The Office-Launch Party

Francesca's Take

All my disparaging remarks from two weeks ago? canceled out by tonights show. (oh yes, i'm actually writing this promptly after viewing. However, matt probably won't write his half for like a week so...). This one was funny. This one was charming (i have learned to accept and love jim and pam as a couple. It's sort of gotten them back to when we first, first met them: buddies with very little angst between them). And by george, it had a great musical number.

first, i would like to say that pranks on dwight are the best! Particularly when dwight feels threatened by them. The computer im-ing him was brilliant. I also really like that in this The Office (versus the original), they take pains to prove now and again, these people are actually fairly competent at their job. It's most striking when they do it with michael, since he's such a bonehead most of the time, but Dwight's BBC counterpart, Gareth (who was really a very different character), never seemed to do, um, anything. That said, this is not the place for the BBC vs. American debate, i'm merely saying i like that little hint at credibility.

For me, the peak of the episode came during andy's musical number. This was for a couple of reasons. 1) i don't know if i did it here, but i have said aloud, to anyone who would listen, that i predicted Andy making a move on angela. He did. I'm a genius. also, while he and dwight were charming as buddies (their victory dance was terrific) they were really pretty great as arch-nemisises...nemisisi. 2) i love abba and have a particular affinity for the song Take a Chance on Me. Also, i like acapella singing. 3) right as andy got to the big finish of the song, my cat, who had been resting gently in my lap, started awake, got big in the eyes, lept of my lap and threw up. Four times. on various areas of our carpet. Yay, tivo. And also resolve pet stains spray.

Another thing to love: i'm a big fan of them letting ryan eat crow now and again. he clearly got the job by default and i like that they're letting michael have little triumphs over him. It's nice. And i always like it when dwight and michael buddy up. They are a force to be reckoned with.

Dear The Office,

i love you.

your friend,
Francesca

Matt's Take

Very solid installment, but again a little too much of the hour is spent developing plot threads. The Office is about jokes and while some of those jokes are payoffs from long-developing storylines, most of them are quick hits.

Like Dwight and Andy doing a ridiculous impromptu celebration dance after defeating the online sales computer.

Or Pam convincing Dwight that the computer is alive.

Francesca and many others I've spoken to disagree with me, but I just don't find the Dwight-Angela story all that compelling. For a plot thread like that to be interesting, you have to love both characters or at least love to hate them. And the problem is, I don't know what to feel about Angela.

She's obviously an unlikable character. Like Dwight, she's odd and offbeat but unlike Dwight she doesn't make that charming or funny. She's just mean and cold and harsh. Maybe part of it is Angela Kinsey's performance, which I've never felt is really as strong as her co-stars, but whatever it is the character just doesn't work for me. The sign of great character is that you get excited every time they are on screen and for me I get bored and disinterested when Angela is on screen.

Alright, enough criticism. I want to mention a couple of transcendent moments this episode featured that were on par with the quality of this show's predecessor, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's original BBC version of The Office. I won't go too deeply into this today but essentially while I feel the American version of the show is an excellent comedy in its own right, the British series was a work of art that transcended comedy. It was some of the best narrative film making of this decade.

The American show under discussion today takes a much broader approach to the same concept the British show was based on but in "Launch Party" the show achieved a couple of moments that came close to the British series in tone. The first was Michael's defiant cussing out of Ryan over the video teleconference. The brilliant awkward tension of the situation was immediately cut by Kelly Kapoor smashing pizza onto the screen where her former boyfriend's smug face was trying to seem unflappable.

The second moment was the end of the episode, a simple long take that begins with Dwight and Michael improving an impression of Ryan their former underling. The impression turns awkward when Michael says "Ooh I'm Ryan, I'm so hot" and the two sit in silence on the hood of Dwight's car soaking the moment in.

There's a sense of triumph and positivity among the characters on the American show that never existed in their British counterparts and that's really the key difference between the shows. Both sets of Office workers are in rough situations but while the Brits either resigned themselves to eternal unhappiness (or in David Brent's case lied to themselves and everyone else about it) the Americans all really seem to have hope that there's a better future for them. Whether it's Jim and Pam dreaming to get out one day or Michael and Dwight dreaming that the corporations big plans will blow up in their faces, The American Office is about staying cheerful and defiant in the face of a bleak existence.

Chuck-Chuck Versus the Tango

Francesca's Take

Ok, so now we know how the naming is going to work: Chuck versus the Something.

Once again, Chuck shows itself to be very likable. Not so likable that i'm getting excited for it exactly, but it's a pleasant diversion.

In my mind, the only thing Chuck is suffering from, really, is that it shares so many similarities to Reaper. And i like Reaper better. So, while i enjoy Chuck on its own, i find myself thinking, "yeah ok, this is what's going down at Buy More. I can't wait until tomorrow to find out what's going on at The Work Bench." Not good.

of course, working to Chuck's advantage are more set pieces and prettier people. But i think that works to their advantage on the action side. Gritty works better for the comedy side and since i am more prone to like comedy to action, Reaper will always win.

Anyways, sorry this is a lame blog. it was a good episode. I like it and i will continue to do so. i really enjoy that they still come through with the sappy sibling stuff. You rarely get to see that on tv. But i will continue to be baffled by the decision to make-up the sister within an inch of her life. Who decided that the Elvira look screamed "good sister." i just don't get that.

Matt's Take

I want to take my portion of the blog to explore the striking similarity between Chuck and another new series that this blog has kept up with, Reaper.

For shows based on two very different concepts, they are incredibly similar in structure and in their target audience as well. I'll run this down like a laundry list:

* Main character is a twenty-something male with moppy hair, uncertain about his future (both extremely similar to John Krasinski's Jim Halpert from The Office).

* Hero character works at a big chain warehouse-type store (Chuck works at Best Buy, Tim from Reaper works at Home Depot)

* Wacky and somewhat disgusting sidekick (though Reaper's sidekick is much funnier)

* Both shows feature an ominous and threatening boss-type figure who turns out to not be that bad of a guy

* Both heroes have loving and supportive family members

What we're getting to is that this is almost exactly the same show aiming for the same audience. The question now is, which one of these shows will win the battle? On the one hand, Chuck is on a major network and has exposure that you just can't get on the CW. It also has higher production value and a better looking cast.

All that said, I actually think Reaper has a better chance of sticking it out for a second season. Anyone who's seen both shows will admit the writing on Reaper is much better. It's funnier, the weekly plotlines are more interesting and it features a much more interesting premise than Chuck's computer-in-my-brain gimmick. Despite lacking the financial advantages Chuck has, Reaper is overall a much more watchable show and in the end that could be all it takes.

We'll follow the developments here on OTC.

Aliens in America-No Man Is an Island

Francesca's Take

Once again, this show has proven itself to be mighty refreshing. The best stuff is easily between Raja and Justin though the sister's storyline was somewhat reassuring. After the pilot, i wasn't quite sure why they needed her. i still need more convincing, but her story was fairly funny.

That said, the real chemistry is between raja and justin. Justin is pulled in two directions. On the one hand, hanging out with raja is pulling him even more into the depth of highschool society (this week, raja befriended "small paul", the eleven year old genius who dorks it up in high school, carrying a briefcase and volunteering to read the lunch menu on the school's television station.) When raja accepts an invitation for he and justin to attend small paul's slumber party, it's too much for justin. (though, to be fair, raja had already proclaimed to their literature class that the thing he would bring to a desert island was justin and also asserted their friendship in the buff in the locker room).

Justin goes to his sister for advice on how to shake raja. His sister advises that he does what she does to him: ignore him and pretend like they are in no way related or to be associated with each other. This gives her the very funny bit about "someone realized that you and i had the same last name. I told them we adopted you from a retarded family." Justin replies, dismayed, "the whole family had to be retarded?" She notes that you can't be too careful.

anyways, justin attempts to put distance between himself and raja. Raja doesn't resist. Justin realizes, after falling asleep in last period for five hours and no one noticing, that he really needs to have his one friend. a very amusing profession of friendship follows.

and i love this show. Sure, sometimes it's crude, but it is, unfortunately, crude in the way that high school students really are. And, once again, the classroom scenes are just great. oh, i like this show!

Matt's Take

This show keeps on rolling! I have to say, I'm absolutely shocked at how well this little-show-that-could has continued to provide consistent laughs on what could be a very sentimental and saccharine show.

In the same way that Justin abandons all hope for popularity and dives right into geeky happiness with Raja, this show continues to push its humor envelope forward because, well, it has nothing to lose.

Shows with big budgets like, oh I don't know, HEROES or THE X-FILES or even my beloved LOST almost always ultimately have to change the way they operate at some point appeal to ratings and the target audience and all the people who have a vested interest in the financial success of the show. When you have a small, intimate comedy like this you often see the show develop its own off-beat identity, embracing its geek appeal.

In that way, this show continues to remind me of shows like FREAKS AND GEEKS or even more kid-friendly fare like EVEN STEVENS or PETE AND PETE. Only with more gay jokes.

I have to say the sister character is one of my favorite parts of the show, particularly when it comes to her relationship with her mother. I love the way mom identifies so well with her daughter because she's essentially still the same as she was when she was in high school. She's shallow, petty, cold and ignorant. She hasn't grown one bit. Dark suburban comedy at its finest.

Bionic Woman

Francesca and Matt's Joint Message:

after careful consideration, we have decided that we can't bear to watch another episode of this show. Sorry if you were looking for insight. You can just reread the first post about it. It's probably pretty much the same thing we'd say every time anyways.

The Office-Dunder-Mifflin Infinity

Francesca's Take

Ok, this is what i'm talking about. Last night was a solid show. And i couldn't help but think that this one should have been the premier. It dealt much more with alot of the stuff that had been left hanging in last season's finale. And, with my head hung low, i admit, they've charmed with with pam and jim. I think what sold it was when toby (mean toby! who knew!) outed them and everyone was so happy for them. That was really a nice moment. Another one of those, "aw, michael's really a great guy at his core" moments. The rest of the episode brought the funny and hard.

A few favorite moments: Michael driving into the lake despite dwight's protestations ("it's a lake! it's a lake, michael!"). Phyllis' snarky little comment about assigning new sales randomly (spicy!). Garbage, the cat. But probably the moment that made me laugh the longest and hardest was the confessional after kelly tells ryan she's pregnant. Kelly Kapoor shaking her head vigorously at the camera made me just about lose it. And then in short order it's followed by her next confessional, "we're going on a date!" Seriously, she might be my favorite character on that show.

I have to say, i'm glad they calmed jan down some. If they wanted to keep that character around, it's definitely good she's been somewhat cowed. Because the rapid downward spiral was difficult to watch, even on a comedy. And they've struck an almost functional relationship tone with she and michael and that could be interesting.

then there's ryan. Boy, he's become a jerk, huh? he's always been right on the cusp of it, but now he official is a (explative deleted). As matt pointed out, while it's not really fun to see now, it will inevitably have a good payoff of him getting knocked down a few pegs. We can only hope.

all in all, last night's episode seemed back in step with their best stuff. We spent some time with every character and thus, i didn't feel cheated like last week. I was elated. Like the good old days.

Matt's Take

That's more like it, Office. After a sluggish and utilitarian start to the fourth season of the best sitcom on television, The Office returned to form with a laugh-a-second gem entitled "Dunder Mifflin Infinity".

I could sit here a day later and quote to you all the awesomely funny lines and sight gags that worked in this episode. That's what this show is at its best, it's quick-hitting idiocy mixed in with heartfelt stories about lost and misguided people trying to find happiness with one another.

All my doubts have been allayed about the premises put in place for this season. Jim and Pam being together works...for now. It's cutesy but still fun and safe and with a little tension.

Michael and Jan works. It's not too outlandish or ridiculous but really kind of functional. Jan is just crazy enough that she needs Michael and Michael is stupid enough that he can't see how crazy she is.

But most of all, what a great move it turned out to be to make Ryan the Temp the new bad guy. He's always had a sleaziness about him, a quality they really started stepping up more and more last season. Now he's just a full-on jerk. Since the rehabilitation of Andy, there's been no villain on the show, no character that brings everyone else together. Ryan is that uniting force. He's perfect for the job.

The only element of the show I'm still not buying into is the Dwight-Angela relationship. It's just not all that compelling or interesting to me. They are two nasty, ugly and largely unlikable people so any time we spend with both of them is not usually very fun. Angela and Dwight are characters we laugh at, not with, so it's hard to take anything from their on-screen relationship.

But I'm nitpicking, really. The second episode of the season proved all the doubters wrong. Yes, getting Jim and Pam together is a good idea. Yes, Ryan works as a bad guy. Yes, the hourlong format can work for this show. And yes, The Office is still the best sitcom on television.

30 Rock-Seinfeld Vision

Francesca's Take

now, matt and i were early champions of this show. I'm fairly certain that it still hasn't quite found it's audience, but thank you very much to the NBC heads having a little good faith (remember, these folks did the same for the office three years ago when i'm fairly certain matt, bec, and i were the only people watching). Stays of execution make me respect them alot. And 30 Rock is very worthy of the reprieve.

It's always been uneven. It took it a few episodes for it to find it's footing and it sort of lost it's way again at the end of last season. But when it's good, it's very, very good. And last night it was very good.

Liz Lemon, neurotic to the core, works best as a mildly depressed single (or as the girl who wished she was single and who's beeper salesman boyfriend would buy her cheeseburgers as a sign of affection). Don't get me wrong. i liked floyd. And it was nice for her to be happy. But sitting on the floor, eating take out ham in a 4000 dollar wedding dress (she was in the wedding dress, not the ham), was a call back to what makes her character great and relatable. Starstruck kenneth was a beautiful thing to behold. Kinda fat jenna was pretty hilarious (it would of been funnier if that torso wasn't so close to home for me) and tracy jordan's a joy. Jack was back to his whisper-y, conniving self (so much better than him being fettered to the fake british woman). And jerry seinfeld was really very funny. guest stars, particularly appearing as "themselves," are often not very funny. This role was very well written. it was a great season premier.

a note: how often has lost been referred to in other tv series? i thought last night's joke, with regards to seinfeld vision was spot on, dwight schrute mentions is fairly regularly and i was delighted when, in this week's episode, chuck got in on the game. As he rattled off a number of our countries secrets, tucked in there was a comment about "oceanic flight 815." You know those lost folks have got to feel pretty good about that. And, strangely, those are all NBC shows.

Matt's Take

This was a real treat for me. Seinfeld really hit its stride right around my middle school years and I was just old enough to get some of the jokes and ever since that point it has informed my sitcom sensibilities. The half-hour television comedy can't go back to the formulaic days of Full House and Family Matters in the post-Seinfeld era, which in many ways makes 30 Rock a successor of Seinfeld.

It's a non-traditional comedy in that it mixes Tina Fey's very grounded, intellectual wit with zany, outrageous flights of fancy. Jerry Seinfeld blends seamlessly into that world.

As Francesca mentioned, 30 Rock was a bit uneven during its first season ranging from pure brilliance to a bit off the mark. To be fair, even the jokes that didn't work in the first season were ambitious enough to applaud. Fey and company rarely go for the easy joke and that has to be admired in the world of ratings-driven comedy.

So far, the second season is off to a nice start with the show's best episode since last year's brilliant "Black Tie" (which featured Paul Reubens as an inbred Austrian prince). 30 Rock's ultimate fate is very much tied to Tina Fey's talent as a writer and that means it's no certain success. The ceiling is very high for what it could become but for now Fey and Team 30 Rock must focus on creating a more solid identity for the series.

Pushing Dasies-Pie-lette

Francesca's Take

first, a word about the title of this episode: clever. And a word about me: not very clever. It took me awhile to get it.

So, a word about the series: whimsy. Not something you get alot of on network tv and definitely not something you would expect to be done so well. The premise is, i suppose, somewhat supernatural, but you watch it and what comes across is the quirky. With a color palette saturated enough to rival the film Nanny McFee, you are immediately made aware that this is not quite of this world. After all, where in this world could a man eke out a living as a pie maker?

so here's the thing: our hero, ned, can bring people back to life. He discovers this when his dog gets hit by a truck. The grieving boy touches his dog and it bounds back to life. He only discovers the downside of this power when his own mother dies. He touches her, she bounds back to life, and, a few minutes later, his neighbor (incidentally, his love, a girl named chuck) sees her dad keel over. See, if he keeps something alive for more than a minute after its death, someone else will die. he finds out another nasty side effect: if he touches what he brought back again, it dies. Permanently.

this is all told quirkily by a narrator who voices over with the vaguely british authority of a fairy tale. Which works beautifully.

The rest of the episode gives us what will become the gist of the show: when an investigator, emerson cod, oversees ned bring back to life (and promptly re-kill) a bad guy, he enlists him as the second half of a crime-solving duo. They visit the morgue, bring folks to life for a minute, ask them who killed them, collect the reward. simple enough.

until one of the victims is ned's old flame and first love, Chuck. he brings her to life but can't bear to kill her again. and there's the lovely, sad thing. he loves her, but he can't touch her.. Anyways, they solve her murder and we meet her excellent, quirky (that word keeps coming up) aunts and the plot is very cleverly (that word again) uncovered and i say, old chum, it was a very enjoyable hour of tv.

enjoyable and totally bizarre. We can only hope it sticks around. I think it deserves to.

Matt's Take

This is a show that will almost certainly divide audiences. There will be a large group, maybe even a majority, who either don't get it or think it's just too clever, too overdone. Then there will be another group that thinks this show is brilliant, refreshing, unique and a sign that creative television can still exist.

To be honest, I'm not sure which category I fall into just yet. To be sure, it's not beyond me. I'm as big a fan of Tim Burton (an obvious influence on this show's style) as anyone. I'm a big believer that sometimes you just need to show your brain something that it would never come up with on its own. It gets things going, gets the juices flowing.

Yet there's a part of me that thinks Pushing Daisies might just be walking that thin line between being weird for weirdness' sake (usually a good thing) and being weird because you've seen others have success by being weird (not a good thing). It's a fine line to be sure but one that intelligent viewers will notice sooner or later.

To give an example, the guys from Monty Python made some of the most brilliant comedy of their time by defying expectations and acting in a way no one could predict or expect. But as a result of the Pythons' success, we've seen a number of lame comedians come along who simply say something shocking or nonsensical and expect people to laugh.

The worst part about this phenomenon is that often audiences will have the same reaction to the cheap knockoffs as they had to the original simply because their brains are conditioned to the feeling. You see or hear something bizarre or nonsensical and you laugh.

My point is, I'm still not sure if my brain responded kindly to Pushing Daisies because it's a quality show or because it seems like a quality show. A few more episodes should tell the truth about whether Pushing Daisies is the weirdly sweet Burtonesque love story it looks like or a cynical attempt to reel in us artsy intellectuals.

But off the bat, it's an original idea with fun characters, a beautiful visual style (a very underrated thing in television these days) and an excellent cast, the last factor being in my opinion the most crucial factor in the success of any television series.

There's a ton of promise but I'm still in wait and see mode here.