tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post8991784535939467185..comments2024-03-28T18:01:28.997-04:00Comments on What's Alan Watching?: The Office, "Chairmodel": Bring me the heads of The Five Families!Alan Sepinwallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-64532127284980304302008-04-26T13:32:00.000-04:002008-04-26T13:32:00.000-04:00I think the best thing about this ep was what it d...I think the best thing about this ep was what it did for our view of Michael. In The Dinner Party, we were very much sympathizing with Michael, and thinking that this poor, sweet bumbler really does deserve better if only he could go for it. This one started that way too--though the love-card thing was obviously "unprofessional", you'd have to have a heart of stone not to feel for him, especially with his speech about "before I can get laid, I need to be in love."<BR/><BR/>But then they proceeded to remind us, repeatedly, that for all his good intentions, Michael is still a shallow douchebag. I particularly appreciated the satiric pointedness of Michael constantly talking about just wanting someone nice, even as he obsesses about a model and is casually cruel to the seemingly sweet and vulnerable landlady (my wife and I nearly cheered when she finally told him off).<BR/><BR/>A running risk in the US Office has been that Carrell is such a likable guy, Michael can lose the essential soul-sucking awfulness that gives the show its bite, turning the whole thing into another sitcom about nice-nice people victimized by circumstance. They've been dancing at the edge of this for a while, and this episode did a good job of reminding us that deep down, Michael is missing the self-awareness that decency requires.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-11406205094508756552008-04-21T18:13:00.000-04:002008-04-21T18:13:00.000-04:00Check the deleted scenes on the Office website at ...Check the deleted scenes on the Office website at NBC. It suggests that it's been a whole month since the break-up. There's a funny scene of Dwight trying to bill Michael for his stay at the beet farm.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-75971374715374463972008-04-20T09:24:00.000-04:002008-04-20T09:24:00.000-04:00I must be the only one who feels this way because ...<I>I must be the only one who feels this way because no one else has stated it: I thought that there was an episode "missing" between last week and this week. <BR/><BR/>What happened when Michael broke it off with Jan? Where are they living? What happened to Jan's businesss venture based out of the condo? You mean to tell me that no one at the office had anything to say about Jan & Michael breaking up?</I><BR/><BR/>I didn't think there was time for that to happen. It wouldn't surprise me if this episode wasn't the day after the dinner party. it certainly was within a day or two. It felt like Michael had walked out on Jan, come into work the next day, looked at the chairmodel (who he'd been looking at for the past few week, probably thinking "If only I wasn't with Jan"), suddenly realised "Hey I'm not with Jan, and we saw hpow the rest progressed. <BR/><BR/>The whole thing felt like Michael trying to move on too quickly, which certainly would be in character.Matthewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08196372589248892579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-69539041964404976502008-04-19T21:46:00.000-04:002008-04-19T21:46:00.000-04:00I must be the only one who feels this way because ...I must be the only one who feels this way because no one else has stated it: I thought that there was an episode "missing" between last week and this week. <BR/><BR/>What happened when Michael broke it off with Jan? Where are they living? What happened to Jan's businesss venture based out of the condo? You mean to tell me that no one at the office had anything to say about Jan & Michael breaking up?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-84943720751444464492008-04-19T19:26:00.000-04:002008-04-19T19:26:00.000-04:00I liked the "Dinner Party" better (who wrote that ...I liked the "Dinner Party" better (who wrote that one? Who's got the mean streak?), but this one was good. I was hoping Meredith would set herself up as one of Michael's blind dates.<BR/><BR/>A solution to the Pam/Jim thing, and Jim's lack of ambition: Ryan gives Jim Michael's job, Jim hires Michael out of pityAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-35294032795409477192008-04-19T18:18:00.000-04:002008-04-19T18:18:00.000-04:00Surprised no one has mentioned the striking simila...Surprised no one has mentioned the striking similarity between Michael's date w/ Pam's landlady and D. Brent's blind date w/ the girl w/ the misleading profile photo on the British Office finale/X-Mas Special- that was the first scene I recall seeing in a while that appeared to be a direct borrowing from and/or homage to the original (although Alan did allude to the Brit version re. the viewer discomfort caused by the scene). While I now fully appreciate the two shows as independent entities w/ their own respective strengths and (relative) weaknesses, can't help but note that Carell failed to match Gervais in his ability to make the viewer squirm while trying to barely disguise his disappointment w/ the situation/ woman at hand.the Stanfield Org.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07794675562210920155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-15596269385108060882008-04-19T02:30:00.000-04:002008-04-19T02:30:00.000-04:00Has anyone else noticed that everytime they show C...<I>Has anyone else noticed that everytime they show Creed's computer screen he is playng Solitare?</I><BR/><BR/>And not even trying to hide it. Creed's the best!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-35133853480683926522008-04-19T01:36:00.000-04:002008-04-19T01:36:00.000-04:00To quote Chris Farley on SNL, "That was AWESOME". ...To quote Chris Farley on SNL, "That was AWESOME". I don't remember laughing that hard in a long, long time.<BR/><BR/>My idea for the spin-off: get Ed Helms to crossover and Will Arnett to play the boss. Those 2 could read the Bible out loud and make me laugh.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-46621686455467515082008-04-18T21:03:00.000-04:002008-04-18T21:03:00.000-04:00Has anyone else noticed that everytime they show C...Has anyone else noticed that everytime they show Creed's computer screen he is playng Solitare?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-29245145149880872532008-04-18T18:57:00.000-04:002008-04-18T18:57:00.000-04:00Best episode of the season so far, putting "Money"...Best episode of the season so far, putting "Money" in close second.<BR/>One interesting element of this episode is how it highlights a dynamic regarding the boss' social problems that the UK version couldn't really try out: Michael Scott is not a bad looking guy in general let alone compared to David Brent, so Michael's horrible personality and complete lack of social understanding cost him even more than Brent's issues, because it was implicit that Brent knew he had no arrows in his romantic quiver. Based on appearances, Michael has some reason to feel he's deserving of more attractive women (like the blonde at the coffee shop), and he will never understand it's his disgusting attitude and persona that make him a first-class dateless wonder. Or land him a woman who's just like him, attractive on the outside and rotten to the core--like Jan.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-82711676978890939562008-04-18T18:55:00.000-04:002008-04-18T18:55:00.000-04:00Just a random thought I had. I miss Jim and Pam wo...Just a random thought I had. I miss Jim and Pam working together to gang up on Dwight and play pranks.<BR/>But loved the episode overall. The five families part was great, as was Kevins role. We don't usually get to see him that much and it was a nice change. And I also loved Phyllis's one liner to Andy. So many things to say. Hope everyone else enjoyed too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-14674183661665807002008-04-18T17:38:00.000-04:002008-04-18T17:38:00.000-04:00I also enjoyed Andy talking about the Joe Sixpack'...I also enjoyed Andy talking about the Joe Sixpack's "mortage payments for his rental apartment" or something along those lines...TuckPendletonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09205887129563034955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-58085028246270383692008-04-18T17:35:00.000-04:002008-04-18T17:35:00.000-04:00Stacey is also in "E-Mail Surveillance;" she atten...Stacey is also in "E-Mail Surveillance;" she attends Jim's karaoke party!<BR/><BR/>I also though the chairmodel was Jan.mo piehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12320627370276331465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-26479836220730366712008-04-18T16:40:00.000-04:002008-04-18T16:40:00.000-04:00Creed's "Only one more to go" line is pretty class...Creed's "Only one more to go" line is pretty classic, but for sheer random brilliance, nothing tops Dwight's "A Spaniard."Paul Matwychukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01917384620564525389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-44572827977020713392008-04-18T16:23:00.000-04:002008-04-18T16:23:00.000-04:00Were there two "As God is my witness" lines? (One ...Were there two "As God is my witness" lines? (One from Kevin, about having to walk so far, and one I can't remember.) A third one would have made it funny, but with two, it was just a little weird.<BR/><BR/>I assumed Creed wanted three chairs to sleep on.<BR/><BR/>I thought Angela was not well used. I really hope the real Angela's pregnancy doesn't keep her screen time down.<BR/><BR/>I have to say I am worried about the spin-off. I don't really want any character leaving, except maybe Jan.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-15176130439813919972008-04-18T13:28:00.000-04:002008-04-18T13:28:00.000-04:00And the followup a scene later "What's her name, B...And the followup a scene later "What's her name, Burger King?" was also pretty good.Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11317568565085893849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-20388816419101694912008-04-18T13:05:00.000-04:002008-04-18T13:05:00.000-04:00I can't believe nobody has mentioned this. For me,...I can't believe nobody has mentioned this. For me, the biggest laugh of the night was Kevin submitting "Wendy. Redhead. Hot and juicy" as a girl Michael could date. That had me laughing out loud for at least 15 seconds.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-26160072240891255912008-04-18T12:47:00.000-04:002008-04-18T12:47:00.000-04:00I actually was really bothered by Kevin in this ep...I actually was really bothered by Kevin in this episode. Pretty much every line he delivered just seemed so over the top and "actor-ish" in it's delivery that it was jarring and took me out of the moment. Not sure why, but it just seemed very off for me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-27458329879087456592008-04-18T12:41:00.000-04:002008-04-18T12:41:00.000-04:00Oh my gods, imagine How I Met Your Mother narrated...Oh my gods, imagine <B>How I Met Your Mother</B> narrated by Michael Scott instead of Ted Mosby.barefootjimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02619403344304134318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-31763219827650888182008-04-18T12:33:00.000-04:002008-04-18T12:33:00.000-04:00I imagine that within the world of the show, the s...I imagine that within the world of the show, the subjects of the documentary at least have some date before which they know the film <I>won't</I> be released. I mean, presumably those girls on High School Confidential knew they'd be filmed for four years, then a couple years would go by before it went on TV. The Office documentarian will have been filming these folks for three, four years at most at this point, right? So it's not so outside the realm. I also imagine the filmmakers would follow the cast to things like the dinner party and the art show and Stamford for the same reasons the real-life writers wrote those scenes into the show--because they thought it'd make good TV.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-12407363757815173942008-04-18T12:10:00.000-04:002008-04-18T12:10:00.000-04:00Mark, the documentary hasn't aired yet. The writer...Mark, the documentary hasn't aired yet. The writers still haven't decided when, or if, it might air during the series' run, and at one point there was even a suggestion that they were filming this to air overseas. (Hence the original, quickly discarded "The Office: An American Workplace" title.)Alan Sepinwallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-37520686877641372452008-04-18T11:46:00.000-04:002008-04-18T11:46:00.000-04:00The premise of the show is that these people are b...The premise of the show is that these people are being filmed for a <I>documentary,</I> right? Since everything they has a chance of being broadcast for all to hear, why do they go off into the other room and <I>record</I> secrets they're supposedly trying to keep? <BR/><BR/>Apparently, none of them, nor anyone else they know, watches the finished product. Because if Pam's mother watches, she'd certainly tell her "Jim's going to propose! Eeeeeee!!"<BR/><BR/>(I'm also not sure why the documentarian wants to pay a crew to follow them to art-class shows, dinner parties or cemeteries, to say nothing of setting up another shop in Connecticut when Jim worked there.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-23105399004718027192008-04-18T10:45:00.000-04:002008-04-18T10:45:00.000-04:00I have to ask, why wasn't the 800 number they disp...I have to ask, why wasn't the 800 number they displayed during the show updated?<BR/><BR/>I was kind of bummed. I called the number which apparently was the same number they use for the Dwight's "Anti-Flashing Task Force" hotline since the message was still the same.<BR/><BR/>Are we to believe that a joke fell through the cracks due to the strike?Tom O'Keefehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00618372280521433193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-57819778065165025592008-04-18T10:03:00.000-04:002008-04-18T10:03:00.000-04:00Ha, I love this blog--I was about to feel like a d...Ha, I love this blog--I was about to feel like a dork for knowing that Kevin's fiancee is in "The Dundies," and someone totally beat me to it. <BR/><BR/>I really want Michael to find out about Jim's buying the engagement ring so early and then try the same thing with every woman he dates, so that he has to sell a whole pile of engagement rings on eBay.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14472078546875948502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-82278160452831663622008-04-18T09:56:00.000-04:002008-04-18T09:56:00.000-04:00I also watch them in this order: Office, 30 Rock, ...I also watch them in this order: Office, 30 Rock, Scrubs, Survivor.<BR/><BR/>Next week is going to be a challenge, since I also watch Betty, Gray's and Lost. <BR/><BR/>I watch more shows on Thursday than the rest of the week combined.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com