tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post1545459571244146536..comments2024-03-28T18:01:28.997-04:00Comments on What's Alan Watching?: The Office, "Broke": Our balls are in your courtAlan Sepinwallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-90552682032253186942009-09-24T17:43:31.540-04:002009-09-24T17:43:31.540-04:00The van says exactly what Pam thinks it says, &quo...The van says exactly what Pam thinks it says, "Scranton Hallelujah Church". LOL I cracked up when I saw that.Henryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06850231969288717236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-46338845428179542302009-04-28T00:57:00.000-04:002009-04-28T00:57:00.000-04:00Dave, I thought the same thing! This was one of th...Dave, I thought the same thing! This was one of the most squirm-inducing and dare i say, suspenseful episodes of "The Office i have ever seen. Perhaps it helped add to the pure enjoyment of the episode at home by watching several episodes in a row. (Thank you, DVR. I know you're a machine, but you are my friend.) By the end, i haven't rooted any stronger for Michael that I did here. The stakes were high and the show was as strong as it's been since (i agree with you, Alan!) the "Holly episodes". <br /> <br /> One thing I am looking forward to is how the Michael-Dwight dynamic will play out now.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11396983814607248759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-91658307381317716932009-04-27T15:18:00.000-04:002009-04-27T15:18:00.000-04:00Michael asking for Charles to be fired was part of...<I>Michael asking for Charles to be fired was part of his negotiations. He asked for something outrageous that he did not really want in order to make something else outrageous (hiring not just himself but two others, one of whom had cost the company hundreds of thousands of dollars) seem less outrageous than it was. And by saving it until the end of the bargaining, when everything else was in place, he made it much harder for Wallace to say no.</I>That's where his child-like behavior suits him well. You want a dog? Beg your parents for a pony. Pretty soon, a dog will seem like a *great* compromise :-D<br /><br />@Dan Jardine, that's what I'm thinking will actually happen. Okay, and hoping for, too :-)<br /><br />I know a few offices that could use some angry bees....deznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-22223776970457287172009-04-27T13:28:00.000-04:002009-04-27T13:28:00.000-04:00I loved this episode! I've only watched it once, ...I loved this episode! I've only watched it once, but I thought it was the same Korean woman who got into the van. Which made it even funnier, for me. Michael was brilliant. And Ryan is growing on me...though I still can't forgive him for what he did to Kelly ;)bombaygirlhttp://www.littletortoise.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-53483161553666038922009-04-26T08:20:00.000-04:002009-04-26T08:20:00.000-04:00to DAN BARRET - you have only yourself to blame. ...to DAN BARRET - you have only yourself to blame. That's like Tivo'ong the Super Bowl and getting mad when you go on espn.com and they have a recap of the game. Do you also check out AmericanIdol.com on wednesday nights hoping to find out who the guest singers were but not who was eliminated?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-74195102456063296262009-04-25T10:32:00.000-04:002009-04-25T10:32:00.000-04:00I've dutifully read/skimmed each post and am supri...I've dutifully read/skimmed each post and am suprised nobody really touched on this: <br /><br />We've had 4 or 5 eps in a row with each one moving into progressively more awkward, uncomfortable, cringe-inducing territory.... All leading up to this. The denouement of this arc (which began with Charles' arrival) had my wife and I high-fiving each other and cheering for Michael - whom we both regard as a clown/loser - and realizing that he's come a long way since the beginning of the series. He started off as a monster, and has actually become quite a sympathetic character as we've learned more about him. Who thought we'd be rooting for THIS guy?<br /><br />Thrilled for Jim, as well, whom I regard as a stand-in for all us working stiffs stuck in jobs we hate but can't afford to leave at the moment. <br /><br />The victories in this episode were hard-fought, well-earned and a breath of fresh air. The last time I felt this good off of a TV show was last year on LOST, when Desmond and Penny found each other out in the middle of the ocean. How often does a show - even one you really enjoy - give you that "Yeah, we won one!" feeling?Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00446028123972055161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-26060042222110045132009-04-25T09:24:00.000-04:002009-04-25T09:24:00.000-04:00What has been so great about this arc has been tha...What has been so great about this arc has been that Stringer Bell-like bosses are a constant in the world, it is a hard cruel fact of life! To see him get his come-uppance from Michael, who is such a moron, but now and then shows such clear-headed brilliance, was so satisfying. If only this kind of fantasy could play itself out in our real lives!Ron Ozerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05278152995831703586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-10665890459821745182009-04-25T05:09:00.000-04:002009-04-25T05:09:00.000-04:0030 Rock:Seinfeld as Office:Cheers30 Rock:Seinfeld as Office:CheersSAT analogiesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-49110045988559463682009-04-25T04:02:00.000-04:002009-04-25T04:02:00.000-04:00I'd just like to mention the total dick move on be...I'd just like to mention the total dick move on behalf of whomever runs the @theofficenbc Twitter feed for spoiling the MSPC buyout plot development just hours after the show initially aired.<br /><br />Looks like I'll be ignoring any official NBC Twitter feeds in the future.Dan Barretthttp://www.televisedrevolution.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-15513593968725650072009-04-25T00:29:00.000-04:002009-04-25T00:29:00.000-04:00Alan,
you mention you had two complaints (one qu...Alan, <br /><br />you mention you had two complaints (one quasi).<br />What was the other one?<br /><br />I though Carrell, directed the Casino episode. Appears I was wrong. He is certainly attaching himself to some great episodes.<br /><br />How many left this season?Kevin Hineshttp://www.kevhines.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-8174964078961074792009-04-25T00:13:00.000-04:002009-04-25T00:13:00.000-04:00"And were they suggesting Ryan went to rehab?"
Ry..."And were they suggesting Ryan went to rehab?"<br /><br />Ryan himself said it, (paraphrasing)- "Since I've been clean, the fresh morning air makes me sick."<br /><br />Not specifically rehab I guess, but close. I assumed Fort Lauderdale = rehab.jimmonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-78117162171651694022009-04-24T20:46:00.000-04:002009-04-24T20:46:00.000-04:00Agreed about the awesome-ness. Within the context ...Agreed about the awesome-ness. Within the context of knowing things would generally work out, they did a great job of handling everything.<br /><br />Thanks to the commenters above who clarified about the pricing models - but the show was very good at explaining what MSPC's problem was. As their variable costs increased, they couldn't match them with increasing their prices, because the super low prices were the only thing allowing them to siphon off business from Dunder Mifflin. The problems were linked. Which is one reason why it's so hard to start a business and why most new business need some kind of funding to get them through their initial inability to turn a profit. Of course, that's even assuming MSPC could have continued to increase sales, since they had probably poached all the DM clients they could get and new customers would be rare in the depressed economy. In reality, shareholder meetings aside, DM still had more leverage over Michael than vice versa...but that's a tiny complaint.<br /><br />It was great seeing Michael make the MSPC a temporary success, but now that's he back, it is an interesting question to see if he'll develop further, be more ambitious about either business or his outside life. I can see it going either way. Ryan, I love as a complete sleazeball, so no problem if he doesn't learn anything. I'm looking forward to see Pam finally take a big step forward, though...that should be great. Especially after she couldn't even get a retail job - I thought Michael would sympathize after his stint at the telemarketer.<br /><br />I also loved the shirt/tie pairings. And the episode was another illustration that Dwight is like Michael, a good salesman but a terrible manager, due to his complete lack of social awareness.<br /><br />And were they suggesting Ryan went to rehab? That doesn't really make sense since he's been more of an asshole, but between him saying he went to Fort Lauderdale, refusing a drink, etc...were we supposed to pick up on that?<br /><br />I love both The Office and 30 Rock, and I'm glad they air in that order - after the hilarious but usually extremely awkward Office, we get the unrelenting straight-up zaniness of 30 Rock. Good times all around.Number Fivenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-50150872387162585372009-04-24T18:25:00.000-04:002009-04-24T18:25:00.000-04:00The Case Of The Missing Beets.
Mose In Socks!
I ...The Case Of The Missing Beets.<br /><br />Mose In Socks!<br /><br />I had to rewind I was laughing so hard.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03407429379182706275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-59019452178561783662009-04-24T17:41:00.000-04:002009-04-24T17:41:00.000-04:00Now I know that they have a new receptionist at th...Now I know that they have a new receptionist at the branch, but how much fun would it be to see Ryan back in the receptionist chair and Pam in his old desk as a salesperson? <br /><br />That would be awesome.Cinemaniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12742365356939303431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-18304375222054950412009-04-24T17:33:00.000-04:002009-04-24T17:33:00.000-04:00My one gripe about this story arc -- imagine if Ry...My one gripe about this story arc -- imagine if Ryan hadn't been in the first few episodes this season? They find him at the bowling alley, and then bring him on board. That would have been tremendous. It was still a really great few weeks of television.<br /><br />I just can't believe that they could write a "human chessboard" type of episode and also have it be hilarious. Just absolutely superb writing and directing.<br /><br />I loved the random Korean woman showing up in the van. <br /><br />Also, Jim's face during Michael's final returning hero scene was great. A look of total relief and satisfaction that he managed to pull this all off.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-66777709654300557952009-04-24T16:09:00.000-04:002009-04-24T16:09:00.000-04:00One of my favorite Office episodes ever...
Best s...One of my favorite Office episodes ever...<br /><br />Best small moment for me was Kevin giving the delayed "Hello" when David started speaking and showing a total lack of group social awarenessAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-35872090603704178562009-04-24T16:00:00.000-04:002009-04-24T16:00:00.000-04:00Whoops! Didn't mean to repeat previous comments. ...Whoops! Didn't mean to repeat previous comments. The later ones weren't there when I last called up the page.Kensingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09745826428431759073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-72176828845089213932009-04-24T15:59:00.000-04:002009-04-24T15:59:00.000-04:00"Charles was NOT fired. What show were you guys wa...<I>"Charles was NOT fired. What show were you guys watching?"</I>Well, <I>I</I> was watching the show that ended with Michael throwing Charles out of the Scranton branch without letting him say goodbye.<br /><br />Maybe that isn't "fired," but he's gone from Scranton, which I assumed was all Michael really wanted.Kensingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09745826428431759073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-52734823624802013942009-04-24T15:15:00.000-04:002009-04-24T15:15:00.000-04:00"I didn't get the impression that Charles was fire..."I didn't get the impression that Charles was fired either. There was really no basis for it. Michael left the company because David Wallace snubbed him, and Charles had done nothing to do with that or the loss of clients. Not to mention, David's adamant rejection of that term seems to me that his job was safe. Michael was acting rather cocky at the end (rightfully so), so Charles went along with it. However, for all we saw on screen, he should still be the DM Vice President. His firing would be a lawsuit waiting to happen."<br /><br />Maybe, but New York is at at will firing state, as I recently learned (not because I was fired, mind you), so perhaps if they wanted him gone, they could do it through that. But like others have said, Charles is gone from Scranton, not from Dunder Mifflin.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-54528157481283208652009-04-24T15:09:00.000-04:002009-04-24T15:09:00.000-04:00I loved loved LOVED Pam's face when Michael was ki...I loved loved LOVED Pam's face when Michael was kicking ass in the negotiations...OMG, I honestly felt the same way!! You just weren't sure if he was going to blow it or not, and he couldn't have been better!! <br /><br />I don't think Charles was fired, but Scranton is no longer his responsibility -- and Michael will report directly to Dave, who is the only superior at DM that gets him, so that's good.<br /><br />Faves from last night are "how the turn tables..." and Jim's talking head (rather kissing head) when dave showed up to talk to Charles. Hilarious!!!Sonianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-8937677741292186742009-04-24T15:03:00.000-04:002009-04-24T15:03:00.000-04:00"No Jim, I use a bad apiarist.""No Jim, I use a bad apiarist."AJnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-7324969328234411642009-04-24T15:00:00.000-04:002009-04-24T15:00:00.000-04:00Michael asking for Charles to be fired was part of...Michael asking for Charles to be fired was part of his negotiations. He asked for something outrageous that he did not really want in order to make something else outrageous (hiring not just himself but two others, one of whom had cost the company hundreds of thousands of dollars) seem less outrageous than it was. And by saving it until the end of the bargaining, when everything else was in place, he made it much harder for Wallace to say no.<br /><br />Crowning. Moment. Of. Awesome.Matter-Eater Ladhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07582100232490047227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-72208682629897688112009-04-24T14:59:00.000-04:002009-04-24T14:59:00.000-04:00Great recap Alan, I absolutely loved this episode!...Great recap Alan, I absolutely loved this episode!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00945724279839256635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-82069823191069163862009-04-24T14:34:00.000-04:002009-04-24T14:34:00.000-04:0030 Rock > The Office30 Rock > The OfficeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-89976403544686849722009-04-24T14:32:00.000-04:002009-04-24T14:32:00.000-04:00Charles' current position has him as the overseer ...Charles' current position has him as the overseer for a whole bunch of different branches. My read on the result of the negotiations is that Charles continues in his present job, except that Scranton is no longer within his purview. This means that Michael would report to David, which is what Michael originally requested.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com