The Office (US) — Season 5 thread

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Michael/Jan/Holly triangle? The Kelly/Darryl/Ryan triangle? The Angela/Andy/Dwight triangle? Pam/Jim/unnamed dude at Pratt who also plays on Mad Men triangle?

This is all minor. CREED IS SELLING PEOPLE FAKE TAPEWORMS, PEOPLE!

Don't forget Phyllis' jugs!

I think my favorite part of the premiere was Oscar and Holly in the kitchen, with Oscar feigning offense.

I was just thinking about that scene.. that was great. Also Pam being carried around the office on the laptop, especially the talking head. "Can you give me back to Jim now, please?"

Dwight's nod at the cameracrew who also busted he and Angela = great.

Also, Michael following Jim in and back out of the bathroom. "I thought you had to pee."

"Everything. She's perfection."

Amy Ryan is so goddamn cute.
http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/dynamic/imgs/071227/breakouts/ryan_l.jpg

awwwwwww
http://www.scottgries.com/portfolio/photos/amy_ryan.jpg

is that the 'how to look good naked' bed?

beadie!

awww..her name is beatrice

watched this on the computer for those of you wondering

phew

not live

hey what was up with Phyllis's blotchy acne'd purple face in the beginning, did they explain that?

the college dude who flirts with pam kinda looks like n/a

thats what i thought!

lol me too

hahaha... I thought the same thing too.

I loved all the different names of the guys in Andy's a cappella group.

ya, especially how he kept going till there were like 20 of them.

I wonder if Michael's goatee was a little homage to David Brent? I mean, aside from being another example of his Ryan mancrush.

I also thought of n/a!

I wish I had an Office doppelganger.

It was a safe but good start for the new season. Very balanced, almost everyone but Meredith got some screen time and that one scene in the rain at the ending was sweet, short and beautiful. And totally unexpected, which is a plus.

I wonder if Michael's goatee was a little homage to David Brent? I mean, aside from being another example of his Ryan mancrush.

― C. Grisso/McCain, Saturday, September 27, 2008 4:35 PM (34 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

i thought of this too

Ryan was more fun as a douchebag cokehead young exec.

come on, seeing him return as the temp again was gold

i thought of n/a as well

Me too, but I didn't say anything to Sunny. "Hey, look! that man on the TV looks one of them guys on the internets!"

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x122/cah215/LJ%20icons/s4.png

Man, I don't know how much longer I can watch this show. This wasn't nearly as funny as it used to be. Really weak plot too.

I'm still trying to decide if I have a crush on Kelly or not. I think I do.

This wasn't nearly as funny as it used to be. Really weak plot too.

Meh, maybe...but,
I loved all the different names of the guys in Andy's a cappella group.

that was completely redemptive. "Sandwich"! I need to go back and watch the episode again just to experience his reeling off of the names once more...

This wasn't nearly as funny as it used to be.

A ton of this has to do with how well we now know the characters, their mannerisms and their inclinations. Not much in the way of "WTF" moments anymore, but when they come they're more applaudable. It's just a different kind of funny now.

A ton of this has to do with how well we now know the characters, their mannerisms and their inclinations.

You have a point there but just the same I feel like the writers had some awesomely funny one-dimensional characters in this office and now they're trying to make it a drama/narrative, and in the process smoothing out the eccentricities I was drawn to the show for in the first place.

I just remember Michael constantly saying ridiculous things that were unprofessional to the point of absurdity. Or Pam & Jim's pranks on Dwight. Or Dwight acting like a psychopath. There were some good running jokes that aren't around anymore because the plot-lines are taking precedence. Holly hasn't added anything to the show for me. I'm going to rewatch and give it another shot..

Man disregard most of that post. I'm watching it again and it's pretty funny. I hope they kill off Andy's character though.

I hope they kill off Andy's character though.

u so crazy

It's pretty hard for a show to sustain itself over 5 years. Things just tend to get stale. This show is holding up better than most and is still plenty enjoyable. They kind of had to shift to a more narrative approach to avoid becoming overly repetitious.

i finally watched the last 10 minutes i fell asleep in when it aired

OMGS JAMMY GOODNESS PEOPLES!!!!!!

Suck it, N/A!!!

i cant believe noone has complained about the episdoe being an hour long yet and what happened to toby?

What's the point in complaining about hour long episodes anymore? Besides, as far as those go, this one wasn't really all that bad.

im not complaining but the last thread seemed to be complaint after complaint about having to suffer through an entire hour so i was wondering where those peeps were

"I never really processed 9/11"!

^^^^ that was a great

line

Well, those hour long episodes were garbage. xxxpost

I'll give you the "Michael drives into a lake" one, but the rabies fun run??? The "Alfredo's Pizza Cafe/Pizza By Alfredo" bit? Andy singing "Take a Chance on Me" to Angela with Here Comes Treble on the telephone??

Anyway, while the office is not in "best TV show of all time" territory like it was in season 2, it's not like these past couple years have been complete disasters like The Simpsons. It's still hands down the best show on TV right now.

The funniest laugh of the night for me was Michael putting up the pictures of fat people, which included Jabba the Hutt, Elvis, Big Momma, and the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man.

i cant believe noone has complained about the episdoe being an hour long yet and what happened to toby?

― Bright Future (sunny successor), Sunday, September 28, 2008 9:49 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

these were exactly my main complaints!!!

It's still hands down the best show on TV right now.

It's not even the best show on NBC on Thursdays.

the college dude who flirts with pam kinda looks like n/a

I thought this, too, when he took off his glasses in a Mad Men episode.

I kind of love the fact that My Name Is Earl is the worst comedy on NBC Thursday night. It makes for a very enjoyable evening of television.

still not enough creed. or creed stealing.

fuck i really need to lose some weight

fuck

it wasn't actually you.

stop hitting on pammie, n/a she's jim's now

hey what was up with Phyllis's blotchy acne'd purple face in the beginning, did they explain that?

― iiiijjjj, Friday, September 26, 2008 5:33 PM (3 days ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

Wait, wasn't this Meredith? I think there must be a deleted scene.

yeah it was meredith. liquid diet?

apparently the reason is on angela kinsey's myspace blog. someone go look. myspace is blocked at my work.

http://www.nbc.com/The_Office/video/clips/weight-loss-clip-two/702025/

"One more kid calls me Hellboy, I swear to God..."

so do we know why yet?

it just says this sunny, then some talk about her emmy dress:

Some of you were confused about Meredith's sunburned face. She actually had a talking head that explained it all. It was very funny, and hopefully you will see it on deleted scenes on nbc.com. How great was that Jim / Pam proposal moment? Like a lot of you guys, I teared up. Things for Dwight and Andy and Angela only get more complicated as the season goes. I can't wait for you guys to watch it unfold. And Amy Ryan was awesome. I love that we have an Oscar nominated actress rapping with Michael Scott.

Yesterday I watched Ed and Oscar do a scene and they were flat out brilliant! I can't wait for you guys to see it. I wish I could say more. One thing I love about our writers is that they are always finding out new ways to reveal different sides of our characters and a lot of times that shows itself in new pairings of people. I love Andy and Oscar together!

It's sunburn. She says in a one-on-one: "These guys took me out on their fishing boat... I don't think I caught anything."

ahhhhhhhhhhhh...thanks!

Andy Bernard as Sports Marketing Guru Bradley Wallace on Cheap Seats

this wasn't on last night cuz of the debate, right?

Right.

office+30rock awsomenazz next week!

not according to nbc
Thursday, October 09
8:00 PM
My Name Is Earl WE'VE GOT SPIRIT All New
8:30 PM
PM Kath & Kim PILOT All New
9:00 PM
PM The Office BUSINESS ETHICS All New
9:31 PM
PM NBC Specials SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE WEEKEND UPDATE THURSDAY (10/9/08) All New

FUH!

30 Rock season premiere = October 30th.

ghey

Weekend Update Thursdays = 30 minutes of Tina Fey as Palin?? Sweet!

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oh so its like the daily show with darrell hammond. great.

Since we're just on the broader topic of NBC Thursday nights now, how many weeks do you give Kath & Kim before cancellation?

6 weeks

How many weeks did you give US Office before cancellation?

156

Yeah, I don't see why everyone is so down on Kath & Kim. At least watch an episode before writing it off completely.

is there a mockumentary element to it? i could see that being watchable. if she lays off the ham

was reminded how good selma blair was in hellboy. hope she made it to the sequel i haven't seen it.

She's in the sequel too, but I also haven't seen it.

she is six kinds of slamming in it

Yeah, I don't see why everyone is so down on Kath & Kim. At least watch an episode before writing it off completely

I'm watching. My suspicions are being confirmed right before my eyes.

This show is pretty bad.

too bad sweet cast

The fact that The Office follows it directly just makes it even MORE unfunny.

Yeah. I was gonna say - by contrast, The Office is a great show.

(Not even by contrast. It's just a great show. But by contrast, it's an even greater show.)

lol at Battlestar Galactica convo between Jim & Andy. I could see Dwight's blood boiling through the tv.

"The bread is POISONED"

GOOD episode

"i've got a bag of cigars in my purse"

(Sob) Looks like this is the beginning of the end for Holly. How can they kill off such an amazing character so quickly???? I don't care if she's a bigtime Academy Award-nominated actress, just pay her whatever she wants to keep her on the show!

"Thief of Joy"

"How do you tell someone you care about ... deeply ... 'I told you so'?"

Wait is Michael not with Jan anymore? I thought he was pretending to be father to her unborn child or something?

Also Creed with 'The tall guy got engaged"

i lolled the most at the battlestar thing. not an amazing ep otherwise. but that was hilarious.

Yeah, Holly's listed as a "Special guest" which is a shame.

a bit short on laughs this one. jan really needs to go. i liked her a whole lot better when she was only michael's boss. the only good parts of the episode were michael's funny "baby daddy" conversation with darryl and the romantic jim and pam scene at the end.

I got up half way through to make a bowl of cereal and never bothered to come back until the very end (saw the voicemail exchange scene). I guess I'll catch what I missed on hulu.

I was wondering what they were still doing with Jan - it seems like over the last year she had been made almost completely unlikeable and crazy - up until her last scene when they redeemed her. If they're going to eventually put her back with Michael, I don't really see the point now.

"i performed my own circumcision"

"$1200 for a stroller? i spent $1200 on my BOMB SHELTER."

Dwight, Jan & Ryan are my clients. Jan is in for wild times on the show. Hang in there!

They're working these really wild hours to get 18 eps in the can pronto. Dwight is really fun and interesting in person. Ryan is making a movie out of the country just now as his Office shots were completed for a little bit but he is back to the set in about a week.

I have to say that I started out hating this show, but persevered fir the client's sake so I could offer tidbits of "great show and that scene...." Now I really do like it. It grew on me which I didn't think would happen. More than a few people thought that the US version would flop - but it didn't (yay!) Great ensemble cast who work so well together.

I found Michael's baby issues really poignant actually. He's such a douche most of the time, but his wanting kids has always come off as the one earnest and good thing about him, so for him not to know the kid was born until after the fact? COLD. Steve Carell sells the character so well and so completely, even when I think the writing's weak he can pull something out of it.

I found Dwight completely slapsticky and over the top tonight but I liked the rest of the ep. Also no one's mentioned the clear highlight of the episode: Creed talking about the tub birth.

haha or creed crying during the delivery simulation. then they did an interview later and it looked like he was bobbing his head back and forth in the background. the dwight stuff was useless.

up until her last scene when they redeemed her

you mean last season right?

I found Dwight completely slapsticky and over the top tonight but I liked the rest of the ep. Also no one's mentioned the clear highlight of the episode: Creed talking about the tub birth.

OTM

line of the night IMO: "..must be like the tide at Omaha beach"

I could see this being a divisive episode b/w those who think the show is scrificing its madcap essence by embracing certain soap-operatic elements and those who appreciate the emphasis on the pathos, romance and "real" character development we've seen in the last few seasons. I thought tonight's episode straddled both lines rather brilliantly, actually. My only quip is that, as the writers push the development of some of the main characters, the only thing they seem to be able to do with Dwight is make him more absurdly clownlike, which is a real disappointment. Don't get me wrong, he still brings the lolz a lot of the time (like last week with the whole Battlestar Galactica exchange), but there's been too much corny slapstick going on with him in sequences like tonight's baby-carriage demolition derby.

Still by far the funniest shit on TV right now (at least until 30-Rock returns)

i thought this episode was really funny, i laughed more than last week. favorite bit was michael talking about a baby being president.

Wiggy Woo's post blows my mind.

xp yeah it made me go on a short mental riff on a 'baby president' movie but i went back to watching the show

Wiggy Woo's post blows my mind.

Yeah, I was hitherto unaware there were any bigshot entertainment execs on ILX. Wiggy Woo, would you mind if I sent you some headshots?

Wiggy Woo, please tell Rainn Wilson he's a genius.

I think Dwight is massively overrated. Michael's what makes the show! Steve Carell is brilliant with the character.

Some good Creed stuff this episode. I like it better when he's a little more mysterious and completely off the wall (ie: weeping when the fake birth stuff was happening).

You think Dwight Kurt Schrute is overrated? Are you one of those dull people who keep saying that the UK Office is more subtle blah blah blah too?

I think The Office wouldn't have made it beyond season one without Dwight.

murder checkers

sarah kyacumzin

I love Dwight. Personally I am sick of Jim.

http://sidewayspony.com/images/trough/production/2007/apr/30/23044_formatted_dwightasjimxk7.gif

I agree with Vision that the character of Dwight is key to the show. Sometimes overtly slapstick humor, but generally it's his subtlety that makes his character great; just some of the expressions he gets on his face make the entire scene, IMO.

Many people seem to think it's all Carell that makes this show. I don't really get it, because (no disrespect intended) but Carell is a bit one dimensional. He plays the same character in every project. While this "formula" works, and works well for a lot of actors for many years, Carell's shtik wears thin at times. I'd like to see him stretch more in his character(s). (Just my opinion).

And, yes I'd be happy to tell Rainn that "Vision thinks he's genius." <grin>.

So first we have the head honcho (Greg Daniels?) admitting to an ILXer that the show is actually terrible (or at least through Season One), then we have another ILXer who knows John Krasinski (Jim Halpert), another ILXer whose friend was sacked from a cappella group by Rashida Jones (Karen from Season Three), yet another whose wife once worked in a restaurant with Brian Baumgartner (Kevin), still another one who frenched an E'd up Mindy Kaling, and now this.

I call bullshit on least three of those.

I talked to my girlfriend, Jenna Fischer, about this, and she told me that actually only two of those are true. Then we had sex.

xxpost

Carell's done a lot of boring work in a lot of bad movies, but as Michael Scott I think he's pretty exceptional. One-dimensional and shticky are things I'd much sooner pin on Wilson's Dwight. Going on their work on The Office alone (not repping for Evan Almighty or anything) Carell's a more nuanced comedic actor than Rainn Wilson. THAT SAID, Dwight is an important element of the show and it would be pretty bad off without him.

Also, VISION, I prefer the US version to the UK version.

i know this show isn't perfect but for some reason i get really mad when people criticize it

i think michael scott is a national treasure.

i lolled a lot at this one. the sarah kyacumzin story was really funny, and dwight's punchline to it was really great. the big show-stopping opening got me too, especially the cut to michael eating the watermelon and dwight putting his pants on.

the rest of the jim/pam stuff was a bit on the emo side tho.

i just really truly lolled just remembering dwight say "who's sarah kyacumzin"?

SERIOUS GIGGLES PEOPLE.

I've roffled at the deleted scenes to this episode more than every joke in the actual episode combined.

"Seriously? You're OK with that?"

"You do NOT steal from Creed Bratton. The last person to do that disappeared. His name? Creed Bratton."

Creed with the best line for, like, the 60th time.

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

Best moment was not a line but Stanley's reaction shot to the Michael's bit about "selling people, like in the Olden Dayse".

this thread is getting a little sockpuppety

is it just me or does jim basically come across as the most passive-agressive/depressed/anxiety-disorder dude ever? he needs some zoloft or something.

To think I originally didn't like his character because he was too confident.

So where's the fan fic where Jim and Pam go to England and meet Tim and Dawn?

receptionist swapping

I missed this week's but I really, really liked the Jim/Pam phone message from last week. It was contrived but it was also really sweet.

It was sweet. There was nothing sweet at all about Jim/Pam's relationship this week. It was decidedly unsweet.

o what happened?

Jim gets drunk dialed. Jim sees Roy in a bar. Jim gets paranoid.

I think Harry Crane is totally going to steal Pam away.

What did Roy say to Jim that led to Jim driving to NYC? I missed it.

Jim makes some remark about Pam having been "out with her friends" the night before and Roy says "Really? (meaningful pause) I thought you were her friend." Cut to Jim driving to NYC.

I think Harry Crane is totally going to steal Pam away.

btw a friend of mine is good friends with this dude's wife (he's from minnesota).

So first we have the head honcho (Greg Daniels?) admitting to an ILXer that the show is actually terrible (or at least through Season One), then we have another ILXer who knows John Krasinski (Jim Halpert), another ILXer whose friend was sacked from a cappella group by Rashida Jones (Karen from Season Three), yet another whose wife once worked in a restaurant with Brian Baumgartner (Kevin), still another one who frenched an E'd up Mindy Kaling, and now this.

I call bullshit on least three of those.

― Mr. Snrub, Friday, October 17, 2008 10:04 PM (1 week ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

Crime Reduces Innocence, Makes Everyone Angry, I Declare!

I wanna know which three the talented Mr. Snrub is calling bullshit on!

at LEAST. could be all.

Did I ever tell you guys how my dad used to play bass in the Grass Roots?

SPOILERS AHEAD

"Crime Aid" was this season's best episode yet. Several instantly classic quotes (e.g. Dwight reminiscing about the things Angela taught him, such as preventive medicine and Monotheism).

The great thing about The Office is how they include so much information and possibilities into 20 minutes, it's almost like a Raymond Carver story: nothing is wasted, much is said, even more is implied. It's the one show on TV that bears almost second by second critical reading and it also keeps unfolding after you watch it, like (at least for me) the fact that all of the mean situations created to Phyllis by Dwight involved some sort of calories-burning/dieting activity for her, almost as if he was trying, in his own way, to help her too.

I also love how this season is full of curveballs and sudden turnarounds, like Jim proposing in the very first episode, Toby reappearing in Costa Rica, Michael feeling cold towards As-TRID, the Holly/Michael thing going very fast (as opposed to one of those complicated soap-opera romantic dramas). Some people are saying next week is going to be really radical in terms of what will happen to the cast etc.

BTW, Jim turned around, he finished the episode going back to Scranton.

hold on who made out with mindy kaling

^_^

no!

so mad I never made out with Rashida Jones (although she wasn't cute then)

fruck it all! this is best goddamn seaso of the office yet! and fuck everybody that hates the romantic lovey dovey jim and pam stuff!! i love it. i just watched laswt night's e[isode for the fourth time and i for one think its fucking great!! this is the best goddamn tv show ever and if you don;t like it then you can fuck off!! when michael says "some of what we order depends on whether we're HAVING SEX AFTERWARDS" you think to yourself "oh no! michael's being cringeworthy embarrassing like at the job fair episode or the wedding episode" and you cover your eyes and are like "oh christ make it stop!!" but wait! then holly's like, "Hell yeah, we are!!" and then you're totally relieved, like "Oh! I forgot! Holly is Michael 2.0!! So of course she's thinking the exact same thing he is!!" I love it when they play with our emotions like that.

who was the guy in the end...the one who auctioned off a weekend at Martha's Vineyard?

CEO of the company

or close to it

CFO, I think.

love how mean dwight was to phyllis in this episode

also darryl's "michael made a list of his top 10 bruce springsteen songs ... three of them were huey lewis and the news..."

ASTIRD still makes me chuckle.

"one was Tracy Chapman, Fast Car"

^^^made me lol irl

when michael says "some of what we order depends on whether we're HAVING SEX AFTERWARDS" you think to yourself "oh no! michael's being cringeworthy embarrassing like at the job fair episode or the wedding episode" and you cover your eyes and are like "oh christ make it stop!!" but wait! then holly's like, "Hell yeah, we are!!" and then you're totally relieved, like "Oh! I forgot! Holly is Michael 2.0!! So of course she's thinking the exact same thing he is!!" I love it when they play with our emotions like that.

Needs punctuation and capitalization, but yes, OTM!

"the dentist's name was crentist.....sound alot like dentist."

"maybe that's why he became a dentist.."

sorry, this just makes me LOL

"MEEEEEEEE AND THE BLUES!!! IT'S MEEEEEEE AND THE BLUES!!"

otm

"are you crying?"
"allergies?"
"did Darryl touch you?"

I lol'd.

Also: Creed is one scary dude.

This one is full of lulz.

I wanted a little bit more of the (totally amazing) costumes, but yeah, so far, it's pretty good

So will or will not Holly be back this season?

re: costumes

I loved that there were 3 Jokers, and Dwight was going to be the last one to find out.

Haha. Andy the beet farmer.

dwight was way out of character all acting like jim wtf was that

I like to think he's learned from Jim.

The Jim/Pam relationship has reached a state where it seems forced, but I suspect it's intentional.

I thought the Jim/Pam plot was pretty lame. Jim's brothers are a bunch of dorks. But the Dwight/Andy subplot was GOLD.

the show needs more Kelly

Also: Creed is one scary dude.

― Mordy, Thursday, October 30, 2008 8:12 PM Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

Jenna Fischer was just gorgeous in this one. Not the best episode, though, too sad.

Before the episode, there was this really cute commercial where Fischer sang/hummed the NBC tune and Jim-actor called her cute.

he had a point

I actually liked the brothers subplot - it gave more insight into the Jim character. Basically, if Jim really went full dickwad, he'd probably be like his brothers, who are real jerks and seem to be into actually cruel pranks. They appeared to both be older than Jim, and likely picked on him a bit). Extrapolating a bit, I know, but that was the gist I got from it.

Dwight/Andy on the other hand was a little funny, but I think this storyline has quickly run out of steam. Plus we got a lot of "angry Andy" back when he was introduced, before he "rehabbed".

I think the 3 Jokers = Tonight, everywhere.

joker sarah palin

interview section where they were fighting over the desk was the best

Did anyone else recognize Jim's bald brother from Oz, as the basketball player guard who had his ACL severed?

Jim's brothers are a bunch of dorks.

I loved that they showed that the "Jim face" runs in the family.

In retrospect, the little sitdown they did with Holly wherein she talked about breaking the news of having to move to Michael was kinda heartbreaking ("and then we both said 'Jinx'...")

i fall in love with Darryl more and more every episode

dunh dunh da dun.

darryl is wildly charming - the time he told michael aabt all the gangs he was in was the funniest yeah bloods crips latin kings... newsies lol

That was the first time "that's what she said" has made me laugh since, like, season 1.

line o' the night: "you juked the stats cupcake"

Dwight definitely owned this episode, which is a welcome change from the overblown Dwight caricature we've seen elsewhere in the past couple seasons.

The Mr. Buttlicker scene was probably the funniest of the season thus far.

yeah

I am embarrassed to say that despite having BJ, Rainn & Jenna as clients, I have been remiss in watching the show lately and have lost the plot direction. I have been more involved much more in what they're doing outside the series (work-wise and also what's happening in their real life worlds.) In your opinion(s) is this season as good as previous seasons or better? How did the PG Jan thing work out?

My major complaint about the show currently is that both Angela and Jan crossed the line from comedically intolerant/overbearing into plain old hatefulness, though it'd be tough to pinpoint exactly when. I kinda hate the Andy character and I still feel it's pretty brutal what's going on there.

That said, I think this season has been pretty solid so far, much better than last season (which was crippled by those hour shows early on, it seemed like).

Wiggy, Jenna told me to tell you that you are fired for being indiscreet. Then we had sex again.

wiggy rainn told me to tell you that you are fired for not watching the show regularly then we high fived again

I already miss Holly. I saw in TV guide that a "popular character" is coming back during sweeps. Is it Toby?

I mean, what "popular characters" have they had that left?

that guy who got fired in the 1st season

lol Devon. They brought him back in a deleted scene where Michael went to NYC. Michael was walking down the street and Devon saw him and started chasing him.

lol That reminds me of Michael talking about how much he loves the pizza in NYC and then going to Sbarro to prove his point.

n/a, stop hitting on pam.

just watched the ep from earlier this season when jim runs into roy

lol yah pams having a great time she stayed out til like 8am the other night / you used to be one of her friends

Angela is very cruel but she more than makes up for it because she is SO FUCKING FUNNY!!!

Angela: "Those aren't chips and dip!"
Pam: "No, I made brownies."
Angela: "Ugh!"
Pam: "What?"
Angela: "I just want to know why you're sabotaging things!!"
Pam: "??? I made brownies."
Angela: "And I made cookies! Same category!"

heh heh heh, you peeps crack me up. There's no way that anybody could figure out who I am and I make it a point to NEVER reference ANYTHING about my clients that could be revealing in any way. This is what is called discretion and leads to job security, as well as making me completely boring, trustworthy and the ultimately dependable wife. This is why I am *almost* divorced (cum'on March '09!) Perhaps I will be more interesting again as a single gal. Lord knows guys hit on me all the time - but for the life of me I cannot figure it out. I think I make a better fag hag than gf or wife (no offense to gays, I really do have much more fun with gay guys than straights who seem to think that if they buy you a drink or appetizer, then I should be obligated to eff them.

Eek. I better go to sleep what I am writing is coming across as hostilely. Sorry - no offense intended to anyone. Actually that's probably my real life issue, I honestly enjoy everyone on an intellectual level and it draws people into thinking that I am "into" them physically when in fact, I am not. UGH. One would think that at 40+ I should be better able to convey my thoughts and feelings. I am emotionally bereft and stunted. Where is my shrink when I need him at midnight on a Friday nite?

Waaaaay too much information, wiggy.

unclear whether wiggy is good or bad trolling - stay tuned

This show continually breaks my heart. A few laughs here and there and the rest of it is adults behaving like mean, selfish children. I always end up feeling sad or embarrassed for the characters.

I feel sad about people trolling on The Office thread :( Don't we have 50 perfectly good election threads to troll on?

(Also, my favorite moment this last episode was when Jim told Dwight that he was right about something and Dwight started to dance around the office in excitement. Also, I love that Kelly lied about being able to fake cry.)

it cant really be that hard to figure out which publicist/agent/accountant is employed by three different actors on the office can it

Wiggy Woo is their drug dealer

Nail technician?

The highest points of this episode were Angela's brilliantly mean expression while Andy's telling her about the tent and then she goes on to describe the ideal location for wedding etc and afterwards how she reacts to Dwight's pitch of the Schrute Farms.

Also, Dwight's matter of fact "let's go get her". Just brilliant really.

"There's got to be an explanation"
"I agree. So let's...see what we can find out from reading.."

And the whole "Smudge" thing was LOL.

Also, Celebration, Florida = Andy. I imagine that place is really full of people just like Andy in every way.

"It's cool."

Cut to Darryl strolling to his truck.

"Last I checked, that's not an office building in the Andromeda galaxy"

Oscar + Andy = awesomeness.

After the the inevitable disasterous wedding/failed marriage to Angela dustup, I smell an Andy-comes-out-of-the-closet storyline.

"i want to see you naked"

"beer me dos long island iced teas, s'il vous plaît!"

that was the quote of the ep

"A concierge is like the Winnipeg version of a geisha."

this was one of the best episodes i have ever seen. awesome.

I wish they would've drawn out Ryan trying to win back Kelly for longer, because now we're back to a storyline we've already seen.

The concierge part was fantastic though.

Loved Michael telling David off and hanging up on him.

Andy's reaction when he remembered the phone call was amazing.

Oh noes!! Worst news ever!! Office's best writer to take leave of absence!! Wiggy Woo proven correct all along!! Nation mourns!!

Good riddance to Ryan, an annoying and somewhat useless character except for Michael's strange mancrush. The two things he'll be remembered for imo are the "Fire" episode and his crazy dance moves on "Night Out".

"Concierge Marie" on the latest episode was so believable and lifelike it was almost scary, her reactions were spot on. Very good actress.

The ending was SUPERB! "I'm coming back the wrong way", one of the most moving and unexpected things to happen in the series (even in a completely unpredictable season like this one) and then Dwight's "five copies".

Wendi McLendon-Covey is good at just about every acting job she takes, although it's kind of hard to shake her Reno 911 character.

Toby's back next week.

I have sufficient faith in the writers to believe that all this Jim and Pam awe-shucksness will lead to something disturbing. 'cause if the gun of self v. relationship they've been waving around all season doesn't go off soon, I will be very disappointed.

Dwight's perfect crime must be filmed.

ugh god please no more jim and pam

consistently the most irritating bits of the show

pretty weak, except for dwight's perfect crime

imo the jim/pam shit is dragging the show down in a major way, they need to stop creating dumb tension

I'm fine with the Jim/Pam stuff because it still takes a backseat to the rest of everything. And I thought the garage/art studio reveal was great, even though I was expecting it.

U GUYZ HATE TRU LUV

Same here - I don't find it a huge drag, but maybe that's just because they haven't really pulled the trigger on a huge fight between them, or because it's usually the C-plot. The Michael-acting unrealistically stupid (and it being dragged out for the whole episode) thing was more annoying this time.

michael's totally irrational hatred of toby is still a great idea but yeah they kind of carried it to unrealistic lengths last night. which wouldn't have mattered if it were funny, but it wasn't really

Yeah, this was the first episode this season where I'd been wondering how long til 30 Rock instead of loling.

That whole part Ryan dropped on Kelly last night before asking her to have sex one last time -- and her agreeing -- was the funniest in-show part of the episode. But like other people have said, Dwight's perfect crime tag at the end was brilliant.

I thought the $500 bag of caprese salad was pretty damn funny.

michaels hatred of toby isnt at all irrational - tobys the only person in the office who doesnt work for michael and part of his job is basically to stop michael from being unprofessional and doing the things he lives for - hes the biggest threat to michaels whole neurotic power trip

the show has over the years become less uncomfortable leaving jim and pam the only thing that really still really makes me cringe - so i think they have their place

The salad would have been funny if it hadn't been telegraphed so obviously.

yeah it was a pretty obvious, overdone joke, though making it a caprese salad was at least a little twist on it

Well DUH of course it wasn't really weed but when dude said, "you can see the bits of mozzarella in it" I fell out.

The phone call between Michael and David Wallace was gold, guys. As was Pam's "Well, I guess it's a good thing we have a temp" re: cleaning the microwave.

ryan was killing it

hahaha YES to the Pam/Ryan microwave conversation

I don't understand why people are hating on Jam (Pim?) so much.

Also Creed w/ "Let's get together and throw stuff in the quarry," "Can we just pretend to talk while the cops are here?" This ep was great!

I'm not hating on it so much as I don't trust how EASY the whole relationship has been this season without the two of them really talking about it (because the success of Jim's courtship of Pam was based largely on really talking to her. I don't need them broken up, I do kind of expect them to make some kind of big real relationship tension out of all the fake-outs -- which they can then talk about and resolve.

Pam's final reaction to the new house really seemed unrealistic to me.

Why? I mean, we've established that Pam is a little bit of a romantic as it is... I totally buy her getting all excited by the romantic ideal of "their" house, rather than worrying immediately about the financial/whatever side of it.

Yeah, that seemed very Pam-like.

i would be happy to have the relationship just fade into the background and we just assume that everything's going ok while the show focuses on "jokes" and "being funny"

Pam's final reaction to the new house really seemed unrealistic to me.

― ⊂⊃ ⊂⊃ ⊂⊃ ⊂⊃ ⊂⊃ (Pleasant Plains), Friday, November 21, 2008 9:53 AM (11 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
Why? I mean, we've established that Pam is a little bit of a romantic as it is... I totally buy her getting all excited by the romantic ideal of "their" house, rather than worrying immediately about the financial/whatever side of it.

― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Friday, November 21, 2008 9:56 AM (8 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

maybe because he knows what my reaction would be

"friends from high school...a high school"

i would be happy to have the relationship just fade into the background and we just assume that everything's going ok while the show focuses on "jokes" and "being funny"

― n/a is just more of a character....in a genre polluted by clones (n/a), Friday, November 21, 2008 10:59 AM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

OTM

a high school made me lol so fucking hard

kinda disappointed toby is back because there has rarely been much funny in the michael/toby hate except two notable moments: "I hate everything about the things you choose to be" (paraphrased) and the gag where David Wallace talks about the coporate HR guy being a real dick.

I thought the mozarella in the caprese salad was a nice touch though obviously we all saw it coming from the second he approached... also loved that it was "two pounds" and michael didn't bat an eye when handed a bag of salad that probably weighed.. 300 grams?

no mention of angela and andy's phone call which was kind of disappointing! I thought we'd get to see her bitch him out for that.. loved that dwight used andy's name when the police were called but it was stupid of him to stand up when they came. would have preferred to see them ask "where is andy?" and cause more confusion. but I guess then Andy wouldn't have thought to "finger" Toby and Dwight would have had to stand up anyway.

And what's with "men find me attractive"? Seemed very insistent, it was funny.

men find me desirable was super lol - just yr standard ego play

I actually thought the dock worker/weed buy was going to be a police sting, and was kind of disappointed when it wasn't. :(

desirable, right right. The insistence made me feel like there was a "story" there.

oh man also creed standing up and putting his arms behind his back and then turning it into a "stretch" because the cops didn't approach him - I love Creed.

"Oh good, I'm wearing a mustard shirt today."

Ryan insisting he couldn't clean up the microwave was so painfully OTM about how guys get out of "women's work."

i would be happy to have the relationship just fade into the background and we just assume that everything's going ok while the show focuses on "jokes" and "being funny"

Thirded. Or start a spinoff. That shit is so out of place. FUNNY GOOFY BIZARRE LOLS MORE LOLS LOLS then "serious" romantic b.s. to pull in more female viewers.

hey look Ryan signed up for ILX! Apparently.

oh man also creed standing up and putting his arms behind his back and then turning it into a "stretch" because the cops didn't approach him - I love Creed.

― skeletal lexing (Finefinemusic), Friday, November 21, 2008 12:33 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

YES

Ryan insisting he couldn't clean up the microwave was so painfully OTM about how guys get out of "women's work."

― Maria, Friday, November 21, 2008 12:37 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

YESYES

glad toby's back, that shit is always funny.

I have sufficient faith in the writers to believe that all this Jim and Pam awe-shucksness will lead to something disturbing.

ugh there's been like 3 straight years of 'tension' wtf. they just got through with the lumpy art college dude red herring even. to that end, this was an ok 'back to basics' episode, the writers are getting tired of the drama too hopefully, pour some of the subtlety back into the rest of the ensemble at least til near the end of the season obv.

by toby i mean the dynamic, i think the weed thing fell flat. michael seeing him again was gold

i would be happy to have the relationship just fade into the background and we just assume that everything's going ok while the show focuses on "jokes" and "being funny"

Fourthing this. Good ep., but I miss Amy Ryan already.

i don't watch this show but I saw the closing bit with rainn wilson talking about stealing the chandelier from tiffany's and found it HIGHlarious

There was a deleted bit from season 2 that was alot like the credits gag this week. It had Dwight describing "the perfect date", which for him involved dancing, ninjas, an assassination plot, and him killing his date in the end "because she was in on it from the start."

That was actually from the "Hot Girl" episode from season one.

"Let me describe the perfect date. I take her out to a nice dinner. She looks amazing. Some guy tries to hit on her. Uh, now he wants to fight. So I grab him, I throw him into a jukebox. Then the other ninja's got a knife. He comes at me. We grapple. I turn his knife on him. Blood on the dance floor. She's scared now, I take her home. I'm holding her in my arms. I reach in for a kiss. I hear something in the leaves. I flip her around. She gets a poison arrow right in her back. She was in on it the whole time. But I knew."

Revive!

The Producer's cut turns a great episode into an all-time classic. The microwave storyline is one of the best ideas this show has had in years.

"Mother-"!!

I kind of liked spiteful Jim and Pam in the episode.

"Urkelnomically"

"I swallowed all your ideas. I'm going to digest them and see what comes out the other end."

This was another amazing episode. I roffled a ton. Everyone trying to buddy up to Michael and Michae's steps not to piss off either side was great. Loved the Jim and Pam conflict, too. This episode showed how you don't need to devote an entire separate storyline to the "Jam" thing to make it work (like that awful one where they meet Jim's brothers, for example). They just had Jim go for the copier and Pam go for the chairs and found a way to make it part of the main storyline.

Michael mentioning the surplus to Hank the security guard and immediately using the "lemonade stand" analogy!

This was a good one, but no line this week equaled "Mr. Kurt Russell, you are about to be served."

My roommate called out Dwight's secret wedding as it was happening.

: "OMG DWIGHT IS MARRYING ANGELA RIGHT NOW"

Is Amy Ryan ever coming back? I loved her so much.

One of my friends saw it before me (I don't have a TV so I watch it online) and told me Dwight did something really awful, so I called it while it was happening because I knew it had to be *something*. Hilarious twist. Also, Angela kissing Andy in the office was pretty shocking too, clearly it is the most action he's ever gotten from her.

it's weird ppl are complaining about jim and pam this episode because it was hands-down the best and funniest and effective jim and pam stuff in like forever! the little petty mini battle over the copier was great.

aint no one complaining about jim and pam this episode buddy

I suspect he is referring to the terrifying housewives of Television Without Pity.

ie those who will complain for an hour about a weird facial expression from an outtake, and then use it as motivation for a four-chapter fan fiction.

haha so OTM

this ep was awesome, yes; I also called the Dwight wedding as it was happening and was seriously losing my shit

With that smirk, how could anyone have missed it?

I was sure the only people who didn't see it were Andy and Angela.

It was a real German Protestant church service and the actor really spoke German. Also Dwight's fake German has been getting better over the last couple of seasons. Somebody there must speak-a da lingo.

lol "Princess Unicorn"

the manure in the kitchen

best episode since "The Dinner Party." Classic Office.

awww Andy

good ep, i laughed

yeah this was a great one. this season has been much better than last on the whole.

i thought it was meh but two great parts:
* the schrute family's five steps for conflict resolution
* toby buying the black unicorn princess doll

* toby buying the black unicorn princess doll <- this was like the perfect mix of discomfort and humor that this show has been missing lately, seems like it's mainly going one way or the other lately

<3 phyllis though

i liked the princess unicorn jingle

i got uncharacteristically bugged by the cold open joke with jim having replaced dwight's stuff with gift-wrapped props. it was really unrealistic! how much time and effort would that have taken? normally i wouldn't care about stuff like that, but for some reason it annoyed me

I dunno about the black unicorn princess doll thing. Darryl hasn't been a torturous dude until now, except to Michael (who goes begging for it.) It seemed out of character for him, and also out of character for Toby to not be willing to call him on it. It was funny, though.

darryl has fucked w/michael bigtime

Yeah, but as I said - Michael goes begging for it. Toby doesn't.

haha i completely missed that part of yr post

i didn't think it was torturous, darryl is a practical dude and toby wanted his doll enough to pay $400

toby buying the black unicorn princess doll <- this was like the perfect mix of discomfort and humor that this show has been missing lately

y, exactly, except I felt that way about most of the episode. Call me a sadist, but I like my Office dark and awkward plz. My only concern, narrative-wise, is that we will now miss out on the sure-fire lolz spectacle of Andy & Angela's wedding.

darryl was parting with a doll he was going to give to his daughter, it was defly worth 400 bucks to him

No doubt the doll (if it was the right one) would be worth the dough to them both. And how great was the aside-shot of Toby fantasizing about how it would piss off his ex? I just don't buy that Toby wouldn't be willing to call Darryl on it, or that Darryl would be less interested in making his daughter happy than the 1-2 of the money and pissing off Toby.

it was a pretty great dwight scenario

I just don't buy that Toby wouldn't be willing to call Darryl on it

toby, as hr rep, is wary of discussing race in the office. he is also a big pussy

liked how dwight looked all proud when the affair was revealed

xpost: like this?
http://blog.nj.com/entertainment_impact_celebrities/2007/08/large_pastore.jpg

"A double shot of Splenda"

This episode had some great one-liners in the first 3 minutes or so. "They don't give out black belts for things that are stupid." "I'm not going to judge Phyllis for desecrating Christmas. There is one person who will, and Phyllis just threw him in a drawer."

Agreed that Toby & Darrell has the funniest moment. I don't think Darrell was torturing Toby at all, though.

All we ever see of Toby is him being jerked around, but I bet he's kind of douche on a daily basis.

i think it was 2 packs of splenda, not a double shot. still funny though.

"It's Christmas, and you're singing about nudity and France."

when she spits out the food after hearing the word "Ramadan" = lol

someone comments "chewy" right after that which i found hilarious.

toby couldn't call darryl on the doll because by unconsciously assuming the doll was white, by extension he also assumed darryl had bought a white doll for his own daughter, so any issues toby would have had in this situation he unthinkingly discounted in darryl's case. so maybe that's why darryl just let it play out that way, he wasn't really doing anything to toby except not correcting his assumption. i don't know if this is what was intended in that scene but as characters both darryl and toby have enough depth for this kind of exchange to exist without it having to be explicit.

or else maybe toby just realized darryl's been in similar "something wrong with this doll" situations selection-wise in stores and such himself before and decided to just deal with it.

i agree with your interpretation of what darryl was thinking, but i think toby was uncomfortable because he was realizing HE'D assumed the doll was white. there was nothing to "call darryl on" when toby was the one making the assumption!

yeah, i got bad noun-pronoun agreement issues. that's what i meant, toby assumed darryl's doll was white; darryl knew what he had. oily said something about toby not calling out darryl upthread so that's why i used that wording.

dwight was selling the dolls for $200 so i supposed the $200 surcharge darryl tacked on for the object lesson was a bit steep, tho.

"Do you take requests?"

"Sure."

"Please stop."

Not quite as amazing as the "Pizza By Alfredo" website, but...

http://www.princessunicorndoll.com

did you notice this particular testimonial?

The people from Toys-For-Tots were very excited to get it.
- Toby F.

Can your horn be used for piercing anything else?
- Creed

This Princess Unicorn is a fraud. They simply took our Barbie and stuck a cardboard horn on her. We are coming out with our own doll: Celebrity Unicorn. Her horn produces magical white powder and when you feed her special pills, she poops real rainbow sherbert, in all varieties of softness. To order, go to www.matelicorn.com
- President of Matel

^ domain name still available

meredith was so amazing in this episode

http://www.nbcuniversalstore.com/nbcuniversalstore/content/nbc/princessProd2.jpg

I gots me a unicorn doll! Its the shizznit
- 50 cent

really?

Nicely done, The Office. Nicely done.

OH FUCK I MISSED IT!!!

A-torrenting I will go...

excellent.

Kevin totally stole the show.

probably the best episode of the season. lots of great little moments:

-"learn your rules"
-andy and dwight exchanging a high five after pwning jim
-"fine! call me a sasquatch!"
-kevin and oscar's handshake

“Don’t move it’ll just go in deeper.” Jim said his voice slightly muffled through the closed door. Pam responded with a soft whimper followed by a yelp of pain. “Stop moving you’re just going to make it hurt more.”

Michael stood outside the door flagging the camera crew down. “Pam and Jim are in the conference room alone. I think their doing something naughty in there.” He whispered to the camera trying to keep his composure. He pressed his ear to the door his hand clamped over his mouth in an attempt to cover his smother his giggles.

“Jim, just get it out!” Pam cried causing Michael eyes to grow wide.

“Pam just hold still I’m almost done.”

“Get it out, get it out! It hurts, ow ow ow.”

“You’re such a baby. Stop wiggling around, you’re just making this harder.” Jim said followed by another yelp of pain.

Despite Michael's frown he turned to the camera and mouthed ‘that’s what she said’. He began to giggle again

“Yes, oh my god, that feels so much better.” Michael’s eyebrows shot up a smirk reappearing on his face. Without warning he busted in the conference room his hand covering his eyes.

“Okay you two, no more of that.” He said peaking through his fingers. The camera crew was right at his feet zooming at the confused couple. Pam was frowning at them from the far end of the room, her index finger in her mouth. Jim was sitting in the chair in front of her a pair tweezers in between his fingers. “You guys aren’t naked.” Michael said his smile disappearing, his hand falling to his side.

“What are you talking about? I was just removing Pam’s splinter.”

“And next, I'd like to thank Michael Scott.”

Those who knew Michael were slightly surprised that Jim was thanking him in his groom's speech. But no one was more stunned than Michael himself. He had been “borrowing” some food off another guest's plate, but when he heard Jim say his name, he froze. He hadn't been paying particular attention to anyone's speeches – believing that their speech-making abilities paled in comparison to his own – but now he was going to listen.

“I'm sure many of us here remember the infamous booze cruise of '06 of which Michael Scott was the captain,” Jim said.

This elicited a smattering of groans from the guests, to which the transfixed Michael was oblivious.

“I know how you feel,” Jim said. “The booze cruise was one of the worst nights of my entire life.”

Tell me about it, Michael thought to himself. Thanks to that Captain Jack with the authority problem.

“But it was also one of the best nights in my entire life," Jim continued. "But first, the bad news: it was one of the worst nights in my entire life because that was the night that Pam's wedding date was set, just as I was about to tell her how I felt.”

Pam, sitting next to Jim, raised her eyebrows. Never in a million years would she have thought that Jim would mention Roy or that incident in his speech. She wasn't upset; she was just surprised. She was also surprised to learn that Jim had been about to tell her how he felt that night. He had never told her that before. Jim never ceased to surprise her, even after all these years. I wonder where he's going with this, she thought to herself, leaning in closer, overcome with curiosity.

“As Pam's best friend," Jim continued, "I suppose I should have been happy for her – but I wasn't. I was devastated. I thought any chance I had of being with Pam had sunk. I had been boozing, as it were, and I started to booze more – too much. I wanted to be alone – to be as far away from everyone as possible, especially Pam. But I was on a cruise in the middle of Lake Wallenpaupack. And unlike some other people, I wasn't about to jump overboard, although I seriously considered it. So I went out on deck – or should I say the brig, where Michael was imprisoned. I don't know exactly why – perhaps because I was so depressed, perhaps because I had too much to drink – but I confided in the world's worst confidante that, as I put it at the time, 'I used to have a big thing for Pam.' Even though Michael let the cat out of the bag soon after, I don't regret telling him. Not just because he forced me to tell Pam how I felt before she heard it from someone else, but because of how he responded that night.

“He said: 'If you like her so much, uh, don't give up.'

“And then I said: 'She's engaged.'

“To which Michael scoffed and responded: 'B.F.D. Engaged ain't married. Never, ever, ever give up.'

“It was very simple, but very profound. And I want to thank Michael for that. Partly because of what he said that night, I never, ever, ever gave up. And now, standing here today, I'm not just engaged to Pam; I'm married to her. So thank you Michael.”

Jim raised his glass to Michael, who was still completely frozen but whose eyes had now completely teared up. After a few moments, Michael managed to mouth “you're welcome.”

Then Jim turned to look at Pam, was who actually crying, tears streaming down her face – but she had never looked so happy or beautiful in her entire life.

He never ceased to surprise and amaze her, even after all these years. Yeah, I made the right choice, she thought to herself.

It’s New Year’s eve.

You pull on your pajamas and get comfortable on the couch, eating crab from a newspaper spread out on the coffee table in your new house. You’ve taken care of the hideous clown painting, but the paneling and shag carpet is still there, but you don’t care. It’s the Halpert house, the house you bought for her, the house she that loves. It’s your first New Year’s eve in your first house.

You watch old episodes of 3rd Rock from the Sun and don your party favors; plastic “Happy New Year” headbands in bright, sparkly colors. Pam’s is hot pink, and yours is blue. You giggle and tease each other, and wait for the midnight hour.

You switch to the broadcast of Time’s Square at the last minute and sit up on the edge of the couch, waiting eagerly. She grips your arm playfully; It’s almost 2009, Jim!

You shout out the countdown with New York. 5! 4! 3! 2! 1!

She gives a whoop and claps in her adorable way. Such a dork. You can’t help liking how her ring flashes as she does so.

You grin at each other, and lean in for the first kiss of ’09. After a long while, and possible the fourth or fifth kiss of the year, you part, murmuring sleepy Happy New Year’s to each other and switch off the TV. You cuddle up on the couch, too tired to get up and go to the bedroom.

You fall asleep in each other’s arms, with a feeling that it will turn out to be a very good year.

http://www.fanpop.com/external/13907

The New Receptionist » by PhantomProducer

S5-With Pam going to art school, a position opens at our favorite paper company. Read what happens when Ruby Stone becomes the receptionist, and see how she deals with the trials and tribulations of working at Dunder Mifflin-Scranton. Rated T for safety.

Complete - Fiction Rated: T - English - Humor/General - Chapters: 16 - Words: 39,864 - Reviews: 34 - Updated: 1-7-09 - Published: 11-2-08

Of Mice and Men - 25,219 words

LOL I just don't get slash/fanfiction. Jesus.

Rated T for safety.

Can't expose pre-teens to safety, that's for sure

Worst episode of the season, possibly of the series.

bullshit

also: half of this episode reminded me of the "discussion" on the WS thread

ha, it was totally WS: The Show.

i was glad to have a fun episode that didn't worry about moving the story along (same for 30 Rock this week).

WS?

"I... am trying to be more optimistic in life. I have, what, 20, 30 more years left. And my family history says... I have less. Now the old Stanley Hudson would have found something to complain about with this actress. But that's no way to live life! Look at this healthy, sexy, pretty, strong, young woman. Come on people! She... is... hot."

Makes me laugh.

"You will have pancakes and you'll like it."

Worst episode of the season, possibly of the series.

This. Fucking awful episode. Did not laugh once.

It was an okay episode. Definitely not one of their best - very formulaic (Michael and Dwight do some really really stupid hijinx, rest of office kills time in some stupid activity). I would say "filler" but it's not like this isn't a sitcom, after all. I enjoyed it enough. A killer line here and there during the Swank debate.

wasn't a ha ha funny episode but it had its moments.

but since when was jim above the random office games & shenanigans? you'd think that he'd be the one organizing the debate, not sighing and rolling his eyes at it all.

It kind of makes sense, since he's been getting more and more serious about climbing the corporate ladder recently. But of course, he still halfheartedly tries for all of five minutes before just giving up altogether.

I think that this episode (and most of the business with David Wallace this season) was mostly a set-up for conflict with Idris Elba's character. But I laughed.

This is easily one of the worst episodes of The Office I've seen.

I wasn't impressed, either.

it was pleasant. i wasn't that impressed with the previous one myself, andy and dwight have had way better duels before

Was directed by Asaad Kelada, which may explain . . . the really . . . uncomic . . . timing.

I GIS'd Idris Elba and don't recognize him - who is he?

episode was in fact funny

I quite liked it as a sort of general showcase of the supporting cast. It was more sort of amiable than out-and-out mwahaha.

Elba was Stringer Bell in the Wire.

Kelada is kind of a hack (Facts of Life) who can do good work with good ensembles (WKRP). Like I said, I laughed.

The only problems I had with this episode was I think they overdid it with the cutesy Mom and Pop paper store. "Oh how cute! Michael's helping the girl with her homework and the manager has a 'World's Best Dad' mug and they all love each other and everything's all warm and fuzzy" and the whole thing was totally predictable. As soon as they showed Michael helping the girl with her homework you could tell where they were going with this.

I thought there may be a mention of dude's World's Best Dad vs Michael's World's Best Boss mug.. surely a wasted opportunity?

there is a new episode on tonight after the superbowl, randomly

Not randomly. The Superbowl lead-in, even if it drops off by 50%, is a HUGE audience. And considering NBC's stable of shows, they've got nothing else to bother putting in there (30 Rock excepted).

yeah wtf is random about it, it's the most calculated thing a network can do for a show.

hopefully they've made the episode extra good for the new audience.

Post-Super Bowl trailer's up on Hulu. Looks pretty crazy.

I'm Canadian. I've never watched a superbowl in my life, and didn't realize people did anything after the game than turn the TV off and discuss the game. Seemed random to me.

i'm not really into the whole liveblogging thing but unless i post now i will forget the myriad ways in which this episode is fucked up.

i liked stanley "i'm ok with the logic of it"

ok dwight wearing the resuscitation dummy's face had me in a fit

"i didn't fill him with sugar and butter for fifty years and stop him from exercising"

I need to call Youtube to come down here to film this.

"I consider myself a good person, but I'm going to try to make him cry."

aw

I usually think the "worst episode of the season" people are overreacting, but oof, that was rough.

Once again, it falls prey to the stretched-out-for-60-minutes syndrome.

We laughed so hard at this episode. I think you guys are so Off the Money.

Oh, it wasn't a complete wash by any means. Dwight was over-Dwighting, though. And the pacing was just really weird.

I liked the roast of Michael, and Michael's roast of everyone. And the Jam stuff was sweet.

I'm always happy to see the Little River Band get royalty checks.

ok dwight wearing the resuscitation dummy's face had me in a fit

he even did the lecter slurp

This was baaad. Dwight setting the office on fire (and keeping his job?) plus the whole slicing up the dummy and wearing its face was too fucking ridiculous and nonsensical it took me out of the show. The deal with Pam's parents was boring and I didn't really care. The bootleg movie with Jack Black thing was ???. There were probably enough jokes for an OK half hour episode but as is I thought this was a drag.

"michael, you ran me over with your car..."
*ba dum tssss*

I thought the second half with the roast was a little better, but yeah, it was just okay tonight. The current main weakness of the show (the characters being so broad and cartoonish it breaks the tone of the show) was really highlighted tonight, especially when they started breaking out and singing Staying Alive during the CPR course and Kelly started dancing. I actually was amused by the Jack Black/Cloris Leachman movie, it was terrible and the musical cues were great. Jessica Alba's part must've been mostly cut, I suppose?

ugh that episode sucked

We laughed so hard at this episode. I think you guys are so Off the Money.

^^^
this

Its been a long time since I've laughed so hard at this show that I've been wiping tears out of my eyes.

i think this episode is the divide btw ppl who are bored by this season & those who still love it

The whole going up and down the stairs thing, c'mon, was hilarious.

The jb/cl movie made me think of 90% of ilx guys and judi dench.

If you didn't laugh at "m'lady, m'tuna" I don't know what's wrong with you.

I'm inclined to agree with both the negative and positive takes on this episode. There were some really funny bits (lol funny), but the usual pitfalls of this season were present too. The cartoonization of characters is now a consistent aspect of the show, but there is more subtle humor in the dialogue. The cartoony stuff can also be pretty amusing when done well.

which part did you guys think was the lolsiest: when Stanley almost died, Michael got real depressed, or Pam's parents broke up

the roast and counter-roast redeemed things a little bit at the end

I thought it was all hilarious. And it's only 40 mins online without ads, maybe that makes a difference?

I liked the episode, but yeah, Michael on the Swings would have been the first scene to get clipped for a half hour episode.

which part did you guys think was the lolsiest: when Stanley almost died, Michael got real depressed, or Pam's parents broke up

Precisely, what's not to lol?

Maybe us Brits are more used to watching depression and (mental) illness turned into laughs.
http://www.fawltytowersrevisited.com/carthrash.jpg

That youtube line justifies this whole episode.

6. The Intern by blue-yellow-sunglasses
Catherine Richards is your normal junior that's high school is making her intern for Dunder Mifflin. When she bumps head with our favorite co-workers will she be able stay for the college credit. Or will she be in for more than she bargined for?

7. The Office: High School Band Style » by leiaweasley
Jim Halpert is a high school trombone player who secretly lusts after flute player Pam Beesly. He has been best friends with fellow trombone player Ryan Howard, for years. However, things start to go sour for the two friends after band auditions

8. An Obstacle to Overcome by bingbangboom714 reviews
Jim and Pam are in the 8th grade. Pam has a big secret. There is no Roy in the story. Written in Pam's POV.

9. The Gift » by MrsBigTuna
Michael has another injury, but this time, he has the ability to see visions of the future that effect his coworkers that begin to come true. Darryl needs to get the perfect gift for Kelly’s birthday, with a little help from Ryan. JAM, DWANGELA, RELLY!

Just sayin', if you didn't like Sunday night's episode, there are still plenty of places to get your Office fix on.

I laughed quite a bit, even if complaints are certainly valid.

Was really, really hoping Hunter's "so wrong so right" song was going to pop up in the Jack Black film.

"I should be a food critic. 'These muffins are bad.' Or maybe an art critic. 'That painting is bad.'"

+ the spaceman with the microscope

It was great. Plus, knocked-up Karen next ep!

"You don't own land!"

All the "New Office Episode After the Super Bowl" hype and this is what we get?? This episode SUCKED. Could the "Michael gets roasted" storyline have possibly played out any more predictably??? If you're going to do a storyline like that, you have to put a clever twist on it. The Office writers are all Ivy League grads; surely they could've come up with something interesting. And everyone is totally OTM about them overdoing it with the cartoonish Dwight. Only the Jack Black movie and the romantic "awwwwww!" Jam scene save this one from the "Phyllis' Wedding"/"Cocktails" bottom of the barrel.

Gukbe's idea of having "That One Night" playing in the Jack Black film is funnier than anything in this wretched worst-of-the-season episode.

The Office writers are all Ivy League grads; surely they could've come up with something interesting.

I think you meant to post this as burt_stanton

Its been a long time since I've laughed so hard at this show that I've been wiping tears out of my eyes.

OTM. I like cartoon Dwight.

I agree that most of the office people are basically real life cartoon characters. We wouldn't be able to laugh at The Office if we took that stuff seriously anyways (we would probably kill Michael and Dwight). I don't care for Dwight but I don't *not* care for him either.

I like the people dancing and singing to the Bee Gees, and when the Indian girl said "people I would rather kiss before Michael...". Even the things that aren't LOL type gags are good (and that's most humour on tv). Even stuff that wouldnt be considered a humour at all(?), like when Michael didn't know the name of the guy who drove him home. It's just a pleasing TV show still even when parts aren't LOL funny.

Michael forgetting the name of the guy from the warehouse is good because it's consistent with Michael's overall character and because it maintains the internal logic established by the show. Dwight's fireable offenses are not objectively unfunny, but they violate that logic and pull me right out of the show. There's no logical reason why he shouldn't have been fired. And Michael neither knowing how to feed the (nonexistent) birds nor knowing that they fly south for the winter pushes him towards very "Duhhh...", Homer Simpson-ish territory. The egregious mistake that the show keeps making is in going for the gag. And if the writers/producers choose to go in that direction, fine. But they can't have your cake and eat it, too. They can't maintain the pseudo-documentary ambiance and have the characters be chucklemeisters. I think that internal stress is ultimately going to pull the show apart if they don't start steering with purpose in one direction or the other.

For the record, I'm fine with the show going in a more heavily gaggy direction. Just don't expect anyone to seriously give a shit about Jim and Pam's pre-marital woes if that happens, y'know?

jim and pam <3 stuff has gotten increasingly horrible

best episode of the season so far but jim and pam should just not be on the show any more

in fact the new version of the office should just be kelly, darryl, ryan and creed

and raschida jones should come back as a new character, "maxs girlfriend"

i shamefully object and must defend indefensible syrupy romance schlock. i thought it was sweet.

Catherine Richards is your normal junior that's high school

Dwight's fireable offenses are not objectively unfunny, but they violate that logic and pull me right out of the show.

I'm wondering if part of why Dwight wasn't fired is that Michael is still the company's "Golden Boy" re:sales figures, and since Michael wanted Dwight to just get slapped on the wrist, Wallace & co. went along with that to keep him happy.

not only does michael have the best numbers, dwight is constantly referred to as the #1 salesman in the company

Companies will put up w/a lot if a person's good at making sales. Esp. in this economy.

Exactly. Remember Meredith's whore discounts and how corp. had no problem with that?

there was defly funny stuff in this episode but it was too weirdly stretched out and formless... they really have no idea how to do the hour-longs huh

my favourite was phyllis' smile during the "staying alive" thing... small detail but really made me LOL

they really have no idea how to do the hour-longs huh

Yeah, the idea that they have is grafting what would normally be two separate episodes (with a single plotline link) into an hour. This one had slightly more going on. But still, the best hour eps happen at Christmas and at the finale.

the watching-a-movie thing was really, really wtf. that joke about jim & pam being "movie geniuses" when they're actually talking about something else just did not play at ALL. and the movie-within-a-show seemed like a real missed opportunity, would much rather see jack black playing a character.

The movie thing was all "lol Andy's an idiot" and "let's try to be clever w/the gueststars" Yes, it was the weakest part.

that's what im saying.

(x-post)

BTW, is anyone anticipating Parks & Recreation with caution?

Amy Poehler has never not been funny, so I'm optimistic.

And it has Will Arnett!

okay just saw the "Parks & Recreation" spot and lol

Arnett? My confidence is growing.

that what you call it?

Today I say "Yes"

Hmm, Rashida will be there

"The Untitled Daniels/Schur/Poehler Series" (working title) -- from Emmy Award-winning executive producers Greg Daniels (NBC's "The Office," "King of the Hill") and Michael Schur ("The Office, "Saturday Night Live") -- is a new mockumentary that looks at the exciting world of local government. The documentary cameras follow Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler, NBC's "Saturday Night Live," "Baby Mama"), a mid-level bureaucrat in the Parks and Recreation Department of Pawnee, Indiana. In an attempt to beautify her town -- and advance her career -- Leslie takes on what should be a fairly simple project: help local nurse Ann Logan (Rashida Jones, "The Office") take on defensive bureaucrats, selfish neighbors, real estate developers, and single-issue fanatics -- whose weapons are lawsuits, the jumble of city codes, and the very democratic process that Leslie loves so much. Aziz Ansari and Aubrey Plaza also star.

I like Rashida Jones, I'm always surprised by how many people online hate her.

i like Rashida Jones

She's awesome.

yeah who would hate her???

Pam

Well, a friend of mine from college who basically got booted out of an a capella group because of her, but it wasn't really her fault.

he tried to lick her face, didn't he

It seems like if you go on any non-ilx Office discussion they talk about her being unfunny or a bitch -- I'm guessing it's either because her character kept Jim and Pam apart or because she dated John Krasinski.

dan i would make fun of u for italicizing a capella but u made me an i love cricket mod so instead i will hi five u

he tried to lick her face, didn't he

lol, if he was going to lick anyone's face it would be Creed

dan i would make fun of u for italicizing a capella but u made me an i love cricket mod so instead i will hi five u

― max, Tuesday, February 3, 2009 7:03 PM (1 minute ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

^77 revolutionary co-opted by "the establishment"

Well, a friend of mine from college who basically got booted out of an a capella group because of her, but it wasn't really her fault.

― nosotros niggamos (HI DERE), Tuesday, February 3, 2009 6:56 PM (39 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

is your friend andy bernard?

lol

Companies will put up w/a lot if a person's good at making sales. Esp. in this economy.

I don't like Rashina Jones all that much, and I'm the kind of person who wants Jim and Pam to get their own spin-off, which I can then avoid watching.

This is actually a possible story point I hadn't though of, especially regarding the previous episode with Meredith not getting fired. It would make sense if they let Dwight slide because of this and Michael's status as the company's current breadwinner, but unfortunately, this reasoning wasn't mentioned at all in the show. Imagine if it had been! It would've been a great, bleak moment, probably too dark for a post-Super Bowl episode.

― Nhex, Tuesday, February 3, 2009 10:22 PM (2 days ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

ya it would make sense but reading lost-level plot machinations into this show is a mistake imho

^^^ true

omg rashid u r so bangin even when ur pregnant i apologize for ever thinkin pam was cute

i mean... rashida...

My feelings regenerate at twice the speed of a normal man.

LOL "have i ever steered you wrong, jim?"

rashida :o

TOTAL FUCKING RECOVERY AFTER LAST WEEK.

This episode was so good I immediately rewound and watched it a second time.

"IT IS YOUR BIRTHDAY."

Why is The Office so up and down this year? Because there have been some really good eps (like tonight), but just as many bad ones. MORE CONSISTENCY!

this is how i got squeaky fromme

so is stringer going to be beatie's manager or what?

lol@ that scene where pam threw the candy bars

So... is Amy Ryan going to be in the next episode? Because if not I'm boycotting.

there was nothing cartoon about karen that's what it is. they need to bring it down to earth again

What kind of cake do you want, imbecile?

Fortunately my feelings regenerate at twice the speed of a normal man's.

Also, NARD DOGG

I think Al-Queda would like me if they got to know me.

I wonder what Kelly was in juvie for! Shoplifting?

straight cut a bitch?

17. Hail to the Chief by larrymcg
Imagine if Michael Scott were President of the United States. Imagine if Leo McGarry was his Chief of Staff. Imagine if you had to do a trademark SorkinSchlamme walking and talking scene with Kelly Kapoor. Well, here it is, a West WingOffice crossover.

If that starts getting old here, I'll just post those synopses onto other unrelated threads.

But it's a paradox since it will never get old.

I'm totally imagining that now though

Okay, I wrote these because I thought that maybe I could try my hand at Jim...gulp....dying. I know, you hate the idea, but whatever. These one-shots take place after he dies, with moments when his memory is brought back to life. They are short, and connect to one-another. You will learn more about his death in future chapters. BTW, these are in Pam's point of view.

Disclaimer: I don't own The Office....

The first time I realize that I miss him,
so much that I just might explode,
I'm at his funeral.

My sister picked out the black dress
and shoes,
and my mom did my hair.
They talked in soft whispers all morning,
like it it was too loud,
I'd break.

Too bad they didn't realize
that I was already broken.

Nobody really liked the idea
of Dwight speaking at his funeral,
or even attending the funeral for that matter,
but I insisted.

So when he stands up there,
a few tears in his eyes,
he spoke.
Dwight said that Jim's memory
would be kept alive
and that he had no idea
how much he was loved.
(When he said that part, he looked straight at me.)

Everyone was really startled,
because he was pounding his fists
and yelling the whole time.

Some people were disgusted,
like he wasn't doing Jim any honor,
but only I knew
that Dwight was using the speech tactics
of none other
than Benito Mussolini.

I'm imagining someone reading this in their community college creative writing class.

that poem

A++ for Benito Mussolini speech ref

i genuinely want to ask the author about the creative choices made in that poem

Jesus, there's a lot of dead Jim Office fanfic out there. Creepy teens are creepy.

i luv u kelly

Oh dear. Are they running out of ideas? I think they're running out of ideas. :(

no way--jim and dwight as party planners is great. super episode i thought

just proves my point that more kelly is more humor

i liked this one. not a TON of LOLZ but it's a welcome change from the bullshit cartoon nonsense. i dug the stuff with pam and michael as painful as most of it was. the scene when michael calls out AJ The Boyfriend in the meeting was kind of amazing in its balance of funny/awkward/devastating.

^^^
this

And the scenes with Dwight and Jim were grebt. No cartoonish pranks, just great interplay between the two of them.

Why did Dwight slap Kelly's ass?

cuz shes hot

I don't know, I was really turned off by the Michael scene. I'm not exactly sure what it was, because I've enjoyed tons and tons of those hopelessly awkward scenes in this show, but at that point I just felt like I wanted the episode to just cut to the chase already. Maybe because it had been dragged out as a Part 2, or maybe the realization that we weren't going to see Amy Ryan at all in any case.

I'm sure this is besides the point, but Pam was lying to make Michael feel better, right?

I don't know -- her new boyfriend seemed pretty dorky, so maybe she's settling for a Michael-alike.

I have to think Pam wouldn't give Michael false hope like that. Would just make matters worse in the long run.

this whole episode was pretty eeeeaaaggghh but to accentuate the positive i will say i lol'ed at kelly: "i'm too excited to sleep"

this show is losing me i feel

like where is the conflict - there is no story engine at all and its flailing imo

I've never liked the hour-longs, and they're definitely not any better spread out over two weeks. And the Amy Ryan cock-tease didn't help, either.

you and I both, s1ocki.

the lack of real conflict is one problem, but the increasingly cartoonish characterisations are even worse, imo.

two sides of the coin my man.

Ass slap (which I think was meant to be playful/flirty and not creepy -- whether it came across that way is another question) consistent both with Dwight's fondness for Indian women (season 1) and for the show's recurrent (and not entirely unbelievable) hints that Dwight is actually pretty good with the ladeez.

The writers are Wire fans; they keep coming back to stuff.

Mindy Kaling wrote the episode this time, so maybe she just wanted an ass slap?

I saw it as Dwight wanting a little Kelly ass and using the "birthday spanking" tradition as the excuse.

These last two episodes are more meh than I recall the show ever being since S1

The Bruce Springsteen thing is still funny...

"Three of them are Huey Lewis, one is Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car" and then "Short People.""

I noticed a pretty OTM opinion piece on the CBC News site this morning:

http://www.cbc.ca/arts/tv/story/2009/02/25/f-american-office.html

Yeah, I don't disagree with all of that.

"Fast Car" came up on VH1 the other day, and damn you Michael Scott!

I agree that The Office has gotten kinda weak, but tying in some "mockumentaries only work in a short time-frame" theory seems unnecessary. I mean, "once good TV show now not so good anymore" isn't exactly a unique situation, it's happened to pretty much every show ever.

yeah and the slope isn't as steep as all that, it's still enjoyable. people are tripping

otm - I'm not losing sleep over when the next ep's gonna come out but when it's on, it's still a pretty enjoyable half-hour

The cruel thing about the recent repeats is that they just reenforce me missing Amy Ryan.

I noticed a pretty OTM opinion piece on the CBC News site this morning:

the fatal flaw is to still think of the american office as a "mockumentary"

how is that a fatal flaw when the point of the piece is that it has strayed too far from that form

because it wants the show to be something it's not, and the american version has been more of a sitcom than a mockumentary since like episode 2

guys bj novak is doin standup here in a few weeks....should i pass him a note for mindy y/n

The cruel thing about the recent repeats is that they just reenforce me missing Amy Ryan.

― The Wild Shirtless Lyrics of Mark Farner (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, February 27, 2009 8:19 PM (3 hours ago) Bookmark

she's coming back.

gbx: OH GOD YES!!

Enough with the "serious" "heartfelt" Office! I want more roffles!!

The Office has become the sales presentation I have to sit through to get to the slot machines that are 30 Rock.

U mad. Heartfelt Office = funny Office. I laughed lots.

It was too heartfelt though. The bit where, for instance, the woman was turned away from the 'party' was so depressing.
But still plenty of laughs.
"I was so nervous about this I don't think I ate for 3 days"

Also this made me chortle.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3548/3333051714_de56ab80c4.jpg?v=0

That double-date lunch thing was telegraphed so far ahead that it was almost painful to watch.

I missed the last five-ten minutes (basically right after Jim & Pam stole the french fries), what happened after that?

Jim & Pam went to the bathrooms to check on Phyllis and Bob and heard them having sex in the janitor's closet. Uncomfortable scene with Jim's patented grimace at the camera followed.

They should replace Jim's grimace with a cut of Gomer Pyle going "Well GOLLLLL-LY!"

Oh dear.. I think I kind of guessed that'd happen and that's why I went for a cig break.

Yeah, it was very predictable and boring. Kinda summed up the whole episode actually.

meh episode, but opening up this thread to see pics of Amy Ryan A+++

reminds me of better days

i like how phyllis was all giddy and embarrassed and disheveled and thirsty and non making eye contact. it was cute

cold open was really funny imo

otm

The KGB vill vait for no one!

It's true.

Yeah, kind of liked that joke.

I was turned off by all of the episodes I caught at the very beginning of the season. Has the show been successful in returning to season 2-3 form at all since? Is it worth it to catch up or should I wait for the DVD?

"You . . . idiot."
"Start over."

<3 <3 <3 Darryl

It hasn't really gotten better from the beginning of the season (though I thought they were okay and adored all the Amy Ryan appearances), so you should probably wait for the DVD.

Horseboat!

I thought this one was one of the best in a long time.

Yeah, I thought it was strong. Also, next week: Idris Elba guys!

GOOD episode. "Michael Scotch" had me in tears.

I love it when the show reminds us no one at all really finds Jim funny except Jim (and sometimes Pam).

This was great. Loved the uncomfortable vibe throughout and so good to see Jim fall flat.

He really needed a reality check wrt how well his schtick plays with normal human beings.

I think that this episode (and most of the business with David Wallace this season) was mostly a set-up for conflict with Idris Elba's character. But I laughed.

― Three Word Username, Friday, January 23, 2009 12:29 PM (1 month ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

I am a damn PROPHET.

I would like to see Michael leave the company for a few months (1-2 episodes) and then get rehired as a salesperson or other low-level employee when he realizes that he can't live without Dunder-Mifflin/paper. Michael-as-ridiculous-boss has been wearing thin for a while, it might be fun to see him relegated to a lesser position of power - give him a chance to bring the funny without making us cringe everytime he does something batshit insane.

It's probably not going to happen, but it'd be fun to see.

also, two-way petting zoo!

Michael-as-ridiculous-boss has been wearing thin for a while, it might be fun to see him relegated to a lesser position of power - give him a chance to bring the funny without making us cringe everytime he does something batshit insane.

I could see Andy end up being in charge, since he does have the Cornell degree.

yeah, after the tux/"made-up position"(wtf dude) disaster it probably wouldn't be Jim..

man what was up with Idris and his glasses last night

good episode but elbas american accent was particularly baaaaad

Michael Scott se retiró al coche lo antes posible. Suspiró, lanzando una última mirada a la fachada. Después miró a Dwight, quien terminaba de guardar su equipaje.

-¿Sabes que esto…?

-Sí – contestó. Miraba al suelo, algo azorado.

-Vale. Lo has prometido

-Tú también.

Entonces vio la sonrisa amable de su compañero mientras apoyaba con confianza una mano en su hombro y le daba un apretón. Él, sin embargo, no podía contener su mueca aún triste. Sus labios temblaban.

-Gracias por lo de la factura.

Se atropellaba en las palabras porque en realidad tenía más que agradecer que una frase tan vacía, pero esa era su única forma de expresarse. Con él era así tantas veces…pero de algún modo sabía que entendía lo que quería decir. Siempre lo había hecho. Y pocas veces lo había apreciado.

No hay de qué.

Pero lo que en realidad quería decirle era: No puedo decirte que vamos a echarnos de menos.

I was pretty conflicted about that episode, because altho overall it was a good and entertaining episode, and I enjoyed seeing Jim's stupid pranks backfire on him (because I've always hated his character), and there's potential good plot development out of this; I still feel like it's not a particularly good idea for a comedy series to introduce a character who sucks all of the life out of every single scene he is in. And it's not just that the new vp wasn't comedic or whatever. I understand the concept. It's just that the actor playing that role has no business in a fucking sitcom. Fans of his prior roles probably disagree, but they are wrong. That guy brought negative charisma to every single scene he was in, and I hope he's gone from the show soon.

dissappointingly, "Monsters.com" does not offer godzilla battles.

So are there still plans for a spin-off, or...?

Some Amy Poehler show is taking the place of the cancelled Kath And Kim at 8:30 really soon.

gotta wait 2 weeks for the next office, but there will be two and they will sandwich the premiere of said amy poehler show.

thought this epsiode was great

for me the highlight was the fact that the note in oscars sandwich said "meet me before lunch"

Guys, I have to admit: I've never really loved Pam Beasley, but after last night, I think I've got a crush on her.

Haha, also Michael eating Phyllis's lunch from the fridge was great.

"I am aware of the effect that I have on women" was the best thing of the night. But Ryan's bleached hair from the preview made me laugh harder than anything else.

Ryan's arc just gets better and better

the idris elba assigning kevin to reception and stanley to productivity set up for michaels return was kinda lame - i really want him to start his own paper company

"we're tight...we're like the kardashians"

more kelly/angela/stringer scenes plz

the idris elba assigning kevin to reception and stanley to productivity set up for michaels return was kinda lame - i really want him to start his own paper company

I was thinking they were visually pissed off about this = they might consider leaving...

that would be pretty weak; stanley deals with michael for god knows how long but once he's given some sort of minor leadership role he quits?

and kevin looked more confused than upset...

either way I'm pretty sure kevin at reception is gonna make a good episode

I thought that scene was indicating that maybe Michael was not such a dolt of a manager, because he certainly wouldn't assign Kevin to the phones. He knows Kevin can't do the phones and he would say something very insulting about it, but then Kevin wouldn't have to do the phones and really shouldn't do the phones.

^yeah pretty much. Falls in line with previous characterizations of Michael actually being a good salesman despite his general idiocy. I mean they didn't even really explain how the Scranton branch managed to be the best one in the whole company from those episodes where he travels to give talks to other branches.

Maybe Idris Elba is sabotaging the branch.

He came from the Steel Industry...he just doesn't know paper.

"I have sunk 4 hours into that copier, and I am not going to let it beat me like that wireless router did."

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! It's funny 'cause it's true!!

I think I've watched this episode six times since it first aired.

"Phones?"

I thought that scene was indicating that maybe Michael was not such a dolt of a manager, because he certainly wouldn't assign Kevin to the phones. He knows Kevin can't do the phones and he would say something very insulting about it, but then Kevin wouldn't have to do the phones and really shouldn't do the phones.

― Super Cub, Monday, March 30, 2009 2:23 AM (Yesterday) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

^yeah pretty much. Falls in line with previous characterizations of Michael actually being a good salesman despite his general idiocy. I mean they didn't even really explain how the Scranton branch managed to be the best one in the whole company from those episodes where he travels to give talks to other branches.

― Nhex, Monday, March 30, 2009 2:29 AM (Yesterday) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

yes guys thats why im saying its setting up michaels return see

You're probably right about this. I still kind of hope Michael's company actually stays its own thing and we'd get some fresh plots and characters out of that (too many eps of Michael/Beas would get boring quick). The season finale is only a handful of episodes away - either he's going to come back to Dunder-Mifflin really soon or they're going to end the season with his company intact and bring it into next season (my hope).

(btw that callback to Prince Paper, the company he ruined a few episodes ago, was really great and sad)

I liked that Michael's contact list was just "Prince Paper" and "Other paper companies".

Kevin transferring calls LOL

so looking forward to jim losing it on charles.

I'm totally loving Dwight tonight.

"Paris London Beijing"

Pam was super hot tonight.

The "rundown" idea was a total Seinfeld ripoff, and nowhere near as funny. Don't like the Jim vs. new boss storyline AT ALL.

On the other hand, Michael giving the presentation to the grandmas was hilarious. As was Michael talking about leaving the Michael Scott Paper Company and starting his own company. Also loved the new opening credits.

"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take."
- Wayne Gretzky
- Michael Scott

Man, I feel pretty much 100% opposite of Snrub here. I LOVE that someone finds Jim annoying, such a great storyline. And I kinda thought Pam was looking a little out of sorts tonight. Okay, I did love the new credits thing though.

I LOVE that someone finds Jim annoying, such a great storyline.

Agreed! And I actually like Jim, too. I just appreciate them switching the Jim perspective 180 degrees.

I still feel like it's not a particularly good idea for a comedy series to introduce a character who sucks all of the life out of every single scene he is in. And it's not just that the new vp wasn't comedic or whatever. I understand the concept. It's just that the actor playing that role has no business in a fucking sitcom. Fans of his prior roles probably disagree, but they are wrong. That guy brought negative charisma to every single scene he was in, and I hope he's gone from the show soon.

― Mister Jim, Sunday, March 22, 2009 6:12 AM (2 weeks ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

This is all totally OTM.

But yeah, "It's Britney bitches!" while jamming Lady Gaga!

I have egg in my Crocs.

I still feel like it's not a particularly good idea for a comedy series to introduce a character who sucks all of the life out of every single scene he is in. And it's not just that the new vp wasn't comedic or whatever. I understand the concept. It's just that the actor playing that role has no business in a fucking sitcom. Fans of his prior roles probably disagree, but they are wrong. That guy brought negative charisma to every single scene he was in, and I hope he's gone from the show soon.

― Mister Jim, Sunday, March 22, 2009 6:12 AM (2 weeks ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

But that's the point, guys. Charles is supposed to suck the fun out of the place. He's the opposite of Michael and makes the office an even worse place to work. It's all part of the grand plan, it'd ruin it if Elba was goofy like everyone else, and it makes his interactions with all those weirdos all the more awkward-funny.

I had a dream where I ate a peanut butter and tuna sandwich, and it was...delicious.
So then I woke up and made a pb and tuna sandwich and it was...disgusting

"Take me home, country roads..."

auf deutsch plz

But yeah, "It's Britney bitches!" while jamming Lady Gaga!

― display names have been changed to protect the innocent (jon /via/ chi 2.0)

i genuinely lolled at this more than i did at anything else this season. overall this was probably the best ep of the season. i like the new receptionist, kelly's plan was hilarious, the phone call awkwardness was great, and i love dwight and andy being bros. A++++ would watch again

Me too, this was the funniest episode so far this series.

the guitar / banjo "duel" was great.

I enjoy this show way more on live TV than on Hulu... I'm just constantly feeling my attention diverted by the awkward moments when watching it on the computer (like that terrible guitar duel). Anyone else know what I mean? Like having the option to pause/do something else immediately just makes this show much more unbearable...

I have to wonder what comeuppance they have in store for Charles, since they're making him so unlikeable... The shitting-on-Jim thing was great in the first episode with Charles, but I feel like this gimmick is already getting tired. I'm kind of tired of Ryan at this point, too.

Re: Ryan - are you kidding? I can see where you're coming from with the other complaints, but seriously: the godawful dye job?, the bowling alley shoe theft?, the Thai whores? Total next level Ryan lolz IMO.

i haven't been watching this regularly because i'd gotten sick of it and because i'm often not home when it's on but the quality of the two episodes last night has me reconsidering my stance - both great

yeah the new twists make it feel really fresh

yeah Ryan stuff is A++ for me. the cop/doughnut story on the phone w/ his bro = lols

charles--you wanted me.

she's a 6 in New York, which is like a 7 here.

I think the advantage of Elba is that the show had gotten to this point of just being a kind of screwy comedy that just happened to use a workplace as its stage, and it's funny/interesting to suddenly introduce an authority who actually expects the place (and by extension the show) to function as a place of business -- also possibly necessary for contrast so long as Michael is off creating something that is even less a place of real business than the bulk of this show used to be. Also despite being an A+ glarer the character's being developed at least somewhat past that -- e.g. his talking about soccer, basically the first non-work conversation he's had, was kind of an interesting shift.

was that in this episode?

Michael trying to start the Michael Scott Paper company. people trying to suck up to the new boss at DM.

wonder if the new boss will get in trouble for the kick?

i like Office more than 30 Rock now. last two episodes have been tops.

I have never clicked on one of these threads before. But now I have seen 12 episodes of this programme! I love it! Better than the UK programme which was good.

oh, there were two new episodes on? did not know that.

Are there threads for earlier series? I cannot find them via searching.

shit, I missed the first one too, and I didn't even notice it.

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

they're pretty easy to search for

I AM NOT AN ANIMAL (scroll down a bit)

The Office. TV Classic or over-rated?

The Office America...should we be scared or SCARED?

Why is there a US-version of The Office?

Did you tell Pam about the alliance? or The Office US thread

The Office (US): official SEASON 4 thread...

POLL: The Office vs. The Office

There was also a thread in the ILX sandbox called "Why is there a sanbox (sic) version of the Office thread?" that was around the time the Prison Mike episode came out, but it appears to be gone forever :(

speaking of super-old threads I posted a few years ago how the intro sounded a lot like Jack Bruce's "Theme For an Imaginary Western," well here's the song, the first 5 seconds are pretty Office-themey

omg cheese puff montage

It's a big mistake putting Parks and Recreation and The Office on back-to-back, because it only puts a spotlight on all the weaknesses of the former. Zoinks, just the cold open (cheese puff montage mentioned above) was funnier than the whole 30 minutes of Parks and Recreation.

also it spotlights how exactly the same they are

real talk

Not loving either show right now, always thought Amy Poehler was irritating, even after I found out she was married to "spicy club sauce." All the wine, turning to water.

I'm going to check back in with P&R when they do their Season 2 Christmas episode & see if they got good, like I did with The Office. Poehler has been my girl since Stacey Richter though.

Jim is such a douche btw

P&R is really not funny.

Pretty good episode of the Office. Good move to take a little break from Idris Elba and let the MSPC develop. Jim's gag was douchey and didn't add much to the episode.

Jim is getting exponentially less imaginative.

*looks knowingly at camera*

"so what, your body's a 10"