!"

[crlygrl]

I am one of the romantics and I give that like 5 thumbs up.

Plus, that episode was just funny all-around. Ryan was laying it on a little thick, but I guess that's what he does these days.

[DiscoInferiorityComplex]

I enjoyed it a lot. It suffered from some of the same problems with hour-long episodes that we hashed and rehashed last season, but overall I thought it was a really solid opener.

And Tron, they might have made her an RA to imply that she gets free room and board. Some colleges work like that.

I work in a University accounting office,. I can attest that RAs receive very healthy stipends (almost equaling the monthly salary of research assistants) and other benefits. Don't believe me? From the WikiPedia RA entry:

"...benefits vary greatly from institution to institution, and may include a single residence hall room (for assured privacy when counseling other students), parking permits, financial compensation/stipends, meal-plan, and/or significant discounts on room-rate (including full compensation)."

[Babs]

I'm glad I could get in here while the "RA" debate topic is still fresh...

Anyway, yeah I thought it was pretty funny. I don't know, the last season let me down a lot so my expectations are different than what they used to be. I'm happier to have great little moments like always and I don't pay attention to the big missteps as much.

I liked the downplay of the Jan baby.
I really liked the proposal as well..

And yeah, we'll see where it goes. I can't believe I'm saying this but Michael Scott seems almost ...too little of a douche to be believeable as the same character.

[aenemaTron]

So do apartments in New York. Did you think she was going to commute or sleep in her car?

Gee, thanks, I didn't know apartments in New York cost money. I guess it's up to me to think up plausible story-lines, not the writers.

I guess the RA thing makes sense, except for the part where they don't put first year students in that position just because they're old.

Although I thought the last season was the best so far, I just don't like Dwight. He's a complete buffoon beyond any sense of reality or consistency. The part where he was reported for assaulting a co-worker and then didn't get fired was especially dumb.

[BillBrasky]

"Hold it in your mouth....but you can't swallow"

(Jim smirks and looks expectantly at Michael)

".....Nothing? OK"

I'm not the biggest fan of Jim's looks to camera but that was funny.

[FF Woodycooks]

I think Kelly might be my favorite character (besides maybe Creed). "I'm gonna look amazing!" Made me laugh so hard.

also, Harry Crane! He's so cute!

[Mindyjoy]

I'm pissed at Angela. I mean, c'mon.

[Charlatan]

I'm pissed at Angela. I mean, c'mon.

Agreed. She's making me genuinely feel bad for Andy. I didn't think that was possible.

[theodoric]

This ep was a million times better than last year's premiere. Remember how bad "Fun Run" was?

I was hoping the "Kevin is developmentally disabled" arc would last a couple more episodes.

Loved the rotting fruits and vegetables in the vending machine.

Also, Creed and Toby = awesomeness. Toby!

[AggroCrag]

I really enjoyed the episode but agree that it had the same problems previous hour-long episodes. I think Michael's 'Michael Klump' character might be up there with Prison Mike.

I'm a bit confused how Pam got into a school like Pratt Institute as easily as she did, even if it was a three month program. I didn't know summer programs include rooming in dorms.

[J vs W]

I'm a bit confused how Pam got into a school like Pratt Institute as easily as she did, even if it was a three month program. I didn't know summer programs include rooming in dorms.

Pam's got talent! She's gonna make it! Why won't you believe in her!?

[AggroCrag]

Her shit's weak, dude.

[Jixby Phillips]

I love them all, they are my television friends

my friends, on television, the Office.

[J vs W]

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/4759/theofficetoonsjimpamqw3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/theofficetoonsjimpamqw3.jpg/1/w484.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img263/theofficetoonsjimpamqw3.jpg/1/)

[yumitree]

i thought this was an enjoyable, but uneven episode.
amy ryan was so great in this episode, especially in the first half. her rap with michael and the kevin reveal were priceless.
that talking head with kelly mentioned above was also hilarious.
i liked that they hinted at softening angela up a bit, her turn was both satisfying (intellectually) and maddening (emotionally).
harry crane was a nice surprise, but it's strange seeing him with a more modern haircut. he looks a little like zak orth with that hair.

as for the reality of pam's summer program, getting into pratt is a stretch (especially for someone with little-to-no real skills/experience other than illustration/fine art and some freelance dabbling), but those summer programs do board people. (when i was) at nyu they('d) put up all the summer students in a single dorm and clear out all the other buildings.

[ragu sauce]

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m308/strathm/theofficetoonsjimpamqw3.jpghttp://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m308/strathm/theofficetoonsjimpamqw3.jpghttp://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m308/strathm/theofficetoonsjimpamqw3.jpg
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m308/strathm/theofficetoonsjimpamqw3.jpghttp://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m308/strathm/theofficetoonsjimpamqw3.jpghttp://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m308/strathm/theofficetoonsjimpamqw3.jpg
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m308/strathm/theofficetoonsjimpamqw3.jpghttp://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m308/strathm/theofficetoonsjimpamqw3.jpghttp://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m308/strathm/theofficetoonsjimpamqw3.jpg
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m308/strathm/theofficetoonsjimpamqw3.jpghttp://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m308/strathm/theofficetoonsjimpamqw3.jpghttp://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m308/strathm/theofficetoonsjimpamqw3.jpg

[dan telfer]

"I hate this worm inside me" was awesome, as was every shot of Creed this episode. Andy was great in this one too. And I enjoyed the Gervais-ness of Michael's goatee.

[Cankerblossom]

I'm actually surprised a lot of people didn't like this premiere, I thought it was great. While I like the idea of Ryan coming back as the receptionist (Which I know is completely ridiculous and unrealistic) I wanted Ronnie to stick around. I loved the inexplicable coldness towards her from everyone in the office. "Relax, weirdo. She is such a weirdo!"

[Darryl]

FINALLY watched it on Hulu. I already had 2 shows recording on the Tifaux, and couldn't pull myself away from my DVDs of The Wire (season 2).

Anyway... I thought it was fantastic. I would even say one of the best. Laugh-out-loud funny in so many scenes, and touching in others. No spoilers, but...

The video chat scene was fantastic. Great visual humor, plus realistic absurdity. (I made up that phrase.) Great stuff throughout: The finale of the goatee sub-plot... the cringe-inducing fate of the concert tickets... the honeymoon plans (a thousand year old cathedral in the continental US) and the activity around them... the familiar face as a temp, making a list... the vending machine... the scene in the rain...

And in the design class: "Sorry I'm late. I had my alarm set to Zapf Chancery." Soooo bad it's good.

OK I'm done.

[TomHicks]

I loved this episode, probably because I have such a bad memory of last season. The driving into the lake episode might be the low point in all of Western culture. There were so many good jokes that I noticed no one referenced Ed Helms' (presumably improvised) list of nicknames: ... Sandwich. Boner Champion; that was me.

[Kentock]

Angerella! Hey hey hey!

[Darryl]

Also: You think I'm retarded?

[disl]

jim and pam still make me want to puke all over myself, regardless of whether or not they're even in the same scene or not. i hate them. i also hate pam's school buddy that makes shitty jokes and worse cartoons lampooning his professor.

i could probably rant for a while about all the things i didn't like about the episode so instead i'll talk about what i did like. i liked michael and the new hr lady, that is a fun plot. i like andy although i still like him a lot better pre-anger management (would today's andy ever say a genius line like "did you check your butt?"?). kelly making out of with darryl right in front of ryan was okay.

overall, i'd give the episode a C-/D+. basically hated it. but you know what i hated most? what they did to toby. poor guy.

[Famous Police Dog]

I'm sick of dorks complaining about that car into the lake episode, because it was a decent episode regardless of that poorly thought out moment. It was certainly a lot better as a whole than this episode.

I know this is a comedy nerd website, but come on.

[mike]

Hey, people drive into lakes. Get over it.

[Jixby Phillips]

as somebody who fights the urge to drive into a lake on a daily basis I loved that episode

I DONT GET WHY PEOPLE ARE SO MAD ABOUT IT

[isoS]

There were so many good jokes that I noticed no one referenced Ed Helms' (presumably improvised) list of nicknames: ... Sandwich. Boner Champion; that was me.

Broccoli Rob.

[TomHicks]

We're not mad at the lake episode, we are just disappointed. That episode was part of a lackluster launch of the season. For me, that scene fed anxiety that the show was declining and might not recover. It happens to every show. I really don't like season 6 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and season 7 ain't so hot either. The third season of Veronica Mars stinks outloud. Those are two of my all-time favorite series.

And I would avoid the "if you take that out the scene it isn't that bad" approach to assessing your entertainments. It puts you on the road to compromising your standards and eventually accepting whatever is put in front of you out of some misplaced sense of loyalty. Then, boom, you wake up one morning and you're a Grateful Dead fan.

[kevin]

everytime i saw craig robinson in the ep i felt a little sad.

good to see harry crane getting work. is that dude supposed to be a hybrid of jim/roy?

[Famous Police Dog]

And I would avoid the "if you take that out the scene it isn't that bad" approach to assessing your entertainments. It puts you on the road to compromising your standards and eventually accepting whatever is put in front of you out of some misplaced sense of loyalty. Then, boom, you wake up one morning and you're a Grateful Dead fan.

I would never do this, you headcase. All I said is that despite one bad scene it was a good episode. I'm not compromising anything.

To each his Paul Newman's Own, I guess.

[Jixby Phillips]

WAH WAH WAH A DUDE DROVE INTO A LAKE WAH WAH WAH

its no big deal he dried off just fine it was almsot like a bath, think of it that way

[Famous Police Dog]

Hey since Happy Days is so corny and shit we should really update that "Jump The Shark" phrase.

Let's say they "drove into a lake" now when a TV show fails beyond repair.

Think about it, I gotta go get ready for LebowskiFest - AST

i'm sorry, but you left me no choice :(

[TomHicks]

I would never do this, you headcase. All I said is that despite one bad scene it was a good episode. I'm not compromising anything.

To each his Paul Newman's Own, I guess.

Relax, cunt.

[Famous Police Dog]

http://aspecialthing.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1126

[ericluxury]

And I would avoid the "if you take that out the scene it isn't that bad" approach to assessing your entertainments. It puts you on the road to compromising your standards and eventually accepting whatever is put in front of you out of some misplaced sense of loyalty. Then, boom, you wake up one morning and you're a Grateful Dead fan.

To that I'd say that episode was more released more than a year ago. Seems like a waste a time to rehash that debate again.

I thought it was a nice season opener. Unlike last years hour-longs it didn't feel like two episodes slapped together or take place out of the office yet with everyone there.

[DonTGD]

I was in kind of a shit mood last night but that sucked.

The whole dorm thing... what the fuck? They know dorms cost money, right? They're not just free-to-live-in premise factories?

Where I went to school dorm rooms were free if you signed on as a resident advisor, which is exactly what Pam had on her door. My RA was pretty much like that, ex-military, starting college at 25, used to barracks or industrial-type housing.

[DonTGD]

jim and pam still make me want to puke all over myself, regardless of whether or not they're even in the same scene or not. i hate them. i also hate pam's school buddy that makes shitty jokes and worse cartoons lampooning his professor.
...

what was wrong with him? He was a jovial but clearly imperfect character portrayed as imperfect. He's flawed, that's who he is.

[aenemaTron]

Yeah, people already said that.

Did he start as an RA his first year? Because that also stinks to me. But I guess if there's one real world example to point to, the plot doesn't come off as contrived? No, it still does.

[DonTGD]

...

good to see harry crane getting work. is that dude supposed to be a hybrid of jim/roy?

that was my take on him.

[DonTGD]

Yeah, people already said that.

Did he start as an RA his first year? Because that also stinks to me. But I guess if there's one real world example to point to, the plot doesn't come off as contrived? No, it still does.

but now that you responded to me I can't go back and delete my post after I got into the later pages of the thread. sniff.

Look, I actually, truly felt that the addition of new characters via this McGuffin if you will allow the show to grow into some new situations without the jarring possibility of introducing Poochie the Rockin Dog.

[ericluxury]

I think you must have been in a very bad mood watching it, Atron because these are weird points you are making. But you know what would have put you in a worse mood? If we had an episode dedicated to Pam getting her art and illustration portfolio together, perhaps doing some exercises to get her up to snuff with Pratt, then weighing her financial options, feeling like she couldn't afford it all. Perhaps then Jim would suggest being an RA. Then maybe we could get a peek into her convincing Housing at Pratt that she had the experience. Maybe we'd see a meeting with the Housing people unconvinced that she should RA since she hadn't lived in the dorms already, but they are short on RA's so they decide to give her a shot.

You realize that you are watching a sitcom, right? You are sounding like Bob Odenkirk's joke studio notes.

[aenemaTron]

The point is, it's contrived no matter how much you set it up. But it's not that big a deal, I just wasn't laughing either way.

[Hated Milk Machine]

The point is, it's contrived no matter how much you set it up. But it's not that big a deal, I just wasn't laughing either way.

YOU NOT LAUGHING JUST MAKES ME SO MAD RRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

[Darryl]

I think you must have been in a very bad mood watching it, Atron because these are weird points you are making. But you know what would have put you in a worse mood? If we had an episode dedicated to Pam getting her art and illustration portfolio together, perhaps doing some exercises to get her up to snuff with Pratt, then weighing her financial options, feeling like she couldn't afford it all. Perhaps then Jim would suggest being an RA. Then maybe we could get a peek into her convincing Housing at Pratt that she had the experience. Maybe we'd see a meeting with the Housing people unconvinced that she should RA since she hadn't lived in the dorms already, but they are short on RA's so they decide to give her a shot.

You realize that you are watching a sitcom, right? You are sounding like Bob Odenkirk's joke studio notes.

Whoa! That's awesome!!! You should send in a spec script on that. They could do a flashback episode. "Hey! 'member when I moved here and didn't have enough money for dorm fees? And then......."

[yumitree]

Did he start as an RA his first year? Because that also stinks to me. But I guess if there's one real world example to point to, the plot doesn't come off as contrived? No, it still does.

this is a summer session, though.

i question the r.a. thing too, but i'm just saying.

[J vs W]

Pam was the r.a. at the dorms she got to live there for free but then jim married her.

[TenJay]

I just assumed Pam was an RA becasue she was older then the average college freshman, needed a place to live, and is a responsible well adjusted adult

[Scammy Davis Boogah Jr.]

"Hi. Question for Ms. Fischer. In episode 501, when Pam goes off to college, she's made an RA even though she clearly couldn't afford a dorm in New York and doesn't have the requisite experience to get this position. Are we supposed to believe that someone of her limited artistic abilities got a scholarship AND free room and board? Boy, I really hope somebody got fired for that blunder."

"I'll field that one. Let me ask you a question. Why would a man whose shirt says 'Genius at Work' spend all of his time on a comedy message board?"

"I withdraw my question..."

(JK :) :) :))

Scammy: Being a dick using Simpsons quotes since 2005...

[I love nny]

"Hi. Question for Ms. Fischer. In episode 501, when Pam goes off to college, she's made an RA even though she clearly couldn't afford a dorm in New York and doesn't have the requisite experience to get this position. Are we supposed to believe that someone of her limited artistic abilities got a scholarship AND free room and board? Boy, I really hope somebody got fired for that blunder."

"I'll field that one. Let me ask you a question. Why would a man whose shirt says 'Genius at Work' spend all of his time on a comedy message board?"

"I withdraw my question..."

(JK :) :) :))

Scammy: Being a dick using Simpsons quotes since 2005...

Fucking Brilliant!

[disl]

what's more tired, questioning a show for breaking their established reality or dismissing criticism by saying "it's just a tv show"? this isn't "lost" where smoke monsters were eating plane crash survivors in the first 10 minutes of the pilot episode. this is a show that has been established as taking place in a reality where realistic things happen. but whatever, it's just a tv show. i can't wait until the "whodunnit?" episode where dwight finds a corpse in the ceiling or the one where jim dresses up all crazy to convince dwight that he's jim from the future.

[Meen Bellpeppers]

Hey is this the thread where we talk about how much we hate aenematron?

[Jixby Phillips]

yeah aenematron we hate you!!!!!

[Jixby Phillips]

a thing I like about the office

The deleted scenes, how they have yet to contradict anything that happens in the series (I mean not that I have noticed anyway). Like they are a proper part of the reality. the only thing I can think of is Rainy Days Wilson redoing a monologue in some deleted scene and then redoing it later. ITS A THING I THINK ABOUT AND APPRECIATE ABOUT THE OFFICES ON ABC

[bjmoner]

To that I'd say that episode was more released more than a year ago. Seems like a waste a time to rehash that debate again.

I thought it was a nice season opener. Unlike last years hour-longs it didn't feel like two episodes slapped together or take place out of the office yet with everyone there.

Not to mention, it's not entirely out of the question for d-nozzles to trust GPS over common f'n sense:
http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/30/gps-sends-another-driver-onto-train-tracks-of-doom/

D-D-D ... Dumbass!

[Cankerblossom]

I think a lot of people took that scene the wrong way. Of course Michael knows better than to drive into a lake. He did it on purpose to try to show the flaws in technology. Obviously it was extreme of him, but that's the character. I don't think it was supposed to be a "this is how dumb he is" kind of a thing, more of a stubbornness thing.

[TacoSmith]

Tonight's episode is really weird.

[TomHicks]

I hate the ones where they spend the whole show out of the office.

[P-Dub]

Boy, Jan really went off the deep end in this one.

[bjmoner]

Boy, Jan really went off the deep end in this one.

But I'll tell ya, Creed looked better than ever. I had no idea he was from Delaware!

[Jixby Phillips]

Thanks guys, for making me curse at my Tivo for no reason

(I don't follow politics, guys)

[Coz]

a thing I like about the office

The deleted scenes, how they have yet to contradict anything that happens in the series (I mean not that I have noticed anyway). Like they are a proper part of the reality. the only thing I can think of is Rainy Days Wilson redoing a monologue in some deleted scene and then redoing it later. ITS A THING I THINK ABOUT AND APPRECIATE ABOUT THE OFFICES ON ABC

The deleted scenes for the office are great, makes it worth owning the dvds.
The creators of the show have said that the deleted scene are all canon. So even the deleted stuff is part of the story.

I wish they kept the kevin tard joke going, that was hilarious.

[radpaolo]

Was there an episode last night, did I miss something?

All I got was stupid sexy shirtless Mario Lopez on Extra last night.

[aenemaTron]

No, there wasn't one.

[crlygrl]

No, there wasn't one.

Wait whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat ?

[TacoSmith]

No, there wasn't one.

Then why the fuck did the new white-haired guy on the show keep talking about Scranton?

[rabbitandox]

http://www.officetally.com/gene-stupnitsky-answers-weight-loss-questions/3

How did Pam become a Resident Advisor?

Gene Stupnitsky: Basically, what happened was that Pam was looking for leadership experience and financial aid so she went to the Student Employment Office where she picked up a brochure on Residence Life. The last page of that brochure was an application for a position as a Resident Advisor, which she filled out and sent in. She was chosen for the position within two weeks.

Just kidding.

We thought it’d be funny. Next question!

[yumitree]

"that doesn't sound right."

[Cankerblossom]

"Pretty close to my engagement. What's your game?"
"To get married."

[Babs]

Wow. That was a great episode.

That Battlestar Gallactica thing may be my new favorite thing in the world.

Dumbledore Calrissian

[nadsat droog]

"The tall guy got engaged."

Vintage episode last night. Tightly scripted, no fat. I loved it.

[Big Box Of Money]

Then why the fuck did the new white-haired guy on the show keep talking about Scranton?

I realize this was posted a week ago, but...

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TylvUGJIi_w&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TylvUGJIi_w&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

[theodoric]

I love how Meredith's moral compass swung 180 degrees some time ago, and she's completely unaware of it.

[Coz]

It's about this guy named Dumbledore and he has to take the ring of power to Mordor

[KeithTalent]

I noticed that I've been cringing a lot more this season, which is a good thing.

[pollymaepry]

"Playtime is OVER!"

:D

[Everest]

another great episode

[KeithTalent]

I noticed that I've been cringing a lot more this season, which is a good thing.

Bein' good isn't always easy, no matter how hard I try...

[ericluxury]

There are times when I cringe watching the show, but in the Michael/Holly and Jan scenes its beyond cringing. I don't know if its good, it's making it hard for me to laugh at the show in general.

[pollymaepry]

Not to be an overly analytical jerk, but the Office is in it's fifth season, and wouldn't be if it was always dependent on laughs-per-minute. The Michael/Holly/Jan thing is something where I'm all "oh man, what's gonna happen?!" while still laughing most of the time.
And the Jim/Pam stuff is becoming something I care about (that end sequence on the phone was great) where I used to just kind of gag.

Those cringes are called FEELINGS.

[aenemaTron]

Jim and Pam can suck my dick.

The scene when Michael hugged Holly, on the other hand, was so adorable.

[Garrett Gilchrist]

Pam can suck my dick.

Fixed that for you.

Not for me, mind. I'm taken.


The final Holly moment was a good thing. I become a complete girl for this show's plotlines. Actually I think I become a total girl when watching most good shows.

Hm.

Maybe I am a girl inside.

Or a ram.

[Babs]

I thought that it was pretty boring episode overall. I am surprised they didn't have Michael be at the birth of Jan's baby, it seems like such a golden opportunity for hilarity. That was so anti climactic. Though yes Holly/Michael continue to be awesome.

Jim's hair was extra Donald Trump-y

[aenemaTron]

Fixed that for you.


Don't do that.

[disl]

if one more person says "cringe," i'm gonna blow my top! why are you people cringing at things that aren't really happening? it's just a tv show, don't mistake being bored for being uncomfortable.

[Scammy Davis Boogah Jr.]

I am surprised they didn't have Michael be at the birth of Jan's baby, it seems like such a golden opportunity for hilarity.

If they ever write a sequel to Nine Months or She's Having A Baby, I'm sure they'll give you a call...

(Ignore anything I write on Friday or Saturday night. I'm probably drunk)

[aenemaTron]

What's your excuse for Sunday through Thursday?

[Scammy Davis Boogah Jr.]

What's your excuse for Sunday through Thursday?

I've been zinged and I'm loving it!!!

(You're worse than my AA sponsor)

[TacoSmith]

This thread is full of hockey pucks!

Also, cringe!

[Meen Bellpeppers]

I am surprised they didn't have Michael be at the birth of Jan's baby, it seems like such a golden opportunity for hilarity.

Yeah, a golden SHOWER opportunity.

[My cramming that joke in where it doesn't really fit or make sense is a tribute to the way they did the same]

[BillBrasky]

what more tired, questioning a show for breaking their established reality or dismissing criticism by saying "it's just a tv show"? this isn't "lost" where smoke monsters were eating plane crash survivors in the first 10 minutes of the pilot episode. this is a show that has been established as taking place in a reality where realistic things happen. but whatever, it's just a tv show. i can't wait until the "whodunnit?" episode where dwight finds a corpse in the ceiling or the one where jim dresses up all crazy to convince dwight that he's jim from the future.

if one more person says "cringe," i'm gonna blow my top! why are you people cringing at things that aren't really happening? it's just a tv show, don't mistake being bored for being uncomfortable.

So which is it, is it just a TV show or are we supposed to take it seriously?
HAHA......OWNED!!!!

:) No, seriously, I know what you're saying. I'm a little sick of "cringe" humor as well.
The British nerds over at Cookd and Bombd similarly mock anyone who says about the British Office "I had to watch it through my fingers..."
No one should take a TV show that seriously. There have been a few episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm that made me uncomfortable, but we've had 5 seasons of this show and you should know where most scenes are going to go by now, so you shouldn't be cringing that much.

[Babs]

I personally just can't help it sometimes when I am watching super awkward situations. It's not that I'm taking the show seriously, it's just that they are doing a good enough job that I connect to the situation and people in a real way.

[Darryl]

you should know where most scenes are going to go by now, so you shouldn't be cringing that much.

I call is cringe-worthy as well. I think that's the best term for it. That doesn't mean it's literally difficult to watch, or I have to cover my eyes, but it does raise an "oh no!" response as I laugh.

The beauty is that, yes, I know that anything Michael does will end up badly, but the writers do a good job of surprising me as to exactly how it will go badly.

[aenemaTron]

So now you can like a show but have to watch a certain way or be ridiculed?

The horror.

[Darryl]

So now you can like a show but have to watch a certain way or be ridiculed?

The horror.

I read AST with one eye closed.

[isoS]

Michael's relationship with Jan is simply painful to witness. If you like Michael even a little bit, it eats up your insides to see him continually go back for another serving of abuse from her. The Holly hug at the end, as massively pathetic and technically inappropriate as it was, at least redeemed Michael somewhat and made up for his whipping boy antics.

[KeithTalent]

When an awkward thing happens one might say it made them cringe. This does not mean they literally flinched, it means the reason they were laughing had to do with awkwardness. There's always been an element of that to this show, in the past couple seasons it's kind of taken a backseat to zany escapades. I enjoy that recently there has been a bit more uncomfortable stuff.

[pollymaepry]

It's not that I'm taking the show seriously, it's just that they are doing a good enough job that I connect to the situation and people in a real way.

Yes. This. What I kinda mean.

I don't know why it's a big deal ("taking too seriously") to be connected to a show and its characters, which has been seriously lacking in sitcoms for a very long time. Roseanne, Cheers, anyone?

[Jixby Phillips]

Darlene had the baby and it almost DIED

[TacoSmith]

So I'm sorta girling out on the Michael/Holly relationship. They are SO TOTALLY perfect for each other. I'm going to be bummed if Amy Ryan leaves the show, which is looking likely.

Also, this episode had maybe my favorite "that's what she said" yet. "It squeaks when you bang it."

[radpaolo]

So I'm sorta girling out on the Michael/Holly relationship. They are SO TOTALLY perfect for each other. I'm going to be bummed if Amy Ryan leaves the show, which is looking likely.


In the absolute same boat. I found this my favorite episode of the season so far.

[yumitree]

i think i remember reading that amy ryan's run this season will be six episodes, but i might be wrong or letting my democrat defeatism get the best of me.

[radpaolo]

i think i remember reading that amy ryan's run this season will be six episodes, but i might be wrong or letting my democrat defeatism get the best of me.
That sounds about right, given that they always credit Amy Ryan as a Special Guest Star in the opening credits.

[crlygrl]

That corporate fuck is going to put a stop to all Michael and Holly's fun!!!!!!!!!!! Damn the management!!!!

And fuck the whole Pam and Jim rollercoaster. I'm done with those two.

[yumitree]

yeah, the whole "driving to new york... oh wait! what am i doing?" thing was horrible.

[ArchStanton]

http://www.cbc.ca/arts/tv/story/2008/10/23/office-winnipeg.html

[I love nny]

yeah, the whole "driving to new york... oh wait! what am i doing?" thing was horrible.
in total agreement with you there. They either need to let them get married and be happy or they need to break up and one if not both need to come out of the closet so we don't go through this shit again in another season.

This "will they won't they" situation is completly played out. They are engaged let them fucking be.

[mattmanser]

I thought the whole point of the Jim/car scene was that Jim and Pam aren't doing the will they/won't they thing.

[yumitree]

it was still awful.

[Cameron]

There were some great lines in this episode.

"Now I'm going to be vulnerable to surges!"

"You'll always be safe with me. I'm a very good screamer."

"We're going to auction of people like they did in the old days." *pans to Stanley*

[I love nny]

I thought the whole point of the Jim/car scene was that Jim and Pam aren't doing the will they/won't they thing.

I wrote a very long entry and then deleted it because i realized i didn't want to be the guy who takes it so god damn'd serious that it actually ruin his day. In summary; i'm crazy but i'm aware im crazy.

[I love nny]

There were some great lines in this episode.

"Now I'm going to be vulnerable to surges!"

"You'll always be safe with me. I'm a very good screamer."

"We're going to auction of people like they did in the old days." *pans to Stanley*

Also when Andy was passing out the save the dates and it was just "initial"-money

[Pimpbot]

it was still awful.

I disagree. The logical consequence of Jim not being Roy is that he is cool with Pam pursuing art, going to NYC, having guy friends, etc. Maybe it could have been done more artfully, but Jim having second thoughts after weeks of bad chemistry with Pam wasn't too terrible from my perspective.

[Mindyjoy]

The logical consequence of Jim not being Roy is that he is cool with Pam pursuing art, going to NYC, having guy friends, etc. Maybe it could have been done more artfully, but Jim having second thoughts after weeks of bad chemistry with Pam wasn't too terrible from my perspective.

I totally agree. I like Jim and I don't want him to turn into Roy, but it would be inhuman to lack any sort of jealous tendencies.

[yumitree]

i have no problem with them trying to show that jim ain't roy, but that was clumsy and bad.

[kevin]

i found myself thinking "oh, come on!" when it blacked out to jim driving to "visit" new york after roy's comments. however, at the end when he pulls the u-turn, i found myself relieved. i do not know whether it's because i'm completely buying into their situation, or because i'm simply glad that the writers didn't go that frustrating route.

i had the exact same reaction last week to Jan scolding Michael about <strike>Beadie</strike> Holly, and then him completely undermining the command.

[TacoSmith]

Here's how I see it. Jim and Pam are pretty much in a holding pattern from a writing standpoint. They're concentrating on other shit like Dwight's thing and Michael's thing but they don't want to completely disregard PB & J. So, yeah, the whole thing on this episode wasn't the best, but whatever. It took up probably 5 minutes of the show total, if that.

If I may girl out for another moment, I loved when Michael and Holly kept doing that "Oh I'm busy tonight going out with you" thing, Holly cut Michael off before he started doing it one too many times. ITS TOTALLY LOVE OMG!

[Babs]

i think Dwight should have won the hug. Or bartered something with Vance for it.

I don't know, i just find myself caring less and less about everything on the show.

[Jixby Phillips]

I knew from the word "HUG" that it was going to end up with Dwight desperately bidding on it. I like how it played out.

If you wanna be a fag about it you can probably assume he got a hug anyway and it just wasn't shown/filmed.

[pollymaepry]

is this not really known?
from bestweekever.tv:

<i>Amy Ryan — who plays Holly — is only listed as a guest star, and her time on The Office is limited. Plus, maybe we’re reading too much into it, but next week’s episode is titled “Employee Transfer”, and IMDB lists it as Ryan’s last appearance.</I>

[I love nny]

is this not really known?
from bestweekever.tv:

Amy Ryan — who plays Holly — is only listed as a guest star, and her time on The Office is limited. Plus, maybe we’re reading too much into it, but next week’s episode is titled “Employee Transfer”, and IMDB lists it as Ryan’s last appearance.
That sucks,but what are you going to do.

[theodoric]

"She introduced to so many things: Pasteurized milk. Sheets. Monotheism. Present on your birthday. Preventative medicine."

[disl]

yeah, the whole "driving to new york... oh wait! what am i doing?" thing was horrible.

sorry, i'm a week behind, but i just watched the episode and this moment was ridiculously groan-inducing. i will say, though, that it would have been worth it if jim would have gotten a DUI on the drive back to scranton.

[MikeHilinski]

sorry, i'm a week behind, but i just watched the episode and this moment was ridiculously groan-inducing. i will say, though, that it would have been worth it if jim would have gotten a DUI on the drive back to scranton.

that's exactly what i thought. he did just do an illegal u-turn. i was expecting cop lights to kill his sentimental moment.

[DonTGD]

There are times when I cringe watching the show, but in the Michael/Holly and Jan scenes its beyond cringing. I don't know if its good, it's making it hard for me to laugh at the show in general.

if one more person says "cringe," i'm gonna blow my top! why are you people cringing at things that aren't really happening? it's just a tv show, don't mistake being bored for being uncomfortable.

"It's just a TV Show" is the calling card of the ignorant. If you're a writer and you're working on creating quality entertainment then truly believing that "it's just a TV show" will virtually guarantee you that your career will go nowhere. Believe in what you're create and consume. The only success I achieved in life is when I took that to heart.

For instance, I found the Sasha Baron Cohen cringe humor to be so far beyond good taste that it went from funny to really funny to not funny. It was akin to the people who made chili for your chili cookoff at your backyard BBQ that was so spicy that no one ate it.

There is a balance and sometimes that balance tips.

Michael's relationship with Jan is simply painful to witness. If you like Michael even a little bit, it eats up your insides to see him continually go back for another serving of abuse from her. The Holly hug at the end, as massively pathetic and technically inappropriate as it was, at least redeemed Michael somewhat and made up for his whipping boy antics.

Again, the question is, how do the writers want us to view Michael? He might have been better as a non-lovable character, but they went the other way and now they have to recognize that view audience members want Michael to fail, unlike, let's say, season 1.

...
I don't know why it's a big deal ("taking too seriously") to be connected to a show and its characters, which has been seriously lacking in sitcoms for a very long time. Roseanne, Cheers, anyone?

Well why not Seinfeld? Seinfeld allowed us to focus on the jokes and crazy situations first while still bringing people into their world. Cheers and Roseanne were different kinds of sitcoms while the Office is more joke-based like Seinfeld.

that's exactly what i thought. he did just do an illegal u-turn. i was expecting cop lights to kill his sentimental moment.

I know, a DUI scare would have been very appropriate...

[Hated Milk Machine]

"It's just a TV Show" is the calling card of the ignorant.

ahahahahahahhahaha

[BillBrasky]

So you're calling William Shatner ignorant?

[disl]

"It's just a TV Show" is the calling card of the ignorant. If you're a writer and you're working on creating quality entertainment then truly believing that "it's just a TV show" will virtually guarantee you that your career will go nowhere. Believe in what you're create and consume. The only success I achieved in life is when I took that to heart.

For instance, I found the Sasha Baron Cohen cringe humor to be so far beyond good taste that it went from funny to really funny to not funny. It was akin to the people who made chili for your chili cookoff at your backyard BBQ that was so spicy that no one ate it.



this is a lousy comparison. when cohen confronts people as borat, bruno, or ali g, it's actually happening. even if it's not funny, it's justifiably cringe-worthy because the people he's fucking with are real people. why would you ever feel uncomfortable when fake things are happening to fake people in fake situations? do you cringe when wile e. coyote is about to light his rocket skates because you know it's not going to end well for him?

[aenemaTron]

Come on. People react to fake things. Cry, shriek, cringe, whatever.

[Having Fun!]

shriek

this only applies to you and your Dead Space videogame

[aenemaTron]

Reminding me of it made me cry

[Jouster]

why would you ever feel uncomfortable when fake things are happening to fake people in fake situations?

Why would you ever laugh at a fake sentence said by a fake person? Or a fake reaction by another fake person? Your position here is ludicrous. Fiction provokes reactions - like Tron said, people react to fake things (I certainly have). It's nice that you see through the facade of this television show, but cram it, sir.

[disl]

i don't think you can compare a serious reaction to a lighthearted reaction in regards to something fictional. laughing would be a lighthearted reaction. cringing, crying, boiling with rage, etc. would be serious reactions. what is going on in your life to where you're reacting seriously to not just fake stimuli (sorry for the faggy word), but fake stimuli that is SUPPOSED to be funny? man, i got so broken up at the beginning of "the jerk" when steve martin had to stand there trying to hitchhike for hours until someone picked him up.

it's not about "seeing through the tv show's facade" or whatever. it's about reserving real emotions for real things and not overreacting to fiction. how many people who cringe at michael scott's crazy antics also filled with real rage when the joker killed rachel? that guy was such a jerk!

[aenemaTron]

Get over it. People are different.

[isoS]

i don't think you can compare a serious reaction to a lighthearted reaction in regards to something fictional. laughing would be a lighthearted reaction. cringing, crying, boiling with rage, etc. would be serious reactions. what is going on in your life to where you're reacting seriously to not just fake stimuli (sorry for the faggy word), but fake stimuli that is SUPPOSED to be funny? man, i got so broken up at the beginning of "the jerk" when steve martin had to stand there trying to hitchhike for hours until someone picked him up.

it's not about "seeing through the tv show's facade" or whatever. it's about reserving real emotions for real things and not overreacting to fiction. how many people who cringe at michael scott's crazy antics also filled with real rage when the joker killed rachel? that guy was such a jerk!

You, sir, are an emotional iceberg. React to that!

[Babs]

The end of the UK Office special makes me cry like a baby. So does Mr. Holland's Opus. And I'm not going to justify that

[KeithTalent]

When an awkward thing happens one might say it made them cringe. This does not mean they literally flinched, it means the reason they were laughing had to do with awkwardness. There's always been an element of that to this show, in the past couple seasons it's kind of taken a backseat to zany escapades. I enjoy that recently there has been a bit more uncomfortable stuff.

This guy really nailed it. Bit rude though.

[Coz]

I cried during the Extras Christmas Special.
And Rambo First Blood.

[Scammy Davis Boogah Jr.]

By emotional iceberg, do you mean 'cold' or '95% of his mass is underwater'?

I saw 'Away from Her' last weekend, and I didn't cry once. It sure bummed me the fuck out, however.

[aenemaTron]

OK, let's drop it.

[Meen Bellpeppers]

OMG TRON SHUT UP

http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/285/23044formatteddwightasjrs8.gif (http://imageshack.us)

[Meen Bellpeppers]

TRON IM SORRY I WAS OUT OF LINE

http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/6259/25726formattedtheofficezk1.gif (http://imageshack.us)

[aenemaTron]

Please keep your masturbatory materials to yourself.

[DonTGD]

...

it's not about "seeing through the tv show's facade" or whatever. it's about reserving real emotions for real things and not overreacting to fiction. how many people who cringe at michael scott's crazy antics also filled with real rage when the joker killed rachel? that guy was such a jerk!

Why is it a positive thing to not react to fiction? Isn't that a sign that one is dangerously desensitized?

[aenemaTron]

Drop it?

[DonTGD]

this is a lousy comparison. when cohen confronts people as borat, bruno, or ali g, it's actually happening. even if it's not funny, it's justifiably cringe-worthy because the people he's fucking with are real people. why would you ever feel uncomfortable when fake things are happening to fake people in fake situations? do you cringe when wile e. coyote is about to light his rocket skates because you know it's not going to end well for him?

I strongly believe that there is a balance in cringe humor and that it regularly goes over the edge, tipping the balance. I have talked on this board countless times about my view of the balance in humor, keeping it clean, keeping it free of insults that people cannot change and keeping it out of cringe territory.

I also firmly believe that when art or writing transcends the "just a tv show" distance then it's achieved something. I think the Office did that in Season 2. I think that from a comedy perspective people should strive for that and reject the "its just a tv show" concept. Compare TV drama that wasn't well thought out, such as a show I used to love like Remington Steele or the original Battlestar Galactica, with Lost, the Wire, the new Battlestar Galactica, Heroes, Sopranos, Deadwood, etc. Suddenly you have an incredible rise of quality dramas in a 10 year period. Not only can TV writing be as good as film, it's much better than film. the one-camera sitcoms, the Office, Reno 911, and the sainted Arrested Development are specifically filmed to bring the audience into the scene as an observer devoid of the fourth wall artifice of older three camera sitcoms. If there's any format that strives to be more than "just a tv show" it's the one camera sitcom. And the jokes, when they work, deliver a far bigger reaction than "fat guy married to attractive wife" on CBS.

[crlygrl]

Oh so hey who's really excited for tonight's show? I AM!!!!!!!

[disl]

is it possible to appreciate art and not get so emotionally involved in it to where you react to it as though it was real? am i really alone on this? i mean, i'm pretty hollow emotionally, but am i really the one in the wrong if the other party is literally crying because fake character's fake girlfriend broke up with him?

i'm not trying to be condescending even though that's how it comes off, i just legitimately don't understand that kind of behavior. if you're reacting that strongly to something that's make believe, i have to think your real life must be an emotional rollercoaster.

[crlygrl]

I cry at fictional things that happen on the TV. And in books. And also in movies.

And sometimes I cry when I listen to songs that are sad even if they weren't written for me.

And also, stop fighting in the office thread. You're going to make me cry.

[Hated Milk Machine]

Drop it?

Request: denied.

[BillBrasky]

I cried during the movie "In America".

I personally have never found the characters on "The Office" interesting enough to get that emotionally invested in them. The British show, more so, but I never really cried; it was more of a "oh no, what is this idiot getting himself into" reaction, like with Curb. I don't think Michael is as well-formed a character as David Brent. With Ricky Gervais, you really felt sorry for Brent because he was such a pathetic character, but Steve Carell is so innately goofy that I never really feel sorry for him when he gets into a bad situation, I feel that he usually earned it with his jackass behavior. And sorry, I don't care about Jim/Pam at all, both characters have become pretty charmless and drag the show down most episodes, I feel. I think that's what disl was initially saying (maybe?)

[Finnegan TG]

is it possible to appreciate art and not get so emotionally involved in it to where you react to it as though it was real? am i really alone on this? i mean, i'm pretty hollow emotionally, but am i really the one in the wrong if the other party is literally crying because fake character's fake girlfriend broke up with him?

i'm not trying to be condescending even though that's how it comes off, i just legitimately don't understand that kind of behavior. if you're reacting that strongly to something that's make believe, i have to think your real life must be an emotional rollercoaster.

this shouldn't need to be said, but a lot of times it's because things occurring in these fake shows connect to the viewer's real life experience. you know how people say their favorite movies/books/shows "resonate" with them?

and the connections don't have to be emotional to be personal. sometimes i listen to Talking Heads and it's like small fireworks go off in my head. something about that music clicks with me. I suspect that the emotional point of view of a show like the Office clicks with a lot of people on these forums.

[Everest]

Talking Heads are great.

[isoS]

you know what's great? Darryl singing "Life is a Highway."

[A Shot Glass of Humor]

That Halloween cold open was hilarious! Dwight and Creed as the joker... also Andy continues to impress me. I was a bit annoyed with him last season but he's been continously hilarious so far. Also good to see Darryl get some great screentime in this episode.

Dwight was once again back on his game and it was nice to see him pull off a Jim-esque prank.

Also, Stanley once again rules with his minimal dialogue. His eye rolls and his exasperated what!? when he exited the bathroom. Oh and I have to mention that his talking head from the baby episode was honestly the funniest talking head of the season!

The Jim/Pam stuff not the funniest stuff around, honestly, they need to either ditch it and bring her back or find a way to make it funnier and not a scene from gossip girl.

[rabbitandox]

Shouldn't they have gotten someone to play Holly who was willing to stick around longer? In a show where character arcs are expected to last several years, Holly's brief presence now seems irrelevant. I hope they have somewhere to take Michael or something, otherwise this whole season looks pretty directionless.

[mezmorized]

Shouldn't they have gotten someone to play Holly who was willing to stick around longer? In a show where character arcs are expected to last several years, Holly's brief presence now seems irrelevant. I hope they have somewhere to take Michael or something, otherwise this whole season looks pretty directionless.

I agree that I hope Holly's arc wasn't just a flash in the pan for Michael and that it actually served some purpose. My guess is it's going to lead Michael to go back to Jan. I agree, if not Jan, then what the hell is he going to fawn over?

I liked this episode along with this season so far. I think the Jim and Pam separation is wearing out it's welcome, though. I thought maybe at first they could make it interesting with Pam possibly meeting another guy, but it just seems like filler now. Every episode is like "Hey Jim and Pam are still together, but it's tough doing the long distance relationship thing right? Hey lets check on Creed now." Every little insight after the first initial "We're struggling with this long distance relationship." hasn't brought anything new. It's just telling us what we already know.

That being said seeing more Andy/Dwight can never hurt. New favorite word "Stume".

[crazyshat]

I think the Jim/Pam stuff worked perfectly to bridge all sorts of gaps. I give the Episode an A+++++

Also, Dwight/andy was My favorite part of the episode!

[nadsat droog]

I agree completely that the Holly storyline ending here is terrible for the show. Now Michael will just revert to being his old self and that sucks. I liked the deeper emotional stuff that was going on with them.

The best line of the episode was from Creed: "It's pronounced 'Colonel', and it's the highest rank in the military."

[YoungAmerican]

I agree completely that the Holly storyline ending here is terrible for the show. Now Michael will just revert to being his old self and that sucks. I liked the deeper emotional stuff that was going on with them.

The best line of the episode was from Creed: "It's pronounced 'Colonel', and it's the highest rank in the military."

I liked how they almost threw away "It's pronounced 'Cornell', and it's the highest rank in the IVY LEAGUE."

That exchange was hilarious.

[rabbitandox]

Polish driver follows GPS directions into lake (http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/081024/oddities/poland_accident_offbeat)

[Having Fun!]

There you go. That scene is justified. Michael Scott is Polish. Bisk-Boom-Bop

[Shane]

I loved Darryl's line about the Bruce songs..."Two of them were Huey Lewis and the News, and the other was Tracy Chapman Fast Car"

[Babs]

So...was pondering...is this "documentary" ever going to air, anyway? I can't remember what the excuses were that were given for that.

edit: drrr, you know what I mean.

[Cameron]

It's airing now. Every thursday night on NBC.

[aenemaTron]

That would be an interesting way to cap the series, spend the last season dealing with the show having aired, much like the UK Office did.

[disl]

would they really be able to do that and make it be realistic, though? i mean, presumably every episode they've done so far has been happening in real time and making references to current pop culture. if the show is airing in their reality (which i assume is our reality), it would be hard to justify how no one has been affected by it now that we're 5 years in.

[Margaret Dumont]

So...was pondering...is this "documentary" ever going to air, anyway? I can't remember what the excuses were that were given for that.

edit: drrr, you know what I mean.

Hooray, I'm useful!

The documentary's air date hasn't been set: One of the big questions about The Office is if the characters will ever watch the documentary, which is the whole premise of the show. It's not out of the question, Greg said, but it won't happen for awhile. "We definitely love it as a big, game-changing story move. There are certain ideas that we store away in our back pockets and if we got to that place where we ran out I think we could go to that and then see what comes out of it."

[Hated Milk Machine]

The last two episodes have been pretty good, but I didn't laugh, because who laughs at fake things happening to fake people in fake situations? Not me, that's who.

[Shane]

sarcasm alert

[disl]

The last two episodes have been pretty good, but I didn't laugh, because who laughs at fake things happening to fake people in fake situations? Not me, that's who.

i didnt laugh at this post if that helps!!

[Babs]

Another episode. Meh. I did enjoy Dwight telling Jim to "get a friend, loser".

[crlygrl]

Andy planning that wedding is absolutely fantastic.

[Babs]

He tented Giuliani's first and third wedding

[BillBrasky]

I'm not enjoying the show that much this season so far. Maybe "The Office" is like Star Trek and the even-numbed seasons are the good ones. (Although Season 1 wasn't really bad; they were just finding their feet when they first started out and it wasn't as great as Season 2 was).

I think the main problem is too much Jim/Pam. I didn't care about the Jim/Pam/Karen love triangle in Season 3, and I care even less about what's going on with them now. I watch the show to laugh, not for the soap opera elements (Sorry if I'm an "emotional iceberg").
Season 4 got away from that and concentrated more on Michael and the other characters, and the show was better for it. Jim and Pam just aren't interesting characters, sorry.

Maybe they'll turn it around this season, but the show seems pretty directionless right now.
It doesn't help that they got rid of the one person who might have held the season together and given it a good story arc.

[isoS]

I really enjoyed the bluetooth headset stuff. "That's what she said that's what she said!"

[rabbitandox]

Jim and Pam is the predominant reason I watch this show (although the fact that it's usually hilarious does help), so I think last night was my favorite of the season. Jim is buying a house in Scranton and Pam has a compelling reason to stay in NY?? Drama! For the first time this season, it feels like there is some direction. And since I was really scared they were going to give Pam a male Karen, I was pleased that even though that dude is crushing on Pam, that part of it was thrown away.

Still worried that Holly will end up having been irrelevant, though...

[Jouster]

I think Holly existed mainly to help Michael get out of Jan's orbit finally, which was necessary. If they end up having Michael get back with Jan, then yeah, it was kinda pointless (but that's still an if).

[disl]

i liked dwight a lot in this episode, especially his celebratory kick that nearly took phyllis' head off.

i hope those tiny bluetooths give jim and pam brain tumors.

[isoS]

Oh yeah, well I hope you fall in love!

[crlygrl]

Oh yeah, well I hope you fall in love!

...with a fictional character!

[TacoSmith]

i liked dwight a lot in this episode, especially his celebratory kick that nearly took phyllis' head off.

Oh man, I almost forgot about that. I always love Dwight, but he was a special kind of awesome in this episode.

[gloshi]

Another awesome episode. The scene with Jim, Dwight and Michael acting out the sales call was amazing. I can't wait to see what direction they go in for the remainder of the season.

[jeffwatt]

I was kinda expecting someone to express outrage over the plausibility of Jim and Pam's cell phone plans or battery life.

PS..Pam's totally going to hit that Harry Crane shit while she's in NYC.

[greenjello]

"i hope those tiny bluetooths give jim and pam brain tumors."

I thought the 24-hour bluetooths were the most practical, cutest things ever. Not only does it help alleviate the long-distance issue, it gives Jim and Pam all sorts of pranking opportunities.

I had to ask around to find out if people actually do this. I was shocked, SHOCKED I tell you, to find out that they do. Is there a phone plan that makes this cost-effective? As opposed to, say, saving up for a house you know you can't afford?

[KevinLee]

My mom's friends hate Pam and Jim. They voted for McCain.

[KevinLee]

I had to ask around to find out if people actually do this. I was shocked, SHOCKED I tell you, to find out that they do. Is there a phone plan that makes this cost-effective??

link please.

[Garrett Gilchrist]

>> Is there a phone plan that makes this cost-effective??

I believe on my old T-Mobile account I could have gotten unlimited calls to 5 people of my choice. I failed to do this and got a giant bill.

A relative of mine has a landline which seems to offer unlimited calls to anybody, period.

So yes, it can certainly be done.

[theodoric]

MetroPCS gives you unlimited calling for $35/month. Not available in Scranton nor NYC currently, tho.

[isoS]

Doesn't almost every carrier offer free unlimited calls to anyone on their network? I know Sprint does. The real issue would be battery life. Ohmygod why am I dignifying this with a response?!

[TacoSmith]

Do you guys think that Kelly already had pictures of everybody to put on mugs or did she ask for them beforehand? If it's the latter, why didn't Jim remember? I fucking hate this show.

[olwiggum]

My T-Mobile plan allows me to pick 5 people for unlimited calls, regardless of their network... so yeah, it could happen.

[Kentock]

Do you guys think that Kelly already had pictures of everybody to put on mugs or did she ask for them beforehand? If it's the latter, why didn't Jim remember? I fucking hate this show.


I'm sure she had Dwight and Jim mugs that she smashed in a rage after the party like Angela with her Christmas ornaments.

[Shane]

The Michael and Angela thing at the end made me sad.

I agree, the Jim, Michael, and Dwight fake phone call was hilarious, as was Dwight's celebratory kick to Phylis' face.

There was no Holly this episode

[greenjello]

Doesn't almost every carrier offer free unlimited calls to anyone on their network? I know Sprint does. The real issue would be battery life. Ohmygod why am I dignifying this with a response?!

Sorry, I've got a cheap pre-paid cell phone that I rarely use. I know virtually nothing about the cell phone market. I looked at Verizon's family plan a few years ago, and it was almost $1000 annually. Fuck that.

[greenjello]

Also, Dwight's slow burn realization that he was right about something, but not quite sure what, yet excited nonetheless was golden. If you saw that and still hate the show, there's no hope for you.

[mike]

Where the hell is Creed this season?

His performance of Heath Ledger's performance of the Joker was top notch!

[TacoSmith]

I dont know, I feel like Creed has been in just as much of this season as he has been the others. He generally just pops up for an awesome line and then disappears. He had that awesome line that someone else pointed out a couple weeks ago. "It's pronounced 'colonel' and it's the highest rank in the military".

[DOOM]

i like the idea that stanley went to kellys party. other than that, this season isnt good in comparison to other seasons.

[Kentock]

Creed's deleted scene from Business Ethics was the best thing I've seen in a while

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[MikeHilinski]

creed needs his episode. it is long over due. like ever since i noticed how awesome he is.

[Jixby Phillips]

CREEDS SHOW A FANFICTON BY SOMERSAULTFAN1989

Synopsis: He does a somersault out of a garbage can and continues to somersault down the street and into a bus (right on time). He continues to somersault up and down the aisle until he gets to work. When the coast is no longer clear (Dwight's lurking around securing the perimeter) Creed stands up and walks like a man, he can't have anyone know

RATED: X for hate speech (my personal views) and also because it's revealed creed is sucking his dick the entire time just like me

[I love nny]

CREEDS SHOW A FANFICTON BY SOMERSAULTFAN1989

Synopsis: He does a somersault out of a garbage can and continues to somersault down the street and into a bus (right on time). He continues to somersault up and down the aisle until he gets to work. When the coast is no longer clear (Dwight's lurking around securing the perimeter) Creed stands up and walks like a man, he can't have anyone know

RATED: X for hate speech (my personal views) and also because it's revealed creed is sucking his dick the entire time just like me

Well isn't that special. that is super weird man.

[disl]

how jixby isn't a successful comedian by now, i'll never know.

(i'm serious!)

[yumitree]

OH THAT CREED(BY)!

[isoS]

Jixby looks like that Tim Russert's son.
http://www.ilovehou.com/twonicknames/gifsite/1/wrynne/snoopydance.gif
http://weblogs.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/blog/luke_russert.jpg

[ericluxury]

No love for last night's episode? Good point, AST, it wasn't very funny. It was very dark though.

[metal2000]

Dark and Winnipeg-y. Just how I like it.

[mattmanser]

I thought it was great. Love the Oscar/Andy stuff.

[BuildingonFire]

I did like in last night's ep how it looked like they actually had a reason to bring Amy Ryan's character only to then write her out. Michael suddenly has a problem with his company, and I'm not sure we've really seen that before. Hopefully they don't just shunt that idea aside.

[disl]

i actually thought it was a very funny episode. jim and pam were only on screen for maybe 2 minutes, which was great. all of the andy stuff was great ("how do you like these apples?" was hilarious). dwight ripping pam's lousy art skills was very funny. the michael stuff was pretty bleh overall, but not enough to ruin the good things. and i liked all the ryan-kelly stuff, especially darryl walking to his car with a little skip in his step. i'm usually really disappointed after watching new episodes of this show lately, but this was a good one.

also, the shot of michael slumped on the airplane with the sleep mask on was very funny as well.

[ltsina]

I did like in last night's ep how it looked like they actually had a reason to bring Amy Ryan's character only to then write her out. Michael suddenly has a problem with his company, and I'm not sure we've really seen that before. Hopefully they don't just shunt that idea aside.

Yeah, it's a big shift from the part in "The Deposition" where he talks about how you expect your company to screw you over but not your girlfriend. I like it.

[Babs]

Creed's line in that episode...perfection.

I agree with everything disl said. So this post adds absolutely nothing to the conversation.

[GodHatesFlags]

When you've spent four years showing how Jim and Pam are perfect if they could only hook up, well when they finally hook up you are painted into a corner: There's no more tension. I really don't know where they can take it without it being stale or finding a reason why they have tension that won't seem to go against everything they've taught us over the last four years.

[crlygrl]

I was the biggest of Jim and Pam fans, but they've definitely gone stale with this season. I just don't think I care that much anymore... it's more annoying than anything else. Just get married already!

[wrinkle_in_my_pants]

They threw in the "art college" too soon, I think. They could have extended the "new couple in the office" a lot longer and THEN took them away from each other.

But other than that I will not diss this shows writing. It is just so good. I also vote they bring Toby back. I miss Paul as an actor damn it!

[Jouster]

I also vote they bring Toby back. I miss Paul as an actor damn it!

I take it you don't watch the previews for the next episode.

(That was my way of saying he's coming back.)

[Babs]

Oh my god...I didn't even think about Toby coming back and taking back his job. The pure hatred that would flow from Michael Scott...

[Shane]

I love me some Andy, therefore I loved this show. Dwight making fun of Pam's picture was hilarious, as well.