Why is there a US-version of "The Office"?

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

Huh? I don't get it.

― Miss Misery (thatgirl), Saturday, 12 March 2005 06:39 (twenty years ago)

Somebody'll watch it.

― sunburned and snowblind (kenan), Saturday, 12 March 2005 06:41 (twenty years ago)

More info:

http://www.nbc.com/nbc/The_Office/

― sunburned and snowblind (kenan), Saturday, 12 March 2005 06:42 (twenty years ago)

I just saw the ad for this. As much as I love Steve Carell (ex-Daily Show), this is going to positively suck!

Why do they think British comedy series' need to be "re-made" for American audiences?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 12 March 2005 06:44 (twenty years ago)

I dunno... I can imagine a best-case scenario in which it has its own style and is funny. But I haven't seen any ads for it.

― sunburned and snowblind (kenan), Saturday, 12 March 2005 06:46 (twenty years ago)

cuz history has shown there's gold in them thar hills

― j blount (papa la bas), Saturday, 12 March 2005 06:46 (twenty years ago)

not recent history mind you

― j blount (papa la bas), Saturday, 12 March 2005 06:46 (twenty years ago)

the american version of the british version of friends was probably the thru the rabbit hole moment of this

― j blount (papa la bas), Saturday, 12 March 2005 06:47 (twenty years ago)

Oh, I just love the way the page won't let you watch the video if you've updated your version of Windows Media recently.

― sunburned and snowblind (kenan), Saturday, 12 March 2005 06:50 (twenty years ago)

well I never really found the first one funny but don't think a remake will make it so. It wasn't a cultural divide that lost me.

but then didn't they do an american version of the British Coupling which Friends had been a version of to begin with?

ow.

― Miss Misery (thatgirl), Saturday, 12 March 2005 06:50 (twenty years ago)

the pilot's online, it's been linked to on ilx a few times; i didn't watch it but the cw seems to be 1) it's not great but 2) it's not nearly as bad as you might suspect/dread it would be. i thought maybe it was gonna get buried - this was announced awhile back, and the pilot's been floating for AWHILE - but there was some writeup in ew this week so i guess it's a midseason replacement? which could mean they're burying it or they're giving it a big push.

― j blount (papa la bas), Saturday, 12 March 2005 06:52 (twenty years ago)

I don't know if America's ready for a prime-time non-news-magazine show that isn't about cops, lawyers or forsenic scientists.

― Miss Misery (thatgirl), Saturday, 12 March 2005 06:58 (twenty years ago)

you forgot castaways and milfs

― j blount (papa la bas), Saturday, 12 March 2005 07:00 (twenty years ago)

mmmm... milfs. Desperate ones.

― sunburned and snowblind (kenan), Saturday, 12 March 2005 07:06 (twenty years ago)

I just saw the first episode of 'Peep Show'. I loved it and would be interested to know what others thought of that.

― M.ryann (m.ryann), Saturday, 12 March 2005 07:12 (twenty years ago)

The original is classic of course, and the American version is actually pretty good! The thing is, they don't change *anything* except the actors and accents (and even then, the casting was very faithful), and a few phrases. It's very much like a musical that gets transported to another city. I think the audience will still get the full effect/meaning - whether the US audience cares is another matter.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Saturday, 12 March 2005 07:21 (twenty years ago)

Americans are so stupid.

― walter kranz (walterkranz), Saturday, 12 March 2005 07:28 (twenty years ago)

http://www.injenn.net/~tania/seona-dancing/

― Don't Ever Antagonize The Horny (AaronHz), Saturday, 12 March 2005 08:22 (twenty years ago)

axully... the test screening ratings of this were the lowest NBC has every culled.

― Remy (null) (x Jeremy), Saturday, 12 March 2005 08:59 (twenty years ago)

- y b/c it's late and i'm an idiot. waiting for my damn bread to bake.

― Remy (null) (x Jeremy), Saturday, 12 March 2005 09:01 (twenty years ago)

I heard the test screening ratings of the BBC version were really low too, though.

― Don't Ever Antagonize The Horny (AaronHz), Saturday, 12 March 2005 09:03 (twenty years ago)

i never liked the original Office. an american one might be mildly diverting i guess

the last good british comedy show was Whatever Happened to The Likely Lads? nearly 30 years ago, no, more than 30 now i guess

― charltonlido (gareth), Saturday, 12 March 2005 12:04 (twenty years ago)

That's a hell of a statement. What about.. Father Ted?

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Saturday, 12 March 2005 12:27 (twenty years ago)

Not British. What about, er, Spaced? Black Books? Yes Minister? The Young Ones? How Do You Want Me?

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 12 March 2005 12:33 (twenty years ago)

On balance, Porridge is funnier than Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads, although possibly not better.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Saturday, 12 March 2005 12:38 (twenty years ago)

Who's this 'Ryan Howard' character? I can match up all the rest of the characters, but there wasn't a temp in the British version, was there?

― James Mitchell (James Mitchell), Saturday, 12 March 2005 12:40 (twenty years ago)

Ricky from the first series.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Saturday, 12 March 2005 12:44 (twenty years ago)

the last good british comedy show was Whatever Happened to The Likely Lads?

Only true if you forget the existence of The Young Ones, Blackadder, A Bit Of Fry & Laurie, The Day Today, Yes Minister, Brass Eye, Not The Nine 'O Clock News, The Armando Iannucci Shows, and Father Ted.

(BTW - the latter was technically British as it was mostly filmed at the London Studios (formerly LWT's South Bank Studios) for the UK-based Channel 4. I think I read somewhere once that RTE, the Irish state broadcaster, refused to broadcast it when C4 was attempting to sell it overseas.)

― Chriddof (Chriddof), Saturday, 12 March 2005 12:59 (twenty years ago)

(...tho Father Ted did become a huge hit on Irish cable TV.)

― Chriddof (Chriddof), Saturday, 12 March 2005 13:01 (twenty years ago)

Or people with large TV ariels.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Saturday, 12 March 2005 14:17 (twenty years ago)

no one has said anything to change my mind

― charltonlido (gareth), Saturday, 12 March 2005 14:34 (twenty years ago)

yoo forgot about *are yoo being pawned?*, gareth.

― scott seward (scott seward), Saturday, 12 March 2005 14:40 (twenty years ago)

LAUGH IT UP MORTFOX

― Sven Bastard (blueski), Saturday, 12 March 2005 14:44 (twenty years ago)

And Robin's Nest. Don't forget Robin's Nest.

― scott seward (scott seward), Saturday, 12 March 2005 15:05 (twenty years ago)

this was announced awhile back, and the pilot's been floating for AWHILE - but there was some writeup in ew this week so i guess it's a midseason replacement?

jeremy's right - the focus group response to the original pilot was so terrible that nbc had to have a long hard think about whether it was worth saving. in the end they retooled both the cast and the writing team pretty dramatically and (i think?) gave gervais and merchant even more input than they already had.

― mark p (Mark P), Saturday, 12 March 2005 15:15 (twenty years ago)

I know the guy who plays the new Tim thru a friend of mine, so I hope the best for it. But part ot the charm off the Orig., was partly because of the number of unknowns, right? Steve Carell is way too mainstream, esp. after Anchorman...

― Jimmy Mod Has Returned With Spices And Silks (ModJ), Saturday, 12 March 2005 17:18 (twenty years ago)

the american version of the british version of friends was probably the thru the rabbit hole moment of this

Big Brother, surely? Or am I missing something in TV history?

― Jimmy Mod Has Returned With Spices And Silks (ModJ), Saturday, 12 March 2005 17:19 (twenty years ago)

has anyone seen "Kelsey Grammer Presents: The Sketch Show" yet? it's got whatshername from mr.show and paul tompkins from mr.show in it. i have never seen the brit Sketch Show.

― scott seward (scott seward), Saturday, 12 March 2005 17:25 (twenty years ago)

my friend auditioned for tim! i videotaped it!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Saturday, 12 March 2005 17:27 (twenty years ago)

http://www.injenn.net/~tania/seona-dancing/

WTF!!?? Is that really him?

It's really disheartening when someone rattles off a list of 20 British shows that are supposed to be good and only 2 or 3 of them have ever been shown in the US. I can't understand why with a billion satellite stations they can't just beam the British channels over here instead of giving us BBC America.

― walter kranz (walterkranz), Saturday, 12 March 2005 17:57 (twenty years ago)

Yeah walter see this thread:
SEONA DANCING (RICKY GERVAIS PICTURE THREAD)

What I don't get is, if they're following the original exactly and it gets pick up for more than one season, what happens when they get past the Christmas Specials in the story line? They better have some damn good writers lined up or they're screwed...not to mention the fact that the BBC series ends at exactly the right time for those characters.

― Don't Ever Antagonize The Horny (AaronHz), Saturday, 12 March 2005 18:09 (twenty years ago)

What's the obsession with things going on for longer than necessary in America? If it gets to the Christmas specials at the end of season two, you have reached a conclusion of the stories for the characters, so JUST END IT! Why must a way be found to carry it on past that? Can things not just be pitched as a two-series or single 16-part series or whatever, or do they have to have the potential to go on forever? I mean, the very format of The Office (fly-on-the-wall documentary) should prohibit the concept from stretching on forever.

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 12 March 2005 18:14 (twenty years ago)

Well, the idea is that it becomes a gravy train for everyone, surely. (Hit series! No unemployment! Hurrah!) Maybe because expectations/procedures are so specifically different in the UK things are easier to deal with in terms of hyperfocus and 'getting it right.' Certainly that explains the wound-tight-as-hell near-perfection of shows like Fawlty Towers or The Day Today -- there wasn't going to be an endless amount of shows, rather there was a specific focus.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 12 March 2005 18:18 (twenty years ago)

I get the impression that there's a smaller clique of actors and production companies in the UK and so people know that when one project ends something else will come along shortly. Is that impression way off base? In the US it seems more common for an actor to appear on one TV show and then never be seen again. Or they finally get another big job 20 years after their original hit show.

― walter kranz (walterkranz), Saturday, 12 March 2005 18:22 (twenty years ago)

If something's a hit in the US the thinking would be why the hell abandon it. Milk that shit!

It just bothers me that the media/entertainment complex assume Americans won't be interested in a show full of British accents. Could this type of coddling be why so many Americans have such an insulated view of the world?

― Miss Misery (thatgirl), Saturday, 12 March 2005 18:24 (twenty years ago)

Well, there's also something else too -- I've been on a Python kick recently thanks to a couple of DVDs filling out my collection and in rereading the enjoyable Monty Python Speaks oral history their old US manager talks about how sharp John Cleese was to sell the format to Fawlty Towers to America a few times over, each time gaining him some cash while neither doing anything further about the show nor having to worry about getting confused with the original (none of the three attempts over time were called Fawlty Towers, the original show itself got American distribution via PBS, etc.). If the show's originators want to essentially license and then get some double coverage as a result -- think Gervais doing the same with the BBC America screenings and DVDs covering the 'original' and now scoring some more here while not having to get overly involved (and also allowing them to figure out what they want to do next) -- then hey, it's goofy but still.

None of this forgives the idea of making an Americanized Father Ted, though. ;-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 12 March 2005 18:30 (twenty years ago)

cheers was heavily 'inspired' by fawlty towers is my understanding (hence cleese guestspots even)

― j blount (papa la bas), Saturday, 12 March 2005 18:52 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, the Cheers folks always admitted it -- they said they liked the idea of a ensemble cast in a specific setting (so it wasn't just the basic Fawlty/Mrs. Fawlty model, or even Polly/Manuel as well, but also the Colonel and the old ladies and etc.). But the actual licensing of ideas that Cleese did was for shows starring Harvey Korman, Bea Arthur and John Larroquette. All of which lasted about six episodes if that.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 12 March 2005 19:02 (twenty years ago)

milking it springs forth from syndication more than anything else, it should be remembered too that there's considerably more money to be made in american tv than british tv also, ricky gervais is nowhere near as welathy as larry david and, more importantly, the prospects of him becoming so via the office uk were somewhat nil i'm guessing. the british model of tv show production exists in some form with cable though yeah?

― j blount (papa la bas), Saturday, 12 March 2005 19:03 (twenty years ago)

ricky gervais is nowhere near as welathy as larry david

So why isn't Larry David giving me money?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 12 March 2005 19:05 (twenty years ago)

cheers was heavily 'inspired' by fawlty towers is my understanding

True, but the concept of the workplace sitcom long predates Faulty Towers.

In the meantime, weren't Three's Company, Sanford and Son, and All in the Family all Americanized versions of Britcoms?

― j.lu (j.lu), Saturday, 12 March 2005 19:07 (twenty years ago)

Well, yes, but they are a different form of British sitcom. We still have that sort of sitcom too, the ones that run for ever with varying degrees of success. The ones that are more about the characters and the jokes, rather than the situations, I think would be the difference (someone will pick holes in this definition, I know).

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 12 March 2005 19:12 (twenty years ago)

what was the last straight translation of a britshow (non-game show or reality tv) to become a hit on american tv? i'm thinking i have to be forgetting something but is there anything post-norman lear? i wonder if part of the reason so many recent remakes of failed is that so many american are familiar with the original, esp now with bbc america (and to a lesser extent comedy central - abfab remake long rumoured but died a quick death if it ever made it to tv at all (i forget) and pbs which does still show whatever sitcoms dame judy pops up in) people watching tv programs on dvd becoming much much more common than people watching them on vhs ever was.

― j blount (papa la bas), Saturday, 12 March 2005 19:12 (twenty years ago)

thank you for mentioning three's company j. lu (if it was originally a britshow)(which would maybe explain one huge 'huh?' i've had about that show), i was trying to think of a american version of a brit show that was a hit AND an awful show.

― j blount (papa la bas), Saturday, 12 March 2005 19:14 (twenty years ago)

and yeah, 'cheers' obv very possible without 'fawlty towers', the show it closest resembles is taxi with mary tyler moore probably being runnerup. james brooks why did you ever leave tv???

― j blount (papa la bas), Saturday, 12 March 2005 19:17 (twenty years ago)

Queer as Folk? Cracker? (I'm not sure if they were hits, I'm just thinking of ones that made it back here again in their American form). Neither US version held a candle to the British originals in any case.

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 12 March 2005 19:21 (twenty years ago)

queer as folk is reality, cracker bombed.

― j blount (papa la bas), Saturday, 12 March 2005 19:22 (twenty years ago)

Queer as Folk is not reality! Are you confusing it with Queer Eye for the Straight Guy?

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 12 March 2005 19:27 (twenty years ago)

haha 'THAT AIN'T NO TV SHOW, THAT'S MY LIFE!', yeah i somehow mixed them up.

― j blount (papa la bas), Saturday, 12 March 2005 19:28 (twenty years ago)

Gareth is right - there haven't been any good British comedy shows since Bolam and Bewes went their separate ways. El Hadji Diouf is also good for the English game.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Saturday, 12 March 2005 19:30 (twenty years ago)

it feels weird to call any showtime show a 'hit', nothing's really stuck to the wall for them (i'm guessing the l word is their biggest hit since garry shandling and whatever back in the eighties), still 'queers as folk us' made it to dvd so i guess that does sorta count. what's the last network one?

― j blount (papa la bas), Saturday, 12 March 2005 19:32 (twenty years ago)

Surely The Office is one instance where a US remake WOULD be warranted. The whole point of The Office is RECOGNITION, the comedy arises as much from seeing things as you see them every day in your own workplace as it does from the jokes themselves, and surely that's much reduced when you transport it over the Atlantic?

This new version will probably suck, though.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Saturday, 12 March 2005 19:59 (twenty years ago)

I think I posted about this last year - I wonder if I can find my post... Nope. But the gist of it was that the US remake of The Office was actually pretty well done. Watch it if you can.

― Markelby (Mark C), Saturday, 12 March 2005 20:13 (twenty years ago)

The actress who plays Dawn (from the original) was sitting next to us last weekend at the Ned birthday FAP!

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Saturday, 12 March 2005 20:15 (twenty years ago)

The German version of The Office is really good.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Saturday, 12 March 2005 20:16 (twenty years ago)

Also TS: Brighton Belles vs Days Like These

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Saturday, 12 March 2005 20:22 (twenty years ago)

I am actually thinking this U.S. version will be better than expected if you can get past the first 2 episodes.

― S!monB!rch (Carey), Saturday, 12 March 2005 22:34 (twenty years ago)

office space the real us version of the office anyhow right?

― j blount (papa la bas), Saturday, 12 March 2005 22:36 (twenty years ago)

i never saw office space. is it as good as everyone says it is or as bad as it looks or somewhere in between?

― s1ocki (slutsky), Sunday, 13 March 2005 00:23 (twenty years ago)

it's pretty classic.

― Miss Misery (thatgirl), Sunday, 13 March 2005 00:25 (twenty years ago)

It's overrated as fuck but classic, yes.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 13 March 2005 00:30 (twenty years ago)

(If you want a good comparison point, Slocki, I know people who quote/obsess over the damn thing as much I would quote, say, Life of Brian at one point. You may take that under advisement.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 13 March 2005 00:32 (twenty years ago)

I've never seen the original. The long clip of the American version on myspace is so ALMOST good, so ALMOST funny. The acting is just a bit overdone, especially the boss. The dialogue is a HAIR to wacky.

― Hurting (Hurting), Friday, 18 March 2005 16:53 (twenty years ago)

First episode is on tonight at 9:30 - NBC.
....

we'll see....

― dave225 (Dave225), Thursday, 24 March 2005 14:24 (twenty years ago)

Much as I enjoy Steve Carell and the original series, I don't see this taking off at all. Too bad, since Ricky Gervais is the executive producer on the U.S. version.

That said, I'll probably watch it tonight just so's I can definitively tell people "Just got rent the original, it's like a billion times better."

― sugarpants: the luscious ingenue (sugarpants), Thursday, 24 March 2005 15:17 (twenty years ago)

One question, seeing as no ones mentioned it: does/will the US version have a laugh track? If it does, I'm cringing for y'all.

You know, Australian TV rarely feels the need to remake overseas shows. We get original BBC stuff like Coupling, Sketch Show, the Office, LoG, QAF etc... we sometimes get the US versions too; we also get plenty of US shows un-changed.

The few times they've tried to translate an overseas show to australian it has bombed! Queer Eye is the latest hilarious example. It took them a very long time to find a cast they thoght'd work, and I think maybe 2 or 3 eps aired and it was canned... and now they're back to "the original" US version, haw.

Reality and pop-contest shows seem to be the only ones they'll remake here (Idol and the like) - and even THEN we still get the US versions of all that shoved down our gobs AS WELL.

― Trayce (trayce), Friday, 25 March 2005 01:34 (twenty years ago)

Trayce are you trying to tell us that Joe Millionaire wasn't fantastic?

― jill schoelen is the queen of my dreams! (Homosexual II), Friday, 25 March 2005 01:37 (twenty years ago)

Your "Big Brother" is certainly more exciting than the U.S.'s.

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Friday, 25 March 2005 01:43 (twenty years ago)

I dont think I ever watched Joe Millionare! ;P But it was shown here yeah.

Our Big Brother blows. All BB blows. And that cute feisty big woman who did the bum slap dance? She's now stick thin and black haired and looks weird.

― Trayce (trayce), Friday, 25 March 2005 01:47 (twenty years ago)

The clip on myspace is very good. No laugh track.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Friday, 25 March 2005 01:54 (twenty years ago)

no laff track, all the press i've seen suggests that there's an actually quite funny episode coming up that has no connection to the brit version.

― j blount (papa la bas), Friday, 25 March 2005 01:59 (twenty years ago)

Egads. This is torturous (6 minutes in). May just take some getting used to but the jokes seem so stale and easy.

― Aaron A., Friday, 25 March 2005 02:37 (twenty years ago)

Is this the birthday party / redundancy episode?

― you make me feel like a tyrannosaurus rex (deangulberry), Friday, 25 March 2005 02:39 (twenty years ago)

Hitler?

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Friday, 25 March 2005 02:40 (twenty years ago)

So far The Office (US) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Coupling (US). It really makes a difference when you stay true to the original characters.

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 25 March 2005 02:41 (twenty years ago)

xpost:
I think so. I saw William Demarest do the same broombrush gag in The Lady Eve

I'm liking it so far.

― Ken L (Ken L), Friday, 25 March 2005 02:42 (twenty years ago)

it could go either way at this point - bono joke a GOOD sign

― j blount (papa la bas), Friday, 25 March 2005 02:44 (twenty years ago)

That wasn't that bad.

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Friday, 25 March 2005 02:56 (twenty years ago)

Carrell's no Gervais, but it's okay.

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Friday, 25 March 2005 02:57 (twenty years ago)

Now it seems frantic and overwritten, but I guess you might expect that in episode 1. That girl is hawt.

― Aaron A., Friday, 25 March 2005 02:59 (twenty years ago)

Maybe that's it. It just seemed kinda forced.

I was wondering what they would use for the American Gareth's sidejob. Any other time, it would've been the National Guard probably, but not with brigades being sent to Iraq right now.

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Friday, 25 March 2005 03:04 (twenty years ago)

bono joke a GOOD sign

"... and God would have to be number four on that list."

I'm still not convinced that this needed to be done, but I think it's as well-done as it could possibly be. I'm thinking that no one else but Carell could reprise the Gervais role and be anywhere close to as good. He's got it -- that terrible mix of asshole and... well, asshole that's so painful that sometimes you can't laugh until the show's over.

(I think that's why both versions tested so low -- people aren't used to watching a comedy on television where thy cringe through the whole thing.)

― sunburned and snowblind (kenan), Friday, 25 March 2005 03:42 (twenty years ago)

Too bad, since Ricky Gervais is the executive producer on the U.S. version.

Yeah, but only because he owns the rights and gave them his blessing. He doesn't want anything to do with it, really. There's an interview in Entertainment Weekly where he explains that it would be like David Bowie going into Beck's studio and being like, "You can't put a trumpet in there! This is my song!"

― sunburned and snowblind (kenan), Friday, 25 March 2005 03:55 (twenty years ago)

Shows like "The Office" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm" are worse than horror films for me. The whole time I'm squeezing the wife's arm with my eyes clenched shut, murmuring "tell me that he's not really going to do that, is he?"

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Friday, 25 March 2005 03:55 (twenty years ago)

This wasn't too bad. I'll stick to Deadwood tho, thanks.

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Friday, 25 March 2005 03:59 (twenty years ago)

oh my GOD the receptionist, PAM, is FUCKING AWFUL

― jill schoelen is the queen of my dreams! (Homosexual II), Friday, 25 March 2005 04:05 (twenty years ago)

Everyone is uglier than their English counterpart. I wonder if that was intentional.

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Friday, 25 March 2005 05:40 (twenty years ago)

I'm watching this now. It's... very tepid. I can't put my finger on why it seems so mean-spirited, but it does. The UK Office allowed a certain amount of compassion to each character's portrayal. Here, it seems, the characters are just sort of lame people.

― Remy (x Jeremy), Friday, 25 March 2005 05:41 (twenty years ago)

The Pam girl is like Maggie Gyllenhaal with a personalityectomy.

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Friday, 25 March 2005 05:44 (twenty years ago)

None of the actors are as good. None of the jokes they changed are as good.
"I'm Hitler" is the closest thing I got to a chuckle so far.

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Friday, 25 March 2005 05:48 (twenty years ago)

None of the jokes they didn't change are as good. (the stapler in the jello thing).

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Friday, 25 March 2005 05:50 (twenty years ago)

the americanized gareth is the worst of 'em.
my mother informs me that beyond the pilot the show will deviate from the UK plotline. i don't know if that's good or bad.

― Ian John50n (orion), Friday, 25 March 2005 05:54 (twenty years ago)

"Pam" totally blew the pretend-firing crying thing. She sucks at acting.

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Friday, 25 March 2005 05:54 (twenty years ago)

it's shit.

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Friday, 25 March 2005 06:00 (twenty years ago)

I feel like ... much of the brilliance of the UK show is the staff's subversive recalcitrance toward David Brandt. And, culturally speaking, that works wonderfully. But as an American show the lack of any 'balls' makes the whole deal seem slapped-together. The script: poor.

― Remy (x Jeremy), Friday, 25 March 2005 06:02 (twenty years ago)

100% OTM

― Aaron A., Friday, 25 March 2005 06:03 (twenty years ago)

They just took the BBC script and rewrote anything funny or interesting.

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Friday, 25 March 2005 06:06 (twenty years ago)

Oh, one more thing: Altman shoulda directed this. He's the only one that wouldn't've killed it dead. Fuck Ken Kwapis

― Remy (x Jeremy), Friday, 25 March 2005 06:06 (twenty years ago)

Everyone is uglier than their English counterpart.

They found someone uglier than Gareth?

― Stupornaut (natepatrin), Friday, 25 March 2005 06:07 (twenty years ago)

DUDE YES.
The new guy looks like an adult Garbage Pail Kid.

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Friday, 25 March 2005 06:09 (twenty years ago)

Hell, Mike Judge shoulda written the script. Simply, British humor doesn't translate very well at all. Office Space captured the American office zeitgeist perfectly, and could have made a great TV series.

― Aaron A., Friday, 25 March 2005 06:12 (twenty years ago)

I'm not being completely fair. "Pam" is roughly as attractive as "Dawn", but the actress seems way out of her league for the role.

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Friday, 25 March 2005 06:13 (twenty years ago)

The boss and the receptionist are the two most difficult parts, yes? All the new Tim guy has to do is be likeable, and he's failing even at that so far.

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Friday, 25 March 2005 06:15 (twenty years ago)

There's still time to see if, like Ian says, it gets better or worse when they're not lifting plots directly from the UK series anymore. Ky understanding was that there's not going to be a whole lot more of that after the pilot.

― sunburned and snowblind (kenan), Friday, 25 March 2005 06:23 (twenty years ago)

I agree. But I'm sure following the pilot this won't have any great appeal.

― Remy (x Jeremy), Friday, 25 March 2005 06:26 (twenty years ago)

If it doesn't get really good within 3 weeks, it's fucked.

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Friday, 25 March 2005 06:31 (twenty years ago)

Might be fucked anyway.

― sunburned and snowblind (kenan), Friday, 25 March 2005 06:38 (twenty years ago)

You know, I never liked Steve Carell as much as the other Daily Show folks anyway. His performance is pitched really off-key for what the humor needs to work properly. If he can't figure the part out, and the new Tim and Dawn characters don't somehow become likeable and believable, it's a lose-lose situation.

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Friday, 25 March 2005 06:41 (twenty years ago)

I never liked Steve Carell as much as the other Daily Show folks anyway.

Me neither. He always overplays -- very DO YOU SEE. His character on The Office is just GRATING and there's no reason to expect that he'll tone down in later episodes.

― Aaron A., Friday, 25 March 2005 06:52 (twenty years ago)

you losers! talking about sitcoms while shitty Star Wars movies are on their way!

good night!

― latebloomer: AKA Sir Teddy Ruxpin, Former Scientologist (latebloomer), Friday, 25 March 2005 06:53 (twenty years ago)

I'm okay with it so far. The vibe is accurate and they've left out the laugh track, and those are both key things. The preview for next week has a really good idea, and its one that wasn't used in the original (which I adore.) Given the fact that it's a retread, they could've really fucked it up a lot worse. And for Aaron upthread, the show does have one of Mike Judge's long-time collaborators on it as producer. I'll keep watching, although I have a hard time believing it'll get picked up. It's just too different from most U.S. TV.

― Austin S (Austin, Still), Friday, 25 March 2005 07:00 (twenty years ago)

It's the problem of translation vs. interpretation. Too bad for The Office, Office Space already did it. (xpost) And yet, on its own, I didn't think it was that bad. Not, that is, when you compare it to "Yes, Dear" or "According to Jim" or any of the execrable sitcoms on the WB. Sure, if you compare it to the original, it's a dog, yo.

― EComplex (EComplex), Friday, 25 March 2005 07:07 (twenty years ago)

The first episode is a translation. I have hope that they'll venture into reinterpretation later, as the preview hinted.

― Austin S (Austin, Still), Friday, 25 March 2005 07:10 (twenty years ago)

I don't care what anyone says, the actress who plays Pam is a sexaroon.

― Tim Schaloob, Friday, 25 March 2005 08:36 (twenty years ago)

Too bad she can't act.

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Friday, 25 March 2005 09:09 (twenty years ago)

It was good that they stayed true to the original. But I think I figured out what was off about it.

The new show didn't have nearly as much ambient office noise as the original. That added an element of percieved realism in the British version (as well as not knowing any of the British actors) that I enjoyed very much. This one, while staying true to the original, seemed kind of flat and polished in comparison. I think it's the lack of ambient office noise. Still good, but missing that element it seems like just another show.

― Zebra, Alpha Go! (cprek), Friday, 25 March 2005 14:22 (twenty years ago)

Zebra, OTM literally and metaphorically. No ambient noise, not filmed with available light under fluorescent tubes, didn't look "documentary." Consequently, it also did "feel" like anything could happen. It felt scripted and safe. Missing Gervais's spark, I think.

― EComplex (EComplex), Friday, 25 March 2005 14:26 (twenty years ago)

Also, Gervais comes off as an asshole, but a sometimes pathetic asshole. Carell comes off as an asshole, but an idiot asshole.

But I will watch the next episode - the post-it note discrimnation exercise looks promising.

..My guess is that the bulk of the American audience will not find the show the least bit funny.

― dave225 (Dave225), Friday, 25 March 2005 14:29 (twenty years ago)

this sucked. carell's boss wasn't needy enough.

― mark p (Mark P), Friday, 25 March 2005 14:39 (twenty years ago)

knowing it's going to go its own way is reason enough to keep watching; i watched last night w 3 other ppl who had seen the brit version and we were like "ew is the whole thing just gonna be a cover version? creepy"

pam is ok? wtf it's the GARETH and the TIM who are disappointing. the logic is way off, our gareth (whatever his name is) is changed quite a bit (volunteer sherriff? does that even exist) (erm, can't make fun of nat'l guardsmen these days) but the everyboy has...the exact same haircut? nuh-uh.

― f--gg (gcannon), Friday, 25 March 2005 14:39 (twenty years ago)

Also it was originally partly a satire of "American" management techniques applied by and to the British.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Friday, 25 March 2005 14:40 (twenty years ago)

I didn't think it was bad. It has such a high standard to live up to; I think it's difficult to watch the U.S. version and not be thinking, "Oh , this is different... this isn't quite as funny now... etc." even if you want to like it.

Apparently, from what I read the parallels between the first episode last night and the first episode from the original series is intentional; they used the same "teleplay" for both. So I'm interested to see how the next few episodes go. I agree that next week's looks promising, what with the diversity training post-its.

It's still better than 95% of what's on network television, which means most people will hate it.

Also, Zebra's OTM about the ambient office noise.

― sugarpants: the luscious ingenue (sugarpants), Friday, 25 March 2005 15:55 (twenty years ago)

I think the 15 minute streaming clip on myspace is brilliant. haven't seen the first show/piolt but if u forget as best u can about the comparison with the uk veers, it's hillarious. totally different to the uk one scriptwise in that section too.

― piscesboy, Friday, 25 March 2005 16:05 (twenty years ago)

veers = vers.

oh and

http://www.myspace.com/theoffice

"tolerance...ignorance!"

it's aces!

― piscesboy, Friday, 25 March 2005 16:08 (twenty years ago)

I didn't think it was that bad at all.. I laughed quite a bit, even! The only things that seemed a bit off to me were: a) how fast-paced it seemed (the original series has quite a bit of just filming people making copies, or on the phone--this one didn't have as much of that) and also b) how fucking awful the receptionist, pam, was. Oh my god, she is the worst actress EVER. HOW WAS SHE CAST?!? HOW DID THIS HAPPEN!? I thought the Gareth equivalent wasn't that bad, although he seems a bit more clever than Gareth Keenan. I can't picture "Jim" and "Pam" playing pranks on this guy.

― jill schoelen is the queen of my dreams! (Homosexual II), Friday, 25 March 2005 17:18 (twenty years ago)

All the new Tim guy has to do is be likeable, and he's failing even at that so far.

You know, the American Tim had too much of a sparkle to his eyes. Even when Pam's fiance, Roy, pretty much put him back in his place, he still had this scrappy, but lovable underdog look on his face. The UK Tim would get these soul-crushing looks on his face that would convey just how much his spirit had been grinded down. The American Tim is just downright pluckish!

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Friday, 25 March 2005 17:53 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, that's it. Some thing about UK Tim made me indentify with him immediately. US Jim just seems too well adjusted so far.

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Friday, 25 March 2005 18:00 (twenty years ago)

If I don't like the new Tim and Dawn, I don't see the point. Carell's boss as the focal point will get old VERY quickly.

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Friday, 25 March 2005 18:03 (twenty years ago)

If you guys had never seen the original, you'd be falling all over yourselves praising this show.

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 25 March 2005 18:50 (twenty years ago)

I agree, it's very good on it's own.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Friday, 25 March 2005 18:53 (twenty years ago)

If a frog had wings, he wouldn't bump his ass a-hoppin'.

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Friday, 25 March 2005 18:53 (twenty years ago)

This discussion is crackling like a hickory fire.

― Ken L (Ken L), Friday, 25 March 2005 18:57 (twenty years ago)

Life's too short to watch shows I would like if I hadn't seen other shows.

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Friday, 25 March 2005 19:02 (twenty years ago)

Maybe that's why next week's preview seemed so much funnier than last night's episode. It's a new script.

I'd really like to see a German version of "WKRP in Cincinnati".

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Friday, 25 March 2005 19:13 (twenty years ago)

guys I really didn't even think the preview was funny. I'll watch the next few episodes but I'm not holding out any hopes.

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Friday, 25 March 2005 19:18 (twenty years ago)

aaron you are such a doubting thomas!!

― jill schoelen is the queen of my dreams! (Homosexual II), Friday, 25 March 2005 19:25 (twenty years ago)

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Friday, 25 March 2005 19:31 (twenty years ago)

I don't understand why no one thinks the receptionist can act; I thought she was the most realistic person in the whole ensemble. She exudes the same type of easy sincerity as Maura Tierney IMO. (Also she kind of looks like Maura Tierney.) (I am certain the fact that I am totally gay for Maura Tierney has nothing to do with my opinion on this actress.) (Maura Tierney ROWR but Parminder Nagra ROWROOOOOOOOOOO) (I seem to have lost my point.)

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 25 March 2005 19:47 (twenty years ago)

she gives you a boner /= she can act

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Friday, 25 March 2005 19:49 (twenty years ago)

Acting aside, The simple fact that Pam said "You're a jerk!" where Dawn said "You're a sad little man." seems to indicate that the Pam character will be less interesting in the long run. Dawn had a quiet dignity in that situation, Pam just came off as a crybaby wimp.

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Friday, 25 March 2005 19:52 (twenty years ago)

Yes, because it's very likely the average Scranton receptionist would choose to call someone a "sad little man" in a moment of extreme emotional distress rather than a "jerk". Are you perhaps forgetting that the characters aren't British?

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 25 March 2005 19:56 (twenty years ago)

No no no it was the way she said it.

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Friday, 25 March 2005 19:58 (twenty years ago)

According to Maura and Joe it won its ratings slot -- saw the end of the episode here and...eh. Dan's right about how seeing the original colors this, no matter what else.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 25 March 2005 19:58 (twenty years ago)

I don't think it's equivalent either. I didn't expect it to be the same line, but "you're a jerk" didn't have the same resonance.

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Friday, 25 March 2005 20:02 (twenty years ago)

i'm not sure if i would like this if i'd not seen the original... maybe i would think it was kinda interesting but i don't think i'd be falling all over myself. it wasn't very funny. really felt like they were just going through the motions. also carrell is pretty bad here, although i usually like him.

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 25 March 2005 20:02 (twenty years ago)

yeah i gotta agree with aaron, the moment, the whole scene really, didn't work/came off wrong. it got hella promoted, local news afterwards made a note of it (memo from network); new timeslot new fate though probably, not that thursday's the prime real estate it once was.

― j blount (papa la bas), Friday, 25 March 2005 20:04 (twenty years ago)

Carell's whole "you've been punked he was my accomplice blah blah". This man is painfully "unfunny" and not in a funny way like Gervais.

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Friday, 25 March 2005 20:05 (twenty years ago)

haha:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0386676/board/nest/17009614

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Friday, 25 March 2005 20:08 (twenty years ago)

yeah, it's funny carell popped up on a daily show rerun from earlier in the week and was much much funnier.

― j blount (papa la bas), Friday, 25 March 2005 20:11 (twenty years ago)

I'm now wondering if I've been watching the same British "The Office" as the rest of you because Ricky Gervais is basically on full tilt painful I-don't-know-if-I-should-laugh-or-scream-sto-it-you-gigantic-douchebage mode throughout the entire series, much like Carell is in the American version.

(xpost: That is possibly the best troll ever! Hahahaha!)

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 25 March 2005 20:13 (twenty years ago)

i just think gervais pulls it off a lot better!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 25 March 2005 20:17 (twenty years ago)

yes, gervais/brent wasn't at ALL a sympathetic character until the final, final episode (the christmas one).

― kyle (akmonday), Friday, 25 March 2005 20:18 (twenty years ago)

carrell just seems too... i dunno, capable? or self-conscious?

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 25 March 2005 20:19 (twenty years ago)

self-conscious. that's the crux of it.

― AS AN ACTUAL MODERN DAY SAMURAI I AM DISSOPOINTED IN THIS BURGER I HAD JUST (Aar, Friday, 25 March 2005 20:21 (twenty years ago)

yeah, it's funny carell popped up on a daily show rerun from earlier in the week and was much much funnier.

Heh, I just saw that too! Hilarious stuff -- mind you, this might all be a question of familiarity as has already been clearly noted. (TS: Alfred Hitchcock's The Office vs. Gus Van Sant's)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 25 March 2005 20:26 (twenty years ago)

I don't think Carell's portrayal is self-aware or sympathetic at all!

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 25 March 2005 20:28 (twenty years ago)

Alfred Hitchcock's The Office

In which Gareth dresses in old lady drag and kills all the temps.

― AS AN ACTUAL MODERN DAY SAMURAI I AM DISSOPOINTED IN THIS BURGER I HAD JUST HAD., Friday, 25 March 2005 20:29 (twenty years ago)

i don't know ned, i wasn't so crazy about van sant's psycho and i've never seen the original. i have seen psycho ii, iii, and iv though so maybe.

― j blount (papa la bas), Friday, 25 March 2005 20:31 (twenty years ago)

woah - who said carrell's character was sympathetic? one difference i did note that maybe doomed it last nite but could pay off once they move farther and farther away from script retreads is that carrell's character doesn't act nearly as concerned about being liked as much as david brent. also, and this could turn out to be wrong with future episodes, but it's very clear in the office uk that brent envisioned a life for himself outside of the office whereas this guy seems to be made for management and has no problem with that. i think if the character became less brent needy and more gary cole powertrip only with the badjokes existing as an element of his powertrip it could work with carrell's performance.

― j blount (papa la bas), Friday, 25 March 2005 20:37 (twenty years ago)

Perhaps I misread AKM-47's post?

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 25 March 2005 20:39 (twenty years ago)

blount otm. I think we're on the same page.

― @@r0n h. z@nd3r$ (AaronHz), Friday, 25 March 2005 20:39 (twenty years ago)

more gary cole powertrip

That crossed my mind as well.

― Ned not logged in, Friday, 25 March 2005 20:41 (twenty years ago)

yeah, i think the middle management type whose tiny bit of power makes them passive agressive tyrants might yield more gold than just the boss who really wants to be liked. having carrell's character somehow maybe know/suspect he's not funny but not care cuz he's also the boss dammit might make the show darker/more realistic/fresher/and o yeah funnier. also they should maybe play around with improv more??? i don't know, something to make it feel less scripted, i was shocked to find out how tightly scripted the office uk was whereas here, even with the parts that deviated from the uk it still felt very very obviously scripted. o! and one thing i remember from one of the first descriptions of the office uk i ever read was that it was 'a parody of reality tv', this didn't turn out to be true really but maybe the us show could play around more with the conventions of reality tv.

― j blount (papa la bas), Friday, 25 March 2005 20:50 (twenty years ago)

also yknow instantly comparing it to the office uk or office space or even the episode of king of the hill where dale gribble has to get an office job is probably not fair but i don't think this was even as good as that fred savage sitcom 'working' and i somewhat suspect it won't be on the air as long either.

― j blount (papa la bas), Friday, 25 March 2005 20:54 (twenty years ago)

OMG "Working"!!!! I loved that show!

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 25 March 2005 20:55 (twenty years ago)

when usa used to show failed nbc sitcoms in the morning it was definitely the best. plus it had a winnie and kevin reunion.

― j blount (papa la bas), Friday, 25 March 2005 20:57 (twenty years ago)

x-post
they could make all the improvements you suggest and it will still get canceled.
I'd say a 1 in 10 chance it won't.

― @@r0n h. z@nd3r$ (AaronHz), Friday, 25 March 2005 20:57 (twenty years ago)

i was shocked to find out how tightly scripted the office uk was whereas here, even with the parts that deviated from the uk it still felt very very obviously scripted.

otm

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 25 March 2005 21:04 (twenty years ago)

I wonder if they will air this in the UK.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Friday, 25 March 2005 21:09 (twenty years ago)

The BBC has already announced that they'll be showing it on BBC3 later this year.

― caitlin (caitlin), Friday, 25 March 2005 21:34 (twenty years ago)

Perhaps I misread AKM-47's post?
yes, I was agreeing with this:

I'm now wondering if I've been watching the same British "The Office" as the rest of you because Ricky Gervais is basically on full tilt painful

― kyle (akmonday), Friday, 25 March 2005 21:49 (twenty years ago)

Sorry about that! My righteous ire made me stupid (SHOCKAH etc).

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 25 March 2005 22:13 (twenty years ago)

I really.. didn't.. think it was that bad!

Is it just me?

I think the second episode will be pretty good.

It took me about three episodes of the UK "Office" to even like it! I thought it was BORING at first!

― jill schoelen is the queen of my dreams! (Homosexual II), Friday, 25 March 2005 22:19 (twenty years ago)

I agree with this last. I was too busy cringing to even consider laughing.

― Ken L (Ken L), Friday, 25 March 2005 22:22 (twenty years ago)

i am interested in seeing where they go with this, as apparently they start diverging from the original (and it gets better) from the 2nd ep on

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 25 March 2005 23:24 (twenty years ago)

Obviously we can only go by what we saw last night right now. Like I say, I'm willing to give the next few episodes a chance.

― @@r0n h. z@nd3r$ (AaronHz), Friday, 25 March 2005 23:42 (twenty years ago)

we need to somehow get new information in the next few weeks!!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Saturday, 26 March 2005 03:08 (twenty years ago)

re: a much much much earlier question: how successful was/is Iron Chef USA?

― Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Sunday, 27 March 2005 22:01 (twenty years ago)

dear john usa was pretty good i recall.

― piscesboy, Sunday, 27 March 2005 22:20 (twenty years ago)

okay, this episode was certainly better than the pilot. slavery versus the holocaust indeed.

― La Monte (La Monte), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 01:58 (twenty years ago)

This episode was great and Michael Scott embodied a different brand of hilariously pathetic awkwardness than David Brent.

― Zebra, Alpha Go! (cprek), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 03:10 (twenty years ago)

It's taking me awhile to get used to the fact that these aren't the exact same characters. Jim getting ready to close the sale with a mini-champagne as well as telling Pam where to draw her next card helped me realize that tonight.

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 03:17 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, this episode gave me faith in the series.

― Patrick South (Patrick South), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 03:40 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, Pleasant Plains OTM. I thought for a sec, "Tim would never CELEBRATE a sale!"

― jill schoelen is the queen of my dreams! (Homosexual II), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 03:43 (twenty years ago)

carrell's voice is so annoying!

― amon (eman), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 03:47 (twenty years ago)

My biggest laugh was when Dwight gave his speech about heroes.

I really am ok with this. And I hope Jim punches Dwight in the nose for stealing his client.

― Austin Still (Austin, Still), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 05:21 (twenty years ago)

It's still 'meh'

― Remy Ulysses Q. FitzgeraldO (x Jeremy), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 05:29 (twenty years ago)

Perhaps. But I saw a few minutes of a "Fresh Prince of Bel-Aire" rerun a couple weeks ago, and 'meh' would be a huge step up for that particular sitcom. And I suspect most current hit sitcoms (although I don't really watch any others, unless you count King of the Hill, which is having a poor season.)

― Austin Still (Austin, Still), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 06:08 (twenty years ago)

Personally, I think someone should make a British version of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. I think the overlooked subtleties of class comedy in that show would come out better (i.e. minus schmaltz).

― Huey (Huey), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 13:23 (twenty years ago)

re: a much much much earlier question: how successful was/is Iron Chef USA?

I don't know about the ratings, but I like it a lot. Esp. the episode where Bobby Flay got served by Ming Tsai. And Jeffrey Steingarten is ususally one of the judges!

― Leon Bluth (Ex Leon), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 13:30 (twenty years ago)

Esp. the episode where Bobby Flay got served by Ming Tsai

I still think Morimoto shoulda just chopped him off at the knees when he stood on the cooking table in the first faceoff. But this is just me. (Also, think of the blood puddings!)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 13:37 (twenty years ago)

Steve Carrell doing Chris Rock was truly inspired.

― Zebra, Alpha Go! (cprek), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 13:46 (twenty years ago)

The guy doing Chris Rock BEFORE Steve Carrell was also inspired. :D

I liked it quite a bit; moreso than the pilot, even, because I don't think I was comparing it to the original nearly as much. I 'm also glad to see them developing the characters in ways that ensure they're not just cvarbon copies of the British characters, which would be lazy and pretty awful.

― sugarpants: kind of blurry, kind of double (sugarpants), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 14:44 (twenty years ago)

The guy doing Chris Rock BEFORE Steve Carrell was also inspired. :D

I liked it quite a bit; moreso than the pilot, even, because I don't think I was comparing it to the original nearly as much. I 'm also glad to see them developing the characters in ways that ensure they're not just carbon copies of the British characters, which would be lazy and pretty awful.

― sugarpants: kind of blurry, kind of double (sugarpants), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 14:44 (twenty years ago)

whoops, sorry abt double post

― sugarpants: kind of blurry, kind of double (sugarpants), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 14:45 (twenty years ago)

I hear they're doing a remake of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air set in the former Soviet Union, which strikes me as an interesting twist and a good way to explore class issues a little more thoroughly. I just wish it had a better title than "Fresh Prince of Belarus."

― Austin Still (Austin, Still), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 15:27 (twenty years ago)

(FWIW, in that pretend firing scene Dawn actually called Brent a wanker, and then a sad little man, so "jerk" is a fairly accurate translation).

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 15:32 (twenty years ago)

"colored greens"

― Chris 'The Nuts' V (Chris V), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 15:41 (twenty years ago)

That was my favorite joke!

― Remy Ulysses Q. Fitzgerald (x Jeremy), Thursday, 31 March 2005 00:07 (twenty years ago)

finally watched these; the second episode is a gem, for the most part. still getting used to the Tim character but otherwise I think the show has built on the Office template and is creating something new (if not exactly equal, still better than most of the sitcoms on american television).

― kyle (akmonday), Friday, 1 April 2005 14:24 (twenty years ago)

If you guys had never seen the original, you'd be falling all over yourselves praising this show.
Out of curiousity, has anyone on this thread seen the American Office but not the old one??

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Friday, 1 April 2005 14:43 (twenty years ago)

Sarah McLusky, I just came from watching two episodes of the American Office having not seen any of the original at all. I loved it. Thought it was hilarious. I watch next to no TV, but I thought this was really great.

― Mickey (modestmickey), Saturday, 2 April 2005 04:20 (twenty years ago)

finally saw the second episode tonite - CONSIDERABLY better than the first, i laffed ALOT more.

― j blount (papa la bas), Saturday, 2 April 2005 06:17 (twenty years ago)

Personally, I think someone should make a British version of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. I think the overlooked subtleties of class comedy in that show would come out better (i.e. minus schmaltz).

They could get Paul Gilroy as a script consultant.

― fields of salmon (fieldsofsalmon), Saturday, 2 April 2005 06:44 (twenty years ago)

Roffles. I missed Ep 2 but this was wayyy better than 1. The actress who plays Pam is good, wtf!!

― Aaron A., Wednesday, 6 April 2005 01:02 (twenty years ago)

i would pay big buxx to see a british remake of the fresh prince.

― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 01:04 (twenty years ago)

dissensus would be like jonestown if that happened

― j blount (papa la bas), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 01:12 (twenty years ago)

my grandmother said it sucked

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 01:52 (twenty years ago)

Has anyone noticed they are using the same scenes/jokes, which means, no reason for remake.

― Holly (an appletross), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 04:15 (twenty years ago)

i thought it was fairly funny. not as funny as the second episode but still quite good.

― kyle (akmonday), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 05:13 (twenty years ago)

The only thing that keeps bugging me about this show is, why doesn't someone fire this guy? I mean, bosses can be jerks and get away with it sometimes, but this guy is a nightmare. Don't they have an HR department to complain to? Can't the office get together and formally complain? I mean, IRL, they would.

― happy fun ball (kenan), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 05:18 (twenty years ago)

this show is going nowhere fast.

― don weiner, Wednesday, 6 April 2005 11:01 (twenty years ago)

Like the characters - maybe that's the point.

― caitlin (caitlin), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 11:09 (twenty years ago)

I think it's shaping up to be a decent US version of the popular BBC show, for those people who haven't seen the British version. Except that I don't think most Americans will think it's funny.

― dave225 (Dave225), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 11:17 (twenty years ago)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/news/2005/04/01/18254.shtml

Looks like it might be getting the chop. It's a shame as I think they've done an excellent job. The second episode had me in stitches.

― wombatX (wombatX), Tuesday, 12 April 2005 03:23 (twenty years ago)

nuh-uh- I worked at a firm wherein HR and the Guy Like Dwight colluded in sucking. I think that may be more common than it would seem- preservation of the status quo and all

― Morley Timmons (Donna Brown), Tuesday, 12 April 2005 04:07 (twenty years ago)

Particularly in the offices of small companies in mining towns in Pennsylvania (or on industrial estates in Slough.)

― wombatX (wombatX), Tuesday, 12 April 2005 04:37 (twenty years ago)

EXCUSE ME
The American Queer as Folk was way better than the brit one.

― Nellie (nellskies), Tuesday, 12 April 2005 04:39 (twenty years ago)

last night's ep was i v good.

― seriously, Friday, 15 April 2005 17:35 (twenty years ago)

This version sucks so bad. sorry.

― Miss Misery (thatgirl), Friday, 15 April 2005 18:17 (twenty years ago)

i laffed non-stop and so did dr vick

― seriously, Friday, 15 April 2005 18:54 (twenty years ago)

It was good this week... The alliance between .. um .. Jim and Ger-rareth (whatever their names are) was pretty dasmnfunbny. (beautiful, beautiful typo, I adore thee.)

― dave225 (Dave225), Friday, 15 April 2005 18:58 (twenty years ago)

I just don't think the acting's as believable or the characters as convicing.

We haven't laughed at any of the three episodes we've watched.

― Miss Misery (thatgirl), Friday, 15 April 2005 19:01 (twenty years ago)

four weeks pass...

According to CNN it seems to be coming back next fall which is actually pretty nice.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/TV/05/13/television.networks.reut/index.html

― svend (svend), Friday, 13 May 2005 13:18 (twenty years ago)

ah I just searched for this thread to post that same news. Good news!

― kyle (akmonday), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 22:28 (twenty years ago)

NBC is DESPERATE.

― d'ngullberry (noisemeltdown), Tuesday, 17 May 2005 22:34 (twenty years ago)

Nah, this was actually good. I wish ABC'd decided to give "Blind Justice" another shot.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 00:22 (twenty years ago)

I was really all set to hate the US Office, but I thought it turned out to be pretty funny. It was funniest when I managed to enjoy it without thinking about the original Office. I'm glad it's coming back, anyway, because it was a lot better than most of the godawful crap on American TV.

― kirsten (kirsten), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 00:32 (twenty years ago)

it IS funny. it's totally in the spirit of the first office, and yet totally detached from it as well.

― cutty (mcutt), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 00:34 (twenty years ago)

it will get way better if they have a second season to develop. the Dwight character is gold.

― kyle (akmonday), Wednesday, 18 May 2005 00:49 (twenty years ago)

one month passes...

now showing on BBC3. (first one is shown again tonight and episode 2 is tomorrow). first episode not that far from english original, what i remember of it anyway.

s/jelly/jello/

― koogs (koogs), Monday, 20 June 2005 09:59 (twenty years ago)

I'll be really curious to see what UK folks think of this.

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Monday, 20 June 2005 15:27 (twenty years ago)

I keep missing it. But it strikes me that having the boss be a relatively attractive man misses part of the point.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Monday, 20 June 2005 15:31 (twenty years ago)

i enjoyed it and am interested to see what it does when it moves away from the british version. i think it might help that i don't know the actors (except, of course, that that's the bloke out of six feet under, and Monk, and CSI and L&O:SVU...) whereas we all knew that twunt Gervais (used to pop up in mary-anne hobbs' radio show from time to time years ago, before 11 o'clock show even...).

[JT]im's Hair was interesting.

― koogs (koogs), Monday, 20 June 2005 15:37 (twenty years ago)

I thought the series got funnier and farther from the original as it went on. Is it coming back next seaon? There were only a handfull of episodes, really.

― La Monte (La Monte), Monday, 20 June 2005 15:38 (twenty years ago)

it gets better, it really does. i was very surprised.

― Jams Murphy (ystrickler), Monday, 20 June 2005 15:39 (twenty years ago)

The American Dawn is CUTE.

It blows my mind somewhat how it looks like English TV. I've never seen anything shot in the USA and then broadcast here that wasn't at 60hz (presumably what the difference amounts to). So how/why have they done this? It just doesn't seem like America!

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Wednesday, 22 June 2005 09:45 (twenty years ago)

It was probably shot in 720p/60 which standards converts to 625i/50 much better as it is massively over-sampled.

What makes US stuff that started out as NTSC 480i/60 is that the colour encoding in NTSC is fucking attrocious reds are over saturated and in resolution terms it is undersampled and has to be interpolated and because of the interlacing you basically have to drop 5 frames somewhere.

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 22 June 2005 09:54 (twenty years ago)

Reading upthread now and surprised by much of the hate as nothing seemed that bad (inc. the acting) at all based on the ONE i've seen (the 'diversity' episode). Like the original series I found it quite hard to watch, smirking a couple of times but not really finding it 'funny', just smart.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Wednesday, 22 June 2005 10:07 (twenty years ago)

Agreed with Jams Murphy, it gets better and better with every episode.

If you've seen the first two and halfway liked them, it's well worth watching the rest of the season.

― James Mitchell (James Mitchell), Wednesday, 22 June 2005 11:20 (twenty years ago)

it has been renewed for next season

― kyle (akmonday), Wednesday, 22 June 2005 15:12 (twenty years ago)

US office = a success

― cutty (mcutt), Wednesday, 22 June 2005 15:35 (twenty years ago)

Reading upthread now and surprised by much of the hate as nothing seemed that bad (inc. the acting) at all based on the ONE i've seen (the 'diversity' episode).

OTM.

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 22 June 2005 15:38 (twenty years ago)

I have seen one episode (with basketball). It was not as good as the original. In fact I couldn't equate it with any origianl epsiode - what did they do, play netball? I found it left an even more depressing aftertaste. Perhaps this means it is cleverer, but it was very much a downer. I prefer Kath and Kim.

― Peter Stringbender (PJ Miller), Thursday, 23 June 2005 06:03 (twenty years ago)

Dan, natch, is right.

― Remy (x Jeremy), Thursday, 23 June 2005 06:11 (twenty years ago)

the UK version was irritating. the US version is dreadful.

― shine headlights on me (electricsound), Thursday, 23 June 2005 06:12 (twenty years ago)

one month passes...

They showed FOUR episodes last night back-to-back. I must say, it was VERY funny, not to mention kind of heartbreaking. I haven't however seen the English original.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 18 August 2005 18:15 (twenty years ago)

you haven't?

that's AWFUL

― Adam In Real Life (nordicskilla), Thursday, 18 August 2005 18:18 (twenty years ago)

one month passes...

The new season began last night.

I've finally gotten over the fact that this version is merely done in the spirit of the original, that Jim isn't as crushed as Tim was, etc. But they really are relying too much on the boss being racist and sexist. The reason why David Brent in the UK version was so horrifying was because he was veiled enough to plausibly remain employed. If any boss in the US put in fake teeth and wore ch!nk glasses to parody an Asian-American subordinate, he'd be fired immediately.

Everyone could relate to the humor of the UK Office because we've all had bosses like Brent. I can't relate to the US version. I've had bosses whisper uncomfortable racist jokes (like the black cock joke) and stick around, but the "Spicy Curry" award jokes are a bit over the top of plausibility.

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Wednesday, 21 September 2005 15:31 (nineteen years ago)

The only worthwhile thing about this version is that their Pam-secretary makes adorable evil faces sometimes. Maybe if the whole show were just that, I'd watch.

― nabisco (nabisco), Wednesday, 21 September 2005 15:57 (nineteen years ago)

somehow, i started to love this show when it debuted, dispite all odds, but last nights episode sucked. too over the top. Pleasant OTM, the boss would be fired immediately. And Pam, as much as I love her, was hamming up the whole drunk thing, just not believable. and her chemistry with Jim is completely gone.

i was excited to hear about it coming back, but now i kinda wish it had stayed cancelled.

― JD from CDepot, Wednesday, 21 September 2005 16:08 (nineteen years ago)

I don't know if America's ready for a prime-time non-news-magazine show that isn't about cops, lawyers or forsenic scientists.

-- Miss Misery (texan...), March 12th, 2005.

It's funny, I was just thinking the other day about how if you don't want to work in a corporate/office job your main options are lawyer, doctor, teacher, cop, etc. Those jobs also seem to all make for more "exciting" television than your typical office job, or perhaps most people are more inclined to want to see a show about lawyers, cops, etc. because those are the "exciting"-sounding jobs that most people don't have. They're jobs of action, jobs of heroism. Etc.

― Hurting (Hurting), Friday, 23 September 2005 01:13 (nineteen years ago)

You mean the white collar options, Hurting. There are a ton of blue collar ones, but if a character is blue collar then the show can't be about their job, it has to be about their family life.

― mike h. (mike h.), Friday, 23 September 2005 01:19 (nineteen years ago)

Well, the blue collar options increasingly seem to be service jobs, which I was thinking is a little like crap office jobs.

I guess what I mean is that you can't wholeheartedly root for a guy to beat his sales numbers from last month, or to get a really good performance evaluation. So even The Office (the Brit version at least) has to be as tragic as it is comic.

― Hurting (Hurting), Friday, 23 September 2005 01:24 (nineteen years ago)

i did get a good laugh out of the "bushiest beaver" award.

― Lupton Pitman (Chris V), Friday, 23 September 2005 09:13 (nineteen years ago)

three weeks pass...

the halloween episode this week was a stone classic, best episode yet.

― kyle (akmonday), Wednesday, 19 October 2005 04:12 (nineteen years ago)

this show is SO much better than last year

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Wednesday, 19 October 2005 04:46 (nineteen years ago)

yeah, I think this is funny. I liked last week's episode the best, but they have all been good this season.

― gunther heartymeal (keckles), Wednesday, 19 October 2005 04:53 (nineteen years ago)

two weeks pass...

American Pam and Jim so much sexier than their Uk counterparts, better show too :P.

― svend (svend), Wednesday, 2 November 2005 05:53 (nineteen years ago)

I disagree with you completetly on that point.

― Miss Misery (thatgirl), Wednesday, 2 November 2005 17:08 (nineteen years ago)

it's not a better show but most of the time it's just as good. i can't believe it got extended for a whole season!

― kyle (akmonday), Wednesday, 2 November 2005 17:09 (nineteen years ago)

two months pass...

Is this out on dvd yet? I can't be bothered to watch things on tv when they actually come on!

― Sarah Kittensmew McLusky (coco), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 20:14 (nineteen years ago)

Sarah you are a treat.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 20:18 (nineteen years ago)

the first season is on dvd.

Also, this got renewed for next year, which I can't believe. (I mean, not that it doesn't deserve it, I'm just surprised it's getting network support).

Also, up above, where I was afriad it jumped the shark when jim told Michael about Pam, turned out to not be the case at all, last week's episode took care of that.

― kyle (akmonday), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 20:18 (nineteen years ago)

this show is so perfect.

― cutty (mcutt), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 01:54 (nineteen years ago)

I am not so sure. I've watched three episodes now and it drags sometimes. I like the "Gareth"/guy from Six Feet Under though. I still think it's funnier with British people because we are uglier.

― phantasy bear (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 02:09 (nineteen years ago)

I mean the Tim character is like a square-jawed Ashton Kutcher. It seems a bit worng.

― phantasy bear (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 02:09 (nineteen years ago)

At this point, the American version of the show is actually superior to the original, which is kinda mindblowing but also sort of awesome given how incredible the original was.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 02:13 (nineteen years ago)

you gotta be kidding me!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 03:38 (nineteen years ago)

I don't know if its topped the British version just yet, but its getting closer to doing just that with each consecutive episode. Every time I think an ep drags a little bit, the next one bounces back to be even funnier. Like kyle says, I thought we witnessed a shark jumping with the "Jim confesses love for Pam" thing, but turns out the show still has a lot of life left. And weird as it sounds, I care a lot more about the Pam/Jim thing than I did with the British equivalent even if it is a lot more heavy-handed this time around.

― jonviachicago, Wednesday, 25 January 2006 03:46 (nineteen years ago)

Also... all American male office working schlubs are square-jawed Ashton Kutchers, duh.

― jonviachicago, Wednesday, 25 January 2006 03:47 (nineteen years ago)

No, I'm not kidding even a little bit. I think the American version is a lot less stiflingly miserable and is packed with more jokes of generally higher quality. It has its own feel and identity now, so if it weren't for the fact that it's a direct adaptation, I'd feel almost like this is an apples vs. oranges thing - they have different strengths and weaknesses.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 12:09 (nineteen years ago)

Also, I guess I should mention that the painfully unfunny Extras and the consistently middling and derivative Ricky Gervais Show podcast has pretty much devastated my opinion of Gervais as a comedian. When I watch the US Office and think of the original, all of the limitations of the original come into full focus.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 12:14 (nineteen years ago)

i think it's somewhat missing the point to complain about the original's stifling miserablism!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 16:01 (nineteen years ago)

I think Disney should remake the US Office, just to squeeze out all of the aforementioned offending miserablism.

― phantasy bear (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 16:07 (nineteen years ago)

i think it's somewhat missing the point to complain about the original's stifling miserablism!

C'mon, Slocki, we all live in a candy-colored world of whimsy and delight.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 16:27 (nineteen years ago)

No Ned, apparently there's a world outside of California. I went there at christmas and everybody looks sad and the buildings are all wet and grey.

― phantasy bear (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 16:28 (nineteen years ago)

I think this thread gives irrefutable evidence that there are still considerable differences between the American and British sense of humour

― Vicious Cop Kills Gentle Fool (Dada), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 16:29 (nineteen years ago)

CROTCHBAT!

― D.I.Y. U.N.K.L.E. (dave225.3), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 16:30 (nineteen years ago)

I went there at christmas and everybody looks sad and the buildings are all wet and grey.

How sad!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 16:34 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah, Matthew OTM wrt the podcast. That is pretty horrible. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn't 30-40 minutes of third-rate local morning DJ style "wacky banter".

― jonviachicago, Wednesday, 25 January 2006 17:06 (nineteen years ago)

I think it is hilarious.

― phantasy bear (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 17:09 (nineteen years ago)

I'm British - did you know that?

― phantasy bear (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 17:09 (nineteen years ago)

I mean, it's not completely unfunny... just not what I expected from Gervais. I just found it disappointing that he didn't try to do anything *that* much different from everyone else with a podcast. The whole humor seems to revolve around making fun of the stupid crap Karl says... and that gets old rather quickly I think.

As for Extras, I only caught the Kate Winslet episode and thought that was hilarious.

― jonviachicago, Wednesday, 25 January 2006 17:17 (nineteen years ago)

i think the podcast is fucking hilarious too!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 17:19 (nineteen years ago)

Really! Sometimes it's a bit slow, but it often has me making those snorting I'm-not-laughing noises at my desk at work, so that means it is funny.

― phantasy bear (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 17:20 (nineteen years ago)

Extras is awesome but the podcast... sometimes it's great, but also jonviachicago OTM - they just make fun of Karl, who preteds to be stupid.

― mei (mei), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 18:16 (nineteen years ago)

My feeling on Gervais is that he had one great idea and one amazing character and he doesn't really have much else to offer aside from aping Larry David and David Letterman in a British accent.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 18:24 (nineteen years ago)

I would love for him to prove me wrong, though.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 18:25 (nineteen years ago)

As for the miserablism - the original Office does generally get a good feeling of a bleak reality, but I personally favor over the top misery a la Peep Show or something more absurd like Arrested Development. I think the American Office generally wins by taking the general aesthetic of the original Office and nudging it in the direction of those more stylized shows.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 18:33 (nineteen years ago)

see, nudging it away from what i liked about it doesn't win points with me!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 18:42 (nineteen years ago)

it seems to just belabour everything the original did so subtly

― s1ocki (slutsky), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 18:42 (nineteen years ago)

I think Steve's Carrel is great. There's been many a cringe-worthy moment on the NBC version. Dwight's come into his own despite being a completely different physical speciman of a person than Gareth. Pam's a cutie. I look for a long run from "The Office" in the U.S.

That said, the original U.K. version is soooo much better than its offspring.

(Signed,

Pleasant Plains, American)

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 19:06 (nineteen years ago)

At first, the American version seemed pathetic. Now, I prefer it!

But, those first few episodes that had practically the exact same script just sucked.

― Ameritijikuan, Wednesday, 25 January 2006 19:23 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah, the first season of the American version wasn't good at all.

I think part of the problem with the original Office is that like the first few Christopher Guest movies, it's getting ripped off by a lot of marginally talented people who mimic the tone and speech patterns but do not have much wit, so it devalues the currency of the originals retroactively. The American version gets better the further it gets from the tone of Gervais et al.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 22:02 (nineteen years ago)

It has gotten better this season. But still you can't really compare the two. The US office does well standing on its own (Dwight being the standout) but pales in comparison to the UK for what Slocki says upthread.

― Miss Misery xox (MissMiseryTX), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 22:08 (nineteen years ago)

Dwight with a concussion was fucking classic. although I think they aired that episode out of order, it should have been before the Booze Cruise.

I like the other little peripheral touches too: Dwight and Angela, the redhead and her drinking and her hookup with Micheal. The characters are more fleshed out than the UK version (but that's only because there have been more episodes I suppose).

― kyle (akmonday), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 22:11 (nineteen years ago)

That bit with Michael taking a snapshot of the redhead drunk woman's breasts is probably better the entire second season of the UK version combined.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 22:14 (nineteen years ago)

kyle OTM. the concussion/foreman grill episode was best of the series so far. and i love the dwight/angela thing, especially when he slapped her ass.

― cutty (mcutt), Wednesday, 25 January 2006 22:41 (nineteen years ago)

Best = Michael and Jim servin up a karaoke "Islands in the Stream"

― Joe (Joe), Thursday, 26 January 2006 01:02 (nineteen years ago)

Now I know what happened to JJ Jackson.

― Lars and Jagger (Ex Leon), Thursday, 26 January 2006 01:41 (nineteen years ago)

so i decided to give this another chance after this thread, and fuck... i couldn't even make it through an episode. it's still just a shitty american sitcom version of the office with terrible american sitcom jokes! they might as well have a laugh track

― s1ocki (slutsky), Wednesday, 8 February 2006 18:56 (nineteen years ago)

which episode did you see?

― cutty (mcutt), Wednesday, 8 February 2006 18:58 (nineteen years ago)

because, really, this show is a treat.

― cutty (mcutt), Wednesday, 8 February 2006 18:58 (nineteen years ago)

Stanley playing basketball still tickles me.

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Wednesday, 8 February 2006 19:02 (nineteen years ago)

the one where steve carrell takes all the guys down to the warehouse!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Wednesday, 8 February 2006 19:20 (nineteen years ago)

If this show is just like every other sitcom out there, I apparently need to watch more sitcoms.

― jonviachicago, Wednesday, 8 February 2006 19:20 (nineteen years ago)

i like this show!

― gear (gear), Wednesday, 8 February 2006 19:20 (nineteen years ago)

Slocki, that really wasn't one of the better episodes!

Episodes to check out:

"Office Olympics"
"Halloween"
"The Fight"
"Christmas Party"
"The Injury"

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Wednesday, 8 February 2006 20:15 (nineteen years ago)

Cutty OTM, as usual

― sunny successor (katharine), Wednesday, 8 February 2006 20:49 (nineteen years ago)

"what does 'second base' mean? like if michael says he got to second base with you....is that a sales thing?" her wink made it even better. I like the asides a lot; from the same episode, when all them men went to the warehouse, but one stayed behind and closed the door, looked at the camera and gave a "shhhh" and you never saw him again.

― kyle (akmonday), Wednesday, 8 February 2006 21:40 (nineteen years ago)

DWIGHTDWIGHTDWIGHTDWIGHTDWIGHTDWIGHT

― Joe (Joe), Wednesday, 8 February 2006 23:43 (nineteen years ago)

I only ever saw the first episode and it was SO INCREDI-FUCKING-BLY AWFUL that i would need someone I REALLY trust to recommend it before watching it again. like, i cannot believe the opinion of anyone who found anything REMOTELY redeeming in that first ep. not just the script and setup - the acting!? jesus christ! tim + lady were the type of people i hate, totally divorce from the majesty of the UK vsn.

Matthew P has not convinced me in the least, by his descriptions here. S1ocki, please update if you delve forward and find anything remotely worthy.

(Then again, the original Office [minus Xmas Special] is almost certainly my favour telelvision thing of all time.)

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Thursday, 9 February 2006 12:05 (nineteen years ago)

I think the two versions are best loved by people of their respective countries. I like the USA office well enough, mostly just Steve Carell's antics. I watch teh English one too and I like it but I sense that muc of the humour is the type you would have to be ENglish to appreciate. plus half the time I can't understand what they are saying. The boss in the English one is a total dickhead but in the USA one he is sort of a likeable dickhead.

― Mr Jones (Mr Jones), Thursday, 9 February 2006 12:10 (nineteen years ago)

They're making a French version soon.

― Markelby (Mark C), Thursday, 9 February 2006 12:13 (nineteen years ago)

The first episode is a poor version of the original but it deviates from then on and gets much better.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 9 February 2006 12:13 (nineteen years ago)

half the time I can't understand what they are saying

Because of their voices, or what they say?

― Forest Pines (ForestPines), Thursday, 9 February 2006 12:16 (nineteen years ago)

Sean, the first three or four episodes were lousy remakes of the original series. The second season is an entirely different thing, they go off on their own tangents and the storylines/jokes are entirely new and at this point it doesn't even seem like they are trying to do a version of the original so much as it's just a new show with the same template of characters.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Thursday, 9 February 2006 12:22 (nineteen years ago)

If you're coming into the American version expecting the relentless sadfacery of the original, you're just going to be way disappointed. This version is grim, but it's more of a low key grimness spiked with a silliness that the UK version could never muster.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Thursday, 9 February 2006 12:25 (nineteen years ago)

I don't fucking care about "relentless sadfacery" - I just hated (despised) the dumb sound of the Tim and Dawn actors/characters (and I do mean "dumb", as in "stupid"). Totally uncute, brainless and superficial feeling human beings. Turned me off from the very first scene, and their interaction felt neither charming nor true.

For me the finest thing about the original was the truth to how it was performed, the way I could totally buy into the interrelationships in spite of it being a comedy - in other words, the drama aspect of it. And it's like the US pilot didn't understand that aspect at all, casting for looks and "antics" instead of chemistry.

Matthew - Can I just start watching the second season? Or do I have to dredge through the whole first 12 episodes or whatever. Name the best EP for me to see and maybe I will download it. If it sucks i will MAKE IT KNOWN, however.

Mr Jones - s1ocki and I are Canadian. What does that say about us?

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Thursday, 9 February 2006 12:37 (nineteen years ago)

Sean - it says you like your bacon round. Anyways isn't Canada still part of the English Empire? So in a sense you are British.

I mostly can't understand what is actually being said. I mean after a while I get the hang of it but there are moements of " Ah wellalovalivckle wanka an shezallompie." Slurred acented britshspeak. But I like British comedy allot. Especially Fawlty Towers - I love seeing Cleese go berserk with rage

― Mr Jones (Mr Jones), Thursday, 9 February 2006 12:53 (nineteen years ago)

i hated hated it at first because all i did was compare it to the british version...now i love it.

the episode where michael burnt his foot on his foreman grill was hysterical, especially when he tried to stick his foot into Dwights cat scan.

― slow jamz and white guy indie acoustic shit (Chris V), Thursday, 9 February 2006 12:58 (nineteen years ago)

I liked when they were picking new health insurance and the annoying guy was like "Alright people are just making things up to be funny..anal fissures? There's no such thing!" - and then an embarrased man admits that there is such a thing and "some one has them" and then great awkwardness ensues.

― Mr Jones (Mr Jones), Thursday, 9 February 2006 13:02 (nineteen years ago)

the first few eps were a bit ropey - now I think its pretty hilar! i think the supporting characters are pretty wonderful.

― POOP BITCH (Mandee), Thursday, 9 February 2006 13:45 (nineteen years ago)

I'm embarrssed to admit we had to watch the office dvds with subtitles turned on.

― Miss Misery xox (MissMiseryTX), Thursday, 9 February 2006 15:39 (nineteen years ago)

all of the supporting characters are wonderful!

― cutty (mcutt), Thursday, 9 February 2006 15:40 (nineteen years ago)

matthew i really don't understand how you see the "sadfacery" of the original as some sort of point AGAINST it!! that's like wanting a seinfeld with less shallow characters! or complaining that the three stooges are too clumsy!

buster keaton never loosened up and cracked a smile!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Thursday, 9 February 2006 15:52 (nineteen years ago)

i love the old guy. TODD PACKER SHIT ON THE FLOOR.

― slow jamz and white guy indie acoustic shit (Chris V), Thursday, 9 February 2006 16:29 (nineteen years ago)

all of the supporting characters are wonderful!
-- cutty (holle...) (webmail), Today 9:40 AM. (mcutt) (later)

my new favorite is creed. Also, oscar with his iceskating boyfriend and meredith who seems almost proud to be an alcoholic.

Also that scene where dwight crashed his car, got out and suddenly vomited was beautiful.

― sunny successor (katharine), Thursday, 9 February 2006 16:30 (nineteen years ago)

yes, dwight vomiting was a revelation. then when jim was using the spray bottle on michael and dwight in meredith's minivan!

― cutty (mcutt), Thursday, 9 February 2006 16:34 (nineteen years ago)

yes, very nice.

are australians getting this show yet? i heard earl started down there.

― sunny successor (katharine), Thursday, 9 February 2006 21:24 (nineteen years ago)

America: feel free to take Ricky Gervais over the fulltime so we don't get subjected to any more of his stand-up "comedy". kthxbi

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 9 February 2006 21:26 (nineteen years ago)

Tonight's episode (like all the holiday-centered ones) was great. Michael's awful video topped off with the GREAT SCOTT! production logo at the end, Dwight's speech about how 'a woman is like a wolf that needs good lovin'...wow!

― Joe (Joe), Friday, 10 February 2006 04:00 (nineteen years ago)

I love this show. SBARRO.

― gunther heartymeal (keckles), Friday, 10 February 2006 04:32 (nineteen years ago)

The US version is fucking hilarious. Totally it's own creation. Fuck those who won't watch it out of reverence for the UK original.

Yeah, we here in Oz are getting Earl - I saw a few episodes while I was in the US, that shit is one of the funniest things I've seen on TV in years.

― Mike Stuchbery (Mike Stuchbery), Friday, 10 February 2006 06:04 (nineteen years ago)

AH YES, CREED. HE'S GREAT.

― slow jamz and white guy indie acoustic shit (Chris V), Friday, 10 February 2006 10:47 (nineteen years ago)

yeah that was a great scene - I like this show a lot, started out weak but I think as its demise grows immanent it'll get better & better

― Thomas Tallis (Tommy), Friday, 10 February 2006 12:58 (nineteen years ago)

last night was amazing! i knew jan would kiss michael again, anytime he acts like a normal person (when he closed the deal with tim meadows, when he saved her ass at the conference) she looks at him differently.

― cutty (mcutt), Friday, 10 February 2006 13:10 (nineteen years ago)

i haven't seen it yet, i fell asleep before. tivo'd it though.

i also found it incredibly funny when Michael had his jeans dry cleaned and danced around the office.

― slow jamz and white guy indie acoustic shit (Chris V), Friday, 10 February 2006 13:11 (nineteen years ago)

meredith who seems almost proud to be an alcoholic.

Hahaha -- "In five years, I'd like to see myself five years sober . . . well, four and a half years."

― phil d. (Phil D.), Friday, 10 February 2006 13:15 (nineteen years ago)

as its demise grows immanent it'll get better & better

it already got renewed for next season though, so I'm hoping that it will simmer around on nbc for a while.

― kyle (akmonday), Friday, 10 February 2006 14:32 (nineteen years ago)

Sean, you should never watch the first season - it's six episodes, and only one of them is even remotely good. The second season is where it's at. I already listed the episodes to try upthread.

then when jim was using the spray bottle on michael and dwight in meredith's minivan!

"You can't fire me! I don't work in this van!"

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Friday, 10 February 2006 14:36 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah, NBC is way committed to this show. It pulls in pretty respectable ratings and holds a good portion of Earl's lead-in audience. It also sells pretty well on itunes - it's usually all over the best-selling tv list, beating out heavyweights like Lost and Desperate Housewives.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Friday, 10 February 2006 14:38 (nineteen years ago)

A MICHAEL SCOTT JOINT

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Friday, 10 February 2006 14:40 (nineteen years ago)

with Robin Williams and Steve Martin's heads

― kyle (akmonday), Friday, 10 February 2006 14:41 (nineteen years ago)

as someone who hated this show from the start (and in comparison to the bbc version obv.) i have to say that it seems to have gotten waaayyy better this season judging from last nights episode.

― |l|l|l|l|l|l|l|l|l|l|l|l|l|l|l|l|l|l|l|l|l|l|l|l|l| (eman), Friday, 10 February 2006 14:57 (nineteen years ago)

I've never seen a whole episode of the British series so I can't compare, but after watching a few episodes this season, I'd say the American version is one of the more watchable things on current TV, which is entirely thanks to Steve Carrell. Without him, it would just be another lame sitcom.

― o. nate (onate), Friday, 10 February 2006 17:43 (nineteen years ago)

i would have to disagree, the entire cast is fantastic.

― cutty (mcutt), Friday, 10 February 2006 17:46 (nineteen years ago)

I disagree too. The supporting cast is great.

"they have great restaurants here -- bubba gump shrimp, red lobster..."

― gunther heartymeal (keckles), Friday, 10 February 2006 17:57 (nineteen years ago)

My favorite line was this little throwaway during the "Michael burns his foot" episode. While Michael is thrashing in the bathroom, Ryan, and Toby are standing outside, eating string cheese. Ryan just peels back the wrapper and chomps down.

Toby: "Wow, you just dig right in."

Ryan: "Yeah. Around age 12, I just started goin’ for it."

or something like that.

― schwantz (schwantz), Friday, 10 February 2006 18:08 (nineteen years ago)

ryan (bj novak) writes most of the episodes.

― cutty (mcutt), Friday, 10 February 2006 18:24 (nineteen years ago)

from last night i also loved dwight's reaction to his present and the comment about his "animal needing a lot of love"

― cutty (mcutt), Friday, 10 February 2006 18:25 (nineteen years ago)

the pimp look on his face when she smiles at his gift was genius

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Friday, 10 February 2006 18:26 (nineteen years ago)

I disagree too. The supporting cast is great.

Nothing against the supporting cast, they do what they do quite well - which is mainly to play the set-up/straight-man/woman to Carrell's oddly endearing asshole.

― o. nate (onate), Friday, 10 February 2006 18:27 (nineteen years ago)

it's probably one of the best cast shows ever.

Putting Dwight's desk in the bathroom was classic as a show opener. I wish they would do a Dwight prank for every opener. Another good one was when all his stuff was in the vending machine.

― don weiner (don weiner), Friday, 10 February 2006 18:34 (nineteen years ago)

which is mainly to play the set-up/straight-man/woman to Carrell's oddly endearing asshole.

there is nothing "straight" about dwight. or creed for that matter.

another amazing dwight-ism from the warehouse episode: "this is like on LOST when they met the Others."

― cutty (mcutt), Friday, 10 February 2006 18:56 (nineteen years ago)

Dwight occasionally plays set-up man, but he also gets laughs on his own - true enough. I just don't think by himself he could carry a whole show, but that's a quibble. He's amusing, but his character seems directly descended from a long line of office comedy oddballs - a slightly more well-adjusted stapler guy from Office Space, let's say. whereas to me, Michael just seems more original as a personality - not a character we've seen done quite in this way before.

― o. nate (onate), Friday, 10 February 2006 19:01 (nineteen years ago)

One of the reasons the show is great is precisely because none of them could carry the show on their own. I'm not really sure that the BBC version would have been nearly as interesting without Ricky Gervais because he's such a catalyst. That's not nearly the case with the US version.

― don weiner (don weiner), Friday, 10 February 2006 19:05 (nineteen years ago)

yeah, i think it was discussed upthread somewhere (or in some other thread) how michael scott =! david brent in so many ways.

also, the US office has already surpassed the UK office in # of episodes, so the characters (even the secondary ones) are beginning to become more fleshed out. the angela character for instance, i hardly thought about her first season, now i think she is hilarious.. "wound up"!

― cutty (mcutt), Friday, 10 February 2006 19:07 (nineteen years ago)

I really like that when Michael went to corporate, he wasn't the only clueless idiot in the same position of power.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Friday, 10 February 2006 19:32 (nineteen years ago)

Some of them have individual myspaces it seems.

B.J. Novak's Music section has the band Tugboat on it. I thought the band name was a Galaxie 500 reference and sure enough it was (I found out about the band courtesy of an Allmusic.com review by Ned). To top it off B.J. Novak went to Harvard, where Galaxie 500 of course has its roots.

Now I'm really starting to believe in all that bullshit about the internet being used to economize knowledge for the good and bringing in a global village of people with common interests. (Or at least a global village of people who are fascinated by Dean Wareham's boredom).

http://www.myspace.com/bjnovak

Jenna Fischer aka Pam Beesley
http://www.myspace.com/pambeesley

Paul Lieberstein aka Toby
http://profile.myspace.com/i...7-769e-4587-bee2-c6fee91fbfdb

Angela Kinsey aka Angela Martin
http://www.myspace.com/accountinglady

Brian Baumgartner aka Kevin Malone
http://www.myspace.com/kevinmalone

Adam Beck
http://www.myspace.com/adambryantbeck

― Cunga (Cunga), Monday, 13 February 2006 06:18 (nineteen years ago)

how did I miss that Creed was a guitarist for the Grass Roots? And that his character is actually himself?

― kyle (akmonday), Monday, 13 February 2006 06:43 (nineteen years ago)

According to another message board, the guys who play Roy and Darryl also have myspaces now. And so does the woman who plays Meredith. Crazy.

kyle because they cut out that entire segment where Creed rocks out on the booze cruise! You've probably already seen it but if not, go to

http://www.nbc.com/The_Office/

and click on videos, it's the first deleted scene called "There's a rock star..."

― reddening (reddening), Monday, 13 February 2006 09:23 (nineteen years ago)

isn't tugboat an ilx band?

― s1ocki (slutsky), Monday, 13 February 2006 16:49 (nineteen years ago)

why am I Mr. Sparkle?

― autovac (autovac), Monday, 13 February 2006 17:02 (nineteen years ago)

"I'M the bobble head!"

― kyle (akmonday), Monday, 13 February 2006 19:26 (nineteen years ago)

for the record, i really enjoyed the first season aside the very first episode

― Jams Murphy (ystrickler), Monday, 13 February 2006 19:36 (nineteen years ago)

five months pass...

webisodes?

http://www.nbc.com/The_Office/video/index.shtml#main

― sunny successor (katharine), Thursday, 13 July 2006 12:56 (nineteen years ago)

two months pass...

So, season three. I thought the first episode was too over the top. Absolutely no one would ever put up with the treatment that Oscar got. I know it's a comedy, but that whole plotline really pushed the limits of believability.

The "comedy mixed with moments of shocking realism" thing might be getting to predictable. I loved it when Dwight threw up after a car accident, but Roy's monologue and DUI mugshot were too much.

― Chris H. (chrisherbert), Friday, 22 September 2006 14:57 (eighteen years ago)

Agreed

― and PappaWheelie, author of Have You Ever Been Poxy Fuled? (PappaWheelie 2), Friday, 22 September 2006 15:10 (eighteen years ago)

i have been watching series 2 on dvd -- BIG LAUGHS. i am starting to love creed.

― i've dreamt of rubies! (Mandee), Friday, 22 September 2006 15:25 (eighteen years ago)

creed is my favorite!

dwight puking after smashing the car was the best scene so far, hands down

― sunny successor (katharine), Friday, 22 September 2006 15:44 (eighteen years ago)

I was laughing my ass off and it never occurred to me to be annoyed by how unrealistic it was. My experience was more like "cover your eyes but peek through fingers" embarrassing to watch and "can you imagine if this guy was real" ridiculous type humor that is part of the original formula for sitcoms. I loved it.

― IPSISSIMUS (Uri Frendimein), Friday, 22 September 2006 16:47 (eighteen years ago)

they've obviously thrown out any bit of "realism" they were trying to convay in season 1. i thought last night episode was GREAT

― chaki (chaki), Friday, 22 September 2006 16:48 (eighteen years ago)

i love this show and am not ashamed

― davina q (dubplatestyle), Friday, 22 September 2006 16:49 (eighteen years ago)

It was still funny, I guess. Kelly was incredible, as usual.

― Chris H. (chrisherbert), Friday, 22 September 2006 16:50 (eighteen years ago)

haha, i actually put my arms over my face and peeked through during the conference room scene when michael's trying to hug oscar omg.

― rrrobyn, the situation (rrrobyn), Friday, 22 September 2006 17:08 (eighteen years ago)

I also literally covered my eyes, but it was when he attempted to kiss him!

― IPSISSIMUS (Uri Frendimein), Friday, 22 September 2006 17:11 (eighteen years ago)

yes very excellent. kiss was maybe a little bit TOO much but whatever, still hi-larious.

― mango selassie (teenagequiet), Friday, 22 September 2006 17:16 (eighteen years ago)

I can't believe I forgot to watch this, fuck!

― a naked Kraken annoying Times Square tourists with an acoustic guitar (nickalici, Friday, 22 September 2006 17:18 (eighteen years ago)

mindy kaling is wifey material

― and what (ooo), Friday, 22 September 2006 17:24 (eighteen years ago)

It was clever of them to follow up "kiss" finale with a more terrifying kiss in the season premiere.

― Chris H. (chrisherbert), Friday, 22 September 2006 17:24 (eighteen years ago)

So what happened with Jim/Pam? Just awkwardness or what?

― a naked Kraken annoying Times Square tourists with an acoustic guitar (nickalici, Friday, 22 September 2006 17:27 (eighteen years ago)

fire up th' torrent Maw!

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Friday, 22 September 2006 17:29 (eighteen years ago)

just d0wnl0ad it, mang! technology works for comedy too!
haha, xpost

― rrrobyn, the situation (rrrobyn), Friday, 22 September 2006 17:31 (eighteen years ago)

yeah this was great. will they actually try to make roy a sympathetic character now?

― kyle (akmonday), Friday, 22 September 2006 17:35 (eighteen years ago)

Rashida Jones..........

― Andy_K (Andy_K), Friday, 22 September 2006 17:36 (eighteen years ago)

I called the roomy, he found the torrent and clicked "downLOAD". Technology - 1, television - 0.

― a naked Kraken annoying Times Square tourists with an acoustic guitar (nickalici, Friday, 22 September 2006 17:37 (eighteen years ago)

I missed it! I love Mindy Kaling. Did she write this one?

― horseshoe (horseshoe), Friday, 22 September 2006 17:41 (eighteen years ago)

hey pleasant plains and i saw mindy on curb yr enthusiasm the other night

― sunny successor (katharine), Friday, 22 September 2006 17:45 (eighteen years ago)

All great but I really liked the low-key humor of Stanley's speech about how he now has two toasters.

― n/a (Nick A.), Friday, 22 September 2006 17:50 (eighteen years ago)

I'm completely eating out of the producers handsm trying to figure out what will happen with Pam and Jim. The agony!

What's the guy's name from the Daily Show who now is on the show? He works in the other office with Jim, and had his calculator placed in jello.

Kelly's face (of sheer glee) was PRICELESS when the whole horrible forced Oscar outing happened.

― molly d (mollyd), Friday, 22 September 2006 18:00 (eighteen years ago)

I haven't seen any of this. Should I start with season 1 or 2?

― Jordan (Jordan), Friday, 22 September 2006 18:11 (eighteen years ago)

I am having a hard time remembering season 1, for reasons not pertaining to the quality of the show (I had class at night). Season 2 is completely wonderful and worthwhile. You will not be disappointed.

― molly d (mollyd), Friday, 22 September 2006 18:16 (eighteen years ago)

Season 1 clings pretty hard to the original version, I think the US version really got its wings when it finally grew into it's own story.

― a naked Kraken annoying Times Square tourists with an acoustic guitar (nickalici, Friday, 22 September 2006 18:34 (eighteen years ago)

Season One is only six episodes, so it's not a big investment in time or anything. Also, I still think that "Diversity Training" is the best episode from any season. Maybe any show ever.

― Chris H. (chrisherbert), Friday, 22 September 2006 18:48 (eighteen years ago)

loved the first episode.

creed is the greatest! so creepy!

― M@tt He1geson: Real Name, No Gimmicks (Matt Helgeson), Friday, 22 September 2006 19:12 (eighteen years ago)

i am slightly warming to this show

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 22 September 2006 19:17 (eighteen years ago)

mindy kaling is wifey material

we frenched once, in college. but it's because she was on E and sweated me bigtime

(hi mindy!)

i'll hook you two up

― gbx (skowly), Friday, 22 September 2006 20:27 (eighteen years ago)

she is a treat, btw.

― gbx (skowly), Friday, 22 September 2006 20:28 (eighteen years ago)

the fact that its back at all kind of mitigates against the over the topness of the first episode. (totally agreed about the drunk driving mugshot though -- that was just weird.)

looking ahead, i'm not really sure how they're going to draw out the pam/jim thing for a long time without either making one of them extremely unlikable or wading into tony/angela territory.

xpost my respect for gbx grows and grows

― ^@^ (map), Friday, 22 September 2006 20:34 (eighteen years ago)

wow

― and what (ooo), Friday, 22 September 2006 20:37 (eighteen years ago)

Angela talking about Will and Grace was the best part

― Adrienne Begley (sparklecock), Friday, 22 September 2006 20:44 (eighteen years ago)

When she screamed "Don't touch me!", I cringed, which I think was the point.

― molly d (mollyd), Friday, 22 September 2006 20:46 (eighteen years ago)

"I watch sometimes when Harry Connick Jr. is on - he's so talented"

― M@tt He1geson: Real Name, No Gimmicks (Matt Helgeson), Friday, 22 September 2006 21:17 (eighteen years ago)

i love when creed was talking about all the people he slept with in the sixties and how "one or two" men could have slipped in. HAHA!! I love this show. I don't care if it's over the top!

― gunther heartymeal (keckles), Friday, 22 September 2006 22:22 (eighteen years ago)

Ex-Daily Show calculator-in-jello guy is Ed Helms. I was worried that his presence would be too "Hey look it's Ed Helms!" but he was very funny. There's a great deleted scene between him and Jim on the NBC website.

― reddening (reddening), Friday, 22 September 2006 22:44 (eighteen years ago)

yeah before the kiss scene we were actually yelling at the tv all omg no he is NOT going to omg he TOTALLY IS... no.. here it comes omg... haha. we are such suckers.

― Kim (Kim), Sunday, 24 September 2006 02:19 (eighteen years ago)

I actually thought this episode, in a roundabout way, was a return to the format of the orig Office - more pranking, one scene with constantly buildling "it CAN'T get any worse, RIGHT!?!" tension, etc.

I think my favorite part was when Michael was first suggesting the hug and everyone's like WTF except Kelly/Mindy who was all joyous looking haha. It's between Kevin and Creed for who is my favorite character.

Also, Meredith the alcoholic with the hand sanitizer, OMG.

― a naked Kraken annoying Times Square tourists with an acoustic guitar (nickalici, Monday, 25 September 2006 13:00 (eighteen years ago)

Also also also, Dwight going in for his kiss, and Ed Helm's freakout and Jim's subsequent pretending-to-be-hard-at-work face (been there).

― a naked Kraken annoying Times Square tourists with an acoustic guitar (nickalici, Monday, 25 September 2006 13:13 (eighteen years ago)

Hey, who is the actress that played the girl that called out Jim for that look he gives the camera? I know I've seen her before, and imdb has nothing.

― a naked Kraken annoying Times Square tourists with an acoustic guitar (nickalici, Tuesday, 26 September 2006 14:38 (eighteen years ago)

Rashida Jones, daughter of Quincy.

― GILLY'S BAGG'EAR VANCE OF COUPARI (Ex Leon), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 14:48 (eighteen years ago)

Not the coroner dude, the producer of Thriller.

― GILLY'S BAGG'EAR VANCE OF COUPARI (Ex Leon), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 14:48 (eighteen years ago)

haha, thanks for the distinction

― a naked Kraken annoying Times Square tourists with an acoustic guitar (nickalici, Tuesday, 26 September 2006 14:50 (eighteen years ago)

i watched an episode of this on my plane back from ny, i thought it was great!

― Ste (Fuzzy), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 14:59 (eighteen years ago)

it's on itv2 here in england at the moment. second series i think - last week's was the Dundies episode where he was giving out awards.

― Koogy Yonderboy (koogs), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 15:12 (eighteen years ago)

I got Season 1 and Season 2 for my birthday! The extra scenes are utterly wonderful. The DVDs are also conducive to watching all of the episodes in one sitting.

I had missed a lot of Season 1. Really painful and wonderful stuff.

― molly d (mollyd), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 15:17 (eighteen years ago)

I had no idea I was soooo in the minority on this. Love the show, enjoyed the episode okay, but I felt no tension as it just kept piling on non-stop.

― PappaWheelie demands you to ''only pick any'' (PappaWheelie 2), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 15:21 (eighteen years ago)

So much better than the British version.

― vingt regards (vignt_regards), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 15:28 (eighteen years ago)

I wouldn't say that either, but I was nowhere near being all "omg they're going to ruin a good thing".

They're both really good, but I worry about this season. I hope I'm wrong...

― PappaWheelie demands you to ''only pick any'' (PappaWheelie 2), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 15:30 (eighteen years ago)

I bet I'd love the show if I stuck with it for an episode or two (I've heard plenty of good jokes from it), but whenever I catch a bit the sense of seeing a bunch of people imitate the UK Office (right down to the shaky-cam, which seems really forced for some reason) creeps me out enough to change the station.

― Zwan (miccio), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 15:33 (eighteen years ago)

I have a major crush on Jenna Fischer, though. Hoo boy.

― Zwan (miccio), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 15:33 (eighteen years ago)

(right down to the shaky-cam, which seems really forced for some reason) creeps me out enough to change the station.

this was my situation with Arrested Development

― PappaWheelie demands you to ''only pick any'' (PappaWheelie 2), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 15:34 (eighteen years ago)

My experience with AD (initially horrified by the gratuitous joke-telegraphing narration, sat through an entire disc, became hooked) is why I assume I'd like The Office once I got over the Invasion Of The Body Snatchers element.

― Zwan (miccio), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 15:35 (eighteen years ago)

There is only room for one denim cutoff wearing dude in the OC now. (;_;)

― GILLY'S BAGG'EAR VANCE OF COUPARI (Ex Leon), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 16:37 (eighteen years ago)

Have I told you guys the story about how Rashida Jones ran one of my friends out of an a capella group for which he was music direcctor?

...Well, I JUST DID!

(fin)

― Young Fresh Danny D (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 16:45 (eighteen years ago)

my wife used to work with the guy that plays Kevin.

― M@tt He1geson: Real Name, No Gimmicks (Matt Helgeson), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 16:51 (eighteen years ago)

!!! IN AN OFFICE???

― sunny successor (katharine), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 16:52 (eighteen years ago)

Dan, wha' happen?

― GILLY'S BAGG'EAR VANCE OF COUPARI (Ex Leon), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 16:54 (eighteen years ago)

Please, do continue "Confessions of a Harvard co-ed" and give us the rest of the story.

― GILLY'S BAGG'EAR VANCE OF COUPARI (Ex Leon), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 17:07 (eighteen years ago)

... That was kind of the whole story. He was a senior, she was a junior. He wanted to do (x), she wanted to do (y). The group basically went "hmm, bitchy queen with no connections vs bitchy queen who is MAD CONNECTED" and went with her. He quit in protest. The group went rapidly downhill, becoming the worst co-ed a capella group on campus. He stood on the sidelines and larfed. She moved on to Hollywood and everyone else in the group went, "er, what about our hookup?" and she was all "correct me if I'm wrong but I never promised hookups to anyone" and they all went "AIUGH" and everyone on the sidelines larfed some more because she never did actually trade on her name or promise hookups/connection-sharing with anyone.

― Young Fresh Danny D (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 17:18 (eighteen years ago)

!!! IN AN OFFICE???
-- sunny successor (sunnysuccesso...), September 26th, 2006. (katharine)

nope at a restaurant called the Black Forest in mpls..he was a cook, she was waitressing. i think he was acting at the guthrie and plays around time at the time...

― M@tt He1geson: Real Name, No Gimmicks (Matt Helgeson), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 17:52 (eighteen years ago)

Hey, have you heard that Ali G is going to make a British version of this great show?

Maybe he can get that guy off The Extras tobe in it?

― mei (mei), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 18:04 (eighteen years ago)

I hope it's urine

― Adrienne Begley (sparklecock), Friday, 29 September 2006 05:25 (eighteen years ago)

Hug it out bitch.

― Orgy of Pragmatism (Charles McCain), Friday, 6 October 2006 17:56 (eighteen years ago)

different show

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 6 October 2006 18:00 (eighteen years ago)

OMG Rashida Jones just won about 50% more of my heart last night with the little phantom grenade desk explosion thing. Foxy!

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Friday, 6 October 2006 18:39 (eighteen years ago)

The hug Dwight gave Michael was quite passionate, I bet Angela felt some jealousy mixed in with her disappointment and repulsion. Those two are in for a bumpy road after Dwight literally groveled before Michael.

Ed Helms was great. "I'm gonna kill you for real. The game is over, I'm really going to shoot you."

― reddening (reddening), Friday, 6 October 2006 21:30 (eighteen years ago)

love the bit with the FUN JEANS & the swag, from the last episode. yup, still good. ALSO , the part where creed sits down and randomly starts eating angela's soup and says "andrea is the office bitch, sorry!" and REINTRODUCES himself to the red haired lady whose name I cannot remember. Funny.

― gunther heartymeal (keckles), Monday, 9 October 2006 21:58 (eighteen years ago)

still not hating this.

― shabba ranks (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 10 October 2006 00:04 (eighteen years ago)

Creed is my role model.

― GILLY'S BAGG'EAR VANCE OF COUPARI (Ex Leon), Tuesday, 10 October 2006 01:26 (eighteen years ago)

I like the gal that flirts with Jim by shooting his WWII fight game character in the head.

― It's the lazy and immoral way to become super hip. (Austin, Still), Tuesday, 10 October 2006 01:28 (eighteen years ago)

i don't like that gal!! i mean, she's ok, but she might ruin things with PAM!!!

― gunther heartymeal (keckles), Tuesday, 10 October 2006 09:59 (eighteen years ago)

Probably already know about this, but...

Phonisode!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_O0Do0idci8

― Orgy of Pragmatism (Charles McCain), Wednesday, 11 October 2006 19:50 (eighteen years ago)

haha WTF Dwight (stomping of burned bird carcass)

― got yourself a fish biscuit! (nickalicious), Friday, 13 October 2006 15:38 (eighteen years ago)

"My aunt was a boxer and she had her manager pull the plug on her life support..."

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Friday, 13 October 2006 15:43 (eighteen years ago)

Oh man, I completely forgot that! I almost couldn't take the look on Kevin's face.

― got yourself a fish biscuit! (nickalicious), Friday, 13 October 2006 15:44 (eighteen years ago)

i don't like the chips girl either! she's lacking the spark. and pam, don't be lured in by beardo roy! he's no good for you!

the bird eulogy / green recorder scene followed by stomping was priceless.

― molly d (mollyd), Friday, 13 October 2006 15:44 (eighteen years ago)

What was the story between Million Dollar Baby & Weekend At Bernie's? I couldn't place it.

― David R. (popshots75`), Friday, 13 October 2006 15:46 (eighteen years ago)

My mom called me during that commercial break and said "there it is, the only Million Dollar Baby joke".

― got yourself a fish biscuit! (nickalicious), Friday, 13 October 2006 15:46 (eighteen years ago)

It was the Lion King.

― molly d (mollyd), Friday, 13 October 2006 15:48 (eighteen years ago)

I dig the new chick! Whatevs, otherwise the office would be like every other Moonlighting/Who's The Boss type Will-they-get-together-or-OH-NOES-they-wont-they in the tv universe

― Mr. Que (Mr.Que), Friday, 13 October 2006 15:48 (eighteen years ago)

I am a sappy girl who likes Who's the Boss-type romance.

― molly d (mollyd), Friday, 13 October 2006 15:50 (eighteen years ago)

Hmm. . .maybe you can learn to appreciate the threeway?

― Mr. Que (Mr.Que), Friday, 13 October 2006 15:51 (eighteen years ago)

I'll give it a go. Meanwhile, I will live in DESPAIR until Jim makes his way back to the Scranton office. I have my theories on that, but they are as probably as fanciful as my vicarious involvement in the romantic plot of this show.

― molly d (mollyd), Friday, 13 October 2006 15:56 (eighteen years ago)

It was the Lion King.

I was wondering why he was talking about Africa!

― David R. (popshots75`), Friday, 13 October 2006 15:58 (eighteen years ago)

Poor Mufasa.

― GILLY'S BAGG'EAR VANCE OF COUPARI (Ex Leon), Friday, 13 October 2006 16:08 (eighteen years ago)

I wanna see more Toby.

― Orgy of Pragmatism (Charles McCain), Friday, 13 October 2006 16:29 (eighteen years ago)

i love that ryan picked THE LION KING, of all movies.

so good.

― gunther heartymeal (keckles), Friday, 13 October 2006 17:21 (eighteen years ago)

Are the two Dunder Mifflin branches going to merge? I know it eventually happened on the UK version. I'd really like to see the Ed Helms character in Michael Scott's office...that would be terrific.

― musically (musically), Friday, 13 October 2006 17:48 (eighteen years ago)

They alluded to that in the convention ep. The boss told Michael he'd love to keep him on as a salesman if it happened.

― Orgy of Pragmatism (Charles McCain), Friday, 13 October 2006 17:51 (eighteen years ago)

I bet they will merge, as per the UK version. Shockingly, the Stamford branch seems far more incompetent. Bring on the hijinks!

― molly d (mollyd), Friday, 13 October 2006 17:52 (eighteen years ago)

DID YOU CHECK YR BUTT!

― BONERTIME! (ddb1), Friday, 13 October 2006 17:59 (eighteen years ago)

Finally watched my tape

"And just as you've planted your seed in the ground, I will now plant my seed in you"

― Orgy of Pragmatism (Charles McCain), Saturday, 21 October 2006 17:16 (eighteen years ago)

hee! the best part of that line is Ryan's reaction. "You don't know what you're saying."

― horseshoe (horseshoe), Saturday, 21 October 2006 20:48 (eighteen years ago)

I loved the two of them beore the opening credits.

"There's a hunter..."

"It's a polar bear because he's at the north pole."

― It's the lazy and immoral way to become super hip. (Austin, Still), Saturday, 21 October 2006 21:36 (eighteen years ago)

"That's the union of the monkey."

"So that's what they call it."

Creed's such a card.

― Orgy of Pragmatism (Charles McCain), Friday, 3 November 2006 20:23 (eighteen years ago)

FUCK!!!!! I always miss this show!!!!

― polar bear flashback episode (nickalicious), Friday, 3 November 2006 20:29 (eighteen years ago)

*ring ring*

ROOMY: Waddup man?
ME: TORRENT OFFICE.
ROOMY: OH SHIT WE MISSED IT.
ME: TORRENT OFFICE.
*brief pause*
ROOMY: It'll be in H drive!
ME: Awesome.

Total call time 00:32.

I love efficient phone conversations.

― polar bear flashback episode (nickalicious), Friday, 3 November 2006 20:31 (eighteen years ago)

nza, I love YOU.

― teeny (teeny), Friday, 3 November 2006 20:41 (eighteen years ago)

I didn't think this week's episode was that great. But that may have been because I heard it discussed on NPR before watching it. Not enough Dwight in it at any rate.

― BrianB (BrianB), Friday, 3 November 2006 20:44 (eighteen years ago)

Well, in one before it, we got a whole lot of Dwight (and--at last!--his beet farm). Maybe more next time. I was kinda hoping he and Angela would get outed or at least be engaged (ala the promos)

― Orgy of Pragmatism (Charles McCain), Friday, 3 November 2006 20:50 (eighteen years ago)

SPOILER ALERT FOR NZA

There was a lot of hinting at things, but nothing really came through except for the proposal, and that just came out of the blue. Everything kinda fell flat.

― BrianB (BrianB), Friday, 3 November 2006 20:59 (eighteen years ago)

best show on tv

― cutty (mcutt), Friday, 3 November 2006 21:20 (eighteen years ago)

michael trying kiss pam was classic.

― kyle (akmonday), Friday, 3 November 2006 22:39 (eighteen years ago)

Karen: (whispering) Look how cute he is. And he’s trying to shoot with a smoke grenade.
Jim: I’m sorry, what are you whispering back there?
Karen: Nothing, just concentrate on turning around.
Jim: I’m trying, I just...
Karen: Just tap S then D.
Jim: Oh
Karen: Any last words? No?
Jim: What?
(Gunshot) (Karen laughing)
Jim: (turns toward Karen) Wow. (turns away from Karen) Psychopath.

Josh: This is not working, okay? We are getting slaughtered out there.
Andy: It’s the new guy.
Jim: Oh, I’m sorry; I don’t know...what we’re talking about.
Andy: See what I mean?
Josh: We just need a strategy, okay? We’re gonna set up a trap in the gun room. All right, Jim, are you using the MP-40 or the 44?
Jim: Um, sniper rifle?
Josh: Snipe-
Andy: What?
Josh: Jim in Carentan...
Andy: Are you playing for the other team?
Josh: You don’t snipe in Carentan, okay?
Andy: Saboteur!! Saboteur!! I’m gonna kill you for real. This game..the game is over. I’m really gonna shoot you.

― Joe (Joe), Saturday, 4 November 2006 02:44 (eighteen years ago)

andy is pretty fucking classic

― cutty (mcutt), Saturday, 4 November 2006 02:45 (eighteen years ago)

plus the whole indigo girls part of the most recent episode?

you know this is all going to end with the offices consolidated. all the characters interacting with each other in one office. jim must choose between pam and quiny jones's daughter.

personally i have a huge boner for rashida jones.

― cutty (mcutt), Saturday, 4 November 2006 02:46 (eighteen years ago)

i personally share that boner

― ^@^ (map), Saturday, 4 November 2006 02:53 (eighteen years ago)

she is BEEE-UTEE_EEEFULLL

― kyle (akmonday), Saturday, 4 November 2006 07:49 (eighteen years ago)

I said elsewhere I thought she dateraped Jim. The retort was that he was too drunk for that.

Anyway, my favorite moment on the episode was between Ryan and Kelly's parents, where he positively glows with the thought of buying an xbox and their reaction shot to his enthusiasm.

I was thinking it was too bad that we were losing the "Tim sells his soul" storyline from the brit version, but it was pointed out to me that Ryan may be taking that over.

― It's the lazy and immoral way to become super hip. (Austin, Still), Saturday, 4 November 2006 13:46 (eighteen years ago)

hey nickalicious, could you clue me in on this torr3nt biz? program and where to download from? im clueless.

― sunny successor (katharine), Saturday, 4 November 2006 14:14 (eighteen years ago)

I ain't nicka, but...

I use azureus to download (but there are lots of other options, for both mac and win)

http://azureus.sourceforge.net/

and mininova.net or demonoid.com to find torrents for tv shows (but there are approximately 1000 gerflillion torrent sites on the net, but most of what I look for I can find in these two.)

― It's the lazy and immoral way to become super hip. (Austin, Still), Saturday, 4 November 2006 14:21 (eighteen years ago)

you can watch them all here too, along with an assload of other stuff:

http://tvlinks.voodeedoo.org/

― A Giant Mechanical Ant (The Giant Mechanical Ant), Saturday, 4 November 2006 17:01 (eighteen years ago)

i would recommend utorrent, too

http://utorrent.com/

apparently, they're working on an audiogalaxy/set up d/ls from remote thing

― kingfish prætor (kingfish 2.0), Saturday, 4 November 2006 17:21 (eighteen years ago)

yeah, they are totally going to work in the same office. Notice the only co-workers they show in Jim's office are Andy and Karen!

― gunther heartymeal (keckles), Saturday, 4 November 2006 22:20 (eighteen years ago)

nice! thanks!

― sunny successor (katharine), Sunday, 5 November 2006 01:16 (eighteen years ago)

*BIG TUNA*

― Joe (Joe), Sunday, 5 November 2006 02:01 (eighteen years ago)

The Office is popular enough where people have been uploading the latest episodes to youtube in like three parts.

― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Sunday, 5 November 2006 04:48 (eighteen years ago)

i thought nbc were annoyingly vigilant about getting their stuff deleted from youtube

― sunny successor (katharine), Sunday, 5 November 2006 14:19 (eighteen years ago)

Dwight

At 8:05 am someone poisons the coffee pot. Don't drink it.

― FUTURE DWIGHT (nickalicious), Friday, 10 November 2006 14:14 (eighteen years ago)

I finally caught up with the episodes I missed, LOL @ Dwight's inquisition of Ryan - "do you know what the DHARMA Initiative is?".

― diebold with a vengeance (nickalicious), Friday, 10 November 2006 14:15 (eighteen years ago)

I loved how Dwight and Michael thought that they saved the Scranton branch by hanging around the CEO's house all day. I'm surprised no one called the police on them.

― Beth S. (Ex Leon), Friday, 10 November 2006 14:45 (eighteen years ago)

I LOVE YOU RASHIDA

AND I HOPE JIM CHOOSES U

― cutty (mcutt), Friday, 10 November 2006 14:57 (eighteen years ago)

fuckin pam

― cutty (mcutt), Friday, 10 November 2006 14:57 (eighteen years ago)

Her little confessional scene was really touching!

― diebold with a vengeance (nickalicious), Friday, 10 November 2006 15:00 (eighteen years ago)

totally. wuv.

― cutty (mcutt), Friday, 10 November 2006 15:12 (eighteen years ago)

team pam!!

yeah, my favorite part was when michael and dwight were chanting "WE DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!" as if just sitting around changed things somehow.

― gunther heartymeal (keckles), Friday, 10 November 2006 15:25 (eighteen years ago)

i am pro-pam, all the way. the other girl is cute, but not as clever. nothing can top pam's "whitest sneaker award" acceptance speech.

― molly d (mollyd), Friday, 10 November 2006 16:39 (eighteen years ago)

you know this is all going to end with the offices consolidated. all the characters interacting with each other in one office.

-- cutty (holle...) (webmail), November 3rd, 2006 9:46 PM. (mcutt) (later) (link)

― manute lol (sanskrit), Friday, 10 November 2006 17:00 (eighteen years ago)

I wonder if Ed Helms and Dwight will be friends, or will they be mortal enemies?

― molly d (mollyd), Friday, 10 November 2006 17:07 (eighteen years ago)

"There is no Stanley tree..."

― The Dusty Baker Selection (Charles McCain), Friday, 10 November 2006 17:11 (eighteen years ago)

i was under the impression he lost his job, hope i'm wrong.

― manute lol (sanskrit), Friday, 10 November 2006 17:12 (eighteen years ago)

I wonder if Ed Helms and Dwight will be friends, or will they be mortal enemies?
-- molly d (molly.dah...), November 10th, 2006.

Enemies would be awesome.

― Mr. Que (Mr.Que), Friday, 10 November 2006 17:12 (eighteen years ago)

favorite part of last episode: Kelly's mascara-streaked-face confessional.

― horseshoe (horseshoe), Friday, 10 November 2006 17:35 (eighteen years ago)

nothing that involves kelly is ever funny

― cutty (mcutt), Friday, 10 November 2006 17:38 (eighteen years ago)

"Just like Romeo and Juliet--the Claire Danes version"

― The Dusty Baker Selection (Charles McCain), Friday, 10 November 2006 17:40 (eighteen years ago)

nothing that involves kelly is ever funny

crazy talk!

― horseshoe (horseshoe), Friday, 10 November 2006 17:43 (eighteen years ago)

How long have they been running the "producer's cuts" on the website? I didn't get it taped last night and so I'm overjoyed that they had an apparent longer version up to watch for free.

PS extended Earl, Office & 30 Rock next week!

― The Dusty Baker Selection (Charles McCain), Friday, 10 November 2006 17:50 (eighteen years ago)

not sure if there is a thread for the British Office, but Jennifer, David's boss, is maybe the hottest woman I've seen on tv, like, ever

― Dominique (dleone), Wednesday, 15 November 2006 02:44 (eighteen years ago)

HOTTest

― cousin larry bundgee (bundgee), Wednesday, 15 November 2006 02:53 (eighteen years ago)

I read on wigglypedia that Rainn Wilson (Dwight) is the son of Robert Anton Wilson. Which brings to mind two thoughts:

1 - No wonder he's so good at playing a fruitcake.

2 - Wasn't RAW dying and so impoverished they had to raise money for his nursing home bills? You'd think a TV star kid could afford it.

― It's the lazy and immoral way to become super hip. (Austin, Still), Wednesday, 15 November 2006 05:13 (eighteen years ago)

WTF was up with the paper shredder product placement/salad from Staples jokes/Staples commercial bullshit last night?

― Dude That Spends A Confusing Amount Of Time Focusing On A Band He Hates (Mr.Que), Friday, 17 November 2006 15:56 (eighteen years ago)

I read on wigglypedia that Rainn Wilson (Dwight) is the son of Robert Anton Wilson.

Oh holy shit! Favorite fact ever!

― stoked for the madness (nickalicious), Friday, 17 November 2006 16:04 (eighteen years ago)

WTF was up with the paper shredder product placement/salad from Staples jokes/Staples commercial bullshit last night?

That was pretty obnoxious, esp. since they mention how Staples is putting them out of business on the show.

And, I KNEW IT! Andy (Ed Helms) and Dwight ARE mortal enemies!

I saw a bit of Rainn Wilson randomly on Ellen a while back. He plays the bassoon (for real). Also, he was on Six Feet Under, further endearing him to my heart forever.

― molly d (mollyd), Friday, 17 November 2006 16:15 (eighteen years ago)

ohgod, all exchanges btwn andy, dwight and michael were priceless

"1985 called, it wants its car back"
"well i hope 1985 has a time machine because i drive an 87"
etc
"if you were driving a trans am you would be the smartest idiot in the whole world"

funniest episode in a while

― rrrobyn, breeze blown meadow of cheeriness (rrrobyn), Friday, 17 November 2006 16:31 (eighteen years ago)

haha I loved Andy's strategy - name repetition, personality mimicking, and never breaking off a handshake.

― stoked for the madness (nickalicious), Friday, 17 November 2006 16:40 (eighteen years ago)

i knew that andy and michael would hit it off wonderfully

― cutty (mcutt), Friday, 17 November 2006 16:52 (eighteen years ago)

once again

http://ia.imdb.com/media/imdb/01/I/48/53/10/10m.jpg

steals the show, gets the best lines, comedy gold, etc etc

― songs and ballads of the bituminous miners (sanskrit), Friday, 17 November 2006 16:53 (eighteen years ago)

http://img396.imageshack.us/img396/7586/10mit4.jpg

eat a dick imdb

― songs and ballads of the bituminous miners (sanskrit), Friday, 17 November 2006 16:56 (eighteen years ago)

hahahaha I forgot all about breast pump incident

― stoked for the madness (nickalicious), Friday, 17 November 2006 16:56 (eighteen years ago)

xpost

He was like standing in the corner when the new guys were on the table in the conference room with the best expression on his face.

― Dude That Spends A Confusing Amount Of Time Focusing On A Band He Hates (Mr.Que), Friday, 17 November 2006 16:57 (eighteen years ago)

OMG and the new black guy doing vague fist thing at Stanley, who just frowned as usual!

This had some really touching moments snuck in, like when Karen was like "Bob Vance of Vance Refrigeration" to Phyllis.

― stoked for the madness (nickalicious), Friday, 17 November 2006 16:57 (eighteen years ago)

yeah, it was a totally great episode! everyone got their, y'know, moment

― rrrobyn, breeze blown meadow of cheeriness (rrrobyn), Friday, 17 November 2006 17:01 (eighteen years ago)

"yes, I know that, for I do read the memos."

― horseshoe (horseshoe), Friday, 17 November 2006 17:02 (eighteen years ago)

i must once again stress how much i love rashida jones/karen fillipelli

― cutty (mcutt), Friday, 17 November 2006 17:08 (eighteen years ago)

When I first started watching this, I couldn't take Dwight at all, but now he's kinda my favorite. (And Jim, but that's 'cause I think he's adorable).

― luna (luna.c), Friday, 17 November 2006 17:10 (eighteen years ago)

Second-best ep this season (first being the bird funeral.) Michael and Dwight trying to hoist the fat guy on the table was very UK-ishly uncomfortable.

― Brandon Edmark (Brandon E), Friday, 17 November 2006 17:11 (eighteen years ago)

really funny episode.. while the snl bits were kind of cute dorky homage, i'm not so sure about the archetypal "twinning" going on. the ed helms/dwight one kills, but the fat dude/fat dude, young black guy/Stanley, pam/new girl, angela/breast pumper feels kind of like the bizarro world seinfeld episode.

― songs and ballads of the bituminous miners (sanskrit), Friday, 17 November 2006 17:11 (eighteen years ago)

the fat dude/fat dude

Well I guess we won't have to worry about this one anymore!

― stoked for the madness (nickalicious), Friday, 17 November 2006 17:14 (eighteen years ago)

yeah i have a feeling they'll prune off a lot of em and leave us with rashida, ed helms, and a couple others

― songs and ballads of the bituminous miners (sanskrit), Friday, 17 November 2006 17:15 (eighteen years ago)

i don't care how original they are as long as they keep it so funny

― songs and ballads of the bituminous miners (sanskrit), Friday, 17 November 2006 17:16 (eighteen years ago)

not a karen fan over here

― i've dreamt of rubies! (Mandee), Friday, 17 November 2006 17:21 (eighteen years ago)

Has anyone else here seen the deleted scenes from last season's Halloween episode? There's a 1.5-minute-long talking head scene where Michael describes his first and only hunting trip in excruciating detail. I was in stitches the whole time. It was cut down to a one-sentence off-screen aside in the finished version, which is a shame because it would've easily been one of the highlights of the whole season.

I'm with mandee. Karen is psycho.

― Brandon Edmark (Brandon E), Friday, 17 November 2006 17:25 (eighteen years ago)

? she really doesn't seem psycho in the least.

― horseshoe (horseshoe), Friday, 17 November 2006 17:26 (eighteen years ago)

I am not a Karen fan either.

Did anyone else think Jim would have canceled his plans with Karen if Pam said she would have gone out with him, when they were leaving the office?

Total soap opera drama. I love it.

Also, my crush on John Krasinski is only growing stronger, knowing that he's presenting at Jest Fest (Infinite Jest / David Foster Wallace).

http://www.edrants.com/?p=4861

― molly d (mollyd), Friday, 17 November 2006 17:34 (eighteen years ago)

ALL THE GIRLS HATE KAREN!

stop being so predictable, women

― cutty (mcutt), Friday, 17 November 2006 17:39 (eighteen years ago)

i just like pam is all! I CANT LIKE BOTH

― i've dreamt of rubies! (Mandee), Friday, 17 November 2006 17:41 (eighteen years ago)

whoa, jest fest, weird

i kinda like karen!

and though jim is sorta cute, i could only have bizarro half-sensical crushes on anyone in this show. and therefore my crush is on the dwight/rainn.

― rrrobyn, breeze blown meadow of cheeriness (rrrobyn), Friday, 17 November 2006 17:42 (eighteen years ago)

Remember when she snapped at Jim in the second or third episode? "Your soft drink does not fall under the umbrella of my authority"? She wasn't even slightly kidding about it at first. And then shooting him in the head in a video game as flirting, conspiring to drive him home... she seems frighteningly type-A with only the thinnest veneer of a sense of humor.

I dunno, maybe she's just so extroverted compared to Pam that it's throwing me off but I find her highly unpleasant.

― Brandon Edmark (Brandon E), Friday, 17 November 2006 17:47 (eighteen years ago)

Crap I got the "your" and "my" mixed up in that quote above.

― Brandon Edmark (Brandon E), Friday, 17 November 2006 17:48 (eighteen years ago)

I'm still reeling at the Rainn Anton Wilson thing. THE best casting job of all time.

― stoked for the madness (nickalicious), Friday, 17 November 2006 17:49 (eighteen years ago)

karen hasn't really done anything to IMPRESS ME. Why SHOULD I like her?? And I'm with Mandee -- I just like Pam better. Plus I relate to her cause she's awkward and can't seem to figure out how to tell Jim she likes him and Karen is just a GO GETTER FLIRT.

p.s -- love dwight.

― gunther heartymeal (keckles), Friday, 17 November 2006 17:52 (eighteen years ago)

Karen is GO GETTER FLIRT = NO DUH the guys like her and the girls don't!

― The Android Cat (Dan Perry), Friday, 17 November 2006 17:53 (eighteen years ago)

Hey, I'm a guy.

― Brandon Edmark (Brandon E), Friday, 17 November 2006 17:55 (eighteen years ago)

like I said, she hasn't done anything to impress me. I don't DISLIKE HER, mind you, just not a fan yet.

― gunther heartymeal (keckles), Friday, 17 November 2006 17:59 (eighteen years ago)

I don't think it's that so much as (at least for me) I'm used to and sort of rooting for Pam & Jim and Karen is the INTERLOPER.

― luna (luna.c), Friday, 17 November 2006 18:00 (eighteen years ago)

Karen doesn't have the witty factor that Pam does. Sure, she's cute, but Pam has the personality that's most endearing. I know she made up for it with her "Bob Vance? Of Vance Refrigeration?" comment, but her sneering at Phyllis' perfume was BAD FORM.

― molly d (mollyd), Friday, 17 November 2006 18:01 (eighteen years ago)

Hey, I'm a guy.

ARE YOU SURE????????

(sorry)

― The Android Cat (Dan Perry), Friday, 17 November 2006 18:04 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.randomtuesday.com/pictures/office/308/blackpower.gif

― stoked for the madness (nickalicious), Friday, 17 November 2006 18:07 (eighteen years ago)

BRAHAHAHAH.

That seemed only mildly funny last night but watching Stanley's scowl loop over and over is cracking me up.

― Brandon Edmark (Brandon E), Friday, 17 November 2006 18:10 (eighteen years ago)

stanley is so grumpy, I love it.

― gunther heartymeal (keckles), Friday, 17 November 2006 18:12 (eighteen years ago)

the pretzel day ep was on tv here yesterday - only time when stanley isn't grumpy! 'only 364 more days until next pretzel day'

― rrrobyn, breeze blown meadow of cheeriness (rrrobyn), Friday, 17 November 2006 18:27 (eighteen years ago)

I am a girl and I like Karen. for the record.

― horseshoe (horseshoe), Friday, 17 November 2006 18:44 (eighteen years ago)

karen seems like she'd be more suited for ryan

― i've dreamt of rubies! (Mandee), Friday, 17 November 2006 18:52 (eighteen years ago)

So how long do you guys think Dwight ran around the building before going back inside? I think a LONG TIME.

― stoked for the madness (nickalicious), Friday, 17 November 2006 18:53 (eighteen years ago)

and he was probably shouting out lap numbers because he thought pam had just gone in to use the bathroom and was still keeping track

"this isn't even a stopwatch; it's a thermometre"
haha, see, it's things like that that make pam awesome - haven't seen such things from karen yet, yeah, true, but she could easily be awesome as well!

― rrrobyn, breeze blown meadow of cheeriness (rrrobyn), Friday, 17 November 2006 18:56 (eighteen years ago)

nickalicious found the mother lode:
last nights: http://www.randomtuesday.com/pictures/office/308/
this season: http://www.randomtuesday.com/pictures/office/

― songs and ballads of the bituminous miners (sanskrit), Friday, 17 November 2006 19:04 (eighteen years ago)

Just watched my tape. Loved the Dwight/Andy stuff. Wouldn't it be funny if he trys to steal Angela away from Dwight?

Can you feel the tension?

http://www.randomtuesday.com/pictures/office/308/andy_angela.gif

― The Dusty Baker Selection (Charles McCain), Friday, 17 November 2006 19:29 (eighteen years ago)

the most enjoyable show on television

― cutty (mcutt), Friday, 17 November 2006 19:34 (eighteen years ago)

Falling to #4 in ratings has to be be the best thing to happen to NBC since Friends started. They're actually taking some chances w/their programming that (surprise surprise) is actually paying off.

― The Dusty Baker Selection (Charles McCain), Friday, 17 November 2006 19:47 (eighteen years ago)

karen, yeah yeah karen.

― otto midnight (otto midnight), Friday, 17 November 2006 19:58 (eighteen years ago)

Have just bothered to check and discovered that Jenna Fischer (Pam) a) is married; and b) is proud of being able to type 85 words per minute (with 90 percent accuracy!).

Am wildly disappointed on both counts.

― Nicholas Passant (Nicholas Passant), Friday, 17 November 2006 20:14 (eighteen years ago)

Does this disappoint you because she doesn't type fast enough?

― gunther heartymeal (keckles), Friday, 17 November 2006 20:21 (eighteen years ago)

i think i need to start watching this

― gbx (skowly), Friday, 17 November 2006 20:22 (eighteen years ago)

yes, you DO!!!

― gunther heartymeal (keckles), Friday, 17 November 2006 20:22 (eighteen years ago)

HOTTT TYPING PR0N

― The Android Cat (Dan Perry), Friday, 17 November 2006 20:22 (eighteen years ago)

Yep.

Although it may just be that the heartbreak is making me all sneerisome.

― Nicholas Passant (Nicholas Passant), Friday, 17 November 2006 20:26 (eighteen years ago)

yeah , she could really brush up on her skills. I just tested at 109.

― gunther heartymeal (keckles), Friday, 17 November 2006 20:27 (eighteen years ago)

a/s/l?

― Nicholas Passant (Nicholas Passant), Friday, 17 November 2006 20:27 (eighteen years ago)

I think her husband used to make TROMA movies?

― gunther heartymeal (keckles), Friday, 17 November 2006 20:27 (eighteen years ago)

I wonder how fast Rashida/Karen is.

X-Post

Yeah, and he directed Slither. And his brother is Kirk (from Gilmore Girls).

― The Dusty Baker Selection (Charles McCain), Friday, 17 November 2006 20:29 (eighteen years ago)

I liked Slither. I like Kirk, too!

― gunther heartymeal (keckles), Friday, 17 November 2006 20:30 (eighteen years ago)

I think I just read that she'd just written and directed a film too. Although I forget details.

― Nicholas Passant (Nicholas Passant), Friday, 17 November 2006 20:32 (eighteen years ago)

kelly you were supposed to tell nick your age sex and location doofus

― i've dreamt of rubies! (Mandee), Friday, 17 November 2006 20:35 (eighteen years ago)

It's ok Mandee. This Jenna-is-married-and-can't-type stuff has left me resigned to rejection this evening.

― Nicholas Passant (Nicholas Passant), Friday, 17 November 2006 20:36 (eighteen years ago)

i really want to see all of 'lazy scranton' and 'the dunder mifflin project'
so bad

― i've dreamt of rubies! (Mandee), Friday, 17 November 2006 20:41 (eighteen years ago)

Well I didn't think he REALLY wanted to know! It was just a FUNNY THING! But for the record, 24/F/COLORADUH.

Was it called the Dundler Mifflin Witch project? God I love outdated pop culture references!!!

― gunther heartymeal (keckles), Friday, 17 November 2006 20:42 (eighteen years ago)

Nice typing Kelly. Nice.

Was about to point out that all eps of the show can be watched via the tvlinks website, but.. sods law - it seems to have been pulled today.

― Nicholas Passant (Nicholas Passant), Friday, 17 November 2006 20:46 (eighteen years ago)

I like Karen! I think she's better suited to Jim than Pam is.

― Beth S. (Ex Leon), Friday, 17 November 2006 20:59 (eighteen years ago)

and besides, jim tried to talk to pam, like three times

karen was game from the beginning

keep that girl, jim

― cutty (mcutt), Friday, 17 November 2006 21:06 (eighteen years ago)

That film Jenna Fisher made is called LolliLove. I haven't seen it, but I know it stars her and her husband as snotty richfolk who start a charity giving lollipops to homeless people. Apparently it's half-improvised and was shot on a $2000-dollar budget.

I'm a girl and I like Karen fine - at least she had the balls to admit on-camera that she liked Jim! But I don't know if she's right for Jim because she doesn't have the same taste for ludicrous pranks/humor that Pam and Jim do. She kinda goes with it when Jim is there, but I don't think she would ever think to make Dwight run laps around the building while timing him with a digital thermometer. I can see Karen eventually getting annoyed with Jim's behavior once the initial lovey glow wears off.

Andy versus Dwight is the best thing ever.

― reddening (reddening), Friday, 17 November 2006 21:28 (eighteen years ago)

LolliLove is pretty uneventful.

― cousin larry bundgee (bundgee), Friday, 17 November 2006 21:57 (eighteen years ago)

watched season 1 and half of season 2 of the U.S. version on DVD and it is very very good. ok UK version is like 10x better but so what, great is good enough, you know? ok u can go back to spoilers that i'm trying my hardest not to read.

― tremendoid (tremendoid), Friday, 17 November 2006 23:08 (eighteen years ago)

halfway into season two is where you realize how amazing this show is--carry on

― cutty (mcutt), Saturday, 18 November 2006 00:46 (eighteen years ago)

so OTM!

― rrrobyn, breeze blown meadow of cheeriness (rrrobyn), Saturday, 18 November 2006 01:39 (eighteen years ago)

> i just like pam is all! I CANT LIKE BOTH

Nonsense. Imagine, if you will, a Pam and Karen sandwich...

Fuck off Kraczinsky, this is my fantasy.

― It's the lazy and immoral way to become super hip. (Austin, Still), Saturday, 18 November 2006 02:47 (eighteen years ago)

The fact that the one woman says to "take a picture, it lasts longer" to Ryan and Creed actually took a picture got me about a minute after it happened.

― Earl Nash (earlnash), Saturday, 18 November 2006 03:58 (eighteen years ago)

LolliLove is great because of "Hollywood power couple Linda Cardellini and Jason Segel"

i like both Karen and Pam but think that no matter who's better for whom JIm and Pam will end up together at some point

― lemin (lemin), Saturday, 18 November 2006 04:07 (eighteen years ago)

"In general, they don't give me much responsibility around here. But they do let me do all the shredding, and that's all I really need."

― It's the lazy and immoral way to become super hip. (Austin, Still), Saturday, 18 November 2006 13:51 (eighteen years ago)

They've got a complete cut of "Lazy Scranton" up on the website, along with a brief scene w/Andy getting a "Big Tuna"-like nickanme from Kevin.

― The Dusty Baker Selection (Charles McCain), Saturday, 18 November 2006 15:52 (eighteen years ago)

"He'll Be YOUR Big Tuna in 2008" should be somebody's presidential campaign slogan.

― Joe (Joe), Monday, 20 November 2006 04:14 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.geocities.com/cinemorgue2/rainnwilson.jpg

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Monday, 20 November 2006 05:04 (eighteen years ago)

http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/7152/karimahwestbrook4ic5.jpg

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Monday, 20 November 2006 05:05 (eighteen years ago)

Wilson's teenage daughter, Patricia Luna Wilson, was murdered on October 2, 1976. Her parents had her brain placed into cryonic suspension

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Monday, 20 November 2006 05:06 (eighteen years ago)

That was a really weird Google search I just went on.

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Monday, 20 November 2006 05:06 (eighteen years ago)

i had no idea he was robert anton wilson's son. weird.

― kyle (akmonday), Monday, 20 November 2006 07:03 (eighteen years ago)

one month passes...

WTF? I don't buy Jan's sudden transformation. I almost buy it, but it seemed to sudden. Otherwise, great episode.

― VALLEY OF BLIZZARDZ (Mr.Que), Friday, 5 January 2007 17:14 (eighteen years ago)

oooh new ep already??

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 5 January 2007 17:17 (eighteen years ago)

Has this gone from ITV2 - or have I missed an episode? Or are you talking about US episodes?

― Ned T.Rifle (nedtrifle), Friday, 5 January 2007 17:21 (eighteen years ago)

US obviously, duh.

― VALLEY OF BLIZZARDZ (Mr.Que), Friday, 5 January 2007 17:22 (eighteen years ago)

agreed

― kyle (akmonday), Friday, 5 January 2007 17:24 (eighteen years ago)

Yeah - I know it's the US office - I can read - what I meant was was this new episodes in the US or the UK (which is somewhat behind the US on this) where it was running on ITV2 until xmas but seems to have disappeared mid-series.

― Ned T.Rifle (nedtrifle), Friday, 5 January 2007 17:33 (eighteen years ago)

It was a new episode in the US. It was great. The beads in Michael's hair were amazing.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Friday, 5 January 2007 17:38 (eighteen years ago)

Dwight/Pam scene was awesome, too

― VALLEY OF BLIZZARDZ (Mr.Que), Friday, 5 January 2007 17:39 (eighteen years ago)

I didn't know what Dwight was doing when he was taking his jacket off and tying it around his waist. Creepy! The delivery of his line was priceless. I would have punched him.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Friday, 5 January 2007 17:41 (eighteen years ago)

can a mod remove whatever protected file is on here that is throwing up that login prompt?

― kyle (akmonday), Friday, 5 January 2007 17:41 (eighteen years ago)

xpost--Molly, I think he was about to wrap it around Pam, but then thought twice of it?

― VALLEY OF BLIZZARDZ (Mr.Que), Friday, 5 January 2007 17:42 (eighteen years ago)

"You don't have to stay, you know?"

"Oh, I know!"

Man, what a sleaze.

― Candy: tastes like chicken, if chicken was a candy. (Austin, Still), Friday, 5 January 2007 17:42 (eighteen years ago)

Yeah! What the hell was he doing!? I thought that too, but then then tying it around his waist? Was he was trying to hit on her in her moment of romantic despair?

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Friday, 5 January 2007 17:43 (eighteen years ago)

I think he was trying to be comforting, and then saw her face and thought twice about it.

― VALLEY OF BLIZZARDZ (Mr.Que), Friday, 5 January 2007 17:44 (eighteen years ago)

I kept thinking, this is the episode where he finally gets fired. But, will Jan ever find out?

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Friday, 5 January 2007 17:51 (eighteen years ago)

who knows! because Pam mentioned that the employee from Stamford who nursed in the office quit and it was a big deal or something. but, no he can't be fired. that show would be so different without him. they'd have to get someone equally awesome

― VALLEY OF BLIZZARDZ (Mr.Que), Friday, 5 January 2007 17:52 (eighteen years ago)

the opening sequence with the tape recorder was one of the shows funniest sequences EVER. "I'm cutting phyllis' head off with a chainsaw! "

― kyle (akmonday), Friday, 5 January 2007 17:52 (eighteen years ago)

ed helms' character would be a reasonable replacement but I dont' see carrel going anywhere

― kyle (akmonday), Friday, 5 January 2007 17:53 (eighteen years ago)

Plot-wise, they've been keeping it pretty similar to the UK version. Will they give Michael the boot? Seeing as how the US show doesn't have a predetermined end date like the BBC version (that's how it went, right?), I can't see them firing Michael either. It would be a disaster!

The photo circulation was what made me think he was done for, esp. with his "dead man walking" up the stairs to meet with Jan.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Friday, 5 January 2007 17:56 (eighteen years ago)

YES THAT'S HOW THEY TRICK U

― database update failed (sanskrit), Friday, 5 January 2007 18:01 (eighteen years ago)

xpost
Thanks Molly!

Here in the UK we are only up to the half way mark of series 2. But I don't see it on the schedule at all at the moment so I don't know if itv have dumped it for a while.

― Ned T.Rifle (nedtrifle), Friday, 5 January 2007 18:07 (eighteen years ago)

They also seem to have done this with Entourage.

― Ned T.Rifle (nedtrifle), Friday, 5 January 2007 18:08 (eighteen years ago)

I was (briefly) looking forward to a storyline of Jim trying to adapt to his responsibilities as manager of the branch. Of course, Carrell is the star and they can't ditch him completely, so I guess if they did that they'd have to follow Michael Scott around in a seperate storyline.

What they can't do is make Dwight manager, ala Gareth. Dwight is just too insane.

― Candy: tastes like chicken, if chicken was a candy. (Austin, Still), Friday, 5 January 2007 18:09 (eighteen years ago)

I don't think Dwight was hitting on Pam, just awkwardly reviewing his mental "masculine courtly behavior" file, offer her your coat, offer her a handkerchief, hold her while she cries. the timing of the PMS line was perfect. he's not a sleaze, he's just not built for human contact.

― horseshoe (horseshoe), Friday, 5 January 2007 19:33 (eighteen years ago)

This show is very capable as far as the fake-out. I also really liked right at the end when Pam was really upset and Roy started talking to her, it was like "oh no oh no SAY NOTHING ROY" -> "Roy! well done" in a FLASH. And then at the very VERY end, Kevin's little "I don't have a lot of art" moment.

― stoked for the madness (nickalicious), Friday, 5 January 2007 19:39 (eighteen years ago)

hey--what was the deal with the warehouse guy finding the ipod? was that a reference to an episode i missed?

― VALLEY OF BLIZZARDZ (Mr.Que), Friday, 5 January 2007 19:41 (eighteen years ago)

OTM everyone!

And, I don't know what was up with the ipod either!

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Friday, 5 January 2007 19:45 (eighteen years ago)

Just keeping their Apple product placement levels up, I guess.

― Candy: tastes like chicken, if chicken was a candy. (Austin, Still), Friday, 5 January 2007 19:53 (eighteen years ago)

NO. IT IS CRUCIAL TO THE PLOT OF THE SHOW. WE MUST UNCOVER THE SECRETS OF THE WAREHOUSE POD

― VALLEY OF BLIZZARDZ (Mr.Que), Friday, 5 January 2007 19:54 (eighteen years ago)

The adverts I saw over the Christmas holidays on ITV2 showed new episodes of Entourage and The Office coming soon. I assumed they were just taking a few weeks off to play X Factor stuff, then a bunch of films because people are off work and they like to watch fillims.

― The Ultimate Conclusion (lokar), Friday, 5 January 2007 19:59 (eighteen years ago)

I thought the joke with the jacket was that it looked like he was taking it off to do the chivalrous thing and put it on her shoulders, but instead he's just hot and ties it around his waist like an idiot.

― Chris H. (chrisherbert), Friday, 5 January 2007 20:21 (eighteen years ago)

I kind of read maybe more subtext than was intended in that scene, but it seemed to me like there was an inner conflict in Dwight between A) actually trying to comfort Pam, B) trying to be a Manly Man, C) remembering how shitty she treats him, and D) not really knowing what the fuck he was doing. Whether it should be attributed to an overactive imagination, excellent acting, or some combination thereof, I'm not sure.

― stoked for the madness (nickalicious), Friday, 5 January 2007 20:23 (eighteen years ago)

I would agree with A, B, and D. I hadn't thought of C before, but it's plausible.

that dude is an amazing actor.

― horseshoe (horseshoe), Friday, 5 January 2007 20:25 (eighteen years ago)

OH MY GOD THE OOMPA LOOMPA SONG.

― don weiner (don weiner), Friday, 12 January 2007 02:55 (eighteen years ago)

oh shit, I forgot about this.

Hooray for bittorrent.

― Candy: tastes like chicken, if chicken was a candy. (Austin, Still), Friday, 12 January 2007 03:13 (eighteen years ago)

CLIFF HANGER!

I loved Phyllis' wily subterfuge into getting that man to buy lots of paper by getting herself teased out to the max.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Friday, 12 January 2007 16:44 (eighteen years ago)

Poor Dwight.

― The Dusty Baker Selection (Charles McCain), Friday, 12 January 2007 16:45 (eighteen years ago)

haha it's sad that i actually look forward to thursday night tv now

― cheesesteak and shake (dubplatestyle), Friday, 12 January 2007 16:49 (eighteen years ago)

dwight and jim doing the sales call and then jim hanging up on the annoying chick was awesome

― Interpreter of dreams predictor of weather (Mr.Que), Friday, 12 January 2007 16:50 (eighteen years ago)

I know! Who would have thought Jim and Dwight would have been the sales dream team? Oh, and "You're still gonna do that thing?" when Dwight insisted on getting pumped up in the car with frantic air guitar playing was fantastic.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Friday, 12 January 2007 16:53 (eighteen years ago)

great episode...

actually, speaking of the sales calls, the U.S. Office has sort of corrected something that always sort of bothered me about British one...Brent was so inept and lazy all the time, it seemed implausible that he could have ever gotten in that position or maintained the job for as long as he did...

in the US vers. you see glimpses of why Michael was probably a great young up and comer that got promoted...he's a good salesmen and can really related to guys on sales calls...remember the Tim Meadows episode, or last night's, or the time he gets the big deal at the paper convention in Philly...

same with Dwight, i thought he was being crazy when he picked up the guy's phone and put it on speakerphone, but then the punch line that it was their competitors customer service line was brilliant.

― M@tt He1geson: Sassy and I Don't Care Who Knows It (Matt Helgeson), Friday, 12 January 2007 17:07 (eighteen years ago)

someone needs to put the Oompa Loompa song up on YouTube

― don weiner (don weiner), Friday, 12 January 2007 19:06 (eighteen years ago)

Great episode but Jim is getting annoying

― A B C (sparklecock), Friday, 12 January 2007 21:01 (eighteen years ago)

I think Jim is kind of an ass. I don't feel the same kind of sympathy for him that I did for Tim.

― N.i.c.o.l.e (Ex Leon), Friday, 12 January 2007 21:04 (eighteen years ago)

He's too good looking and confident and doesn't live with his parents

― A B C (sparklecock), Friday, 12 January 2007 21:35 (eighteen years ago)

YEAH STRING HIM UP

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Friday, 12 January 2007 21:36 (eighteen years ago)

No I think his problem is he seriously needs to stop making that fucking face at the camera allllllll the the time.

― baron kickass von awesomehausen (nickalicious), Friday, 12 January 2007 21:36 (eighteen years ago)

Jim is awesome, haters. Tim made a similar face to the UK cameras all the time.

― fuck you slacks (Mr.Que), Friday, 12 January 2007 21:38 (eighteen years ago)

When he had a big grin on his face right after slapping Dwight it was 2 much

― A B C (sparklecock), Friday, 12 January 2007 21:39 (eighteen years ago)

dude who plays Jim makes that face for the camera in his one scene in Dreamgirls, too! it's all he can do.

― horseshoe (horseshoe), Friday, 12 January 2007 21:39 (eighteen years ago)

oh shit i forgot about the slap.

― fuck you slacks (Mr.Que), Friday, 12 January 2007 21:39 (eighteen years ago)

matt otm...the recent new yorker article about both series commented on that as well, and last night showed it beautifully. I just rewatchted the UK series, which I love, and even in the behind the scenes interview when asked HOW Brent got so far, Gervais says, we all know people like that, who've coasted into high places. But in the US version, I've only seen a few episodes so far, but stuff like taking Tim Meadows drinking or last night's bonding over fishing...and showing Dwight to be a good salesman as well. Brilliant. It also showed Andy's arrogance being his achilles heel...and seeing Dwight as a better salesman.

I went to college with Ed Helms by the way.

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Friday, 12 January 2007 21:44 (eighteen years ago)

yeah i thought last night with the sales call oddly humanized dwight in a way that the show hadn't really before

― cheesesteak and shake (dubplatestyle), Friday, 12 January 2007 21:45 (eighteen years ago)

What I liked about Michael and Andy's sales call is that, looking back on it, it seems that Andy screwed it up on purpose just so he could coin "schruted".

― aaron d.g. (aaron d.g.), Friday, 12 January 2007 21:53 (eighteen years ago)

I like the scenes where Dwight's shown going against his usual behaviour, e.g. the basketball episode as actually competent player, or him going coming out of the sales meeting with ryan, before chucking eggs and doing depth charges at a bar.

― kingfish prætor (kingfish 2.0), Friday, 12 January 2007 22:02 (eighteen years ago)

"I overslept. Stupid rooster didn't crow!"

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Friday, 12 January 2007 22:03 (eighteen years ago)

love this show
needs more creed, though.

― i've dreamt of rubies! (Mandee), Friday, 12 January 2007 22:15 (eighteen years ago)

"i hate those two people more than anything"

― A B C (sparklecock), Friday, 12 January 2007 22:16 (eighteen years ago)

dan,

is that new yorker article online?

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Friday, 12 January 2007 22:33 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.newyorker.com/critics/television/articles/061211crte_television

― acid waffle house (dubplatestyle), Friday, 12 January 2007 22:34 (eighteen years ago)

big spoiler in there if you haven't seen the entire british series

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Friday, 12 January 2007 22:44 (eighteen years ago)

I just hope they get another temp that Dwight can call "temp". got a guaranteed laugh from me every time.

― tremendoid (tremendoid), Saturday, 13 January 2007 02:03 (eighteen years ago)

Um...WTF. Dwight's not really gone, is he?

― baron kickass von awesomehausen (nickalicious), Saturday, 13 January 2007 02:38 (eighteen years ago)

I loved that little moment Phyllis had with the camera at the oh-sl-that's-why-we-got-the-makeovers reveal moment.

― baron kickass von awesomehausen (nickalicious), Saturday, 13 January 2007 02:39 (eighteen years ago)

I had no idea she was a salesperson until yesterday.

― tremendoid (tremendoid), Saturday, 13 January 2007 03:25 (eighteen years ago)

I hope Angela puts the smack down on Andy.

I like Jim. He can joke around and whatnot, but I really like how he has a genuine affection for Michael and even Dwight.

― The Ultimate Conclusion (lokar), Sunday, 14 January 2007 04:57 (eighteen years ago)

"Pam, you're trustworthy..."
"Thank you..."
"...and a woman."
"...oh no."

― The Ultimate Conclusion (lokar), Sunday, 14 January 2007 05:50 (eighteen years ago)

"thanks. i like attractive women who have the appearance of intelligence."

― m@p (plosive), Monday, 15 January 2007 00:13 (eighteen years ago)

Back on ITV2 britishes people.

― Edward Trifle (Ned Trifle IV), Monday, 15 January 2007 00:56 (eighteen years ago)

"I want you to think about your future here. I want you to think long and hard."

"That's what she said."

"Dont you dare!"

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Monday, 15 January 2007 02:16 (eighteen years ago)

The theme from "An Officer & A Gentlemen" in the background @ Staples when Dwight throws off his Staples shirt!!!!!!

― David R. (popshots75`), Friday, 19 January 2007 02:21 (eighteen years ago)

lolzzz i missed that

― A B C (sparklecock), Friday, 19 January 2007 02:24 (eighteen years ago)

angela is new favorite character

― A B C (sparklecock), Friday, 19 January 2007 02:25 (eighteen years ago)

I wonder what's going to happen with Jim and Pam. I mean, obviously a split with Karen was coming up, but what comes next is anyone's guess.

It was great to see Oscar back, too. The scenes with all three accountants are always funny.

― Nathan P1p (hoyanathan), Friday, 19 January 2007 05:55 (eighteen years ago)

where is creed?

― kyle (akmonday), Friday, 19 January 2007 06:31 (eighteen years ago)

The NBC website has a special "producer's cut" of the episode up, which includes some Creed scenes that didn't make it to broadcast. Also: closure!

I've been waiting for Andy to sing "Zombie" all season, he did not disappoint.

― reddening (reddening), Friday, 19 January 2007 11:13 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.style.com/style/view/96/27/100102796.jpg
NOOOOOOOOOO 1/18/07 NEVER FORGET

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Friday, 19 January 2007 12:37 (eighteen years ago)

"Not right now, but ask me again ten years ago."

Oh, the levels of ironing!

― Candy: tastes like chicken, if chicken was a candy. (Austin, Still), Friday, 19 January 2007 13:30 (eighteen years ago)

why the fuck do they keep fast-forwarding through storylines? i have enjoyed the past four episodes, but this season has been totally totally bizarre. wtf.

― Jams Murphy (ystrickler), Friday, 19 January 2007 16:00 (eighteen years ago)

huh?

― Mr. Que (Mr.Que), Friday, 19 January 2007 16:01 (eighteen years ago)

"i liked you better as the temp"
"me too"

― kyle (akmonday), Friday, 19 January 2007 16:01 (eighteen years ago)

instead of increasing roffles/drama with the office closing down/merging, they condense it all into one episode. they end jim/karen in one 10 second exchange. they lose dwight and get him back in basically an episode. make us wait for these things! the episodes with the office closing and the merger were two of the worst: why cram one of the biggest possible actions of the show into a paltry 40 minutes? i really don't get it.

― Jams Murphy (ystrickler), Friday, 19 January 2007 16:09 (eighteen years ago)

i don't think jim/karen are "done" yet tho they are on the way out. dwight being at staples was sort of one note (but a very funny note).

michael/steve carrel was awesome without dwight, seemed very hangdog and annoyed without dwight around and then his summing up at the end was perfect.

― Mr. Que (Mr.Que), Friday, 19 January 2007 16:11 (eighteen years ago)

Juxtaposed perfectly w/ Dwight going postal on the office pinatas.

I enjoyed the accent mark over the N in LEMONADE way too much, tho.

― David R. (popshots75`), Friday, 19 January 2007 16:12 (eighteen years ago)

Yancers OTM. I have been dreading Jim dumping Karen since she was introduced. I started yelling "jump the shark" last night at the television when he confessed to Karen. A lame shot on my part and yet if this show decided to turn into an abortion like Friends then I don't need it. I can't pine for all the great moments if I have to deal with a shit-written romance like what happened last night.

It all just happened way too fast. And while elements of Andy are funny, he can't carry an episode...he was a cartoon on this show and while the Office relies on caricatures, he went overboard last night. It worked in the sense that it humanized Michael to great effect, but it made Andy repellant and gave the producers a really good out for dumping him entirely. So now it's like we're set up to lose the dramatic tension he brought to the series this year because now, it's going to be hard to see him as anything less than completely annoying. I mean, what's he going to do, tone it DOWN to compete with Dwight now?

And it's the same thing with Karen. She had geniune chemistry with Jim, something that Pam never really had IMO. And now the stage is set for her to either run or fight for Jim; she doesn't seem like the desperate type (hello, she's 10X the catch that Pam is) so if they are to set up a competition for Jim's affection, I think it can be assumed that Karen will not win the battle. She's clearly headed towards the exit, be it in the next few weeks or at the "cliffhanger" in May.

I dunno, those two elements of the episode were very much a letdown. Maybe I'm just too damn cynical.

― don weiner (don weiner), Friday, 19 January 2007 16:49 (eighteen years ago)

maybe?

― Mr. Que (Mr.Que), Friday, 19 January 2007 16:50 (eighteen years ago)

don you said it all much better than i. part of the mentality, i think, is that there was apparently some clamoring during season two by "fans" to make something happen w/ jim + pam, cut the flirting, etc. and so maybe they are more action oriented now. i dunno. in season two what passed for a major romantic event was jim + pam getting on an elevator together. and i LIKED that! also they better fucking not dump rashida jones. she is fantastic.

― Jams Murphy (ystrickler), Friday, 19 January 2007 16:56 (eighteen years ago)

And it's the same thing with Karen. She had geniune chemistry with Jim, something that Pam never really had IMO.

Also: are you crazy? Pam and Jim have total chemistry! Karen and Jim sort of have it, but not really. Not like he has with Pam.

― Mr. Que (Mr.Que), Friday, 19 January 2007 16:57 (eighteen years ago)

also i don't like the show's insistence on humanizing michael. why must every character be redemptive?

― Jams Murphy (ystrickler), Friday, 19 January 2007 16:59 (eighteen years ago)

i don't think there was chemistry with either of them but that may be due to me being a cold, unfeeling automoton who has never felt the tender touch of true love and is therefore unable to recognize it in others.

― chicago kevin (chicago kevin), Friday, 19 January 2007 17:00 (eighteen years ago)

how was michael made redemptive? he explained it at the end: he'd rather have someone sucking up to him because of love, versus advancing a career.

― Mr. Que (Mr.Que), Friday, 19 January 2007 17:01 (eighteen years ago)

I think I'm not as much cynical as I have such high expectations. Especially in the area that the series does not become cloying in the standard sitcom way. I don't think it will, ultimately, because it does not have a widespread audience i.e. it's not making enough money to have to pander. I'm not worried that the show won't continue to be funny, I'm worried that the show will somehow go the route of the British show, which gradually put the romance between Tim and Whatshername as the primary set piece. That worked for me because the romance (and especially chemistry between the actors) was so much better done.

There will be no contesting the shark jumping if they dump Jones.

Also, "Gay-cation" and the rest of Kevin's sophomoric sniggling last night were very funny.

― don weiner (don weiner), Friday, 19 January 2007 17:03 (eighteen years ago)

Calm down gloom brothers. I assume they had to get all this stuff out of the way so they can get to more awesomeness later. It's a sitcom for chrissakes, not bloody "Days of Our Lives."

And if I never hear anyone trot out that old-man's-fart-in-a-jar "jumping the shark" thing again that will be fine by me. I remember when Fonzie jumped the actual shark and it was AWESOME.

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Friday, 19 January 2007 17:06 (eighteen years ago)

i want to clarify the redemption thing. last night's redemption for michael -- he is selfish and easily manipulated and last night he owned up to it -- i liked, because it was about him confronting his own limitations. what i'm talking more about is the pretzel day episode from a while back, when we have michael falling asleep, listening to "rock & roll #1" and generally being worthless. and yet at the end they tack on him signing some deal and pam saying, "wow michael, this is, like, a really big deal" and him just shrugging at it. i found that a really unnecessary save.

― Jams Murphy (ystrickler), Friday, 19 January 2007 17:09 (eighteen years ago)

basically season three has been a real disappointment for me, although the last four episodes or so have been good to great. the stretch from the basketball episode of season one to the season two finale was gold though, just as good as the british series.

― Jams Murphy (ystrickler), Friday, 19 January 2007 17:10 (eighteen years ago)

Well I do not choose to be stuck in the golden halcyon past, and I think season three is really great. So there you old poop.

My kids are counting "number of times we've seen Stanley smile." Pretzel Day was #1.

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Friday, 19 January 2007 17:11 (eighteen years ago)

There was total chemistry between Jim & Pam! When they were pranking! Teamwork, bitches!

& Michael being "redeemed" by showing a little frown & bringing back Dwight is no different than Dwight being "redeemed" by his trying to console Pam during the inventory party.

[poss. unncessary xpost, but whatever]
[also, I haven't seen much of S1 or S2]

― David R. (popshots75`), Friday, 19 January 2007 17:12 (eighteen years ago)

haha here's where i'm a grouch again because i thought stanley in pretzel day was so out of character!

phylis' "sometimes when two people have strong personalities they just explode" was beautiful last night.

also fuck pam. why should jim should her any loyalty. what a dullard she would be as a mate.

― Jams Murphy (ystrickler), Friday, 19 January 2007 17:13 (eighteen years ago)

i think all of those things are awesome because they show complexity in the character and make him real and non Characture

― Mr. Que (Mr.Que), Friday, 19 January 2007 17:15 (eighteen years ago)

I disagree with you Yancey, Pam's still hot. But I agree that Karen is being treated badly, and I'm as big a fan of Rashida Jones as you'll find. Jim is the problem! He's turning out to be kind of a loseresque jerk is awesome, because he was a little too noble-stumblebum-Hugh-Grant-indie-rock-dreamboat in the first two seasons. Now we see what happens when he gets the ball -- he fumbles!

xpost, but I see that mr. que agrees with me

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Friday, 19 January 2007 17:18 (eighteen years ago)

oh i agree on jim, matt. dude is a fucking dolt.

― Jams Murphy (ystrickler), Friday, 19 January 2007 17:19 (eighteen years ago)

i don't see any depth to Rashida/Karen but she is hot! But Pam is a sweetheart with a great sense of humor

― Mr. Que (Mr.Que), Friday, 19 January 2007 17:20 (eighteen years ago)

NO DEPTH??? what about the best moment of this season, where she was like 'i dont know if he's into me...but i'm into him. so, y'know..." man that was kickass.

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Friday, 19 January 2007 17:30 (eighteen years ago)

she's fairly one dimensional though! the only episode where she shined was the margarita party thing.

― Mr. Que (Mr.Que), Friday, 19 January 2007 17:35 (eighteen years ago)

that is just not true, she's been conflicted about jim and her role in the office and--

omg i am arguing about a television show on the internet, my younger self just appeared in a time machine and punched me in the nutsack

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Friday, 19 January 2007 17:44 (eighteen years ago)

I want a screengrab of Kevin in a sombrero.

― kingfish prætor (kingfish 2.0), Friday, 19 January 2007 17:45 (eighteen years ago)

that is just not true, she's been conflicted about jim and her role in the office and--
omg i am arguing about a television show on the internet, my younger self just appeared in a time machine and punched me in the nutsack

-- Haikunym (zinogu...), January 19th, 2007.

CAN WE ALL AGREE THAT THIS SHOW IS AWESOMES, NO MATTER HOW MANY (TINY) FLAWS WE CAN SPOT

― Mr. Que (Mr.Que), Friday, 19 January 2007 17:47 (eighteen years ago)

Who wants a burro?

― David R. (popshots75`), Friday, 19 January 2007 17:51 (eighteen years ago)

i didn't see yesterday's episode, so now i know what happens (arrr!), but i do not like so much redeeming of michael's character all the time lately either. i would prefer my chief emotion to be amusement rather than pity.

― Maria (Maria), Friday, 19 January 2007 18:58 (eighteen years ago)

it's not pity. i like that sometimes michael knows what is right and what is wrong.

― cutty (mcutt), Friday, 19 January 2007 19:20 (eighteen years ago)

TS: Karen vs Rachel (UK Office)...

my fave line last night...

"I won't be needing that" or whatever dwight said when handed the pinata blindfold.

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Friday, 19 January 2007 20:37 (eighteen years ago)

i liked when dwight was talking about copy paper in staples:

"it's your funeral..."

― cutty (mcutt), Friday, 19 January 2007 20:39 (eighteen years ago)

yeah, i think if he'd been working there for long he would have been fired as hell in a week so i'm actually glad they didn't pad that one out

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Friday, 19 January 2007 20:42 (eighteen years ago)

i liked how michael kept saying "a man owns up to his mistake". always singular like it was the first and only one he'd ever made.

― chicago kevin (chicago kevin), Friday, 19 January 2007 20:43 (eighteen years ago)

whenever andy said "freakin' phone" i burst out laughing

― cutty (mcutt), Friday, 19 January 2007 21:11 (eighteen years ago)

ITV are fucking around with this already. Last week it was on the wholly reasonable time of 2200 on sunday, this week it's half past midnight! Grrr. Luckily I have just purchased the 2nd series and can tell any brits who can be arsed to stay up / set the recorder that the episode in question (women in the workplace) is awesome.

― Edward Trifle (Ned Trifle IV), Friday, 19 January 2007 22:45 (eighteen years ago)

But not as awesome as the episode i jut watched when various folks bring their kids in. I wept, i laughed, i sang only to 'teach your children'...

― Edward Trifle (Ned Trifle IV), Friday, 19 January 2007 22:46 (eighteen years ago)

"it takes a BIG man to own up to his mistake, and I'm that BIG man".

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Friday, 19 January 2007 23:17 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oro8dHjNA80

HKAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!

― Joe (Joe), Saturday, 20 January 2007 00:57 (eighteen years ago)

Should've done that today before my year-end-review meeting. The Crue never lets me down.

― David R. (popshots75`), Saturday, 20 January 2007 01:14 (eighteen years ago)

I finally watched this! I found Andy's freakout kind of liberating, story-wise, as until now Michael has been at the center of every single one of those great awkward David Brent moments. And I don't see Andy OR Karen being written off the show; I think this episode has redefined their relationships with the entire office, which can only be a good thing as far as their prolonged presence (which I hope is the case).

Also, the woman that plays Angela is an incredible, terrific actress.

― blotter Budweiser Hackeysadk (nickalicious), Tuesday, 23 January 2007 22:11 (eighteen years ago)

And I hope (and kind of expect) that the hole in the wall will be there for the rest of the season.

― blotter Budweiser Hackeysadk (nickalicious), Tuesday, 23 January 2007 22:12 (eighteen years ago)

I have watched every episode of the american version in the last month. I have been so stupid. Its great! Now I like that the american version is a bit nicer. The original was so harsh, im glad theyre not trying to top it in that aspect, but instead gives more depth to the characters and let them develop in other directions than the english. The american office is more commercial but I like that also.

― jon person (jon person), Wednesday, 24 January 2007 02:15 (eighteen years ago)

ed helms was great in this episode. but i think it's time for him to go.

― s1ocki (slutsky), Wednesday, 24 January 2007 02:18 (eighteen years ago)

New Episode 2-nite!

"Shut up Angela!"

― The Homeliness of The Long Distance Punner (Charles McCain), Thursday, 1 February 2007 17:03 (eighteen years ago)

ok the utterly bleeped out adult store was roffles.

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Friday, 2 February 2007 03:02 (eighteen years ago)

The Pam/Jim thing is officially no longer nuanced in any way. BOO!

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Friday, 2 February 2007 03:06 (eighteen years ago)

that was kinda lame!!! 30 rock was GREAT

― and what (ooo), Friday, 2 February 2007 03:08 (eighteen years ago)

where was Andy?

can the Jim/Pam romance be any worse?

― don weiner (don weiner), Friday, 2 February 2007 03:10 (eighteen years ago)

Andy is at anger management camp.

I don't know if the Jim/Pam thing was poorly done on the show tonight. It was definitely awkward, but given recent events that makes perfect sense.

Michael addressing Elizabeth as, "Hey, stripper!" was priceless.

― Nathan P1p (hoyanathan), Friday, 2 February 2007 03:16 (eighteen years ago)

ethan and don, sittin' in a tree

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Friday, 2 February 2007 03:53 (eighteen years ago)

i love this show but the season is just moving too fast and it feels so strange.

― cousin larry bundgee (bundgee), Friday, 2 February 2007 04:13 (eighteen years ago)

yeah i would say dud episode. but the last few have been amazing

― A B C (sparklecock), Friday, 2 February 2007 04:18 (eighteen years ago)

amazing i say

― A B C (sparklecock), Friday, 2 February 2007 04:18 (eighteen years ago)

The Ben Franklin character was mega roffles (the bifocals bit in the end credits was uproarious!). Otherwise, not up to their usual standard. Why do the episodes have to be so damn short?

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Friday, 2 February 2007 04:26 (eighteen years ago)

um, I thought it was hilarious. Especially when Pam asked Ben Franklin if he wears PANTALOONS.

― gunther heartymeal (keckles), Friday, 2 February 2007 04:45 (eighteen years ago)

i thought everything was poor except the jim/pam deal, I think the writers are feeling their way through that bit ok. Dwight pulled a Homer Simpson and they tried to reestablish Michael being Michael in a way that didn't make sense, not even for Michael. Here's hoping it was a blip.

― tremendoid (tremendoid), Friday, 2 February 2007 05:12 (eighteen years ago)

things haven't been that squirmy/awkward in a long time, too, which is good. Karen's flashed some of the aggression that marked her when she was introduced = juicy stuff coming up, hopefully nuanced.

― tremendoid (tremendoid), Friday, 2 February 2007 05:17 (eighteen years ago)

jesus h. christ, TV threads are worse than movie threads around here I swear to god. i like a lot of you but the whole comic book guy vibe that jumps out (especially on the veronica mars thread but rearing its ugly head here too) can eat seventeen closely-packed bags of dicks.

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Friday, 2 February 2007 05:20 (eighteen years ago)

this is the only show I watch, if you can't indulge me eat the dicks yourself

― tremendoid (tremendoid), Friday, 2 February 2007 05:23 (eighteen years ago)

no thanks, I'm already full. and I said it's the vibe that needs to eat dicks, not you. unless you want to, whatever, I don't legislate that.

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Friday, 2 February 2007 05:29 (eighteen years ago)

ps. worst. episode. ever. (no really)

― tremendoid (tremendoid), Friday, 2 February 2007 05:43 (eighteen years ago)

Any episode that has Ben Franklin in it can't be worst episode ever.

"Didn't Ben Franklin have syphillis?"

― Mr. Que (Mr.Que), Friday, 2 February 2007 14:51 (eighteen years ago)

Ben Franklin reminded me of Ned.

― N.i.c.o.l.e (Ex Leon), Friday, 2 February 2007 14:52 (eighteen years ago)

"It's a Guys' Night Out! It's a G-NO! Well really it's a Guys' Afternoon in, so it's a GAI! Um."

― The Android Cat (Dan Perry), Friday, 2 February 2007 14:54 (eighteen years ago)

I liked it.

"He hasn't said a word since we got here. Just giggling."

― Candy: tastes like chicken, if chicken was a candy. (Austin, Still), Friday, 2 February 2007 14:56 (eighteen years ago)

yeah haters can blow me. first two sections of the episode seemed like a set up for the last third but whatever. ben franklin. jim's quip about wikipedia. roy's deadpan to the camera that pam's art was sexier than a stripper.

― Mr. Que (Mr.Que), Friday, 2 February 2007 14:58 (eighteen years ago)

Also, great stuff from the warehouse guy (I forget his name)

"I'm not into strippers. You know what I think is really sexy? Pam's art."

arg xpost

― Candy: tastes like chicken, if chicken was a candy. (Austin, Still), Friday, 2 February 2007 14:58 (eighteen years ago)

HIS NAME IS ROY

― cutty (mcutt), Friday, 2 February 2007 14:59 (eighteen years ago)

And come on - Michael's whole videotape to his son. Non-stop!

― Candy: tastes like chicken, if chicken was a candy. (Austin, Still), Friday, 2 February 2007 15:01 (eighteen years ago)

I liked Michael's card shuffling. And teaching his "son" how to jump a car.

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Friday, 2 February 2007 15:10 (eighteen years ago)

I love how this old thread I started stays active and I myself never read it.

― Ms Misery (MissMiseryTX), Friday, 2 February 2007 15:11 (eighteen years ago)

haha my old high school history teacher is now an education lobbyist and a Ben Franklin impersonator who goes on school visits, they should have used him

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Friday, 2 February 2007 15:31 (eighteen years ago)

"What if he's a murderer? Maybe that's how you died."

― lindseykai (lindseykai), Friday, 2 February 2007 15:33 (eighteen years ago)

^^^^^^^^^^^that was my favorite line.

― horseshoe (horseshoe), Friday, 2 February 2007 15:35 (eighteen years ago)

is that the same grill you burnt your foot on?

― cutty (mcutt), Friday, 2 February 2007 15:39 (eighteen years ago)

"WHO WANTS SOME MAN-MEAT???"

― The Android Cat (Dan Perry), Friday, 2 February 2007 15:45 (eighteen years ago)

"It's an hour-long shower with some guys."

― Candy: tastes like chicken, if chicken was a candy. (Austin, Still), Friday, 2 February 2007 15:45 (eighteen years ago)

dwight's excitement about man-meat

― cutty (mcutt), Friday, 2 February 2007 15:49 (eighteen years ago)

"I don't care what Jim says, I'm 99.999999% sure that's not the real Ben Franklin."

― The Homeliness of The Long Distance Punner (Charles McCain), Friday, 2 February 2007 15:58 (eighteen years ago)

oh man i really liked last night's episode. one of my favorites of the season. some was out of character (the dwight/franklin line quoted right above), but i loved the return of genuine awkwardness and discomfort between everyone. and it was also michael being very much michael -- susceptible to dares, "masculinity" and todd fucking packer. now i was drunk when i watched it, but i'm shocked that people weren't in love with that episode.

― Jams Murphy (ystrickler), Friday, 2 February 2007 16:43 (eighteen years ago)

i hate the actor who plays todd packer, i hate his ads for his new comedy central show, i hate him in anchorman, he is the most unfunny person on the planet

― cutty (mcutt), Friday, 2 February 2007 16:46 (eighteen years ago)

who in the comedy world thinks that douchebag is funny and gives him all thbese parts

― cutty (mcutt), Friday, 2 February 2007 16:47 (eighteen years ago)

yeah that part sucked. the guy is too much like Finchy for his own good

― Mr. Que (Mr.Que), Friday, 2 February 2007 16:51 (eighteen years ago)

I am reminded via this thread of the many good lines last night.

Packman is a great idea (well, ripped off completely from the BBC version) but one of the few characters that is not executed very well.

I really don't get Jim's attraction to Pam. Never will, probably.

― don weiner (don weiner), Friday, 2 February 2007 16:55 (eighteen years ago)

pam is a foxx

― Mr. Que (Mr.Que), Friday, 2 February 2007 16:55 (eighteen years ago)

i still prefer rashida, but pam was so CUET when she was telling jim he needed more sleep to go through all the proper cycles

― cutty (mcutt), Friday, 2 February 2007 16:56 (eighteen years ago)

jim, what color hair would you prefer on the stripper? red or brunette?

blond

― cutty (mcutt), Friday, 2 February 2007 16:56 (eighteen years ago)

I think Packer's role on the show is just to show how sad Michael is, i.e. how he looks up to him, and wants to be more like him.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Friday, 2 February 2007 16:57 (eighteen years ago)

xpost yes ^^^^ that scene in the break room is the exact scene last night where i thought: "she is so awesome, he should dump the other one."

― Mr. Que (Mr.Que), Friday, 2 February 2007 16:57 (eighteen years ago)

yeah that was amazing
xpost

― and what (ooo), Friday, 2 February 2007 17:01 (eighteen years ago)

that naked trucker show looks sooooo terrible.

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Friday, 2 February 2007 17:15 (eighteen years ago)

I saw about 10 minutes of the Naked Trucker show. It was so unbelievably terrible. The Naked Trucker couldn't act, and I was forced to change the channel.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Friday, 2 February 2007 17:17 (eighteen years ago)

This ep (written my Mindy Kaling!) was totally foine. Was especially fond of the stripper rhyme (TRUTH) leading to the "Are you going to break up with me? / I'm closer to firing you" exchange. Also: I like seeing Mad TV alum (BEN FRANKLIN) somewhere besides Mad TV.

― David R. (popshots75`), Saturday, 3 February 2007 04:33 (eighteen years ago)

my = BY (not trying to claim ownership)

― David R. (popshots75`), Saturday, 3 February 2007 04:36 (eighteen years ago)

Quebec has an Office now! It's called "Le Job" and it's, like, NOTE FOR NOTE and AMAzING. The Quebec Ricky G. is awesome. He out-Gervaisez Gervais.

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Saturday, 3 February 2007 04:49 (eighteen years ago)

I saw about 10 minutes of the Naked Trucker show. It was so unbelievably terrible. The Naked Trucker couldn't act, and I was forced to change the channel.

Don't say such awful things about Mr. Rosso!

― lemin (lemin), Saturday, 3 February 2007 17:57 (eighteen years ago)

Who is this person? I don't even know what was going on! It was a bad experience.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Saturday, 3 February 2007 22:37 (eighteen years ago)

It's called "Le Job"

i need to figure out a way to bittorrent an episode of that. Could be funnier than Le Car.

― the kwisatz bacharach (sanskrit), Saturday, 3 February 2007 23:48 (eighteen years ago)

andy daily as ben franklin was so perfect

― chaki (chaki), Saturday, 3 February 2007 23:50 (eighteen years ago)

So I just put the series 1 DVD of the UK version of the Office at the top of my Netflix queue.

If it's not as good as the US version, I will be VERY VERY upset with you people.

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Sunday, 4 February 2007 16:41 (eighteen years ago)

It's better than the first series of the US version when they were just copying the UK version but just different to the later seasons.

― theantmustdance (theantmustdance), Sunday, 4 February 2007 16:55 (eighteen years ago)

it's as good but different. you'll either think it's funnier or not as funny; opinions are mixed. I know mental people (such as adam) who don't think the US one is funny at all.

anyway this episode was great. 30 rock was great also. I can't believe thursday night shows on NBC are actually funny

― kyle (akmonday), Sunday, 4 February 2007 16:56 (eighteen years ago)

I would say Office UK is definitely better. More focussed, for sure, which is nearly always a plus. The Dwightesque character is not so much of a cartoon.

― Candy: tastes like chicken, if chicken was a candy. (Austin, Still), Sunday, 4 February 2007 16:58 (eighteen years ago)

It's very different, the pacing is totally different. It's all about the boredom and awkwardness, the former of which the American version can't touch or it'd lose viewers, the latter of which the american version uses in a more humorous way, where the british one was much more biting and brutal.

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Sunday, 4 February 2007 18:04 (eighteen years ago)

That guy that plays Packer on this show is such a let-down, he was incredibly funny in Run Ronnie Run, but has sucked ever since.

― blotter Budweiser Hackeysadk (nickalicious), Monday, 5 February 2007 14:56 (eighteen years ago)

If it's not as good as the US version, I will be VERY VERY upset with you people.

It's really different. There's no reason not to love them both.

― So weit wie knock-kneed (kenan), Monday, 5 February 2007 15:06 (eighteen years ago)

That guy that plays Packer on this show is such a let-down, he was incredibly funny in Run Ronnie Run, but has sucked ever since.

"that guy" has never been funny. ever.

― cutty (mcutt), Monday, 5 February 2007 15:22 (eighteen years ago)

Agreed. He is Horation Sanz-level unfunny.

― N.i.c.o.l.e (Ex Leon), Monday, 5 February 2007 15:30 (eighteen years ago)

I refuse to unlaugh at "some kind of einstein genius from hell meets the wolfman on steroids".

― blotter Budweiser Hackeysadk (nickalicious), Monday, 5 February 2007 15:53 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.thenakedtruckerandt-bones.com/

This guy?

OMG kill him and when you're done doing that kill him again. Horrible. Horrible.

― So weit wie knock-kneed (kenan), Monday, 5 February 2007 16:09 (eighteen years ago)

Although they haven't really fleshed her character out, I kinda prefer Karen to Pam. Pam is nice and all, but that's it - she's just nice.

― J-rock (Julien Sandiford), Monday, 5 February 2007 16:51 (eighteen years ago)

No, she's much more important than that. She's a foil.

― So weit wie knock-kneed (kenan), Monday, 5 February 2007 17:51 (eighteen years ago)

That's what all female characters should be.

― N.i.c.o.l.e (Ex Leon), Monday, 5 February 2007 17:53 (eighteen years ago)

guy who plays jim character, louis, on la job is le cute
http://www.radio-canada.ca/television/la_job/images/maj/personnages/ph_tremblay.jpg

it's a pretty funny version too - looks/feels more like the uk office - though i've only seen a few minutes and though my french is not so great - the humour comes across well

― rrrobyn, breeze blown meadow of cheeriness (rrrobyn), Monday, 5 February 2007 18:09 (eighteen years ago)

I want Karen and Pam to be friends and neither to be with Jim.

― blotter Budweiser Hackeysadk (nickalicious), Monday, 5 February 2007 18:11 (eighteen years ago)

Me too.

― N.i.c.o.l.e (Ex Leon), Monday, 5 February 2007 18:12 (eighteen years ago)

Oh I just remembered one of my favorite parts! Alcoholic woman's first line in months "SHUT UP ANGELA!!!!".

― blotter Budweiser Hackeysadk (nickalicious), Monday, 5 February 2007 18:12 (eighteen years ago)

lmao @ michael pushing down on dude in wheelchair

― and what (ooo), Friday, 9 February 2007 01:40 (eighteen years ago)

"The funerals are very romantic, but the weddings are bleak affairs."

― Candy: tastes like chicken, if chicken was a candy. (Austin, Still), Friday, 9 February 2007 01:49 (eighteen years ago)

'thanks. that sounds like a lot of good ideas.'

― and what (ooo), Friday, 9 February 2007 02:02 (eighteen years ago)

Quebec Jim is almost TOO good looking. Brit Jim (was it Tim?) was sorta lumpy and much more sympathetic than some hunkoid.

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Friday, 9 February 2007 02:02 (eighteen years ago)

Ryan swatting the bouquet away from Kelly!

― Candy: tastes like chicken, if chicken was a candy. (Austin, Still), Friday, 9 February 2007 02:04 (eighteen years ago)

I thought this episode was kind of painful! The way they strung Michael's character out there didn't amuse me. It just made me really sad.

― molly mummenschanz (mollyd), Friday, 9 February 2007 02:10 (eighteen years ago)

That's the way they wrote Michael from the very beginning, though. I was glad to see a return to that. He'd gotten too soft and sympathetic.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Friday, 9 February 2007 02:18 (eighteen years ago)

Michael was way too over-the-top in this one. I hate it when he's like that.

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Friday, 9 February 2007 03:09 (eighteen years ago)

I don't hate it when Michael's as over-the-top as he was in this episode, but it can be pretty grating. I think that they should have left him out of the cake scene. His antics were justified up to the scene where Phyllis kissed him; after that, it just became cartoonish.

― Nathan P1p (hoyanathan), Friday, 9 February 2007 03:24 (eighteen years ago)

what Candy said.

overall, it was a mediocre episode.

― don weiner (don weiner), Friday, 9 February 2007 03:42 (eighteen years ago)

this episode was as uncomfortable and cringe-inducing as the british series was on a regular basis.

― La Monte (La Monte), Friday, 9 February 2007 04:14 (eighteen years ago)

Oh god yes it was AMAZINGLY cringeworthy - every time Michael opened his mouth, I covered my eyes. (I can only hope I'm that memorable when I'm in a wedding party.)

Also, the best scene - Crazy Uncle @ the crosswalk, getting the walk sign, and then going the other way.

― David R. (popshots75`), Friday, 9 February 2007 04:37 (eighteen years ago)

La Monte's right. Carell was hitting all the Gervais marks as far as well-intentioned obnoxious behavior goes, but also perfected the spoiled brat aspect of his character as he dragged the wheelchair down the aisle behind him, and butted his way into the groomsmen line.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Friday, 9 February 2007 04:47 (eighteen years ago)

butting into groomsmen line - my favorite part. michael should still have a bit (just a bit) more control than he's showed in the last couple episodes, but it was still funny. I think my whole problem is I caught all the way up to this season via dvd; waiting a week to see it makes it seem short and fleeting and the anticipation sets me up for disappointment somehow. i don't watch enough tv to make tivo worthwhile. appointment tv blows.

― tremendoid (tremendoid), Friday, 9 February 2007 10:34 (eighteen years ago)

I wonder how Michael's shenanigans would've worked had we not seen the flashback to his mother's wedding. That little experience almost gave him an excuse to act that way, or at least gather an ounce of sympathy.

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Friday, 9 February 2007 17:04 (eighteen years ago)

Yeah, he even repeated his "I hate you" line when Bob threw him out.

OMG Creed hijacking the biggest gift!

― The Homeliness of The Long Distance Punner (Charles McCain), Friday, 9 February 2007 17:14 (eighteen years ago)

I also loved the bit about Dwight, Grizzly Man, and Wedding Crashers.

― The Homeliness of The Long Distance Punner (Charles McCain), Friday, 9 February 2007 17:28 (eighteen years ago)

that's the thing with grizzly bears...you never know when they're going to attack.

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Friday, 9 February 2007 17:30 (eighteen years ago)

Who else kinda likes Roy now and hopes he and Pam get back together? I mean, Jim really only liked her because he couldn't be with her. It's an office crush,not l-u-v.

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Friday, 9 February 2007 17:56 (eighteen years ago)

i thought this was one of the funniest episodes ever

― and what (ooo), Friday, 9 February 2007 17:59 (eighteen years ago)

'you look as beautiful as the queen of england'

― and what (ooo), Friday, 9 February 2007 18:00 (eighteen years ago)

Who else kinda likes Roy now and hopes he and Pam get back together? I mean, Jim really only liked her because he couldn't be with her. It's an office crush,not l-u-v.
-- Huk-L (handsomishbo...), February 9th, 2007 5:56 PM. (Huk-L)

No no no no no no.

― Mr. Que (Mr.Que), Friday, 9 February 2007 18:01 (eighteen years ago)

Sunny mentioned that last night that Roy is nowhere near as mean as Lee seemed to be from the original. You can't imagine Roy making a comment about Pam's tits like Lee did.

I probably would even be rooting for Roy if he threw a punch at Jim.

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Friday, 9 February 2007 18:04 (eighteen years ago)

The smirk on Dwight's face after he bounced Michael from the reception might've been my favorite moment of the whole episode.

And yeah, I'm kind of oddly pulling for Roy right now.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Friday, 9 February 2007 18:31 (eighteen years ago)

Pam's tits are nice, too. Maybe they'll let Creed or Kevin say that.

― don weiner (don weiner), Friday, 9 February 2007 18:31 (eighteen years ago)

I'm sure Kevin already says it everyday off-camera.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Friday, 9 February 2007 18:49 (eighteen years ago)

Also, it's weird seeing Dawn on Studio 60 now.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Friday, 9 February 2007 18:49 (eighteen years ago)

I don't think Roy is going to change. Someone mentioned that Jim only wanted Pam because he couldn't have her, but I think Roy is that way. For the nine years that he was with Pam, he didn't pay any attention to her.

― Nathan P1p (hoyanathan), Friday, 9 February 2007 19:40 (eighteen years ago)

I hope Jim has to eat the spicy dessert of U R A DICKHOLE 4EVA during sweeps month.

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Friday, 9 February 2007 19:44 (eighteen years ago)

karen singing w/Scrantonicity was awesome!

― Mr. Que (Mr.Que), Friday, 9 February 2007 19:45 (eighteen years ago)

I didn't get Scrantoncity/Synchronicity till just now.

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Friday, 9 February 2007 19:52 (eighteen years ago)

yeah KAREN I LUV U DUMP JIM

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Friday, 9 February 2007 19:55 (eighteen years ago)

I probably would even be rooting for Roy if he threw a punch at Jim.

I would love that. Team Roy!

― N.i.c.o.l.e (Ex Leon), Friday, 9 February 2007 20:04 (eighteen years ago)

TEAM STANLEY

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Friday, 9 February 2007 20:04 (eighteen years ago)

Roy's a fuzzy dick. Pam & Karen shd go Thelma & Louise on everyone.

― David R. (popshots75`), Friday, 9 February 2007 20:05 (eighteen years ago)

I think Roy is lovable in a lunkheaded way, but then again it has been proven by science that I have worse taste in men than Liz Lemon.

― N.i.c.o.l.e (Ex Leon), Friday, 9 February 2007 20:06 (eighteen years ago)

I'm sure your husband's very appreciative of your shitty taste in men!

― David R. (popshots75`), Friday, 9 February 2007 20:10 (eighteen years ago)

He is the one exception!

― N.i.c.o.l.e (Ex Leon), Friday, 9 February 2007 20:12 (eighteen years ago)

THEN SAY THAT GIRL

― David R. (popshots75`), Friday, 9 February 2007 20:13 (eighteen years ago)

I know! But it's more dramatic to make a sweeping statement than to add a caveat or asterisk to my terrible record.

― N.i.c.o.l.e (Ex Leon), Friday, 9 February 2007 20:16 (eighteen years ago)

"And do you, Phyllis, take Bob Vance, Vance Refigeration, to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

Stanley re-gifting the toaster he originally bought for Roy and Pam.

I liked the way Ryan on defense ended up being a score for Toby, with his date picking up the bouquet and going right over to him to give him a smooch. That was a great day for Toby. He doesn't get too many.

"Toby...yeah!"

― slugbuggy (slugbuggy), Saturday, 10 February 2007 00:24 (eighteen years ago)

that line was so great

― tremendoid (tremendoid), Saturday, 10 February 2007 00:28 (eighteen years ago)

Haha, good ol' Bob Vance, Vance Refrigeration

― kingfishy (kingfish 2.0), Saturday, 10 February 2007 00:29 (eighteen years ago)

Why does everyone here think Packer isn't funny? I don't know anything about the actor outside of The Office, but he's great and underused on the show.

Is "You look as beautiful as the Queen of England" a reference to how I think Angela looks a lot like Helen Mirren?

― aaron d.g. (aaron d.g.), Saturday, 10 February 2007 02:53 (eighteen years ago)

I like most of his movie stuff and he's ok on the Office (he's no Finchy) but that t-bone trucker thing really is shit, couldn't watch more than 5 minutes the other day.

― tremendoid (tremendoid), Saturday, 10 February 2007 04:32 (eighteen years ago)

The Naked Trucker & T-Bones have been an act for at least ten years... I remember seeing them on Conan way back when. No funnier then than it is now. But yeah, I like David Koechner in just about everything else (including The Office) that I've seen him in.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Saturday, 10 February 2007 07:55 (eighteen years ago)

Jan is obviously every bit as crazy as Michael is, 'cept she keeps those shits under wraps about 99% of the time.

― Johnny Fever, Friday, 23 February 2007 01:49 (eighteen years ago)

What the fuck was that shit???

Worst episode ever.

― Mr. Snrub, Friday, 23 February 2007 02:02 (eighteen years ago)

god poor Jan.

― horseshoe, Friday, 23 February 2007 02:03 (eighteen years ago)

I don't want Jim to die. Don't kill him, Roy.

― Johnny Fever, Friday, 23 February 2007 02:18 (eighteen years ago)

I want the ketchup fights.

― Oilyrags, Friday, 23 February 2007 03:20 (eighteen years ago)

I want Dwight Schrute, House Inspector!

― David R., Friday, 23 February 2007 03:33 (eighteen years ago)

Random thoughts:

I guess "Team Roy" is kaput. (Altough in a way you can see where he's coming from, since his life went into a serious nosedive after Pam left him the first time and now he has someone to blame for it other than her or his own damn self.)

I liked how Dwight kept popping into the scenes while doing his inspections and then at the end in the car.

Creed:"I sell fake IDs out of my car."

Andy is indeed in Anger Management. I hope he comes back though.

― C. Grisso/McCain, Friday, 23 February 2007 17:47 (eighteen years ago)

The relationship between Jan and Michael isn't even plausible anymore. Just not that funny. Made me uncomfortable. Once again, well done, writers of this show! You have succeeded!

― molly mummenschanz, Friday, 23 February 2007 18:06 (eighteen years ago)

I think it's kinda funny and perverse that Dwight & Angela have the most stable relationship on the show.

― C. Grisso/McCain, Friday, 23 February 2007 18:37 (eighteen years ago)

We want more Creed! We want more Creed! We want more Creed! We want more Creed! We want more Creed! We want more Creed! We want more Creed! We want more Creed!

OK, i know i do anyways.
Karen having fun at the expense of Jim was quite good too.

― Jibe, Friday, 23 February 2007 18:41 (eighteen years ago)

lately it seems like this show is veering between some of the most subtly realized moments i've ever seen on american tv and just outright awfulness, often one scene after the next. on the other hand, it still makes me cringe (in the "good" way) at least four times per episode, so i guess it's still got it.

i do find it vaguely sad that i am more excited for ear now.

― strongohulkington, Friday, 23 February 2007 19:12 (eighteen years ago)

ear = earl

but i am also excited by ears

― strongohulkington, Friday, 23 February 2007 19:14 (eighteen years ago)

I always expect some chick to barf up cheese fries on Earl, so I can see the appeal.

― Nicole, Friday, 23 February 2007 19:15 (eighteen years ago)

The last few Earls have been really good. I have no position on ears though.

― C. Grisso/McCain, Friday, 23 February 2007 19:16 (eighteen years ago)

i too have a list of wrongs to be righted whenever i finally hit bottom

― strongohulkington, Friday, 23 February 2007 19:18 (eighteen years ago)

i'm as surprised as you all are that i haven't yet

― strongohulkington, Friday, 23 February 2007 19:18 (eighteen years ago)

earl is soooo bad. the few scenes i saw last night were cringe inducing. every fucking punchline is based on the fat brother's stupidity.

― chaki, Friday, 23 February 2007 20:00 (eighteen years ago)

that is so wrong as to not even be a lie

― strongohulkington, Friday, 23 February 2007 20:04 (eighteen years ago)

the two jokes i saw last night:
earl: "did you do that thing with the toothbrush we talked about"
fat brother: "yah but its really uncomfortable"
earl: "you're supposed to PUT IT BACK!"
fat brother: "ohhhh"

fro dude: "blah blah blah blah some long sentence"
fat brother: "was that real words or did you make dem up? cuz i made my own word up last week"

ugghghh...

― chaki, Friday, 23 February 2007 22:06 (eighteen years ago)

Chaki's kind of right, but the "Reno 911" Earl of a few weeks ago was great.

― nickn, Friday, 23 February 2007 23:11 (eighteen years ago)

Earl seems to have become a locked ensemble show this year, whereas the first year every episode was full of new bizarre characters. And the tone of the humor has become completely stale. Naturally, it's the most popular of the Thursday night NBC comedy shows because people feel better when they're spoonfed laughs.

― Johnny Fever, Saturday, 24 February 2007 04:33 (eighteen years ago)

30 rock > the office > earl

― ^@^, Saturday, 24 February 2007 10:10 (eighteen years ago)

30 rock > the office >>> scrubs >>>>>>>>>>> earl

― Johnny Fever, Saturday, 24 February 2007 18:57 (eighteen years ago)

30 rock > the office >> something about raymond reruns >>> andy rooney on 60 minutes >> red wine stain surgery films >>>>>> p.e.w's blog >>>>>>> analingus instruction videos >>>>>>>>> scrubs

― sanskrit, Sunday, 25 February 2007 00:30 (eighteen years ago)

lol 'something about raymond'

― chaki, Sunday, 25 February 2007 00:33 (eighteen years ago)

scrubs >>> banananutrament.blogspot.com/

― dan selzer, Sunday, 25 February 2007 01:04 (eighteen years ago)

analingus instruction wuz robbed

― tremendoid, Sunday, 25 February 2007 01:55 (eighteen years ago)

Rainn Wilson on SNL tonight.

― slugbuggy, Sunday, 25 February 2007 03:10 (eighteen years ago)

The funniest thing about the opening "Office" sketch on SNL was how perfectly Jason Sudekis nailed the "JIMFACE."

― Johnny Fever, Sunday, 25 February 2007 07:32 (eighteen years ago)

three weeks pass...

So Wired Magazine is going to have Jenna Fischer starkers on the cover of the april issue, cuz the ish is about "business going transparent" or somesuch.

― kingfish, Saturday, 24 March 2007 00:15 (eighteen years ago)

And here you go: http://community.livejournal.com/theoffice_us/963894.html

― kingfish, Saturday, 24 March 2007 01:45 (eighteen years ago)

http://holdencaulfield.wordpress.com/files/2006/08/jenna-fischer-ass-jane-01.jpg

― Pleasant Plains, Saturday, 24 March 2007 02:38 (eighteen years ago)

such lewdity.

― Gukbe, Saturday, 24 March 2007 03:10 (eighteen years ago)

weird arc for US Office, bad to real good to totally meh in 2 years. The boss is a douche, see!!!?

― wanko ergo sum, Tuesday, 27 March 2007 23:35 (eighteen years ago)

oh man i only think it started to get good this season, as irritating/boring jim+pam take a back seat to the fucking classic characters that make up the rest of the office (most of whom are improv/comic vets as i recall). creed & toby are hilarious; mindy kaling (as we've discussed) is great; rashida jones is hot.

― max, Tuesday, 27 March 2007 23:39 (eighteen years ago)

god and i think ryan is the best character on the show! you spend the whole time getting suckered into indentifying with jim and pam, but they secretly love/care about the office and their coworkers.

ryan's the one who i most closely sympathize with: he hates this job so much he doesn't even want to play lame pranks on dwight; if the office burned down he wouldnt waste a day being sad. i love the bit where jim asks him to play a prank on dwight and ryan just gives him this stare thats all at once mournfully sad and hateful and condescending and says something like "i'm not 5"

― max, Tuesday, 27 March 2007 23:41 (eighteen years ago)

this guy seems the most level headed:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4b/PaulLieberstein.PNG

― chaki, Wednesday, 28 March 2007 00:35 (eighteen years ago)

Too bad his crush on Pam is even more unrealistic than Jim's.

― Pleasant Plains, Wednesday, 28 March 2007 01:52 (eighteen years ago)

I don't get why he still has one (assuming he does, based on the whole claw machine stuffed animal business), since he seemed to have a date he was really into at phyllis' wedding.

― Gukbe, Wednesday, 28 March 2007 02:06 (eighteen years ago)

how could he possibly be attracted to more than one person!

― s1ocki, Wednesday, 28 March 2007 02:30 (eighteen years ago)

so much for level-headed.

― Gukbe, Wednesday, 28 March 2007 03:15 (eighteen years ago)

The deleted scenes on the season two DVD are SO FUCKING FUNNY!!! My God, how could they possibly cut the scene where they get to the last page of Michael's Threat Level: Midnight movie script? ("Is that it?" "Yyyyyyyyyep...") Or the one from the Halloween episode where Michael tries to fire Toby? Or the one from Performance Review where Dwight and Jim are comparing their posters? ("Jim. Is Jim. My name is Jim.")

I was in absolute tears. This show is amazing. Like Simpsons 4th season-esque amazing.

― Mr. Snrub, Wednesday, 28 March 2007 03:22 (eighteen years ago)

if the office burned down he wouldnt waste a day being sad.

But he already tried to do that!

― C. Grisso/McCain, Wednesday, 28 March 2007 16:10 (eighteen years ago)

Ryan seems to be one of those who hates where he is, but secretly doesn't want to do anything about (his relationship with kelly, for instance).

Still, he had one of the (if not the) best moments of the season when Phyllis threw the bouquet at her wedding and lept out and smacked it down. That was quality.

― Gukbe, Wednesday, 28 March 2007 16:17 (eighteen years ago)

I thought it was weird when Ryan had Michael speak at the business school. How could he not of seen how his set-up (let's face it--that's what it was) would backfire like it did. A heavy payment for extra credit.

― C. Grisso/McCain, Wednesday, 28 March 2007 16:20 (eighteen years ago)

weird arc for US Office, bad to real good to totally meh in 2 years. The boss is a douche, see!!!?

wanko ergo sum on Tuesday, March 27, 2007 6:35 PM (Yesterday)

have you even been watching?

― M@tt He1ges0n, Wednesday, 28 March 2007 16:23 (eighteen years ago)

I think he knew it would be embarassing for michael, but I don't think he expected him to take the dunder-mifflin-unsustainable stuff so personally.

― Gukbe, Wednesday, 28 March 2007 16:24 (eighteen years ago)

he had a line abt "i get an automatic A, so i have to... right?"

― max, Wednesday, 28 March 2007 16:57 (eighteen years ago)

Office marathon tonight on nbc, my question is are any of these new, are they all this season, are they chronological or what?? (listings in Central time) (and matt, it occurred to me that i've seen fewer than hlaf the eps this season so my comment is probably invalid)

7:00 PM The Office DIVERSITY DAY

7:30 PM The Office HEALTH CARE

8:00 PM The Office SEXUAL HARASSMENT "THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM CONTAINS ADULT LANGUAGE AND SUBJECT MATT

8:31 PM Andy Barker, P.I. THREE DAYS OF THE CHICKEN All New

9:01 PM The Office THE INJURY

9:30 PM The Office GAY WITCH HUNT

― wanko ergo sum, Thursday, 29 March 2007 22:16 (eighteen years ago)

i mean that's a big part of the show, but one thing that distinguishes the US version for me from the British one is that it's actually much LESS centered around the boss character...the other office characters are much more fleshed out and often get fairly large parts of the show....

― M@tt He1ges0n, Thursday, 29 March 2007 22:27 (eighteen years ago)

That marathon looks like it must be a "greatest hits" thing because the first two are from Season 1, the second two are from Seaason 2, and only "Gay Witch Hunt" is from this season.

(x-post to wanko)

― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Thursday, 29 March 2007 22:34 (eighteen years ago)

And lookee who gets interviewed in this week's Onion.

― kingfish, Wednesday, 4 April 2007 15:35 (eighteen years ago)

"I think Halpert, like, stole his car or something."

― Mr. Snrub, Friday, 6 April 2007 02:30 (eighteen years ago)

Creed rules.

― Johnny Fever, Friday, 6 April 2007 02:32 (eighteen years ago)

[UK version] Jennifer, David's boss, is maybe the hottest woman I've seen on tv, like, ever

― Dominique, Friday, 6 April 2007 02:40 (eighteen years ago)

all episodes with Toby = better episodes

― kingfish, Friday, 6 April 2007 06:25 (eighteen years ago)

Darryl was great

― Dandy Don Weiner, Friday, 6 April 2007 10:49 (eighteen years ago)

haha bippity boppity

― nickalicious, Friday, 6 April 2007 13:16 (eighteen years ago)

Toby's line about a male subordinate attempting to withhold sex from a female superior in salary negotiations was great..."when it inevitably goes to trial".

― nickalicious, Friday, 6 April 2007 13:33 (eighteen years ago)

that was the best episode of the season, by far.

― YGS, Friday, 6 April 2007 13:47 (eighteen years ago)

"What's so stupid about wanting to name my baby Usher?"

― Nicole, Friday, 6 April 2007 13:47 (eighteen years ago)

Weirdly Jim & Pam stuff, though entirely central to much of the plot, wasn't as overbearing as it has been in recent episodes.

― nickalicious, Friday, 6 April 2007 13:50 (eighteen years ago)

The action shots of Dwight's office paraphenalia = sweeeet!

― David R., Friday, 6 April 2007 14:00 (eighteen years ago)

I'm going to hate it when Jim & Pam "reunite" in the season-ending non-cliffhanger.

― Dandy Don Weiner, Friday, 6 April 2007 14:15 (eighteen years ago)

Guys did you see Andy's return at the end?

― nickalicious, Friday, 6 April 2007 14:17 (eighteen years ago)

NO I DID NOT DAMN YOU RECORDING DEVICE

― David R., Friday, 6 April 2007 14:21 (eighteen years ago)

"What are you writing, you perv?"

"Just preparing for the deposition."

― nickalicious, Friday, 6 April 2007 14:25 (eighteen years ago)

Oh that was from earlier though, not Andy-return related.

― nickalicious, Friday, 6 April 2007 14:25 (eighteen years ago)

Yeah, my DVR cut off before the Andy return too. Dammit.

― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Friday, 6 April 2007 14:27 (eighteen years ago)

i don't want to see michael break up with jan :/

― cutty, Friday, 6 April 2007 15:40 (eighteen years ago)

"you know who's a real hero? hiro from heroes. also bono."

― cutty, Friday, 6 April 2007 15:42 (eighteen years ago)

Mindy Kaling has a serious chip on her shoulder about not being "artsy."

"'I love Arcade Fire and fucking Silver Jews,' or whatever"

― Chris H., Friday, 6 April 2007 15:48 (eighteen years ago)

i didn't read it that way at all, she just thought it was cool that ben affleck was happy with being lame

― akm, Friday, 6 April 2007 15:51 (eighteen years ago)

Yeah, it's kind of charming.

― Chris H., Friday, 6 April 2007 16:06 (eighteen years ago)

plus Arcade Fire and Silver Jews suck

― Dimension 5ive, Friday, 6 April 2007 16:13 (eighteen years ago)

*awaiting firestorm*

― Dimension 5ive, Friday, 6 April 2007 16:13 (eighteen years ago)

I think you are allowed to have that opinion!

(Though you're obviously wrong on the Silver Jews front)

― theantmustdance, Friday, 6 April 2007 16:17 (eighteen years ago)

no he's right Arcade Fire suck

― Mr. Que, Friday, 6 April 2007 16:18 (eighteen years ago)

oh guys

― rrrobyn, Friday, 6 April 2007 16:24 (eighteen years ago)

sock full of nickels

― rrrobyn, Friday, 6 April 2007 16:25 (eighteen years ago)

not to mention c'mon guys ryan and what's her bucket arguing in their cubicle? that was some funny shit? "you call me at midnight when you think there's a murderer in your house."

― Mr. Que, Friday, 6 April 2007 16:26 (eighteen years ago)

"It says here you ordered 12,000 (boxes / reams / whatever). Oh, you wanted TWELVE."

― David R., Friday, 6 April 2007 16:27 (eighteen years ago)

Usher Jennifer Hudson Kapoor

― A B C, Friday, 6 April 2007 16:50 (eighteen years ago)

I wish I could remember Creed's version of the story. Tears.

― nickalicious, Friday, 6 April 2007 17:29 (eighteen years ago)

can of hairspray & a lighter

― David R., Friday, 6 April 2007 17:31 (eighteen years ago)

aw man we were talking over kelly kapoor what did she say

― and what, Friday, 6 April 2007 17:32 (eighteen years ago)

Make it happen, cap'n.

Make it happen....sergent.

― nickalicious, Friday, 6 April 2007 17:36 (eighteen years ago)

That's not what she said, sorry.

― nickalicious, Friday, 6 April 2007 17:36 (eighteen years ago)

Umm, hmm:

According to IMDB.com, John Krasinski, (of NBC's The Office) is shooting a film adaptation of David Foster Wallace’s “Brief Interviews with Hideous Men” from his own adapted screenplay.

― nabisco, Friday, 6 April 2007 18:03 (eighteen years ago)

yeah nabisco i think it's post production now. we'll see how it turns out. i have high hopes but they could be dashed to bits.

― Mr. Que, Friday, 6 April 2007 18:05 (eighteen years ago)

you know Jim actually had a good non-Jim-face face moment=his reaction shot to Dwight and Angela

― horseshoe, Friday, 6 April 2007 18:07 (eighteen years ago)

ha that was a great face

― cutty, Friday, 6 April 2007 18:08 (eighteen years ago)

The Krasinski film could be good. Julianne Nicholson is in it, and I've really enjoyed everything I've seen her in.

― Michael F Gill, Friday, 6 April 2007 19:24 (eighteen years ago)

P.S., back upthread, the Kelly conversation followed the standard couple-argument progression, roughly --

- you called me stupid
- no, I said the idea was stupid
- why's so stupid about it?
- it's just crazy
- oh so now I'm INSANE, too?

-- except the topic in this case is "naming my baby Usher."

― nabisco, Friday, 6 April 2007 19:35 (eighteen years ago)

"what's wrong with Usher Jennifer Hudson Kapoor?"

sometimes Kelly is a little too much like me. it's worrisome.

― horseshoe, Friday, 6 April 2007 19:37 (eighteen years ago)

seriously, the episode could have been twenty minutes of Toby's reaction to those two arguing/making out and i would have been happy.

― Mr. Que, Friday, 6 April 2007 19:38 (eighteen years ago)

Top 3 characters on The Office I would like to buy a beer in descending order:

1. Toby
2. Creed
3. Dwight

Toby because he deserves it more than Creed/Dwight, who I just think would be the awesomest times ever.

― nickalicious, Friday, 6 April 2007 19:43 (eighteen years ago)

yeah seriously, you'd get the best stories from Creed and if you gave Dwight a bunch of beers you could get him to do some crazy shit.

― Mr. Que, Friday, 6 April 2007 19:47 (eighteen years ago)

i cant really get into this show anymore

― and what, Friday, 6 April 2007 19:49 (eighteen years ago)

i will say that i am enjoying 30 Rock more than this show these days.

― Mr. Que, Friday, 6 April 2007 19:50 (eighteen years ago)

I still like it, but 30 Rock has been making it look weak in comparison.

― Nicole, Friday, 6 April 2007 19:53 (eighteen years ago)

"you give me a good raise or no more sex...what are you writing, pervball?"

― Gukbe, Friday, 6 April 2007 19:59 (eighteen years ago)

Michael re: "perks"...

Every year, I get a $100 gas card. You can't put a price tag on that.

― nickalicious, Friday, 6 April 2007 22:56 (eighteen years ago)

Probably old news by now, but Ed Helms has been promoted to an official cast member.

― C. Grisso/McCain, Monday, 9 April 2007 17:08 (eighteen years ago)

Jello molds for everyone!

― David R., Monday, 9 April 2007 17:21 (eighteen years ago)

After his tiny appearance I think a kinder, gentler Ed Helms is going to be really, really awesome.

― nickalicious, Monday, 9 April 2007 21:18 (eighteen years ago)

As long as he still calls Jim "[big or synonym] tuna".

― nickalicious, Monday, 9 April 2007 21:19 (eighteen years ago)

i thought this last one was ok. i'm not really looking forward to more ed helms unless they do something interesting with him., maybe they will.

― s1ocki, Monday, 9 April 2007 21:22 (eighteen years ago)

most recent 30 rock was pretty lame too tho. worse than this.

― s1ocki, Monday, 9 April 2007 21:24 (eighteen years ago)

negative nancy

― max, Monday, 9 April 2007 21:25 (eighteen years ago)

You didn't like Thomas Jefferson?!?!?

― Nicole, Monday, 9 April 2007 21:28 (eighteen years ago)

that was totally funny!

― s1ocki, Monday, 9 April 2007 21:33 (eighteen years ago)

most recent 30 rock was pretty lame too tho. worse than this.

CRAZY PILLS

― ^@^, Monday, 9 April 2007 21:34 (eighteen years ago)

Has anyone seen Ricky Gervais do stand-up? And, it is fun?

― Virginia Plain, Monday, 9 April 2007 23:55 (eighteen years ago)

you gotta admit that wasn't the best 30 rock.

― s1ocki, Tuesday, 10 April 2007 01:55 (eighteen years ago)

I was also pretty underwhelmed by the last 30 Rock. It felt rather forced.

― Super Cub, Tuesday, 10 April 2007 02:00 (eighteen years ago)

it sucked. alot of the jokes were super obvious and im getting pretty sick of tina feys im so cute and vulnerable schtick.

― chaki, Tuesday, 10 April 2007 02:01 (eighteen years ago)

oh i'm still into that.

― s1ocki, Tuesday, 10 April 2007 02:10 (eighteen years ago)

Waaaay into it.

― Sparkle Motion, Tuesday, 10 April 2007 05:04 (eighteen years ago)

pshh... white people. ::rolls eyes::

― chaki, Tuesday, 10 April 2007 06:46 (eighteen years ago)

i saw ricky gervais do standup a couple of months ago. he was really funny. he had a nice aloofness about him -- i kept waiting for the show to start properly and then it was 90 minutes later.

― ^@^, Tuesday, 10 April 2007 07:52 (eighteen years ago)

How about a drawbridge?

― Oilyrags, Friday, 13 April 2007 02:25 (eighteen years ago)

*unshunned*

Yes.

*reshunned*

― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Friday, 13 April 2007 03:20 (eighteen years ago)

Creed potato scene.

― nickalicious, Friday, 13 April 2007 13:12 (eighteen years ago)

I hope everyone stuck around for the tiny 5 second joke after the last commercial break.

― nickalicious, Friday, 13 April 2007 13:12 (eighteen years ago)

Ryan seems to be in a better mood now - "will I be too hot in a long-sleeve T?".

― nickalicious, Friday, 13 April 2007 13:12 (eighteen years ago)

RIP A HOLE IN THE SUN!!!!

― nickalicious, Friday, 13 April 2007 13:14 (eighteen years ago)

I hope everyone stuck around for the tiny 5 second joke after the last commercial break.

-- nickalicious, Friday, April 13, 2007 9:12 AM (49 minutes ago
)
remind me what it was?

― Mr. Que, Friday, 13 April 2007 14:02 (eighteen years ago)

Stanley staring speechless at his car covered with smashed watermelon

― Oilyrags, Friday, 13 April 2007 14:09 (eighteen years ago)

oh yeah jesus!

― Mr. Que, Friday, 13 April 2007 14:10 (eighteen years ago)

Call [some attorney] and see if he handles hate crimes.

― nickalicious, Friday, 13 April 2007 14:26 (eighteen years ago)

kelly's netflix explanation

― Mr. Que, Friday, 13 April 2007 14:28 (eighteen years ago)

I think Jim should've gotten a double-bonus because she mentioned Love, Actually twice.

― nickalicious, Friday, 13 April 2007 15:01 (eighteen years ago)

the final shot at the end, right before the credits, might have been the thing i laughed hardest at

― strongohulkington, Friday, 13 April 2007 15:22 (eighteen years ago)

Creed potato scene.

And then later, Creed discovering Michael's Castle when nature called.

― C. Grisso/McCain, Friday, 13 April 2007 16:17 (eighteen years ago)

yeah seriously i guess larger doses of creed could potentially water him down but jesus christ every episode there's no one who makes me laugh harder.

is strongo talking about final final shot or the one just previous, i cant remember when they roll credits. anyway if its the latter what was it?

― deeznuts, Friday, 13 April 2007 16:37 (eighteen years ago)

i thought the argument with daryl, michael, and the seamonster was so great--all the screaming over each other

― cutty, Friday, 13 April 2007 16:39 (eighteen years ago)

daryl was great at the end too--YOU'RE BRAVEHEART

― cutty, Friday, 13 April 2007 16:39 (eighteen years ago)

Another great Darryl bit:His plea for Michael not jumping being one seriously backhanded compliment

― C. Grisso/McCain, Friday, 13 April 2007 16:41 (eighteen years ago)

haha I forgot "seamonster".

― nickalicious, Friday, 13 April 2007 17:05 (eighteen years ago)

"You wanna ride the seamonster."

― nickalicious, Friday, 13 April 2007 17:05 (eighteen years ago)

I also liked Ryan not even bothering to conceal that he was looking at his watch while Kelly explained netflix to him.

― Oilyrags, Friday, 13 April 2007 17:09 (eighteen years ago)

Extra bonus acting points for the whole cast watching the Ryan-Kelly interaction and their grudging admiration for Ryan's stamina. Also: Karen's "I'm gettin' cleaned out here!"

― Dimension 5ive, Friday, 13 April 2007 17:21 (eighteen years ago)

"IT WOULD BE THE WORST THING IN THE WORLD"

Darryl has gotten some of the best bits on the show two episodes running.

― Sparkle Motion, Saturday, 14 April 2007 16:18 (eighteen years ago)

Am I crazy, or did Creed not really pay on that Kelly bet, but just mime paying and palm the money? That idea was cracking me up the whole episode.

― The Yellow Kid, Sunday, 15 April 2007 04:31 (eighteen years ago)

"When someone offers you 10,000-to-one odds on something, you take it. If John Mellencamp ever wins an Oscar..."

― Pleasant Plains, Sunday, 15 April 2007 16:42 (eighteen years ago)

I was feeling the same way about 30 Rock being more enjoyable overall than The Office this season, but I have to say the episode where Roy gets fired may be my most favourite episode ever. That entire introductory scene was so good and shocking and funny but awful that it reminded me of everything I fucking LOVE about this show. Where you get that feeling where you need to pause the TiVo because it's the funniest thing EVER and you'll miss jokes becuase you're laughing so hard and yet at the same time feel like you're going to burst into tears.

― Will M., Sunday, 15 April 2007 19:10 (eighteen years ago)

Also more Daryl = more fun.

― Will M., Sunday, 15 April 2007 19:11 (eighteen years ago)

More Daryl=more "black man phrases" which are always gold.

― Sparkle Motion, Sunday, 15 April 2007 19:25 (eighteen years ago)

Jim: Hey Andy.
Andy: You can call me Drew.
Jim: I'm not gonna call you that.

― craven, Monday, 16 April 2007 09:58 (eighteen years ago)

Those are the money beets.

― Oilyrags, Friday, 27 April 2007 00:40 (eighteen years ago)

I *heart* Angela (this week).

― Johnny Fever, Friday, 27 April 2007 00:43 (eighteen years ago)

we're calling the ungrateful beeyotch hotline!

― tehresa, Friday, 27 April 2007 00:48 (eighteen years ago)

the cold opens and tags have been so good this year

― Michael F Gill, Friday, 27 April 2007 01:00 (eighteen years ago)

Lord, beer me strength.

― nickalicious, Friday, 27 April 2007 01:07 (eighteen years ago)

Dwight doing Jim >>>>>>>>> Jim doing Dwight (& Jim doing Dwight was swell)

― David R., Friday, 27 April 2007 01:45 (eighteen years ago)

ilx was never wronger than in its first couple dozen posts on this thread

― félix pié, Friday, 27 April 2007 01:48 (eighteen years ago)

In all fairness to us, NBC had previously steered us waaaay wrong with Coupling.

― Johnny Fever, Friday, 27 April 2007 01:59 (eighteen years ago)

"I didn't anything illegal. We just knocked over some mailboxes with her friends."

― C. Grisso/McCain, Friday, 27 April 2007 02:16 (eighteen years ago)

best show on television by several billion light years

― Mr. Snrub, Friday, 27 April 2007 02:17 (eighteen years ago)

ilx was never wronger than in its first couple dozen posts on this thread

Well, the first season was pretty crap. The "Hot Girl" episode, anyone?

― Mr. Snrub, Friday, 27 April 2007 02:23 (eighteen years ago)

I liked that one! Amy Adams!

― C. Grisso/McCain, Friday, 27 April 2007 02:23 (eighteen years ago)

"I'm supposed to take four hours every week and go to the paper mill and do a quality inspection, and the one year I decide to blow it off, this happens!"

― Mr. Snrub, Friday, 27 April 2007 02:50 (eighteen years ago)

"It gets a laugh like a quarter of the time."

― n/a, Friday, 27 April 2007 16:54 (eighteen years ago)

Hay guise I just remembereded!

THIS DAY IS BANANAS B A N A N A S.

― nickalicious, Friday, 27 April 2007 20:22 (eighteen years ago)

Kevin's Aussie ("crocodiles, dingos") and Kelly's Bridget Jones; close-up on Angela's reaction

― Joe, Friday, 27 April 2007 20:26 (eighteen years ago)

But minimal Tobyage. :(

― Joe, Friday, 27 April 2007 20:27 (eighteen years ago)

"And the company's stance is apologetic!"

― Joe, Friday, 27 April 2007 20:28 (eighteen years ago)

Creed is my role model.

― Nicole, Friday, 27 April 2007 20:40 (eighteen years ago)

Yeah, where was Toby?

― musically, Friday, 27 April 2007 22:08 (eighteen years ago)

What kind of bear is best?

― akm, Saturday, 28 April 2007 13:42 (eighteen years ago)

Black bears. Fact.

That's highly debatable...

― Oilyrags, Saturday, 28 April 2007 14:11 (eighteen years ago)

bears. beets. battlestar galactica.

― akm, Saturday, 28 April 2007 16:16 (eighteen years ago)

Dwight: It's going to be ok.
Angela: How is going to be ok, Dwight? Everyone will know our business.
Dwight: That's not the worst thing in the world. I'll just stand up in front of the office and reveal our true love. It won't be that bad. Look at Kelly and Ryan.
Angela: I hate those two people more than anything in the entire world.

― Joe, Sunday, 29 April 2007 00:23 (eighteen years ago)

Angela is totes the best character

― A B C, Sunday, 29 April 2007 00:33 (eighteen years ago)

the funniest part about that is it doesn't seem like she has ever had a run in with ryan

― cutty, Sunday, 29 April 2007 00:44 (eighteen years ago)

hahaha dwight's impression of jim was the greatest "huhuhuh little comment nuh" head wiggle

― rrrobyn, Sunday, 29 April 2007 01:39 (eighteen years ago)

i liked how kevin said "baby dingoes."

― s1ocki, Sunday, 29 April 2007 06:19 (eighteen years ago)

"I know the crap out of women."

― Johnny Fever, Friday, 4 May 2007 00:50 (eighteen years ago)

damn, beat me to it!

"Frankly it's kind of insulting, but I have a lot of stuff to return in my car, so I can take care of that."

― Oilyrags, Friday, 4 May 2007 00:52 (eighteen years ago)

Pam's sketch is awesome.

― Johnny Fever, Friday, 4 May 2007 00:53 (eighteen years ago)

"a penis, when seen in the proper context, is the most beautiful sight a woman can ever hope to see. but, in the wrong context... it is like a monster movie."

holy shit this is a good episode. WHY DID I JUST START WATCHING THIS SHOW LAST MONTH?!

― bernard snowy, Friday, 4 May 2007 00:54 (eighteen years ago)

This episode is actually a little more broad and obvious than usual. Not my fave. Still funny, but I like it better when it's a little more low-key.

― Oilyrags, Friday, 4 May 2007 00:56 (eighteen years ago)

That turn in the conversation while Michael's at the food court in the mall resonates with me in a way I won't go into here, but I feel his pain.

― Johnny Fever, Friday, 4 May 2007 01:02 (eighteen years ago)

"Sometimes the clothes at Gap Kids are too flashy, so I go to the American Girls store and order clothes for large colonial dolls."

― horseshoe, Friday, 4 May 2007 01:03 (eighteen years ago)

"a penis, when seen in the proper context, is the most beautiful sight a woman can ever hope to see. but, in the wrong context... it is like a monster movie."

was that quote in the most recent episode? the one with the lewd watermark? if so, is the canadian version shorter than the US version or something?

xpost - I'm beginning to think that we in Canada are a week behind. Because I don't remember the mall stuff either.

― jackl, Friday, 4 May 2007 01:11 (eighteen years ago)

oh jesus this episode so painful.

― horseshoe, Friday, 4 May 2007 01:14 (eighteen years ago)

You might be a week behind. We're dropping lines from the ep that's on US tv right this moment.

― Johnny Fever, Friday, 4 May 2007 01:15 (eighteen years ago)

jackl we are talking about the episode that is currently showing (well actually just ended as I'm typing this, but, y'know)

xpost yeah what he said

― bernard snowy, Friday, 4 May 2007 01:16 (eighteen years ago)

is this on tv right now? man, my stations here are SHITTY

― river wolf, Friday, 4 May 2007 01:17 (eighteen years ago)

Poor Jan.

― Mr. Snrub, Friday, 4 May 2007 02:00 (eighteen years ago)

I bet Jan's gonna fire Michael in the third season cliffhanger.

― Mr. Snrub, Friday, 4 May 2007 02:08 (eighteen years ago)

jan sucks.

― Mr. Que, Friday, 4 May 2007 02:10 (eighteen years ago)

i'm going to fire you, snrub.

― Mr. Que, Friday, 4 May 2007 02:10 (eighteen years ago)

i liked the last segment a lot, from when they were in the mall to the end, but the show relies on the whole "let's have a funny meeting with Michael" premise too much.

― Mr. Que, Friday, 4 May 2007 02:11 (eighteen years ago)

Maybe, but the meetings are always funny. Until they aren't, it's a useful device.

― Johnny Fever, Friday, 4 May 2007 02:20 (eighteen years ago)

it's PLAYED OUT

― Mr. Que, Friday, 4 May 2007 02:22 (eighteen years ago)

But it's real. I once worked in a place where we had stupid meetings like that 4 out of every 5 workdays. At least these are funny to watch.

― Johnny Fever, Friday, 4 May 2007 02:23 (eighteen years ago)

this episode was way cringey British Office-style. Michael's finger-through-the-fly routine? I kept gasping with discomfort.

― horseshoe, Friday, 4 May 2007 02:24 (eighteen years ago)

CREED

― David R., Friday, 4 May 2007 03:15 (eighteen years ago)

I LOVE Angela's sweater.

― Jenny, Friday, 4 May 2007 03:15 (eighteen years ago)

Also: is it common knowledge that the certificate on Michael's office wall (seen in the NW corner when he's being interviewed) is for a Seiko watch?

― David R., Friday, 4 May 2007 03:16 (eighteen years ago)

But it's real. I once worked in a place where we had stupid meetings like that 4 out of every 5 workdays. At least these are funny to watch.

-- Johnny Fever, Thursday, May 3, 2007 9:23 PM (52 minutes ago)

yeah, I mean... of course there's a lot of meetings, it's an office! and it's not like this is some Dilbert-style "haha look there are DONUTS at this meeting ooh and it's really BORING!" cornball dead-horse-beating fiesta; they just use the meeting as a convenient delivery mechanism for hilarity.

― bernard snowy, Friday, 4 May 2007 03:20 (eighteen years ago)

creed

― deeznuts, Friday, 4 May 2007 04:47 (eighteen years ago)

not one of the better meetings (i agree the delivery was kind of broad all-around in the first half for some reason) but I'm ok with the device.

― tremendoid, Friday, 4 May 2007 04:57 (eighteen years ago)

guys "hanging brain"

'if thats a crime - lock me up'

― deeznuts, Friday, 4 May 2007 05:04 (eighteen years ago)

i think Jan will quit and there will be some sort of office struggle to fill her job.

― Gukbe, Friday, 4 May 2007 11:26 (eighteen years ago)

this was one of the funniest ever

― and what, Friday, 4 May 2007 13:22 (eighteen years ago)

From E! Online (the Karen-hate is inexcusable!!!)

Exclusive: Office Shooting Two Endings and May Expand Next Season

Wanna know exactly what's going to happen on the finale of The Office?

Well, apparently, so do the producers.

Sources tell me exclusively that The Office is shooting two endings to the current season—one in which Rashida Jones (Karen) leaves the show, and one in which she stays—because it is not yet known whether Rashida will be back next season.

As you may have heard, R.J. shot a comedy pilot for Fox called The Rules for Starting Over, and she won't know until late next week whether it has been picked up. If it is, Rashida will leave The Office to fulfill her Rules contract. If it isn't, she will stick around for another season to make us Jim and Pam fans miserable.

The good news? I am told by Fox insiders that her pilot looks "very likely" for pickup, so this could mean we finally get the Jam yumminess we've been craving! Hurrah!

Meanwhile, how's this for news of the maximum awesome variety? Sources tell me the rumors are true that The Office may be expanding to a full hour next season. Word is, NBC execs are seriously considering a lengthier Office on Thursday nights (perhaps signaling a move of Scrubs to ABC).

All will be revealed when the networks present their new fall schedules to advertisers the week of May 14 in NYC. Can. Not. Wait! (And yes, I'll be there to bring you all the scoop.)

― Johnny Fever, Saturday, 5 May 2007 23:36 (eighteen years ago)

what is a pap smear anyway? or is it schmear? like the cream cheese?

― cutty, Saturday, 5 May 2007 23:40 (eighteen years ago)

I was hoping that full hour Office rumour was a lie, or that they wouldn't go ahead with it.

― Gukbe, Saturday, 5 May 2007 23:40 (eighteen years ago)

I'm hoping it's a lie/rumour too. As much as I love it, even the 38-minute "Super Size" episodes seem too long.

― Johnny Fever, Saturday, 5 May 2007 23:47 (eighteen years ago)

Huh. I think they could pull off an hour a week. I mean, they're almost there already, what with all the deleted scenes.

Have there been any good hour-long sitcoms? Or any at all? I can't think of any off the top of my head.

Please don't say Ally McBeal.

― Deric W. Haircare, Saturday, 5 May 2007 23:49 (eighteen years ago)

Leave it at 22. Don't fuck with a good thing.

― Oilyrags, Sunday, 6 May 2007 00:19 (eighteen years ago)

Yeah. I'm happy with a bunch of gags with some bits of character/emotion sprinkled in. I think it would get far too...dareisay...soapy.

― Gukbe, Sunday, 6 May 2007 00:21 (eighteen years ago)

Jam yumminess

― A B C, Sunday, 6 May 2007 00:38 (eighteen years ago)

Jamminess.

― Pleasant Plains, Sunday, 6 May 2007 14:14 (eighteen years ago)

Get jummy

― forksclovetofu, Sunday, 6 May 2007 14:46 (eighteen years ago)

Creed is this show's secret weapon.

― j-rock, Monday, 7 May 2007 11:16 (eighteen years ago)

hour-long would be lame.

― s1ocki, Monday, 7 May 2007 12:55 (eighteen years ago)

The good news? I am told by Fox insiders that her pilot looks "very likely" for pickup, so this could mean we finally get the Jam yumminess we've been craving! Hurrah!

People like this are the reason I hate most of the fans of this show.

― Nicole, Monday, 7 May 2007 15:59 (eighteen years ago)

Come on now, it's a live action sitcom on Fox. If it's any good it'll get cancelled after two or three episodes.

― C. Grisso/McCain, Monday, 7 May 2007 16:09 (eighteen years ago)

HANGING BRAIN

― nickalicious, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 16:10 (eighteen years ago)

I only just watched this last night.

― nickalicious, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 16:10 (eighteen years ago)

Michael (looking at Dwight's collection of penis pictures): "Are those your pants?"

Dwight: "Uh, give me that one."

Michael: "It's a Polaroid."

― C. Grisso/McCain, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 16:45 (eighteen years ago)

People like this are the reason I hate most of the fans of this show.

-- Nicole, Monday, May 7, 2007 11:59 AM (Yesterday)

srsly... "jam yumminess" ew

― s1ocki, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 16:46 (eighteen years ago)

E! Entertainment Television in having shitty nauseating reportage shocker

― David R., Tuesday, 8 May 2007 17:25 (eighteen years ago)

you take that back

― sunny successor, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 18:14 (eighteen years ago)

― David R., Tuesday, 8 May 2007 18:19 (eighteen years ago)

why did you do that

― deeznuts, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 18:34 (eighteen years ago)

drugs

― David R., Tuesday, 8 May 2007 19:17 (eighteen years ago)

Karen was so hot at the start of the season. Why does she look so different now?

― Mr. Snrub, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 19:53 (eighteen years ago)

living in scranton has made her haggard, as it would anyone

― strongohulkington, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 19:57 (eighteen years ago)

haha what was Kevin's line about seeing Karen from behind? I love Kevin.

― nickalicious, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 19:58 (eighteen years ago)

I can't open this thread anymore without thinking about how it contains "Jam yumminess."

― Clay, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 20:24 (eighteen years ago)

that's an old maid phrasing if i've ever heard one.

― s1ocki, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 20:29 (eighteen years ago)

Jan yumminess

― C. Grisso/McCain, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 20:30 (eighteen years ago)

Better still, Pam yumminess

― C. Grisso/McCain, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 20:30 (eighteen years ago)

Anyone call 1-800-984-3672 yet?

― Pleasant Plains, Tuesday, 8 May 2007 22:49 (eighteen years ago)

Funtivities, everybody!

― Johnny Fever, Friday, 11 May 2007 00:49 (eighteen years ago)

LOL at Creed catching a fish with his bare hands and then later seeing the same fish eaten down to the bones.

― Johnny Fever, Friday, 11 May 2007 01:00 (eighteen years ago)

Stanley's sudden transformation into hypercompetitive brownnoser and equally sudden reversion to form is my favorite thing so far.

― Oilyrags, Friday, 11 May 2007 01:10 (eighteen years ago)

"Pam, that was AMAZING! But I'm still looking or someone with a sales background."

― Oilyrags, Friday, 11 May 2007 01:20 (eighteen years ago)

Good episode. First time I actually thought Karen/Jim seemed good together, even if they call it off next week.

― Michael F Gill, Friday, 11 May 2007 01:29 (eighteen years ago)

Amanda Bynes.

― Gukbe, Friday, 11 May 2007 04:30 (eighteen years ago)

the "sales background" line made me laugh out loud, as did andy bernard floating in the sumo outfit--not much else though

i feel bad for jim, because women are crazay

― cutty, Friday, 11 May 2007 04:31 (eighteen years ago)

That was a pretty good episode, but obviously setting up the drama of the finale. But even Pam's little freak out seemed not so out place.

― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Friday, 11 May 2007 04:33 (eighteen years ago)

I thought Pam's catharsis was weird and not really as impacting as it could've/should've been, but then I realized that's exactly how Pam does everything else in life and it made perfect sense. It's either a happy mistake or brilliant writing.

― Johnny Fever, Friday, 11 May 2007 04:47 (eighteen years ago)

or bad writing

― s1ocki, Friday, 11 May 2007 05:13 (eighteen years ago)

I loved the Pam scene, and I love Pam. Seeing Andy floating in the bg while Michael was talking to the camera was hilarious!

btw, apparently there will be 4 hour-long episodes next season, but the rest will be the regular length.

― musically, Friday, 11 May 2007 06:06 (eighteen years ago)

Still kinda crazy that they were able to show on network television Dwight's feet bubbling up in the coals .

― Pleasant Plains, Friday, 11 May 2007 21:48 (eighteen years ago)

Starts early at 8:00 tonight! Don't forget!

― slugbuggy, Thursday, 17 May 2007 18:08 (eighteen years ago)

Apparently, Fox pixed up Rashida Jones' pilot, though it won't air until spring. I guess she's gone, then.

― Gukbe, Thursday, 17 May 2007 18:24 (eighteen years ago)

NOOO! That sucks. I love teh Karen.

― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 17 May 2007 18:26 (eighteen years ago)

RASHIDA JONES YOUTUBE IN MEMORIAM MONTAGE (to the tune of 3EB's "Jumper") RIGHT NOW

― David R., Thursday, 17 May 2007 19:20 (eighteen years ago)

Pam fell down.

― Jeff, Thursday, 17 May 2007 19:22 (eighteen years ago)

There is going to be a shit ton of the office next year - 30 episodes, 5 of them 1-hr long!?!?! That is insane. More good tv shows need to follow this model.

― nickalicious, Thursday, 17 May 2007 19:25 (eighteen years ago)

All memoriams need to be scored by Green Day's "Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)" duh.

― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 17 May 2007 19:32 (eighteen years ago)

OUTside the box. OUTside.

― David R., Thursday, 17 May 2007 19:35 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.eonline.com/gossip/kristin/detail/index.jsp?uuid=970b9b1b-601d-45cd-94b3-6e6686d90d9a

Pam has broken her back.

Sucks, dude.

― Oilyrags, Thursday, 17 May 2007 19:44 (eighteen years ago)

O NOES!

― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 17 May 2007 20:02 (eighteen years ago)

Poor Jenna.

I'm going to guess Rashida will be back for at least a couple episodes next season.

― Michael F Gill, Thursday, 17 May 2007 20:05 (eighteen years ago)

Angela: "Goodbye, Kelly Kapoor."

― Johnny Fever, Friday, 18 May 2007 00:09 (eighteen years ago)

Wait, did Jan get a boob job? Was that one of her "changes?"

― Johnny Fever, Friday, 18 May 2007 00:16 (eighteen years ago)

>commercial
>rest of episode

Yes, and it plays a big part of the story.

― Johnny Fever, Friday, 18 May 2007 00:43 (eighteen years ago)

OMG Jam yumminess!

― Johnny Fever, Friday, 18 May 2007 00:56 (eighteen years ago)

omg great ending

― A B C, Friday, 18 May 2007 01:01 (eighteen years ago)

"Nobody. You and I are done."

xpost

― Oilyrags, Friday, 18 May 2007 01:01 (eighteen years ago)

Wait, was there an epilogue? I MISSED IT!

― Johnny Fever, Friday, 18 May 2007 01:01 (eighteen years ago)

Kelly :(

― David R., Friday, 18 May 2007 01:02 (eighteen years ago)

kapoward yumminess

― A B C, Friday, 18 May 2007 01:02 (eighteen years ago)

They did leave it open for Karen to come back.

― Michael F Gill, Friday, 18 May 2007 01:02 (eighteen years ago)

www.creedthoughts.gov.www\creedthoughts

― Mr. Snrub, Friday, 18 May 2007 01:07 (eighteen years ago)

Zip your lid!

― Oilyrags, Friday, 18 May 2007 01:09 (eighteen years ago)

THAT'S what he said!

― David R., Friday, 18 May 2007 01:11 (eighteen years ago)

Also: I am loving Assertive Pam muchly.

― David R., Friday, 18 May 2007 01:13 (eighteen years ago)

I don't see how different the episode would've been if Fox hadn't've picked up Rashida Jones' TV show. Hopefully the alternate ending they had to shoot will be on the season three DVD.

― Mr. Snrub, Friday, 18 May 2007 01:13 (eighteen years ago)

Alternate ending: Karen shoots Pam.

― David R., Friday, 18 May 2007 01:14 (eighteen years ago)

Creed's blog

― Mr. Snrub, Friday, 18 May 2007 01:29 (eighteen years ago)

I just realized: Ryan will be Michael's boss next season

― Michael F Gill, Friday, 18 May 2007 01:49 (eighteen years ago)

No doubt. "Still waiting on that coffee."

― Oilyrags, Friday, 18 May 2007 01:56 (eighteen years ago)

Oh, is that what I missed? Ryan got the job?

― Johnny Fever, Friday, 18 May 2007 01:59 (eighteen years ago)

Ryan got the job AND dumped Kelly in one deft display of jammy goodness.

― David R., Friday, 18 May 2007 02:02 (eighteen years ago)

Sweetness! Hopefully the epilogue will be included on the NBC site stream.

― Johnny Fever, Friday, 18 May 2007 02:11 (eighteen years ago)

I almost missed the epilogue!

― dan selzer, Friday, 18 May 2007 03:15 (eighteen years ago)

I liked the line "you didn't lose a customer in the merger and yet was able to cut the budget" in Michaels interview, I suspect referring to the fact that over half of the people that transferred quit.

― earlnash, Friday, 18 May 2007 03:34 (eighteen years ago)

I love assertive Pam too. I love Pam and Dwight working together...I shall call them Dwam. Lots of Jim/Karen (Jaren? Kim?) drama to be had in next season's opener.

― musically, Friday, 18 May 2007 08:06 (eighteen years ago)

omg "i don't care if that's how they consolidated power in ancient rome."

― s.clover, Friday, 18 May 2007 08:34 (eighteen years ago)

"in my experience, guys are way more attracted to the back of you than the front."

― Gukbe, Friday, 18 May 2007 12:24 (eighteen years ago)

TS: ONE SCHRUTEBUCK VS A BILLION STANLEY NICKELS

"What's the conversion rate on those nickels?"
"Same as the rate of unicorns to leprechauns".

― nickalicious, Friday, 18 May 2007 13:55 (eighteen years ago)

OMG from Creed's blog:

Today in my office where I work as Director of Quality Assurance, we went to the beach for some reason that was never adequately explained. When we were there, our manager told us to eat hot coals. I thought that was a little bit untoward so I ate a fish. Then a woman I have literally never seen before in my entire life started talking very loudly about something involving Halpert. She was agitated, I’d say. From what I could guess, she was definitely on drugs of some kind, perhaps cocaine, or maybe ‘drines. Also, she is a knock-out. She reminds me of a young Daphne Du Maurier. Also, I stupidly ate the fishbones. I told myself “never again” after the last time, but then you turn around, and bam, they’re in my mouth. I also ate 55 hot dogs in 15 minutes, which is a world record.

― nickalicious, Friday, 18 May 2007 13:59 (eighteen years ago)

haha whoops!

― nickalicious, Friday, 18 May 2007 14:00 (eighteen years ago)

"Swing low, sweet chariots!"

― C. Grisso/McCain, Friday, 18 May 2007 16:04 (eighteen years ago)

the final blip scene made all the vague wackness that's peppered the recent episodes worthwhile

― strongohulkington, Friday, 18 May 2007 21:04 (eighteen years ago)

creed thoughts is real. oh thank god.

― chaki, Friday, 18 May 2007 21:35 (eighteen years ago)

I wonder, with the extra episodes next year, if they will pick it up right where they left off instead of skipping the summer.

― Michael F Gill, Saturday, 19 May 2007 01:16 (eighteen years ago)

i want to see jim and pam's dinner date go incredibly awkward

― Gukbe, Saturday, 19 May 2007 02:06 (eighteen years ago)

Okay, finally saw Ryan's epilogue. That was so magically perfect.

― Johnny Fever, Saturday, 19 May 2007 02:11 (eighteen years ago)

This episode totally convinced me that they could pull off an hour every week if they chose to go that route. It didn't feel any longer than a normal episode.

― Deric W. Haircare, Saturday, 19 May 2007 02:13 (eighteen years ago)

i like how they're putting michael into different situations as opposed to 'oh noes he is going to do something awkward with his employees!'

― Gukbe, Saturday, 19 May 2007 02:16 (eighteen years ago)

I still don't understand what happens to Karen, if this really is the last we'll ever see of her. Does she stay in New York?

― Mr. Snrub, Saturday, 19 May 2007 02:36 (eighteen years ago)

i was confused as well. i can't imagine that'll be the last of her. since her new series isn't starting until the mid-season i reckon she'll be around to put in a few performances to wrap her character up.

― Gukbe, Saturday, 19 May 2007 02:38 (eighteen years ago)

Unless her show starts filming early to deal with the possible writer's strike. Either way, she made a big deal this episode about not wanting to stay in Scranton, so it wouldn't surprise me if we hear she said "fuck ya'll" and transferred to the Albany branch.

― reddening, Saturday, 19 May 2007 10:21 (eighteen years ago)

I think I just remembered this, and correct me if I'm wrong: was Dwight spitting out his Big League Chew juice? If so, high-larious.

― Deric W. Haircare, Sunday, 20 May 2007 01:17 (eighteen years ago)

some funny stuff but i think the pam beach scene last ep was the show jumpin' it.

― s1ocki, Sunday, 20 May 2007 01:41 (eighteen years ago)

I hope this episode isn't an indication of things to come. There was way too much earnest relationship stuff, and the hour length made it drag on. NBC is probably trying to reposition the show to appeal to a larger audience and will kill all that makes it awesome in the process.

― Super Cub, Sunday, 20 May 2007 04:03 (eighteen years ago)

some funny stuff but i think the pam beach scene last ep was the show jumpin' it.

Totally.

― Melissa W, Sunday, 20 May 2007 10:25 (eighteen years ago)

Okay, finally saw Ryan's epilogue. That was so magically perfect.

Yup, and it supports my position that Ryan is by far the most unlikeable character on the show. He's such a creep! I can't wait to see them amplify that creepiness now that he's in corporate.

― Mr. Perpetua, Sunday, 20 May 2007 15:09 (eighteen years ago)

Okay, actually, no, Andy Bernard probably trumps Ryan Howard.

― Mr. Perpetua, Sunday, 20 May 2007 15:20 (eighteen years ago)

oh my god hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha this thread and its predictable sub-twp "analysis" lol

― Dimension 5ive, Sunday, 20 May 2007 15:31 (eighteen years ago)

does that ending mean that ryan will only make an occasional appearance?

ryan's slapping down of phyllis' bouquet at the wedding was probably the highlight of the season for me.

― Gukbe, Sunday, 20 May 2007 15:44 (eighteen years ago)

So I just finished series two of the UK version of the Office, and... ummm... did anybody else start welling up at the end of the last episode? When Brent loses control and starts pleading for his job back, it is the saddest, most depressing thing ever.

― Mr. Snrub, Friday, 1 June 2007 00:10 (eighteen years ago)

Have you seen the (UK) Christmas Special yet? Get ready.

― Johnny Fever, Friday, 1 June 2007 00:25 (eighteen years ago)

Haven't seen it, but I already pretty much know what happens. It'll be happy endings for everyone, right? It is a Christmas special after all. Dawn will go back with Tim and I read somewhere that it's similar to the yogurt lid bit in The Job where Jim got back together with Pam. As for David, all I know is that he tells Finchy to fuck off after he insults his girl.

― Mr. Snrub, Friday, 1 June 2007 04:49 (eighteen years ago)

three weeks pass...

As much as I like Steve Carell I think he may be one of the weaker parts of this show. I was thinking about the incessant promotion for Evan Almighty, the potential box-office success as a result, and ultimately Steve's departure from the show. But Michael Scott isn't nearly as integral to the show as David Brent was to the UK version.

The surrounding cast is thoroughly watchable and fun(although I have to say I don't find Creed as entertaining as most of you - he doesn't feel real to me). Just one look at this thread shows that it's the supporting cast that everyone digs most. So if they were to write Michael out of the show and replace him with another boss that's even slightly boneheaded, I think the others could still do their thing and it'd still be a lot of fun.

― Wookie Rookie, Saturday, 23 June 2007 16:42 (eighteen years ago)

i don't agree.

― s1ocki, Saturday, 23 June 2007 16:54 (eighteen years ago)

take it back.

― s1ocki, Saturday, 23 June 2007 16:54 (eighteen years ago)

Yes, this idea is pure madness.

― Johnny Fever, Saturday, 23 June 2007 17:00 (eighteen years ago)

Considering the absolutely horrible reviews Evan Almighty is getting, Carrell ain't leaving any time soon.

― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Saturday, 23 June 2007 18:29 (eighteen years ago)

Well, Bruce Almighty got terrible reviews too, but I actually liked it a lot. I'll probably go see Evan Almighty one day this week (matinee steez).

― Johnny Fever, Saturday, 23 June 2007 18:40 (eighteen years ago)

Creed is a total cartoon character and therefore kind of a distraction to the proceedings, but then again, we already have Dwight and Andy, so what's a little more?

http://blog.nbc.com/CreedThoughts/

www.creedthoughts.gov.www\creedthoughts

Updated weekly!^^^^^^^

― Oilyrags, Saturday, 23 June 2007 18:52 (eighteen years ago)

I love the ".gov.www\" joke.

― Mr. Snrub, Saturday, 23 June 2007 21:09 (eighteen years ago)

I may have been too flippant :) There are two things that keep me addicted to this show: 1) absolutely cracking up and dying whenever Dwight, Kevin, Toby...etc so much as open their mouths, and 2) the soap opera with Pam and Jim.

Michael Scott's not actually what I think about when I think about the show. HOWEVER, I guess I shouldn't be so quick to write him off because he is closer to the spirit of the original than the others are, and that's a great, necessary thing.

Don't underestimate the power of box-office success to lure people away, though. On the way up, people go from TV to film, not the other way around. I have no doubt that Evan Almighty will be the top movie this weekend, and it'll be that much harder for Steve to come back.

― Wookie Rookie, Sunday, 24 June 2007 17:13 (eighteen years ago)

i doubt evan almighty will be the top movie this weekend with everything else out there, also, no repeat business because it is apparently dire

― akm, Sunday, 24 June 2007 17:26 (eighteen years ago)

people gon get sacked over 'evan almighty', i wouldn't be too sure.

― That one guy that quit, Sunday, 24 June 2007 17:27 (eighteen years ago)

i can confirm it is abject.

― That one guy that quit, Sunday, 24 June 2007 17:27 (eighteen years ago)

I bet the scene of him in the Noah beard and robes doing the Marilyn Monroe heating grate dance that's in all the ads isn't even in the movie.

― Oilyrags, Sunday, 24 June 2007 19:45 (eighteen years ago)

i think that's in the end-credits gag-reel. film in general is barely even a comedy tbh.

― That one guy that quit, Sunday, 24 June 2007 19:47 (eighteen years ago)

enjoy: http://boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/

― kingfish, Sunday, 24 June 2007 19:49 (eighteen years ago)

Jesus, 1408? That thing looks really terrible. And I don't (yet) consider Sam Jax and John Cusack to be kisses of death for a movie. Jackson is getting pretty close, though.

― Oilyrags, Sunday, 24 June 2007 19:51 (eighteen years ago)

$175 is so fucking insane for this film! its politics take some unpacking, they aren't straightforward, but it leaves a pretty foul taste imo.

― That one guy that quit, Sunday, 24 June 2007 19:58 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.zap2it.com/movies/news/zap-evanalmightyexpensivecomedy,0,1840307.story

thing is it was *budgeted* at $140mil. incredible.

― That one guy that quit, Sunday, 24 June 2007 20:02 (eighteen years ago)

"It's based on two story sources: 'Bruce Almighty' and the Bible, both of which were incredibly successful,"

― Oilyrags, Sunday, 24 June 2007 20:22 (eighteen years ago)

crazy like a fox. seriously, incorporate an arc and a beard and half my state is queueing up.

― wanko ergo sum, Sunday, 24 June 2007 20:30 (eighteen years ago)

Ok, I guess Steve might be around for a while after all :)

I've been rewatching the episodes from this season and I think I have to nominate the "Business School" episode as the best episode of the season.

Between Dwight falling off Pam's desk, Jim turning into a vampire, Michael's candy speech, and what I think is the best moment of the year, Pam and Michael's hug, it's a representative, pitch-perfect episode. God I love this show.

― Wookie Rookie, Sunday, 24 June 2007 23:13 (eighteen years ago)

You forgot Michael and the frisbee.

"Dude!"

― Mr. Snrub, Monday, 25 June 2007 18:52 (eighteen years ago)

guys, 1408 was jumanji... for <i>adults</i>

― homosexual II, Monday, 25 June 2007 19:00 (eighteen years ago)

HAHA WHOOPS ;_;

― homosexual II, Monday, 25 June 2007 19:01 (eighteen years ago)

two months pass...

― William Bloody Swygart, Thursday, 30 August 2007 19:47 (eighteen years ago)

hey what is that i have no youtube at work

― chaki, Thursday, 30 August 2007 19:50 (eighteen years ago)

It's a little teaser clip NBC put out today, also at http://www.nbc.com/theoffice - What the characters got up to on summer vacation.

It's really rather good.

― William Bloody Swygart, Thursday, 30 August 2007 20:03 (eighteen years ago)

did the couple in the american one evr get together?
did the shows have the same scripts as our shows at first?
is it going on longer than 2 series and a special like ours did?

looked pretty damn funny the bits i've seen.

― pisces, Thursday, 30 August 2007 20:34 (eighteen years ago)

They only redid the first episode with the Wazzzzup and stapler in the jello. The other US ones have gone their own way since.

― Pleasant Plains, Thursday, 30 August 2007 20:38 (eighteen years ago)

Yeah, once the US version found its voice sometime during season 2 and became its own separate entity, it's been very classic and very funny. The block of The Office and 30 Rock last season was just about the best hour of sitcom television in years and years. I'm looking very forward to their return.

― Deric W. Haircare, Thursday, 30 August 2007 21:08 (eighteen years ago)

Season 3 DVD out today. It is all kinds of awesome.

― Mr. Snrub, Wednesday, 5 September 2007 02:58 (eighteen years ago)

I love how skeptical this thread is at the beginning.

― n/a, Wednesday, 5 September 2007 13:12 (eighteen years ago)

three weeks pass...

Reminder: Season 4 starts tonight with "Michael Scott's Dunder Mifflin Scranton Meredith Palmer Memorial Celebrity Rabies Awareness Pro-Am Fun Run Race For The Cure"

― Mr. Snrub, Thursday, 27 September 2007 15:31 (seventeen years ago)

t-minus 1.75 hours

I saw a cute girl in a Dunder Mifflin t-shirt today.

― wanko ergo sum, Thursday, 27 September 2007 23:16 (seventeen years ago)

psst...I started a S4 thread last night

The Office (US): official SEASON 4 thread...

― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 27 September 2007 23:29 (seventeen years ago)

two months pass...

I just watched the first 6 episodes (ie, first season), and yes, it's funny. It's also not a patch on the UK version. Carell is much more "look, I'm playing a real asshole" rather than inhabiting it like Gervais, the douchebag is no Gareth, and they got a veritable stud to play the Tim part.

Does it get better?

― Dr Morbius, Tuesday, 25 December 2007 20:44 (seventeen years ago)

By a lot. Also, occassionally, worse.

You know, the whole "25 episodes a season" thing.

― Oilyrags, Tuesday, 25 December 2007 20:53 (seventeen years ago)

I'd say it hits its stride about 1/3 of the way into season 2 and then doesn't really let up until 2/3 of the way into season 4, where the story sometimes gets too weighty and the gags seem unnatural.

― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 26 December 2007 00:25 (seventeen years ago)

I'm sick and watching the second series. This is one of the best shows of all time.

(Yes, I saw the original years ago and I think this is better.)

― Autumn Almanac, Friday, 4 January 2008 00:28 (seventeen years ago)

hey morbs, definitely stick with thru season 2. it really takes off.

― s1ocki, Friday, 4 January 2008 01:13 (seventeen years ago)

Wife & I have been going through S3 in order, in leiu of new eps. All so far have been good to great, and even the ones I didn't think were so hot at the time (namely "Ben Franklin") contain plenty of funny.

Last night we suffered through the one-two punch of Michael Scott humiliation/bad behavior in Phyllis' Wedding and Business School. Almost intolerable. This show is so, so brilliantly good.

― Sparkle Motion, Friday, 4 January 2008 01:23 (seventeen years ago)

I was told by someone involved with the writer's strike that NBC is trying to purchase rights to the BBC version to run until this gets back up....?

― forksclovetofu, Friday, 4 January 2008 05:01 (seventeen years ago)

three months pass...

Was catching up with some episodes that I had missed from the most recent season. Most lol moment for me was when Creed shows up with his hair dyed, and then later Michael is giving some ridiculous presentation and someone asks him why he is using the same visual aids that he had used previously, and he mentions something about the printer having run out of ink...quick camera pan over to Creed looking ever-so-slightly sheepish.

― dell, Thursday, 24 April 2008 14:47 (seventeen years ago)

two months pass...

pam is hot

― czn, Monday, 21 July 2008 17:33 (seventeen years ago)

^^^^otm

― Gukbe, Monday, 21 July 2008 18:01 (seventeen years ago)

Jan is also hot, especially when doing/saying completely batshit things.

― Johnny Fever, Monday, 21 July 2008 18:05 (seventeen years ago)

The season five premiere will be called "Weight Loss", and it follows the cast over the summer as they compete against the other Dunder Mifflin branches in a weight loss competition. Each act of the hour-long episode (including the cold open and tag) will be one week, with eight weeks total.

I sure hope next season is better than the last one, which DEFINED "inconsistent."

― Mr. Snrub, Saturday, 2 August 2008 19:51 (seventeen years ago)

About time, too.

in·con·sist·ent (/ˌɪnkənˈsɪstənt/) –adjective

1. http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51iVeE9Lt2L._SL500_AA240_.jpg

― Deric W. Haircare, Saturday, 2 August 2008 22:25 (seventeen years ago)

jan is superhot

― sunny successor, Monday, 4 August 2008 17:12 (seventeen years ago)

I think every show that was a victim of the writers strike last season can be called inconsistent, except in the case of The Office and of 30 Rock, they came back post-strike completely reinvigorated.

― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 00:52 (seventeen years ago)

But even before the strike it's remarkable how hit-and-miss they were. It's like the old Star Trek movies where if the previous one was good you knew the next one was gonna suck and vice versa. For the record:

CLASS: "1. Fun Run", "3. Launch Party", "5. Local Ad", "8. The Deposition"
ASS: "2. Dunder Mifflin Infinity", "4. Money", "6. Branch Wars", "7. Survivor Man"

I don't know. Maybe I just need to watch them 100 times on DVD.

― Mr. Snrub, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 03:06 (seventeen years ago)

dont trust anybody who knows the names of tv episodes

― s1ocki, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 04:18 (seventeen years ago)

It's called Wikipedia and it's a wonderful wonderful thing.

― Mr. Snrub, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 04:21 (seventeen years ago)

wikipedia also has articles on nazism and other hateful ideologies, that doesn't mean should espouse them.

― s1ocki, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 14:07 (seventeen years ago)

That is, quite possibly, one of the dumbest things I've ever read on the internet.

― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Tuesday, 5 August 2008 14:13 (seventeen years ago)

one year passes...

Just getting into this, held off for ages because of bizarre misguided patriotism or something. It's wizard!

― chap, Sunday, 20 September 2009 17:33 (fifteen years ago)

Top gear!

― send a hilarious message or make a "wild" statement (Whitey on the Moon), Sunday, 20 September 2009 18:28 (fifteen years ago)

Bloody well good then, innit?

― send a hilarious message or make a "wild" statement (Whitey on the Moon), Sunday, 20 September 2009 18:29 (fifteen years ago)

just started season 3 of a 1-3 box set. nom nom nom. need 4 and 5 soon, but lady wife won't watch 6 episodes a night. the chucklehead

― Britain's Obtusest Shepherd (Alan), Sunday, 20 September 2009 19:49 (fifteen years ago)

I am sad that this show was not mentioned much in the "Best TV shows of the '00s" thread.

― Mr. Snrub, Monday, 21 September 2009 01:27 (fifteen years ago)

You mentioned it ten times.

― jaymc, Monday, 21 September 2009 03:28 (fifteen years ago)

The US Office is a great comedy.

The UK Office would still be great if there were no jokes and it wasn't funny.

― mei, Tuesday, 22 September 2009 01:07 (fifteen years ago)

On the second season now, still enjoying it but the charm's wearing off slightly. What's diminishing it a bit for me is that Jim and Pam are way smugger and less likable than Tim and Dawn.

― chap, Tuesday, 22 September 2009 21:46 (fifteen years ago)

Just wait.

― WARS OF ARMAGEDDON (Karaoke Version) (Sparkle Motion), Tuesday, 22 September 2009 22:03 (fifteen years ago)

As in it gets better or they get smugger?

― chap, Tuesday, 22 September 2009 22:14 (fifteen years ago)

Opinions are divided to this day.

― WARS OF ARMAGEDDON (Karaoke Version) (Sparkle Motion), Tuesday, 22 September 2009 22:21 (fifteen years ago)

Seriously, I was ready to hate this show (and avoided it for a good long while) then binged on the 2nd season up through half of #3. Now I'll like it no matter what happens.

― WARS OF ARMAGEDDON (Karaoke Version) (Sparkle Motion), Tuesday, 22 September 2009 22:22 (fifteen years ago)

I started from a similar position, very recently watched the first season over two days and loved it. I'm finding the second less immediately endearing, like I say. I'll keep going though.

― chap, Tuesday, 22 September 2009 22:26 (fifteen years ago)

I've been devouring this since my last post, on season three now. My misgivings are gone, it's exceptional (I do think there was a bit of a dip in the first half of S2 though). I've also fallen in love with Rashida Jones.

― chap, Tuesday, 29 September 2009 21:54 (fifteen years ago)

glad you turned around because there's no way i concur with the UK couple being more likeable, especially dawn vs. pam

― Nhex, Tuesday, 29 September 2009 22:34 (fifteen years ago)

UK couple is uglier, and therefore more human.

― Philip Nunez, Tuesday, 29 September 2009 22:59 (fifteen years ago)

Supposedly actress who plays Pam puts on uglifying makeup, but it's still not enough. She needs one of those Klingon makeup people.

― Philip Nunez, Tuesday, 29 September 2009 23:01 (fifteen years ago)

UK couple is uglier, and therefore more human.

This is pretty much how I feel.

― chap, Tuesday, 29 September 2009 23:04 (fifteen years ago)

that is ridiculous though! also, it's not like jim and pam are so attractive that you don't see people like that in "real life". they are cute but not hot to an excessive degree. (karen though...)

also i'm not sure that tim is less attractive than jim, but i suppose the ladies can tell me off here

― Nhex, Tuesday, 29 September 2009 23:23 (fifteen years ago)

http://homepage.mac.com/elliottday/theoffice/images/castandcharacters/garethnew.jpg
They're coming to get you, Barbara...

― Philip Nunez, Tuesday, 29 September 2009 23:29 (fifteen years ago)

Dawn had a very short-lived role on Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip as a timid comedy writer. Not too upset about that show being canceled, but upset she hasn't found any work in the US since then.

― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 29 September 2009 23:31 (fifteen years ago)

http://www.fakefaces.co.uk/images/lookalikes/fullsize/1736-DSC00252.JPG
I don't know if this has been posted before but this is amazing.

― Philip Nunez, Tuesday, 29 September 2009 23:34 (fifteen years ago)

Dawn had a very short-lived role on Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip as a timid comedy writer. Not too upset about that show being canceled, but upset she hasn't found any work in the US since then.

Around the same time as S60, Dawn was on Reaper for a short story arc.

― The Wild Shirtless Lyrics of Mark Farner (C. Grisso/McCain), Tuesday, 29 September 2009 23:39 (fifteen years ago)

Haha, I was watching both shows at the time. She felt wrongly utilized in both. Too bad she was unlucky...

― Nhex, Tuesday, 29 September 2009 23:45 (fifteen years ago)

Jim is just so smug and self satisfied, he could look like Carrot Top and that would still be an issue.

― The ever dapper nicolars (Nicole), Wednesday, 30 September 2009 00:29 (fifteen years ago)

Thing is, though, Jim gets knocked down for it every so often.

― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 30 September 2009 00:39 (fifteen years ago)

Yeah, but it's usually in a way that implies that whoever is knocking him down is in the wrong. His smugness wouldn't be so bad if the show didn't imply that he's totally justified in thinking of himself as awesome.

― The ever dapper nicolars (Nicole), Wednesday, 30 September 2009 01:14 (fifteen years ago)

Pam is legitimately > Dawn but Jim totally ruins any potential JAM YUMMINESS 4 me

― A B C, Wednesday, 30 September 2009 01:31 (fifteen years ago)

What about that amazing awkward episode last season where Jim wears a tux to work as a prank on Dwight, only to meet the humorless new vice president? Nobody finds Jim's pranks funny except for Jim and Pam. And me.

― Mr. Snrub, Wednesday, 30 September 2009 02:24 (fifteen years ago)

Pam is hot.

― Mr. Snrub, Wednesday, 30 September 2009 02:24 (fifteen years ago)

yeah but then the new vp turned out to be a general prick. everyone else in the office is in some way nuts so they do not offer valid opinions on jim's pranks.

― A B C, Wednesday, 30 September 2009 04:54 (fifteen years ago)

although i guess oscar is normal and doesn't like him. these are some things i think about the character dynamics on the office (us version)

― A B C, Wednesday, 30 September 2009 04:55 (fifteen years ago)

UK mischief comes across as vain, futile attempt to assert autonomy in inescapable and pointless rat race.
US mischief lacks this bite because you feel like they could leave their crap jobs any time to become models or actors.

Also, this is amazing!
http://entertainers.firebirdevents.co.uk/images/david_brent_gareth_keenan.jpg

― Philip Nunez, Wednesday, 30 September 2009 17:40 (fifteen years ago)

Tim is far more endearingly awkward than Jim.

― chap, Wednesday, 30 September 2009 17:52 (fifteen years ago)

wikipedia also has articles on nazism and other hateful ideologies, that doesn't mean should espouse them.
― s1ocki, Tuesday, August 5, 2008 9:07 AM (1 year ago) Bookmark

lol

― mark cl, Wednesday, 30 September 2009 17:56 (fifteen years ago)

i wub jim just a teeny bit more than tim, they both have the same palette of wotyergunnado shrugs, but somehow the US guy has the edge.

stuck in my head is the bit near the start of series 3 where jim does the calculator/stapler in the jelly trick on andy who violently flips and kicks something hard. jim's 'i am *really* concentrating on this spreadsheet' look is slick.

― Britain's Obtusest Shepherd (Alan), Wednesday, 30 September 2009 19:08 (fifteen years ago)

US mischief lacks this bite because you feel like they could leave their crap jobs any time to become models or actors.

ummm. yeah like Kevin...or Stanley...or Phillis....or Toby...or Meredith...or Creed...

― Mewtwo-er if you want this encore, pikachu until your bulbasaur (M@tt He1ges0n), Wednesday, 30 September 2009 19:13 (fifteen years ago)

Neil from the UK office is probably more conventionally handsome and good looking than ANYONE on the US version

― Mewtwo-er if you want this encore, pikachu until your bulbasaur (M@tt He1ges0n), Wednesday, 30 September 2009 19:14 (fifteen years ago)

wikipedia also has articles on nazism and other hateful ideologies, that doesn't mean you should espouse them.

― s1ocki, Tuesday, August 5, 2008 9:07 AM (1 year ago) Bookmark

lol

― mark cl, Wednesday, September 30, 2009 1:56 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

lol at the response i got to that

― il miglior Fabio (s1ocki), Wednesday, 30 September 2009 19:16 (fifteen years ago)

US mischief lacks this bite because you feel like they could leave their crap jobs any time to become models or actors.

There's more of a bullying aspect also - Jim seems like he is picking on Andy, Dwight & Michael because he thinks they're losers, whereas in the UK version Tim's pranks were motivated out of desperation at being stuck in such a dead end job.

― The ever dapper nicolars (Nicole), Wednesday, 30 September 2009 19:20 (fifteen years ago)

u hate jim

― il miglior Fabio (s1ocki), Wednesday, 30 September 2009 19:21 (fifteen years ago)

you're not part of the ferris bueller is too mean crew too are you??

― il miglior Fabio (s1ocki), Wednesday, 30 September 2009 19:21 (fifteen years ago)

so basically y'all this kevin is ready for calvin klein?

― Mewtwo-er if you want this encore, pikachu until your bulbasaur (M@tt He1ges0n), Wednesday, 30 September 2009 19:21 (fifteen years ago)

this day is bananas b-a-n-a-n-a-s

― history mayne, Wednesday, 30 September 2009 19:23 (fifteen years ago)

i mean through dwight in there too, and michael

so basically the hotties are what? jim and pam, who to me just seem like very normally attractive ppl that you could see in everyday life...the new secretary who's sort of IRL good looking...actually oscar looks the most like a "actor" type looks to me...

― Mewtwo-er if you want this encore, pikachu until your bulbasaur (M@tt He1ges0n), Wednesday, 30 September 2009 19:23 (fifteen years ago)

but I agree the UK office is better, but i think that's just mostly due to the fact that it was a limited, short series with a real tight story arc...if the UK office had to pump out as many episodes as the US one has, it would end up being just as up and down and sometimes spotty....I think the US one has held up remarkably well all things considered

― Mewtwo-er if you want this encore, pikachu until your bulbasaur (M@tt He1ges0n), Wednesday, 30 September 2009 19:25 (fifteen years ago)

actually though in fairness angela and kelly are hott as hell, and ryan is a def ws for most ppl i bet, though he looked like a str8 up herb with the weird hair in inglorious bastereds

― Mewtwo-er if you want this encore, pikachu until your bulbasaur (M@tt He1ges0n), Wednesday, 30 September 2009 19:26 (fifteen years ago)

There's more of a bullying aspect also - Jim seems like he is picking on Andy, Dwight & Michael because he thinks they're losers, whereas in the UK version Tim's pranks were motivated out of desperation at being stuck in such a dead end job.

i see what you're saying -- i'm glad the show does occasionally point that jim's pranks show him as pathetic, being the only joy he could wrangle out of the job. the UK version had a more sympathetic view of this and tim, but jim's attitude was definitely a little more snide and righteous about it (oh THESE guys have such a stick up their ass!)

US mischief lacks this bite because you feel like they could leave their crap jobs any time to become models or actors.

I have never thought that about any of the actors on this show, ever. I mean they're reasonably attractive but w/the exception of Karen and maybe cute new secretary I don't think it stands out that much.

― Nhex, Wednesday, 30 September 2009 19:27 (fifteen years ago)

US mischief lacks this bite because you feel like they could leave their crap jobs any time to become models or actors

i thought this more iften in the wire than in the office. that is to say, once.

― Britain's Obtusest Shepherd (Alan), Wednesday, 30 September 2009 19:28 (fifteen years ago)

OFTEN

― Britain's Obtusest Shepherd (Alan), Wednesday, 30 September 2009 19:29 (fifteen years ago)

no shame, we've all fallen under the spell of jay landsman

― Mewtwo-er if you want this encore, pikachu until your bulbasaur (M@tt He1ges0n), Wednesday, 30 September 2009 19:32 (fifteen years ago)

OMG you guys you mean professional actors are more good-looking than their real-life equivalents? Mind blown over here. Give me a minute.

― & other try hard shitfests (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Wednesday, 30 September 2009 19:33 (fifteen years ago)

the US office is often subtler and almost always funnier.

― history mayne, Wednesday, 30 September 2009 19:42 (fifteen years ago)

The US version works so well because whenever the main characters get annoying, the fringe characters pop to the forefront and deliver a great line or scene. The more I watch the show, the more I think Kevin is secretly the best part of the show. Used to be Creed.

― & other try hard shitfests (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Wednesday, 30 September 2009 19:44 (fifteen years ago)

yea the secondary characters are one of the best things about the office

― mark cl, Wednesday, 30 September 2009 19:45 (fifteen years ago)

<3 kelly kapoor 4eva

― mark cl, Wednesday, 30 September 2009 19:45 (fifteen years ago)

The main problem for me with the US Office having gone on for so long is that there's no more palpable discomfort for me when watching purposely uncomfortable scenes. It's because I'm too familiar with all the characters' various behaviors, kind of like people I actually know in real life. That's the one thing I'll give the UK Office the win on... that show had some crazy uncomfortable squirm-in-your-seat moments.

― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 30 September 2009 19:47 (fifteen years ago)

^yea i agree w/ this to some extent - by now u need new or non-recurring characters to interact w/ michael or dwight or whoever to produce the awkward scenes

― mark cl, Wednesday, 30 September 2009 19:49 (fifteen years ago)

or characters external to the office itself

― mark cl, Wednesday, 30 September 2009 19:49 (fifteen years ago)

"I have never thought that about any of the actors on this show, ever."

I would not have either, if not for the comparison against Office UK.

"ummm. yeah like Kevin...or Stanley...or Phillis....or Toby...or Meredith...or Creed..."

I agree many of the fatter minor characters are credibly stuck in the roles they are playing, but everyone else inhabits a sitcom universe where Jim Belushi and Kevin James are married to hot wives (although this may also be true of this universe, which would mean...)

― Philip Nunez, Wednesday, 30 September 2009 19:50 (fifteen years ago)

get over it imo

― il miglior Fabio (s1ocki), Wednesday, 30 September 2009 20:07 (fifteen years ago)

interns at local government outposts in the midwest don't look like aubrey plaza.

MAKES ME SO MAD. >:O

― history mayne, Wednesday, 30 September 2009 20:09 (fifteen years ago)

we're supposed to be happy we get to look at pretty people on tv

― il miglior Fabio (s1ocki), Wednesday, 30 September 2009 20:11 (fifteen years ago)

rashida jones actually kicks it with obama's speechwriter.

we're being sold a false reality, people.

― history mayne, Wednesday, 30 September 2009 20:19 (fifteen years ago)

you're not part of the ferris bueller is too mean crew too are you??

No, I have no problem with Ferris!

I don't know, maybe it's just a problem with the actor, but I ended up hating Jim after the first couple of seasons.

― The ever dapper nicolars (Nicole), Wednesday, 30 September 2009 20:29 (fifteen years ago)

^^^this is the triumph of the show imo

― Ømår Littel (Jordan), Wednesday, 30 September 2009 20:30 (fifteen years ago)

jim apologists.............i scoff at u

keep building up your forts of wicker but a brush fire's coming

― A B C, Wednesday, 30 September 2009 20:46 (fifteen years ago)

the more I watch the show, the more I think Kevin is secretly the best part of the show. Used to be Creed.

I've got this Stanley at the moment. He's magnificently sardonic.

― chap, Wednesday, 30 September 2009 22:53 (fifteen years ago)

Love Stanley. His total none-reactions are funny as hell. Like he can make a big ol' funny by just not looking up from his work.

― Super Cub, Thursday, 1 October 2009 01:18 (fifteen years ago)

And this notion that US Office actors are too good looking (even including Jim and Pam) is just insane. You guys must hang around a lot of really ugly people.

― Super Cub, Thursday, 1 October 2009 01:21 (fifteen years ago)

sniff... they are beautiful in their own way:
http://www.nndb.com/people/187/000135779/stephen-merchant.jpg

― Philip Nunez, Thursday, 1 October 2009 01:34 (fifteen years ago)

"ummm. yeah like Kevin...or Stanley...or Phillis....or Toby...or Meredith...or Creed..."

― Philip Nunez, Wednesday, September 30, 2009 7:50 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark

"everyone else" = pam? Seriously dude, hot receptionists are pretty damn common.

There are few TV characters as big as Dwight Shrute that are played by someone as homely as Rainn Wilson.

― Matt Armstrong, Thursday, 1 October 2009 01:51 (fifteen years ago)

the jim character continues to be a god damn monster on this week's episode of "the office"

― A B C, Friday, 2 October 2009 01:07 (fifteen years ago)

Current season discussion goes here The Office (US) — Season 6 thread

― Johnny Fever, Friday, 2 October 2009 01:09 (fifteen years ago)

Season three = gold from start to finish. I love how the Jan storyline was handled; you only realised how nuts she is incrementally.

― chap, Friday, 2 October 2009 12:37 (fifteen years ago)

i've only got to end of that season but yea it is total gold all the way.

― history mayne, Friday, 2 October 2009 12:37 (fifteen years ago)

one year passes...

This is Michael's last episode I think? I haven't watched this in a while but tuning in for this.

― wewetyourpants.com (rip van wanko), Friday, 29 April 2011 00:32 (fourteen years ago)

Jim cries I think!

― wewetyourpants.com (rip van wanko), Friday, 29 April 2011 00:33 (fourteen years ago)

It was actually kind of a sweet ending.

― 'what are you, the Hymen Protection League of America?' (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Friday, 29 April 2011 03:36 (fourteen years ago)

Yeah, that was great.

― Dreaded Burrito Gang (DJP), Friday, 29 April 2011 03:37 (fourteen years ago)

Also loved them finally addressing the, "let me know if this thing ever airs".

― 'what are you, the Hymen Protection League of America?' (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Friday, 29 April 2011 03:43 (fourteen years ago)

I wonder if there was a campaign this season to make Michael's character a little more sympathetic in the buildup to this moment... In the first ep tonight it certainly seemed so (like I said I haven't watched The Office in a couple years).

Will Ferrell's character seemed sorta vague to me. Love WF but doesn't he bring to much baggage to this show? Ferrell as the new boss and then this litany of upcoming star cameos is like a recipe for shark-jumpage, but in the end I trust the writers/production team. It's a great show.

― wewetyourpants.com (rip van wanko), Friday, 29 April 2011 04:16 (fourteen years ago)

TOO

― wewetyourpants.com (rip van wanko), Friday, 29 April 2011 04:17 (fourteen years ago)

I loved the beginning of this when Michael was giving Dwight shit about bears in Colorado and cracking himself up.

― Dreaded Burrito Gang (DJP), Friday, 29 April 2011 04:18 (fourteen years ago)

also if the Catherine Tate rumor pans out I will forgive all of the star cameos

― Dreaded Burrito Gang (DJP), Friday, 29 April 2011 04:18 (fourteen years ago)

Will Ferrell is the worst thing to happen to this show in a minute.

― Telephoneface (Adam Bruneau), Friday, 29 April 2011 04:52 (fourteen years ago)

my feeling is that WF is not long for this show

― Dr. Suggestban, or How I Learned to Stop etc. (Drugs A. Money), Friday, 29 April 2011 12:17 (fourteen years ago)

Well, yeah, he's only contracted for one more episode. Thank god for that, he's been awful.

― 'what are you, the Hymen Protection League of America?' (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Friday, 29 April 2011 13:20 (fourteen years ago)

his character is the most annoying creation on the face of the earth but I feel like that's what they were going for, so it's difficult for me to say he's been "awful"

"unenjoyable" absolutely, but not really "awful"

― Dreaded Burrito Gang (DJP), Friday, 29 April 2011 13:32 (fourteen years ago)

Yeah, as I was typing that I was thinking how that was pretty much the point, but still just not enjoying his scenes at all.

― 'what are you, the Hymen Protection League of America?' (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Friday, 29 April 2011 13:35 (fourteen years ago)

Andy's blatant incompetence was hilarious, too.

― Dreaded Burrito Gang (DJP), Friday, 29 April 2011 13:39 (fourteen years ago)

Yeah, that was great!

― 'what are you, the Hymen Protection League of America?' (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Friday, 29 April 2011 13:39 (fourteen years ago)

also I think this is the funniest Gabe has ever been

― Dreaded Burrito Gang (DJP), Friday, 29 April 2011 13:41 (fourteen years ago)

^^^^ DJP OTM ITT

― 'what are you, the Hymen Protection League of America?' (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Friday, 29 April 2011 13:42 (fourteen years ago)

one of my favorite parts of last night's ep is when Gabe tells Michael that he's going to quit and Michael says "No, you're not. This is not going to be your last day."

― Dr. Suggestban, or How I Learned to Stop etc. (Drugs A. Money), Friday, 29 April 2011 14:05 (fourteen years ago)

also the talking head of him laughing @ Oscar was AMAZING

― Dr. Suggestban, or How I Learned to Stop etc. (Drugs A. Money), Friday, 29 April 2011 14:06 (fourteen years ago)

Yes, yes. Also the shot of Oscar's face when Angela was showing pictures of the state senator and his "aide".

― 'what are you, the Hymen Protection League of America?' (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Friday, 29 April 2011 14:09 (fourteen years ago)

YES that was hilarious

the whole thing of Michael blatantly fucking with people interspersed with his random oddness casts a somewhat different light on his behavior over the course of the series and semi-justifies his flashes of sales brilliance; his issue isn't that he's mind-bogglingly stupid, his issue is that he treats his entire life like it's a stage and ppl around him are playthings, which is simultaneously cruel and hilarious

― Dreaded Burrito Gang (DJP), Friday, 29 April 2011 14:09 (fourteen years ago)

Like I'm pretty impressed with how this show has sucked me back in to caring again over the last 3-4 episodes. I was SO ready to give it up after the dismal first half of the season, but I'm actually excited to see where things go once Will Ferrell is gone.

― 'what are you, the Hymen Protection League of America?' (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Friday, 29 April 2011 14:11 (fourteen years ago)

surprised no one is discussing pam/michael last convo like lost in translation what did they say.

i like to believe his last words to Pam were, "you're like a daughter to me" bc they always seemed to have a more familial than professional relationship and she was always the person taking care of him (except when she was punching him for dating her mom)

― Mordy, Friday, 29 April 2011 14:16 (fourteen years ago)

I liked the way that scene was shot, didn't make the connection to LiT initially though.

I'm also impressed with how they seem to be humanizing the characters again, they were getting so cartoonish for awhile. I LOVED how it was obvious that Michael had planned for a long time to make this great farewell scene to prove how cool he is to the warehouse guys, but couldn't make the shot.

What was up with Andy's hideous pants on that sales call though?

― 'what are you, the Hymen Protection League of America?' (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Friday, 29 April 2011 14:19 (fourteen years ago)

No one is discussing that because we don't really need to; it's pretty obvious the two characters had a strong bond and the physical expression of that bond in the scene translated well enough that the specifics of what they said was immaterial. Also, Pam's coda gives you more than enough to reconstruct what they said to each other.

― Dreaded Burrito Gang (DJP), Friday, 29 April 2011 14:21 (fourteen years ago)

liked the call back to Creed and the women's bathroom.

this was very well done.

― Gukbe, Friday, 29 April 2011 16:50 (fourteen years ago)

What was up with Andy's hideous pants on that sales call though?

― 'what are you, the Hymen Protection League of America?' (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Friday, April 29, 2011 10:19 AM (2 hours ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

those are a classic of preppy fashion, not really appropriate for work though
http://www.brooksbrothers.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=1&Section_Id=258&Product_Id=1508124&Parent_Id=220&default_color=DARK-PINK&sort_by=§ioncolor=§ionsize=

― mizzell, Friday, 29 April 2011 16:55 (fourteen years ago)

lol, thanks

When i asked one of the employees at Brooks Brother's to order these pants for me i was esthatic to try them on. i thought that the color would achieve that classic "nantucket reds" color. But they were a little more pink. i would call them a deep coral or a bright peachy red. or a really deep and dark pink. but besides the surprise on the color they are really exquisite. i love the fit. and they have just enough of a break on the leg. which is a surprise for my 6'5" frame.

― 'what are you, the Hymen Protection League of America?' (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Friday, 29 April 2011 16:57 (fourteen years ago)

lol my wife called them "L.L. Bean pants" and I knew that was wrong but thankfully I was not preppy enough to be able to correct her

― Dreaded Burrito Gang (DJP), Friday, 29 April 2011 17:01 (fourteen years ago)

one thing in WF's defense I will say is that I loved that the writers laid a foundation for him to be really weird about food, then played off of it at the goodbye party where no one else knew what the hell was happening

― Dreaded Burrito Gang (DJP), Friday, 29 April 2011 17:04 (fourteen years ago)

forget the nonwatcher question... was Gervais's appearance as David Brent?

― your generation appalls me (Dr Morbius), Friday, 29 April 2011 17:31 (fourteen years ago)

Gervais wasn't on tonight, but he appeared earlier in the season as David Brent and is presumably coming back as David Brent

― Dreaded Burrito Gang (DJP), Friday, 29 April 2011 17:31 (fourteen years ago)

apparently my little sister cried because of the Michael Scott farewell last night

― but I want a bongo drum (CaptainLorax), Friday, 29 April 2011 17:40 (fourteen years ago)

I bailed on the show after 6-8 episodes bcz it wasn't as ruthless as the UK one, but damn, seven years, what a ridiculous lifespan for THIS series. The Brit staff would've killed Gervais by Year 3.

― your generation appalls me (Dr Morbius), Friday, 29 April 2011 17:43 (fourteen years ago)

apparently my little sister cried because of the Michael Scott farewell last night

My wife was sniffling a little bit but, to be fair, she's also pregnant.

― 'what are you, the Hymen Protection League of America?' (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Friday, 29 April 2011 18:46 (fourteen years ago)

Like this: http://www.avclub.com/articles/goodbye-michael,55159/

If you were to ask 100 people who watch The Office to give you a single word to describe Michael Scott, you would get a wide range of answers (even if some, surely, would repeat). Some of these words would emphasize his worst qualities: buffoon, ignorant, fool, offensive, delusional, childish, cruel. However, others might use words that have at times been equally representative: optimistic, decent, loyal, supportive, romantic, honest. And every one of those people could point you to a moment where Michael was embodied by their words, and every one of those people would be right. If Michael Scott is anything, he is multitudinous, so diverse in his characterization that every viewer has a fundamentally different image of the character in their minds as they watch the series.

― Johnny Fever, Friday, 29 April 2011 19:35 (fourteen years ago)

nerdy commenters are nerdy

― Dreaded Burrito Gang (DJP), Friday, 29 April 2011 20:11 (fourteen years ago)

Um...

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lkfop0ClM31qa5ff2o1_500.png

― Johnny Fever, Saturday, 30 April 2011 00:04 (fourteen years ago)

Oh WEIRD.

― she started dancing to that (Finefinemusic), Saturday, 30 April 2011 00:29 (fourteen years ago)

no no no no no no no

― The Band Perry is the drummer for Gay Dad (jjjusten), Saturday, 30 April 2011 00:40 (fourteen years ago)

nice catch JF...

I think that the whole "Phyllis-might-be-Kelly's-mother" situation has potential for humor, but if they actually DID make Phyllis Kelly's mom than that would probably be when I jumped this shark...

― if hongroes could fly this place would be a geirport (Drugs A. Money), Saturday, 30 April 2011 01:16 (fourteen years ago)

You mean Erin, obvs.

(I didn't make the catch, btw. Someone on tumblr did.)

― Johnny Fever, Saturday, 30 April 2011 01:21 (fourteen years ago)

Lol, that was actually why I said "nerdy commenters are nerdy"

― Dreaded Burrito Gang (DJP), Saturday, 30 April 2011 01:24 (fourteen years ago)

I really do think that's the intent here, though. Phyllis's admission seems odd as a throwaway detail, even for this show. And for Erin to bring it up a few minutes later, and for her to be about the right age, AND for her to choose right now to admit she doesn't know the identity of her birth mother...it all seems to be leading to something

― Johnny Fever, Saturday, 30 April 2011 01:25 (fourteen years ago)

I don't know if we knew she didn't know who her birth mother was, but I think we knew she was adopted (and maybe she thinks she's an orphan?)

― if hongroes could fly this place would be a geirport (Drugs A. Money), Saturday, 30 April 2011 02:19 (fourteen years ago)

Yeah, we definitely already knew that Erin and her brother grew up in foster care. Remember that episode where Andy spends an evening with them and is skeeved by how intimate they are?

― SteakNique (®2011 Ulillillia) (Phil D.), Saturday, 30 April 2011 12:25 (fourteen years ago)

I missed a lot of episodes last season and earlier this season because I gave up on the show, so I'm certain I'm not up to speed on some things.

― Johnny Fever, Saturday, 30 April 2011 15:28 (fourteen years ago)

But what?

― Simon H. Shit (Simon H.), Saturday, 30 April 2011 15:30 (fourteen years ago)

How did Pam get past TSA security. Even Ross had to buy a ticket to see Rachael.

― Pleasant Plains, Tuesday, 3 May 2011 14:58 (fourteen years ago)

I thought that ending was a bit overwrought tbh...I'm trying to remember if Michael & Pam said two words to each other all season...

― if hongroes could fly this place would be a geirport (Drugs A. Money), Tuesday, 3 May 2011 15:23 (fourteen years ago)

yeah because they just met this season

― Dreaded Burrito Gang (DJP), Tuesday, 3 May 2011 15:30 (fourteen years ago)

yeah that's the point i'm trying to make

― if hongroes could fly this place would be a geirport (Drugs A. Money), Tuesday, 3 May 2011 15:39 (fourteen years ago)

The closest connections Michael had in the office were with Dwight, Jim and Pam. Each of them got a send-off in character with their relationship with Michael. I don't really see how it was "overwrought"; we didn't see Pam sobbing or pulling her hair or anything.

― Dreaded Burrito Gang (DJP), Tuesday, 3 May 2011 15:41 (fourteen years ago)

I'm well aware that Michael and Pam have shared a rock solid bond thru most of the show (tbh I think they had the closest connection out any of them; she went with him to start his own company, she helped him thru Holly, he was the only who really enjoyed her gallery showing), but I still kind of felt the whole goodbye at the airport thing seemed a little out of nowhere...

has Pam and Michael really had any moments together since he dumped her mom, or did that wholly damage their friendship up til now?

― if hongroes could fly this place would be a geirport (Drugs A. Money), Tuesday, 3 May 2011 15:44 (fourteen years ago)

Pam's affection for Michael has always been expressed only when forced or rushed by circumstance - ie him turning up at her gallery showing, her making the snap and unlikely decision to leave with him for his own company - it was totally "in character with [t]he[i]r relationship with Michael" to miss the actual scenario, find out after the fact, and be surprised by that into rushing to express a degree of care she hasn't shown in months or years

― I have some kind of staph infection, and the only prescription is IALEX (sic), Tuesday, 3 May 2011 15:51 (fourteen years ago)

on 2nd thought, DJP otm: 'overwrought' is the wrong word. I didn't have a problem w/ Pam rushing to meet him at the airport, or even her being the one to send him off; it was more the fact that the writers oh so cleverly managed to get Michael to take his mic off before their little 'goodbye cute' to make it extra special, or ending by having Pam filling us in how he was feeling/what he was thinking, when we'd been following him around for the last fifty-nine minutes & had a p good idea ourselves. I thought that stuff was sentimental overkill

― if hongroes could fly this place would be a geirport (Drugs A. Money), Tuesday, 3 May 2011 16:11 (fourteen years ago)

(plus I think I was supposed to feel some sort of suspense that Michael wd leave w/o Pam telling him goodbye, and I didnt feel that bcz they really haven't talked much since he dumped her mom...you guys get me?)

― if hongroes could fly this place would be a geirport (Drugs A. Money), Tuesday, 3 May 2011 16:14 (fourteen years ago)

I'll be glad when Will Ferrell leaves.

― Johnny Fever, Friday, 6 May 2011 01:10 (fourteen years ago)

okay that was the greatest thing that could have happened to D'Angelo

― Dreaded Burrito Gang (DJP), Friday, 6 May 2011 01:31 (fourteen years ago)

Agreed.

― Johnny Fever, Friday, 6 May 2011 01:37 (fourteen years ago)

I stopped watching this show halfway through last season. Judging from some of these comments, I take it the show's gotten a bit better?

― Mr. Snrub, Friday, 6 May 2011 03:35 (fourteen years ago)

the new girl is just silly hot, like the last new girl, and the one before that

― ruingin (rip van wanko), Friday, 6 May 2011 03:45 (fourteen years ago)

^otm

This season is definitely better than last year, since everybody, writers and audience, knew that this would be carell's final year and they wrote the season around that premise. There's some of the standard wheel-spinning in the first few eps, but it moved on quickly enough

― Nhex, Friday, 6 May 2011 03:50 (fourteen years ago)

Tonight's post-Carell ep was dud until the very end, though. Whether or not I watch next year depends on who joins the cast.

― Johnny Fever, Friday, 6 May 2011 03:51 (fourteen years ago)

think Jordan Garfield is gonna stick around?

― schizophrenics think I'm hilarious (Drugs A. Money), Friday, 6 May 2011 04:04 (fourteen years ago)

No, but I never thought Erin would either (remember she came in for the Michael Scott Paper Company arc)

― Nhex, Friday, 6 May 2011 05:18 (fourteen years ago)

xp her irl name is Cody Horn and she's apparently an official cast member now.

― Johnny Fever, Friday, 6 May 2011 05:56 (fourteen years ago)

http://www.tvline.com/2011/02/the-office-recruits-cody-horn/

Cody Horn (Rescue Me) has been tapped to fill one of the three new roles being added to the NBC comedy in the post-Steve Carell era.
Not much is known about Horn’s character, except that she’ll be a pleasant and smart addition to Dunder Mifflin’s Scranton branch. She’ll also be involved in a hot-and-heavy romance with a longtime staffer — that is if this next quote from executive producer and costar Paul Lieberstein (Toby) is to be believed.
“We’re very excited to have found Cody,” Lieberstein tells TVLine. ”We’ve been searching for a love interest for Creed for a long time. So just sit back and get ready to be disgusted.”

― Johnny Fever, Friday, 6 May 2011 05:59 (fourteen years ago)

oh my god

― Dreaded Burrito Gang (DJP), Friday, 6 May 2011 13:14 (fourteen years ago)

Poor poor girl, but massive lol potential there. Last night's was truly awful until the last five minutes, which pretty much redeemed Ferrell's entire stint.

― 'what are you, the Hymen Protection League of America?' (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Friday, 6 May 2011 13:44 (fourteen years ago)

I dunno, I liked the juggling thing

― Dreaded Burrito Gang (DJP), Friday, 6 May 2011 13:58 (fourteen years ago)

Really liked this episode. I don't get why so many people here hated it tbh. We got to see Kevin etc. react differently for the first time in ages. There's no future in the show so they might as well start dicking around with the dynamics.

― finish with a fast piston pump (Autumn Almanac), Friday, 6 May 2011 21:26 (fourteen years ago)

I want to say better stuff but I just woke up and of course jumped straight on the internet

― finish with a fast piston pump (Autumn Almanac), Friday, 6 May 2011 21:26 (fourteen years ago)

Some of my most regrettable posts come that way. I think you did just fine.

― Johnny Fever, Friday, 6 May 2011 21:27 (fourteen years ago)

did they already air that episode that was gonna have all the guest stars?

― Mordy, Friday, 6 May 2011 21:38 (fourteen years ago)

That's the finale I think. Probably next week.

― Johnny Fever, Friday, 6 May 2011 21:41 (fourteen years ago)

xxp aww ta

According to wikipedia (with SPOILERS so don't go there) there's two more episodes, the last of which is a double.

In fact there's a recent TV Squad with all the final dates of pretty much everything, wait there while I rummage through the superhighway.

― finish with a fast piston pump (Autumn Almanac), Friday, 6 May 2011 21:54 (fourteen years ago)

http://www.tvsquad.com/2011/05/01/may-2011-finale-dates/

― finish with a fast piston pump (Autumn Almanac), Friday, 6 May 2011 21:55 (fourteen years ago)

(no spoilers in that link btw, just dates)

― finish with a fast piston pump (Autumn Almanac), Friday, 6 May 2011 21:56 (fourteen years ago)

I have the world's biggest crush on Mindy Kaling btw

― finish with a fast piston pump (Autumn Almanac), Friday, 6 May 2011 23:20 (fourteen years ago)

Ok Catherine Tate was awesome.

― s.clover, Friday, 20 May 2011 01:53 (fourteen years ago)

Loved Ray Romano's sad sack.

― clever dummy (boxall), Friday, 20 May 2011 02:10 (fourteen years ago)

This episode killed. Ryan was awesome, Erin's puppet, the Dwight brine, everything clicked.

― Shart Shaped Box (Phil D.), Friday, 20 May 2011 02:13 (fourteen years ago)

Burn victim Dwight!

I have a feeling that Jim is gonna be Regional Manager

― excitebikable boy (Drugs A. Money), Friday, 20 May 2011 02:44 (fourteen years ago)

Dwight vs. Spader=EPIC

― Handjobs for a sport (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, 20 May 2011 03:10 (fourteen years ago)

^ this!

If it's not Spader, I will cry.

― Johnny Fever, Friday, 20 May 2011 03:15 (fourteen years ago)

Best Creed material in a long time, too. Ep was written by Paul Lieberstein/Toby. If he's not head writer he should be.

― Shart Shaped Box (Phil D.), Friday, 20 May 2011 09:43 (fourteen years ago)

Lieberstein is (or is about to become) the showrunner, yeah.

Loved this episode. Seriously thought we would get an answer today (I even hid from the internet ffs) but I really don't mind, who(m)ever they go with is bound to work, and whatever they do the viewership will drop away and the show will die in 2-3 years but it will be brilliant.

― 百万个叉烧包 (Autumn Almanac), Friday, 20 May 2011 11:55 (fourteen years ago)

Only really grating part was Gervais's pre-recorded bit. Token, unnecessary, buggered up the flow slightly.

― 百万个叉烧包 (Autumn Almanac), Friday, 20 May 2011 11:56 (fourteen years ago)

Dwight vs. Spader=EPIC
― Handjobs for a sport (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, 20 May 2011 03:10 (8 hours ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
^ this!
If it's not Spader, I will cry.
― Johnny Fever, Friday, 20 May 2011 03:15 (8 hours ago)

Yes! Glorious. Best "guest star" episode of anything ever?

― Ned Trifle (Notinmyname), Friday, 20 May 2011 12:12 (fourteen years ago)

"Why would you need relocation if you already live in Scranton?"

"Well, I'd want to move further away."

― Ned Trifle (Notinmyname), Friday, 20 May 2011 12:14 (fourteen years ago)

"You should drop the Jim schtick for a day and try caring about something. You might like it … James."

― Shart Shaped Box (Phil D.), Friday, 20 May 2011 13:06 (fourteen years ago)

yeah what was that about? Dude is insane.

Also now that they've built up our expectations by going out with a load of ~superstars~ vying for contention, would they (i.e. the network/production) actually have the balls to promote an existing character? I don't think Darryl would get it anyway because his function seems to be pathos, but I still don't get why Jim is not the obvious choice (although his drawn-out ascension would make a good arc for s8).

― 百万个叉烧包 (Autumn Almanac), Friday, 20 May 2011 13:14 (fourteen years ago)

Lieberstein is (or is about to become) the showrunner, yeah.

He's been showrunner for the last three years, since Schur left to start Parks & Rec.

So glad they haven't dropped a star in now/yet, really hope we get to see more dynamics of the office next year after the Michaelfest this season.

― the man who forsook his wife for fap fap fap (sic), Friday, 20 May 2011 13:52 (fourteen years ago)

actually I think Dwight becoming a serious candidate is going to result in Jim's speedy ascension...

did you see how they set up & dealt w/ the whole Erin/Phyllis mom/daughter thing too?

― excitebikable boy (Drugs A. Money), Friday, 20 May 2011 14:15 (fourteen years ago)

Yeah, Phyllis's reaction was profound enough that her story in s8 could be adopting a child or something. This is what the show needs, the minor characters doing things. It's been all Michael this season (and fair enough) but the balance really needs to tip back now.

He's been showrunner for the last three years, since Schur left to start Parks & Rec.

ugh so we blame him ^_^

― 百万个叉烧包 (Autumn Almanac), Friday, 20 May 2011 21:10 (fourteen years ago)

Having thought a bit about this last episode, I don't think I like the increasing focus on omgfamous actors. The show used to feel like a proper office with actual people, now it feels like a TV show (if you know what I mean). I really really liked yesterday's episode but there were waaaay too many celebrity cameos (and Kathy Bates) for it to feel real anymore. Maybe that's a deliberate decision by Lieberstein, I don't know.

― 百万个叉烧包 (Autumn Almanac), Friday, 20 May 2011 21:15 (fourteen years ago)

hope the dilemma over outing the senator to Angela, and Daryl choking under pressure, is an indicator that they'll be focussing on employee-related plots next year.

also, Andy you idiot! bring back puppy love for the nard-dog.

― the man who forsook his wife for fap fap fap (sic), Saturday, 21 May 2011 00:11 (fourteen years ago)

I'll actually be excited for next season if Tate is in...

― Nhex, Saturday, 21 May 2011 00:58 (fourteen years ago)

I dunno, she's playing it up a bit much for mine.

― 百万个叉烧包 (Autumn Almanac), Saturday, 21 May 2011 01:34 (fourteen years ago)

One throwaway gag I liked: Daryl calling Microsoft tech support about the missing "little paperclip" helper.

― Handjobs for a sport (C. Grisso/McCain), Saturday, 21 May 2011 04:06 (fourteen years ago)

"I believe his name was..... Clippy."

― Maltodextrin, Saturday, 21 May 2011 04:35 (fourteen years ago)

I don't think I like the increasing focus on omgfamous actors.

I just assumed this was like an end of season/goodbye Michael thing/in-joke thing. I don't see them doing that next season but I am not a television producer. I thought they all did their job well (except Gervais which was lazy). Spader was worth it on his own though.

― i can't, i won't (Ned Trifle II), Saturday, 21 May 2011 06:44 (fourteen years ago)

Spader was fantastic. Was he deliberately doing a Shatner impression or is that just what Spader does these days?

― 百万个叉烧包 (Autumn Almanac), Saturday, 21 May 2011 07:15 (fourteen years ago)

Well, he spent several seasons with Shatner on Boston Legal, so it probably just rubbed off on him.

― Johnny Fever, Saturday, 21 May 2011 07:24 (fourteen years ago)

Whether it be here or on a different show, Spader needs to be back on television.

― Johnny Fever, Saturday, 21 May 2011 07:24 (fourteen years ago)

Having thought a bit about this last episode, I don't think I like the increasing focus on omgfamous actors. The show used to feel like a proper office with actual people, now it feels like a TV show (if you know what I mean). I really really liked yesterday's episode but there were waaaay too many celebrity cameos (and Kathy Bates) for it to feel real anymore. Maybe that's a deliberate decision by Lieberstein, I don't know.

― 百万个叉烧包 (Autumn Almanac), Friday, May 20, 2011 5:15 PM (Yesterday)

The show hasn't felt real like what you describe since everyone became cartoon exaggerations of their unique quirks.

― Wacky Way Lounge (Evan), Sunday, 22 May 2011 00:06 (fourteen years ago)

The cameos are also more of a way to keep people hooked, because I'm sure they're worried about holding viewers now that Michael is gone.

― Wacky Way Lounge (Evan), Sunday, 22 May 2011 00:09 (fourteen years ago)

No doubt. Also I see your point about caricatures. Shame it's gone that way, but I still like it despite that.

― 百万个叉烧包 (Autumn Almanac), Sunday, 22 May 2011 00:28 (fourteen years ago)

half the cast were completely cartoony from the start (eg Creed, Kevin, Dwight, MICHAEL. Kelly was rebooted from S2 into a new character, so basically started as a cartoon there.), but played against the flatness of the tone and the comparative realism of some of the others, it didn't affect the overall feel. and I'll take the ongoing exagerration of some of the others if it brings moments like Meredith's cheerful pride at being caught on her "walk of shame."

― the man who forsook his wife for fap fap fap (sic), Sunday, 22 May 2011 01:50 (fourteen years ago)

Yeah that's true, they were cardboard cut-outs and became real from there (by "they" I mean basically every character whose first name is the same as the actor's — Creed, Phyllis, Oscar, Angela &c.)

― 百万个叉烧包 (Autumn Almanac), Sunday, 22 May 2011 01:57 (fourteen years ago)

In the beginning Michael's cartoony-ness was the basis of the show, Dwight's was secondary, and the moments involving the background employees in the office were all there to present a relatable experience. Maybe it's something like yours, or one you heard from a friend, but they all take place in a atmosphere that is believably mundane, and involve actual PEOPLE. Since Michael's cartoony-ness was the epicenter, his character was balanced out by the realness/relate-ability or dry/mundaneness of the other characters. Even Dwight had sensitivity and his shenanigans were in-check and believable. As the balance faded and the anonymity (and mysterious strangeness by some) of the characters went away, they literally became their quirks after initial bits involving them were piled on and shaped them into something singular. Meanwhile the more complex, spotlighted characters were boiled down due to too much reaching for new bits involving their most popular quirks. The show only worked when we still had something to learn about everybody.

― Wacky Way Lounge (Evan), Sunday, 22 May 2011 05:57 (fourteen years ago)

an atmosphere*

― Wacky Way Lounge (Evan), Sunday, 22 May 2011 05:58 (fourteen years ago)

There was a seriousness that I don't think The Office will ever be able to get back.

― house is house is house (CaptainLorax), Monday, 23 May 2011 01:55 (fourteen years ago)

Same goes to The Simpsons

― house is house is house (CaptainLorax), Monday, 23 May 2011 01:57 (fourteen years ago)

So damn true. New Simpsons just makes me sad.

― Wacky Way Lounge (Evan), Monday, 23 May 2011 02:18 (fourteen years ago)

my motto is, when your credibility is shot, start shovelling in the hawtness

(hi cody <3)

― excitebikable boy (Drugs A. Money), Monday, 23 May 2011 02:20 (fourteen years ago)

spader killed in that ep

still like this show enough to watch

― ban drake (the author in the military science fiction subgenre) (history mayne), Thursday, 26 May 2011 23:27 (fourteen years ago)

why is there no British version of Prince

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s68P-GS4lyw

― Latham Green, Friday, 27 May 2011 19:51 (fourteen years ago)

what! stupid Ted Turner embedding failure! go eat you dam buffalos! thats why there is no British Prince!!

― Latham Green, Friday, 27 May 2011 19:52 (fourteen years ago)

still like this show enough to watch

otm. It's changed quite a lot but I still love watching it.

― 百万个叉烧包 (Autumn Almanac), Friday, 27 May 2011 21:27 (fourteen years ago)

my god that was a pointless comment, sorry

― 百万个叉烧包 (Autumn Almanac), Friday, 27 May 2011 21:28 (fourteen years ago)

I won't say the most recent season was a return to form because a) I hate that phrase and b) it wasn't, but it was an improvement over the slump the show had fallen into the last couple years. I actually DID enjoy watching it again this year...well, from where I picked it up anyway (I didn't see the first half of the season).

― Johnny Fever, Friday, 27 May 2011 21:35 (fourteen years ago)

my god that was a pointless comment, sorry

nah it's worth noting amidst all the dissatifaction. idgas that it isn't the same show that it was four years ago, it's still funny pretty much every week.

― the man who forsook his wife for fap fap fap (sic), Saturday, 28 May 2011 05:09 (fourteen years ago)

certainly funnier than other nbc mockumentary-style sitcoms i could name

― ban drake (the author in the military science fiction subgenre) (history mayne), Saturday, 28 May 2011 08:23 (fourteen years ago)

if you are referring to parks & rec you fail as a human being

― 百万个叉烧包 (Autumn Almanac), Saturday, 28 May 2011 08:40 (fourteen years ago)

hm, while I find that within the realm of believability (the fact someone might prefer The Office to P&R—ratings don't lie), the fact that you'll insert your challop into any situation is annoying. Or endearing. I haven't decided.

― Johnny Fever, Saturday, 28 May 2011 08:49 (fourteen years ago)

Park & Rec's ratings are not as good because (a) it's newer and (b) it takes more effort to get into. sales != quality

― 百万个叉烧包 (Autumn Almanac), Saturday, 28 May 2011 10:19 (fourteen years ago)

one month passes...

JAMES SPADER.

awesome.

― Mordy, Thursday, 7 July 2011 02:18 (fourteen years ago)

he's not the new boss though, just the CEO. They really punted on replacing Michael Scott.

― Matt Armstrong, Thursday, 7 July 2011 02:53 (fourteen years ago)

u can't ask me to not be excited about james spader

― Mordy, Thursday, 7 July 2011 02:54 (fourteen years ago)

how many threads do we need on this?

Spader as CEO >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Spader as Michael tho

― undeɹrated ærosm?th b∞tlegs I have pwned (sic), Thursday, 7 July 2011 03:17 (fourteen years ago)

what other thread is it on?

― Mordy, Thursday, 7 July 2011 03:20 (fourteen years ago)

The Office (US) — Season 6 thread last updated two hours before this one

― undeɹrated ærosm?th b∞tlegs I have pwned (sic), Thursday, 7 July 2011 03:23 (fourteen years ago)

oh -- i think this one gets more use. i unsubscribed from that one awhile ago for the reason you mention -- how many office threads do we need?

― Mordy, Thursday, 7 July 2011 03:27 (fourteen years ago)

seven months pass...

so awkward

― Mordy, Friday, 24 February 2012 02:11 (thirteen years ago)

what's awkward is that every week, another thread gets revived.

The Office Season 8: It Kinda Seems Like the Left Side is the Side to Be On

― Three Word Username, Friday, 24 February 2012 08:54 (thirteen years ago)

two years pass...

Rewatching the complete series of this, loving James Spader so much.

"I had a one man saturnalia last night to celebrate the finalization of my divorce."

― Treeship, Sunday, 6 July 2014 19:12 (eleven years ago)

http://38.media.tumblr.com/981d3964c092b684cfc20c7270b049f5/tumblr_mvw2uuSwXh1s6xigeo1_500.jpg

So yeah this show started out ok then got really good til Michael Scott left. I love the episodes immediately following it, the guest star managers and weird Lynchian James Spader stuff. But it's pretty clear that they decided to end the show when Michael left. Maybe they were thinking Ed Helms could save the show but his character is really detestable for that final season. Erin is easily the best part of post-Michael Office. New Jim and New Dwight were cool. Jim's sports thing in Philadelphia is a lame subplot, and the Boom Mic Guy subplot is some Twin Peaks season 2 James Biker-level blah blah blah.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AtFy1kGaHc

Craig Robinson rules

Creed Bratton: Hey, coz. Heard you're having money problems.
Michael Scott: No, you didn't.
Creed Bratton: Listen, I got the answer. You declare bankruptcy, all your problems go away.
Creed Bratton: [in confessional] Creed Bratton has never declared bankruptcy. When Creed Bratton gets in trouble, he transfers his debt to
[holds up a fake passport]
Creed Bratton: William Charles Schneider.
Michael Scott: How would that help, Creed? In Monopoly, you go bankrupt, you lose.
Creed Bratton: You don't go by Monopoly, man. That game is *nuts*. Nobody just pick up Get Out of Jail Free cards. Those things cost thousands.
Michael Scott: That is a good point.

Slowly watching the post-Michael seasons now, Erin is the best thing about them by far.

― a biscuit/donut hybrid called “bisnuts” (stevie), Friday, 11 July 2014 12:47 (eleven years ago)

two years pass...

i've gone back to rewatch this series from the start. right now i'm halfway through season 5. imo season 2 is the best. the Michael-Jan stuff is very interesting, the weird power struggles they deal with, and it's funny to watch him fail at both being a competent manager and a lover often at the same time. Jan was a really good character it is a shame what happened, they basically turned her into a crazy ex. the show works best when it just sits back and lets Michael fail and Jan was the best foil for him, the Margaret Dumont to his Groucho.

― AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Friday, 7 July 2017 21:00 (eight years ago)

two weeks pass...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiI4lvRbLkU

― AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Saturday, 22 July 2017 06:17 (eight years ago)

when it starts the "Jim's sports company" subplot this show becomes a struggle to get through

― AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Monday, 24 July 2017 23:16 (eight years ago)

James Spader is cool. Catherine Tate is cool but they quickly ran out of things for her character to do. Ed Helms is funny but a mostly absent boss. Ellie Kemper is the funniest part of the last couple of seasons.

― AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Monday, 24 July 2017 23:18 (eight years ago)

six years pass...

Finished up a few days ago, all nine seasons. I should have posted a few times as I went along--hard to sum up after you've finished. (I might do a character rundown in a couple of days.) Briefly: erratic, as you'd expect, but at its best I loved it. Especially Pam and Jim the first two or three seasons--as crazy as this sounds, I think that was about as romantic as any film I've ever seen. And so out of the blue when you don't know anything in advance, and you've decided you have a pretty good idea of what you're about to see.

― clemenza, Sunday, 28 January 2024 21:41 (one year ago)

I never made it past episode one of the British show. It made my skin crawl.

― immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Monday, 29 January 2024 15:28 (one year ago)

I'm amazed at how much negativity there is towards Pam early in this thread. Thought she was pretty great right from the start.

― clemenza, Monday, 29 January 2024 15:53 (one year ago)

Apparently this show has become a touchstone for Gen Z, which is really odd, given how little actual office experience any of them have had. It'd be like them really getting into a show about people using rotary phones. (And yeah, obviously the office setting of The Office is all but incidental, but still.)

― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 29 January 2024 16:26 (one year ago)

two weeks pass...

I think at least once a day for the rest of my life I will randomly blurt out "WUPHF.com!" at some point.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfokPqeSNcw

― clemenza, Monday, 12 February 2024 20:55 (one year ago)

lol

― Marten Broadcloak, mild-mannered GOP congressman (Raymond Cummings), Monday, 12 February 2024 21:00 (one year ago)

"This is how you make it in this country..."

I bet I've watched that clip 25 times the past month.

― clemenza, Monday, 12 February 2024 21:02 (one year ago)

two months pass...

Second-last one of the these--you can feel the magic in the air. Not really about pop music in The Office, which was used sparsely over nine seasons--just 20 minutes on the "Nobody But Me" lib-dub, posted just above.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4NtPbFQd-s&t

― clemenza, Tuesday, 23 April 2024 01:16 (one year ago)

one year passes...

First trailer for the new ‘THE OFFICE’ series ‘THE PAPER’

The series follows the Dunder Mifflin documentary crew as they focus on a dying Midwestern newspaper & its reporters.

Releasing September 4 on Peacock. pic.twitter.com/lDwjQIlWNk
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) August 7, 2025

Looks like Oscar is the only shared character?

― Iza Duffus Hardy (President Keyes), Thursday, 7 August 2025 18:20 (one month ago)

so is this going to be really unrealistic or really depressing?

― Proust Ian Rush (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Thursday, 7 August 2025 18:42 (one month ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.