tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post3363463933549643023..comments2024-03-28T18:01:28.997-04:00Comments on What's Alan Watching?: The Office, "Customer Survey": Say hello to my little phoneAlan Sepinwallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-17884327356896213682008-11-09T21:56:00.000-05:002008-11-09T21:56:00.000-05:00"...and if history tells us anything, it's that yo..."...and if history tells us anything, it's that you can't go wrong buying a house you can't afford..."<BR/>Gee, do you think Harry's wife knows he's lusting in his heart after Pam?Helene H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08143584956481827551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-40181155420245091692008-11-09T09:05:00.000-05:002008-11-09T09:05:00.000-05:00Michael cracking up when Kelly was fakecrying hark...Michael cracking up when Kelly was fakecrying harkens back to what you said earlier about Michael's childishness. He doesn't seem to have learnt anything from his experience with Holly and that's kind of tragic. Add that in with his pretending to be engaged and I feel great pity for the man. The way I see it, this season is about to take a very dark turn.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-10389413271739308392008-11-09T04:13:00.000-05:002008-11-09T04:13:00.000-05:00nobody thinks the conversation with pam and her ar...nobody thinks the conversation with pam and her art school buddy was sort of forced? who would ever go to someones workplace to have a heart to heart about big picture future plans? thats a conversation you have over drinks in a bar or restaurant after work. i know they were trying to keep it within business hours to maintain the bluetooth conceit but i wasnt buying it anymore than jim was buying the friends selfless concern for pams future.drathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03212841030695525741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-18313442792237673262008-11-08T20:17:00.000-05:002008-11-08T20:17:00.000-05:00Alan: I read your blog everyday after 30 Rock, The...Alan: I read your blog everyday after 30 Rock, The Office, How I Met Your Mother and Mad Men. Thanks so much for your observations and for making my tv watching a little more informed. I agree with most everything you say. Howeverk, I believe you're a bit hard on how i met your mother. it is still a classic!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-52726927430073118042008-11-08T20:00:00.000-05:002008-11-08T20:00:00.000-05:00I hate the direction they've gone with Andy. I rea...I hate the direction they've gone with Andy. I realize part of the joke was always that he wasn't as impressive as his résumé seemed, but it feels like they've made him TOO stupid. He seems oblivious and incompetent lately. Didn't he used to be kind of a paranoid schemer?<BR/><BR/>And, considering his past conflicts with Dwight, why isn't he more suspicious of Dwight now? Why isn't he more reluctant to have Dwight anywhere near his wedding plans?J.J.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11999053649820732449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-31449907391379462482008-11-07T23:06:00.000-05:002008-11-07T23:06:00.000-05:00Alan,you were spot on with the observation that th...Alan,<BR/><BR/>you were spot on with the observation that the smudgeness/arrogance conversation could have worked perfectly in Merchant's other show, Extras. But, what does that have to do with Merchant directing the show? Isn't it the writers that created the dialogue?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-64077161490465920032008-11-07T19:56:00.000-05:002008-11-07T19:56:00.000-05:00my favorite part of the night: Jim frantically se...my favorite part of the night: Jim frantically searching for those star mugs.<BR/><BR/>freaking hilarious!!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-46949224461284511162008-11-07T17:37:00.000-05:002008-11-07T17:37:00.000-05:00Gee, I've kind of been feeling sorry for Andy for ...Gee, I've kind of been feeling sorry for Andy for quite some time, even though he's still as big a puts as ever. And not that I don't also want to knock him upside the head for being so blind.Oaktown Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00811331454878606058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-48481738162355023752008-11-07T16:50:00.000-05:002008-11-07T16:50:00.000-05:00KB: "And anyone who thinks that guy only wants Pam...KB: "And anyone who thinks that guy only wants Pam to stay in NYC for her art career doesn't know much about guys. He wants her!"<BR/><BR/>I agree. It's a well-thought-out strategy: Appear unthreatening, separate her from the boyfriend, and then go in for the kill.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-66445185591683464612008-11-07T14:53:00.000-05:002008-11-07T14:53:00.000-05:00As a West Coaster, I'm only guessing at this, but ...As a West Coaster, I'm only guessing at this, but I think Pam's fellow student wants her to stay in NYC because many New Yorkers seem to think that the city is the ONLY place one can have an important art career.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-69476604117116267382008-11-07T14:36:00.000-05:002008-11-07T14:36:00.000-05:00The writers have accomplished the impossible: they...<I>The writers have accomplished the impossible: they actually have me feeling sorry for Andy.</I><BR/><BR/>I know! It feels so weird, too! :-)<BR/><BR/>I also think Angela's maneuvering Andy to pay for her wedding to Dwight. Either Andy's too blinded by love to notice (or just stupid), or he really thinks Dwight is his friend. Or maybe he thinks he's getting one up on Dwight by marrying Angela at Dwight's place. I don't know, but I pity the poor fool.<BR/><BR/>Michael's "psyche!" and later throwing the bridesmaid dress receipt in the garbage were nice touches.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-15364126154465766642008-11-07T14:13:00.000-05:002008-11-07T14:13:00.000-05:00zigi: I think "Nana Mimi" is what Angela calls her...zigi: I think "Nana Mimi" is what Angela calls her grandmother.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-72735539087351729692008-11-07T14:04:00.000-05:002008-11-07T14:04:00.000-05:00I, too, feel sorry for Andy now. Mostly because I ...I, too, feel sorry for Andy now. Mostly because I foresee him paying for Angela's dream wedding ... to Dwight. Anyone else?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-27851996528304335882008-11-07T13:37:00.000-05:002008-11-07T13:37:00.000-05:00Best episode in years! Maybe the bluetooth thing w...Best episode in years! Maybe the bluetooth thing was a little contrived but to borrow Jim's phrase: worth it. It provided some great lines. And Dwight knowing the exact model when he saw it was perfect. This episode felt like a throwback to the earlier seasons when they focused on office politics (in Scranton only) and the Jim/Dwight dynamic. The "you were right!" scene was my favorite Office moment in a long time. Jim has not been this likeable, and Dwight has not been this funny, since season 2. I can't say enough about this episode. Fantastic.<BR/><BR/>And anyone who thinks that guy only wants Pam to stay in NYC for her art career doesn't know much about guys. He wants her!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-12284677225267113362008-11-07T13:32:00.000-05:002008-11-07T13:32:00.000-05:00That was a GREAT episode. I was also surprised how...That was a GREAT episode. I was also surprised how good it was even after Amy Ryan left. The entire B.M. Buttlicker conversation was one of the funniest extended jokes they've ever done (and I'm always a sucker for the bathroom humor.) <BR/><BR/>The only problems I see for the future are 1) Jim and Pam are too smart and fun to be stuck in Scranton forever. It was almost an insult to have the talented Pam continue as a receptionist--no offense to receptionists, kind of. So even though they need to be in Scranton for the show it goes against the characters I think. And 2) the Andy cuckold storyline is a little brutal. I actually like Andy and I'm not sure they should continue his torture. Andy: go for Jan! She would probably like him.Bryan Murrayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04453957792623988652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-19915390478345695262008-11-07T13:11:00.000-05:002008-11-07T13:11:00.000-05:00Loved this episode :) but actually, I'm here becau...Loved this episode :) but actually, I'm here because I'm kind of stuck; I'm translating it to Hungarian, and I've got no idea what this "Nana Mini"-thing means. Can you help me out with this, please?<BR/>btw, my favourite part was when Jim said 'I love you' to Pam, and Dwight thought he said it to him :Dzigihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05840780173370526556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-12729891269449847592008-11-07T12:07:00.000-05:002008-11-07T12:07:00.000-05:00Re: right above me - Plus, he has those two brothe...Re: right above me - Plus, he has those two brothers who seem to be doing well for themselves.<BR/><BR/>The language that Pam was exhorted to stay in New York sets it up pretty easily for her to pick Jim instead ("what might have been," "50 years from now"), but that might be more the kind of resolution you see in the same episode (also a little pre-feminist).Byron Hauckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12781238264572019596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-34777498447685467152008-11-07T12:01:00.000-05:002008-11-07T12:01:00.000-05:00It could also be a situation where Jim has already...It could also be a situation where Jim has <I>already</I> bought the house (put down a down payment, got a mortgage, etc.), and therefore he's kind of stuck. I wasn't clear on where exactly he is in the process.Alan Sepinwallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-80905174250114757032008-11-07T11:58:00.000-05:002008-11-07T11:58:00.000-05:00The "Jim helping his parents retire" thing is a li...The "Jim helping his parents retire" thing is a little contrived, because he's the ONLY ONE who can buy their house? Oh wait, in this market that might be true...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-11717406372813906632008-11-07T11:20:00.000-05:002008-11-07T11:20:00.000-05:00This show is on absolute fire right now and they'r...This show is on absolute fire right now and they're nailing every note perfectly.<BR/><BR/>They set up the Jim/Pam part really well. Jim, subtly, has always been a guy really into his family. He stayed home for school (his U Scranton banner at his old apartment), he's mentioned "playing with his neice" a few times in throwaway lines and now he wants to help his parents retire. I can understand why these things -- along with living with Pam in the house he grew up in -- are more important to him than a career living in the big city. (Also, his one brother was from "near Boston" and the other was from Jersey. So his family isn't a big city thing.)<BR/><BR/>Pam might not be a great artist in the art gallery sense (from the watercolor show in Scranton) but she received a lot of compliments from a not-yet-totally-insane Jan. <BR/><BR/>But, yeah. Jim's small-city family dreams vs. Pam's artistic desires is a great source of tension.<BR/><BR/>The whole episode was great. Loved how funny it was ("I played for keeps") combined with the drama. Perfect blend.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-82614376860771189592008-11-07T11:08:00.000-05:002008-11-07T11:08:00.000-05:00Jim: "Worth it."Perhaps the best line of the night...Jim: "Worth it."<BR/><BR/>Perhaps the best line of the night. Made my girlfriend's toes curl.Cinemaniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12742365356939303431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-39213650848800673672008-11-07T10:48:00.000-05:002008-11-07T10:48:00.000-05:00oh lord, i was the only of my friends watching to ...oh lord, i was the only of my friends watching to notice the "juke the stats" line (being an official wire-head and all), but man was it great. perhaps a shout out to the recently departed amy ryan?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-59766820879410530372008-11-07T10:47:00.000-05:002008-11-07T10:47:00.000-05:00This was one of my favorite recent episodes. I lik...This was one of my favorite recent episodes. I liked Michael's move away from Jan because I am not the biggest fan of the "awkward" episodes, and also I think Michael showed an inkling of growth -- or awareness, maybe -- in this episode concerning his situation. Jim and Pam were cute and funny, and the Kelly storyline didn't make me want to fast forward at all -- as things like Jan singing does.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-56893443559449751102008-11-07T10:46:00.000-05:002008-11-07T10:46:00.000-05:00I don't think Rich Sommer's character's point was ...I don't think Rich Sommer's character's point was that NYC is the only place Pam can be successful as an artist. I think the point is that living in such a rich cultural and artistic environment will help her develop her skills and broaden her artistic horizons.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, I loved this episode (especially Jim and Dwight working together). I also loved that Kelly had an America's Got Talent finale party and the "rape" exchange. So wrong, but so hilarious.<BR/><BR/>I thought the reactions of both Jim and Pam to the speech at the end was really well played.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-85754296154003424842008-11-07T10:43:00.000-05:002008-11-07T10:43:00.000-05:00It's also not like Scranton is THAT far from NYC -...It's also not like Scranton is THAT far from NYC -- I grew up in Scranton and there are an increasing number of (crazy) people who commute to New York every day, and it wouldn't be that hard for Pam as a freelancer to go into the city when she needed to.Matter-Eater Ladhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07582100232490047227noreply@blogger.com