tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post5650197922996195881..comments2024-03-28T18:01:28.997-04:00Comments on What's Alan Watching?: The Office, "Manager and Salesman": The ol' switcherooAlan Sepinwallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-38245353569577078352010-02-14T23:14:43.627-05:002010-02-14T23:14:43.627-05:00I'm still a fan and think they are doing good ...I'm still a fan and think they are doing good things yet. Two points based off stuff I read.<br /><br />1. I'm glad they moved Jim back to a salesman. He works best in that role but it helps all the tension between him and Dwight. Also, with Jim as the boss it wouldn't make sense if Dwight kept trying to usurp his authority and not have Jim respond to it. Also, the Dwight tries to do things and Jim discovers it was getting too Wily E. Coyote-ish. Now they are back to a more antagonistic role towards each other where Dwight has been able to have a little more success against Jim.<br /><br />2. I know people think it might be best for the show to create an end date and go off after next season but that is just not happening. NBC already is going to have a mess at the end of this season and next season trying to rebuild the 10 pm block. There is a 5% chance(I'd say 0, but this is NBC and they redefine crazy) they create a hole in their 9 pm block with one of their most popular shows. Also, look at the ratings for it. This past Thursday in the 18-49 demo the show pulled a 3.7 rating and had 7.4 million viewers. 30 Rock was 2.9 with 6.1 million. Parks and Rec had a 2.3 with 5 million viewers and Community hit a 2.3 with 5.3 million viewers. Taking out The Office would create a pretty substantial hole in the middle of that block. Also, 30 Rock would lose a huge lead-in as their quirky sense of writing does not connect with a larger audience like The Office does.<br /><br />Just way too many reasons for NBC to hold onto this show.Briannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-63597861309854335542010-02-13T21:37:23.764-05:002010-02-13T21:37:23.764-05:00I feel "The Office" was at its best duri...I feel "The Office" was at its best during seasons 1 and 2. But it is still one of the best shows ever. My favorite part was Dwight's reaction to learning it was Sa-ber, not Sah-bray. Priceless.Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12705788002352470163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-36898118081558752232010-02-13T17:31:54.469-05:002010-02-13T17:31:54.469-05:00I agree and I also think HIMYM is having the same ...I agree and I also think HIMYM is having the same problem this year. We get a good episode and then we get a bunch of "eh" ones. HIMYM and the Office are they best shows on TV when the writing is hitting on all clyinders. Im just not feeling either one of them this year.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-55690008526868961862010-02-13T12:06:00.480-05:002010-02-13T12:06:00.480-05:00If the Office isn't up to the (remembered) lev...If the Office isn't up to the (remembered) levels of the past, it's still fine comedy. Some of the stuff tonight was really good. I particularly like the comments that say how the show has dropped so much in quality, then the next sentence is "I was gasping for air since I was laughing so hard." Seems to me a pretty good recommendation for the show.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-13660177534506393062010-02-13T09:36:53.982-05:002010-02-13T09:36:53.982-05:00There were definitely moments to savor in this epi...There were definitely moments to savor in this episode. Kathy Bates is great, I think. I love her two dogs attached by their noses to Andy's crotch-- they love a good crotch! The Phyllis stink and Michael's non-PC reaction to it? OMG, it looked like his eyelashes were curling... I loved Kathy Bates actually. Telling Angela to sit down, she wasn't getting married, just choosing a seat, chop-chop, li'l onion! Yeah, she was terrific. Telling the co-managers that they were just two people doing one job. Kelly, actually thinking of Andy as a possible suitor.... Ha! I enjoyed the hell out of it, actually. I'm going to watch that again.Trilbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11231714243694621645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-51091420926181269002010-02-13T08:13:55.504-05:002010-02-13T08:13:55.504-05:00Dang, how can they have that whole bit about "...Dang, how can they have that whole bit about "did you see Saw" and Ryan having to explain to Dwight what the movie is...<br /><br />when DWIGHT DRESSED UP AS JIGSAW/BILLY FOR HALLOWEEN.<br /><br />*facepalm*Bluehttp://www.educatingblue.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-17259677156132668072010-02-13T05:00:12.844-05:002010-02-13T05:00:12.844-05:00what Tolkien references??what Tolkien references??Ant$https://www.blogger.com/profile/13187968687256187692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-68681067642148264282010-02-13T02:59:54.424-05:002010-02-13T02:59:54.424-05:00I haven't liked this season compared to previo...I haven't liked this season compared to previous seasons, but this was my favorite episode so far this year.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-16735594591141549122010-02-13T02:47:35.025-05:002010-02-13T02:47:35.025-05:00Maybe just because I love the characters so much, ...Maybe just because I love the characters so much, but I thought it was a great half hour of television. Funny, sweet, smart, goofy.<br /><br />Was it the best episode of all time? Nah. But a solid episode in a top notch show.Tyrocnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-78197194082287063392010-02-12T23:12:55.252-05:002010-02-12T23:12:55.252-05:00It's definitely been at its weakest lately, bu...It's definitely been at its weakest lately, but it's still worth watching. And people have made good points about the ratings - it's holding up the rest of the Thursday night block. The greater good!<br /><br />I agree we should have seen more of Michael as salesman. But even if they wanted to keep it contained to this episode, there were better ways to have Michael realize he prefers to be a manager - like if he couldn't call an impromptu staff meeting, or give out some award. But it's just Phyllis' smell and his office?<br /><br />I'm actually impressed at how much of Erin's total space cadet character has shown through in fairly limited screen time. Compared to Meredith, Kelly, etc, we don't have as many biographical details, but she's about as fleshed out as they are.<br /><br />Speaking of that, I agree one weakness has been the lack of secondary characters recently. Where has Kelly been? Her copier double entendre to Andy was the funniest part of the episode. Or the accountants? Or Phyllis/Stanley?Number Fivenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-4561366802552797792010-02-12T21:29:18.437-05:002010-02-12T21:29:18.437-05:00Agree with others. This isn't anything new. I ...Agree with others. This isn't anything new. I normally am right there with most of watch Alan says. But he's big time late to the party in realizing that The Office is past it's freshness date. Not sure I'd still be watching it if not for the other Thurs night shows. But it is definitely the weak link in the Thursday night comedy line up now.Jordanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15723369960644312070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-78142448801252028222010-02-12T20:52:57.644-05:002010-02-12T20:52:57.644-05:00I think a lot of the dynamics that were core to Th...I think a lot of the dynamics that were core to The Office in its early days have changed fundamentally, and the show just hasn't caught up or adjusted. Michael is much sweeter and less offensive (maybe in the very early episodes he was too cruel, but a lot of the humour for years was derived by having this idiot in a position of real power over the staff - he's felt ineffectual, and patronised by his own staff, for a long time now). Jim and Pam used to be these people with potential trapped in dead-end jobs by their own slackness/lack of confidence. Their wicked prank-playing humour came in part from how much they despised the workplace they were stuck in. It was inevitable that they would grow as people, but frankly, them staying in the same jobs doesn't make sense given that. It's a dynamic which doesn't easily resolve, because the characters have moved on. I think it might have been interesting to mix up for a while - Micheal finding some freedom in just being a good, if havok-creating salesman, and Jim having to deal with the insanity of running Dunder Mifflin Scranton, particularly if Pam reverted back to prankster and time-waster.Ada-Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10515811554518736780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-7092469590143934002010-02-12T16:16:21.081-05:002010-02-12T16:16:21.081-05:00The fact is that "The Office" started to...The fact is that "The Office" started to run out of ideas years ago -- you could tell, as the show got wackier and wackier in its fourth season, with the kind of slapstick antics that used to be a minor undercurrent suddenly becoming its go-to ideas when it came to big punchlines. Remember when this was a comedy <i>without</i> punchlines? Me, too. That time is long gone.<br /><br />If it wanted to avoid an inevitable decline, it probably should have packed it in years ago. NOW? It's too late. Might as well keep stringing it out, since they've already badly damaged the concept, characters, and execution.Linushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01589748215468857487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-82654667853891946832010-02-12T15:49:12.890-05:002010-02-12T15:49:12.890-05:00there has been nothing funnier this season than mi...there has been nothing funnier this season than michael and erin's collective reaction to keyboard bossanova, finger up and hand on hip..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-43002113143518166292010-02-12T15:23:44.635-05:002010-02-12T15:23:44.635-05:00I want next season to be the final season.I want next season to be the final season.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-47460988590127169522010-02-12T15:17:52.526-05:002010-02-12T15:17:52.526-05:00to Ang - Yes, salespeople can make more than their...to Ang - Yes, salespeople can make more than their bosses. It's actually common. Part of it is a boss is comp'd (at least sometimes) by the performance of their salesforce; so while one person may excel, if the team isn't hitting their numbers, the bosses don't get comp'd as much. Also to some, being a manager is paying your dues to get higher in the company. <br /><br />My company has performing salesmen making more than the sales managersnjameshttp://iamnoahjames.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-6103894304588179272010-02-12T15:05:14.620-05:002010-02-12T15:05:14.620-05:00I thought this episode was a step up from the more...I thought this episode was a step up from the more recent Office episodes, though I agree with the notion that they could've gotten a couple of episodes with Michael as the arrogant salesman. Andy/Erin shenanigans are wearing a little thin, but Ellie Kemper is so gorgeous and the character is so freakin' naive that it's hard not to root for the two of them.<br /><br />Good jokes could be found in the margins, including how all the salespeople in Michael's area defend Phyllis about her smell (and I loved Andy's "I'm just expecting a nosebleed" line) and when Jim dunks Dwight's tie into his coffee.<br /><br />Still not a great season so far...Henrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-15725306202286016272010-02-12T14:32:53.832-05:002010-02-12T14:32:53.832-05:00I agree that a lot of storylines seem to be resolv...I agree that a lot of storylines seem to be resolved too quickly or just abandoned. It also feels a bit off that the Dwight/Ryan plotting went nowhere, though their self-congratulation was funny. <br /><br />The Andy/Erin non-relationship, however, is an abomination that should be killed with fire.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-76502035655145825372010-02-12T14:15:23.209-05:002010-02-12T14:15:23.209-05:00I decided after "Scot's Tots" that I...I decided after "Scot's Tots" that I was pretty well finished with this show. That ep was just painful and horrible, and not funny at all. It kind of pissed me off that the situation was played for laughs, actually. Michael being clueless and awkward is funny to me; Michael lying and ruining lives/dreams is not. (Also, pregnancy/baby/childbirth/kid storylines never ever fail to bore and annoy me.) But I did watch last night, and I was also disappointed that they didn't keep Michael as a salesperson for at least a couple of episodes. I miss the Jim/Dwight dynamic and pranks, though, so maybe we'll see that again. <br /><br />And this may be off-topic, but is it realistic that a salesperson could make that much more than the boss? It seems to me that if the sales of the office are that good, the manager would get a bonus. I don't know; I've never worked sales, but it distracted me. <br /><br />I think that maybe an end date would help, unless the writers have a plan to shake things up. I do wish we saw more of Toby, Kelly, Stanley, Creed, etc., etc. I think there's been too much focus on Jim and Pam, Andy and Erin.<br /><br />Love the bits with the dogs really going at Andy's crotch. I had to pause it when Michael was talking about Camel and cigarettes because I was laughing so hard and gasping for breath. Loved Erin asking Jim if he wanted her to spin him around in the chair.Angnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-30903821288390161572010-02-12T14:11:38.134-05:002010-02-12T14:11:38.134-05:00I do not like the Sabre plotline. At all. Part of ...I do not like the Sabre plotline. At all. Part of what made the show work before for me was the fact that despite the generally off-kilter nature of the Scranton branch and Michael Scott, you had this stoic, realistic corporate culture in New York to sort of play straight man. By making Sabre just as goofy as Dunder Mifflin Scranton, I think the show has lost some of its grounding.JoeEnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-80081684933831189942010-02-12T14:05:59.637-05:002010-02-12T14:05:59.637-05:00I was glad to see Jim back at his old desk, but hi...I was glad to see Jim back at his old desk, but his decision that he's not management material seems a little facile. I guess he really has come to terms with being an office supplies salesman for the rest of his life? I know his priorities have changed, but it's still a little sad.<br /><br />My attitude toward Andy/Erin has changed from indifference to active dislike. That also makes me sad, because I used to find Andy very funny.Nikkinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-38252063536002497402010-02-12T13:50:04.657-05:002010-02-12T13:50:04.657-05:00Dog Crotch
"Don't try to ride them.
S...Dog Crotch<br /><br /><br />"Don't try to ride them.<br /><br />Some people try to ride them"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-66137003706356621242010-02-12T13:41:34.699-05:002010-02-12T13:41:34.699-05:00The show's become unwatchable for me. I tried ...The show's become unwatchable for me. I tried last night but I found myself flipping over to Survivor every 5 minutes (which I'm no great fan of).tony libidohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14501184367189462143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-63544551240835930832010-02-12T13:32:05.751-05:002010-02-12T13:32:05.751-05:00Alan I cannot agree more on Kathy Bates dusting of...Alan I cannot agree more on Kathy Bates dusting off her character from Primary colors- to the point where I was trying to figure out if she had the dogs in the movie as well (she didn't). Just seems lazy by either the writers, her, or both. <br /><br />The episode was entertaining enough but there is definitely a reason why the Office is the last show I get to from my Thursday night DVR que every time. I definitely saw a return to the status quo coming, as I'm sure many did, and I'm left dissapointed. All the big events that they try to get the viewer excited about just don't mean anything anymore since almost always the Office structure doesn't change (Pam / Erin being the exception). This would be fine if the show didn't take itself as seriously as it does. Always Sunny can forever revert back to 4 coniving slackers in a bar but if the Office wants us to care about the dramatic events of the show there needs to be some type of payoff.WilforkForFoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11798238079832851114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-59247198482106509132010-02-12T13:31:31.346-05:002010-02-12T13:31:31.346-05:00Even though the premise of the series always seems...Even though the premise of the series always seems to revert back to its foundation, I still give credit to the show for being so willing to cultivate (Jim/Pam; Andy/Erin) or destroy (Dwight/Angela/Andy; Michael/Holly) relationships in ways that appear to be permanent. Speaking of which, the Andy and Kelly relationship (Kandy, if you will) had the potential to be the most annoying coupling ever. Sure, both those characters are consistent when it comes to making me laugh (“Do you realize how hard that makes me like you, Andy?”), but I don’t think I could have withstood the mutual co-dependency that would have enveloped everyone around them if they got together.<br /><br />If anyone is interested, you can find more of my thoughts about the latest episode in my blog. Click my username for the link.tribalismhttp://wordbribery.wordpress.com/2010/02/12/the-office-ensures-that-i-never-look-at-cigarettes-the-same-way/noreply@blogger.com