Stay ConnectedTHAT’S WHAT SHE SAID takes an in-depth look at the world of NBC’s THE OFFICE. Each and every week we will offer audio highlights, episode commentary, news, reports on upcoming media appearances of the cast, retro reviews, a selection of podsafe music, and much more.
Often imitated, yet never equaled, TWSS is the longest continually running podcast dedicated to the best show on TV.
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Copyright: © Matthew R. Sommer
Episode # 131 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin crying like tiny little babies. Friends, listeners, countrymen... lend me your ears. We've come to bury TWSS, not to praise it. OK, maybe we'll praise it a little. The last half of season EIGHT on the other hand..? Hrm. THANK YOU to everyone who listened to and/or donated to TWSS over the past five seasons. TWSS and THE OFFICE have taken up a huge portion of my life, and left me with many awesome memories. Incidental music provided by Music Alley from Mevio. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast.com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Audible.com. Go to http://www.audiblepodcast.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download.
By Kevin CrossmanThe Office creator and Executive Producer Greg Daniels announced that the NBC show’s upcoming ninth season will be it’s last. Daniels also announced that he is returning to the role of showrunner, taking over from Paul Lieberstein who is prepping a Dwight spinoff with Rainn Wilson. According to OfficeTally, Daniels spoke about making an artistic ending to the show but also that “all questions will be answered” about the world of Dunder Mifflin and it’s characters.
This news is sure to reinvigorate the desire for Steve Carell’s character Michael Scott to return to the show in some capacity. Daniels left that open but also indicated he didn’t want to force it. And it would be Carell’s call as well, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
“We’ll see,” Daniels said of the idea to bring the actor back to the series that helped launch his career. “We have ideas for the ending, and obviously if he would participate, we would have a lot of good times. The idea will fly without him if he can’t make it. He is pretty busy.”
Much of last season’s cast will not be present as regulars or even at all for the upcoming season. Both Mindy Kaling and BJ Novak are expected to make occasional appearances, while James Spader’s character is definitely out. Andy Buckley is returning as David Wallace who will be “running things” according to Daniels. Importantly, deals were signed with key leads John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, and Ed Helms.As for Wilson and his Schrute Farms-inspired spinoff The Farm, a key cast member was announced last week. Comely blonde Majandra Delfino has been cast as Schrute’s younger sister Fannie, who previously left the farm but returns as a single mother. Though the key creatives for the spinoff are top-notch, it’s still unclear if sibling-inspired spinoff will be great (think Frasier) or awful (Joey).
This should not be a surprise to longtime listeners, but our upcoming Season 8 finale will also be the series finale for the That's What She Said Podcast. It's been a great ride but unlike certain network executives, Matt and Kevin (mostly Matt) know when it's time to step away. So, dear listeners, please leave a comment about how TWSS has touched your lives and affected your dreams - you might just hear it on our final show.
Also, if you want to get angry - don't punch the wall. Leave a colorful comment for us to read.
In preparation for Matt and Kevin's season-ending recording of the That's What She Said Podcast, we ask our dear listeners for their thoughts on Season 8. Did you love it? Did you hate it? What were your favorite moments, storylines, or characters?
Let us know...
The eighth season consisted of twenty-four episodes. James Spader reprises his role as Robert California, the new CEO of Dunder Mifflin/Sabre. Andy is promoted to Regional Manager and works hard to make a good impression on Robert, and asks Dwight to be his number two. Pam and Jim are expecting their second child, Phillip, at the start of the season, to coincide with Jenna Fischer's real life pregnancy. Angela is pregnant with her first son, also named Philip, with Sen. Robert Lipton (although it is implied that Dwight Schrute is actually the child's biological father). Darryl starts falling for new warehouse worker Val. Dwight is tasked with traveling to Tallahassee, Florida in order to assist Sabre Special Projects Manager Nellie Bertram (Catherine Tate) in launching a chain of retail stores, along with Jim, Ryan, Stanley, Erin, and new office temp Cathy Simms. Cathy is also revealed to have ulterior motives for the trip, as she intends to seduce Jim, but fails. Robert later kills the retail store project, blaming Todd Packer for the debacle. Erin decides to stay in Florida as an elderly woman's live-in helper. Andy goes to Florida and wins back Erin, but this allows Nellie to claim the manager position as her own. Robert tells Andy that he has been demoted back to a salesman, but refuses to accept the news, which causes him to be fired. Andy becomes motivated to begin a Dunder Mifflin comeback and joins with former CFO, David Wallace, to buy Dunder Mifflin back from Sabre putting Sabre completely out of business and giving Andy the manager position once again.
Dwight returns to Tallahassee and competes with Todd Packer (David Koechner) to impress the president of Sabre's special projects, Nellie Bertram (Catherine Tate). Meanwhile, in Scranton, Andy dodges requests by the staff for raises
Director and writer: TBA
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Urgh. The return of Nellie, a character that I HATED when she was introduced during last season's "Search Committee." Thankfully the show went with Robert California as the office manager, but like a bad dream they just can't let go of Catherine Tate and the extremely annoying character of Nellie. Perhaps we'll see a "new" Nellie who might not be so bad. We'll see...
- TWSS Kevin
Just as Pam's maternity leave ends, Dwight and Andy must select employees to accompany Dwight to Tallahassee after he is sent on an assignment.
Directed by David Rogers, written by Amelie Gillette
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This is TWSS Kevin. Matt seems to be dodging my emails so I really have no idea if we'll return from hiatus. Blame the gradual decline in quality of The Office and good bit of Wisconsin politics. That said, I REALLY liked this episode, especially some of the continuing storylines with Val and Darryl, Erin, Dwight, and Angela. It made me forget, perhaps for the first time, that there used to be somebody called Michael Scott on the show.
In any case, we'd love to hear your feedback.
After Jim returns from jury duty, Dwight questions him on every detail of his case. Meanwhile, Angela and the senator (guest star Jack Coleman) welcome their new baby.
Directed by Eric Appel, Written by Aaron Shure
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Hey TWSS listeners, this is TWSS Kevin. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this week's episode. I'm looking forward to the requisite gay jokes that are of course the hallmark of any episode featuring the father of a new baby.
When Robert decides to sell his mansion due to his divorce, Kevin suggests that he throw an office pool party, where Erin tries to make Andy jealous by flirting with Dwight and Robert gives everyone a tour of his mansion.
Writer: Owen Ellickson, Director: Charles McDougall
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As always, dear Office fans, we'd love to hear your thoughts on tonight's episode.
Description:
When Oscar joins a trivia contest, Andy tries to get the entire office involved. Meanwhile, Dwight goes to Sabre headquarters to explore other job opportunities.
Writer: Steve Heley, Director: BJ Novak
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The guy on the right looks awfully familiar. If only I could place the face...
Andy attempts to make everyone's Christmas wishes come true while Robert drinks too much at the Christmas party.
Written by Mindy Kaling, Directed by Ed Helms
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Are you feeling the spirit? Or, are you a Scrooge? Either way, leave a comment with your thoughts on this episode of The Office.
Episode # 130 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin in a state of confusion (eating Asian fusion?). I wish they ALL could be "California" girls... don't I? or not? Uh... little help? Robert? Jim? Anyone..? When Roberto Californo sends Andy mixed signals about hiring the missus (Biiitch), it leads to an afternoon of fun and bafflingly nervous anxiety. What I wouldn't give for one of Phyllis's classic room clearing farts right now! Meanwhile, Dwight starts a gym, Darryl continues his season-long chartacter arc, and Kathy continues to... exist. Damn, who'd have thought that Jim Halpert was such a nimble little minx? Nothing motivates like bowel-clenching fear, I guess. Incidental music provided by Music Alley from Mevio. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast.com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Audible.com. Go to http://www.audiblepodcast.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download.
Robert California gives his wife (Maura Tierney) a job in the office. Meanwhile, Dwight opens a gym in the building.
Writer: TBA, Director: TBA
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Will ER veteran Maura Tierney bring "must see TV" back to NBC Thursday night televsion? Leave a comment on the episode.
Episode # 129 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin wondering if it's "too soon" to joke about Lincoln's death. TWSS listeners: You've got your sheep, and you've got your black sheep... and I'm not even a sheep. I'm on the freakin' moon! When Andy realizes that business is like a war, he decides to give the office staff a battlefield education. Surely the lessons learned from the Battle of Gettysburg can be applied to the daily operations of a small paper company? Meanwhile, Kevin loves cookies, Gabe-raham Lincoln wows the crowds, and Dwight finds his ancestors once hid fabulous dandies. You know, in the African-American community, this episode is... no? Well, I thought it was worth a try. Incidental music provided by Music Alley from Mevio. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast.com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Audible.com. Go to http://www.audiblepodcast.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download.
Episode # 128 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin playing the body-bongos. Ooh, baby I love your (replacement's) way-ay... eve'ry day! When preggo-Pam is feeling a bit underappreciated and under-actractive, who better to call on for some crotch-grabbing/ husband testing action than dear old Dwight K. Schrute? NO ONE, I say! Let hilarity ensue! Meanwhile, Andy, Darryl and Kevin learn a valuable lesson about jamming, Gabe continues to creep everyone out, and I continue to wonder why, eactly, Pam needs a replacement to do her fake office manager job. Incidental music provided by Music Alley from Mevio. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast.com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Audible.com. Go to http://www.audiblepodcast.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download.
Andy decides to motivate and inspire everyone by taking them on a field trip to Gettysburg. Some people in the office stay behind and Robert California asks them to come up with Dunder Mifflin/Sabre's next big idea. Guest star: Lindsey Broad.
Writer: TBA, Director: TBA
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Another field trip for our Office friends. Will it be as satisfying as it was in Doomsday?
Episode # 127 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin jamming out to Semisonic. It's Y2K all over again! When Robert California berates Andy for the office staff's many mistakes, it's up to Dwight "#2" Schrute to set things right-- with a computerized doomsday... I mean "accountability" booster. Five strikes, one home run, and the self-destruct mechanism is triggered. Surely they'll be up for the challenge. Right? Ehem. Meanwhile, Gabe and Darryl enter a Bermuda Triangle of love, and... well, that's about it for side-plots. Incidental music provided by Music Alley from Mevio. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast.com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Audible.com. Go to http://www.audiblepodcast.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download.
Pam trains a temporary worker to take her place while she is on maternity leave, and enlists Dwight's support when she tries to show that Jim finds her replacement attractive. Meanwhile, Robert surprises Andy, Kevin, and Darryl when he asks to join their band.
Written by Allison Silverman, Directed by Matt Sohn
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Some real-life issues this week so we're late on recording Doomsday. Nonetheless, please leave a comment and tell us what you thought of Pam's Replacement.
Dwight (Rainn Wilson) devises a system to find mistakes made by employees in the office. To improve efficiency, he installs a doomsday device that will get someone fired if they make too many mistakes.
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As always, please leave your comments about the episode here on the blog.
If you're looking for a real doomsday device, check out Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970). Not the best of the series, mind you, but there's a great payoff at the end that I doubt will be seen in tonight's episode of The Office. -- Kevin Crossman
Episode # 126 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin experimenting with "podcasting of the unsettling." It's that time of year again when young hearts turn to thoughts of... fear. Or, at least the "unsettling." When Robert California expresses his high expectations for the annual Halloween party, Andy feels the pressure to deliver... and poor Wendy (er... Erin) isn't cutting the mustard. What's a manager to do? Meanwhile, Jim and Pam argue about ghosts, Dwight meets his intellectual equal, Toby gets fired, and Robert California gives his own demented version of the "one more thing" speech. At least we can take solace in the fact that mummies aren't real. Right? RIGHT?? Incidental music provided by Music Alley from Mevio. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast.com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Audible.com. Go to http://www.audiblepodcast.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download.
Erin struggles to make a scary Halloween party that meets the requests of Andy and Robert. Jim and Pam argue whether or not ghosts are real, while Dwight bonds with Robert's young son, Bert.
Writer: Carrie Kemper, Director: Randall Einhorn----
Another Halloween episode likely filled with circa-2011 pop culture references. Be sure to put this into your time machine for viewing in 2016, when it likely will either be groan-worthy or completely baffling.
Please leave your feedback below, and it might just be used on the next episode of the podcast.
Episode # 125 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin enjoying a delicious watercress sandwich. When Andy throws a garden party at Schrute Farms in a 2-for-1 attempt to impress both his dear old dad AND Robert California, you just gotta know this isn't going to work, don't you? I mean, anyone? Still, poor AndyÉ it's not everyday you get outsung AND disrespected by the guy who starred in Tales of the Gold Monkey. Add in a sycophantic Gabe, a baby naming war, the return of Kevin's toupee, and the most ridiculous Jim/Dwight prank ever, and you've got one big hairy mess. And goats. Lots and lots of goats. Incidental music provided by Music Alley from Mevio. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast.com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Audible.com. Go to http://www.audiblepodcast.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download.
Andy Bernard (Ed Helms) throws a garden party at Schrute Farms to impress Robert California (James Spader), with his parents and brother in attendance. Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson) works to make it a classy event.
Writer: Justin Spitzer. Director: David Rogers
----Please leave your feedback below, and it might just be used on the next episode of the podcast.
Episode # 124 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin catching lotto-fever. You've gotta be in it to win it! When the warehouse crew quits after winning the lottery, Andy and (Fat) Darryl have to interview and hire a NEW squad of licensed warehouse experts. Unfortunately, Darryl's existential mid-life crisis seems to be getting in the way just the teensiest bit. Meanwhile, Jim, Kevin, and Erin set their combined brainpower towards streamlining the loading process. Senor Loadenstein, anyone? Yes, this is real. Painfully real... what is happening right now. Incidental music provided by Music Alley from Mevio. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast.com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Audible.com. Go to http://www.audiblepodcast.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download.
From Wikipedia:
When all the warehouse workers win the lottery and then quit, everyone in the office dreams of what it would be like to win big.Andy (Ed Helms) and Darryl (Craig Robinson) search for new warehouse employees, while Jim (John Krasinski), Erin (Ellie Kemper), Dwight (Rainn Wilson) and Kevin (Brian Baumgartner) get a taste of warehouse life.
The episode was written by co-executive producer Justin Spitzer, his 10th writing credit for the series. It was directed by cast member John Krasinski, who portrays Jim Halpert; this was the second episode directed by Krasinski for the series.
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Please leave your feedback below, and it might just be used on the next episode of the podcast.
***WARNING! EXTREMELY CRITICAL COMMENTS INSIDE!***
Episode # 123 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin arguing over which one of them is going to get the "TWSS" tramp-stamp. Me am Matt. Me no happy with cold open. Me cry now. When Robert California challenges Andy to double the office's sales figures, Andy will have to use every beet selling trick he can manage to steal if he hopes to impress the new boss. If that doesn't pan out, I guess he'll just incentivize them by offering up his stink for the ink. Obviously, you're going to go the ass tattoo route. And obviously, I'm gonna like it. Or not. Incidental music provided by Music Alley from Mevio. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast.com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Audible.com. Go to http://www.audiblepodcast.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download.
Robert California (James Spader) challenges the Scranton branch to double sales after a rousing motivational speech. After Andy Bernard (Ed Helms) promises the unthinkable, everyone in the office suddenly gets motivated to sell. Meanwhile, Pam Halpert (Jenna Fischer) finds an unlikely pregnancy friend.
written by Paul Lieberstein
directed by Charles McDougall
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Leave a comment about this episode and influence the opinion of your hosts, Kevin and Matt. If you're especially interesting or insightful you may hear your comment on the podcast.
Episode # 121 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin... actually making podcasts again. California, rescue me//From office mee-dee-ock-ri-tee. It's the dawn of a Carell-less season of The Office, and both Robert California and Andy Bernard find themselves filling the managerial voids left by their predecessors. The question is, on which side of the list will they fall? When California divides the office into winners and losers, it's up to Andy to set the record straight. Except for Gabe, that is… very astute. So. Winners, prove him right; losers, prove him wrong… and then… SHOVE IT UP YOUR BUTT. Incidental music provided by Music Alley from Mevio. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast.com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Audible.com. Go to http://www.audiblepodcast.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download.
Written and directed by B.J. Novak
Robert (James Spader) stops by for the first time as CEO, accidentally leaving behind a mysterious list, divided down the middle with each employee's name on one of two sides. Everyone in the office frantically tries to figure out what it means. Meanwhile, the new manager faces a crisis.
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What's this?
Yes, TWSS fans, the moment you've all been waiting for (or at least some of you have been waiting for). After six months of fighting for the rights of teachers and working people in Wisconsin, influencing directly or indirectly the entire nation, Matt is back in the TWSS saddle at least for now. Meanwhile, Kevin has been relaxing on the beach in liberal California wondering what all the fuss is about.
TWSS's format will be changing. A little. Probably shorter shows (but not "short shows"). Definitely fewer clips. But all that great That's What She Said banter that's made us famous.
So, please leave a comment about this week's season premiere. If you have thoughts about Steve Carell leaving the show (and getting screwed out of winning a much-deserved Emmy), or the events of last season it's okay to leave those comments here as well.
-Kevin Crossman
I should have done this sooner, but I'm hoping a LATE explanation is still better than NO explanation.
If you've been following the news about what's going on in Wisconsin, you might have seen that we're all kinds of up in arms over a proposed "budget repair bill" which (among other things) will strip the collective bargaining rights from thousands upon thousands of public sector employees. As a public high school teacher, I (needless to say) find myself quite vexed by this prospect, and have spent nearly every free moment these past few weeks engaged in activities and protests aiming to stop this ridiculous partisan bill. Just in case that wasn't clear a moment ago, I'll repeat it-- we're fighting to keep our collective bargaining rights. Every state employee has already agreed to pay their "fair share" in raised costs, but this plan isn't about balancing the budget; It's about busting unions, and that dog just won't hunt.
I'm not asking for your support here, nor do I want to hear any uninformed rants about subjects of which most non-public sector employees have no understanding. I merely offer it as an explanation for why the podcast has trickled to a halt. We have one more episode in the hopper that has already been recorded (The Search), but I cannot guarantee anything beyond that.
For those who have supported the podcast and enjoyed our excessive rambling discussions of a twenty-minute TV show, please know it has been greatly appreciated. We will return if and when we can.
Peace,
-Matt-
From Wikipedia:
PDA | 2.10.11
d: Greg Daniels
w: Robert Padnick
Michael and Holly's public displays of affection start to make everyone in the office uncomfortable. Jim and Pam have too much champagne during lunch, causing complications when they have to return to work. Andy tags along on a romantic treasure hunt Gabe has made for Erin.
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Speak of the devil and he appears! Kevin was wondering if Greg Daniels would rear his head now that Michael is on the way out, and here he is. Will the office "OG" bring back some of the missing magic, or will virgin writer Padnick queer the deal? According to IMDB, this is Padnick's first and ONLY writing credit... but he apparently played someone named "Willie" on the 8th season episode of SEINFELD, "The Foundation." Odd.
As always, post your thoughts and comments on the episode in the space below. Also, join Kevin and me in the TWSS Chatroom during and after the show tonight. Just hit the green "Chat Now" button in the sidebar on the right.
From Wikipedia:
THE SEARCH | 02.03.11
W: Michael Spiller
D: Brent Forrester
Jim gets an emergency phone call from Helene (Linda Purl), forcing him to leave Michael at a gas station bathroom. This leads Holly, Erin, and Dwight on a search for the whereabouts of Michael. A captioning contest starts in the office over Pam's artwork, which seems to offend Gabe.
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Nothing much to say about this one, other than it reminds me of the classic episode of Seinfeld where Kramer is "lost" in NYC and Jerry has to go and find him (cue Daniel Day Lewis in LAST OF THE MOHICANS quote...). Glad to see Gabe mentioned prominently in the episode summary, as he seems to have had little to do for the last few episodes. I'm also kind of rubbing my eyes in disbelief as Andy isn't mentioned ONCE! Can it be? No Andy in the A or B plots? Unthinkable :)
As always, post your thoughts and comments on the episode in the space below. Also, join Kevin and me in the TWSS Chatroom during and after the show tonight. Just hit the green "Chat Now" button in the sidebar on the right.
Episode # 110 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin riding the crazy train. Hey Brohombre, coffee's for CLOSERS. When slumping sales lead Andy to promote a small business seminar in the Dunder Mifflin offices, the law de Murphy seems ready to table things before they get started. Can the Office's "B-team" seal the deal after the "A-team" flakes? Meanwhile, Michael's a plant, Jim's a coward, and Pam & Oscar help Erin play Scrabble against Gabe (it's all about the two letter words, baby). You know, since we've been gone, only SOME of you have told me you miss and enjoy the podcast...the rest of you are DEAD to me. Incidental music provided by Music Alley from Mevio. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Audible.com. Go to http://www.audiblepodcast.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download.
From Wikipedia:
THE SEMINAR | 1.27.11
Andy holds a small business seminar in the office with some special guests after he finds out that his sales are at his lowest. Michael and Holly use the seminar as an improv challenge. Erin and Gabe have a game of Scrabble where she engages others to join. Ricky Gervais is set to guest star as David Brent.
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Well, here it is-- the moment I never thought we'd see, and never WANTED to see. If we pretend that David Brent exists in the same universe as Michael Scott, then we must accept that both of these offices experienced the EXACT same day, and said the exact same dialogue, and everything else (the pilots of both shows being identical). This seems to me to be, as George Costanza so eloquently put it, a massive example of "worlds colliding" that will shake the universe of THE OFFICE to the core. I absolutely HATE "wink wink" kind of humor and cameo appearances, so I'm sure this will be something that I have a lot to talk about in the podcast.
OK, yeah, I know-- lighten up, Matt. It's a comedy show! If it's funny, who cares? Etc.
Call me insane, but I *DO* care. I feel like this show I've loved and chronicled for the last four years is slowly becoming something I no longer appreciate or recognize. I HOPE I'm wrong about this. I HOPE that the guest spot is funny in and off itself, and they stay away from the "Dwight, ey? I know a bloke named Gareth who you'd get along with..." kind of stuff. I guess we'll just have to see.
As always, post your thoughts and comments on the episode in the space below. Also, join Kevin and me in the TWSS Chatroom during and after the show tonight. Just hit the green "Chat Now" button in the sidebar on the right.
From Wikipedia:
ULTIMATUM | 1.20.11
Michael anticipates the news regarding the status of Holly and A.J.'s relationship. He later calls for a counseling session with Holly. Meanwhile, Pam puts up a New Years resolution board in the office so everyone can post their resolutions.
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One can't help but wonder how soon they're going to end this "will she/won't she" thing with Holly and A.J. Kevin and I often expect plotlines to play out forever, and yet they're resolved within one or two episodes. Other times, something we think is a quick joke ends up running through an entire season. How will this play out? We now know that Steve Carell plans to exit the show at least four episodes before the actual finale, so will he get his "happy ending" with Holly? Using my "new math" skills, it seems we still have ten more Michael-filled eps before his departure. Here's hoping he goes out with a bang (and this is the episode that starts it all off).
As always, post your thoughts and comments on the episode in the space below. Also, join Kevin and me in the TWSS Chatroom during and after the show tonight. Just hit the green "Chat Now" button in the sidebar on the right.
Episode # 107 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin thinking of picking up the cello. If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullshit. When Michael returns from the dentist with a new-found fear of China, he becomes an office folk hero by putting Oscar "Mr. Actually" Martinez in his intellectual place. But round two looms, and things don't look good for our hero keeping the championship belt. Meanwhile, Pam and Dwight battle over the building, Creed parlays, Nate de-plies, and Andy attempts to woo back Darryl with the perfect text. One thing's for sure: there's plenty of crazy pigeon action up in THIS podcast! Incidental music provided by Music Alley from Mevio. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Audible.com. Go to http://www.audiblepodcast.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download.
Episode # 106 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin preparing themselves for the TWSS IPO. You may be right; I may be crazy. But it just may be a social networking site you're looking for. When Michael and others in the office invest in Ryan's WUPHF.com, they quickly come to realize that their long shot just might be a not shot. Can Michael overcome his mancrush on Ryan to save everyone's money? Aye... am not going to tell you. Meanwhile, Dwight becomes the hay king, Angela hooks up with a hero, and Jim... well, Jim does a whole lotta nothing. Kevin, can't we at least TRY to look busy here on the podcast? Incidental music provided by Music Alley from Mevio. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Audible.com. Go to http://www.audiblepodcast.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download.
I guess this pic is in bad need of updating, but I just love it too much to let it go.
PS. "Santa" tells me that TWSS episode #106 for "WUPHF.COM" will be available sometime today...
From Wikipedia:
CLASSY CHRISTMAS | 12.9.10
w: Mindy Kaling
d: Rainn Wilson
Michael couldn't be happier when Toby takes a leave of absence, leaving corporate to send Holly Flax (Amy Ryan) to cover for him. Michael forces Pam to plan a second Christmas party on the day Holly returns to Scranton. Jim agrees to a snowball fight with Dwight, which he later regrets.
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Well, here we go again. The Office has made the annual Christmas episode a part of our collective holiday celebrations, but will CLASSY CHRISTMAS be another classic Christmas Party or a Moroccan Christmas lump of coal? We shall indeed see, and adding Amy Ryan's Holly back into the office surely can't hurt our chances.
As always, join Kevin and me in the TWSS Chatroom during and after the broadcast, and leave your comments below. Best comments get read on the next podcast!
From Wikipedia:
CHINA | 12.2.10
When Michael reads an article about China growing as a global power, he decides they must be stopped before they take over the United States. Pam threatens to move Dunder Mifflin to a new building after everyone in the office complains about Dwight's building standards.
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As always, join Kevin and me in the TWSS Chatroom during and after the broadcast, and leave your comments below. Best comments get read on the next podcast!
Episode # 105 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin arguing over who's going to solo at regionals. There's a time for love and a time for livin'. Not since the epic battle between Tony Danza and Judith Light have so many wondered who, exactly, is the boss. When Erin and Gabe throw a Glee party, Michael resents that others think Gabe is his superior. Michael, spoil a party for his own selfish needs? Naaahh. Meanwhile, Pam sells out Jim in order to acquire Dwight's baby- whispering skills, Andy injests way too much powdered seahorse, and Kevin finally finds out what it's like to eat pigs in a blanket IN A BLANKET. Good times, my friends. Good times. Incidental music provided by Music Alley from Mevio. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Audible.com. Go to http://www.audiblepodcast.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download.
From Wikipedia:
WUPHF.com | 11.18.10
D: Danny Leiner
W: Aaron Shure
Michael helps Ryan by charming people to invest in his internet company, WUPHF.com. Dwight creates a hay festival in the parking lot for the Thanksgiving holiday. Jim learns of a new Dunder Mifflin policy that prevents him from earning commission.
----- I never thought they'd have made this whole WUPHF thing a running joke for so long, as it seems remarkably similar to Ryan's role with DUNDER MIFFLIN INFINITY back in season four. Michael out looking for investors? Sounds a lot like the MICHAEL SCOTT PAPER COMPANY plotline from season five. Here's hoping writer Aaron Shure can breath some life into this limp sounding summary. As always, join Kevin and me in the TWSS Chatroom during and after the broadcast, and leave your comments below. Best comments get read on the next podcast!Episode # 104 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin trying to get off this frickin' bus. Office writer Peter Ocko, why you always gotta be so mean to me? Baby CeCe's getting baptized, so of course the entire office trudges along to witness the "blessed" event. Michael (feeling boxed out) and Andy (looking to impress Erin), decide to join a Christian Youth bus trip to Mexico, Dwight drums up business, Toby argues with God, and Angela steals thousands of scones. What could possibly make this episode better? If you said "guest appearance from MeeMaw," it's your lucky day. Incidental music provided by Music Alley from Mevio. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Audible.com. Go to http://www.audiblepodcast.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download.
From Wikipedia:
VIEWING PARTY
Erin and Gabe invite the office over to Gabe's house for a Glee viewing party. Michael can't deal when people refer to Gabe as his boss. Andy grows more jealous of Gabe's relationship with Erin.
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Yet another episode written by a virgin THE OFFICE writer this week-- I'm trying to put my faith in writer John Vitti, though, because he's written for THE SIMPSONS and KING OF THE HILL (two of my all time favorites). I can only hope that he "brings it" better than fellow newbie Peter Ocko did with last week's craptacular episode (TWSS episode forthcoming).
Fingers crossed, but the inclusion of GLEE makes me extremely nervous.
As always, leave your comments below and join Kevin and me in the TWSS Chatroom during and after the airing of tonight's episode.
Episode # 103 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin checking their trick-or-treat bags for rocks. Happy Halloween...JERKS! When Blackula goes behind MacGruber's back (or was it "takes him from behind"?) with an idea for corporate, Michael vows to defend the chain of command at all costs, friendship be damned. Meanwhile, Jim and Pam are still obsessing over Danny Cordray. Halpert? You looking for someone to bang your wife? Gabe-wad dances, Andy and Kevin choose sides, Oscar gets rational, and Angela...? OH EM EFF GEE. Oh, and TWSS listeners? Don't tell anyone I said anything to you... or YOU'RE DEAD. Incidental music provided by Music Alley from Mevio. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Audible.com. Go to http://www.audiblepodcast.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download.
Directed by Alex Hardcastle, Written by Peter Ocko Pam and Jim's baby, Cece, gets christened and Michael invites the entire office to celebrate. ----------------As always, leave your comments below. Be sure to join Matt and Kevin in the TWSS Chatroom during and after the show (just hit that green "Chat Now" button on the right sidebar).
Costume Contest
Directed by Dean Holland, Written by Justin SpitzerMichael freaks out when Darryl goes over his head by taking an idea to corporate. The employees partake in a Halloween costume contest in the office. Meanwhile, Pam tries to get the truth from Danny about their dating history.
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As always, leave your comments below. Be sure to join Matt and Kevin in the TWSS Chatroom during and after the show (just hit that green "Chat Now" button on the right sidebar).
Episode # 102 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin loving Big Brother. TWSS listeners, I find you absolutely ribbitting! When Michael, Jim, and Dwight are bested by male model slash pam's ex-lover slash salesman Danny Cordray, they set up an undercover "stinger" operation to learn the secrets to his hunky success-- if Meredith can keep her pants on, that is. Meanwhile, Andy's feeling blue when pal Broccoli Rob finds an amazingly small amount of professional success. His answer? Jam with Darryl and Kevin to create a kick-ass song people can ice skate to. Or... maybe a truck commercial? Either way. Incidental music provided by Music Alley from Mevio. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Audible.com. Go to http://www.audiblepodcast.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download.
This is hilarious and amazing stuff from Daily Show vets Steve Carell and Stephen Colbert.
Night of Too Many Stars Thursday, October 21, 2010 Steve Carell and Stephen Colbert - "Everybody's Talking 'Bout Sully" www.comedycentral.com Ugly Americans New Episodes Nick Swardson's Pretend Time Night of Too Many StarsOr, if you like your humor more raunchy yet awkward...
Night of Too Many Stars Thursday, October 21, 2010 Steve Carell and Chris Rock's Special Auction Items Pt. 1 www.comedycentral.com Ugly Americans New Episodes Nick Swardson's Pretend Time Night of Too Many StarsWritten by Mindy Kaling, Directed by Randall Einhorn
When a competing sales associate steals a Dunder Mifflin client, Michael, Jim, and Dwight decide to set up a sting to find out his sales secrets. Andy decides to start a band after finding out a friend from college has a successful music career. Guest star: Timothy Olyphant.
As always, leave your comments below. Be sure to join Matt and Kevin in the TWSS Chatroom during and after the show (just hit that green "Chat Now" button on the right sidebar).
Episode # 101 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin cataloging their previous lovers. Give it a rest, pencil dick! When Michael learns he has herpes (or maybe just a cold sore), Dwight guilts him into taking a trip down sexual memory lane. Why? Revenge, of course. And maybe some personal growth if there's time. Meanwhile, Andy tries to impress Erin by teaching a sex ed seminar in the conference room. It goes about as well as can be expected. Angry? you won't LIKE him when he's angry. ANDY SMASH! At least Darryl's there to pick up the pieces. Incidental music provided by Music Alley from Mevio. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Audible.com. Go to http://www.audiblepodcast.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download.
Sex Ed | 10/13/2010
Michael comes to work thinking he has a pimple, but it turns out to actually be a cold sore. When he is told that it is a form of herpes, Michael contacts all his ex-girlfriends—Jan (Melora Hardin), Holly (Amy Ryan), Helene (Linda Purl), Donna (Amy Pietz), and Carol (Nancy Carell). Andy holds a sex education meeting in the office hoping to appeal to Erin's passionate side.
----------As always, leave your comments below.
Episode # 100 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin embracing the power of showtunes. Attend the tale of Michael Scott... his pride was hurt, his temper hot. Andy's plan to impress Erin with his Sweeney Todd performace hits a bit of an O'Henry-style snag when she ends up babysitting for Jim & Pam. Whoops. Meanwhile, Michael grows as a person (booooooo), Angela blue-balls Dwight, and Gabe orders some delicious broth. TWSS listeners-- my world crumbles when you are not here. Now shhhhh: if we don't listen to the overture, we won't recognize the musical themes when they come back later. Incidental music provided by Music Alley from Mevio. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Audible.com. Go to http://www.audiblepodcast.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download.
From Wikipedia:
ANDY'S PLAY | 10.7.10
Andy invites the entire office to his community theater production of Sweeney Todd in hopes that Erin will attend. Michael tries to put his jealousy aside and enjoy the performance while Jim and Pam struggle with their incompetent babysitter.
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As always, leave your comments below. Be sure to join Kevin and me in the TWSS Chatroom during and after the show (just hit that green "Chat Now" button on the right sidebar).
Episode # 99 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin eyeing each other while checking their copies of the DSM-IV. Pretty sneaky, sis! When Michael faces off against counselor Toby in a battle of wills, he's determined to keep his lips zipped. Can Toby break through his defenses with subtle subterfuge and a couple of classic board games? Only ALF may know for sure. Meanwhile, Dwight gets snubbed at the Steamtown Mall, Pam bluffs her way through the scam of all scams, and Ryan appears to have dipped into Dianetics. And Erin... oh, don't get me started on Erin. So, TWSS listeners, did you think I'd dislike this episode? How about now? How about now? How about now? How about now? Incidental music provided by Music Alley from Mevio. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Netflix. Instantly watch every episode of the office from the comfort of your laptop, desktop, Wii, PS3 or xbox360-connected TV. Go to http://www.netflix.com/twss to start your free trial today. Also, check out http://www.audiblepodcast.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download.
From Wikipedia:
COUNSELING
Corporate assigns Michael to have counseling with Toby. Dwight vows revenge on a shop owner at the Steamtown Mall and Pam tries to change her job title.
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Seeing as both this episode and the premiere were directed by the same individual, I can't help but wonder if this is actually going to be a "part two" sort of continuation from last week. Michael and Toby in counseling has the potential to be a good time, but have the writers already wrung the Flenderson hate dry? Hopefully they'll give us a little something more than just the "Toby is the worst!" sort of material. Pam's move to salesperson still seems completely underdeveloped, so her trying to change he job title seems a little odd. I know several people seem to want to see her take over as manager after Michael leaves, but she hasn't been anywhere close to earning that position. If she experiences some sort of career rebirth this season, maybe I can buy into the idea a bit more.
As always, leave your comments below. Be sure to join Kevin and me in the TWSS Chatroom during and after the show (just hit that green "Chat Now" button on the right sidebar).
Episode # 98 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds Matt, Ian, and Kevin staking out their respective pee corners. Keeping it in the family? NO no. No. No no no. No no no no. Michael cheeses off his subordinates when he covertly hires his estranged nephew to be the new office assistant. The new, HORRIBLE, terrible, annoying office assistant. Maybe it's in the genes? Meanwhile, Gabe dates Erin, Creed hates Betty White, Ryan whores Wuphf, and Pam attempts to win back her husband's love by pranking Dwight. I'd normally say something incredibly pithy and clever here, but... if you'll excuse me, I believe my strawberries are ripe. Incidental music provided by Music Alley from Mevio. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Netflix. Instantly watch every episode of the office from the comfort of your laptop, desktop, Wii, PS3 or xbox360-connected TV. Go to http://www.netflix.com/twss to start your free trial today. Also, check out http://www.audiblepodcast.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download.
From Wikipedia:
NEPOTISM
The office turns against Michael when he refuses to fire the new office assistant, who has a bad attitude. Erin shows interest in another man and Andy tries to play it cool. Pam pulls an office prank on her own to impress Jim.
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Well, here we are again! I've purposely avoided any clips or spoilers for the premiere episode, so I'm going in nearly blind. Hopefully season seven will serve as a fitting farewell to Steve Carell. Looking forward to seeing how it plays out.
As always, join Kevin and me in the TWSS chatroom during and after the episode, and leave your comments on the episode below.
Episode # 97 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin furiously erasing their hard drives. If nobody talks, everybody walks. When word gets out about the Sabre printer fires, Jo goes on the warpath to smoke out the whistleblower. Will it be Andy, Pam, Darryl, or Kelly who get their anuses checked? Meanwhile, Dwight looks to make the investment of a lifetime, Michael bargains with the devil, and the IT guy... uh, Shadow? Garth? Sport?... makes a dramatic exit (boom, roasted). We cannot let the pedophile win again, folks-- I'd like you all to go to our website and listen to this episode of TWSS eleven times. Incidental music provided by Music Alley from Mevio. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Netflix. Instantly watch every episode of the office from the comfort of your laptop, desktop, Wii, PS3 or xbox360-connected TV. Go to http://www.netflix.com/twss to start your free trial today. Also, check out http://www.audiblepodcast.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download.
Episode # 96 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin checking their calendars. Boing-oing-oing-oing-oing! When Michael continues dating Donna after finding out she's married, the entire office becomes disgusted with "Affair Mike's" remorseless attitude. It's up to Andy Bernard, the cuckolded ghost of infidelity past, to show his emotionally scroogey boss the errors of his ways. Meanwhile, Dwangela hash out terms of their baby contract, Ryan chickens out, and Jim and Pam go on a quest for a little shut-eye. Stop listening to TWSS because of its erratic publishing schedule? That's a dangerous game, Friend-o. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Netflix. Instantly watch every episode of the office from the comfort of your laptop, desktop, Wii, PS3 or xbox360-connected TV. Go to http://www.netflix.com/twss to start your free trial today. Also, check out http://www.audiblepodcast.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download.
Episode # 95 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin eying their peripherals VERY carefully. The printer... the printer... the printer's on fire! We don't need no Dunkin Donuts gift card, let the mother effer burn. Michael's enjoying his new relationship to the fullest (it's even distracting him from work!), but when the office convinces him Donna's cheating, it's up to Dwight Schrute, P.I., to get to the bottom of things. What are a couple of thigh pulls between friends? Meanwhile, it gets all real up in here when Daryll decides to use Andy's printer concern as prank fodder. Will Andy's video hold evil tidings for Sabre? Only time will tell (wink, wink). And before we get started talking about THE COVER-UP, I'm just gonna warn you, and I say this to all our listeners... but you might not like what we find. And you might not like HOW we find it. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Netflix. Instantly watch every episode of the office from the comfort of your laptop, desktop, Wii, PS3 or xbox360-connected TV. Go to http://www.netflix.com/twss to start your free trial today. Also, check out http://www.audiblepodcast.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download.
Sorry for the lack of news, updates, and...um... podcasts this past month. I realize that it must be sort of frustrating for Kevin and me (blame me, 100%) to have punked out so close to the finale.
BUT! Fear not, loyal listeners. We're set to record another episode tonight which should be released sometime in the next few days. I'll do my best to make sure we get through the last three episodes of season six within the next few weeks.
Thanks to everyone for their continuing support.
Episode # 94 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin wondering what the significance of an extended index finger might be. Hola, amigos y amigas! Beinvenidos al programa de TWSS. When Donna stops by for a sales presentation, Michael can't quite seem to get a read on her feelings for him. Despite discouragement from everyone in the office (sans Pam), Michael, like Rudy, refuses to give up. People don't just TAKE OFF barettes, you know. Meanwhile, Sabre's looking for a few good minorities, and Dwight is bent on getting his own puppet into power. Too bad for him that Kelly seems to have plans of her own and, like the proverbial elephant, never forgets. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Netflix. Instantly watch every episode of the office from the comfort of your laptop, desktop, Wii, PS3 or xbox360-connected TV. Go to http://www.netflix.com/twss to start your free trial today. Also, check out http://www.audiblepodcast.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download.
From Wikipedia:
WHISTLEBLOWER | 5.20.10
The press learns that Sabre printers catch on fire and Jo, suspecting that someone within the company leaked the information, sets out to discover who the whistle-blower is.
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As always, post your comments below!
Also, join Kevin and me in the TWSS chatroom during and after the airing of tonight's episode (I'll be there for the Eastern/Central showings; Kevin's got the Pacific). Scroll down and hit the big green CHAT button on the right.
by Kevin Crossman
There's been a lot of speculation about the Scranton Strangler, a plotline that seemed like a throwaway joke back on "The Delivery" but has been mentioned repeatedly in subsequent episodes. One might think that since they have mentioned the strangler frequently we will eventually learn the identity. Of course, the very topic of the strangler is odd; The Office is known for uncomfortable and awkward humor but serial killing is quite a bit of a darker shade of gray don't you think?
On TWSS #94, Matt and I speculated on who we think the strangler might be, if the killer is a character we know from the show. Matt chose Gabe, which makes a lot of sense. The new Sabre character appeared in Scranton at about the same time as the killer and his "odd" personality would lend itself to serial killer theories. On the other hand, I chose Toby. A beloved (by some) and longtime character, Toby would be a unexpected choice. But, something tells me that the whimpy Toby has a dark and violent side.
So, what do you think? Who do you think the Scranton Strangler is? What do you think of even the very topic of a serial killer on a comedy show?
From Wikipedia:
THE CHUMP | 5.13.10
Michael is surprisingly cheerful after learning some bad news about Donna. The new parents, Pam and Jim, have trouble staying awake in the office. Meanwhile, Angela takes matters into her own hands when Dwight refuses to honor their pre-natal contract.
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As always, post your comments below!
Also, join Kevin and me in the TWSS chatroom during and after the airing of tonight's episode (I'll be there for the Eastern/Central showings; Kevin's got the Pacific). Scroll down and hit the big green CHAT button on the right.
Episode # 93 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin hanging out in their respective hair rooms. I'll have what she's having! When Michael takes Erin (aka "the rube") out for a celebratory Secretary's Day lunch, he inadvertantly lets Andygela out of the bag (much to Erin's disgust). Meanwhile, the rest of the office spends the day pointing out Kevin's resemblance to a certain blue pastry-eating muppet, and it's up to Sabre's Gabe to lay down the law. Or not. Maybe they don't respect him enough? Maybe they have TOO much respect for him? Or maybe they still think he's the IT guy? Either way, SOMEONE's going home without pay. Or not. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Netflix. Instantly watch every episode of the office from the comfort of your laptop, desktop, Wii, PS3 or xbox360-connected TV. Go to http://www.netflix.com/twss to start your free trial today. Also, check out http://www.audiblepodcast.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download.
From WIKIPEDIA:
THE COVER-UP | 5.6.10
Michael suspects Donna is cheating on him and puts PI Dwight Schrute on the case. Meanwhile, Andy is frustrated when no one takes his customer's complaint seriously.
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As always, please leave your comments below.
Episode # 92 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin locked in epic battle with Date Matt and Date Kevin. Hey TWSS listeners, it's nice to meet me. How do you like your eggs in the morning? A desperate shot at gay love leads Oscar to invite the entire office (plus warehouse) out for drinks, but will Matt be worth the effort? Meanwhile, when Jim and Pam set Michael up with an unsuspecting friend, it's up to "Date Mike" to seal the deal. And what's this? Yet another love interest blooming? Where's Tina Fey when he needs her? Andy and Erin try to avoid the drama, Dwight and Isabelle reconnect, Kevin cries, Creed dances, Ryan and Kelly... exist. A good time is had by all. Exept Angela. Whack. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Netflix. Instantly watch every episode of the office from the comfort of your laptop, desktop, Wii, PS3 or xbox360-connected TV. Go to http://www.netflix.com/twss to start your free trial today. Also, check out http://www.audiblepodcast.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download.
By Kevin Crossman
This is something I've been mentioning on the podcast for a while now and Steve Carell has recently confirmed the details in a BBC interview.
Carell is signed through next year's seventh season of The Office, where other cast members such as John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer are signed through an eighth season. So, could that mean that Carell could leave the show before the series ends? I've said as much for months now... and now Carell confirms it. OfficeTally has the clip of the interview.
Interviewer: How long does your contract run? Carell: Contract through next season. Interviewer: And will you stay after that? Carell: I don’t think so. I think that will probably be my last year.
What do you think? Can The Office survive without Carell? If he leaves, who do you think should take up residence in Michael's office? Jim? Dwight? Or how about my pick: Todd Packer?
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Matt says --
End it!
Seriously, the show had a good run, but without Michael, what's the point? I suppose they could always just keep the rest of the cast, or bring in some other big name for the boss, or maybe they could take my suggestion and hire Steve Carell look-alike Peter Jacobson from HOUSE :) But it just won't be the same. End the show with a little dignity, guys.
From Wikipedia:
BODY LANGUAGE | 4.29.10
Pam and Jim work on their first sales pitch together to Donna, the manager of a local restaurant, but Michael keeps misreading the signals she's putting out. Dwight encourages Kelly to try out for the minority training program.
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More with Donna. TWSS listeners-- what do you think about this new "relationship" for Michael? Do you buy it? Are you happy to see him involved again, or is this one romance too many this season? Curious to see how JAM work together, although the old rule about never working with your spouse might raise its ugly head here
As always, post your comments below!
Also, jjoin Kevin and me in the TWSS chatroom during and after the airing of tonight's episode (I'll be there for the Eastern/Central showings; Kevin's got the Pacific). Scroll down and hit the big green CHAT button on the right.
From Wikipedia:
SECRETARY'S DAY | 4.22.10
Andy tries to make Erin's Secretary's Day a memorable one. While out to lunch with Erin, Michael accidentally informs her of Andy and Angela's past relationship. Oscar circulates a video he made which compares Kevin's voice to Cookie Monster's.
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So after a lengthy hiatus, we are presented with what COULD be a "classic episode"-- it's written by Mindy Kaling, and directed by Steve Carell himself. More Andy and Erin stuff, which is OK, but certainly lacks the stakes of the classic Jim/Pam romance. Do I really CARE if they break up over the old Angela relationship? Not really. Still, we'll see where it goes. The Oscar/Kevin thing sounds rather ridiculous, but the potential for laughs seems rather high.
As always, post your comments below!
As always, join Kevin and me in the TWSS chatroom during and after the airing of tonight's episode (I'll be there for the Eastern/Central showings; Kevin's got the Pacific). Scroll down and hit the big green CHAT button on the right.
Episode # 91 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin fighting over the set of steak knives. Pastries are for closers! Civil War erupts when Sabre's new commission-oriented sales system motivates the entire sales staff (Yes, even Stanley) to new heights of dickishness. Will the accountants and customer service take up arms against their uppity bretheren? Shall Michael Scott follow the lead of our first president, Abrahama Lincoln, to help bridge the divide? Well, only if Lincoln was down with forced paperwork, a scavenger hunt, and a little choking between colleagues-- I'm still enjoying this! To "close" things off, an unusual setting is the locale for two heartfelt scenes that will leave your eyes watering. I'm just not sure if it's the emotion or the foul stench causing my oh so manly tears. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Netflix. Instantly watch every episode of the office from the comfort of your laptop, desktop, Wii, PS3 or xbox360-connected TV. Go to http://www.netflix.com/twss to start your free trial today. Also, check out http://www.audiblepodcast.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download.
by Kevin Crossman
Here our the winners and some of the best entries in our That's What She Said Baby Name contest, in honor of Jim and Pam's daughter, Cecilia.
As Matt points out in the forthcoming TWSS episode #91, these are my picks for the winners so all gripes go to me, not Matt.
Third Place - Winner of DVD copy of "You" starring Melora Hardin."I think Jim and Pam should name their baby Travis because that is the artist of the song they listen to in season 2 when they swayed."Jamie Kushner
Several listeners/readers sent in "Travis" but Jamie was first and so she gets the prize. As much as I love the "jokey" entries this sentimental suggestion would have been a great nod to a classic JAM scene from Season 2.
Second Place - Winner of book "The Office and Philosophy""Herbert Halpert. Book it."Brandon Petersen
Very, very "jokey" but I love this entry. Can you imagine the lines that could be delivered by Michael or Kevin if the JAM baby was named Herbert Halpert?
First Place - Winner of a $50 Amazon Gift Certificate"My Idea for a name for baby Halpert - Mistake. The reasons are fairly odvious don't you think?"Shelly
Give credit to Shelly for understanding the mindset of the judges with this entry. Though I have to admit the baby stuff has not been overplayed this season I still stick by my guns in saying that it was too soon to have a baby. In life, you sometimes cannot plan for unforseen pregnancies. On TV, there is no such thing as an "unplanned pregnancy." Here's hoping, in a way, that Cecilia becomes as much as an afterthought as Emma was on "Friends."Others entries that were good:"Jim and Pam pick an obscure biblical name Obadiah and add the middle name Juan. They could call him Obi-Juan!"Zac Cross"Perfect PB&J Baby name: "Smuckers" [Cue the high-hat]"Vic Shuttee"This is Aaron from Laguna Hills, CA and my suggestion for the name is: Damien. I know it's simple, but I like the idea of it being a nice name that Jim and Pam could choose, and it would of course prompt Michael (along with others) to make some jokes about Jim and Pam's child being the son of satan. So those are my thoughts, simple but possible."Aaron Neuwirth
We received a lot of "Michael" related entries. You didn't really think we were going to pick those, right?
From Wikipedia:
HAPPY HOUR | 3.25.10
Michael gets kicked out of the bar when he pulls out all the stops to impress a friend of Jim and Pam's. Meanwhile, Andy and Erin do their best to keep their relationship under wraps. Dwight rethinks his pre-natal contract with Angela.
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Post your comments below!
As always, join Kevin and me in the TWSS chatroom during and after the airing of tonight's episode (I'll be there for the Eastern/Central showings; Kevin's got the Pacific). Scroll down and hit the big green CHAT button on the right.
From Wikipedia:
NEW LEADS | 3.18.10
When the sales staff lets Sabre's new "sales is king" policy get to their heads, Michael hides their new, prized leads.
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Sabre's "no caps on commission" policy played a big role in the main plot of MANAGER & SALESMAN, so I suppose this episode's antics are the result of said policy. The mere mention of "leads" instantly brings to mind David Mamet's GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS (Always Be Closing, Mother f*cker), so I'm curious to see if writer Brent Forrester will use the famous play/film as inspiration or forge his own path. Will Jim be the "Shelley Levene" of the bunch? Is Dwight DM/Sabre's "Ricky Roma"? Who's getting fired, and who gets the steak knives? Place your bets now.
As always, join Kevin and me in the TWSS chatroom during and after the airing of tonight's episode (I'll be there for the Eastern/Central showings; Kevin's got the Pacific). Scroll down and hit the big green CHAT button on the right.
Episode # 90 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin imbibing massive quantities of green beer. Well sure and begorah! Tis the wearin' o the green at Dunder-Mifflin (a division of Sabre, doncha know?), and Michael's taken a shine to a very special lass-- his new boss, Jo. Should he be bookin' those plane tickets ta Florida, now? Or will a new chain of events change his outlook on loife? Meanwhile, when Jim's away, Dwight will play-- with MEGADESK, that is. What sorts of shenanigans will he get up to ta keep his precious? Finally, Andy goes on his first date with Erin, but a third wheel always leads to akward times. One thing's for sure, though-- make sure ya listen to this episode of TWSS! It's nature's Viagara! Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Netflix. Instantly watch every episode of the office from the comfort of your laptop, desktop, PS3 or xbox360-connected TV. Go to http://www.netflix.com/twss to start your free trial today. Also, check out http://www.audiblepodcast.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download.
From Wikipedia:
St. Patrick's Day | 3.11.10
Michael (Steve Carell) thinks he impressed Jo (Kathy Bates) only to discover someone else in the office caught her eye. Meanwhile, Dwight (Rainn Wilson) makes trouble on Jim's (John Krasinski) first day back from paternity leave. Andy (Ed Helms) and Erin (Ellie Kemper) have an interesting first date.
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So. Hm. Here we are. For those of you that don't follow my Twitter feed, let me repeat some of what I said this past week-- I'm tired. Burned out, really, and TWSS is definitely taking a back seat to a lot of the other issues in my life right now. Out podcast for THE DELIVERY is late, and I'm not sure when we're going to get back into it. And NO, I'm not quitting because I hated the episode or anything (I liked it a good deal, actually) like that. And NO, I'm not even quitting. I'm not sure what I'm doing, but I plan to return as soon as I can manage.
OK, on to tonight's episode. The real city of Scranton has a long tradition of having a huge St. Patrick's Day parade, and the creators of THE OFFICE have long wanted to do something with that plotline. In the past, March has always been a hiatus month so nothing could be done. It will be interesting to see how much (if any) this real-life event will play into tonight's show.
I still plan on being in the TWSS Chatroom tonight if you want to stop by. Hit the green "Chat Now" button on the side of the screen.
From Wikipedia:
THE DELIVERY | 3.4.10
Pam's contractions begin but she and Jim are determined to wait it out as long as possible so they can have more time at the hospital. Meanwhile the rest of the office tries to distract Pam from the pain with food and entertainment. Michael anxiously waits for Pam and Jim's baby, Cecilia, to be born. Back at the office, Erin makes Andy jealous when she has lunch with Kevin.
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Well, here it is-- the second huge JAM episode of season six. The Office already milked much of this baby/delivery humor last season in "Baby Shower," so it'll be interesting to see what they can do with a very similar plotline tonight.
Unfortunately, I have parent/teacher conferences tonight and will not be able to watch the episode live (or participate in the chatroom discussion). Feel free to stop by, though, and join other TWSS listeners in the chatroom if you'd like. Also, make sure you leave your comments below-- I have a feeling this could be a really love it or hate it sort of situation.
Are you excited for March 4th's hour-long "Delivery" episode? Even if you're not, here's something that will get you excited. That's What She Said is holding a Baby Name contest.
Send your suggestion for the name of Pam and Jim Halpert's baby. It could be a funny suggestion or something romantic or even a little strange. Feel free to elaborate on why your suggestion is the best baby name for Jim and Pam.
To submit your suggestions:
Matt and Kevin will look at all the submissions that come in prior to the broadcast of the March 4th "The Delivery" episode and will be the sole judges for the winners.
Prizes:
1st Place - $50 iTunes or Amazon gift certificate
2nd Place - copy of the book The Office and Philosophy
3rd Place - copy of You DVD, starring Melora Hardin
Episode # 88 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin considering the fact that they're not as charming as they think they are. Well, it's gonna be a good day... for Dunder Mifflin and Sa-bray... erm... SAYber. When electronics giant Sabre buys out Dunder Mifflin, they make quite a few changes that Michael just can't seem to live with. Can David Wallace save the day, or will Michael just have to SUCK IT up? (Har) Later, when Sabre CEO Jo Bennett arrives in Scranton to inspect the troops, she forces Jim and Michael to decide which one of them is the REAL manager. Sometimes, the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. Other times, there IS no grass... just a farty dirt patch. On the plus side, Andy proves once and for all that he DOES have one dynamite crotch. Erin, please take note. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Netflix. Instantly watch every episode of the office from the comfort of your laptop, desktop, PS3 or xbox360-connected TV. Go to http://www.netflix.com/twss to start your free trial today. Also, check out http://www.audiblepodcast.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download.
by Kevin Crossman
There's been a lot of speculation about Dunder Mifflin's new parent corporation, Sabre. Now, fans of The Office can dig through a new faux-website for the copier conglomerate. Just head over to www.Sabre-Corp.com and all your questions will be answered.
Want to learn more about Sabre's products? There's a complete catalog of printers available, running from the low-end Sabre iPalette all the way up to the Sabre 9900 All-in-One Color Ink-jet. Fax machines and scanners are also available.
CEO Jo Bennett is featured, as any corporate website should. You can even watch the inspirational Sabre video with Christian Slater.
Of most interest to fan of The Office is the News section where the announcement of Dunder Mifflin's acquisition is available. In the press release it notes that Dunder Mifflin has the following branches: Albany, Utica, Scranton, Akron, and Nashua. Thus, leaving open the possibility of a return of beloved characters Holly Flax or (less likely) Karen Filipelli.
From Wikipedia:
Manager and Salesman | 2.11.10
The office is eager to welcome Sabre CEO Jo Bennett to Scranton, and are dazzled by her Southern ways. When Jo finds out there are two branch managers, she says either Michael or Jim must go back to being a salesman. Meanwhile, Andy's Valentine's Day plan backfires.
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OK, so here we go with a potential interesting plot twist-- could we end up with Michael being a salesman working onder Jim's leadership? It seems like a natural direction to explore at this point, since we've pretty much tapped out the "Jim as Michael's long suffering underling" angle. I can see this taking us through the end of the season, with Michael perhaps taking the reigns back in the season finale. As for Kathy Bates-- "Meh" about sums it up. Didn't like her small part last week, and expect to find her "southern belle" act tonight just as grating. But again, perhaps they'll surprise me? Hopefully the Michael/Jim stuff will take up the bulk of the episode.
For those of you wondering what's going on with the TWSS episode for last week's SABRE, please be patient-- it will be out sometime soon. Since we have a month long gap until our next episode of THE OFFICE, I figured we could space the TWSS eps out a little bit. The show for Sabre will be up sometime next week, and the show for this week's ep should be out a week or so later.
As always, join me in the TWSS Chatroom tonight during and after the episode. I don't think Kevin is going to be able to make it into the West Coast chat tonight, but the room is always open for anyone who'd like to talk about the episode in real time with other TWSS listeners.
From Wikipedia:
SABRE | 2.4.10
Sabre comes in to take over Dunder Mifflin and Michael has difficulties accepting their new policies. Erin is waiting for Andy to ask her out while they work on a welcoming song for the company's new owners. Meanwhile, Jim and Pam interview for a local daycare center they hope to get into. Kathy Bates guest stars.
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In a long-standing Hollywood tradition, yet another actor will step BEHIND the camera to direct an episode of The Office-- This time, John Krasinski, perhaps best known as the husband of Emily Blunt (ha ha), takes the reigns. We've already talked about our feelings for the whole Kathy Bates move, so we'll just see how it plays out. Hopefully, I'll be pleasantly surprised by her performance.
As always, leave your comments below. Don't forget to join Kevin and me in the TWSS Chatroom before and during the episode. Just click that "Chat Now" button on the right-hand sidebar.
Episode # 87 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin suffering from a serious case of deja vu. So it's come to this-- an Office clip show! When Dunder Mifflin's new buyer sends someone to perform the due diligence, Michael will do whatever it takes to knock his proverbial socks off. Computron, anyone? Join us, won't you, as Michael and Toby lead faithful office viewers on a trip down memory lane... now, if only they can keep the banker from seeing any of these flashbacks. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Netflix. Instantly watch every episode of the office from the comfort of your laptop, desktop, PS3 or xbox360-connected TV. Go to http://www.netflix.com/twss to start your free trial today. Also, check out http://www.audiblepodcast.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download.
From Wikipedia:THE BANKER | 1.21.10When a potential buyer comes to Dunder Mifflin, Michael, Dwight, Andy and Pam pull out all the stops in hopes of impressing him with their high profile contacts. Michael reminisces about all the great times they have had in the office. ---------------To borrow a line from The Simpsons-- So, it's come to this. A "clip show" for THE OFFICE. As Kevin mentioned in the last podcast, there HAVE been good "clip show" episodes before (see SEINFELD), but by and large they have always been a sign of a show trying to produce a "new" episode on the cheap. Will the interstitial material be enough to make this episode "podcast-worthy"? Only time will tell.The episode was written by Jason Kessler, who has been involved with production but never actually written an Office episode before. Join us in the TWSS chatroom tonight during and after the episode.
by Kevin CrossmanThe People's Choice Award is sometimes a snooze-fest, but Best Comedy Actor winner Steve Carell managed not only to break the 30 Rock curse, but also delivered another exemplary acceptance speech. All of us a "That's What She Said" appreciate Steve's shout-out for the podcast.
by Kevin CrossmanI guess this isn't new news to some but I just started seeing commercials with Angela Kinsey as Gigi the "Guardian Girlfriend" to promote Clairol Nice 'n Easy haircolor. Unlike the dour Angela Martin, this Angela is smiley and perky. Quite a change!Even the outtakes are fun. Stay through for an Office catch-prhase that you might be familiar with...
Episode # 86 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin trying to keep the TWSS in TWSSmas. Get a room, Santas! When Phyllis uslurps Michael's rightful place as the office's designated gift-giver, it's up to a hurt, petulant Jesus to... well... sabotage pretty much everything. Andy decides to treat Erin to the twelve days of Christmas, but will he own up or lay low when things don't quite go as planned? Pam tries to hook Oscar up with the only OTHER gay guy she knows, Madge from the warehouse gets some character development, Angela thinks scientifically about number two, and Dwight ponders the purpose of his secret Santa gift. Oh, and Dunder Mifflin is going out of business. Just another typical Christmas party, all told. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Netflix. Instantly watch every episode of the office from the comfort of your laptop, desktop, PS3 or xbox360-connected TV. Go to http://www.netflix.com/twss to start your free trial today. Also, check out http://www.audiblepodcast.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download.
From Wikipedia:SECRET SANTA | 12.10.09Michael is outraged when Jim allows Phyllis to be Santa at the office Christmas party. Jim and Dwight try to get everyone into the holiday spirit despite the uncertainty with Dunder Mifflin. Meanwhile, Oscar has a secret crush. ----------It's Christmas time again, and the new season brings a new holiday themed episode. I loved the original Christmas Party, enjoyed Benihana Christmas, and was pretty disappointed in Moroccan Christmas last year. Hopefully Secret Santa can recapture some of that past magic. I tend to be pretty split on many Mindy Kaling written episodes, so I guess we'll see how things turn out.As always, leave your thoughts in the comments section below and join Kevin and me in the TWSS Chatroom during and after the show to share your thoughts (click on the green "chat" button in the right sidebar).
Episode # 85 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin seriously considering a donation to the NAACP. Hey Mr. Scott, Whatchoo gonna do? Watchoo gonna do make our dreams come true? When Michael over-promises and under- delivers on his college tuition pledge, will Scott's Tots learn to forgive and forget? Perhaps a laptop battery might change your mind? No? Wait, they're LITHIUM! Back in the office, Dwight launches another diobolical plan against Jim, with typical results. But will a new TEMPORARY ally ultimately turn the tide in his favor? Very_Angelic indeed. You know, when I hired Kevin to take over co-hosting durites on TWSS he was actually applying for a job in the warehouse... I just sort of had a FEELING about him. Listeners, I have a feeling about YOU, too. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Netflix. Instantly watch every episode of the office from the comfort of your laptop, desktop, PS3 or xbox360-connected TV. Go to http://www.netflix.com/twss to start your free trial today. Also, check out http://www.audiblepodcast.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download.
Meghan Keane blogged recently, saying: 'The Office' is the Most Depressing Show on Television.Here are some of the choice cuts from the lengthy essay.In the last two seasons, our hero Jim Halpert won the girl, got the big promotion and upgraded to a suit. These were all things fans were happy about. It was encouraging. But wanting romantic tension to be relieved is never as satisfying as the relief.All of Jim and Pam's witty asides and eyerolls in response to their officemates' antics have stopped being expressions of untapped potential and started to look like passive-aggressive attempts to undermine their peers—who are the only people who will socialize with them.Now Jim has developed into the most depressing archetype: a mediocre man who has already realized his full potential.Gone is Jim's charming lack of enthusiasm for his job. Now he's proving exactly where a lack of drive is likely to lead you—to the mediocrity of middle management, where one is gripped by the fear of losing whatever corner of inanity you've carved for yourself in the workplace.What do you think about this provocative premise? Is The Office truly depressing?
From Wikipedia:SCOTT'S TOTS | 12.03.09Written by Lee Eisenberg & Gene Stupnitsky. Directed by B. J. Novak.Michael (Steve Carell) is forced to face the music after he realizes he can't keep a promise he made to a group of kids 10 years ago. Meanwhile, Jim (John Krasinski) starts an employee of the month program to increase employee morale.----------Definitely curious to see what exactly this "promise" entails, although it sounds like this might be pretty heavy on the "awkward" humor that many people love (and I tend to not be too thrilled with). Shall we assume Michael promised to pay these kids' way through college, or something equally ridiculous? Michael always has loved making people happy and promising things. It's that damn FOLLOW THROUGH that always seems to kick him in the butt...Lee and Gene wrote this season's (arguably) best episode THE LOVER, and B. J. Novak is hot off his directorial work on SUBTLE SEXUALITY, so I hold out high hopes for tonight's installment.As always, leave your thoughts in the comments section below and join Kevin and me in the TWSS Chatroom during and after the show to share your thoughts (click on the green "chat" button in the right sidebar).
Episode # 84 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin checking their investment portfolios. Rock-n-roll! When Michael is whisked away to the Dunder Mifflin (sorry, BLUNDER Mifflin) shareholder meeting in a limo, he finally feels he's getting the recognition he deserves. Too bad the natives are extremely restless. Can this plucky manager from Scranton save the ailing company with the help of his Mexican sidekick? Three guesses, and your first two don't count. Back on the ranch, will Jim finally nut up or shut up when Ryan calls him out? He'll need to do more than exclaim to take this ne'er-do-well down for the count. Oh, and finally, God bless NBC for their green week episodes, and God bless YOU Re-cyclops, and your cold robot heart. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Netflix. Instantly watch every episode of the office from the comfort of your laptop, desktop, PS3 or xbox360-connected TV. Go to http://www.netflix.com/twss to start your free trial today. Also, check out http://www.audiblepodcast.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download.
From Wikipedia:SHAREHOLDER MEETING | 11.19.09Michael gets excited when he's invited by David Wallace to be honored on stage at the Dunder Mifflin shareholder meeting in New York, and he brings Andy, Dwight and Oscar along for the ride. Meanwhile, Jim has a hard time getting Ryan to do work. ------------With the big bankruptcy bomb dropped last week, I'm curious as to what David Wallace thinks Michael can do for the failing Dunder Mifflin. We enjoyed the Andy and Oscar action last season on BUSINESS TRIP, so hopefully we'll see some nice bonding moments this time as well. As we mentioned in the last podcast, Ryan really put the screws to Jim in season four, so it would be interesting to see if Jim turns that around on him here. He never really DID get his revenge, but Ryan has become such a different character since then that I'm not sure if it would still be a relevant thing to do. I guess we shall see tonight.I'm probably NOT going to be able to make it into the chatroom tonight, but don't let that stop you from talking to all the other TWSS listeners. Kevin should be around during and after the Pacific time showing, though, if you Eastern/Central folks want to wait around. As always, please leave your episode comments below.
Episode # 83 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin eying each other VERRRY carefully. I do declayah! The productivity murderer was Caleb Crawdad with a bad accent in the conference room! When Dunder Mifflin once again faces financial troubles, Michael decides to host his own murder mystery party (much to Jim's chagrin). Has Michael finally snapped, or will his co-manager learn the method to his crazy ways? Meanwhile, Andy makes his move, but Was it Erin or Nelly Nutmeg who accepted his indecent proposal? Oscar pouts, Dwight buttles, and Pam finds herself caught up in a Mexican stand-off. You know, here's a thought-- maybe if CFO David Wallace WASN'T micromanaging the Scranton branch the company wouldn't be going bankrupt? One word, David-- Priorities. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Netflix. Instantly watch every episode of the office from the comfort of your laptop, desktop, PS3 or xbox360-connected TV. Go to http://www.netflix.com/twss to start your free trial today. Also, check out http://www.audiblepodcast.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download.
Or should that be "muckduck"?From Wikipedia:MURDER | 11.12.09Michael's world is rocked by troubling rumors about Dunder Mifflin. He forces the office into a day of strange diversions, upsetting Jim and leading others to wonder if Michael has gone insane. Meanwhile, Andy finds that his chief obstacle in courting Erin is his own awkwardness. -----------This description is actually so baffling that I have abslutely no guess as to what could be going on with the Michael "A" plot. Guess I'll just have to strap myself in and enjoy the ride.As always, leave your thoughts in the comments section below and join Kevin and me in the TWSS Chatroom during and after the show to share your thoughts (click on the green "chat" button in the right sidebar).
Episode # 82 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin enjoying delicious fish stick sandwiches for breakfast. They say it's your birthday... we're gonna have a good time! When Michael works his magic for Helene's birthday, skeptical Pam begins to see the light. But will Michael be down with robbing the grave once he finds out his girlfriend's true age? Meanwhile, Dwight steps up his plan to take down Jim, but Andy Bernard's frightening level of politeness seems like it might queer the deal. One thing's for sure-- I'm getting concerned that you don't seen to understand what's going to happen. Do you? Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Netflix. Instantly watch every episode of the office from the comfort of your laptop, desktop, or xbox360-connected TV. Go to http://www.netflix.com/twss to start your free trial today. Also, check out http://www.audiblepodcast.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download.
From Wikipedia:DOUBLE DATE | 11.5.09Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam (Jenna Fischer) are out of excuses so they have no choice but to go out with Michael (Steve Carell) and Helene (Linda Purl), Pam's mother. Meanwhile, Dwight (Rainn Wilson) is strangely doing nice things for everyone in the office.--------As Kevin mentioned in the last podcast, the "Jim and Pam finally run out of excuses and have to go on a date" thing definitely smacks of DINNER PARTY from season four. Don't get me wrong, I loved THE LOVER, but that was mostly an episode about the CONCEPT of Michael dating Pam's mom. I hope when we get to see the "real thing" that it doesn't get too weird to take. I enjoyed the last few episodes, though, so I am curious to see what they can pull off tonight.As always, leave your thoughts in the comments section below and join Kevin and me in the TWSS Chatroom during and after the show to share your thoughts (click on the green "chat" button in the right sidebar).
Episode # 81 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin mocking each other with wordplay. Koi Vey! When Michael returns soaking wet from a business meeting, tongues begin to wag. Can Michael's fragile ego survive once the office learns his fishy secret? This calls for a DO NOT MOCK list, I fear. Meanwhile, Pam and Andy hit the road for some cold calls, but will Pam's dismissive attitude towards Andy's matrimonial suitability queer the deal? Perhaps a little belly kissing can salve those wounds? One thing's for sure-- you can't go wrong with Miss Janet for all of your birthing coach needs. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Netflix. Instantly watch every episode of the office from the comfort of your laptop, desktop, or xbox360-connected TV. Go to http://www.netflix.com/twss to start your free trial today. Also, check out http://www.audiblepodcast.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download credit.
From Wikipedia:KOI POND | 10.29.09It's Halloween and the Office plans a Haunted House for the kids in the community. At an important business meeting, Michael falls into a Koi Pond. Meanwhile, Pam and Andy go cold-calling to try to stir up some new business. ------I mentioned on the podcast how odd it struck me that Reggie Hudlin was tapped to direct this episode, as nothing in his past experience seems to scream "The Office." Still, he worked on THE BERNIE MAC SHOW, and so did Paul Liberstein, so maybe that's the connection. In any case, hopefully Hudlin will bring something new to the plate.This is billed as a "Halloween" episode, but I'm guessing it's going to be EXACTLY like last season, with only the cold open having anything to do with the holiday. Michael falling into a pond has the potential to be as ridiculous as the "driving into a lake" plot line from season four, and once again they'll have to walk a fine line to keep the episode from being TOO ridiculous. Here's hoping. The Pam and Andy stuff has a great deal of potential.As always, leave your thoughts in the comments section below and join Kevin and me in the TWSS Chatroom during and after the show to share your thoughts (click on the green "chat" button in the right sidebar).
Episode # 80 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin contemplating pulling the old switcheroo. I'm a motherlover, you're a motherlover... When Jim and Pam return from their honeymoon, Michael confides to Jim that he's taken Pam's mom for a lover, and her seats go all the way down. All. The. Way. Down. Jim is skeptical, but surely Pam, more than anything, wants Michael to be happy, RIGHT? Meanwhile, Dwight crafts a fiendish plan to bug Jim's office, but will he be 'hoisted by his own mallard'? hey, he's NOT insane! One thing's for sure, though-- I DO look damn fine in this fedora. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Netflix. Instantly watch every episode of the office from the comfort of your laptop, desktop, or xbox360-connected TV. Go to http://www.netflix.com/twss to start your free trial today. Also, check out http://www.audible.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download credit.
From Wikipedia:THE LOVER | 10.22.09Jim and Pam return from their honeymoon and are shocked when Michael reveals the identity of a woman he has been dating recently. Dwight makes a strange peace offering to Jim after years of torment. --------This plot line has the potential to go horribly, horribly wrong if not handled correctly-- I almost wonder how they could possibly surprise us with the way this story will play out. Can't we already imagine it? Pam (and Jim) are disgusted, Michael acts like Pam's father, etc., etc. I hope writers Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky can wring something new out of a rather tired premise. The Dwight plotline sounds interesting, and hopefully it connects back into the season long arc of "Dwight getting revenge on Jim" that they've ignored for the past few episodes.As always, leave your thoughts in the comments section below and join Kevin and me in the TWSS Chatroom during and after the show to share your thoughts (click on the green "chat" button in the right sidebar).
Episode # 79 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin leaving the gun and taking the cannoli. Fuggeddaboutit! With Pam and Jim gone to Puerto Rico on their honeymoon, the coalition of reason finds itself a few bricks short of a full load. When Michael is propositioned by the Cosa Nostra (OR maybe Mutual of Harrisburg, whichever) he turns to his soldatis Dwight and Andy for backup. Capitulate? Fight back? What's a coward to do? Meanwhile, Kevin squats in Jim's office, and Stanley and Meredith confront Erin about her beef with Pam. Don't even get me started on the painting incident! If she ain't careful, this new cafone receptionist is gonna be fitted for a pair of concrete overshoes! Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Netflix. Instantly watch every episode of the office from the comfort of your laptop, desktop, or xbox360-connected TV. Go to http://www.netflix.com/twss to start your free trial today. Also, check out http://www.audible.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download credit.
Hey, NBC.com-- any time you want to update your "Next On" page, just let me know.From Wikipedia:MAFIA | 10.15.09Michael meets with an insurance salesman and is convinced by Dwight and Andy that he is part of the mafia. Erin accidentally ruins Pam's painting. -----I'm still awash in thoughts of "Niagara," so I can barely think about this new episode. From what I recall Paul Lieberstein saying before the season began, the events in "Mafia" come about due to Jim and Pam being on their honeymoon-- when the voices of reason are away, the idiots will play. Hopefully things don't get too broad and ridiculous here, as the traditional "Sopranos/Mafia/Godfather" stuff has been mined so often in other media. Can they find a fresh take on this? Let's hope so.As always, leave your thoughts in the comments section below and join Kevin and me in the TWSS Chatroom during and after the show to share your thoughts (click on the green "chat" button in the right sidebar).
Episode # 78 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin wondering where they left their car keys. It's a nice day for a white wedding. Jim and Pam are finally off to tie the knot in Niagara Falls, with the rest of the Scranton branch in tow. Surely, THIS TIME, nothing will go wrong, right? Once there Michael and Dwight go on the prowl, Kevin debuts his new hair (and shoes), Oscar gets insulted, Meemaw hates on Charlie Rose, Andy tears his scrot, Erin shows her ass, Pam's mom is replaced, Jim's brothers are dicks, and only the Maid of the Mist can save the day. Oh, and aparently the ending is based on some YouTube clip I've never heard of. One thing is for certain, though-- what happens in Niagara, STAYS in Niagara. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast.com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Netflix. Instantly watch every episode of the office from the comfort of your laptop, desktop, or xbox360-connected TV. Go to http://www.netflix.com/twss to start your free trial today. Also, check out http://www.audible.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download credit.
NBC.com STILL hasn't bothered to update their "next on" page since "The Meeting," so once again this comes from Wikipedia:NIAGARA | 10.08.09 | 9/8c (one hour)The Office travels to Niagara Falls to celebrate Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam's (Jenna Fischer) wedding. Michael (Steve Carell), Dwight (Rainn Wilson), and Andy (Ed Helms) all want to hook up with guests at the wedding and Michael and Dwight meet twins.---------So here we are-- the culmination of five years of Jim and Pam romance. NBC is promoting this as "the happy ending," but that seems kind of bizarre to me since we still have twenty or so episodes left in the season, and who knows how many more after that. Still, OK, I get it. We all have (or HAD) a big emotional investment in these characters, and this DOES seem like it should be a big deal, but part of me feels like I am just really over this whole thing. I remember saying that at the end of season three, though, and "The Job" managed to win me back, so maybe tonight's hour long ep will make my grinchy heart grow ten sizes.What do you guys think? Are you excited for this? Have you been looking forward to it, or is it just an hour of "been there, done that"?As always, leave your thoughts in the comments section below and join Kevin and me in the TWSS Chatroom during and after the show to share your thoughts (click on the green "chat" button in the right sidebar).
Episode # 77 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin wondering which parts of the podcast fall under the heading of 'big picture issues.' It takes two to make a thing go right; it takes two to make it out of sight. When corporate decrees no cost of living raises, co-managers Michael and Jim have to stop their power struggle and work together to break the news. What's that? Two managers? Go ahead, NAME a country that doesn't have two presidents. Meanwhile, Dwight plans another coup, Pam begs for cash, and Ryan finally perfects his betting system. Surely, this can only end well. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast.com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Netflix. Instantly watch every episode of the office from the comfort of your laptop, desktop, or xbox360-connected TV. Go to http://www.netflix.com/twss to start your free trial today. Also, check out http://www.audible.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download credit.
NBC.com hasn't bothered to update yet, so via Wikipedia: THE PROMOTION | 10.01.09 | 9/8c David Wallace breaks the bad news that not everyone will get a raise this year. Dwight reaches his breaking point with Jim and looks to the rest of the office for allies. Pam would like cash instead of wedding gifts. ------------- Kevin and I speculated on this episode in the last podcast, and I hope the writers really explore this "Dwight's revenge" angle to a satisfactory conclusion-- after all these years of Jim's shenanigans, it'd be nice to see the tables be turned and see how Halpert deals with jerky employees who don't want to do their jobs. Sweet, sweet karma, don't fail me now! As always, join Kevin and me in the TWSS Chatroom before and after the show (I'll be taking the Eastern and Central times, while Kevin will handle the Pacific). Just click on the GREEN button in the right side-bar, enter your nickname, and chat away. Hope to see you there.
As mentioned in "Gossip" and episode #76 of the podcast:
Episode # 76 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin wondering if that gossip about them is true. Lookit all these rumors, surrounding us ev-ree day-ay. When Michael feels left out of the gossip loop, he goes hunting for a juicy tidbit to get him back in the game. Is Stanley cheating? Pam pregnant? Andy gay? Only one man knows for sure. Later, when Jim holds a secret meeting with Wallace, Michael's paranoia torpedoes the S. S. Tuna. Will Michael choose friendship over management? Then, in a world where insurance fraud runs rampant, can two men uncover the truth? One thing's for sure-- Darryl's sister equals aytch oh tee HOT. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast.com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Netflix. Instantly watch every episode of the office from the comfort of your laptop, desktop, or xbox360-connected TV. Go to http://www.netflix.com/twss to start your free trial today. Also, check out http://www.audible.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download credit.
Now that I'm feeling better, Kevin and I plan to produce a double episode of TWSS that covers both GOSSIP and THE MEETING. We'll hopefully record the episode on Sunday night, and hopefully post the new episode sometime on Monday or Tuesday. Thanks for your comments and your patience.
From NBC.com: THE MEETING | 09.24.09 | 9/8c PT | TV-PG DL TOBY AND DWIGHT GO UNDERCOVER FOLLOWING AN INCIDENT IN THE WAREHOUSE -- A request by Jim (John Krasinski) leaves Michael (Steve Carell) feeling insecure and defensive. Meanwhile, Pam (Jenna Fischer) deals with the guest list for the wedding, and Dwight convinces Toby (Paul Lieberstein) to investigate Darryl's (Craig Robinson) worker's comp claim. Ed Helms, Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, Mindy Kaling, Angela Kinsey, Phyllis Smith, Oscar Nuñez, Creed Bratton, Ellie Kemper, Andy Buckley also star. --------------Roll on, episode two. Sounds like a LOT of different plots to break down this week, as well as a lot of potential for wackiness.As always, leave your comments below, and join Kevin and me in the TWSS Chatroom during and after the episode airs.
by Kevin CrossmanThe 61st Annual Emmy Awards were held in Los Angeles last night and The Office came home a winner! Well, in one category at least. Congrats to Jeffrey Blitz who won the Emmy for Comedy Directing for the post-Super Bowl episode, "Stress Relief." However, once again, the Office did not win in any of the major categories.The Office received ten nominations total this year, including Best Comedy Series, Best Actor (Steve Carell), Best Supporting Actor (Rainn Wilson), and other categories including Editing and Casting. 30 Rock received four of the five Comedy Writing nominations, and won the Best Comedy Series and Best Comedy Actor (Alec Baldwin) Emmys. Rainn Wilson lost to Jon Cryer of Two and a Half Men. Blitz's award is ironic, since "Stress Relief" is not universally loved by all Office fans. Our own Matt Sommer in particular was not a fan of the episode that featured a forced story-within-a-story featuring name guest stars Jack Black, Jessica Alba, and Cloris Leachman. I'll just say for my part that the extended cold open featuring a Dwight-induced fire was one of the best moments in the series' history and perhaps the funniest four minutes on television this year. I also liked the emotional JAM storyline featuring Pam's father.Blitz is pictured receiving congratulations from Office nominees Steve Carell and Rainn Wilson.
Well, here we go again! Season six is upon us, and if you're like me, you've stayed away from ALL of the promo clips and other information on tonight's season premiere.From NBC.com: GOSSIP | 09.17.09 | 9/8c PT | TV-PG MICHAEL GETS CAUGHT UP IN OFFICE GOSSIP - Michael (Steve Carell) feels left out as the rest of the office gossips about the summer interns. While Michael searches for the next juicy rumor to share, Andy (Ed Helms) struggles with heterosexuality. Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, Brian Baumgartner, Leslie David Baker, Kate Flannery, Mindy Kaling, Angela Kinsey, Phyllis Smith, Oscar Nuñez, Creed Bratton, Paul Lieberstein, B.J. Novak and Ellie Kemper also star. --------------------Both Kevin and I were pretty skeptical about this JAM-bino plot in the finale, so I am really curious to see how that whole thing plays out this season. Is it too much to ask that the writers knock the first pitch of the season out of the park? As always, leave your comments below, and join Kevin and me in the TWSS Chatroom during and after the episode airs.
After both positive and negative buzz at an appearance at Sundance, John Krasinski's directorial debut, Brief Interviews with Hideous Men, is now set for a limited release on September 25th. IFC Films has released a trailer for the film (HD Trailer at Apple). The film is based on the book by David Foster Wallace, with screenplay by Wallace and Krasinski. Starring in the film are Julianne Nicholson, Timothy Hutton, Will Arnett, Will Forte, John Krasinski, and Christopher Meloni.Plot Summary: After her boyfriend mysteriously leaves her with little explanation, grad student Sara Quinn is left looking for answers as to what went wrong. Directing all her energies into her anthropological dissertation, Sara conducts a series of interviews with men in an effort to uncover the secret thoughts that drive their behavior. As she records the astonishing and disquieting experiences of various subjects, Sara discovers much more about men and herself than she bargained for.
Yes, we'd sure appreciate it if you'd order the season five DVD/blu-ray set through the TWSS Amazon link to your right, but we understand if you're one of those people looking to take advantage of the exclusives and extras the various big box stores throw your way.Case in point-- Best Buy, after offering the "fun run" pack last year, is back with more Schrute Farms crap than you can shake a beet at:Included in the pack is the DVD set, a beet shaped stress ball, a "do not disturb" door hanger, a mousepad, magnet, and t-shirt. The set is available in limited quantities, and will be selling for $41.99 when it drops on Tuesday.Target is offering their own exclusive, which includes Michael Scott Paper Company graphics, "a 45-minute interview with the writers, plus a script and inspirational cast magnets." Price is $39.99, and will also be dropping this Tuesday.This also leads into a difficult decision for me-- now that I own a PS3, do I spend the extra $10 for the blu-ray versions? You don't get any of the fancy extra shirts or magnets, but you do get the wonderful HD picture for $41.99/42.99 at Best Buy/Target.
by Kevin CrossmanMelora Hardin's role on The Office diminished last season as her character's downward spiral took her from serious, hard-nosed VP to sex-crazed mid-life crisis to domestic goddess and candle entrepreneur to mother. It's a sad story not just for the character but those of us who loved Season 2 Jan Levenson. I considered S2 Jan to be one of my favorite Office characters ever, so I was interested to finally catch up with Melora Hardin's latest project, her directorial debut with You. The film stars Hardin as Miranda, a mother who suddenly dies leaving her young daughter in the care of her husband. Hardin's real-life husband Gildart Jackson wrote the script and stars as the Miranda's husband Rawdon. The film explores the nature of love though a series of scenes and flashbacks and involves the family and friends of Miranda and Rawdon, including Miranda's parents (played by real life parents Jerry Hardin and Diane Hardin). The couple's daughter Quincy is played by several actresses over a twenty year span in the film, including Allison Mack as the grown-up version. The film's official website (www.youthefilm.com) and the press materials I received with my screener instructed me to "watch it with my family and friends" so my wife and I sat down with our seven year old to watch the film. The press materials indicated that the film is connecting with audiences and causes them to "be inspired by it to connect with the ones they love."Shortly after starting the movie, we had to send our seven year-old away due to some adult language and scenes of sexuality (nothing too explicit... but too much for our child). The film is not rated but would likely rate as a light "R" - the first blow against the "family and friends" aesthetic. The film is clearly coming from an emotional place, which means this falls into a romantic rather than comedic genre (no boob job jokes to be found here). I've liked the occasional "chick flick" so that in itself was not a problem.So, did the film "inspire" my wife and I? I think these two Facebook posts from my wife say it all.Julie Crossman: Kevin's making me watch the worst movie in the world! It's laugh out loud horrible.Julie Crossman: It's called "You," and it's a movie made by Melora Hardin (of the Office), her husband and her father. It's independent. It's supposed to be a drama, but we are laughing ourselves silly.I wish I could say my wife got it all wrong, but when the female part of the family ridicules the emotional story about a widower and his daughter, well, you might guess where I stood. This movie is so completely ridiculous and poorly acted it might well be the funniest film project from an Office alumni all year.A key part of the "unintentionally funny" aspect of the film is that Hardin's character Miranda keeps appearing to her husband throughout major events in his life. These scenes are far from "spirited" and do not add to the drama; in fact, they take the viewer out of the drama and cause them to think about how unbelievable the entire premise of the film is.Jackson does a fair job as the central character, often making good acting choices only to be undercut by his own poorly written dialogue and situations. The less said by the three uniformly bad actresses playing daughter Quincy the better. The film wants to explore relationships over time and at the film's conclusion there is a revelation of sorts - except that the revelation itself actually takes place early in the chronology of the characters, which itself is example of how poorly constructed the film actual is. The "lesson" the character learns is something that they apparently forgot for the next twenty years. It's a mess, plain and simple.I does not bring me joy to tell you that You is a colossal failure in every possible way, but I'd be doing a disservice by pulling my punches. I had no reason not to like You but it just didn't do it for me. As they say, your mileage may vary, but I can't recommend this to anyone but people who want to see every Office related project. Or for those who love films that are "so bad they are good." In that case, this is the film for you.
Episode # 75 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin wondering whatever happened to Jim's non-refundable ticket. He's the best, a-rou-ound! When Dwight wins the award for #1 salesman, he's on cloud nine-- except for his crippling fear of public speaking. that is. Good thing Michael, a past double winner, is around to coach him through the biggest speech of his life. Meanwhile, Pam plans her wedding, Jim plans a trip, and the rest of the office fights over the thermostat. Will Il Schrute win over the sales crowd? Does blood alone move the wheels of history? Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast.com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Netflix. Instantly watch every episode of the office from the comfort of your laptop, desktop, or xbox360-connected TV. Go to http://www.netflix.com/twss to start your free trial today. Also, check out http://www.audible.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download credit.
by Kevin CrossmanIt's true we often have full episodes of The Office where BJ Novak has little or no screentime as Ryan Howard, but fans of the show did miss our favorite temp/salesman/VP/receptionist/bowling clerk/salesman/temp during an extended absence this season. Ryan's absence was explained as a "trip to Thailand" but TWSS listeners knew this was Novak so could film Inglourious Basterds for writer-director Quentin Tarantino.Basterds opens this weekend and fans hoping to see their Office hero with lots of screentime will feel a strange sense of deja-vu. Novak is there... but does he say anything? Hardly. It's almost like an episode of The Office where Novak is there in the scene but we're all paying attention to the name actors or leads.Complicating matters is that the crew of "Inglourious Basterds" soldiers of which Novak is a member appear on screen in only a couple of the six chapters of the movie. Nonetheless, do no be afraid of the film's two and a half hour running time, because if you stick through to the end not only will you enjoy an exceptional movie you will, finally..., get to see Novak on the big screen in a big way at the film's conclusion. Novak goes toe to toe with Brad Pitt (effective and hilarious throughout the movie) and German TV star (and future Oscar winner) Christoph Waltz who plays a Nazi Colonel.If you're a fan of BJ Novak, Quentin Tarantino, killing of Nazis, French Cinema, or entertaining dialogue then Inglourious Basterds is a must see.
We mentioned earlier that FAMILY GUY is up against THE OFFICE for best comedy at the Emmys this year, but as a fan of both shows, for which should I cast my metaphorical vote?Both Brian and Stewie find themselves in a similar quandary, and have some pretty good points to make:Thanks to listener Kathryn Kramer for bringing this to my attention.
According to Jeremy Piven's Twitter feed, he and "The Goods" co-star Ed Helms are set to host Monday night's WWE Raw. Technically, Piven didn't name names, but said "With me tomorrow night on Raw is a gentleman u know from 'The hangover' and he also has a day job." Seems like a pretty obvious hint. I'm not a wrestling fan by any stretch of the imagination, but these two guys might be interesting enough to get me to tune in.
Episode # 74 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin puzzling over the location of the female vagina. Who has two thumbs and LOVES season two of The Office? THIS guy. When the CFO resigns, Scranton must undergo a refresher seminar on sexual harassment, but Michael sees it as a direct assault on his management style. Solution? Why, hire James P. Albini, of course. Meanwhile, Pam's mom comes to the office, Todd Packer spreads his own brand of politcal incorrectness, and Dwight begins his quest for the clitoris. My only regret is that our public school system failed him so badly. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast.com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Netflix. Instantly watch every episode of the office from the comfort of your laptop, desktop, or xbox360-connected TV. Go to http://www.netflix.com/twss to start your free trial today. Also, check out http://www.audible.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download credit.
The 2009 Emmy Award nominees were released this week, and while there are plenty of old guard classics filling the lists, there are also a few surprises-- especially in the "Best Comedy Series" category, which sees its first animated program since 1961 with a nod to Family Guy. Joining Seth McFarlane's controversial show on the "best" list are Entourage (great), Flight of the Conchords (great), Weeds (never seen it), How I Met Your Mother (don't find it funny), and of course 30 Rock (great) and THE OFFICE.Steve Carell is once again nominated for Best Actor in a Comedy Series, and Rainn Wilson gets another nod in the Best Supporting Actor category. Unfortunately, Carell is up against fellow NBC powerhouse Alec Baldwin as well as Jemaine Clement from FOTC, Jim Parsons from The Big Bang Theory, Tony Shaloub from Monk, and Charlie Sheen for Two and a Half Men. It's funny to see Clement nominated without Bret Mackenzie, since the show is such a duo. Anyone who watches TBBT surely appreciates Parson's turn as "Sheldon," but is it enough to take the trophy? While Sheen's show grabs big numbers, it's surely scoffed at by most in the Hollywood comedy elite. Shaloub used to own this category, but momentum tells me Baldwin with continue to be the odds on favorite. Rainn Wilson faces an equally tough crop, including Jon Cryer, from Two and a Half Men, Kevin Dillon from Entourage, Neil Patrick Harris from How I Met Your Mother, and Jack McBrayer and Tracy Morgan from 30 Rock. Jeremy Piven, the usual winner, wasn't even nominated this year, so the category is a bit more wide open than in the past-- I know the internet seems to lap up most anything NPH does, but I've just never found his horn-dog "Barney" character to be amusing in the least. As for Cryer, see Charlie Sheen in the above paragraph. Jack McBrayer is amusing as Kenneth, of course, but he's definitely a smaller part of 30 Rock's success. I love me some Johnny Drama, but I'd probably lay money on Tracy Morgan taking it homeSo what do you guys think? Do the Office boys have a snowball's chance? Was season five of The Office funny enough to overthrow the competition? Let us know.For a full list of all the 2009 Emmy nominations, go HERE.
Episode # 73 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin stealthily hiding their green envelopes. One MILL-yun dollars! Creed needs a new helicopter, and there's only one way to get it-- blackmail, baby! Oscar's sex tape, Andy's tramp stamp, Meredith's child support fraud, Kelly's twitter report... who will survive once these secrets get out? One thing's for certain- Flenderson WON'T be coming to anyone's rescue. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast.com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Netflix. Instantly watch every episode of the office from the comfort of your laptop, desktop, or xbox360-connected TV. Go to http://www.netflix.com/twss to start your free trial today. Also, check out http://www.audible.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download credit.
Here are the details of the forthcoming Season 5 DVD for The Office. The set will be released on September 8th. 5 discs, 606 minutes; $59.98 SRP; Anamorphic Widescreen; English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround; English and Spanish Subtitles Bonus Material: -Weight Loss Commentary with Randy Cordray, Michael Gallenberg, Brian Wittle, Nick Carbone, Ben Patrick, Alysia Raycraft, Kelly Cantley, and Jake Aust -Business Ethics Commentary with BJ Novak, Peter & Vartan, and Sergio & Alan -Employee Transfer Commentary with Dave Rogers, Anthony Farrell, Veda Semarne, Chuck Canzoneri, Kyle Alexander, and Phil Shea -Customer Survey Commentary with Stephen Merchant, Paul Lieberstein and Mindy Kaling -Moroccan Christmas Commentary with Kate Flannery, Angela Kinsey, and Brian Baumgartner -The Duel Commentary with Rainn Wilson, Rusty Mahmood, Jennifer Celotta, and Dean Holland -Dream Team Commentary with BJ Novak, Aaron Shure, Charlie Grandy, and Matt Sohn -Michael Scott Paper Company Commentary with Jenna Fischer, Gene Stupnitsky, Lee Eisenberg, and Justin Spitzer -Casual Friday Commentary with Creed Bratton, Mindy Kaling, Ellie Kemper, Brent Forrester, and Claire Scanlon -Company Picnic Commentary with Paul Lieberstein, Ken Kwapis and Jennifer Cellota Other stuff:-Gag Reel -Deleted Scenes on each disc -Academy Of Television Arts & Sciences Presents The Office-Superbowl Ads -Olympic Promos -Webisodes Please help support the podcast by pre-ordering the DVD set through our Amazon link (located to your right), or by clicking HERE.
by Kevin CrossmanIf Ed Helms' turn in the megahit The Hangover is the highpoint for our summer hiatus for The Office, and if John Krasinski's turn in Away We Go is a middling effort... well, I think we've found our low-point. Oscar Nunez plays a male stripper in The Proposal.Actually, this sounds like a good role for Nunez, who often shows versatility on The Office. It seems his character is a jack-of-all-trades in a small Alaska town, so when duty calls at bachelorette party...The Proposal stars Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds and is sure to please this summer's underserved RomCom market. There's also buzz about Bullock and Reynold's humor-tinged nude scene. And, if the thought of Oscar's junk displayed on a giant screen is your thing then maybe this movie was made for you. The Proposal opens on Friday.Oscar talks more about the role in this interview.
To celebrate the success of THE HANGOVER, and Ed Helms' return to THE DAILY SHOW as a featured guest, the guys over at Comedy Central Insider posted some "best of" video clips of Ed's time as a correspondent for TDS.The Daily Show With Jon StewartMon - Thurs 11p / 10cI Am Abewww.thedailyshow.comDaily Show Full EpisodesPolitical HumorJason Jones in Iran Head HERE to see more clips.
We've been following "Away We Go" for many months now, and after a limited debut on June 5th, the film will start rolling out across the country very soon.For those of you who have been living under a rock, rottentomatoes.com offers this summary:Directed by Academy Award winner Sam Mendes (American Beauty) from an original screenplay by Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida, this funny and heartfelt film follows the journey of an expectant couple... Directed by Academy Award winner Sam Mendes (American Beauty) from an original screenplay by Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida, this funny and heartfelt film follows the journey of an expectant couple (John Krasinski [The Office] and Maya Rudolph [Saturday Night Live), as they travel the U.S. in search of the perfect place to put down roots and raise their family. Along the way, they have misadventures and find fresh connections with an assortment of relatives and old friends who just might help them discover home on their own terms for the first time. The movie features the music of Alexi Murdoch.So far, reviews have been mixed yet decidedly positive-- it's currently sitting at 65% "Fresh" on the RottenTomatoes page, and at a slightly more worrying 57% on Metacritic.Critical icon Roger Ebert gave the film 3.5/4 stars in his Sun-Times review today, calling it:"...a film for nice people to see. Nice people also go to “Terminator Salvation,” but it doesn’t make them any nicer. “Away We Go” opened last week in New York and Los Angeles, and now rolls out after lukewarm reviews accusing Verona and Burt of being smug, superior and condescending. These are not sins if you have something to be smug about and much reason to condescend [...] If their characters find they are superior to many people, well, maybe they are. “This movie does not like you,” sniffs Tony Scott of the New York Times. Perhaps with good reason."Have you seen "Away We Go"? Planning to? Give us your thoughts and impressions in the comments section.
By Kevin CrossmanAfter a series of small roles in films like Night at the Museum, Walk Hard, and Evan Almighty, a big time movie star moment is staring The Office's Ed Helms straight in the face. Helms is starring alongside Bradley Cooper and Zach Galifianakis in director Todd Phillips' The Hangover opening on Friday.In addition to the hilarious character poster, Helms is getting his song on with this very funny but not entirely safe for work trailer. Have you seen The Hangover? What did you think? Is movie stardom in the card for Ed Helms?
Episode # 72 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin grinning silently at each other behind a glass wall. Papa don't preach. It's time for the annual company picnic, and Michael plans to finally make his move on soup snake Holly Flax. SlumDunder Mifflinaire? No highly choreographed Indian dance number at the end of THIS one, I fear. Meanwhile, Rolf rips Angela a new one, Charles Miner hates Jim (still), Pam is surprisingly awesome at sports, Stanley drinks, Phyllis sits, Dwight stalls, and a potential JAMbino rears its sure-to-be impossibly cute head. Is it time to strap on the waterskiis? Office, don't fail me now! Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Netflix. Instantly watch every episode of the office from the comfort of your laptop, desktop, or xbox360-connected TV. Go to http://www.netflix.com/twss to start your free trial today. Also, check out http://www.audible.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download credit.
Launching on May 7th, a new series of Office webisodes will be airing on NBC.com. The series was directed by BJ Novak and written by The Outburst writers Jonathan Hughes and Nate Federman. Episode 4 Episode 3 Episode 2 Episode 1 What do you think of the Blackmail series?
Melora Hardin's new cinematic labor-of-love, You, is now available on iTunes and Amazon.com. You can learn more at the film's official website, YouTheFilm.com.Now, Melora's Office costars want YOU to know that the film ("YOU") is now available. Most of the cast is shown in the video, including Steve Carell and Jenna Fischer.
WARNING: FINALE SPOILERSI'm not going to get into my thoughts on the finale until we do the podcast, but I've seen this crop up in various blog postings and forums and thought it was worth asking:Has THE OFFICE jumped the shark with the JAM plotline in the finale?According to Wikipedia, "jumping the shark" is "a colloquialism coined by Jon Hein and used by TV critics and fans to denote the point in a TV show or movie series' history where the plot veers off into absurd story lines or out-of-the-ordinary characterizations. This usually corresponds to the point where a show with falling ratings apparently becomes more desperate to draw viewers in. In the process of undergoing these changes, the TV or movie series loses its original appeal. Shows that have "jumped the shark" are typically deemed to have passed their peak."WARNING: FINALE SPOILERSOne of the "signs" of JTS, according to the site is:Birth, when a new baby is added to a show's cast (and often unnaturally aged to a preschooler the season following the birth), sometimes to accommodate an actress's real-life pregnancy but usually for the same reasons a New kid in town might otherwise be brought in. (Ex: Malcolm in the Middle and the introduction of Jamie)Of course, another one of the JTS "signs" is also:They did it, in which two main characters have sex, particularly if their sexual tension was deemed part of the show's appeal. (Ex: Who's The Boss? or I Dream of Jeannie)WARNING: FINALE SPOILERSBut I think many people agree that the writers managed to keep the show afloat despite having JAM officially hook up. CAN they do it again with this pregnancy plot? Do you actually look forward to a Mini-Halpert on the show? How do you think this will play out? Will they dare pull a "miscarriage" plot of some sort?Give us your opinions below and we'll definitely reference them in TWSS #72!
From NBC.com: COMPANY PICNIC | 05.14.09 | 9/8c PT | TV-PG SEASON FINALE - THE SCRANTON OFFICE REPRESENTS AT THE COMPANY PICNIC - OSCAR NOMINEE AMY RYAN ("Gone Baby Gone") AND IDRIS ELBA ("The Wire") GUEST STAR - It's the annual Dunder Mifflin company picnic and Michael (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) and Holly (guest star Amy Ryan) are reunited, and Michael has some big plans for her. Meanwhile, the office competes in the picnic's volleyball tournament. Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, Ed Helms, Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, Mindy Kaling, Angela Kinsey, Phyllis Smith, Oscar Nunez, Creed Bratton, Paul Lieberstein and B.J. Novak also star. ---------Well, here were are once again for yet another season finale. What a long, strange trip season five has been-- it feels like we've had about 4-5 "mini-arcs" worth of plot twists this year, and hopefully most of them will come together in COMPANY PICNIC. The MSPC plotline really made me forget about Holly, so will the magic still be there tonight? Will Charles Miner finally receive that karmic payback we never got during BROKE? Are they going to be able to tell a satisfying season finale story in a meager 21 minutes?As always, leave your comments below, and join Kevin and me in the TWSS Chatroom during and after the episode airs.*BONUS FUN FACT: Did you know that some people believe the word "picnic" has a racist etymology, and have actually protested its use? Check out the entry at Snopes.com (it's not true) for the straight dope!
Episode # 71 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin getting funkay. Just daa-ance. What to do when you've just sold your company and still have a lease on an empty office space? Why, turn it into a cafe disco of course. Michael discovers, to borrow a quote from Homer Simpson, that FUNK is the cause of (and solution to) all of the office's problems-- but will his employees see the method to his madness? Meanwhile, JAM plans to elope, Kandy gets served, Dwyllis rears its ugly head, Erin gets busy, and Stanley has a nice refreshing nap. Who can ask for anything more? What's that? A plot you say? BAH! We don't need no stinking plots! Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Netflix. Instantly watch every episode of the office from the comfort of your laptop, desktop, or xbox360-connected TV. Go to http://www.netflix.com/twss to start your free trial today. Also, check out http://www.audible.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download.
by Kevin CrossmanAs mentioned in this week's podcast, NBC announced their fall schedule earlier this week. Well, sort of...NBC announced the shows on their Fall Schedule, including The Office of course. Interest in Parks and Recreation from The Office creative team Greg Daniels and Michael Schur has been mixed, but NBC went ahead and renewed the show starring Amy Poehler. NBC also announced that SNL Weekend Update would be returning to Thursday nights at least on an occasional basis. NBC didn't renew My Name is Earl, but didn't exactly cancel it either, leaving the show in limbo.But NBC didn't provide an actual schedule. So, we don't know if The Office is keeping it's Thursday 9 pm timeslot, or what shows will air before and after. It is certainly possible that The Office could be moved to the 8 pm slot likely vacated by My Name is Earl. NBC is expected to announce the full schedule and timeslots later this month.Speaking of Parks and Recreation, we've received some notes about whether we will cover this show or review any episodes. With the summer hiatus coming soon, it does provide an opportunity to go back and talk about this show. So, would you like us to review Parks and Recreation, or would you like more Retro episodes from Season 2? Leave a comment and let us know!
From NBC.com: CAFE DISCO | 05.07.09 | 9/8c PT | TV-PG MICHAEL BRINGS COFFEE AND DANCING TO THE OFFICE - Michael (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) gets into the café/disco scene. Meanwhile, Pam (Jenna Fischer) and Jim (John Krasinski) decide to take a secret trip. Rainn Wilson, Ed Helms, Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, Mindy Kaling, Angela Kinsey, Phyllis Smith, Oscar Nunez, Creed Bratton, Paul Lieberstein and B.J. Novak also star. ---------------------As I mentioned in the last podcast, I can't think of a dumber sounding plot than Michael bringing coffee and "disco" to the office. Still, from the humblest acorns, mighty oaks grow. Hopefully I will be pleasantly surprised. As for the "B" plot-- a huge thanks to NBC for spoiling that for me during LAW & ORDER last night. Idiots. Of course, it COULD just be a fake-out, but either way, I feel extremely annoyed. Sigh. As always, leave your comments below, and join Kevin and me in the TWSS Chatroom during and after the episode airs.
from Variety:NBC has Tina Fey-style plans for "The Office's" Mindy Kaling, signing the multihyphenate to an overall deal with the Peacock and Universal Media Studios.Under terms of the two-year, seven-figure deal, Kaling will continue to write for and appear on "The Office" next season while simultaneously developing a comedy in which she would also star."This is my first step in a Transformers-style way to take over the whole world," Kaling quipped. "I've only ever worked for NBC, and I've felt an enormous amount of support from the executives there."Much like "30 Rock" star-exec producer Fey, Kaling is known for both her writing and acting skills. Behind the scenes, Kaling is a co-exec producer on "The Office," having written notable episodes including "The Dundies," "Diwali" and this season's "Golden Ticket."On camera, Kaling stars as Kelly Kapoor, the chatty customer service representative at paper company Dunder Mifflin.NBC primetime entertainment prexy Angela Bromstad called Kaling "a rare and unique talent.""Her comic sensibility is perfect for what we stand for in NBC comedy," Bromstad said.Kaling, who notes that her time at "The Office" has been akin to going through "the Greg Daniels Graduate School of Writing," said her tastes now skew in the single-camera comedy direction -- but that she isn't opposed to writing a multicamera laffer.In kicking around different development ideas, Kaling said she's drawn to workplace comedies but is also interested in buddy shows in the vein of "Flight of the Conchords.""I've always wanted to do another show about women," said Kaling, whose past credits include writing the WB pilot "Mindy and Brenda," along with Brenda Withers, for Carsey-Werner and Steve Martin. That project was about two female best friends straight out of college.Kaling has been with "The Office" since the show's launch. As an actress, she has appeared as Richard Lewis' assistant in "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and on film in "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," "Unaccompanied Minors" and "License to Wed."Kaling is repped by UTA and 3 Arts.
Episode # 70 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin trying very desperately to forget. My eyes! The goggles do nothing! Michael is back, and with him comes casual Fridays. With his sales staff in revolt, and too few clients to go around, Michael is confronted with a Sophie's Choice decision-- which of the MSPC veterans stays in sales, Ryan or Pam? Nothing beats a good pros and cons list in a situation like this. Oh, and Office writers? THANK YOU for burning the sight of Meredith's blurry crotch permanently into my brain. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Netflix. Instantly watch every episode of the office from the comfort of your laptop, desktop, or xbox360-connected TV. Go to http://www.netflix.com/twss to start your free trial today. Also, check out http://www.audible.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download.
From NBC.com: CASUAL FRIDAY | 04.30.09 | 9/8c PT | TV-PG MICHAEL IS TORN BETWEEN HIS TWO SALES GROUPS - Michael has to mediate a dispute within his new sales team. Meanwhile, trouble brews in the office when several employees take the term "casual" Fridays too loosely. Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, Ed Helms, Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, Mindy Kaling, Angela Kinsey, Phyllis Smith, Oscar Nunez, Creed Bratton, B.J. Novak and Paul Lieberstein also star. -----As mentioned in yesterday's podcast, I can't help but think these last few episodes might be a bit of a let down after the thrilling rollercoaster ride that was the Michael Scott Paper Company plotline. Can an episode about dressing too casually on a Friday REALLY stand up to our newly reborn expectations of excellence? I will be hoping for the best, but writer Anthony Q. Farrell (who has written only one other episode, "Employee Transfer," and a few of the "Kevin's Loan" webisodes) has a LOT to live up to.As always, leave your comments below, and join Kevin and me in the TWSS Chatroom during and after the episode airs.
Episode # 69 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin practicing synchronized cheese-puff tossing. U-G-L-Y, you ain't got no alibi, you ugly. Yeah, yeah, you ugly. While Jim and Andy bond, The Michael Scott Paper Company is taking a dent out of Dunder Mifflin's bottom line (thanks to Michael's magic Rolodex). Unfortunately, crunching the numbers reveals trouble ahead. Their only hope? A buyout, just as long as neither Dwight NOR Michael manage to queer the deal. Would you rather have a fishing pole or just a fish? Welcome back, big guy.Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Netflix. Instantly watch every episode of the office from the comfort of your laptop, desktop, or xbox360-connected TV. Go to http://www.netflix.com/twss to start your free trial today. Also, check out http://www.audible.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download.
by Kevin CrossmanOne of the highlights of "Broke" was Jim's custom ringtone of Dwight repeating "idiot" over and over. Now NBC is satisfying the needs of tech-savvy fans with a download link so you can install it on your own phone (because everyone wants a little Dwight in their phone).Ringtone is available in two formats (select "Save as..." to download to your computer): - WAV - M4R (iPhone)The great thing about custom ringtones is that you can hear in advance who is calling, just like Jim. So, it was very easy to install the ringtone on my iPhone and use it for one of my contacts. Now, whenever Matt calls me I will hear "Idiot, Idiot, Idiot..." :-)
One hundred episodes? Not too shabby, "crappy" American spin-off that had nothing on the UK version. On a less sarcastic note, congrats to the cast and crew. Looking forward to another hundred.EDIT: Here's an "official" video from NBC.com:
From NBC.com:BROKE | 04.23.09 | 9/8c PT | TV-PG LMichael's new company struggles to make early morning deliveries while the office tries to get their expense reports in on time after Angela enforces Dunder Mifflin's policy.----------Is this end of Charles Miner's run as the "new boss." Idris Elba was signed for six episodes and guess what... this is show #6. Do Michael and Pam return to Dunder Mifflin? And what role will David Wallace play in all of this. Tune in tonight to find out.As always, leave your comments below, and join Matt and me in the TWSS Chatroom during and after the episode airs.
Episode # 68 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin enjoying a delicious pancake luncheon. Michael has taken that job and forcefully shoved it, and now it's time to assemble the dream team that will take the Michael Scott Paper Company straight to the top (with Nana's help, of course). Unfortunately, just like a peanut butter and tuna sandwich, sometimes your dreams don't turn out quite the way you'd like. Back in the Office, Jim sucks up then runs down, Dwandy form a musical bromance while fighting over the new receptionist, and Flenderson shares a bit of bathroom banter. Remember, you miss 100% of the pancakes you don't make. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Netflix. Instantly watch every episode of the office from the comfort of your laptop, desktop, or xbox360-connected TV. Go to http://www.netflix.com/twss to start your free trial today. Also, check out http://www.audible.com/shesaid for a free audiobook download.
From TVguide.com:Heavy CompetitionThe bizarre bond between Dwight and Michael faces a great challenge when Dwight begins to regard bigwig Charles (Idris Elba) as his newest hero. Meanwhile, Andy comes to Jim's emotional rescue.--------Matt is sipping margaritas in Mexico but Kevin will be in the TWSS chatroom during the show during the West Coast airing. Just click the green "Join the TWSS Chat" button.
Hey everyone! Greetings from the "cibercafe" at the Grand Mayan Riviera Maya resort, just outside of Playa Del Carmen. Been pretty busy for the last few days (just got back from seeing Chichen Itza-- holy crap, the heat!), so I haven´t had a chance to access a computer.
Glad to see everyone liked the last two episodes. Can´t wait to see what happens next. Look for a double episode of "Dream Team" and "Michael Scott Paper Company" to air shortly after I return.
By Kevin CrossmanWe haven't seen much of Melora Hardin and the character of Jan Levenson since the infamous "Baby Shower" episode earlier this season. We know that Hardin has been busy appearing in the Broadway cast of "Chicago," but with recent news and several projects hitting the marketplace right now it's definitely "The Month of Melora."Hardin's first project of note is this weekend's box office champ, Hanna Montana: The Movie. And while I'm willing to spend a lot of time checking out Office related movie projects (and even like most of them), guess what movie I'm not seeing?Coming up next weekend is the high school fantasy film 17 Again with Zac Efron and Matthew Perry... and Melora Hardin. As much as I have no interest in Efron, I do like Perry and some of other costars including Leslie Mann and Thomas Lennon. So, remind me to NetFlix this when it comes out on DVD. (remember... support TWSS with a two-week trial to NetFlix).We also have more details of You, the labor of love from Hardin and her husband Gildart Jackson that we mentioned on the last TWSS episode. According to Hardin's Twitter post, "Download @YouTheFilm for Mom May 8th at youthefilm.com, itunes, and amazon!". You can learn more at youthefilm.com.Of course, what we're most interested in is whether Jan will return to "The Office." Well, if history is any indication then just as fans of Team Karen were bummed to learn about a new pilot for Rashida Jones, those fans of Jan can't be excited to learn about "Lights Out," a new FX drama pilot that will star Melora Hardin. Hardin will play a surgeon in the series pilot that will start filming this week."Lights Out" centers on Patrick "Lights Out" Leary (McCallany), an aging former heavyweight boxing champion who struggles to find his identity and support his wife (Hardin), a pediatric orthopedic surgeon, and three daughters after his fighting days are over. That leads him to take a job as a legbreaker, collecting on unpaid gambling debts. He is diagnosed with pugilistic dementia (a neurological disorder that affects boxers who receive multiple blows to the head), so he decides he'll need to make another big payday to support himself and his family before his brain turns to jelly. According to the article in the Hollywood Reporter, Hardin will not return to "The Office" this season, but "is expected to guest on one or more episodes" next season.Learn More:www.melora.com
From TVguide.com:Dream Team Following his bumpy first meetings with new boss Charles (Idris Elba), Jim finds himself squaring off with the bigwig in a soccer game in the parking lot. Meanwhile, Michael fears the new workday, so much so that he's barely able to leave his house. But that doesn't stop him from assembling his "dream team."The Michael Scott Paper Company Former romantic rivals Dwight and Andy form an unlikely kinship and plan a hunting trip together. Meanwhile, supervisor Charles demands a rundown from Jim---but Jim has no clue what "rundown" actually means. And Michael holds a Paper and Pancakes company luncheon, but it might end up as a flat affair.--------Two episodes in one night? You're killing me NBC! Can't wait to see how this plays out.
Episode # 67 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin enjoying a delicious scotch and Splenda. Take this job and staff it, he ain't workin' here no more. Michael has given his two weeks notice, and amazingly is even less productive than usual. With Prince Paper out of the picture, Michael plots to start his own company and poach as many of his current office-mates as possible. When everyone else turns him down, it's up to Pam to channel a little Renee Zellweger. Quit Dunder Mifflin? You had me at hello. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by signing up for a FREE 14-day trial of Netflix. Instantly watch every episode of the office from the comfort of your laptop, desktop, or xbox360-connected TV. Go to http://www.netflix.com/twss to start your free trial today.
From NBC.com: TWO WEEKS | 03.26.09 | 9/8c PT | TV-PG L MICHAEL TAKES GOOFING OFF TO A NEW LEVEL - IDRIS ELBA ("The Wire") GUEST STARS - Michael's (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) relationship with the new vice president (guest star Idris Elba) becomes increasingly tense, as Michael finds an excuse to goof off even more than usual. Meanwhile, Pam (Jenna Fischer) faces the challenge of a new copier and Kelly (Mindy Kaling) develops a crush. Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Ed Helms, Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, Angela Kinsey, Phyllis Smith, Oscar Nunez, Craig Robinson, Creed Bratton and Paul Lieberstein also star. ----------Well, LOTS of questions to be answered in tonight's episode-- what will Michael do now? How the reign of Charles Miner be overturned? What, exactly, will happen to all of those figs? Can't wait to see how this all plays out.As always, leave your comments below, and join Kevin and me in the TWSS Chatroom during and after the episode airs.
by Kevin CrossmanThere was big controversy in some fan forums this week as some suggested that Michael Scott didn't really "quit" in last week's episode, "New Boss." Instead, they surmised that he said "I acquit." Matt and I discussed this on TWSS Podcast Episode #66 and indicated that we didn't think it was "acquit" and that moreover if that really was what Michael said it might be a "jump the shark" moment.I'm pleased to report that The Office's cutest cast blogger has settled the controversy. Jenna Fischer writes in her MySpace blog:Jenna there is crazy Controversy if Micheal said "I quit" or "I acquit". Look at any message board, it's crazy. Can you please set the record straight? – Erock from Fenton, MOHe said “I quit”. And he meant it. You will see how it all plays out this week on the show.I'm sure we'll all the info we need on tonight's episode. But for those who really want to know, we can thank Jenna for being plugged into the concerns of the fans.Also, with Brian Baumgartner and Melora Hardin joining Twitter in recent weeks, I predict Jenna Fischer will be Twittering by April 15th.
Episode # 66 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin wondering just how high they can fly. If the figs don't fit, you must quit. Michael's 15th anniversary party plans go awry when new VP Charles Miner goes from BFF to mean manager. What? No Cirque du Soleil? Inconceivable! Jim gets classy AND dissed all in the same day, Angela and Kelly fight for the attentions of the black George Clooney, and Michael makes a monumental decision - or DOES he? Only the writers know for sure. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by downloading a FREE audio book from Audible.com Browse to http://www.audiblepodcast.com/shesaid and start you free trial today.
Michael Ausiello over at EW.com has posted yet another big spoiler regarding The Office. I'm not going to say anything, other than to drop a hint that it concerns the hiring of a new character to replace one that is leaving in some way (and it's not Michael).Click HERE for the spoiler.
From Yahoo! TV (because NBC.com hasn't bothered to update): NEW BOSS | 03.19.09 | 9/8c PT | TV-PG Michael has big plans for his 15th anniversary party at Dunder Mifflin, but is in for a shock when the new, no-nonsense Vice President (THE WIRE's Idris Elba) has some ideas of his own. Meanwhile, Jim's prank on Dwight has some unexpected results.----------Well, we've been asking for it for months, and the time has finally come-- Michael has a new boss (if only for 6 episodes). Gotta say, the "wacky Michael must deal with a straight-laced superior" vibe seems like the same old thing we've had since season one. I'm hoping that the writers will surprise me and use this new character to pump some life into the tired dynamic. Despite what I said on the last podcast, this episode was written by the classic team of Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky and is being directed by Mr. Freaks & Geeks himself, Paul Feig. With that combination, I'm hoping this episode can bring a smile to Thursday Matt's tired, bitter face.As always, leave your comments below, and join Kevin and me in the TWSS Chatroom during and after the episode airs.
As mentioned in Episode #65, here's the link to the LA Times article which suggested the only way to "save" the show is to give Michael Scott his walking papers. Check it out HERE and let us know what you think.-----Also, the trailer for AWAY WE GO has hit the web. For those who've forgotten, AWG is a comedy from director Sam Mendes starring John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph as a set of newlyweds looking for the perfect place in America to raise their child. Be sure to check out Johnny K's funky-fresh beard and spectacles look!
Episode # 65 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin enjoying an Everlasting Gobstopper. Oompa, loompa, doompity didiot. Michael 'Willy Wonka' Scott has come up with the greatest idea in the history of Dunder Mifflin, it's just too bad it might cost him his job. When Wallace is on the rampage, Dwight is tapped to take the fall. But wait-- a wacky plot twist, you say? How amazingly, fabulously sensational. It's the stuff of pure imagination! Well, we better get started -- So much time and so little to do. Wait a minute. Strike that. Reverse it. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Also, PLEASE help support the show by downloading a FREE audio book from Audible.com Browse to http://www.audiblepodcast.com/shesaid and start you free trial today.
by Kevin CrossmanAs mentioned in TWSS #64, a new video is available that may be of interest to fans of The Office. In fact, it marks a major milestone in the popularity of the show. The Office is now the basis of a parody porno video.Adult movie reviews won't be a regular feature on TWSS but for Office fans with a liberal views on such things, The Office: an XXX Parody from New Sensations may be a turn on. Written and directed by Lee Roy Myers, the 2.5 hour hardcore feature includes thinly veiled characatures of our Dunder Mifflin favorites in an office setting with which we are familiar. Instead of Michael Scott, the "World's Bust Boss" is Michelle Scott (star Ashlynn Brooke). The receptionist is named "Sam" and a salesman is named "Dwyane." Are you seeing a pattern? Of course, Kevin is still Kevin and Jim is Jimmy, so the renaming thing only goes so far. And, unfortunately, there's no Stanley, Andy, Phyllis, Creed, or warehouse characters. In this video Oscar is straight, which might be a plus or a minus depending on your tastes.The film features a mix of humor with adult-oriented parody moments about The Office, including a hilarious and completely non-sexual scene between the faux Jim and faux Dwight. But much of the subject matter does quickly migrate into XXX territory. For example, Michelle calls everyone to the conference room for a hands-on sexual harassment seminar that features a stripper with very loose morals.As for the adult content I wouldn't call myself an expert in this genre but I am thinking this isn't exactly hall of fame material. Probably the best mix of humor and titillation is provided in a scene where the faux Toby finally gets to "stick it to the boss," along with a faux Holly. And, of course, there are several versions of "that's what she said" in the video.The DVD features menus and packaging very reminiscent of NBC's version, and there are bloopers and interviews along with an iPod-compatible version of the movie on the second disc. But, really, are DVD extras going to make a difference? Either you've decided you have to see this, or you're shaking your head in disgust.Trailer, photos, and more info - not safe for work
From NBC.com: GOLDEN TICKET | 03.12.09 | 9/8c PT | TV-PG L MICHAEL'S 'GOLDEN TICKET' IDEA CAUSES QUITE A STIR - Michael (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) causes a huge problem in the office when he comes up with the idea to put "golden tickets" into packages of paper for clients to redeem for discounts. Andy (Ed Helms), Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam (Jenna Fischer) give Kevin (Brian Baumgartner) differing advice on wooing a woman. Rainn Wilson, Leslie David Baker, Kate Flannery, Mindy Kaling, Angela Kinsey, Phyllis Smith, Oscar Nunez, Creed Bratton and Paul Lieberstein also star. ------------------------As always, leave your comments below, and join Kevin and me in the TWSS CHATROOM during and after the episode.Also, NBC posted some all-new cast photos from season five. Check them out HERE.
Episode # 64 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin enjoying a couples massage. Ayyyyyyyyy! It's Valentine's Day in March, and that means only one thing-- blood drive time. After meeting (and losing) a promising female, Michael throws a business park mixer in an attempt reunite his new flame with a lost glove (and play cupid for the other office lonely-hearts). Meanwhile, Jim and Pam and Bob and Phyllis head out for a romantic lunch that gets just a bit TOO romantic. Dear Office writers-- thanks for putting THAT image in my head! Dwight strikes out, Stanley schemes, and Andy enjoys his honeymoons. What more could you ask for? Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
by Kevin CrossmanAfter seeing Rainn Wilson's profile raised considerably by his popular Twitter account, Mindy Kaling (not Kelly fierce) is finally on Twitter. The service allows big stars or actually anyone to send short but important messages.Among Kaling's first posts: I am looking for hot, but practical underwear. The kind you reach for instinctively but also won't make my boyfriend throw up. Suggestions?Yes, that's the kind of urgent and important information to be found on Twitter. Of course, you can follow Matt and myself if you so choose.http://twitter.com/mindykalinghttp://twitter.com/rainnwilsonhttp://twitter.com/theofficenbchttp://twitter.com/kevincrossmanhttp://twitter.com/sommermatt
From NBC.com:BLOOD DRIVE | 03.05.09 | 9/8c PT | TV-PG L LOVE IS IN THE AIR...SORT OF - It's Valentine's Day at the office. Michael (Steve Carell) meets a mysterious woman at a Valentine's blood drive. Dwight (Rainn Wilson) and Kevin (Brian Baumgartner) pair up with single women at the office "Lonely Hearts Party." Meanwhile Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam (Jenna Fischer) are banished from the office for being too publicly affectionate, and have an awkward lunch with Phyllis (Phyllis Smith) and Bob (Robert Ray Shafer). Leslie David Baker, Kate Flannery, Mindy Kaling, Angela Kinsey, Oscar Nunez, Paul Lieberstein and Creed Bratton also star. ------------------Ah, who DOESN'T love a good Valentine's Day story in March? Bizarre scheduling aside, I'm looking forward to tonight's episode as it seems rife with comedic possibilities (plus, this will be my first official episode of The Office on my new HDTV).As always, post your comments below, and join us in the NEW and IMPROVED TWSS Chatroom after the show.
I mentioned Jesse Thorn's interview with Larry Wilmore last week, and lo and behold he drops the bomb on us by chatting with Jenna Fischer.From the show description:Jenna Fischer is an actress best known for her role as Pam on the hit NBC sitcom The Office. She's also starred in several films, including Blades of Glory and Walk Hard. She talks with us about dreaming of glamour growing up in St. Louis, and getting her big break -- the role of Pam -- by focusing all her ability on being un-glamorous.Visit the TSOYA webpage HERE, or click on the player below to listen.
by Kevin Crossman"Ryan Started the Fire" got a lot of play a couple weeks ago but for my money this is a better overall effort. This video includes what seems like every popular song ever sung on the show and put together with quick cuts to thematically similar moments from the show's history. For example, when Andy sings "drift away" you see him floating away in the sumo suit from "Beach Games." What's better, we get great moments from all the main characters (though Creed fans may feel gypped). There's a new Office episode this week and rather than be tempted to spoil yourself with clips at NBC.com, instead take a lovely break with The Office Musical.
by Kevin CrossmanMindy Kaling (Kelly Kapoor on The Office) participated in an online chat with OfficeTally yesterday. Here are some of the more interesting details.Lecture Circuit was originally envisioned as a regular one-part episode. When the first cut of the episode came in at 42 minutes, meaning it would be extremely difficult to cut down to 21 minutes for airing. Greg Daniels then went to the network to see about turning this into a two-part episode, and the network agreed. As an outcome of the episode expansion, the Andy and Angela storylines were hastily added and shot the next week. All of which basically reinforces the observations on the last podcast that these two storylines seem shoehorned in. They were. Literally.A reader asked about the twitter.com/iamkellyfiece account, assumed to be written by Kaling herself. However, Kaling noted that the posts are being written by two writers assistants. Kaling said she would reconsider twittering in the future.Kaling confirmed we'll see more of Jan Levenson (Melora Hardin) in future episodes, and in a bombshell moment confirmed that Amy Ryan will return as Holly Flax! She wasn't sure for how many episodes, but noted she will appear in at least one this season. One wonders if the key part of that statement is "this season," leaving Holly fans everywhere thinking that more appearances next season are a possibility. I guess we'll see.Lastly, Kaling mentioned that she loved Ed Helms' 1-2-3-4 song from Lecture Circuit like I did. You can view the entire transcript at:http://www.officetally.com/mindy-kaling-visits-the-officetally-chat-room
Episode # 63 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin choosing an hour of napping. Gooooooood morning Viet-Nyaaashua! With the Scranton branch booming, Michael and Pam are on an excellent adventure to bring a bit of the old Scott magic to the rest of Dunder Mifflin. Meanwhile, Jim and Dwight, newly crowned kings of the Party Planning Committee, struggle to mollify Kelly after forgetting her birthday-- may I suggest a theme of 'horse hunting?' Andy strikes out, Angela makes us sick, and Creed discovers a new form of currency. Truly, this is the best episode of TWSS ever recorded. Am I a liar? Would a liar bring mini-Mounds bars? Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
According to Us magazine, Angela Kinsey and husband Warren Lieberstein (brother of The Office's Paul Lieberstein) have separated after eight years of marriage.The couple had their first child, a daughter, in May 2008.Says Kinsey's publicist: "Angela and Warren are taking some time apart to figure out what is best for their relationship...They continue to be friends."
While you're waiting for the new episode of TWSS, why not enjoy the latest offering from PRI's THE SOUND OF YOUNG AMERICA? Host Jesse Thorn always offers interesting interviews with various media personalities, and this week he is talking with Larry Wilmore. Wilmore, the creator of THE PJ'S and THE BERNIE MAC SHOW, is perhaps best known to office nerds as "Mr. Brown" from season one's "Diversity Day" or as the "Senior Black Correspondent" on THE DAILY SHOW.Click HERE for the iTunes link, or HERE for the show's official website.
Rainn Wilson pimped this fan-video/song on Twitter this morning. Quite amusing.
From NBC.com: LECTURE CIRCUIT (Part 2) | 02.12.09 | 9/8c PT | TV-PG L TOUR OF THE BRANCHES (PART TWO) - Michael (Steve Carell) and Pam (Jenna Fischer) continue their tour of the branches with Michael taking a lesson from their visit to Utica. Dwight (Rainn Wilson) and Jim (John Krasinski) struggle to fulfill their new party planning duties with a grumpy staff. Angela's (Angela Kinsey) new cat causes a stir. Ed Helms, Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, Mindy Kaling, Angela Kinsey, Oscar Nunez, Phyllis Smith, Creed Bratton and Paul Lieberstein also star. ---------------Hm. Huge Holly fan that I am, I was initially thrilled by the cliffhanger ending last week. Unfortunately, I am starting to think that the writers are going to pull something-- some "lesson" about how Holly left and won't be there or something along those lines-- that is going to leave me an unhappy camper. I dearly hope I am wrong, but since we haven't gotten any leaks or announcements about Amy Ryan coming back to the show (think about how long in advance we knew that Karen would be back) I am fearing the worst. Still, I enjoyed the "Jwight" dynamic last week immensely, and even if Holly is gone I hope those two knuckleheads will keep the smile on my face.As always, join Kevin and me in the TWSS Chatroom during/after the show, and post your comments below.
by Kevin Crossman For those wondering if B.J. Novak's absence from The Office of late will be worth it, you now have an opportunity to view the teaser trailer for Quentin Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds. The WWII film tells the story of a group of eight Jewish soldiers, including Novak's character, who cross enemy lines and basically kick Nazi butt. Brad Pitt stars as the leader of the group and Novak appears briefly in the trailer sporting a period haircut. The film will be released on August 21, 2009 Matt says: Wow, that looks seriously ridiculous. Could this be the first "campy" WWII movie about mutilating Nazis?
Episode # 62 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin wishing you'd push the reverse button. The roof, the roof, the roof is on fire. Dwight's lesson in fire safety (and Stanley's heart attack) makes Michael re-evaluate the amount of stress he brings into the office. His solution? A no-holds-barred ROAST of himself. What possible harm could THAT cause? Meanwhile, Andy's pirating movies, JAM face MORE drama (quel surprise), and Dwight tries to woo his office mates to sign off on his apology letter. If you've ever called the fire department because your head is stuck in your chair, you just might be a TWSS listener. Boom-- Roasted! Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
From the Yahoo! TV listings:LECTURE CIRCUIT (PART ONE) | 02.05.09 Michael goes on a speaking tour of the other branches to explain Scranton's relative success, accompanied by his driver, Pam. Back at the office, Dwight and Jim - now the heads of the party planning committee - forget a birthday, with severe consequences. Meanwhile, Andy falls for someone he should not.----------------As always, leave your comments below and join Kevin and me in the TWSS chat room after the show.
Obviously, the Super Bowl episode kind of screwed with our normal schedule, and these next two weeks NBC is also doing something they've NEVER done before-- airing a "part 1" and "part 2" "to be continued" sort of thing. SO, we're going to reorganize our schedule just a bit.Look for episode # 62 ("Stress Relief") to be posted on February 9th, and episode #63 ("Lecture Circuit" parts 1 & 2) to be posted on February 16th.
by Kevin CrossmanWe know some of you have enjoyed Twitter updates from Matt Sommer and myself. It's a great way to keep up to date with the recording schedule or anything going on in our personal lives. NBC has a Twitter feed for The Office as well and now Dwight Schrute himself, Rainn Wilson is on Twitter too.Wilson started Twittering in the last week and among his posts he pimped his appearance on Jay Leno. And when you're a big celebrity like Wilson you get followers like crazy; in less than a week over 3000 people are following him. Who knows what Wilson will have to say next, but as he posted this week it is our duty "obey!" Sir, yes, sir.http://twitter.com/rainnwilsonhttp://twitter.com/theofficenbchttp://twitter.com/kevincrossmanhttp://twitter.com/sommermatt
From NBC.com:STRESS RELIEF | 02.01.09 | 10:30 ET/7:30 PT | TV-PG L STRESSED OUT IN THE OFFICE - SPECIAL ONE HOUR POST SUPERBOWL EPISODE FEATURING GUEST STARS JACK BLACK ("SCHOOL OF ROCK"), JESSICA ALBA ("FANTASTIC FOUR") AND CLORIS LEACHMAN ("MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE") - After Dwight's (Rainn Wilson) fire safety seminar goes awry, he must make amends to the stressed-out office. Michael (Steve Carell) tries a number of ways to get his employees to relax before discovering that he is the number one stressor at work. So that people won't feel afraid of him, he insists on a no-holds-barred roast of himself. Also, while watching a pirated movie, Andy (Ed Helms) is convinced that Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam (Jenna Fischer) are film gurus. Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, Mindy Kaling, Angela Kinsey, Phyllis Smith, Oscar Nunez, Creed Bratton, Craig Robinson, Paul Lieberstein and Melora Hardin also star. --------------Well, here we are, ready for the big super-show tonight. Lots of questions remain: will the "guest stars" fit into the show? Will the the episode be extra "wacky" to try and appeal to this massive mainstream audience that will theoretically be sticking around to watch? Will Michael's roast be as predictable as it sounds (Michael throws the roast, no one wants to insult him, he insists, they insult him, he feels bad, everyone has to cheer him up, etc.), or will the writers surprise me as they have done many times in the past? Here's hoping for the best.Oh, and if you're not busy before the episode, there's apparently some football game or something going on.
Episode # 61 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin wondering where they rank on the facial symmetry scale. Whatchoo talkin bout, Wallace? Agent Michael Scarn is reactivated for a corporate undercover mission. Will he deliver the dirt, or lose his heart to the family of his dreams? Back at the office, tensions flare and sides are drawn as Scranton sees the most contentious debate since Palin/Biden: Hilary Swank, hot or not? Just remember-- respect the rules of the game, man. In incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
From NBC.com:PRINCE FAMILY PAPER | 01.22.09 | 9/8c | TV-PG L FAMILY BUSINESS -- Michael and Dwight (Rainn Wilson) go undercover to do a bit of industrial espionage on a paper company competitor. Meanwhile, the rest of the office holds a debate to settle the question: is Hilary Swank hot? John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, Leslie David Baker, Phyllis Smith, Angela Kinsey, Ed Helms, Kate Flannery, Brian Baumgartner, Creed Bratton and Craig Robinson also star. ---------------------I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, so to speak, but this episode description doesn't exactly fill me with confidence. The infiltration plot sounds like BRANCH WARS (will Michael and Dwight bust out the mustaches again?), and really, an entire subplot talking about Hillary Swank? OK, Office crew, I'm trusting you to deliver a good episode despite the somewhat iffy plot summary.As always, leave your comments below and join Kevin and me in the TWSS chat room after the show.
Episode # 60 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin pondering the idea of vehicular manslaughter. I feel the need. The need for tweed. Michael is called to NYC to discuss big picture issues with David Wallace, but that won't stop him from spilling the beans to Andy about Dwangela before he leaves. Back in the office, Pam gets new candy, Jim is flustered, Dwight talks duel, and Andy chooses the Prius at 10 paces. Can this episode live up to the hype? Oh come ON man, BELIEVE in something! Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
No big shocker, but NBC officially announced yesterday that they are renewing THE OFFICE for the 2009-2010 season (along with 30 ROCK). As for the still unnamed Amy Poehler non-spinoff show, TV Guide gives a few more details: This much we know: NBC's new and as-yet-untitled comedy starring Saturday Night Live alumna Amy Poehler as the chairwoman of the Department of Parks and Recreation in a small Indiana town is not a spin-off of The Office — even though that is what Office exec producer Greg Daniels originally was asked by the network to explore. According to the article, the show will use essentially the same "mockumentary" format used on THE OFFICE and will share much the same comic sensibility (Poehler's Leslie Knope is also a clueless boss with an exasperated staff). Thankfully, the two shows will never interact with one another: "Actually, theoretically, we can't," Michael Schur, an exec producer on the new show, tells TVGuide.com, "because Rashida Jones is playing a different human being — unless [the new show's] Ann Logan and Karen Fillipelli are identical twins who don't know the other one exists." Are the new show's bosses at all bummed that these worlds can never collide? "The network might be more disappointed than I am," Daniels tells us, adding, "I've never been a huge fan of those kinds of stunts." The article also confirms that Rashida Jones will reappear on THE OFFICE in an episode airing some time after February 1st. Poehler's new show is set to debut on April 9th. Will there ever be a TRUE spinoff to the show? Greg Daniels had this to say to the folks over at EW:"It's not possible, physically, for me to be involved in it right this second, but I'm talking to people over at The Office about another idea, and [The Office's British creator] Stephen Merchant came back and directed an episode of The Office so were were talking about the idea," Daniels told critics at NBC's annual Television Critics Tour on Thursday. "It's possible that some combination of other Office people could produce it without my giving blood for it." Please, Greg-- let's quit while we're ahead, m'kay?
Michael Ausiello over at EW.com is reporting on what he calls an "exclusive" -- Greg Daniels admitted that they want Amy Ryan to return to the show. "She will come back," says Daniels. "We haven't written it yet, but we're discussing her coming back for the season finale. We're hoping she'll be available." Daniels went on to say that he's "very open" to working out a more permanent Office arrangement with Ryan. "Because [Michael and Holly] have such a deep connection, I don't think she can blow in and out every so often," he explains. "It would be too hard for him as a human being. So, we're hoping to find some very significant things for them. And if we can get her to sign on for a really long period, we'll do it." While this is good news, and I am all about Holly returning, IS this truly a confirmation of anything? They WANT Amy Ryan to return, and they're TALKING about it, but nothing has been officially decided. I'll exude more geek-joy when something is down on paper.
From the Boston Globe:For Hollywood funnyman Steve Carell, who spends his summers in Marshfield, the Marshfield Hills General Store was an opportunity too good to pass up."This is much more of an emotional investment than a business one," Carell said of his recent purchase of the store."I saw an opportunity to help to preserve a little piece of history," Carell said in an e-mail. "I also felt that places like the Marshfield Hills General Store represent a gathering place, and give people a sense of community. These spots are growing more and more scarce. I hope to keep this particular one alive and well."Carell learned the store was up for sale in October, when his sister-in-law Tish Vivado went to California to visit Carell and her sister, actress Nancy Walls. According to Vivado, who lives in Marshfield, Carell had always been interested in being part of the community. Carell purchased the store in November and the ownership changed hands on New Year's Day.The store now is being run by Vivado and staff of four people. But they could get some high-profile help in the summer, when Carell plans to take an active role in the day-to-day activities."I will be manning the cash register, and stocking the shelves as time permits!" wrote Carell, a Massachusetts native. "For the time being, however, I am looking to give the building a bit of TLC."Click HERE to read the entire article.(Thanks to listener Matt Walsh for the tip)
NBC sent out a press release announcing that actor Idris Elba (best known for playing Stringer Bell, everyone's favorite MBA-earning drug kingpin on HBO's THE WIRE) has been hired to appear in at least six episodes of THE OFFICE this season as a "new no-nonsense hire at Dunder Mifflin's corporate office that will throw Michael Scott (Steve Carell) into turmoil." Kevin and I have both been asking for a new character to step into the Jan/Ryan role, and this sounds like it could be just the thing to breathe yet a bit more new life into the show. One has to wonder, though, just how they will play this-- In any "real world" scenario, Michael would have been fired years ago. Since we need him to stick around, just how "no-nonsense" will this new boss be? Will he just be early "Jan" in male form? Or will Michael actually find himself in some serious trouble? Only time will tell, I suppose, but I'm really looking forward to how this plays out.Read the entire press release HERE if you're so inclined.(THE WIRE fun fact: Idris Elba was born and raised in England and in real life talks with a rather "posh" accent!)
From NBC.com: THE DUEL | 01.15.09 | 9/8c | TV-PG L A FIGHT TO THE FINISH - The office is on eggshells because Andy (Ed Helms) still hasn't found out about fiancee Angela's (Angela Kinsey) affair with Dwight (Rainn Wilson). When Michael spills the beans, Dwight and Andy take matters into their own hands. Meanwhile, Michael is nervous about being called down to corporate for a meeting with Wallace (Andy Buckley). John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, Mindy Kaling, Phyllis Smith, Oscar Nunez, Creed Bratton and Paul Lieberstein also star. ---------------------Well, Kevin and I both said we didn't want to see this drag out all season, so I am very excited to see this resolved so quickly and can't wait to see how they pull this off without Andy getting himself sent back to anger management.As always, leave your comments below and join Kevin and me in the TWSS chat room after the show.
Episode # 59 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin suddenly craving an Awesome Blossom (with extra awesome). I want my baby back baby back baby back, I want my baby back baby back baby back. It's crunch time for Michael and Jan as they try to win the Lackawana County account, but will Michael's apparent ineptitude queer the deal? Back in the office, Agent Michael Scarn (FBI) makes his dramatic debut, Dwigt gets dissed, and Jim and Pam have their first date (or do they?). One thing's for sure, TWSS listeners- We'd NEVER leave you at a high school hockey game.Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
Well, we still have a few weeks before the next new episode of The Office airs on January 15th, so Kevin and I were thinking of trying to squeeze in a retro episode next week. The only problem is, we don't know which episode to do next!Here's where you guys come in-- In the comments below (or by e-mail, if you'd prefer), tell us WHICH retro episode you'd like to see us do and explain WHY you'd like us to cover that particular episode. It's just that easy.You've got about a week to send in your reply, and the "winner" (aside from having Kevin and me review the episode of their choice) will receive major props on air, as well as a free copy of the book THE OFFICE AND PHILOSOPHY (a $17.95 value!).Get your entries in ASAP.EDIT:Ian and I ALREADY did "THE INJURY" back in episode #18.5. If you haven't listened to it yet, check it out HERE.Kevin and I did "THE ALLIANCE" back in episode #37. Check it out HERE.
by Kevin CrossmanFor Office fans who can't wait to see their favorite Office stars to come back for the next new episode on January 15, you may wish to check out the Blu-Ray or second disc of the Step Brothers two-disc DVD. In a series of deleted scenes, Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly's characters go on job interviews as a team. Two of those interviewers are played by The Office's Craig Robinson and Ed Helms.Craig Robinson continues his association with Step Brothers producer Judd Apatow by appearing in the funniest of the deleted job interviews. Entitled "Nad Check," the scene allows Robinson to go on a slow-burn of a rant similar to his scene in Knocked Up. And it's just as filthy and funny.Ed Helms' scene is called License to Interview and references the step brothers dressing in tuxedos for their interviews. Helms' scene is just okay but allows him to portray a different character than Andy Bernard. Helms had a similar scene deleted from Night at the Museum (it's available on the DVD), though one hopes the part he's filmed for Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian will make the final cut.The Step Brothers DVD is available everywhere and from NetFlix.If you'd like a bit of a preview, you can see this original improvised clip from the set of Step Brothers featuring both Helms and Robinson. Check it out on FunnyOrDie.com.
If you missed it, NPR's FRESH AIR this week is rerunning the interview host Terry Gross did with Jenna Fischer back in June.The interview is around thirty minutes long, and covers a lot of ground (both The Office and her other Hollywood film roles). Check it out HERE.EDIT:They also reposted the July interview with Rainn Wilson HERE.
As my co-host Kevin Crossman emailed me-- "this is the cutest video ever."
Episode # 58 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin reevaluating their personal drinking habits. Oh come all ye faithful to Michael's first annual Moroccan Christmas intervention. Phyllis hits a home-run as head of the party planning committee, but when Meredith becomes fire-girl (too soon?) Michael takes the twelve steps into his own hands. Dwight makes a bundle of Christmas cash, Andy plays Sitar Hero, Phyllis spills her beans, and Toby ALMOST earns my sympathy. As my sainted grandmother used to say, if this Christmas is Moroccan, don't come a knockin'! Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
Thanks to listener Melonie for pointing out that NBC has set up a bogus "Princess Unicorn" website in conjunction with this week's episode. A few words of warning from the site:
Caution:
From NBC.com: MOROCCAN CHRISTMAS | 12.11.08 | 9/8c | TV-PG L A CHRISTMAS PARTY IN MOROCCO - Phyllis' (Phyllis Smith) Moroccan-themed holiday party goes up in flames when Meredith's (Kate Flannery) hair catches on fire and Michael (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) is forced to deal with the accident. Meanwhile, Dwight (Rainn Wilson) corners the market on the hottest toy of the Christmas season. John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, Angela Kinsey, Leslie David Baker, Ed Helms, Mindy Kaling, Oscar Nunez, Brian Baumgartner, Creed Bratton, Paul Lieberstein and Craig Robinson also star. -----------------Well, the Christmas episodes of The Office have always set the bar incredibly high... I hope this year's episode can live up to that legacy! Kind of sad/funny to think about how we never did get one last season.As always, leave your comments below and join Kevin and me in the TWSS chat room after the show.
Episode # 57 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin trying to keep from choking on the chocolate powder. Can you explain this to me like I'm a five year old? Michael has a $4,300 surplus to spend, and one day to spend it - will it be team copier, team chairs, or team Burlington Coat Factory for the win? Pam plays dirty, Jim finds his cojones, Dwandygela journey to Schrute Farms, and Michael finds out what it's like to be the most popular guy in the office (at least for an hour or two). Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
Blog poster "Funtivities" brought up an interesting dilemma that is all too familiar to many foreign residents-- Hulu.com, NBC's great streaming service, only works to those who live within the United States. This blocking is accomplished by a simple check of your IP address-- if it's located in the US you're golden, and if not, NOT.I ran across this on Digg.com a few days ago, and thought it might help-- full instructions on how anyone outside of the US can access Hulu.com.Good luck!
We mentioned it quite a while ago, but NBC officially confirmed today that The Office will indeed air a special one hour episode immediately following the Super Bowl on February 1st. Originally, the "Office Spinoff" was supposed to fill that second half hour slot, and then when THAT disappeared the Poehler show was supposed to find a home. Alas. With both shows MIA, it's up to The Office to fill the hour.I brought this up a few months ago, but I think it'd be brilliant to see Jim throw a big Super Bowl party at his new house as part of the plot. Shades of "Email Surveillance" and "Dinner Party" perhaps, but it'd definitely be topical and would give us a glimpse of the cast in a new situation (Kevin with a huge bet riding on the game, Pam & Jim trying to entertain as a couple, etc.).If any of the writing staff is looking for more ideas, you have my email address :)EDIT:Yes, I am aware that the details of the episode are already wandering around on the internets. I just refuse to be spoiled-- so there! :) It's more fun my way.
From NBC.com:THE SURPLUS | 12.04.08 | 9/8c | TV-PG L SURPLUS SPENDING AT THE OFFICE - Oscar (Oscar Nunez) informs Michael (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) that the office must spend a $4300 surplus or lose it in next year's budget. When Michael opens up the floor for suggestions, factions break out and officemates square off against one another in order to get what they want. Meanwhile, Dwight (Rainn Wilson) takes Angela (Angela Kinsey) and Andy (Ed Helms) to Schrute Farms to work on their wedding plans. John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, Mindy Kaling, Phyllis Smith, Creed Bratton and Paul Lieberstein also star. --------------------------Post your comments below, and join Kevin and me in the TWSS chatroom after the episode.
We've talked for a while about John Krasinski's directorial debut, his own adaptation of the late David Foster Wallace's BRIEF INTERVIEWS WITH HIDEOUS MEN (plot: when her boyfriend leaves with little explanation, a doctoral candidate in anthropology tries to remedy her heartache by interviewing men about their behavior). The film stars Krasinski, Julianne Nicholson, Timothy Hutton, Dominic Cooper, Christopher Meloni, and Rashida Jones, and was set to be released sometime in the new year.Well, some extremely good news came for Johnny K. today by way of Park City, Utah-- it seems that BRIEF has been selected as one of the 16 official entries in the 2009 Sundance Film Festival's U.S. DRAMATIC COMPETITION (selected from 1,026 submissions). Nicely done. Buzz at Sundance can only help the film spread to a wider audience, and here's hoping that we'll actually get to see what John can do on the big screen (no offense to fans of period football flicks or cheesy rom-coms).For a list of other films accepted into the festival, click HERE.
So PREGNANCY magazine had an interview in this month's issue with everyone's favorite Office related psycho, Jan Levinson. Yep, it's a magazine interviewing a fictional character (IN character) about her fictional pregnancy (which has been over for quite some time now).From the article:Will you go back to work after the baby’s born? I will always work in some capacity. Even watching Oprah in the afternoon is work, because I’m working on me and my work ethic is strong. I am, ultimately, a great boss and I’m sure I’ll be a great boss to my child.The most intriguing-slash-disturbing thing about this was the cover, a recreation of the (in)famous Janet Jackson Rolling Stone cover from 1993.Ah, what man WOULDN'T dream of being Melora Hardin's hand-bra?(thanks to Foliomag for the photo)
To all our fellow American fans of The Office, we wish you a happy and healthy Thanksgiving! Kevin and the missus are off debauching themselves in Las Vegas, but you can rest assured that I'll be spending a wholesome family Thanksgiving day at my parents' house, stuffing my face with an assortment of traditional holiday fare (hopefully followed by some fearsome rounds of Rock Band 2 and Ticket To Ride).Hope everyone else has a great day, wherever (or HOWever) you choose to celebrate.See you in the chatroom next Thursday!
It's about four minutes longer than the original cut, and as I thought they (for the most part) simply wove the footage from the already aired deleted scenes back into the episode. There were a few new bits (Angela's wedding dress, Phyllis talking about her house, etc.), but most of them weren't too essential. Kevin might be happy, as this new cut definitely fleshed out the microwave plotline-- the escalating notes definitely rang true to me (and the "I'll knock your teeth out" line will be worthy of speculation). A big "boo" to Hulu for blacking out the penises on the notes, though--took a bit of humor out of that deleted scene.I honestly think this cut DOES make FRAME TOBY a better episode than the original cut, although that might be faint praise for some. What did you guys think? Did this change your mind at all, or was it just more of the same?
Episode # 56 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin heading down to the quarry. Noooooo! Noooooo! NOOOOOOOOOO! Flenderson's back, and Michael has to come to terms with this evil snail once again infiltrating his garden of eden... or does he? I'll take one caprese salad, extra weed please. Pam hunts a microwave slob, Jim buys a house, Ryan and Kelly... well, END, and Dwight looks mighty tempting in that mustard shirt. Illegal? That's OK, EVERYthing they do on The Shield is illegal. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
From the AP:Sat Nov 22, 3:58 pm ETLOS ANGELES – The Screen Actors Guild said Saturday it will ask its members to authorize a strike after its first contract talks in four months with Hollywood studios failed despite the help of a federal mediator.The guild said it adjourned talks with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers shortly before 1 a.m. after two marathon sessions with federal mediator Juan Carlos Gonzalez.SAG, representing more than 120,000 actors in movies, television and other media, said in a statement that it will launch a "full-scale education campaign in support of a strike authorization."Talks broke down after the studios sought the right to create productions for new media, such as the Internet, using nonunion actors and without paying residuals, said Doug Allen, SAG national executive director and chief negotiator.Residuals are payments to actors that are made every time a production airs, such as TV reruns. Many SAG members rely on residuals for more than half of their income, Allen said."They're asking us to bless a system we believe would be the beginning of the end of residuals and that's a very scary thought for working actors," he said.The producers' alliance condemned the SAG decision and said it remains the only major Hollywood guild without a labor deal this year."Now, SAG is bizarrely asking its members to bail out the failed negotiating strategy with a strike vote — at a time of historic economic crisis," a producers' statement said. "The tone-deafness of SAG is stunning."SAG's national board has already authorized its negotiating committee to call for a strike authorization vote if mediation failed. The vote would take more than a month and require more than 75 percent approval to pass.SAG wants union coverage for all Internet-only productions regardless of budget and residual payments for Internet productions replayed online, as well as continued actor protections during work stoppages.But the AMPTP said it was untenable for SAG to demand a better deal than what writers, directors and another actors union accepted earlier in the year, especially now that the economy has worsened.Earlier this week, the producers' group said it had reached its sixth labor deal this year, a tentative agreement on a three-year contract with the local branches of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts, accounting for 35,000 workers.The stagehands alliance accepted Internet provisions that were modeled on agreements with other unions, the producers group said.Actors in prime-time television shows and movies have been working under the terms of a contract that expired June 30, with the hope of avoiding a repeat of the 100-day writers strike which shut down production of dozens of TV shows and cost the Los Angeles area economy an estimated $2.5 billion.
by Kevin CrossmanApple released operating system version 2.2 yesterday for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Notable among the new features is the ability to download podcasts over Wi-Fi or cellular networks. Which means that That's What She Said listeners can listen anytime, anywhere.Step 1 - Through iTunes, upgrade software to 2.2 (free update from 2.1)Step 2 - Go to iTunes app on device. Search or browse to the podcast that turns you on the most (That's What She Said!)Step 3 - View the show page for the podcast. Press the "Free" button next to any episode you want to download. Confirm the selection by pressing the Download button.Step 4 - Watch the download progress. File downloads are limited to 10 MB over cellular networks, so most episodes of That's What She Said will require a WiFi connection. Once the download is finished, the episode will now be available in the device's iPod app.Step 5 - Go to iPod app and listen to the episode. A handy "Get More Episodes" link will take you to the show page in the iTunes app where you can repeat the process.It's great to be able download podcasts away from the computer. And thanks for all those great reviews for That's What She Said - 4.5 stars is nothing to sneeze at! If you haven't reviewed and rated the show in iTunes, please do so today!Review That's What She Said on iTunes.
They haven't done this since season three, but NBC is planning to offer a streaming "producer's cut" version of FRAME TOBY on Tuesday, November 25.Perhaps the extra content will appease many of the blog posters who seemed to really dislike this week's episode?
by Kevin CrossmanNBC.com is featuring the first in a four-part webisode series called "The Outburst" today. Though most fans of The Office were underwhelmed by the previous webisode series, "The Accountants" and "Kevin's Loan", fan will surely find this one more satisfying. "The Outburst" features a much larger cast of supporting actors from The Office and the writing and direction is on-par with broadcast episodes of the show.The plot is fairly simple and shown during the first episode of the series. Oscar (Oscar Nunez) screams at someone on the telephone and storms off in anger, setting off curiosity by the others in the office. Andy (Ed Helms) offers a $100 bounty on who can find out who Oscar was talking to, setting off a series of vignettes where the other employees play amateur-detective. In the fourth episode, we learn who Oscar directed the outburst towards - and the result may surprise you.Directed by Lee Eisenberg & Gene Stupnitsky and written by Nate Federman & Jonathan Hughes, "The Outburst" feels like an eleven minute broadcast episode - albeit without the "big five" stars Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, Jenna Fischer, John Krasinski, and B.J. Novak. For example, there is an intense conclusion to the third episode that features Oscar addressing the rest of the office as well as the documentary team that may get you to jump from your seat in excitement and perhaps fear. The participation of nearly the entire supporting cast really sets this webisode series apart. Every supporting player except Craig Robinson is on board, including Toby (Paul Leiberstein) who is returning to the show. There are several scenes that use Creed (Creed Bratton) effectively and a hilarious scene with Kelly (Mindy Kaling) that will warm the hearts of cellphone fans everywhere.Perhaps what sets "The Outburst" apart is the effective use of the character of Oscar. As shown in episodes like "Business Trip" the character is more nuanced than often portrayed and Nunez is given a lot of room to stretch the character. Unlike Brian Baumgartner's one-note portrayal of Kevin in "Kevin's Loan," Nunez keeps fans interested with a range of emotions including anger, exasperation, and a bit of condescension.Every fan of The Office should go out of their way to watch "The Outburst." The interplay between the characters is top-notch and the writing is crisp and hilarious. Additionally, unlike "Kevin's Loan" this series has a great payoff to the mystery in the fourth episode. In fact, the twist is so good you'll want to go back and rewatch the series to see the clues that were sprinkled along the way."The Outburst" is hilarious and is "appointment TV" for your computer.Matt says:I don't have a whole lot to add to what Kevin has written above, and what I've already said on the podcast, but I DO want to emphasize that this is by far the most entertaining webisode series to date. Must see TV, as the saying goes.
From TVGuide.com (because NBC.com didn't bother to update their "next on" page): FRAME TOBY | 11.20.08 | 9/8c TV-PG Dirt is dished over a dirty dish: Tension boils over when a mysterious someone leaves a culinary mess in the office microwave. Meanwhile, Michael has trouble accepting that personnel changes were made without his knowledge.--------------FLEEEEEEENDERSOOOOOOON!As always, leave your comments below and join Kevin and Me in the TWSS chat room after the show.
Big news today about the still unnamed Amy Poehler sitcom set to debut in 2009--Despite the earlier news denying involvement, Rashida Jones has indeed joined the cast. According to VARIETY, Jones will play "Ann Logan, a nurse whose boyfriend has a strange injury. It's that injury that leads Jones' character into the world populated by Poehler and Aziz Ansari."Writer Mike Schur, one of the show's creators, called Jones "funny, talented and beautiful... She is perfect for this new show, which -- just to remind everyone -- is not a spinoff of 'The Office,' It is a spinoff of 'MASH' called 'Seinfeld II.' "According to the article, Jones is also set to appear at least once this season on THE OFFICE.
Episode # 55 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin arguing over which of them is Dandy Dale and which is Foppy Magee. Take off, eh? Michael, Oscar and Andy head off to the great white north to sell some paper, and Mike is psyched to sow his wild oats in kah-nah-dah. Will concierge Marie make him forget his lost love? Meanwhile, Pam fails art school, Ryan and Kelly reunite, Andy finds Oscar Deeelightful, and David Wallance gets an earful. It's true what they say - Long Island iced-tea IS stronger in Canada. *BONUS* preview of THE OUTBURST webisodes set to debut November 20th. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
Kevin and I already told you a while ago about BJ Novak signing on for a part in Quentin Tarantino's WWII movie "Inglorious Basterds" [sic]. Michael Ausiello is reporting this week that Novak HAS asked for time off from NBC to film the role, and that it has been granted. How long he'll be gone, exactly, is still a matter for speculation.This isn't really new-- As you recall, Oscar Nunez took a similar leave back in season three, to return a few months later. This might be the same with Novak, although Ausiello is claiming that an "insider" had this to say:According to one insider, Novak will be MIA for "several episodes" but will return later this season. Another source, however, says Novak may be done with The Office for good, at least as a performer. "He may write more episodes," whispers my mole, "but as far as playing Ryan, I think he's ready to move on."It's unclear how Novak's absence will be explained on screen, but making Ryan a victim of the current recession would be the logical way to go -- particularly if you-know-who returns to Scranton and decides she wants her old receptionist job back (hint, hint). Kevin's been ragging on Novak this season, and I haven't been a big fan of his cartoonish "villainy," but I don't think either of us would like to see him leave. Thoughts?
Steve Carell and Friends Signed for New 3D Animated FilmSteve Carell will voice the title character in Despicable Me, a new 3D animated film from Universal Pictures-based family film unit Illumination Entertainment. Horton Hears a Who's Chris Meledandri is producing from a script from Horton writers Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio. Chris Renaud and Pierre Coffin are directing.Joining Steve are the voices of Jason Segel, Kristen Wiig, Will Arnett, Danny McBride, Russell Brand, Jack McBrayer, along with Jemaine Clement ("Flight of the Conchords") and Julie Andrews. The film will be released in 2010.According to Variety, "Carell's title character is a deplorable man known as Groo who masterminds the mother of all heists when he plots to steal the moon. Egged on by an evil mother (Andrews), Groo finds one obstacle in his way: a trio of orphan girls who temporarily come under his care and won't leave."For more info from Variety, CLICK HERE.
From NBC.com:BUSINESS TRIP | 11.13.08 | 9/8c TV-PG CANADA BOUND - Michael (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) is ecstatic when David Wallace (Andy Buckley) decides to send him on a business trip to Canada. Andy (Ed Helms) and Oscar (Oscar Nunez) become unlikely friends when Michael decides to bring them along on the trip. Meanwhile, Jim (John Krasinski) is counting down the days until Pam (Jenna Fischer) gets back from art school. Rainn Wilson, B.J. Novak, Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, Mindy Kaling, Angela Kinsey, Phyllis Smith and Creed Bratton also star. -----------------------Andy and Oscar, huh? An unlikely pairing, especially given their obvious animosity during the whole "Finer Things Club" fiasco. Will our favorite gay accountant stop worrying and learn to love the Nard-dog? Only time will tell.As always, leave your comments below and Join Kevin and me in the TWSS chat room after the show.
Episode # 54 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin arguing the bug-busting merits of The J. Geils Band. It's customer feedback time at Dunder Mifflin, and things are looking a bit poopy for both Jim and Dwight. Is it the mob? NASA? Or a dusky, exotic customer service rep out for revenge? Andy books the perfect wedding tent, but who wants to get married like a hobo? Jim and Pam spend the day on bluetooth, but Jim learns that some conversations are better left un-heard. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
(thanks Gary!)
It doesn't happen very often, but occasionally the real world conflicts with my ability to produce That's What She said. For me, this week is the end of the first quarter and that means I've got to enter report cards and finish grades before Tuesday morning.Normally I edit the show and post it to the servers by Monday night, but this week it's just not going to happen. I should be able to have the episode posted on TUESDAY night, though.Thanks for your understanding.
Ricky Gervais was at the Paley Center this past week to promote his new HBO production "Ricky Gervais: Out Of England -- The Stand-up Special." When asked by the intrepid TV Guide reporter if Gervais would like to make a guest appearance on the US version of THE OFFICE, Gervais had this to say:Gervais even has an idea for how he could appear: as himself, playing struggling actor Andy Melman on HBO's Extras."I'd quite like them to maybe be watching an episode of Extras, and Michael Scott comes along and goes, 'This guy is no good. If they ever do a remake, I think I should do that part."Personally, I think Gervais shouldn't come within a country mile of the US Office. Sure, he can write another episode (he still owes us for "Prison Mike," after all) or direct, but to have him appear as David Brent would be incredibly silly (and having him appear AT ALL would be a major distraction).30 ROCK has really been milking the celebrity cameo this season, and I can see the temptation of getting Gervais to appear. Still, I think once we go down that road there will really be no coming back.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Steve Carell is apparently considering starring in "The Beaver," written by newcomer Kyle Killen. HR describes the film as being:about a man who walks around with a beaver puppet on his hand, treating it as something close to a human creature with human feelings. It's a whimsical and winning script, according to those who have seen it [...] The fable, which occupies the fantastical territory somewhere between "Being John Malkovich" and "Lars and the Real Girl," has a lot of studios interested. Sounds to me like Steve is gunning for his own "bushiest beaver" award at this year's Dundies!
Thanks to some general ass-hattery, comments are now being moderated. What that means is that once you POST a comment, it will go to my inbox for approval. Anyone posting without a valid email address will have their comment deleted immediately.EDIT: This is pretty much the best explanation I've seen yet for why this happens (thanks to the guys at Penny Arcade):
From NBC.com: CUSTOMER SURVEY | 11.06.2008 | 9/8c TV-PG THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT - Dwight (Rainn Wilson) and Jim (John Krasinski) are shocked when they get the results of the annual customer survey report. Pam (Jenna Fischer) and Jim decide they want to spend every minute together using their bluetooth phones. Meanwhile, Angela (Angela Kinsey) and Andy (Ed Helms) pick an unusual location for their wedding. Steve Carell, B.J. Novak, Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, Phyllis Smith, Oscar Nunez and Creed Bratton also star. ----------------------Based on the way things have been going, I'm not sure how anyone would be surprised by a POOR survey of customer satisfaction. Guess we'll just have to see what the fuss is all about... hey, maybe they're surprised because people actually LIKE their company? As always, leave comments below and join Kevin and me in the TWSS chat room after the show.EDIT:Someone jokingly brought this up in the chatroom last night, but it turns out that YES, NBC is indeed selling those MUGS at the NBCU store as of today. You can buy them separately for $12 each, or get all 10 for $90. If you order before next Monday, you can get 15% off your order using the code OFFICEFAN.
Episode # 53 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin searching for a little place with some great bacon. Life is a highway, and I wanna drive it all night long... or at least for 14 hours round-trip. A misplaced kiss lands Michael in hot water and Holly back in Nashua. Will their relationship survive the move? Creed creeps the hell out of me, Pam's prank on Jim goes awry, and Dwight decides to further his education Big Red style. Andy's head to explode in 3... 2... 1. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
From NBC.com: EMPLOYEE TRANSFER | 10.30.2008 | 9/8c TV-PG LOVE ALWAYS GETS IN THE WAY - OSCAR NOMINEE AMY RYAN ("GONE BABY GONE") GUEST STARS - Pam (Jenna Fischer) is embarrassed when she is the only person at corporate wearing a costume on Halloween. Holly (guest star Amy Ryan) and Michael (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) take the long trip to Nashua after they get some shocking news from corporate. Meanwhile, Dwight (Rainn Wilson) torments Andy (Ed Helms) and tries to get under his skin. John Krasinski, B.J. Novak, Ed Helms, Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, Mindy Kaling, Angela Kinsey, Oscar Nunez, Creed Bratton and Craig Robinson also star. -----------Lots of stuff going on here-- are we saying our final farewell to dear Holly Flax? Another Halloween episode, which is a plus. Pam in corporate... more than 30 seconds of air this week?Leave your comments below, and don't forget to join us in the TWSS chat room after the show.
Episode # 52 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin reminiscing about their tour of the anthracite coal museum. Who says there are no consequences for sex? Michael and Holly's canoodling leaves Dunder Mifflin ripe for the plucking... so what better way to salve everyone's fears that to hold an auction? Surely there's no downside to selling off people, right? Michael scores, Dwight delivers an ultimatum, and Jim faces a crisis of conscience. Will Kevin and I dislike this episode? We are NOT that couple. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
Jennifer Godwin, writing for the "Watch With Kristin" column over at Eonline.com, posted some news from The Office writers' appearance at The Paley Center on October 14th.Most specifically, news about the non-spinoff starring the newly post-pregnant Amy Poehler.Here are a few tidbits from Mike Schur:
from NBC.com: CRIME AID | 10.23.2008 | 9/8c TV-PG DUNDER MIFFLIN FIGHTS CRIME - OSCAR NOMINEE AMY RYAN ("GONE BABY GONE") GUEST STARS - Michael (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) helps Pam (Jenna Fischer) get a part time job at corporate so she can afford to go to art school. Michael and Holly (guest star Amy Ryan) get an early start at the office on their date night. After the office gets robbed, Michael decides to hold an auction to raise money for all the items lost. Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, B.J. Novak, Ed Helms, Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, Mindy Kaling, Angela Kinsey, Oscar Nunez, Creed Bratton and Craig Robinson also star. ----------------------As always, leave your comments below and join Kevin & me in the TWSS chat room during and after the episode.EDIT:Frigging NBC! I'm watching My Name Is Earl, and they played a promo for the OFFICE giving away a MAJOR spoiler... at least it was a spoiler to me. Bastards.EDIT 2:Go HERE to see Andy and Angela's wedding announcement, and HERE to download a PDF copy of Michael's C.R.I.M.E. A.I.D. flyer.
In today's "Ask Ausiello" column over at EW.com, someone asked the spoiler-man a question that's been in ALL of our hearts:Question: Please tell me The Office is keeping Amy Ryan around permanently. She is perfect for Michael! -- HeatherAusiello: You're preaching to the choir, my dear. Unfortunately, I hear producers have yet to approach Ryan about punching in full time. But maybe they're just afraid of rejection; the Oscar nominee is in high demand, and likely keeping her options open. Whispers an Office insider: "I think she's hoping to do both, but have the flexibility to take a great movie gig when it comes along." Here's hoping it never comes along!--------What the heck are those producers waiting for, anyway? Sign her up and never let her go! :)
Episode # 51 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin wondering what the deal is with this Sarah Kayacomesin person. Sweet baby Ass-turd is on the way, so let's celebrate with a special day! Michael's got the office geared up for Jan's baby shower... it's just too bad that Jan went and spoiled it all by giving birth without him. Phyllis loses her grip on the PPC, Dwight films an infomercial, JAM just can't seem to connect, and Michael faces a tough decision-- What's a baby daddy to do? Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
Everyone's favorite male half of the PB&J sandwich turns an elderly 29 years old today.Congrats big guy.
From NBC.com:BABY SHOWER | 10/16.2008 | 9/8c TV-PG THERE'S A BUN IN THE OVEN - OSCAR NOMINEE AMY RYAN ("GONE BABY GONE") GUEST STARS - Michael (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) practices for the birth of Jan's (Melora Hardin) baby by having Dwight (Rainn Wilson) go over possible birthing scenarios. Meanwhile, Michael tells Holly (guest star Amy Ryan) that he will pretend to dislike her for Jan's benefit. John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, B.J. Novak, Ed Helms, Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, Mindy Kaling, Angela Kinsey, Oscar Nunez, Creed Bratton and Craig Robinson also star. -------------Post your thoughts/comments below, and remember to join Kevin and me in the TWSS Chat Room during and after the show.
Episode # 50 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds Matt and Kevin strangely attracted to both Olivia Newton John and Aristotle. Let's get ethical... ethical... I wanna get ethical... let's get into eth-i-cal. Holly's running a business ethics seminar in the conference room, and Michael volunteers to show her the ropes (two words- Robin Shyamalan). Immunity is offered, scandal erupts, Flax is flummoxed, and I'll never see The Outback Steakhouse in the same way ever, ever again. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
It's only been two weeks, but it surely feels much longer than that since "Weight Loss" aired.From TV Guide:BUSINESS ETHICS | 10.09.2008 | 9/8c TV-PGHolly presides over a business-ethics meeting in the wake of Ryan's corporate scandal, but the seminar breaks into chaos when Michael allows the staffers to opine openly about workplace malfeasance. Elsewhere, Jim coerces Dwight to adhere to Dunder Mifflin's "time theft" policy.Don't forget to join us in the TWSS "Conference Room" after the show, and as always, leave your comments about the episode below.
by Kevin CrossmanAccording to this week's Entertainment Weekly, The Office is the top-rated comedy series on Marketing Evaluations Inc emotional attachment list, a measure of commitment that key viewers have with TV shows returning in Fall 2008.Survivor tops the list with a rating of 177, followed by serial dramas Heroes, House, CSI, and Grey's Anatomy. The Office's ranking of 123 is 17th on the list and the only comedy in the top 20. This means that The Office tops other comedies like Two and A Half Men that regularly score much higher ratings. All of which indicates that my recent declaration of a man-crush on Jim Halpert shows that I'm a typical Office watcher with a high emotional attachment.Check out the original article HERE.
Episode # 49 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin reevaluating their daily caloric intake. I say I say I say, I'll SIT on you... for the first time ever, The Office breaks new ground and shows us life in Scranton during the hot and sticky months of Summer. A weight loss challenge brings Michael and Holly closer together, a prodigal son returns, Pam leaves, Jim frets, Dwandygela gets funkay, and once again Flenderson proves that he IS the Biggest Loser. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
The new episode should be posted late PM Wednesday. This is another "epic" length episode, and since there's no Office this week, I'm hoping you guys can survive the wait. :)Thanks,-Matt-
Very, very long article in the New York Times today about Paul Feig (pronounced FEEG), creator of "Freaks and Geeks" and current co-executive producer of "The Office."Check it out HERE.
From NBC.com:WEIGHT LOSS | 09.25.2008 | 9/8c TV-PG For the first time, we see what happens over eight weeks of the summer, as a Dunder Mifflin weight loss initiative causes the branch to diet and become obsessed with their weight. Michael (Steve Carell) pursues a friendship with his new HR rep, Holly (Oscar nominee Amy Ryan). Jim (John Krasinski) misses Pam (Jenna Fischer) who attends art school in New York. Dwight (Rainn Wilson), Andy (Ed Helms) and Angela (Angela Kinsey) attend to unfinished business. B.J. Novak, Kate Flannery, Mindy Kaling, Oscar Nuñez, Brian Baumgartner, Leslie David Baker, Phyllis Smith, Creed Bratton and Craig Robinson also star. ----------------As I mentioned in episode #48, I will be unable to view the premiere "live" tonight as I am forced to attend my school's "open house" night. Don't let that stop you from joining the "chatroom" to discuss the episode with other TWSS fans. Kevin should be around for the west coast showing.Man, I can't believe it's finally here.EDIT:Almost forgot -- NBC is helping to arrange various "premiere parties" for the show tonight in a number of cities across the US. Check this THREAD to see if anything is going on in your area.EDIT 2:Click HERE for a large downloadable copy of Pam's ASCII portrait of Dwight (warning-- link is to a PDF file).Also, go HERE to see Andy & Angela's wedding website.
Episode # 48 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin pontificating and theorizing about the much anticipated season five of THE OFFICE. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. Check out Kevin's blog and podcast at the-frat-pack.com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
by Kevin CrossmanThe Emmy Awards were held tonight and The Office had eight nominations... but received zero awards.Thank you, good night!Yes, thanks to stellar showing by NBC stablemate 30 Rock, The Office won no Emmys this year. There were two Office related moments of note though. The show's opening montage included TV personalities delivering catch-phrases of yesteryear. The Office's John Krasinski channeled Joey from Friends for "How you doing?" and Rainn Wilson also appeared though his quote escapes me.More entertaining was British Office star Ricky Gervais who came out to tell the winners how to accept an Emmy. This seqeued into a reminder that Gervais was not present for winning last year, and that presenters Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert had given the award to Steve Carell. Carell was positioned in the front row and sat stonefaced while Gervais mock-insulted him with lines like "I made you what you are and I get nothing back" and "I don't think that's an Emmy, it's actually a shoddy remake." Gervais eventually ran into the audience to obtain his Emmy. It was a wonderful bit that reminded audience viewers of Gervais' role in creating The Office and why he and Carell are so funny.
Kevin and I are going to be recording a mini "pre-season" preview episode of the podcast tomorrow night, consisting of our hopes and fears for season five, some season four "Dundee" awards, news, feedback and more.If you'd like to get your comment read "on air," please post your predictions for season five (no spoilers, please... just honest speculation) in the space below, or send an email to TWSSpodcast@gmail.com before 7 PM Eastern tomorrow night.
by Kevin CrossmanGeorge Clooney’s Leatherheads is at once a throwback sports movie about the early days of professional football but also a throwback to the era’s screwball comedies. Clooney directed the movie written by Duncan Brantley and Rick Reilly, and also stars alongside Renee Zellweger. The Office’s John Krasinski stretches his acting chops with an effective performance in a tricky role.Leatherheads tells of the story of Dodge Connolly (Clooney), an aging football hero in the days when “professional” football was closer to rugby or even organized street fighting. But Connolly sees a way to save his sport by attempting to recruit handsome, glamorous college football star Carter Rutherford (Krasinski). Meanwhile, Lexie Littleton is a star newspaper reporter sent to dig up dirt on Rutherford who is a war hero and product pitchman in addition to the star of the Princeton gridiron.For the first two acts, Clooney deftly directs a tale that respects and celebrates the subject matter and the type of filmmaking present in those days of yore. He has several effective scenes of snappy dialogue with Zellweger who is brilliant at playing the smart and sexy reporter. Clooney is underrated as a physical comedian and plays many scenes for laughs in the early part of the film that will keep you laughing and smiling throughout.During the last act, the film takes a distinct dramatic turn as the story heads towards its climax. Will Rutherford’s slimy agent (Jonathan Pryce) find a way to keep him in the spotlight or will his secret ruin his career? There is true dramatic tension and while it is distinct in tone it is not lacking in effectiveness or in pleasure for the audience. Additionally, as a sports movie the climax provides a true twist unlike any I’ve ever seen in the genre. The twist is among the many well-crafted aspects of this movie that is great fun.Office fans should take note that Krasinski isn’t phoning in the performance as Jim Halpert circa 1925. Instead, Krasinski plays the role with equal parts likable all-star and haunted melancholy. He’s extremely effective in a trio that involves two Oscar winners, and his role is the most nuanced and well rounded in the film. Krasinski proves he has the acting chops to form a healthy career.The DVD extras are interesting but Office fans should not feature very little Krasinski material. - Deleted Scenes - Football’s Beginnings – an inside look at the making of the film with brief interviews with the stars - Visual Effects – an interesting side by side look at the scenes before and after the special effects were added to recreate football scenes from 1925 - No Pads, No Fear – Preparation for the film’s football scenes - George Clooney – A Leatherheaded Prankster - Feature commentary with George Clooney and Producer/Actor Grant Heslov – An unfortunate extra that features little of the charm and prankish fun that we usually see from Clooney.Overall, Leatherheads is a film that is fun for men and women of all ages. Office fans should immediately head to the DVD store to pick up the film and root for their favorite salesman in a different kind of uniform.---------------------------Kevin obviously liked this movie much more than *I* did. See my original review HERE.-Matt
Just got word from NBC Universal that Melora Hardin will be doing a signing from 12-1 pm at the NBC EXPERIENCE STORE in New York City on September 24th.If you're a local, this isn't a bad way to usher in the premier next week (speaking from personal experience, she is definitely worth seeing live).
Nothing spoilery or shocking to be found, but the piece on Ed Helms in this week's NEW YORK MAGAZINE is worth a quick read.From the article:Ed Helms wasn’t always a jackass. For a while, he was an aspiring filmmaker in New York. He worked for a postproduction house, loved the job, and even now talks of it wistfully. “I was and still am very infatuated with filmmaking,” he says, before describing his editing duties in all earnestness as “sexy and fun.” While training as an editor, he laid down a few rough-cut voice-over “scratch tracks.” From there, he landed some real voice-over gigs. From there, he got an agent. Finally, he realized he could quit his job and pursue stand-up comedy full-time, because, as he says, “I was finding this thing that I love, which is acting like a jackass professionally.”Read the rest of the article HERE.
NBC has been running two new teaser trailers this week to help hype the season premier of THE OFFICE.The first one focuses on the Michael/Jan/Holly triangle:The second uses much of the same footage as the first, but we DO get to see Pam's replacement, as well as Michael Scott in a fat suit:EDIT: listener Jorgen Petersson (a resident of Sweden) let me know that people outside the US can't view Hulu videos. Never fear, Jorgen! Here are the links to view the trailers on YouTube:Trailer #1Trailer #2 (hmm... can't find clip #2 yet... will keep looking)
I found this article on The Hudson Hub-Times website and thought it was worth a quick read.In the article, actor Stefan Kumor gives a brief summary of his experiences with filming as a background student in scenes showing Pam's college classes. Nothing really "spoiler-ish" here, but he does give an alternative view to the "John Krasinski is a horrible diva" rumors that were flying around a few weeks ago.
During Apple's big iTunes/iPod focused media event today, Steve Jobs let the audience know that Apple and NBC have buried the hatchet, and that our favorite NBC shows would be once again available through the iTunes store (in full HD).Great news!More details HERE.EDIT:As mentioned in the comments section, Apple is giving away a FREE HD copy of "Fun Run" at the following LINK.
NBC set up a conference call today with Paul Lieberstein and Amy Ryan.No, I wasn't invited.Thank goodness for E!'s Kristin (and the other people who actually DID get to sit in on the call).The comments get a lot more "spoilery" than usual, so I won't quote anything here. If you're curious about the fate of Mr. Flenderson, however, I highly recommend clicking THIS link (also HERE and HERE).The most disturbing thing mentioned, at least for me, was the revelation that Greg Daniels is splitting his time and Mike Schur has TOTALLY left the show in order to work full time on the "Unnamed Amy Poehler spinoff show." Schur wrote many of my favorite OFFICE episodes over the last 4 years, and the thought of him NOT being a part of the creative staff for season 5 has me more than a little pissed. Do you see what you've wrought, Mr. Silverman? FOR SHAME.
Listener Kath informed me via email today that TWSS has been nominated for a pair of "Blogger's Choice" awards! Imagine my surprise. We've been nominated for BEST PODCAST BLOG as well as BEST ENTERTAINMENT BLOG. So far, we're getting our asses kicked by just about everyone, but if you'd like to send a few votes our way, please check out the links below.
by Kevin CrossmanComing to stores on September 2nd is the DVD release of Season 4 of The Office. The four-disc set contains all 14 episodes and a host of extras. The entire set comprises over 400 minutes of content.The EpisodesEach episode is presented in pristine widescreen format and looks sharp on DVD. Season 4 saw many of the office relationships take on new roles and challenges and once again a season collection like this is a great way to revisit the story arcs and go back to earlier episodes for hints of what is to come later. In particular, the character of Ryan (B.J. Novak) is a completely new role and by season's end is in a very, very different place than when the season starts. His "transformation" is fun to watch over the course of a season.The packaging of episodes is pretty much what you'd expect. The episodes are shown in entirety, with Deleted Scenes for each episode easy to get to after playing the episode. Unfortunately, the Deleted Scenes are presented as one large clip, unlike the Deleted Scenes on The Office website where you can pick and choose which scene to watch. But it is hard to complain about the amount of deleted scenes, which run from over five minutes for the regular 21 minute episodes to over twelve minutes for some of the "hour long" episodes like "Fun Run" and "Dunder Mifflin Infinity."One of the interesting and unusual episodes this season was "Did I Stutter?" In addition to taking the episode name from a line of dialogue, the episode was unusual in that it featured the character of Stanley (Leslie David Baker) in a major role. Thankfully, Baker's performance is one of the strongest from any actor in any episode in the entire set. "Did I Stutter?" also features a interesting and informative commentary from Rainn Wilson, Jenna Fischer, Leslie David Baker, Kate Flannery, Justin Spitzer, Brent Forrester, Gene Stupnitsky, and Randall Einhorn.Fans of Jim and Pam are not left out in Season 4, as our favorite TV couple actually get to be a couple. This puts the characters in new situations, such as their overnight stay at Schrute Farm in "Money" and their cringe-worthy visit to Michael and Jan's condo in "Dinner Party." The engagement storyline is another season-long story arc, though as fans of the show know it did not quite conclude in the season finale, "Goodbye Toby."Speaking of the season finale, "Goobye Toby" features one of the best performances in the entire series by Steve Carell. Carell masterfully communicates his joy at saying goodbye to his HR nemesis, and the excitement of meeting a new "love of his life" in the character of Holly (Amy Ryan).The Bonus MaterialsA complete list of bonus features is shown below. "Unique to the DVD" items include the hilarious 22-minute blooper reel that every fan of The Office should watch again and again. The complete Michael Scott Dunder Mifflin Ad is the kind of extra that makes sense for the DVD and is a welcome addition. Similarly, the Summer Vacation Promo features some unique content and is a good piece to play prior to watching the season opener, "Fun Run." Unfortunately, the Summer Vacation Promo is available on Disc 4, rather than on Disc 1 where it would have fit chronologically.Last season, I complained about episode commentaries with too many participants. This year, the number of participants has not been reduced, but the overall effectiveness has improved as there is less "talking over" and everyone trying to get a word in edgewise (this is also attributed to a couple "quiet" writers on some of the commentaries). Only Rainn Wilson and Jenna Fischer participate of the "Big Four" but their presence is most welcome on three of the four commentaries, even if we do miss Steve Carell and John Krasinski. B.J. Novak, Leslie David Baker, and Paul Liberstein all provide insights to their characters and the process of creating the show. The commentaries are very entertaining, though some fans may wish for a more-mellow Melora Hardin in next-year's collection.Available in some packages and probably the best overall extra is the table draft script of "Dinner Party." For those who are unfamiliar with script formats, this is a great way to see what the writers produce prior to filming an episode (in a year that featured the writers' strike, this is even more appropriate). It's lots of fun to read the script and watch the episode at the same time. For example, the video camera in the bedroom and the scene with Angela and Andy eating ice cream were not in the original script. The script also features of scene where Michael prank-calls Toby, sitting alone at home watching Las Vegas by himself.Finally, The Office Convention Writers' Block is another good "behind the scenes" piece that provides real insight to the show (unlike the recent writer panel at Comic-Con). The camera work is a little shaky, but at least we get to see the writers answer their questions in a way that does make this piece a little more engaging compared to a pure audio version featured on podcasts like That's What She Said. (If you missed our coverage of the OTHER panels at last year's Office convention, follow the links tn the sidebar to your right -Matt).The PackagingThe "office" theme is presented well in the packaging. The photos and post-it notes once again make references to events of the season. In addition, the inside fold of the DVD pakage features Dwight's org chart from "Did I Stutter?"The DVD menus are animated and well-done. There are visuals and audio that are pertinent to the episodes on each disc, and they provide a wonderfully immersive experience.OverallDue to the writer's strike, the season was shortened to only 14 episodes spanning 19 half-hour segments. Unfortunately, the reduction in number of episodes did not translate into a lower retail price for the collection, compared to previous seasons. As with Season 3, the extras are reduced again this year. Worse, many of the extras are already available on the NBC.com website. Still, it's nice to have all the content in one place.If you're a hardcore fan of The Office, there's no question this is a must-own item. Casual fans will be well-served by this set as well, since the immersive experience can help you understand and appreciate the show's humor and sensibility. However, the middling bonus features and lesser overall value do present flaws to be aware of.Bonus MaterialsBloopers, photos, and more at the official The Office DVD site.Disc 1
And so does the latest issue of WOMEN'S WEAR DAILY:"Contrary to popular belief, Oscar recognition is not necessarily a ticket to stardom. And so, despite having scored a nomination at last year’s Academy Awards for her part in “Gone Baby Gone,” Amy Ryan insists she is still “pretty anonymous.”That status may change, however, when the new season of “The Office” premieres on NBC on Sept. 25. In the finale in May, Ryan joined the show as Holly, a human resources executive who catches the eye of awkward boss Michael, played by Steve Carell. Fortunately for the actress, it was more than just a flirtatious tease: She is set to appear in a six-episode arc, in which her greatest challenge might just be maintaining her composure among her castmates.“You are guaranteed at least three hysterical fits of laughter between takes,” Ryan says. “It makes it easier to keep a straight face while filming, although it’s still extremely hard. You’re drumming up every dead puppy story you can imagine.”'For the rest of the article, click HERE.
by Kevin CrossmanFor the Comedy and Drama Emmy Awards, nominated series submit six episodes to be judged. The six episodes are divided into three pairs that are randomly distributed to voters who view two episodes from each nominated series. The Office is competing against 30 Rock, Two and a Half Men, and Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Entourage.Here are the Season 4 episodes submitted for The Office:"Local Ad""Dinner Party""Chair Model""Did I Stutter?""Goodbye, Toby (Parts 1 & 2)"These episodes are the most emotionally charged of the entire season, especially for longtime viewers with an investment in the couples' relationships. "Chair Model" not only features the uncomfortable humor the show is famous for, but also features the start of the "engagement storyline" that went through to the season finale, "Goobye Toby." Of course, "Dinner Party" is another emotional and chance-taking episode that may reasonate with literate Emmy voters who see references to films like "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf." "Did I Stuffer" features tension-filled moments on par with any episode of "Law and Order."So, will Season 4 be judged by these moments that transcent mere "comedy" but cross over to real emotional connection to the show's characters? Or, will Emmy voters be turned off by the sight of Dwight's Second Life avatar? We'll find out on September 21st, when ABC broadcasts the Emmy Awards.Learn more at The Envelope.
FROM: Dunder Mifflin TO: All Dunder Mifflin Infinity Employees SUBJECT: DUNDER MIFFLIN INFINITY 2.0 - IT'S A WHOLE NEW GAME. We have brand-new year of DMI starting Sept. 4th with new scores, new tasks, new desks and improved features! New to DMI? Left halfway through the year? Didn't get into your desired branch? Always wanted to be a Regional Manager? Come back and start from scratch! All the SchruteBucks and stats from last year will be wiped and everyone starts over as of Sept. 4th, so it's a whole new game! Afraid of losing your profile and hard-earned desk items? Don't be! Your profile will remain intact as will as the desk items you purchased up until now. Branches will be open for business Thursday, Sept. 4th and will accept applications from ALL members, current and new. Everyone is guaranteed to get into the first branch they apply to. The new Regional Manager hiring period will also begin the same day. DON'T FORGET: The SchruteBucks you've earned in DMI 1.0 will be revert to zero at 11:59 PM ET/8:59 PM PT, Thursday, August 28th. The DMI site will be shut down for maintenance Aug. 29-Sept. 4, but you still will be able access the DMI Forums. There are a few days remaining to spend your remaining bucks so don't miss out! Click here for a final hurrah and to say goodbye to DMI 1.0. Sincerely, The Dunder Mifflin Infinity Team
The season four DVD is getting ready to hit stores on September 2nd, and as usual, Best Buy is offering a special gift pack. This season, the "swag" includes a "Fun Run" T-Shirt, wristband, and water bottle, which certainly seems like a good deal for the $33.74 asking price. Supply will surely be limited, however, so get your orders in as soon as possible.Target and other big box stores usually offer their own specials, but so far I haven't seen or heard anything-- but check the Labor Day circulars this weekend for more information.I certainly don't blame anyone for choosing to buy one of these sets instead of ordering through the Amazon link. If you HAVE ordered through Amazon, feel free to cancel your order if you so wish.See the BEST BUY OFFER HERE.EDIT: The Target set will apparently come with "60 minutes of bonus cast footage and a notepad." No idea what that footage will be. ($36.99)EDIT 2: Circuit City will be offering a "Free The Office Stapler in Gelatin Mold Keychain with purchase." ($32.99)
Good old Kristin over at E! did a set visit, and posted a few clips. Neither Kevin or I were too amused with Rainn's "hold Jenna hostage until THE ROCKER does well" plot, and according to John Krasinski the whole thing has gone horribly, horribly wrong:There's another video with Rainn, and a bit more information, if you follow the LINK.
Michael explains his love for women's volleyball:Dwight gets creative with some #2 pencils:
According to TMZ, Craig Robinson entered a "tentative guilty" plea to possession of ecstasy (a felony)... this ignores the meth that was found in his possession as well as the cocaine and amphetamines found in his system at the time of his arrest.The plea agreement requires Robinson to attend a "drug treatment" program for 18 months. If he successfully completes the program, he will have the charge expunged from his record.Now, I have nothing against Robinson (despite my dislike for Darryl, in general), and I am glad that he's getting the help he needs. But I can't help but wonder about the ridiculous double standard that exists in the Hollywood justice system. If you, or I, or an actual warehouse worker in Scranton, PA was found with ecstasy or meth, you can bet damn well that we wouldn't get off with 18 months of treatment. I hope he realizes and appreciates the breaks he has been given.
Listener Kevin Murphy tipped me off to this interview that Rainn Wilson did with The Onion AV Club to pimp "The Rocker." He ends up spending MUCH more time talking about The Office, though.AV CLUB: Was it difficult to not be influenced by the actor who played the equivalent to your role?Rainn Wilson: I get asked that question a lot, no offense, but the situation was—the guy playing Gareth is very distinct. He looks like a whippet, he's 97 pounds and has very intense eyes and demeanor, and I knew I'd never be able to copy him. We have totally different energies and are very different as actors. He's just absolutely brilliant for what he did. I knew for the American show, what we were going for was Seinfeld-like success. People who compare the English and American Offices—there's so much ignorance in that comparison, because the English Office made 13 episodes. We make that many episodes in three months. We've made 89 episodes at this point. Their show is more like a miniseries, and our show is like an American TV show, because the demands of the market are so different.It's like comparing a book and a movie. Gone With The Wind the movie and Gone With The Wind the book, it's difficult to compare them, because they're different forms. So I knew that ours needed to sustain, but I also knew that the Dwight needed to play a similar role, and I knew that [Steve Carell's] Michael Scott needed an acolyte and a foil, and I knew that Jim [Halpert, John Krasinski's character] needed someone to butt heads against. I knew that the office needed someone who was a real stickler for rules, and at the same time was a nerd and had weird, oddly obsessive-compulsive ideas about the military and gaming and fantasy worlds, but also needed to be a real in to the hierarchies of office life. I also didn't want him to be—one thing I really appreciated about the character of Gareth was that he wasn't a loser. The guy had a lot of friends, he could go to bars, he could get girls. He wasn't like the office nerd that we've seen so many times before, so I knew that—this is a very long-winded answer—I knew there were certain needs that needed to be fulfilled. I wanted to find my own way of doing that. I wanted to find my own bad haircut, my own way of kissing the boss' ass, my own way of butting heads with Jim, and so I tried to forget Gareth as much as I could.Check out the full article HERE.
From the AP news wire:LOS ANGELES — Prosecutors have filed felony drug charges against Craig Phillip Robinson, an actor best known for his role as Darryl Philbin on NBC's "The Office."According to documents released Friday, police in Culver City arrested Robinson on June 29 on suspicion of possessing MDMA, also known as ecstasy, and methamphetamine. He was released the same day after posting bail, jail records show.Los Angeles County prosecutors charged Robinson with two felony counts of drug possession and one count of being under the influence of illegal drugs.Robinson's publicist declined comment Friday. The 36-year-old is scheduled to appear in court on August 21.He is familiar to television audiences for his portrayal of Philbin, a warehouse foreman on "The Office." He also recently appeared in the comedy film "Pineapple Express."
I'd like to thank everyone who has pre-ordered the season four DVDs through the site. If you haven't done so yet, please consider ordering through our associates link to your right... every little bit helps.One thing I've discovered is that if you get to Amazon through the link on our site, we get a little piece of EVERYTHING you buy, not just the season four DVD set. So even if you're not going to buy the DVD online, you can still make a big difference.Thanks in advance,-Matt-
NBC has been using their non-stop Olympic coverage to pimp The Office (unfortunately for me, I kind of hate the Olympics, so I haven't seen them live). I guess there's supposed to be as many as five different promos, but I find it hard to believe that any of them can top Dwight's "Centathalon" suggestion:EDIT: Here's the first one that aired... watch Jim invent his own new olympic sport!
Episode # 47 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin regretting their gold and silver medals in the M&M eating event. Ladies and gentlemen- welcome to the Games of the first Dunder Mifflin Olympiad. Michael's in the market for a condo... or it that a coffin? Man, these babies are THIN. While Michael and Dwight are away, the office will play- flonkerton, that is. Jim unites the office by goofing off, assuages Michael's fears, AND becomes the world's first professional Pam-ponger. Is there ANYthing this guy can't do? Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. Check out Kevin's blog and podcast at the- frat-pack.com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
E!'s Kristin is digging up more dirt on the season premier with TWO more "spoilers" today. One of them seems to deal with our favorite creepy fence-hopping HR rep, and the other talks about what role Mad Men's Rich Sommer will be playing on the show.Click HERE for more information.
So what happens when you tell the world you're going to debut an Office spinoff show after the Superbowl, but you don't actually MAKE an Office spinoff show?Well, if you're NBC, you change your mind and run a special hour-long episode of THE OFFICE instead. Entertainment Weekly confirmed this yesterday, noting that this special episode will be prepped and ready for the post-Superbowl slot on February 1st. All things considered, I won't complain. In fact, this could make for an awesome episode where the gang from The Office attend a Superbowl party (perhaps at Jim & Pam's new place?). Just think, more gags with Kevin's betting, more drunken shenanigans, more party awkwardness... it practically writes itself.
E!'s "Watch With Kristin" has posted a few minor spoilers about the season five premier.The summary? They've been filming on location this past week at the University of Southern California, which is serving as a stand-in for Pam's NYC art school (The Pratt Institute). Apparently, they shot scenes of Jenna Fischer sitting in two different classrooms, with two different professors. Based on past experiences, I'm guessing these might be part of a flashback montage, showing us what Pam was up to over the Summer (seems doubtful they'll start with her still actually being in the program, seeing as they've never done that before... but who can say?).Kristin is also promising more information on what actor Rich Sommer is going to be doing during his brief appearance. Check back on Monday if you're interested.
An "Inglorious Bastard," anyway.From Reuters:"B.J. Novak could soon be going from pushing paper to fighting Nazis.The co-star of NBC's "The Office" is in talks to play one of the soldiers in "Inglorious Bastards," Quentin Tarantino's long-gestating film about a band of Jewish resistance fighters in Vichy-era France.Novak is expected to play Private Utivich, described as a soldier of slight build who comes from New York.Novak is best known for his role as Ryan, the temp-turned-crooked manager on NBC's "The Office." He also has served as a writer and producer.On the big screen, Novak has had small parts in the September 11 drama "Reign Over Me" and Judd Apatow's "Knocked Up."Casting is being finalized on "Bastards," which is expected to shoot in the fall in Europe and wrap in time for a potential Cannes debut in May. Brad Pitt is in talks to play the leader of the band of fighters."His biggest war-crime was the beard.
If anyone is interested, I have recently joined the wonderful world of Twitter (essentially a social forum for "micro-blogging"). Just FYI-- this is my own personal account, NOT a TWSS-related account. That mean's you'll just have to read my regular ramblings instead of news or other The Office related stuff.That said, if you're still interested, check me out HERE.
This might be old news, but I just ran across it on Digg.com today.If, like Michael Scott, you enjoy waking up to the smell of crisp, crackling bacon, then I have just the thing for you-- the Wake 'n Bacon alarm clock.Morning bacon, now without those pesky grill marks on your foot. Unfortunately, it's not for sale... but it damn well should be!
We mentioned on the last podcast that the writers of THE OFFICE (along with Rainn Wilson) were going to be talking to the fans at this year's Comic-Con International in San Diego, CA.Here's the full panel, courtesy of NBC.com: Mahalodaily.com has posted several videos of the panel. This first one is short, about 1.5 minutes, which consists of the Mahalodaily reporter trying to get some season 6 details out of Rainn and Greg Daniels (to absolutely no avail). The second clip is an interview with Paul Feig.
When Kevin gets harassed by his bookie, Darryl steps in to lend a suave helping hand.Leave your comments below.
As if this whole Office spinoff mess wasn't convoluted enough... At the TCA Awards this week, NBC honcho (and the guy behind bringing the OFFICE to the US) Ben Silverman told everyone that the show created by Mike Schurr and Greg Daniels starring Amy Poehler that's going to air AFTER The Office and debut after the Superbowl, isn't, in fact, The Office spinoff show. To top that off, because of Poehler's pregnancy and SNL commitments, the actual show ISN'T going to be debuting after the Superbowl anyway. But, says Silverman, there *IS* an Office spinoff that exists... it's just not THIS show, and they have no idea when it's going to air or who it's going to star. Here's the quote, from The Washington Post:"Well, fortunately for Amy and [her husband], she's pregnant right now. So the target was to have it be ready after the Super Bowl. . . . So the timing will be tough to be able to turn that show around to fit into the post-Super Bowl slot. It's much more likely we're going to have to launch that in March. What happened was ['The Office' show runners Greg Daniels and Mike Schur] came up with two ideas. One of which is totally a spinoff, which they're pursuing and [is] planted inside 'The Office' and maybe would involve characters who are already on 'The Office' who would then migrate to a new show. And then they developed a different parallel, which was kind of set stylistically and formed by 'The Office' but not characters based in 'The Office,' or storylines based in 'The Office.'"And, as they pursued both, we decided to put all our energy to get Amy locked in, and she agreed, and then we started a negotiation with her and also focused on making sure that Mike and Greg's creative was something that she really was going to respond to. And that kind of took position A in what Greg and Mike were going to focus on right now. So that's kind of where the process went."We're still pursuing the spinoff, but when you get a talent like Amy Poehler at the top of her game coming off what easily could have been a decision to become a full-time movie star, this was a great chance for us to land her, and Mike and Greg and everybody at NBC think she's just the ideal talent to fill out what they're working on." Seriously... could this whole thing get anymore complicated?(thanks to Brettson for the link)
by Kevin Crossman
Once again, Steve Carell was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (for the episode "Goobye Toby"). The Office received a total eight nominations, including Outstanding Comedy Series ("Local Ad") and Rainn Wilson for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series ("Money"), along with additional nominations for directing, writing, editing, and sound mixing.
And, it should be noted, Jenna Fischer and John Krasinski also picked up something. Big ol' snubs! While both were in the listing of "Top 10 finalists" for their respective supporting categories, neither was in the final list (Fischer was nominated last year). And while we certainly appreciate Rainn Wilson's work, I can't help but wonder if Wilson's over-the-top character is a reason why he received a nomination over Krasinski's more subdued performance. The fact that Emmy voters officially cast votes on a single episode from an entire season also penalizes actors who transform over a season (see also: Lost).
Outstanding Comedy Series: The Office ("Local Ad")
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series : Steve Carell ("Goodbye, Toby")
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series: Rainn Wilson ("Money")
Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series: Paul Lieberstein ("Money")
Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series: Paul Feig ("Goodbye, Toby")
Outstanding Writing For A Comedy Series: Lee Eisenberg, Gene Stupnitsky ("Dinner Party")
Outstanding Picture Editing For A Comedy Series: Dave Rogers and Dean Holland ("Goodbye, Toby")
Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Comedy Or Drama Series: Ben Patrick, John W. Cook II, Peter J. Nusbaum ("Local Ad)
Episode # 46 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin locked in a titanic struggle to the death over the Fine Work Award. You down with the DUN-dies? Yeah, you know ME. The annual awards ceremony is here, and no one, except for Michael, much cares. Dwight's on the hunt for a bathroom vandal, Jim gets lucky, Pam enjoys "second drink" (not to mention third drink, fourth drink, fifth drink...), Ryan's scarred for life, and Michael proves he learned absolutely nothing from DIVERSITY DAY. One thing's for sure - I've xeroxed your drivers license and you will NOT be welcome at this restaurant chain ever again. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. Check out Kevin's blog and podcast at the- frat-pack. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
Kevin and I recorded the Dundies episode last night... look for the finished product to be available sometime within the next two days.
It's hard to make any kind of value judgement after two minutes, so I think Kevin and I will hold off until the webisodes are completed. Don't let that stop you from commenting, though!
I must be living under a rock since going on Summer vacation. I just this minute read an article in TV Guide about Mindy Kaling going back to Scranton, PA on July 19th for "The Office Games"To quote the article:"Scranton, besides hosting a day of events inspired by the show including a 2K race, a trivia challenge and beet eating contest, will also be the first city to offer the new The Office DVD Board Game and a separate The Office Trivia Game" (the first 125 people to buy a game from Boscov's in Steamtown Mall will get an autugraph from Mindy).Our very own Kevin Crossman just spent some time in Scranton last week, so I guess the lure of the "Electric City" is still holding strong for many an Office fan. I think I'll be sitting this next one out, though.Anyone planning on attending the event?EDIT:Go HERE to sign up. All proceeds will be donated to the United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Watch the episode NOW:------------------------------------------------One hundred people surveyed, top five answers on the board-- Name a great way for an Office fan to deal with Summer withdrawal.Number one answer? Watch CELEBRITY FAMILY FEUD tonight at 8 PM Eastern/7 PM Central as our beloved cast takes on (believe it or not) the American Gladiators. Al Roker, everyone's favorite portly African-American weatherman, does the hosting duties (he's no Richard Dawkins, but I suppose he'll do in a pinch).Friend of the show Laura H. attended the taping, and filed this report:"I had heard that there were going to be two Office-related shows at IO West in Hollywood in early June on the same night. One was Kate Flannery's "Lampshades" show and the other was an improv show featuring Angela, Oscar and Creed. I had some credit with NWA which I had to use soon. I also had enough credit card points for a free hotel stay. So I thought "What the hell." I made my bookings and then sent both Angela and Kate short MySpace messages telling them I was coming out. (Not like we're "tight" or anything - but I had met both of them on a few different occasions over the past couple of years). Kate sent me a message back saying that some of them were going to be filming "Celebrity Family Feud" on the day I was coming into town. She asked if she should try to get me a ticket. Obviously, I said "Yes, please!" A couple of days later she sent me all the info I needed. Since she had put my name on the list as her guest, I was sort of treated like a rock star - well, at least for a couple of hours at a game show taping, that is. I got to park my little rental car by the limos, I was escorted into the bldg through the back stage door and was shown where craft services was. It was pretty cool. The person taking me in said "You're a guest of Kate's? Did you want to go to the trailers?" I didn't want to push my luck, so I declined. I did happen to see the Office-mates walk past, however, and Kate said that she was happy I made it. Once I was seated, it was alot of fun actually. The announcer dude warmed up the crowd, and it was pretty hilarious because he made us "practice" our responses - all the "oooo's" & "ahhh's", clapping, etc. It all just made me laugh! I learned that The Office was going to be playing the American Gladiators - and that made me laugh more! The Office cast was all dressed very nicely - and the Gladiators came in costume . . . stretchy, spandexy bulges. It felt wrong just looking at them. :) Al Roker was the celebrity host, and he did a really good job. It was evident that he is a fan of The Office and he had a great rapport with them - probably since he had met them in Scranton? Anyway, I won't spoil anything, but it was a good show. At one point, Kate was at the podium and nearly didn't get her answer in time. I let out some kind of noise - which I hope they edited out! ;) That night was the two shows at IO West. Even though I had seen the Lampshades previously, it was still hilarious. I got to talk to Kate for a little while afterwards, and she was nice enough to give me a CD of the show. She didn't stay too long, though, because she had the TV Land Awards and a breast cancer charity event the next day. The Armando (improv) show was also fun. Creed was the "host" and took the opportunity to tell a few stories from "back in the day" involving using illegal substances, etc. Just what you'd expect from Creed! Oscar and Angela were part of the group of improvisors - and Angela (especially) is alway so funny! After the show, it was pretty late and loud and crowded. But Angela saw me and came over and gave me a hug and thanked me for coming. She apologized but said that she wouldn't be able to stay too long - which I fully understood. She really wanted to get home to Isabel, and she also had the TV Land Awards the next day. We chatted for just a few minutes - mostly about the baby - and she told me that she would be appearing in People magazine and how she had been apprehensive to do so, but the folks at People were really great to work with."Awesome story, Laura. I think you just made a lot of people REALLY jealous, though... including yours truly.
To all of out American listeners-- a happy 4th of July to you all. Please, try not to overdo it on the hot dogs and potato salad this year.Just a few news tidbits that I'm sure most of you already know:1) Amy Ryan is committed to reprise her outstanding role as Holly Flax in at least FIVE episodes next season. Kevin and I both loved her work in the season finale, so I am very excited to see her coming back for more. 2) According to Ricky Gervais' official blog, Steve Carell has signed on for another three year commitment to THE OFFICE with his new contract. While his movie track record has been somewhat spotty, he definitely doesn't NEED to come back to working those fabled 12 hour days on a TV show if he didn't want to. Hats off to Steve for sticking with the show.3) The first new "webisode" of the Summer is set to launch on July 10th! Less than a week away. TWSS will have full coverage of all the webisodes, so never fear (although I'm still not sure if we'll discuss them individually or wait until they're all finished...).4) We're right back where we were in November 2007, as the SCREEN ACTORS GUILD are in the middle of their own tense negotiations with the studios. The final contract has been proferred, but we won't know the results until July 8th. I haven't been following this as closely as I should have, but we're literally on the edge of another major Hollywood work stoppage if a strike is called (the existing contract expired on June 30th). Hollywood is walking on eggshells right now, as are many other cities that do a lot of location shooting (like Vancouver, for example). Many seem to think the strike won't happen so soon after the WGA strike, but you never know. Keep watching the news.5) I'm looking at releasing the new TWSS Retro episode sometime in the next week (if Kevin and I can work something out). Although we still have two episodes left from season one, I think we're going to just jump right ahead into "The Dundees." If you'd like to leave an email comment for the show, giving your opinions on the episode, favorite parts, etc., get them to me ASAP at TWSSpodcast@gmail.com. If you'd like to leave an audio comment, feel free to use Kevin's hotline:(206) 666-3728This is technically the phone number for Kevin's Frat Pack Podcast, but never fear-- your comments will be forwarded to the right place.6) Also, if you haven't done so, PLEASE consider pre-ordering your season four DVD sets from Amazon.com through our associates link (located to your right). A small percentage of your purchase price will be kicked back to TWSS to help defray some of the costs of production. If Amazon's price goes down in the coming months, you'll be charged the lowest price, regardless of where it is currently. If you know you're going to order the set, please order from us. You'll be doing TWSS a major solid, yo.
In conjunction with their "The EW 1000" list, Entertainment Weekly has asked Rainn Wilson to portray "several" classic TV characters from the past 25 years. See Rainn as Xena: Warrior Princess, Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Paulie Walnuts, and MacGyver.Click HERE to see the videos.
There's really nothing I can add here... Other than "Oww, my eyes!"(click HERE for a larger version)
So, anyone going to see it?It's not doing too well on RottenTomatoes right now-- it's sitting at 52%, which is considered "rotten-- but the tide might turn as more reviews come in tomorrow.If you HAVE seen it, or plan to, give your comments below.EDIT:Roger Ebert liked the film, at least, giving it 3.5/4 stars.
Good old Kristin over at E! is claiming that a source is telling her that Rashida Jones is going to be involved in The Office spinoff. Doesn't sound very solid, however, since no one else will confirm and Jones' people are denying that she's been approached.Read the article HERE.Personally, I've never been a huge "Karen" fan (she never seemed to exist beyond being Jim's temporary "Pam replacement" in my eyes), but what the hell. I just hope (as I've said before) that the spinoff simply isn't "The Office Utica."
I missed the show tonight, but both Brian Baumgartner and Kate Flannery served as guest celebrity judges on NBC's "Last Comic Standing." The episode was filmed in Minneapolis, and since Brian Baumgartner is a hometown boy, he sat down for a talk with a reporter from the Pioneer Press about his experiences with the show.From the article:On the folks who auditioned: "Generally, I was really impressed, but there were the wacky people. ... I remember very specifically this woman with a goose, I think she was trying to be Old Mother Hubbard, but she had a live goose and I couldn't stop laughing. She was trying to have it do tricks and flap its wings. There were people with takeoffs on the whole Ole and Lena stereotype thing." It's a brief read, but you can check out the rest of the article HERE.
From the press release:Beginning today, Warner Bros. Pictures is offering a seven-minute sneak preview from the upcoming action comedy "Get Smart," exclusively on the iTunes Store (www.iTunes.com) as a free download.Fans can view this first-look footage with a special introduction by Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway, who star in "Get Smart" as CONTROL secret agents Maxwell Smart and Agent 99, on a mission to thwart a plan for world domination by the evil crime syndicate KAOS.Later in the month, iTunes will also offer an exclusive clip from the direct-to-DVD parallel content release, "Get Smart's Bruce and Lloyd Out of Control," introduced by its stars Masi Oka and Nate Torrence, who reprise their "Get Smart" roles as the tech duo behind CONTROL's arsenal of spy gadgets in their own feature-length adventure."Get Smart's Bruce and Lloyd Out of Control" will be available in its entirety on the iTunes Movie Store July 1, with the "Get Smart" feature following in fall 2008.
I'm planning to set up an Amazon.com associates account in the next few days, and I would really appreciate it if anyone interested in buying the DVD set could order through our Amazon link. We currently don't have any advertising or any other way to make up for the operating costs incurred in making the podcast, so if you have enjoyed what we do on TWSS, please consider ordering through the site.EDIT: The link is on the sidebar to your right.----------------------------------------------------------THE OFFICE: SEASON FOURARRIVES ON DVD SEPTEMBER 2, 2008 FROM UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENTThe Office is back with even more inappropriate remarks, uncomfortable silences, and obnoxious behavior in the complete fourth season of the Primetime Emmy(R) Award-winning series! Steve Carell ("40 Year-Old-Virgin") is back in his Golden Globe(R)-winning role as Michael Scott, the clueless boss of the Dunder Mifflin's Scranton branch who manages to create unending comical drama despite his best intentions. Trusty and loyal assistant-to-the-regional manager Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson) continues to uphold the office honor as Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam (Jenna Fischer) find ways to meddle with him and encourage Michael's hysterics. Plus, see "wunder kid" Ryan (B.J. Novak) in his new role at corporate as he pushes the infinite limits of Dunder Mifflin, often pushing Michael to his limits as well.BONUS CONTENT: * DELETED SCENES * GAG REEL * OUTTAKES * COMMENTARIES WITH CAST AND CREW: o MONEY COMMENTARY - Rainn Wilson, Jenna Fischer, Melora Hardin, Brian Baumgartner, Paul Lieberstein, Michael Schur, and Jennifer Celotta. o LOCAL AD COMMENTARY - B.J. Novak, Ed Helms, Leslie David Baker, Creed Bratton, Craig Robinson, Jason Reitman, and Anthony Ferrell. o THE DEPOSITION - Commentary with Rainn Wilson, Jenna Fischer, Melora Hardin, Brian Baumgartner, Ed Helms, Lee Eisenberg, Lester Lewis, and Ryan Koh. o DID I STUTTER? - Commentary with Rainn Wilson, Jenna Fischer, Leslie David Baker, Kate Flannery, Justin Spitzer, Brent Forrester, Gene Stupnitsky, and Randall Einhorn. * THE OFFICE CONVENTION - Writers' Block Panel Discussion * And more!TECHNICAL INFORMATION:Street Date: September 2, 2008Price: $49.98 SRPRunning Time: 404 MinutesAspect Ratio: Anamorphic WidescreenLanguages: EnglishSubtitles: English, SpanishSound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Listener Jasmine sent in this eye-witness report of Rainn Wilson's appearance at the University of California, I just thought I would let you know as a fan of both your show and The Office, that Rainn Wilson came to my university today (University of California, Irvine) and gave a speech on his Baha'I believes and world peace. I will start off by saying Mr. Wilson is much, much more handsome in real life but just as antsy. He was intelligent (he has a MBA) and funny if not a little easily distracted. We were not allowed to take pictures or get autographs, but Mr. Wilson let everyone take a few at the beginning of his presentation. Several office questions were asked, most of which sucked. Here is the dirt he shared: 1. The Office spin off series will feature no one from the original show (no one who works in the office) 2. He will not run with John Mc Cain because Baha'I members cannot hold public office 3. He personally invented the word "youtubin" (people kept filming him even though he politely asked them to stop several times. He was very nice about it). The most interesting part of the speech was the stuff on Baha'I, not the office questions, which consisted of him repeating his acceptance speech and singing Ryan started the Fire (that part was awesome). Overall, I would have enjoyed myself even if the event was not lead by an actor on my favorite show, but it helped that he was there. I came for the Rainn, stayed for the Baha'I. I asked him a question, which he said was good, about growing up in his faith and he claims he has had to turn down a lot of roles because they conflicted with his faith. Mr. Wilson was modest yet funny, intelligent yet approachable. I almost forgot the best part, Mr. Wilson said the only reason we came was so we could say "That's what she said" to him, and at one point he said to just "Cram it all in there" to which the audience replied "That's what she said!".Thanks, Jasmine! Sounds like a fun event.
Jenna Fischer was "keeping it real" with Terry Gross on NPR's "Fresh Air" yesterday. From the NPR blurb:"Jenna Fischer, who's perhaps best known as Pam the receptionist on NBC's The Office, stars in The Promotion, a new comedy about two midlevel supermarket employees bucking for a manager's job."Click THE LINK to listen to the episode, or download it through iTunes.
Not really all that "office-y," but I thought this article was interesting. Director Sam Mendes is currently filming his next feature FARLANDERS (John K. and Maya Rudolph star as an expectant couple on a cross-country road trip to find the "perfect" place to settle down), and is doing a lot of the location shooting in our old friend Stamford, CT. According to the article, various locations in Stamford have so far been used as a French-Canadian diner, a home in Colorado, and an Arizona bath/ whirlpool store. The article provides a nice "peek behind the curtain" as it were on the hows and whys certain movies choose certain locations.
Kevin dropped me a line yesterday to point out that Rainn Wilson has supposedly been cast in TRANSFORMERS 2, as "some kind of a professor." I guess I'm glad to see him graduating from bit parts in indie films to bit parts in ridiculously overpriced blockbusters, but the original TRANSFORMERS was the mental equivalent of a prostate exam. I *STILL* feel the pain. I think I'll pass on #2, but best of luck to Mr. Wilson.
Listener Kelly tipped me off to this video on TODAY'S BIG THING which supposedly contains every TWSS every uttered in the four seasons of THE OFFICE.Let them know if they missed any (-_^) EDIT: Sorry, had to delete the video. Apparently it was causing a major error in Internet Explorer (I only use Firefox, so I had no idea).
I know many of us were impressed with Amy Ryan's turn as Holly Flax in the season finale. The rapport and chemistry with Michael was one of the high points for me, and I was hoping for more of that next season. Unfortunately, that might not be the case... at least according to TV Guide's Matt Roush--As for Amy Ryan: Last time I checked this week, there was no news yet about her returning to the show. But it's hard to imagine she won't appear at least once more — unless Holly was so put off by Michael's arousal and later rejection that her absence is explained later in exposition. I hope we get to see her again — but yeah, don't count on her for the spin-off. This actress's career is just taking off, and this Office role is likely something of a fun lark. That makes me incredibly sad, but then again, I won't start gnashing my teeth until we get some kind of confirmation from NBC. I *DID* say that Toby could easily come back to the show after having found Costa Rica distasteful for some reason, so who knows. All I can say is that I'll really miss her character... is it too soon to make my "Team Holly" shirt? (^_-)
NBC recently announced its Fall schedule, confirming that THE OFFICE will return on SEPTEMBER 25th for a one hour season premiere. MY NAME IS EARL also returns on the 25th, and 30 ROCK once again rears its head on October 30th.Joining the Thursday night comedy block on October 9th is the retooled Austrailian import KATH & KIM. NBC describes the show thusly:For "Kath & Kim," they're the most dysfunctional duo in suburbia. Kath Day (Molly Shannon, NBC's "Saturday Night Live") is the mom, a foxy, 40-something divorcée who finally has time for herself and her valiant search for love. Kim Day (Selma Blair, "Hellboy," "Hellboy II") is the daughter, a self-absorbed princess recently separated from her husband who finds consolation in stuffing her face. When Kim decides to move back home, Kath reluctantly agrees -- but to Kim's chagrin, Kath is not about to cater to her every whim as she has in the past. Based on the most successful comedy in Australia of the same name, Kath and Kim are two brassy women who prefer the finer things in life like acrylic nails, big hair and faux diamond chips. The series is produced by Universal Media Studios and Reveille. The executive producer/writer is Michelle Nader ("The King of Queens") and the executive producer/director is Paul Feig ("Freaks and Geeks," "The Office"). Gina Riley, Jane Turner and Rick McKenna also are executive producers.Only four months to go!
37 years ago today, my sainted mother pushed me forth into this cold, cruel world. Well... I guess it hasn't been ALL bad-- I did enjoy a brief period back in the 80s... Oh, and THE OFFICE. Definitely worth it.
Episode # 45 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin dusting off their Supertramp records. It seems like only yesterday, season four began its dawn... and we really have enjoyed ourselves, but THE OFFICE must move on. With Flenderson gone, Flax is in... and Michael couldn't be happier with his very own office ET. What kind of party WOULD you throw if the devil exploded? Why, the best damn party foot money can buy. Ryan's arrested, Pam's off to New York, Andy steals Jim's thunder, Jan's expecting, Dwangela get down and dirty, and Kevin... well, we're all so very proud of Kevin. So many cliffhangers... so many days until September. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. Check out Kevin's blog and podcast at the- frat-pack. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
Due to my schedule this week and the extra time involved with editing an episode of such extraordinary length, TWSS #45 will take a few extra days to produce.Seeing as we have no other new OFFICE episodes to worry about, I figure you can cut us some slack :)Keep checking your RSS feeds.
Despite what we all originally thought, Ricky Gervais did NOT come up with the idea for THE OFFICE on his own. In fact, he was inspired by a little seen Japanese comedy. Video of the original version surfaced on the web today, and it's definitely well worth a look!
We still have a few hours before Kevin and I are going to record the podcast for "Goodbye, Toby," so if you'd like to leave a voicemail and have it (possibly) included on the show, go ahead and get calling.(206) 666-3728
I'm sort of torn on what to do with the comments section. These "cut n paste" spam posts lately are really starting to annoy me, but I don't know if this is some kind of spambot (I don't see what monetary value can be gained from this, esp. since there are no links or ads) or just the work of someone with an axe to grind. I don't want to have to moderate comments because it really DOES make it less interesting to not see the posts immediately. On the other hand, I'm tired of having to scroll through the entire pasted contents of my website every 5 messages. Let me know what YOU guys want. Would you rather I just leave them open?
Friend of the show (and graphic designer) Gary sent me a picture of what our 2008 presidential "dream team"* might look like. Thought I'd share.Nice work, Gary.EDIT:Here's some love for the other side.*This is in no way an endoresment of John McCain or the Republican party in general.
Well, here we are folks... the end of the strike shortened fourth season. We've had a lot of plot building this past month which all seems to be leading towards some big revelations/changes in tonight's episode. Will Toby REALLY leave? Who is going to be getting engaged? Will JAM become "Philly JAM"? I guess we shall see soon enough.From NBC.com:GOODBYE, TOBY 9/8c TV-PG 05.18.2008 IT'S TIME TO SAY GOODBYE - SPECIAL ONE HOUR SEASON FINALE - OSCAR NOMINEE AMY RYAN ("Gone Baby Gone") GUEST STARS - It's Toby's (Paul Lieberstein) goodbye party at Dunder Mifflin and Michael (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) demands a huge celebration that matches the joy in his heart. Angela (Angela Kinsey), sick of Michael's unreasonable last minute demands, refuses, and Michael turns to Phyllis (Phyllis Smith) to take over the party planning committee. Meanwhile, Dwight (Rainn Wilson) and Meredith (Kate Flannery) haze the new HR woman, Holly (Oscar Nominee Amy Ryan). John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, B.J. Novak, Melora Hardin, Ed Helms, Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Oscar Nunez, Mindy Kaling, Creed Bratton, and Craig Robinson also star. ------------------------As always, leave your comments below. Join Kevin and me in the TWSS Chat room immediately following the conclusion of the episode. If you'd like to leave an audio comment (which might end up on the next episode of the podcast) call 206-666-FRAT and leave a voicemail.Oh, and don't forget that Paul Lieberstein will be doing a live blog over at NBC.com after the finale. Hmmm... chat with us, watch the blog... decisions, decisions!(The blog will always be there, if it helps to make your choice...)
In her "The Watcher" column in the Chicago Tribune, columnist Maureen Ryan has gone all "Comic Book Guy" and declaired JOB FAIR to be the "worst episode ever." of THE OFFICE.Now, you've heard out take in the podcast. I agree with a lot of what she says, but also think she's going a bit too far. Still, to each their own.Scroll down to the bottom of the article for a summary of Steve Carell's interview with PLAYBOY.
(Thanks to "SavannahMark" for the tip)"The Bryant Park Project" aired an interview with BJ Novak yesterday. It runs about 15 minutes (intermixed with audio clips from "Chair model") and apparently our dear intern/boss/half-beard gives his take on the whole "McCain watching THE OFFICE" question we mentioned in the last episode.EDIT:Well, looks like I owe John McCain a can of Duff... according to BJ Novak he IS a fan of the show (or at least knows the "Dinner Party" episode). Now the only burning question is "is OBAMA a fan"? Maybe we'll see an OFFICE "quote-off" in November... extra bonus points to whichever candidate quotes from "Dwight's Speech" in their inaugural... EDIT #2:TWSS listener Greta pointed out that the folks over at TBPP have released an uncut version of the interview which runs about 40 minutes. I haven't had a chance to listen to it yet, but we'll definitely share any useful information we find in the next episode of the podcast.
Looks like Libsyn is trying out a NEW spam-deterrent on the comments, so I'll take a leap of faith and open them back up again so that no moderation is required.That doesn't mean you can be a jerk, though. Remember-- comments are here to talk about THE TV EPISODE or THE PODCAST. Please address the issues or statements made by the other posters, NOT the individual making the comments (ex. "I disagree with your comments about the ____, I found the show to be _____!" and NOT "You're stupid."). Please do not post under someone else's name. If you have a comment about THE PODCAST, try to keep it CONSTRUCTIVE (ex. "I thought Matt was way off base with his comments about ______, because..." and NOT "You're stupid.").The biggest reason Kevin and I keep producing TWSS is for the interaction with and feedback from other THE OFFICE fans. Let's keep things civil.Thanks.
Episode # 44 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin updating their resumes. Take my internship, please? It's job fair season in Scranton, PA, and Michael's attempts to lure the best and the brightest into the Dunder Mifflin summer program go about as well as... pretty much everything Michael attempts. Jim, down and disgraced thanks to Ryan's dirty tricks, decides to TRY, Andy deals with a mean case of the nifty blisties, Kevin makes rent, Pam looks for a new job, and Dwangela... well, they don't actually DO anything... but MAN, THE TENSION! Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. Check out Kevin's blog and podcast at the-frat-pack. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
If you haven't seen this on NBC.com yet, it's pretty amusing.
Something incredibly bizarre is going on with the comments this past week, so I have once again turned on comment filtering. That means that I will have to "approve" your comment for it to appear on the blogplage. I know it kind of sucks and limits the back and forth discussion, but I don't know what else to do. We're seeing tons of double and triple posts, giant random texts, and all sorts of other odd stuff. When it gets sorted out, we can go back to normal.
Many people were and are still upset about NBC yanking their content from Apple's iTunes store. The feud has been going back and forth, with rumors flying it may return, or may not, or whatever the case may be on that particular day. In the meantime, NBC has pimped their shows out to just about everyone ELSE, including Amazon's UnBox service, Hulu.com, cell phone video streaming... you name it.NBC is now teaming up with Microsoft to sell their shows on the Zune (Microsoft's MP3 player) video store. Not really that big of a deal, except that NBC is demanding Microsoft install some kind of filter on their Zune devices which will somehow block the device from playing any video file the filter believes is "unauthentic." Never mind the consumer's legal right to rip their own DVDs, for example. If NBC doesn't like it, it won't work. Why Microsoft is bending over and taking this isn't a big mystery (they're desperate, and have already kowtowed to Universal Music's demand to give them a cut of sales... a "pirate" tax, if you will), but it seems to me to set a pretty dangerous precedent. EDIT: According to the NYT article, Microsoft is apparently denying they agreed to do anything more than "discuss" the issue with NBC.
This one sounds pretty promising-- Jim, Andy and Kevin on the links? A situation rife with comedic possibilities if I've ever heard one. From NBC.com:JOB FAIR 9/8c TV-PG 05.08.2008 Jim (John Krasinski) hits the links with Andy (Ed Helms) and Kevin (Brian Baumgartner) to try and land his biggest client ever. Meanwhile, Michael (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) sets up a booth at a local job fair, which happens to be at Pam's (Jenna Fischer) alma mater, to find "the best and the brightest" for Dunder Mifflin's summer internship. Rainn Wilson, B.J. Novak, Leslie David Baker, Angela Kinsey, Creed Bratton, Oscar Nunez, Kate Flannery, Mindy Kaling, Paul Lieberstein, Phyllis Smith and Craig Robinson also star. -----------Leave your comments below, and join Kevin and me in the TWSS chat after the show.
Looks like Kevin was right in his speculation about Dwight's politics: on the Daily Show With Jon Stewart tonight, Republican presidential nominee John McCain (with tongue firmly planted in cheek) said that his running mate in the 2008 election is going to be Dwight Schrute. Well, he couldn't be any worse than Dick Cheney, could he?
Friend of the show Brian Howard over at the Remote Access TV blog offers up yet another interview with a recent THE OFFICE guest star, this time talking to Five Families member Paul "Cool Guy Paul" Faust.Head on over to Brian's blog for all the details.
Episode # 43 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin polishing up their back-up glasses. When a sassy, upset black man named STANLEY lets out his smelly frustrations on his clueless, purple boss MICHAEL, it's up to Dwight to eat the nice catfood. Errr... let's try that again. When Stanley erupts, Michael has to find a way to deal with the office insurrection. Dwight plots his revenge against Andy, Pam gets beaten with the ugly stick, and Jim faces a humiliating beat-down of his own from a hobbit-loving half-beard. How can Jim and Ryan solve their differences? Two words -- fluffy fingers. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. Check out Kevin's blog and podcast at the-frat-pack. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
Dwight buying and then flipping Andy's Nissan Xterra was one of the funniest bits to be found in DID I STUTTER? this past week. Dwight's Jedi mind-trick sales techniques, the "three way bidding war"... pure comedy gold.Inspired by the episode, the actual OWNER of said Xterra (one of the hairstylists on THE OFFICE) has put the car up on eBay as well. If you happen to be lucky enough (or foolish enough, given the current bid price) to purchase this vehicle, you'll also receive a copy of the DID I STUTTER script signed by the whole cast, the actual prop "for sale" sign used on the show, and a few other props that were used in filming (like a Cornell window sticker).If you live int he Van Nuys, CA area and just HAVE to own a piece of OFFICE history to drive around in, this might be the chance you've been waiting for. Hurry... bidding closes on MAY 8th!(currently at $15,300)
Strange title aside, I am curious to see how this clash of the titans plays out tonight. Michael trying to give Stanley an attitude adjustment? After going through an entire BRANCH WAR to get him back? :) There's no Stanley tree out there, people.WATCH THE FULL EPISODE NOW:DID I STUTTER 9/8c TV-PG 05.01.2008 TAKING ON THE BOSS - When Stanley (Leslie David Baker) snaps at Michael (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) during a meeting, Michael tries to give Stanley an attitude adjustment. Dwight (Rainn Wilson) decides to buy Andy's (Ed Helms) car. Meanwhile, Pam (Jenna Fischer) deals with an unexpected inconvenience after spending the night at Jim's (John Krasinski). Brian Baumgarter, Kate Flannery, Angela Kinsey, Oscar Nunez, Phyllis Smith, Mindy Kaling, Paul Lieberstein, Craig Robinson and Creed Bratton also star. ----------------As always, leave your comments below.EDIT: Here's a link to a large size picture of the organizational chart. Whose name is crossed off on the accountants side? And if Devon is here, where are the other Stamford people? :)EDIT 2:NBC has made a PDF file of the chart available for download. Click HERE to get the PDF of Dwight's "emergency" plan overlay.
Episode # 42 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin lost in a land of Hobbits and amazons. You know, it's not the horniness... it's the LONLINESS that gets you. A string of non-Crawford-esque dates has Michael up against the wall, but nothing solves a dry spell like a night of clubbing in NYC with your coked-up boss/ex-protege. At least the man from Schrute Farm managed to PULL like a team of Clydesdales. Jim's second attempt to be Michael goes as well as the first, as he manages to get everyone locked in, be racially insensitive, AND watch his best girl get man-handled by the HR rep... a perfect trifecta of sadness. One thing's for sure-- that Toby's got hops. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. Check out Kevin's blog and podcast at the-frat-pack. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
Friend of the show Brian Howard, of the Remote Access TV Blog, posted the first part of a two part interview yesterday with Cassie Fliegel AKA Tall Girl #1 AKA the hot chick that made out with Dwight during the NIGHT OUT episode. Check out the interview HERE, and look for the second part to be posted sometime soon.
I still cannot comprehend how the image below could ever come to pass, but I suppose I have only mere hours to wait for an explanation.From NBC.com:NIGHT OUT 9/8c TV-PG 04.24.2008 Michael (Steve Carell) and Dwight (Rainn Wilson) decide to surprise Ryan (B.J. Novak) in New York for a night of clubbing and meet his friends. Meanwhile, the Scranton branch is upset when they find out they have to come in on a Saturday for Ryan's website project. Jim's plan to save them has unexpected results. Brian Baumgartner, Ed Helms, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, Paul Lieberstein, Oscar Nunez, Angela Kinsey, Phyllis Smith, Mindy Kaling, Leslie David Baker, Kate Flannery, Craig Robinson and Creed Bratton also star. -----------------Leave your comments below, and look for Kevin and me in the TWSS CHATROOM after the show airs (Kevin's got the Pacific shift).
**WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD**I know we just complained about spoilers in episode #41, but since most of this info is spoiler-y without being specific, I figure it's OK. In the latest "Ask Ausiello" column, we get three new (sort of) tidbits of information:SPOILERS ARE IN WHITE TEXT IN THE SPACE BELOW. TO SEE THEM, CLICK AND HOLD THE LEFT MOUSE BUTTON WHILE DRAGGING DOWNWARD.1) One couple is getting engaged in the finaleSeems too obvious that it'd be Jim and Pam. My money is on Dwangela, mostly because it'd make me cry if Michael and Jan got back together.2) One cast member is leaving the showNothing new there, really. We've known this since Silverman's big announcement of the spinoff.3) When asked if Amanda Peet would be the new "boss" on the spinoff show (not sure where that rumor floated from), Ausiello replied "Y*s! C*ng*at*lati*ns!" (whatever the hell THAT means). So is he agreeing? Is it some secret code? Is NBC ready to have Peet as the boss of yet another failed show on their network? In other spoiler news, E!'s "Watch with Kristin" said that Pam was going to be revealing some "secret" before the end of the season. I figured that it would have something to do with why she couldn't agree to the engagement (that she'd taken another job-- the DM art internship-- perhaps?). Might tie in with the "one cast member is leaving" (sort of) cliffhanger for the season finale.
Episode # 41 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds Matt and Kevin both craving a hot and juicy red-head. Where were YOU, the day the chair model died? Michael finds more than just a great Aeron chair in the newest supply catalog, and feels ready to enter the next phase of his dating life... if only the rest of the office would cooperate. Sure, she's feisty, but can she fit into an average-sized rowboat? Parking problems cause Kevin and Andy to confront the five families with an offer they (hopefully) can't refuse, and a shocking revelation for PB and J that is going to kick your ass. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. Check out Kevin's blog and podcast at the-frat-pack. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
Yes, it's true... I am indeed SICK again. I felt perfectly fine last Wednesday until I had to pick my parents up from the airport. One hour later, BAM. Sore throat, congestion, the whole nine yards. Kevin and I recorded the show last night, so all that remains is the editing. As I said, HOPEFULLY that means it will be online sometime tonight.Thanks for your patience.
In conjunction with the May release of GET SMART, the most recent issue of WIRED magazine explores ways to "improve your brainpower." Steve Carell not only appears on the magazine's cover, but he also provides several rather tongue-in-cheek suggestions of his own on how to gently tease the old grey matter onward to new heights of excellence. One tidbit:Act "Human" When I go to parties, people often look stunned at how smart I am. But nobody wants to talk about astrophysics at a dinner party. Hey, when I want to talk like that, I head to the lab! Instead, I talk about "human" things they enjoy and understand: midrange wines, movie trivia, and mundane subjects like family and emotional fulfillment. I like to end my conversations with a quote, usually something in French, like "c'est la vie," which means "down the hatch!" But don't overdo it: Nobody likes a show-off.Check newsstands now, or head over to WIRED.com for the article.
A month has passed since the ill-fated dinner party... can't wait to see what we'll get in the first "post-strike" written episode. *IS* this episode the introduction of the spinoff characters? Will Michael find a new "special someone"? I guess only time will tell.Watch the full episode NOW:CHAIR MODEL9/8c TV-PG 04.17.2008 Michael's (Steve Carell) fascination with a woman modeling a chair in an office supply catalog makes him feel things he hasn't felt in a while. With Michael distracted, Kevin (Brian Baumgartner) and Andy (Ed Helms) team up to win back Dunder Mifflin's stolen parking spaces, forcing them into a showdown with the bosses of the five businesses of the office park. Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, Oscar Nunez, Angela Kinsey, Phyllis Smith, Mindy Kaling, Leslie David Baker, Melora Hardin, Kate Flannery and Creed Bratton also star. ----------------Leave your comments below, and don't forget to join us in the chatroom immediately following the episode.
Episode # 40 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds Matt and Kevin arguing about who's going to be sleeping on the bench. Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf? Why, Michael Scott of course. Michael finally tricks Jim and Pam into attending a dinner party, and surely nothing awkward could happen, right? Add a healthy dose of wine, the heady stench of homemade candles, a dash of Andy-gela, Dwight (plus guest), one amazing power ballad, shake, and watch relationships explode like Diet Coke and Mentos. Here's hoping Michael enjoys the irrigation room. SERENITY NOW! Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. Check out Kevin's blog and podcast at the-frat-pack. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
So I'm editing the "Dinner Party" episode of TWSS right now and watching the MY NAME IS EARL episode "Stole P's HD Cart" on TBS. What do I see in the background but the very burger joint that Pam & Jim hit at the end of the episode?The image is kind of small, but you can make it out:It's a "Winky Dinky Dog" franchise in MNIE. Not sure what it is in the universe of THE OFFICE. Best damn cheeseburgers in town, though.
Man o man, this is getting ridiculous: The NBC Universal store is now offering "Serenity by Jan" candle sets. There are three different sets, each with 4 different candles. I'm not sure how "bonfire" ends up smelling like hazelnut, but you can't expect a TRUE Jan original for only $15.
Hard to believe, but a new episode is finally here! From NBC.com:DINNER PARTY 9/8c TV-PG 04.10.2008 GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER - Pam (Jenna Fischer) and Jim (John Krasinski) find they have run out of excuses and are forced to go to Jan (Melora Hardin) and Michael's (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) house for dinner. When Andy (Ed Helms) and Angela (Angela Kinsey) are also invited to dinner, Dwight's (Rainn Wilson) jealousy gets the best of him. Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, Oscar Nunez, Phyllis Smith, Paul Lieberstein, Mindy Kaling and Creed Bratton also star. As always, leave your comments below.
With the return of our favorite show tomorrow, TV Guide's Michael Ausiello dove into a triumvirate of The Office "spoilers" in today's column. I won't spoil the "JAM" stuff he mentions, but I definitely want to discuss the following in light of our "the spinoff is a horrible idea" stance:Question: What do you know about the Office spin-off? — J.R.Ausiello: I know that, contrary to speculation, it will not revolve around Dwight. According to an insider, the Michael-Dwight dynamic is "too integral to the show." The likelier scenario, according to a Peacock insider, has Ed Helms' Andy headlining Office 2.0. "That idea was batted around prior to the strike," whispers my source, "and NBC seemed interested."Despite my initial "no way!" reaction, this sort of makes sense. Ed Helms is definitely a "bigger name" than some of the other actors on the show, and while I've enjoyed him in season 4, both Ian and I always felt that the Andy character was a bit too redundant (half Michael/half Dwight). If anyone were to leave the current show, I think I'd miss Andy the least.The only problem I have with this is that it seems to imply a "more of the same" kind of sequel show. As I said in episode # 39, I do NOT want to see "The Office 2.0" in the spinoff. If they can take the Andy character and put him in an environment that's different enough from the Dunder Mifflin digs, it just might work. Until we see more concrete plans, however, I'm going to reserve any more judgement.(BTW, Ausiello also makes it clear in this column that Greg Daniels and NBC would be "insane" to not consider ex-Gilmore Girl Lauren Graham for the "new Michael" role in the spinoff. This just in: Ausiello smokes crack. News at 11...)Disclaimer: AFAIK, Michael Ausiello does not smoke crack.Thanks to Ian for the tip.
Timed to both promote "Leatherheads" AND the return of THE OFFICE this week, The Onion AV Club ran a rather lengthy interview with everyone's favorite football phenom/Office hearth-throb Johnny K.Most of the interview focusses on "Leatherheads," but it eventually shifts over to THE OFFICE towards the end. One quote on how the writer's strike affected the show:AVClub: How did the strike affect the show? The Office can do standalone episodes as well, but it also has plot developments. What happens when the strike blows a hole through the season? How do you recover from that and make a complete season out of it?John Krasinski: I didn't know how they were going to do it. But I think they've done a great job of sort of picking up and creating these little mini-arcs, and just planting seeds. But yeah, the strike definitely devastated any chances of long lead arcs or very intricate arcs. I was really interested to see where it's going to go, but it didn't affect the tone of the show. Some of our funniest episodes are coming up now. And every episode relies at least a little on having some prior knowledge of the show. For instance, on our first episode back, Pam and I finally go to dinner with Michael and Jan, which has been in the works for a long, long time. Read the rest of the article HERE.EDIT:The Sporting News posted a Q&A session with old JK today as well.
I always wonder how these reporters/writers convince their bosses to let them tie their favorite TV show into their job somehow (kind of like those people you read about who write their masters dissertation on "Lost"). Call me cynical, but I imagine lots of "expensed" DVD sets and many a working hour "taking notes" while the aforementioned DVDs play happily in the background. U.S. News & World Report is the latest in a long line of periodicals that have attempted to find some deeper meaning in the world of Dunder Mifflin. Check out their article on "7 Career Lessons From NBC's THE OFFICE."Now if only I could figure out some way to design a few lesson plan units around the show... hmmm...
Episode # 39 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds Matt alone at the switchboard, gearing up for the big return next week. Two audio clips this week, including Kevin and I teaming up with Sarah from THE OFFICE ALLIANCE to discuss our thoughts on movies, what to expect in the rest of season 4, and the proposed Office spinoff series. Then join me as I talk to Jeremy Wisnewski, editor and contributor for a new book entitled THE OFFICE AND PHILOSOPHY. I prank, therefore I am? Find out more inside. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. Check out Kevin's blog and podcast at the-frat-pack. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
Now that the file finally posted, I guess I'll change this "Libsyn stinks" post into a "please leave your comments about episode # 39" post (since comments seem to be AWOL on the real post above).
WARNING: THAR BE SPOILERS BELOW!LEATHERHEADSRating: CFunny thing is, I've seen at least two "screwball" comedies from the 1930s in the last month and a half-- "Mr. Deeds Goes To Town," and "It Happened One Night." George Clooney's "Leatherheads" takes a generous helping of inspiration from BOTH of these classic films, and while it gets some of the tone and trappings right, it just can't seem to find the HEART.John Krasinski, as many of you know, plays and "up and coming" college phenom nick-named "The Bullet." He's an all-American guy, great football player and a war hero to boot. He's got endorsements up the wazoo, and a promising law career ahead of him after he graduates. Clooney plays the sort of manager, sort of press agent, sort of "star" of a rag-tag bunch of losers collectively known as the Duluth Bulldogs. Professional football is still a joke, and the Bulldogs succumb to low ticket sales and general disinterest. Rather than find other work, Clooney comes up with a plan-- do whatever it takes to make sure Krasinski plays for HIS team. Back in Chicago, Renee Zellweger plays a "gal reporter with moxie," who, much like Jean Arthur's character in "Mr. Deeds...," is charged with getting close to and then getting the DIRT on "The Bullet," who seems too good to be true. Just like Claudette Colbert's character in "It Happened...," Zellweger ALSO starts falling more and more for Clooney's "Clark Gable-esque" rascally ways as they spend more and more time together. To make it a classic triangle, she ALSO seems to be falling for Krasinski, and he definitely seems to be falling for her-- so much so that he lets her in on a rather damning secret which may or may not end his career or damage his good name (it's never really clear WHAT will happen as a result of this information leaking out, actually).This is essentially where the movie lost me. The antics showing the early days of football were mostly amusing and interesting, and if the film would have STUCK with that angle, it might have been more entertaining in the long run. Instead, it focusses on the love triangle. No big deal, right? Colbert had to throw off her drip of a fiance in order to be with Gable. Surely, like Arthur's character, Zellweger will suffer a crisis of conscience, repent of her evil, deceptive ways, beg forgiveness of the man she's double-crossed, and ultimately come to his defense... right? WRONG. Bafflingly, the movie wants to set up Krasinski as the "villain" to Clooney's hero, but it just doesn't work. We LIKE "The Bullet," we know his war story wasn't really his fault, and we never see him acting like a jerk or using his fame to manipulate people or do anything worse than take a swing at a man who has stolen his girl. Zellweger, far from having to search her soul about what to do with the hot story, sells him out in a heartbeat... and the movie wants the audience to be on HER side when she's then threatened with being fired. Frank Capra would have known that for the audience to be on her side we need Krasinski to be a total douche, twisting his mustache and threatening to "ruin her" or something. But Krasinski, as I said, is a NICE guy. I don't want to see him ruined, and I certainly wasn't on the side of a woman who'd romance a secret out of a guy and use it to crucify him (the scene Clooney orchestrates to humiliate him into confessing is also rather painful).As if that wasn't enough, the film sends Krasinski's character to the arch-rival Chicago Buffalos team mere days before the Bulldogs are set to play them. I guess this was also supposed to get us to see Krasinski as a bad guy or a traitor, but it still doesn't work: there are absolutely no stakes in the final game, I didn't really care if the Bulldogs won or not, and I still wasn't quite sure why Clooney-- and the audience-- was supposed to be rooting against Krasinski's character.In the end, The Bulldogs win, Krasinski promisses to "fess up," Clooney gets the girl, and they ride off into the sunset towards connubial bliss. As the credits began to roll, I realized a few things: one, that the movie was an interesting attempt to recreate a certain long-lost film style, and two, I simply couldn't have cared less that Clooney and Zellweger got together. After further review, though, maybe they deserved each other after all.BONUS! Fun "Leatherheads" Trivia!Did you know that WWI (a.k.a. "the great war") ended in 1918? Given the year "Leatherheads" takes place (1925), and the fact that Carter seems to imply that he is 24 years old, he would have been all of 17 years old (maximum) when the "incident" took place.
Aside from Steve Carell's role in LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, I haven't seen any of films starring the various Office cast members (MY SUPER EX-GIRLFRIEND? Looked dumb... WALK HARD? Killed by bad reviews... LICENSE TO WED? Do I really have to have a reason? HORTON and EVAN? No thanks). I am kind of curious to see LEATHERHEADS, though. Maybe it's because I used to play football, or because I enjoy a "screwball" comedy, or maybe just because the cast looks solid. The reviews, however, haven't been very kind (currently earning a whipping 55% freshness rating at Rotten Tomatoes).Still, 96% of critics drooled over JUNO, so what the hell do they know, right? (-_^)Anyone see the film? What did you think?
So... Anyone watching MY NAME IS EARL? Note to Jeff Zucker-- You're not funny (neither is this episode of Earl, really, but at least it's NEW).I don't think I'm going to sit through the two hour marathon just for the John Krasinski bits (that's why god invented the DVR, after all), but feel free to make any comments about his appearance below.Just saw the preview for DINNER PARTY... gotta say, Andy Bernard is one snappy dresser (Note to self: more over-the-shoulder sweater ensembles). The episode has been described as "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolfe?" meets... well... THE OFFICE. A crying Dwight, Michael discussing his three vasectomies... who could ask for anything more? That clip's a bit old, but I figured I'd show it anyway. Is it me, or did it get a little dusty in here?Don't forget, too, that Greg Daniels and the writing staff will be doing another live blog after the show on 4/10. Head on over to NBC.com to submit a comment.
Well, NBC has been busy unveiling its 2008-2009 prime time schedule today, which includes some rather baffling (but not unexpected) news -- "THE OFFICE SPINOFF" will debut in January 2009. A regular episode of THE OFFICE will air in the coveted post-Super Bowl slot, followed by the pilot episode of the unnamed (I can only pray it's not named "The Office Spinoff"...) spinoff.The ORIGINAL show will return in September, once again, with hour long episodes. E! is also reporting that the episode order for 2008-2009 is "28 half hour episodes" (not sure how those hour longs fit into that).The New York Times got the following information on the new show from Ben Silverman:NBC isn’t revealing much about the show itself. “The entire creative team of ‘The Office’ is behind this show,? Mr. Silverman said, including Greg Daniels, the show’s executive producer.It’s a tall order for Mr. Daniels and his colleagues, as they will also be producing hour-long versions of “The Office? throughout September.Mr. Silverman noted that “The Office? has a “huge ensemble? of actors.“We can’t even service some of these great actors and performers [on the original show], so it’s very likely you will see some of those actors on the spin-off,? he said.I got a chuckle out of some of the comments in the NYT article-- since the show was unnamed, the author asked, what names would its readers suggest for the show?Reader Jaimie quipped: 'I think they should name it something like “Creative Oversight? or “Gigantic Error.?'Damn right, Jaimie.Can anyone REALLY see it as a good idea to split the attention of THE OFFICE's writing staff? A good idea to take characters from one of the most beloved and talented ensembles ever assembled and shuffle some of them off to another show? THE OFFICE is amazing BECAUSE it has such a huge cast of characters... it's a TEAM effort, through and through. Sure, THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW gave birth to RHODA, THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW begat MAYBERRY RFD, ALL IN THE FAMILY spawned THE JEFFERSONS (and MAUDE), and DOCTOR WHO led into TORCHWOOD. I GET the concept. I know it's worked in the past, but it just makes me incredibly sad to think that one of the best shows on TV is going to screwed with in this way. For those people who say "But everyone said an AMERICAN remake of THE OFFICE would suck, and look how it turned out," I say "Bah." The situations aren't analgous in the least. The UK show was over, the American version took the pilot idea and ran with it, quickly making the show a very distinct beast. None of the UK cast came to America, the UK audience didn't have to watch David Brent or Tim suddenly relocate to Scranton, PA, being replaced by some new "nobodies" (or even worse, not replaced at all).Will I watch the new show? Of course. Maybe I'll even love it. But right now, it just worries me more than anything else.
With LEATHERHEADS only a week away, the hype-machine is in full effect. USA Today joined the John Krasinski love-fest today with an article talking about his experiences on the set, how he thought Clooney was "pranking" him by saying he got the role, and much more.Krasinski seems so squeaky-clean that the article's author asked Steve Carell if there wasn't a "dark side" hidden somewhere."You can dig for it, but I don't know that you're going to find it," Carell says. "What's not to like? Plus, he smells really good, like fresh-baked cookies." Read the full article HERE.EDIT:Parade magazine also had an interview/write-up on John today. Aside from the interview, ladies (and men secure in their heterosexuality) can enjoy some rather "hawt" web exclusive photos.
I know that with the strike in full effect, many of us were shunning any Office episodes that were being offered over the web. With the new contract in place, it's time to check out the HULU video-on-demand service if you haven't already done so.Currently, the service is offering NINE full episodes of The Office, with over 100 "clips" from the series. In addition, dozens upon dozens of OTHER shows are also available. Click HERE for a full alphabetical list of programs.
From the press release:In a new book published by Wiley-Blackwell, “The Office and Philosophy:Scenes From The Unexamined Life?, Editor and contributor Jeremy Wisnewski has assembled an impressive team of fellow philosophers who take a good look at the popular NBC Television program, “The Office?.Originally a BBC creation, the hugely popular show has spawned not just the multi-award winning American version, but French, German, and Canadian versions as well. Each plays to their individual cultures. This speaks volumes about the depth and insight of The Office.According to the editor, Professor J. Jeremy Wisnewski, “This show is hilarious, but it has something to say. Our book was written by fans for fans – every day folks who appreciate the show and who are a little more like Michael Scott than Socrates. We grouped the sections like office memos; each one reveals something new about The Office. It raises issues and lets us enjoy ourselves at the same time.?Readers will identify with the topics the book raises in chapters such as “Laughter Between Distraction and Awakening: Marxist Themes in The Office,? and “Attacking with the North: Affirmative Action and The Office.? The authors cite the perception of class and race differences in the office environment, as well as the differences between the British and American versions of the program. The Office and Philosophy examines the close and personal connection that viewers feel towards a fictional interpretation of a collective and common reality.The book works to further break down the “4th wall? of the show’s audience. The author contemplates why viewers are fascinated by a world where it is acceptable to make outrageous statements and voice beliefs not normally appropriate in a workplace. “The program offers insight into social expectations and plays with the boundaries of behavior and social mores.? [VF1]The manner in which the characters resolve and cope with these remarkable circumstances allow the audience to identify with how they may be able to resolve their own issues. The book delves into the process of self-discovery and self-deception. “We can see bit of ourselves in each character?, says Wisnewski. “We’re the analyst and the analyzed at the same time.?Political correctness, sexual harassment, business ethics, office flirtation, and humiliation are hot button points that show up in this snapshot of life. Even as it captures something of the human condition, The Office put the ‘fun’ in dysfunctional. “This is philosophy that is meant to introduce you to, and help you understand, issues in a way that is as enjoyable as the show itself.?Check out http://www.blackwellpublishing.com for more info.
If you're in the LA area, this is probably your best chance to "cast-spot" your favorite Office employee.WHAT: The world premiere of the romantic comedy "Leatherheads"WHO: "Leatherheads" director/cast member George Clooney; cast members Renee Zellweger, John Krasinski, Jonathan Pryce, Stephen Root, Wayne Duvall, Keith Loneker, Robert Baker, Malcolm Goodwin, Tim Griffin, Tommy Hinkley, Nick Paonessa, Mike O'Malley and Nicholas Bourdages; writers Duncan Brantley and Rick Reilly; producers Grant Heslov and Casey Silver.Plus additional celebrity guests including Brian Baumgartner, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Jenna Fischer, Luke Ford, Angela Kinsey, B.J. Novak, Masi Oka, Laura San Giacomo and Rainn Wilson.WHERE: Grauman's Chinese 6925 Hollywood Boulevard Hollywood, CAWHEN: Monday, March 31, 2008 5:30 PM Press Call Time 6:30 PM Celebrity Arrivals 7:30 PM Screening Begins"LEATHERHEADS" opens in theaters on Friday, April 4, 2008.
Are you going through Krasinski-withdrawl, like Michelle in Chicago? Fear not, true believer! According to E! Online's "Watch With Kristin," Johnny K. will be hosting a mini-marathon of Office episodes on April 3rd. Says Kristin: ...you'll get your John Krasinski fix April 3 when he hosts NBC's Thursday night comedy lineup. They're going to replay the last four episodes of The Office, and J.K. will be previewing scenes from his upcoming movie, Leatherheads, with Mr. George Clooney. Very fancy, our little Halpert has gotten, no?! Based on the comments, I'm guessing this WON'T be done in character (like Paul Lieberstein did hosting as Toby).
The New York Times published an article today looking at the ups, downs, joys and shame of belonging to an a cappella group. From the article:Whenever a cappella is mentioned in pop culture (see the comedy “The Break-Up,? in which Vince Vaughn is beaten up by an a cappella group; the bio for Stephen Colbert’s broadcast persona, which claims that he performed a cappella in a Dartmouth group called the Sing Dynasty; or the recent dismissal from “American Idol? of Luke Menard, who also sang a cappella), it is almost always a shorthand for rampant geekiness. On the NBC sitcom “The Office,? the grating Andy Bernard, a character played by Ed Helms, often reminds co-workers that he once performed with a Cornell group called Here Comes Treble.Mr. Helms said the show’s satire of a cappella was all in good fun, though he still bears the scars of his own brief encounter with the art form: in 1993, he said, he quit the Oberlin Obertones after one semester because of a personality clash with the group’s music director. “I decided smoking pot was more important than extracurricular activities,? he said. That's about it for OFFICE related content, but check out the rest of the article HERE if you're so inclined.
The website "Monsters and Critics" posted a rather lengthy chat with Rainn Wilson and Greg Daniels today. The questions were kind of all over the map, but there were a few gems including the following:Greg, can you give clues to anything that’s coming up in the upcoming 'Office' episodes going forward?Greg Daniels: Well I mean, that’s a very - kind of a charged situation where Michael has been asking Pam and Jim to come have dinner with him and Jan over and over, and over again.And he finally manages this - through this kind of scam, to destroy all their excuses. And it just happens to be after the previous episode which is when he went to New York to try and help Jan with her deposition and he kind of blew her sort of wrongful termination lawsuit.There’s a lot of tension between them in that episode. And then coming up we have some episodes that follow off on that.Some of them involve the character of Ryan whose website initiative started the season off and is kind of crumbling underneath him and has gotten - for some reason has become like infested with sexual predators.And - which is just one of the problems his website has. And we have episodes coming up where Dwight and Michael are going to have joined Ryan in some of his club-hopping New York partying and try to - I think get involved in his life a little bit more. But there’s some cool, weird things happening that I can’t talk about and, you know, you’ll just have to see it to truly enjoy all the twists and turns.Head on over to the FULL ARTICLE for more.
Scranton held their big annual St. Patrick's Day parade on Saturday, one of the "town defining" events which has never quite made it onto the show (blame it on the usual March hiatus). Dunder-Mifflin WAS represented this year, however, with the inclusion of CFO David (Andy Buckley) Wallace, who was apparently a big hit according to the Scranton Times-Tribune. Apparently, some politician showed up as well... but who cares, next to a rising star like Wallace? (har)Click on the link above to read more, and check out some videos of the festivities.
Episode # 38 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds Matt and Kevin looking for love in all the wrong places. It's february here in TWSS-land, so what better time to revisit a holiday classic? Love is in the air at Dunder-Miflin Scranton... at least for the budding entity known as "Dwangela." A bobblehead is born, JAM goes unrequited, and Michael takes on NYC like Stormin' Norman took down those Iraqis in Desert Storm. Let's get you home, TWSS listeners... you're going to get the best sex of your life! Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. Check out Kevin's blog and podcast at the-frat-pack. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! [note: As you can see, this episode was originally intended to air during February. Unfortunately, I came down with the flu and was unable to put the show together until now. Someone on iTunes said something in a review about how I "get sick too much," and you know what? I agree :) It sucks. We're going to try and get at least one more retro episode out before April 10th, and you can count on TWSS to be there for all the new episodes set to air in April and May. Thanks for your patience!]
Kevin Crossman says:There was a lot of talk about Rashida Jones potentially returning to The Office this season, but then her Fox pilot was picked up and next thing you know Jim Halpert is driving home from NYC looking for dinner with Pam.Unhitched recently debuted, and is also available on iTunes. I had a chance to sample the first episode last week when it was free on iTunes. Rashida Jones must have landed a winner if she was willing to leave a plum role on The Office, right? Wrong. Unhitched is awful.As if the phallic promo photo wasn't bad enough, the show was boring, trying-too-hard- but-not-hard-enough-to-be edgy, and most of all not funny. Check it out on Fox... while it lasts.Matt says:I've seen the majority of the first two episodes, and I have to agree with Kevin for the most part. The show desperately wants to be the new "Seinfeld" (and Fox's ads for the show certainly go out of their way to make the same connection), but so far it seems more on par with the "made for cable" sitcoms currently airing on TBS. Did I laugh at the "shrimp/angel wing/skin tag" plotline from this past week's episode? Not really... it certainly WAS rather disturbing (which makes sense, seeing as the show is a product of the Farrelly brothers). All told, though, I actually sort of liked the "B" story of the mild-mannered doctor friend "Freddy" (played by Shaun Majumder). As for Jones' story... pretty forgettable.Have you ever seen the first NEW episode of FAMILY GUY after it returned from cancellation? The one where Peter reads off a list of about 50 cancelled Fox TV shows? I have a feeling UNHITCHED will be joining that list sometime soon. I predict a big return for Karen in season five.
Hey guys.We've had the Valentine's Day podcast recorded since last week, but (like many times this year) I've come down with the flu these last few days and haven't been able to do much of anything beyond getting out of bed. As soon as I'm feeling better, I'll get back to editing. Should be up sometime soon (I hope!).**EDIT**Because of all the new spam lately, I have turned off unmoderated comments. If you leave a comment, I will have to approve it in order for it to show up. Hopefully we can figure out what is going on and get back to normal soon.
Thanks to listener Joe Bidinger for tipping me off that today-- February 15th -- is "International 'That's What She Said!'" day.Organized by Facebook, ITWSSD asks you to spend your time today trying your best to inject the famous TWSS! into any and all random conversations you may come across that require its insertion.Try not to hurt yourselves.
A little more specific information on when THE OFFICE will return, and how many episodes we should expect.From the New York Times article today:Greg Daniels, executive producer of “The Office,? said, “We’re going to do another six,? though he added, “We might be able to squeeze in seven if NBC asks for them.?“The Office? had a script ready to shoot the week the strike began, and that will be the first one the show produces. A second script was going to be the Christmas show. “We’re going to throw that one out,? Mr. Daniels said. He added that the writing team would discuss this week how to advance the show’s story lines.“I’m tempted to just leap ahead to where we would have been,? Mr. Daniels said.Well... not quite the ten episodes I was hoping for, but I suppose six (or hopefully seven) episodes are definitely better than nothing. I know that it's not exactly "April" material, but I find it a crying shame that this year's Christmas show will just end up in the garbage bin. So let's assume that Daniels and the writers decide to incorporate the strike gap INTO the actual storyline... another 3 month "fast forward" like we usually get over the summer? That would definitely be kind of weird... man, I can just see it now-- we come back from break, and Pam and Jim are already broken up. They can't be THAT evil, would they?EDIT:The AP posted a brief comment from Rainn Wilson today, regarding the end of the strike:Rainn Wilson, a Writers Guild member and co-star of "The Office," said he was hearing that everyone on the show will report back on March 10 to shoot six more episodes.Early on, the strike was a hiatus from the daily grind for some. By Tuesday night's overwhelming vote to end the walkout, it was clear they were eager to get back to work."The break has been long enough," Wilson said. "Everyone slyly around December was like, 'Actually, this is kind of cool.' Then it was January, February, you know, so we're ready to get back."
... Vera Chokalingam?Wow. You learn something new every day.
Thanks to occasional co-host Drew for the link to TV Guide's Ausiello Report. Not sure if there's a better or more comprehensive list out there somewhere, but click HERE to see a list of when our favorite shows will return and how many episodes we can expect to see once production resumes.As for THE OFFICE:The Office Expected to shoot 5 to 10 new episodes to air in April/May.I'm sure Office Tally will get more detailed information sometime soon.I have to say that if we DO get the max 10 more new episodes, the season won't have been a total waste (and besides, who wants to buy an 8 episode DVD of season 4? :))... that will put us at a respectable 18 episodes, with 4 hour shows thrown in... not too bad all told for a 3 month strike.
As expected, the contract was presented to the WGA at yesterday's meeting. As of right now, there is a 48-hour vote taking place to lift the strike. What that means is that if this passes, the writers could be back to work as early as WEDNESDAY.This *ISN'T* a vote on the contract... just a vote to lift the strike. The contract vote will have a 10 day voting window. If they DON'T vote to lift the strike, the contract vote will still go forward... so essentially they could approve the contract, yet NOT lift the strike until it is approved. This current vote seems to be just a show of good faith and a more or less "yes, we're going to agree to the contract" kind of thing.Man... is it true? Can this really be over? Will THE OFFICE staff be back to work on Wednesday? Let's hope so!
The buzz was that the strike was winding down to a resolution, and it looks like it could indeed be the end of the writer's strike.The studios and the WGA reached a tentative agreement late last night. I'm assuming that the offer will be discussed at the WGA meeting scheduled for today, and could be ratified by the menbership in this very same meeting. Everyone is eager to get back to work, so if the deal goes through, we could see our favorite shows go back into production as soon as possible.Other information I read yesterday hinted that it would take at least a MONTH for shows to begin appearing on air once again, and there was some speculation if the studios would even bother for this season... if they'd just cut their losses and focus on 2008-2009. Seeing as we still have the May sweeps period to contend with, I'd assume that they'd be wanting to capture as many eyes as possible, but then again, I'm no expert by any means. Guess we'll just have to see what happens.Remember, too, that The Office team had a script essentially ready to film (which Jenna Fischer called one of the "funniest ever") right before the strike happened. We might see a new episode sooner than expected, if everything goes well.See details on the tentative deal HERE (pdf document).Check the unofficial WGA blog UNITEDHOLLYWOOD.
Episode # 37 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds Matt and Kevin discussing the merits of an Italian sub (their bread is VERY good). TWSS listeners... Would you like to form an alliance with me? Absolutely you do! When rumors of downsizing begin to fly, Dwight does whatever he can to earn immunity for himself, even cozying up to arch-enemy Jim. While Jim and Pam enjoy their revenge, Dwight just might have the last laugh after all. Michael, meanwhile, struggles to raise morale in the office... and what better than a mint chocolate chip ice cream cake to revive the troops? Man, I think I'd kill myself if I was allergic to dairy. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. Check out Kevin's blog and podcast at the-frat-pack. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
If you haven't checked this out yet, please do so-- it's so ridiculous it brought a smile to my face. Hopefully the film won't be as campy/silly as this poster turned out to be. (gotta love the little bulldog in a sweater... that's pure 1920's goodness :))http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=41402
TV Guide is rather unfriendly when it comes to embedding their videos on your own site, but if you head on over to THIS link, you can see the handful of videos showing "Spoiler-Man" Ausiello interviewing Jenna Fischer, John Krasinski, Rainn Wilson, BJ Novak, Melora Hardin, and Leslie David Baker at this year's SAG Awards show (these are from 2008, I promise!).
BJ Novak will be performing his stand-up routine at the Lisner Auditorium (on the George Washington University campus in Washington DC) on February 8th.According to The GW Hatchet student newspaper, "student tickets for the show will cost $12 and can be purchased at the GW Ticketmaster in the Marvin Center. A limited number of tickets for the general public are available for $20 and are being sold through the Lisner box office."EDIT: He seems to be on a little college tour... he's also scheduled to appear at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL (just a stone's throw from the Schaumburg DMI branch...) on February 16th.
Well, I missed the show... but even a day late, the results are still just as sweet: our favorite cast took home the award for "Ensemble in a comedy series," beating out 30 ROCK, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, ENTOURAGE, and UGLY BETTY.Nice work, people!The Hollywood Reporter had a few after-award quotes: Forget about getting a straight answer from the cast of "The Office," winners of SAG's comedy series ensemble award. In fact, forget about staying more than five seconds on a topic with the way the actors cut up the back room. How hard is it to keep a straight face? "It's very hard to keep a straight face," castmember Brian Baumgartner said with a straight face. "I'm thinking they should have a trophy check," B.J. Novak interjected, "like a coat check, but for trophies." Getting back to the awards at hand, Novak joked about the cost of his SAG card: "I donated 25 bucks to KCRW, and six weeks later, my SAG card came in the mail." Saving management for last, a smirking Steve Carell joked that "Office" creator Ricky Gervais was jealous of the success of the American version of the series. "In fact, before the show, I was downstairs in the restroom, and he was there, and he leaned over the urinal, looked at me, and said, 'I knew it!' That's my Ricky Gervais story." Carell added that he couldn't wait to be on Gervais' HBO series "Extras." "I'll follow him wherever he goes," he said. Finally, a straight answer.
Apparently the TMZ guys were hanging around the courthouse in anticipation of some Britney Spears related shenanigans when someone recognizes our friend Steve Carell walking into the building.http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid353549946/bctid1388771220From the article:"He's been selected to serve on the jury in a civil case over some type of employment dispute. Both sides are Korean and non-English speaking, and we're told an interpreter will be present for the duration of the trial. As a juror, he'll be paid $15.00 a day -- that's at least something during the strike! "You just KNOW this is going to be made into an episode of THE OFFICE next season.
Several listeners pointed me to Jenna Fischer's most recent blog post where she talks about the press and how wrong they can get things some times. Case in point?"Over Christmas, I saw a report in Star Magazine that I'm dating David Spade. Imagine my surprise as… I'VE NEVER MET David Spade! What a milestone! My first TOTALLY 100% UNTRUE tabloid report! I've always been very cynical when I hear celebrities say that a story is fake. I figure SOME part of every story must be true right? NO WAY! I have no idea how they are allowed to get away with stuff like that! My publicist said that no one ever called to check the facts of the David Spade story. Which seems strange to me. I have a minor in journalism and I was told to never run a story without 2 reliable sources to back it up. But, while we are on the subject, some other people I've never met are: Orlando Bloom, Colin Farrell, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Brad Pitt. Maybe I can fictionally date some of those guys too?"Can I just be the first to say "whew"? I KNEW that couldn't be true. Sigh. I miss the show... Kevin and I are trying to record THE ALLIANCE episode sometime soon. I'm right in the middle of semester final exams, so I'm a bit swamped right now. Look for an update in the next week or so.(oh, and BTW, according to Jenna "they're real"! ;) )
Let's all give a big rousing cheer for birthday boy Rainn Wilson today -- everyone's favorite inn keeper/beet farmer turned 42.
I might be "discovering" something incredibly obvious here ("hey, look everyone! The sky is blue! Blue I say!), but the writer's strike and my ingrained resistance to going to bed before midnight has led me to appreciate what I'm calling "the Mac-man/Michael Scott" connection.See, I knew that Larry Wilmore (Mr. Brown from "Diversity Day") created THE BERNIE MAC SHOW. What I didn't know was that Paul Lieberstein was a writer/co-executive producer on the show, and Ken Kwapis was also a frequent director.I guess I find this sort of interesting because the humor couldn't be MORE different than the kind of stuff they've done for THE OFFICE. Quite the versatile group, huh?(Why do I find the idea of Toby Flenderson writing "The Kings Of Comedy" material so amusing? Maybe this is the real life origin of the "Michael does Chris Rock" incident? :))
I'm neither a huge J. J. Abrams fan NOR a monster movie fan, so I doubt I'll be seeing this week's CLOVERFIELD. That didn't stop our friend John Krasinski from hitting the big Hollywood premier event for the film this past Wednesday. From VARIETY:When an untitled trailer for "Cloverfield" debuted last summer attached to prints of Paramount's "Transformers," no one was quite sure what to make of it. Now everyone has an opinion. Variety asked guests at the film's Hollywood premiere on Wednesday to weigh in with their reactions.John Krasinski, star of NBC's "The Office": "I thought it was great! I didn't have any expectations so it shattered them. I think it's both an incredibly innovative script and idea to bring back the monster genre, but they also started breaking some boundaries in film. The night vision shot in the tunnel was wild. It was kind of like 'Blair Witch' on speed."Rainn Wilson was also at the premier, but alas, no smart-alecky quips were quoted. Hit the link above for other celeb reactions.
The Celebrity Baby Blog has an update on Angela Kinsey and her pregnancy (with pictures). According to the article, Angela and husband Warren Lieberstein already know that it's a girl, and the due date is May 9th.Rainn Wilson has reportedly been calling Angela every few weeks and asking her how "Dwight's baby" is doing. Man, as if his turn in JUNO wasn't creepy enough... (^_^;).Wilson's comments go back to what we mentioned before-- how would the writers have dealt with Angela's pregnancy IN SHOW? Lots of baggy clothes and hiding behind filing cabinets, or would it have been played as Dwight's love-child? I can't imagine they'd have gone that route, since there isn't much deadlier to an ensemble comedy than adding an infant into the mix. I guess it will go down as one of those unanswered questions.
From Variety:'Office' relocates to Latin America -- BBC licenses comedy for Chilean remakeBy BOBBIE WHITEMANBBC Worldwide Americas has licensed "The Office" for a local remake in Chile.It's the first format deal in Latin America for Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's comedy and the first Spanish-language version."We stopped making 'The Office' in 2003, but the rest of the world didn't," Gervais said. "I won't be happy until I see an Inuit doing the dance.""The Office" airs in 90 countries, with remakes in the U.S., France and Germany.The license covers season's one and two of the office-set spoof documentary plus end-of-season specials. Chilecorto and Canal 13-Chile, part of leading Chilean network UCTV, will begin production early this year; the show will air on Canal 13-Chile in May.Chilean actor Luis Gnecco will play the role of the smug boss played by Gervais in the British version (and Steve Carell in the NBC remake), which has gone into syndication.BBC Worldwide will advise on the production, and Duncan Cooper, BBC Worldwide's executive producer of formats and local production, will assist Chilecorto and Canal 13-Chile in the show's development.Carmen Gloria Lopez, head of programming at Canal 13-Chile, said: "From watching 'The Office,' we realized very quickly that the working day in Chile is actually very similar to office life in the U.K. and America. Our production will show you we have more in common than you might think."
Vanessa Juarez of ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY sat down to chat with Rainn Wilson for their "Q&A" column this week. Rainn is still getting attention for his micro-cameo in JUNO, and is also slated to host the FILM INDEPENDENT'S SPIRIT AWARDS in February. Lots of the other questions in the interview covered these spots. Still, this is an OFFICE blog/podcast, so what did he have to say about our favorite show?ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How are you and your Office castmates doing? Are they experiencing strike fatigue?RAINN WILSON: Yeah, it was a really lovely break, and it's just turned into a living hell. I just spoke to Jenna [Fischer, who plays Pam on The Office] the other day and we are so ready to go back to work. I feel bad because they had so many amazing things planned for season 4 with Dwight and Angela, and I was so excited to film those. And we may not have a season 4! Period. That may be it. It's a very real possibility.Have you been out to the picket lines?Oh yeah, I've been out three or four times. The Office writers are very active in the strike. I hope the people hold strong.What's everybody from The Office doing for entertainment? Have they become Netflix addicts, or engaged in other hobbies like competitive eating?Well, I think Leslie [David Baker], who plays Stanley, has taken up rock climbing and Meredith is actually a prostitute now. Steve Carell is a pool shark. And John Krasinski has gone into international diplomacy. So people have stayed very active and are doing a lot of very interesting stuff. I've taken up spelunking. So there you go... right from Rainn's own mouth. Hmm. I wonder if he could possibly be... kidding? Nahhhhhh.
Speaking of THE OFFICE popping up nearly EVERYwhere these days, online retailing giant Amazon.com has teamed with NBC and TurboTax in asking the question "what kind of filer are you?"Are you a Pam (an "E-Z Breezy filer")? Or a Jim (a "procrastinator")? How about a Dwight (otherwise known as a "fancy filer")? Clicking on a profile will help narrow down which of the two hundred thirty seven versions of TurboTax may be right for you. From the Dwight "fancy filer" Schrute profile: Fact: You’ve got a full-time job and an inherited family business and a burgeoning side project in the agritourism field (permits are pending). Fact: You're going to need to account for your extra income or losses (because your cousin Mose can't possibly guarantee the beet farm will turn a profit). Fact: The right tax software will help you get through even the most intricate tax return--alone and on your own time over a bowl of Count Chocula--without ever having to divulge private information.As a bonus, Amazon will also suggest character appropriate ways for you to spend your refund (assorted teas and a foot massager for Pam, a recorder and a home hair-cutting kit for Dwight).Head on over to Amazon to check out the other profiles (and buy some tax prep software, if need be). (What, no Michael Scott "I declare BANKRUPTCY!" profile? What a rip!)
Just saw this over on TheVegasEye.com-- looks like our boy Johnny K. was doing a little partying in "the LV" this past weekend. Apparently, he was in town for a friend's bachelor party at the Hard Rock.Check out that scruff. Letterman, O'Brien... Krasinski? A sign of writer solidarity, or a simple fashion statement? Only his barber knows for sure...EDIT:Another article, another picture... same one expression.
Kevin passed this along to me today, and it might come as vindication for the office writers! See, people ARE that stupid...D'oh! Man follows GPS onto train tracks -- when train comingBEDFORD HILLS, New York (AP) -- A Global Positioning System can tell a driver a lot of things -- but apparently not when a train is coming.A computer consultant driving a rental car drove onto train tracks Wednesday using the instructions his GPS unit gave him. A train was barreling toward him, but he escaped in time and no one was injured.The driver had turned right, as the system advised, and the car somehow got stuck on the tracks at the crossing. He jumped out and tried to warn the engineer by waving. He got out of the way just before the train slammed into the car at 60 mph, Metro-North railroad spokesman Dan Brucker said Thursday.The car was pushed more than 100 feet during the fiery crash.Some 500 train passengers were stranded for more than two hours during the Wednesday evening rush hour. The accident also heavily damaged 250 feet of rail, Brucker said.
Episode # 36 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds Matt and Kevin enjoying the endless perks of the gold plan. I'm hot blooded, check it and see... I've got a fever of 103... I just hope it's not a bad case of Count Choculitis! Especially now that Dunder Mifflin is cutting back on their health insurance to save some cash. When Michael's forced to be the bad guy, he passes the buck to Dwight... but who needs a health plan when they have the ability to raise and lower their cholesterol at will? The rest of the office is in revolt, and it's up to Michael to smooth things over with a big surprise-- ice cream sandwiches for all! Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. Check out Kevin's blog and podcast at the-frat-pack. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
Just FYI: CBS will be airing the 2007 KENNEDY CENTER HONORS tonight at 9 pm Eastern/ 8 pm Central. The honors are essentially a "lifetime achievement awards" for people in the arts. This year will see the induction of musician Leon Fleisher, comedian Steve Martin, filmmaker Martin Scorsese, and musicians Diana Ross and Brian Wilson. Steve Carell will be doing the introductory speech for fellow comedian Martin. EDIT:The video...
A goofy video entitled "Backlash" popped up this week which features our man Darryl Philbin, the "Mac" guy (Justin Long), the fat kid from SUPERBAD (Jonah Hill), and the hen-pecked husband from KNOCKED UP (Paul Rudd) sitting around playing some ROCK BAND and chatting about Judd Apatow's latest film (and complete box office bomb) WALK HARD. Let's just say that Craig isn't "that lovable guy from THE OFFICE" in this clip.Just FYI: the video gets a little "blue." Definitely not safe for work (or around young, impressionable ears).
The Hollywood Reporter/Reuters is reporting that SCRUBS star Zach Braff is hoping to direct and executive produce a new drama pilot at Fox.Titled "Saint of Circumstance," the pilot follows the story of an office drone (THE OFFICE's David "Roy" Denman) who quits his dead-end job to become a night shift paramedic. The pilot will be put into production when (if?) the writers' strike is resolved.
The strike is definitely taking its toll... not only has our favorite show been shut down for weeks, but too much free time has apparently allowed Jenna Fischer to "hook up" with David Spade (at least according to Star Magazine).Not sure WHY, exactly, but that makes me kind of sad.
If you're really desperate for some Jenna Fischer action, both she and WALK HARD co-star John C. Reilly will be showing clips of the film during the hour of THE OFFICE episodes on TBS tomorrow night (10 pm eastern/ 9 pm central, Tuesday, December 18th, 2007). Scroll down a bit for Kevin's early review of WALK HARD.
Episode # 35 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds Matt sick and alone, rooting through his holiday leftovers in a desperate attempt to please the TWSS army. In this episode, lots of bits and bobs from the convention in October that never aired... including interviews with people on the street, three songs from The Scrantones, and the entire audio of the cast/crew press conference (warning: audio is very low quality). Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
by Kevin CrossmanWith Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, filmmakers Jake Kasdan and Judd Apatow have created one of the most unique movie experiences in years. The film works equally as a musical parody for fans in the know, but also as standard farce for less-knowledgable moviegoers. Plus, it's an outstanding story that provides genuine emotional appeal with a surprisingly engaging story about redemption and family. It also happens to be one of the funniest films of the year and the best "mockumentary" since This is Spinal Tap.In a ten-minute prologue, we learn about Dewey Cox, a fun-loving country kid who accidentally kills his overachieving golden child of a brother with a machete. Scorned at home by his father (Raymond J. Berry) who constantly reminds him "the wrong kid died," Dewey soon sets off on his own as a fourteen year-old with the twelve year-old bride Edith (Kristen Wiig). Dewey struggles with his musical career but soon finds fame with his signature song "Walk Hard." As Dewey's fame rises, he deals with drugs, infidelity, and a beautiful backup singer named Darlene Madison (Jenna Fischer) who he falls in love with.As the 60s arrive, Dewey finds himself in prison and later rehab. He achieves a career renaissance until The Beatles introduce him to LSD in an especially effective scene that features hilarious cameos by Paul Rudd, Jack Black, Justin Long, and Jason Schwartzmann as the Fab Four. As the sixties end, Dewey's life is in another dark place. His career rebounds in the 70s as CBS green lights "The Dewey Cox Variety Show" for television. But, sadly, Dewey's life apart from Darlene is empty and unfulfilled.The last act provides true drama to this otherwise silly movie. This is where John C. Reilly's acting chops really come in handy. He's hilarious throughout and his singing is outstanding. But the dramatic material really needed an actor to pull off properly and Reilly is "guilty as charged." The last scene might even bring a tear to your eye, like it did for me.Walk Hard features an incredible soundtrack that features a myriad of musical styles from the past fifty years. Though the title song will remind you of Johnny Cash, this is not a parody of Walk the Line. That film's musical and thematic notes are present to be sure, but educated viewers will see similarities in the story and the music to Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, Brian Wilson, and others. While not every song on the outstanding soundtrack is featured in the film, several songs shine in the movie. The title track receives the requisite montage treatment, complete with the familiar Billboard chart framing. "Guilty as Charged," "Let's Duet," and "Beautiful Ride" are just a few of the outstanding tunes in this parody that like This is Spinal Tap features true musical credibility.Film buffs who like cameos will love Walk Hard. The film features a veritable cornucopia of gag casting, featuring numerous performers from past Apatow productions. In addition to the aforementioned Beatles casting, the film also features Frankie Muniz as Buddy Holly and musician Jack White as Elvis. Other cameos are so delightful they won't be spoiled here, but let's just say that you won't be disappointed unless you're a fan of Will Ferrell (who doesn't appear) or Patrick Duffy (who's cameo from the trailer didn't make the final cut).Fans of The Office will be very interested in the movie. Jenna Fischer may not win an Oscar like her counterpart Reese Witherspoon but she does bring the requisite comedic heft during her overly emotional scenes opposite Reilly. She delivers ridiculous lines like "they say the 60's are an important time" like a pro. That's not Fischer's voice during one of the film's signature scenes, "Let's Duet", however. Craig Robinson does get to sing however, playing an early R&B singer who's illness provides a springboard to the young Dewey Cox. His song "Jump Little Children" is also featured on the Deluxe Exclusive version of the soundtrack available at iTunes. Ed Helms has a brief role as a stage manager and gets off a couple funny lines.The film isn't perfect. There are big jumps in time that aren't handled very well, and at times the cameos draw attention away from both the drama and even some of the jokes. Also, our favorite song from the Deluxe Exclusive version of the soundtrack, the emotionally wrenching "Weeping on the Inside," was played for laughs rather than drama as it probably deserved.Minor quibbles aside, Walk Hard is a revelation. Who gives a damn about this being a comedy, give Reilly another Oscar nomination says we! With powerful songs, hilarious dialogue and performances, and more Cox than you can shake a stick at, this is truly an outstanding film.More photos and links:http://www.the-frat-pack.com/reviews/walkhard.html
About six or seven months ago, TWSS was sort of forced into a shut-down because of a pretty nasty bout of walking pneumonia I contracted. I don't know if things are that serious THIS time around, but in the last few days I've felt like utter crap (and my voice is gone, to boot).Long story short, not sure when the new episode will be up. Sorry for the delays, and thanks for your patience and understanding.
1) In strike news -- Things are NOT looking good. The latest round of negotiations have broken down, and both sides are pretty much back where they started from (i.e. the studios say the WGA is being ridiculous, the WGA says the opposite, and the head of the "below the line" workers union slams the WGA). Read more HERE, and go HERE for the WGA side of the story.Apparently, according to the WGA and other Hollywood insiders, the studios never had any intention of making a deal and have, in fact, hired a high priced PR attack firm (known in political circles as "the masters of disaster") that has "a reputation for hardball tactics in damage control and inflicting damage on opponents." Supposedly these guys cost $100,000 a month. Asks the WGA: why hire a PR firm if you actually plan on making a deal? Good question.2) According to UK gossip site Showbiz Spy, Ricky Gervais is ready and willing to do a cameo on the US version of THE OFFICE.3) The Hollywood Reporter also gave some juicy details about Judd Apatow's next film project, YEAR ONE (a comedy set in biblical times). The cast includes Jack Black, Michael Cera, Christopher "McLovin" Mintz-Plasse, Oliver Platt, and David Cross, with Harold Ramis slated to direct.The connection to THE OFFICE? The script was penned by Office writers (and Vance Refrigeration employees) Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky. Filming is set to begin in January.4) Jenna Fischer is looking to go "indy" -- while talking to MTV, Jenna said: “I’m developing a film. I guess this is what actors do, right? You go and you get a writing partner and you produce your own film, so that’s what I’m doing ... I have a writer who’s working with me, and we’re writing a little indie comedy — a real ensemble comedy.?Funny thing was, this story originally misquoted Fisher, saying that she was going to be "naked" and the film would feature lots of "boobies." Turns out she was referring to the cleavage-filled "Walk Hard" (where she remains fully clothed) and NOT this new project.5) Oh yeah... the next episode of TWSS will be up next week. We were going to record this weekend, but I've got a lot to work to do and since Kevin will be attending a special screening of "Walk Hard," I figured we might as well wait for his review. Look for the retro episode of season one's "Health Care" on WEDNESDAY next week.
Everyone's favorite Sunday newspaper pack-in PARADE MAGAZINE did an "In Step With..." interview with Jenna Fischer this week (dated 12/9/07).Not much here, although she does talk about her new home and says that getting back together with her ex-husband would be "the best!" In addition to the interview, there's also a nice selection of new pictures taken specifically for the article.Check it out HERE.( Photo Credit: Larsen & Talbert For PARADE)
I'm assuming that everyone who frequents the TWSS blog already owns all the seasons of THE OFFICE, but if you're STILL waiting... or if you'd like to convert some friends or relatives to the show this holiday, Target has a few deals for you:Right now, they're selling SEASON ONE for $9.99, and SEASON TWO for $12.99 each. Not sure if these prices are available IN STORE, but it's worth a look.(If you're looking for some other TV viewing, they're also selling seasons one and two of HOUSE for $12.99 each, season five of 24 for $14.99, and the first five seasons of SMALLVILLE for $14.99)
As That's What She Said reported on back in August , NBC Universal and Apple were not able to reach a renewal deal for the TV shows available in the iTunes Store. The previous agreement ended on December 1st, and sooner than you can say "try my googi googi" Apple has pulled the NBC shows from the store and associated websites. Thus apparently ends this sad chapter of internet commerce.It's an especially bitter pill for The Office fans to swallow, since many attributed the show's availability in the iTunes Store as once of the key factors in it's rise from cult curiosity to demographic ratings hit for NBC. In addition, The Office was frequently featured during CEO Steve Jobs' product keynotes for Apple Inc. As noted several months ago, Apple refused to provide pricing flexibility to NBC since they claimed that it would result in higher prices for some shows.The Office will continue to be available on the NBC.com website (well, when new shows start to air once the Writers Strike ends…). The Hulu.com service from NBC and Fox continues in private beta, leaving many Office fans desperate for Hulu’s by-invitation-only pass codes. Of course, Hulu.com won't help everyone desperate for online TV shows. It requires Internet Explorer, the NBC Direct Player, and the latest .Net framework (all Windows only)Hulu does have some nice web-only features though. You can watch episodes online and even embed clips or entire episodes to your blog (complete with ads, however). As an example, check one of the highlights of Season Four.Amazon’s Unbox service is another outlet selling The Office episodes for as little as $1.89 with subscription. While Unbox has similar Windows-centric system requirements as Hulu, there are some more liberal use rights, including transfer to TiVo devices and some portable video players.With Christmas coming in about three weeks, it’s sad that many future iPod or iTunes Gift Card owners will be unable to catch up on episodes of The Office. And in this writers opinion, it’s unlikely they’ll discover the show on those other services. Instead, they might just check out what the talk is all about on that other buzz-worthy Thursday show: “I hear that Ugly Betty is pretty good, let’s check it out.?-Kevin Crossman
I was a huge fan of THE X-FILES back in the day, and enjoyed the first 4 seasons of BUFFY:TVS, so I'm not sure why I never gave CW's SUPERNATURAL a shot. Maybe because it WAS on the "CW," home of schlocky pre-teen soaps and fashion model contests. Regardless, about a year ago I bought the first season on DVD from my local Goodwill store and It's been sitting on my shelf ever since. Being a teacher, I have my Summers free, and even THAT wasn't enough to get me to watch the show before now.Oh, you crazy writers strike! See what you make me do?SUPERNATURAL is the story of two brothers whose mother was murdered twenty-two years ago by supernatural means. Their father sort of snaps, I guess, and spends the ensuing twenty-two years training his sons to hunt and eliminate supernatural beasties while on a quest to find the THING responsible for mom's death. As the series opens, their father has gone missing, and it's up to the two brothers to FIND him as well as take over the "family business" for him while he's away. Lots of chaos ensues.Now, I realize this show is currently in its third season, so I'm really behind the times, but I just watched the first four episodes in a row and I'm digging it. It's definitely MOTW (monster of the week) material, but it's creepy enough and cool enough (so far) to hold my interest. One of the things I like about it is that it is a rare show that features two MALES in the leads. Think about it... when was the last time you've seen a show with two men as partners? LAW & ORDER started that way, but now, every single L&O has the same M/F partnerships (hell, even X-FILES did). Looking at their webpage, I see there are two "hot chicks" now on the team, so that might be out the window, but I guess I'll deal with that when I come to it.Highly recommended if you've ever been a fan of those shows mentioned in the first paragraph.
With the strike in full effect, I've been rather desperate for alternatives (see thread below). This weekend, I finally fired up all the MY NAME IS EARL episodes I've had sitting on my DVR since the new season began.As I've said before, I was a fan of MY NAME IS EARL before I started watching THE OFFICE. In fact, the only reason I started watching season two of THE OFFICE was because it came on right after MNIE, and I was too lazy to change the channel ("The Dundies" did the rest).I started losing interest in season two of MNIE because they went with a season-long plot arc where Earl's ex-wife Joy was arrested for committing a kidnapping/ robbery and was looking at being sent to prison. I thought the Joy stuff was boring, felt the show had lost the edge it had in season one, and didn't bother to see the last half of the episodes last year. Season three started with another gimmick -- Earl is now in jail, serving the time for his ex-wife. Seemed lame, but now that I've caught up with all the third season episodes, I admit the error of my ways. The prison thing adds a whole new level to the show's insanity, and I find myself remembering why I liked the show in the first place.NBC's Video Rewind has the last 6 episodes online.
Just a few other little stories today:1) Netflix and NBC have struck a deal to allow Netflix subscribers to have online access to HEROES episodes the day after they air. Subscribers can also access previous seasons of THE OFFICE, 30 ROCK, or FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS either online or with traditional DVDs.2) Pete Mongillio of the Austin American-Statesman offers up several "emergency viewing" suggestions for those of us missing THE OFFICE.3) Kate Flannery appeared on LOVELINE last night (11/28). Hit the LINK to listen to the show.
The LA Times did a cover story today on where to celebrate Christmas in the Los Angeles area, and they asked Jenna Fischer for some ideas.From the article: YOU can imagine the poor schlubs from "The Office" throwing their annual office party. "If Pam was planning it," says Jenna Fischer, imagining her role as the receptionist on the popular television series, "she'd probably book it at Poor Richard's. Poor Richard's is a real place in Scranton, and it also has a bowling alley attached. So it would actually be ideal because everyone from the office could eat and then bowl together." It might get a lot of laughs, and surely it would turn out badly, as things invariably do on the beloved sitcom. But it's much more festive to imagine Fischer, the ascendant actress, feting and feeding her family and friends from the Midwest in the warm confines of Vitello's Italian Restaurant in Studio City, as she has in years past. It's likely to remind her of the family eateries in her adopted hometown of St. Louis -- and "great, because you can be loud in their private area upstairs," she says. Indeed, the holiday season is upon us, and with it the desire to make merry outside the home . . . in a manner that doesn't involve days of preparation or hours of cleanup. But how to do so without subjecting the general populace to your obnoxious co-worker Michael's bad Santa jokes? You can reserve a private room at any number of Los Angeles bars or restaurants and party like a star, or at least a Midwesterner-made-good.Read the rest of the article HERE.
Well, it's Thursday again... and no new OFFICE to help brighten the dreary autumn days. While pondering this tragedy, I started to wonder what YOU guys were doing to fill your TV watching time. Me? Not watching much TV at all anymore. I'm hoarding all my HEROES episodes from this season until episode #11 airs (the mid-season finale), since I think the show plays much better in one long viewing. Despite really hating the guy on Fox's "Hell's Kitchen" show, I have sort of become addicted to watching Gordon Ramsay's "Kitchen Nightmares" shows (both the US edition on Fox, and the UK version on BBCAmerica). The US version really amps up the conflict, but I'm still enjoying watching old Gordon raise hell in these failing restaurants (the UK version IS much more enjoyable, though).Other than that... not much. Lots of Simpsons and Family Guy reruns.So again, what about you guys? Have you switched to DVDs? Are you watching lots of reality shows? foregoing TV entirely? Are you actually -- gasp! -- reading? Inquiring minds want to know.
I found this article on Dose.ca today, talking about the increasing link between product placements and our favorite prime-time shows. Sure, we've made fun of and pointed out the obvious ones (like the Staples Shredder or the Blackberry) and the not so obvious (like the bailer from "Safety Training"), but I was staggered to read this paragraph:So far this season, the Hollywood Reporter says there have been 142 product placements on 30 Rock and 381 on The Office - but NBC says it has always included these promos to up the funny, and Office showrunner Greg Daniels has said his show will no longer do these deals because he "found it pretty impossible to balance the desires of the ad agencies and their clients with the needs of the show."THREE HUNDRED EIGHTY ONE product placements JUST THIS SEASON? Really? That blew my mind. Wow. In this age of TiVo and skippable commercials, I guess this is the next logical step in the evolution of TV advertising... but yeesh!As sort of disgusted as I am by that number, I'm also surprised and intrigued by the comment that Greg Daniels is no longer allowing these deals on THE OFFICE. I'm surprised that he can say "no," frankly, especially since new chief Ben Silverman has been a pioneer in the product placement realm. Whatever the reality may be, I applaud Daniels for putting the needs of the show over the needs of the sales department.
As you may recall, negotiations between the WGA and the studio heads resumed officially on November 26th. Apparently, word has leaked that negotiations are "done," and that a deal is already in place between both sides. From Nikki Finke's DEADLINE HOLLYWOOD blog:a very reliable source tells me that there appears to be a deal seemingly in place between both sides [...] my source thought it was possible that the strike could be settled before Christmas. Look, I don't want to raise false hope here. But this source has been very accurate in the past. John over at UnitedHollywood.com isn't too optimistic, however:What if this round of negotiations falls apart? Personally, I didn't think it would come to a strike in the first place. It seemed inconceivable that the conglomerates would stand by a platform that was so -- no other word for it -- evil. But they did. And we went on strike. Had the AMPTP proposal been only 60% evil, who knows what would have happened [...] am I optimistic we'll have a fair deal by the end of the week? Nope. I'd love one. But I'm afraid after how the companies have behaved so far, I'll feel enthusiastic when there's a joint announcement about a deal and not a moment sooner.There's still a media blackout over the negotiations, so for now we'll just have to rely on blind faith, hope and scuttlebutt to get us through the cold, looming months ahead.WGA and studios -- It almost physically pains me to type this -- just "get-r-done."
Paul, an assistant Sunday editor for the Boston Globe, sent in these links for a "tour of Scranton" piece that they did with Mindy Kaling back during the convention.Says Paul:"At the recent Office Convention, we got Mindy Kaling to show us Scranton -- the only thing is she'd never been there before. It's so funny. Here are the links. Both the story and slide show (which is partly narrated by Mindy) are so fun. We get all her first takes on the Radisson, Steamstown Mall, Poor Richard's ("a bitchin' bar''), Cooper's, and a bunch of other places (Alfredo's Pizza Cafe, University of Scranton etc etc). We also get the lowdown on the local urban legend of where the "real' Dunder Mifflin is.Here's the LINK to the story, and to the AUDIO SLIDE SHOW (the stuff at Poor Richard's is the best, and you'll never listen to John Mellencamp the same way again)"Thanks for the links, Paul! The weird thing is, I was IN the food court of the Steamtown Mall when Mindy walked in-- I looked over and did a double-take as she was suddenly a few feet from me, posing next to the Scranton sign.
As confirmed with US magazine this past week, Angela Kinsey's "people" have revealed that the actress is indeed pregnant. Due in May, Kinsey and husband Warren Lieberstein have apparently been "trying for some time." Congratulations to one of the nicest people in television.That aside, this also brings up a lot of possibilities as to what would have happened during the season to cover up or explain her real-life pregnancy. Would they have just dressed her in bulky sweaters and had her carry a lot of boxes in front of herself, or would they have written it into the show somehow? Would this have brought Angela and "D" back together? Somehow, I just can't imagine Dwight spawning. But I suppose stranger things have happened...
Looking to make it a "Dunder Mifflin" Christmas this year? Perhaps a fluffy robe, a fun run wristband, a Michael Scott bobblehead, or a warehouse shirt will make your Hanukkah happier? Maybe a set of DM golfballs will help make it a crazy Kwanzaa? Regardless of what holiday you celebrate, the NBC/Universal store is now offering free shipping for orders over $50 from now until November 30th.Enter code BLACKFRI at check-out.
The NBC auctions site went live yesterday, and some of the items are already through the roof (as predicted, the paintings from HEROES are currently fetching several thousand dollars, with two weeks left to run).Most of the THE OFFICE items are more reasonable than that, but they're still in the $150-250 range. I guess if you really want to own Roy's warehouse shirt, this is your big chance.Michael's Watch Michael's Hawaiian Style Convention Shirt Dunder Mifflin "Fun Run" T-Shirt Roy's Dunder Mifflin Warehouse Shirt Dunder Mifflin Polo Convention Shirt
1. Rainn Wilson performed a charity one man show in Longview, WA last Saturday. There's a WRITE UP here.2. Why can't NBC simply show older episodes of THE OFFICE during the strike? The Star-Ledger explains.3. What's going to fill THE OFFICE's time slot now that all the new episodes have been exhausted? Celebrity Apprentice. Sigh.4. The NEW YORK TIMES has an interesting article about how ABC and the producers of LOST have already made deals for internet material similar to the terms the WGA is currently fighting for. 5. The cast of SNL put on a live benefit performance this past weekend at the UPRIGHT CITIZENS BRIGADE theater in NYC. Hosted by Michael Cera, and featuring a mix of old and "un-airable" sketches, all money raised went to support the "below the line" staff that had been let go (the $20 tickets were reportedly going for as much as $300 each). According to the New York Times, Johnny K. was in the audience.A live performance of a 30 ROCK episode was scheduled for last night in the same theater.
Episode # 34 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and his surprise guest host enjoying a quick match of table tennis. Michael in the middle? When Jan sues Dunder Mifflin, Michael once again finds himself balanced between sexy- Scylla and corporate- Charybdis. Side with Jan, the love of his life, or with BFF boss Ryan (who's just as sexy as Jan, but in a different way)? Decisions, decisions... at least Flenderson's got his back. Meanwhile, Kelly's talked her last smack, and Pam's fed up with the floppy hair girl she dates losing to Darryl at ping pong. Will Jim step up to defend Pam's honor? Only Zoran Primorac knows for sure. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
Sort of old news, I guess, but the cast of THE OFFICE was informed Thursday that their contracts would be suspended (under the terms of the SAG contract) for five weeks. During these five weeks, they'll be receiving 50% of their normal salary.During a work stoppage, the studio has a contractual right to either suspend with full pay, suspend with half pay, or release the actors from their contracts so they can seek other employment (with the understanding that they will all be rehired after the stoppage ends). Obviously, the studios don't want to release the actors completely, and I'm sure most (if not all) of the actors don't want to leave. Hopefully all of this will help put pressure on the two sides to reach an agreement as soon as possible.
As most of our favorite shows have shut down or WILL be shutting down very soon, things are beginning to look rather bleak. Last week, rhetoric was flying on both sides of the picket lines: reports came out saying the negotiations were further apart than ever, the IATSE (the union for the "below the line" workers in the industry) started blaming the WGA for their putting people out of work, cats and dogs were living together... it was mass hysteria.Breaking through those dark clouds is one bit of hope-- the WGA and the studios have agreed to come back to the negotiating table on November 26th. Originally, the studios were refusing to resume talks unless the strike was called off, but they've since relented. Two surveys conducted last week showed that more than 60% of those surveyed supported the WGA, while less than 10% supported the studios' position. Do the studios care? Probably not, but as we like to say around here, every little bit helps.Let's hope for the best. See Variety for full article details.
Looks like NBC is jumping on the eBay wagon: Starting November 19th, they will begin auctioning off various items and props as seen on your favorite NBC shows (including THE OFFICE). Apparently each auction will last for two weeks, with new items being added for each new round.What's up this time?"Get your time card out and punch into The Office. If you've been admiring Michael's Timex watch or those stylish warehouse shirts, now's your chance to bid on items used by your favorite Office workers."Another item for an upcoming auction? Michael's "lucky tie."I doubt most of us will be able to afford these things, but keep in mind that a portion of the auction's proceeds will benefit the United Way and its various partner organizations.
It's with a tear in my eye and a lump in my throat that I post this description for tonight's season finale (??) "The Deposition." Sounds like it's ripe for many uncomfortable moments, and Jan & Michael surely have much dirty laundry that will be aired (JamaicaJanSunPrincess anyone?).From NBC.com:THE DEPOSITION 9/8c TV14 11.15.2007 SUE CRAZY IN THE OFFICE--Michael (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) finds himself between a rock and a hard place when Jan (Melora Hardin) sues Dunder Mifflin and Michael is deposed as a witness. Meanwhile, Kelly (Mindy Kaling) trash-talks Pam (Jenna Fischer) after Darryl (Craig Robinson) beats Jim (John Krasinski) at ping-pong. Rainn Wilson, B.J. Novak, Leslie David Baker, Ed Helms, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, Angela Kinsey, Oscar Nunez, Phyllis Smith, Paul Lieberstein, and Creed Bratton also star. Post your comments below!
MumboJumbo's casual THE OFFICE game has finally been released to retail, and a free demo of the game is now available on their website.From the site:So you think you could survive the zany workplace of NBC's Emmy Award-winning comedy series The Office? Put yourself to the test as you dive into the hilarious environment by maneuvering through the quirky and frenzied fun of The Office game. Play pranks on your rivals to slow them down, earn points by helping out your co-workers, and avoid getting distracted by the office visitors, all while competing to be the best Dunder Mifflin paper salesperson you can! Key Game Features:
Episode # 33 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Drew enjoying a delicious sack of GORP. Survivor man, survivor man, does whatever a survivor can. When Michael is snubbed by Ryan, he decides to take to the woods, alone, to prove that he's not down with Flenderson's broken mountain lifestyle. Surely nothing could possibly go wrong out there, right? Uhm, RIGHT? Back at the ranch, Jim finds that being the boss isn't all it's cracked up to be when a birthday mutiny pushes him into Michael territory. Damn Phyllis, that's some cold sh-t. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
The WGA posted this video on YouTube which very clearly outlines their position and why they feel this strike is necessary. It's a joke that the studios have been screwing them on DVD and video sales for over 20 years, and while the "emerging marketplace" of internet TV might not be a proven cash cow right now, chances are it will be. And who wants to get screwed the same way twice? (TWSS)
OK folks, one down tonight, one more to go.Once again, this has the potential of being a completely ridiculous episode. Michael is lost in the woods by himself, which could be the equivalent of ten pizza boy kidnappings and fifteen cars being driven into lakes. Still, I have faith. Survive on, oh ye survivor man. Survive on.From the NBC website:SURVIVOR MAN 9/8c TV14 11.08.2007 INTO THE WOODS-SPECIAL GREEN WEEK EPISODE - After Ryan (B.J. Novak) excludes Michael (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) from a corporate wilderness retreat, Michael heads into the woods for his own survival adventure with nothing but the suit on his back. Back at work, Jim (John Krasinski) tries to revolutionize the office birthday party. Rainn Wilson, Jenna Fischer, Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Ed Helms, Angela Kinsey, Kate Flannery, Oscar Nunez, Phyllis Smith, Mindy Kaling, Paul Lieberstein, Creed Bratton and Craig Robinson also star.
According to Jenna Fischer's MySpace blog, there are only two more episodes left of THE OFFICE that have been filmed/produced and are ready to air. The episode they were supposed to film this week was also apparently "one of the funniest episodes ever," too, with Jim and Pam hanging out in Michael's condo.Hopefully we'll get to see this episode sometime soon. In the meantime, let's all just pretend we're entering the March hiatus... let's all visualize the strike being over within a month or two at most (knock on wood).
You might have seen this before, but I thought it was worth posting, just in case. The striking writers/producers of The Office posted this short video clip to YouTube yesterday:In the video, Mike Schur suggests you go to UnitedHollywood.com (a WGA blog of the strike) to get more information on their side of the story and to follow the events as they unfold.As one proud union member, I'd just like to throw in my support for the staff of the best damn show on television. Solidarity, my union brothers. Solidarity.
Now I KNOW I'm cool-- Adam, my convention carpool buddy, has endowed me with another of his classic Dunder Mifflin parking signs:With this gift, I join the ranks of such luminaries as Greg Daniels, Melora Hardin, and Jennie Tan in the hallowed halls of Office-dom (and I always have a place to park, too... even in Nashua). Excuse me... it's getting a bit dusty in here...
Episode # 32 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds Matt and Kevin settling in to enjoy the finer things in life. It's two for the price of one this week as Michael both fires up his creative juices AND dons a mustache for justice. When Ryan doubts Michael's creativity, Michael puts his reputation on the line to produce the best commercial you've ever seen about a local paper manufacturing company. And what's this? Stanley leaving Scranton? Now I know how George Bush must have felt when Colin Powell left office. Michael won't go down without a fight, though, and a PT cruiser full of molotov cocktails will set things right. Remember- the eyes are the groin of the head. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Check out Kevin's blog and podcast at fratpackpodcast.com.
An interesting article on Variety.com today talking about how the WGA strike will affect those writer-actor "hyphens" on THE OFFICE.From the article: Once a WGA walkout begins, B.J. Novak -- a writer and a star of NBC's hit comedy "The Office" -- will face a very tough choice.
As a card-carrying member of the Writers Guild, he'll clearly be on strike. But he's also a thesp and a member of the Screen Actors Guild. NBC's studio arm has made it clear that it expects Novak the actor to show up to work today, strike or no strike.
Because it has several scribes who also serve as thesps (also including Mindy Kaling and Paul Lieberstein), "The Office" is one of the most visible examples of shows where conflicting interests will be at work once a strike begins. But all over town, a number of WGA members will be facing similarly tough calls.
For more of the article, go HERE.TVweek.com has a summary of how the strike is specifically affecting THE OFFICE. Because the show is so heavily based on both writers/producers, even Greg Daniels is refusing to cross the picket line. Joining him in protest are non-WGA members Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, Jenna Fischer and John Krasinski (in fact, according to the article, NONE of the show's actors has so far crossed the picket line). Technically, these actors could be fined by the studios for breach of contract, but studios are wary of offending the "talent." Not to mention that the ACTORS' contract is set to expire in 2008, and they'll also be looking for the same support from peers come June.Production has essentially shut down on the show, and there is only one unproduced script left on the shelf. How many produced episodes remain? Not sure, although the article clearly states that because of the solidarity, THE OFFICE may "run out" of episodes earlier than many other shows.TV Guide reported this week that NBC was looking to use the relative success of THE OFFICE to launch a new spin-off series. Details were scarce, but a recent post on AdAge.com might shed some light on NBC's plans.According to AdAge.com, Ben Silverman and NBC are planning a "comedic summer series" based on the humorous novel e by Matt Beaumont. Amazon describes the book as "a fast-paced, wickedly funny tale of office back-stabbing and corporate intrigue that unfolds in a succession of escalating e-mails... Set in a London ad agency desperate to land a coveted big account, e follows the bureaucratic bungling, cutthroat maneuvers, and outrageous sexual antics of a group of Miller-Shanks employees as they scheme, lie, lust, and claw their way up (and down) the company ladder...Written by a former advertising copywriter, this hilarious, dead-on-target novel marks the debut of a hip and exciting new voice in contemporary fiction. With the click of a mouse, Matt Beaumont brings the novel of letters into the twenty-first century, turning his merciless, unerring eye on today's Machiavellian corporate culture-with uproarious results."The AdAge.com piece goes on to describe how NBC is looking for several major companies to be involved in the show (since it is based on an ad agency). Apparently, Silverman has also stated that the advertisers will have "some say" in what happens on the six episode, hour-long show: "Definitely, they will be part of the process, but the process will be led by the writers."Fans of THE OFFICE will know how much product placement has been on the show during the last few years, and this seems to be taking the trend even further. So *IS* this the rumored spin-off? Only time will tell.
Well folks, looks like it might be a short, short season after all.From the AP: HOLLYWOOD WRITERS GOING ON STRIKEBy GARY GENTILE, AP Business Writer (11/01/07) LOS ANGELES - Television and movie screen writers said Thursday they would go on strike for the first time in nearly 20 years in a dispute over royalties. Four writers told The Associated Press that Writers Guild of America President Patric Verrone made the announcement in a closed-door session, drawing loud cheers from the crowd [...] Writers said the guild board would meet Friday to formally call a strike and decide when it would start. They said guild members would be told Friday afternoon. For the rest of the article, click HERE.Nothing much to do here but ride it out and hope for the best. EDIT:Lots of media outlets have special articles up regarding the strike. This one at the WALL STREET JOURNAL does a pretty good job of summing up the issues at stake.
I got to see the first "act" of this episode at the convention, and I thought it was pretty hilarious. I hope the rest of it matches the beginning. Oh, and Rashida Jones? Man, she looks skinnier than ever. Give that girl a Coney Island Texas Wiener or two.BRANCH WARS 9/8c TV14 11.01.2007 BATTLE OF THE BRANCHES - RASHIDA JONES ("Boston Public") GUEST STARS - When Karen (guest star Rashida Jones) tries to woo Stanley (Leslie David Baker) away from Scranton, Michael (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) fights back, dragging her ex, Jim (John Krasinski), into his war. Meanwhile, the existence of a "Finer Things Club" further disturbs Dunder Mifflin's calm. Rainn Wilson, Jenna Fischer, B.J Novak, Ed Helms, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, Mindy Kaling, Angela Kinsey, Paul Lieberstein, Oscar Nunez, Phyllis Smith, Creed Bratton and Craig Robinson also star.
I saw these products at the convention this past weekend, and thought they were pretty darn cool. Lots of people seemed to agree with me, since the lines to buy stuff at the con never, ever seemed to decrease.First up? Your very own Dundie Award:"Once again, it's time to hand out the Dundie Awards! Now you can have your very own trophy, which recalls the classic "Dundies" episode. The trophy comes with six interchangeable placards." (including all of the awards given out in that particular episode, like "bushiest beaver," "whitest tennis shoes," "don't go in there after me," etc.).At first I was a little let down by the generic "Dundie Award" placard, but the extra 6 cards are a great touch.Next... the Michael Scott talking bobblehead:"Now The World's Best Boss can be the center of attention in your office too! Buy this exclusive talking Michael Scott Bobblehead featuring some of his infamous catch-phrases."The Dwight bobblehead was cool because... well, because it made sense in the context of the show. This one really DOESN'T... but it's still pretty neat, nevertheless. Click on the link above to see which phrases he speaks.
In case you were wondering what was going on during the video introduction at the Writers' Block panel, Future_Dwight was kind enough to provide this clip (thanks to the OT convention links page).
The fansites are buzzing today with rumors that NBC is prepping a special episode of THE OFFICE which will introduce characters who will then be spun off into their own series.Say what?According to TV Guide's Ausiello Report "the proposed Office 2 is not expected to include any of the mother ship's core cast. In fact, producers are already casting about for a 'name' to headline the potential show."Now, I'm a pretty big fan of THE OFFICE, but why on earth do I need or want a spin-off show? There have been rumors of the "Dwight" spin-off for a while, and I hope these amount to the same hills of beans. One of the reasons why THE OFFICE is so special is that the cast and crew have a laser-like focus to produce a quality product. A spin-off, even if no cast leave the show to follow it, will surely divide the creative staff... stealing some of the producers and writers we know and love. That way, we end up with two mediocre shows instead of one GREAT one.Am I going a little too 'Cassandra' on you guys? Perhaps. I mean, sure, BUFFY was good, and ANGEL was decent... although after ANGEL started BUFFY pretty much went downhill... hmm. Not sure what to make of this.At the very least... for the love of god, DON'T hire David Spade for the "Michael Scott" role.
Thanks to Jennie Tan (a.k.a. Tanster) for being kind enough to link to my convention special podcast episodes on OfficeTally.com. I recognized her from the "internets," and introduced myself at the press conference. She's very nice and certainly more down to earth than I might be if I got to hang out with the cast on a regular basis. Since starting this podcast, I've often felt cut off from most of the other "The Office" fan community. The convention was a good chance for me to meet the cast and people like Tanster, and I'm glad to be feeling more connected with things "post-show." My carpool-mate Adam presented Tanster with a cool parking sign with the Dunder Mifflin logo at the Bloggers' Breakfast (he works for a company that makes traffic signs), and it went over pretty well. He also gave one to Melora Hardin which earned him a much talked about hug. Check his flickr page for images.
We woke up pretty early on Sunday morning (since my two roommates have IMHO overly complicated morning rituals) in order to get to the BLOGGERS' BREAKFAST on time. It was set to start at 9am, and the place was surprisingly crowded. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised, since this was one of the "big" events that people had to choose between with their different ticket levels.Donuts, coffee, and juice were provided, which was a nice touch (just don't get caught in that stampede for the Krispy Cremes).I felt sort of bad for the bloggers present at the event, since most of them got lost in the shuffle between Jennie "Tanster" Tan and the cast members. Seriously, who would you rather ask a question? Random blogger, or Brian Baumgartner? As you can imagine, most people chose option "B." But hey, that's what you paid the big money for, right?Brian explained how he got started blogging, his decision to write as his character, and his undying love for OfficeTally. Bobby Ray Shafer was a bit more brief, partly because he'd lost his voice for most of the weekend. Kate Flannery popped in a bit later, talking briefly about her TV Guide blog. I guess Andy Buckley was just there for moral support, since he proclaimed his complete and utter ignorance of all things computer related.(For the full audio of the panel, download the podcast below)After the BB, we headed across the campus to the Scranton Cultural Center for the big WRITERS'S BLOCK panel. I had an awesome seat for this event, as the press was assigned the upper balcony. I sat front row center, with no one else in front of me. I struck up a conversation with the three people around me, and found they worked for NBC.com-- one was in charge of video production, another for writing copy, and the last was in charge of the whole Dunder Mifflin Infinity website. Very cool. A few minutes later, a woman came up and said everyone had to get out of the first two rows because NBC wanted them... my new buds said I could stay, though, so I was the only one down there with them.It was very cool hearing the writers discuss the show, since we rarely seem to get their point of view in any of the extra material. Greg Daniels, Mike Shur and Jennifer Celotta did most of the talking, although Mindy Kaling and B. J. Novak (a surprise drop-in) also got most of the audience questions. (For the full audio of the panel, download the podcast below)After the panel, we got to see the first 8-10 minutes or so of BRANCH WARS, which I thought was hilarious. By all accounts I should have hated it -- most of the humor was totally "over the top" and silly -- but I found myself laughing louder than I have in a few weeks. Maybe it's the return of director Joss Whedon... I don't know. I just know that I was digging it and look forward to this Thursday.There was a final VIP cocktail party next, and I managed to sneak myself in and chat with most of the writers. B. J. Novak was only there for about 10 minutes or so, and he was getting mobbed, so I had no chance to talk to him. Writer Mike Schur (a.k.a. Cousin Mose) was also getting mobbed. The lesson here? Acting is better than writing :)With that, our magical weekend came to a close. Sigh. We'll always have Scranton.
On Sunday, the convention played host to the "Bloggers' Breakfast," an assemblage of notables from the world of Office blogging (including everyone's favorite blog-mistress, "Tanster") and several cast members who themselves blog about their day jobs. Join Brian Baumgartner, Bobby Ray Shafer, Kate Flannery, and Andy Buckley as they dish on how blogging is a wonderful thing.
I posted all of my pictures to the FLICKR account. Have fun!Other photo collections from the convention:Adam's pageAlison's page
It was the WRITERS' day to shine in Scranton today, as Greg Daniels, Mike Schur, Kent Zbornak, B.J. Novak, Mindy Kaling, Jennifer Celotta, Lee Eisenberg, Gene Stupnitsky, Lester Lewis, and... "the rest" of the writing staff fielded questions from the fans about writing for the best show on TV. Sadly, Paul Lieberstein couldn't make it out to the show this weekend, but as you can see, B. J. Novak made a surprise appearance to (hopefully) make up for it. Oh, and we also got to see the first ten minutes of "Branch Wars," which "Sunday Matt" proclaims to be "dawesome." Again, sorry for the audio quality... hope you can still enjoy the content.
Saturday: Well, today was pretty crazy. Woke up-- still raining. Since Adam and Laura were hungry/thirsty, we hiked to the Steamtown Mall and found the famous food court home of the "Scranton Welcomes You" sign. The place was essentially deserted, and we were goofing around taking pictures... I suddenly looked over and frigging Mindy Kaling was standing two feet away from me (also getting her picture taken with the sign). I got up the courage to ask her to talk, but alas, she didn't have time for me right then. Walking back to the main square, we hung around the autograph tent for a while, sneaking pictures of Phyllis and Bobby Ray, Melora, Angela, Ed and Mindy (again) as they signed autographs for the people lucky enough to have tickets. I did the paparazzi thing and yelled "MELORA!" to get her attention, and it worked-- she looked right into my camera. Good stuff! At three, Creed and The Scrantones hit the stage and played a few tunes (including the theme song, and the song Creed sang during the deleted scenes from "Booze Cruise"). Craig Robinson got up on stage next, singing a Daryll-rific version of Radiohead's "Creep." Unfortunately, I had to take off for the press conference at four, so missed the rest of the show. The press conference... wow. Me and about 30-40 other members of the press got to ask the cast anything we wanted. I got up the gumption to ask them about the writer's strike (they all laughed when I said I was from the TWSS podcast... they thought I was joking). Greg Daniels didn't have a specific number of how many episodes they had in the can, but they eventually said that every month of the strike would knock three episodes off the schedule. I'll post the audio from the press conference eventually. After the conference, I got to go around and talk to EVERY. SINGLE. CAST. MEMBER. Only for a few seconds, but I got them to record little bumpers for the show, which you should be hearing sometime soon as well. Definitely very cool to shake everyone's hands and introduce myself. At around 5:15 pm, we moved across the hall into the PUBLIC Q&A session (download the audio podcast below). Crap, that place was packed... it was essentially a basketball arena, and it was filled to the top of the bleachers on all sides. With my press pass, I wormed my way into the "photographer" area directly in front of the cast... essentially sitting 4-5 feet away from them during the entire show. Great, great times. After the event, I tried to find the Lackawana College campus, as it was hosting the "cast lookalike" contest and Scrantones encore. Needless to say, I got lost, and when I finally got there, I spent 10 minutes running up and down stairs trying to find the frigging bathroom. I walked around for a few minutes, but I just had to bail. I was wiped. Tomorrow, I plan to hit the "Blogger's Breakfast" and then the "Writer's Block" sessions (more audio to come).Peace out.P.S. Adam got a hug from Melora Hardin. He's ready to die now.
Live, from Scranton, PA... it's SATURDAY NIGHT! A Saturday night cast Q&A, that is. Join Greg Daniels, Ed Helms, Angela Kinsey, Brian Baumgartner, Melora Hardin, Leslie David Baker, Mindy Kaling, Craig Robinson, Kate Flannery, Oscar Nunez, Creed Bratton, Phyllis Smith, Bobby Ray Shafer, and Andy Buckley for 85 minutes of fun. The auditorium was packed, and the place was loud. Can you feel the love? I apologize for the quality of the audio-- it was the best I could do. Hope it brings everyone who wouldn't make it a little closer to the convention.
Well, we made it here in one piece, despite a ridiculously long and tiring drive. Five minutes after pulling into the parking lot, though, we saw Oscar (we waved, he waved back). Going into the hotel, we saw Leslie (Stanley) standing by the registration desk (he shook hands and made fun of the sleeping bag I was carrying at the time).About 10 minutes after that, I went back downstairs and ran right into Brian (Kevin) coming in the front door-- he was kind enough to pose with me for a picture, but I looked like someone's "special" illegitimate step-son. Ah well.Walking outside immediately after seeing Brian, I bumped into Bobby Ray (Bob Vance).They're EVERYWHERE! :)I'll keep you updated. In the meantime, check out Adam's FLICKR page for updated photos of our journey (mine will have to wait until I get home).EDIT: Around 5:30 PM, there was supposed to be a "kick off" party here in the hotel. Not sure what's going on with that, but Phyllis Smith, Leslie David Baker, and Bobby Ray Shafer were being mobbed in the lobby. I got a few paparazzi shots, but my ancient camera eats through batteries faster than Kevin through M&Ms... long story short, it died on me.I don't know if anyone reading the blog is going to be AT THE SHOW, but give me a shout here if you'd like to try and do a meet-up. Last minute, of course, but what the hell.EDIT 2: It's about 7:30 PM, and Adam & Laura have left to the "casino night" event. Sadly, as a reporter, I am unable to attend this function, so instead I will go to sleep (something I haven't done for about 30 hours). Only one other cast sighting-- I saw Creed & "The Scrantones" jump on the elevator. I guess he must have been in a hurry, because he didn't stop or pose for pictures with anyone waiting nearby.
Can't believe I forgot to put this up... blame it on the stress of trying to get everything ready before the big trip! Augh.LOCAL AD9/8c TV1410.25.2007THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF ADVERTISING - When the Scranton branch is asked to participate in a Dunder Mifflin ad, Michael seizes his chance to exhibit his creativity. Meanwhile, Dwight explores the online world of Second Life.
Holy crap.Looks like I'm going to Scranton this weekend.I got my press pass, and I've got a car-pool lined up. I'll be able to get into anything EXCEPT the VIP cocktail parties (damn that Ryan!). I'll also be able to attend the "press only" chat with the cast and crew on Saturday. I might be able to interview people as well! GAH!Here's where I need your help-- you have 24 hours to send in ANY questions you'd like asked of the cast members (be serious, please). Post your questions here in the comments section. I will be recording ALL of the cast events, and will assemble them into a podcast sometime next week. I'm not sure when the LOCAL AD episode will be up, but I might be able to work on it during some down-time this weekend.Ain't no party like a Scranton party!
Episode # 31 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Ian L. seriously reevaluating their DVD purchases. They say money is the root of all evil, and for Michael Scott, the LACK of it is just as bad. With Jan around, he doesn't NEED a second job... but he has one, you know, as a hobby. Who wants to play golf anyway? Dwight opens his home to agrotourism, and Pam and Jim spend a night at the Beets Motel. One in six? I'll take those odds, mister! Andy shows he's got game, Darylley rears its ugly head, and sometimes a man just has to blow town (that's what she said). Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Check out Ian's podcast, Comic Timing, on iTunes as well.
Fresh off the AP wire: Oct 20, 12:43 AM (ET)
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Members of Hollywood's film and television writers union have overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike anytime after their contract expires at the end of the month.
More than 5,000 members of the Writers Guild of America cast ballots, with 90 percent voting in favor of authorizing the strike, the union said Friday evening. Members voted Thursday.
"Writers do not want to strike, but they are resolute and prepared to take strong, united action to defend our interests," guild President Patric Verrone said in a news release. "What we must have is a contract that gives us the ability to keep up with the financial success of this ever-expanding global industry."
Since July, the guild has been in talks with film studios and production companies represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Both sides acknowledge they have not made progress.
Nick Counter, the alliance's president, said he was not surprised by the vote.
"Our focus is on negotiating a reasonable agreement with the WGA," he said in a news release.
A key issue dividing producers and writers, as well as actors, whose contract expires next June, is compensation for DVD sales and productions that get distributed on the Internet or in other new media formats.
The writers' current three-year contract expires Oct. 31, and their vote gives the union's leaders authorization to call a strike anytime after that day.
Studios and TV networks have accelerated filming of shows and movies and begun stockpiling scripts in case of a strike.
The last strike in 1988 lasted 22 weeks. Losses to the industry were put at $500 million.
Now, this doesn't mean they are definitely GOING to strike. It simply means that they COULD strike at any time after the contract expires on October 31st *IF* they don't come to an agreement. Knowing the WGA is ready to strike will hopefully spur the studios to make a quick negotiation before the entire industry is shut down once again. Here's hoping for the best.Apparently, the reviewers at Slate.com haven't been too thrilled with season four of THE OFFICE. In a post on this past Thursday, they lay out just where exactly they feel the show is going wrong so far. To quote from the article:'We believe that the show's new long format is to blame. The season has kicked off with several hourlong episodes, the fourth of which airs tonight. In seasons past, each 22-minute episode has been a model of comedic restraint. Easy jokes were avoided. Funny ones landed swiftly and moved on to make room for the next. Rather than encouraging actors to mug and showboat, the camera paused briefly on subtle glances and smirks. Mindy Kaling, who writes for the show and plays the ditzy customer-service rep Kelly Kapoor, told Rolling Stone that The Office is a show without "chuffa"—a writers'-room term for "filler that seems like it's funny but isn't really a joke." The hourlong episodes make us wonder if there's a word for "filler that seems like a joke but isn't really funny."'(click HERE to read the rest of the article)I don't agree with all of their conclusions, but I do think they're dead-on with some points (especially with how Ryan has been handled so far, and whether or not a happy PB&J is best for the series). I will admit that we have a LOT of room left this season, and it's hard to say how the whole thing will play out. I wouldn't say I'm "worried" about the show at this point, but this article has tapped into some of my fears about what COULD happen.So what do you guys think?
Sounds like a pretty Jan-heavy episode, so this might be interesting. And seriously, Dwight's B&B? This is either going to be pure comedy gold or a horrible, horrible disaster. Let's hope for the former!From NBC.com:MONEY 9/8c TV14 10.18.2007 EASY COME, EASY GO - As Jan (Melora Hardin) renovates the condo, Michael (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) confronts his growing debt every way he can, which includes pressuring his employees for a loan. Pam (Jenna Fischer) and Jim (John Krasinski) spend a night out on Dwight's (Rainn Wilson) family farm, now a bed and breakfast. B.J. Novak, Ed Helms, Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, Oscar Nunez, Phyllis Smith, Paul Lieberstein, Mindy Kaling, Creed Bratton and Craig Robinson also star. EDIT:Remember, this is going to be the LAST hour-long episode in a good while (they only ordered five, and I'm guessing the last one will be the season finale). I guess we'll see next week whether or not we miss the 45 minute running time or not! I have a feeling that 21 minutes is going to seem a bit too short... wish we could hit the sweet spot of about 30 total minutes of show. Seems like it'd be just about perfect.Also, remember to join us in the TWSS CHAT room after the show.
Listener Luke sent me an e-mail today, pointing me towards a headline on IMDB regarding the possible writer's strike. From IMDB: Raising legitimate hopes for the first time that a strike by the Writers Guild of America against Hollywood film and TV studios could be averted before the expiration of the current WGA contract on October 31, the producers on Tuesday withdrew a proposal that would have delayed payment of residuals to writers until the costs of production, distribution and marketing were recouped. Nick Counter, president of the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers, said that the group was withdrawing the proposal "in the overriding interest of keeping the industry working and removing what has become an emotional impediment and excuse by the WGA not to bargain." The WGA issued a terse response, stating that it hoped that the withdrawal of the recoupment proposal "means the companies are ready to begin serious negotiations." Sounds good. Let's hope for the best, otherwise I'll have to start that long awaited DEAL OR NO DEAL podcast I've been toying with.
Some people aren't very amused, but accommodation review site TRIPADVISOR has posted a listing for the Schrute Farms Bed & Breakfast.From the copy:"Schrute Farms is the number one beet-related agrotourism destination in Northeastern Pennsylvania. We offer the finest accommodations for the casual traveler and/or beet enthusiast. Come join us and experience majestic Schrute Farms. Room Amenities: -Three Themed Rooms: America, Irrigation, and Night-time-Handmade mattresses-Beds do not conform to traditional sizes; closest is twinProperty Amenities:-We cater to the elderly-Field and barn tours-Side car Rides-Table-making demonstrations-Tractor Mosey-Homemade Beet Jam demonstration Policies:-Check in time: After 5:30pm on weekdays, 3pm on weekends-Check out time: Before 9:00am, 11am on weekends"Book your getaway weekend now.(the reviews are good for a chuckle as well...)
Episode # 30 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Drew taking a chance on a hot circle of garbage. Congratulations! Today is your day. You're off to Great Places! You're off and away! Unless you're Michael Scott, that is. Michael's outside looking in when Ryan fails to find him "I" enough for the Dunder Mifflin Infinity VIP launch party list. What to do but stage a much better, sexier party right there in Scranton? It's not kidnapping if you let him go, right? Will Dwight beat the machines? Will Jim and Pam sneak that pizza? Will Andy get that date with Angela? Will Darryl, in fact, hit that? All *I* can say is: Here Comes Treble for the win! Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
Holy crap on a crutch! We actually WON the DMI logo contest! Alicecomplex's logo (seen below) won out in the general voting over all the other DMI branch logos. I couldn't be more proud. For her efforts, she'll receive 300 SchruteBucks AND Angela Kinsey's "Sprinkles" t-shirt as seen in the season premier (autographed to boot).Nice work!
well, we all voted for out favorite logo from within the Schaumburg submissions, and now "alicecomplex" has her logo going up against the best of the other branches.What I'm not happy about is the fact that the final voting is open to ANYONE. Yes, ANYONE. Anyone at all. You don't even have to be playing the game in order to vote.So what does that mean? Well, for one thing, it means PENNY ARCADE's huge audience can freely vote for the Spokane, WA's Dunder Mifflin "Fruit F*cker" logo and pretty much kill anyone else's chance to win. Same thing for branches associated with other giant forums or personalities. Now, I'm not saying that the TWSS branch isn't big, but we're not pulling in anywhere near the numbers of these other sites.Voting closes on Sunday, so if you read this blog and get a chance, please vote for the Schaumburg branch's logo HERE. At stake for the grand prize winner is the T-shirt Angela Kinsey wore during the FUN RUN episode.
What's that? Another party, you say? Oh, THE OFFICE, will you never learn? Season three was filled to the brim with party after party, and hopefully season four will keep things focused back where they belong-- at work! In any event, let's hope for a little Michael redemption this episode if at all possible.From NBC.com:LAUNCH PARTY 9/8c TV14 10.11.2007 THE WORLDWIDE WEB - The Dunder Mifflin Infinity website is launching and Michael (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) is excited about going to the big launch party in New York while Angela (Angela Kinsey) plans a satellite party for the Scranton branch. Meanwhile, Dwight (Rainn Wilson) competes against the website to see who can sell the most paper in one day. John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, B.J. Novak, Melora Hardin, Ed Helms, Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, Mindy Kaling, Paul Lieberstein, Oscar Nunez, Phyllis Smith, Creed Bratton, and Craig Robinson also star.
Episode # 29 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin enjoying a wide variety of gourmet snack treats. Like sands through the hourglass, these are the days of Dunder Mifflin... and not even Dr. Drake Remoray could sort out the hookups, bombshells, break-ups and catfights in this week's episode. Another prodigal son is back in town, and he comes bearing blackberries, websites, and supersexy man-stubble. Will Michael learn to accept change? Will Ryan score with Pam? Will Creed ride the bull? Could Phyllis be a bigger beeyotch? And seriously... where are the turtles? Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. Check out Kevin's blog and podcast at fratpackpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
You want more Ryan? You GOT more Ryan.From the NBC website:DUNDER MIFFLIN INFINITY 9/8c TV14 10.04.2007 THERE'S A NEW BOSS IN TOWN - Much to the dismay of Michael (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) and many of the employees, Ryan (B.J. Novak) returns to the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin to bring the company into the digital age. Angela (Angela Kinsey) is still upset about her cat. Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, Melora Hardin, Ed Helms, Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, Oscar Nunez, Phyllis Smith, Paul Lieberstein, Mindy Kaling, Craig Robinson and Creed Bratton also star. -------------------------------I enjoyed the premier, but I'm really looking forward to this episode because Mike Schur is listed as the writer (Schur, who portrayed "Cousin Mose" last season, has written or co-written many of my favorite episodes). Post your thoughts in the comment section!
As most of you probably know, Entertainment Weekly has four (count 'em), FOUR collectible covers featuring The Office's hottest couples.All I can say is... Yowza.From the cover story:-----------------------------------------'The Office': Working Overtime By Whitney Pastorek
There is no way you will find The Office's set unless someone tells you where to look, and even then, it ain't easy. Buried deep in a swath of Van Nuys warehouses, the soundstage sits at the rear of a dead-end street where 18-wheelers turn around and the hot sun bakes the concrete blister gray. The first thing that catches your eye is a sign for Vance Refrigeration, and then another for a paper company by the name of Dunder Mifflin. Soon you're idling past that familiar parking lot, the very spot that's been home to both a tear-jerking confession of unrequited love and a ridiculous bouncy castle intended to catch the faux-suicide attempt of an unhinged boss desperate to prove a point.
On this mid-September day, though, the anonymous lot, clogged with trailers and craft services, is almost unrecognizable. Inside, you're ushered into a small room just off the stage, and things become more familiar. Two monitors transmit shaky, nausea-inducing images from the mockumentary cameras: boxes of paper, drab carpeting, venetian blinds, a poster of some very scary babies. You watch an ordinary day in the life of The Office unspool as cast members wander in one by one to talk about how blessed they feel to be a part of this show. But that's where the conversation starts and ends: They're reluctant to spill any details about the series' fourth season, which started Sept. 27. If they do, it seems, executive producer Greg Daniels — described by one actor as ''the most quiet badass you'll ever know'' — will kill them. So here we are in a tiny room on a dead-end street in an industrial section of Van Nuys not being told anything. In a way, it's appropriate: a very awkward story on the awkward genius that is The Office.
Read MORE here (or buy the issues... you know you want to).
Episode # 28 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin running for fun while snacking on a tasty PB and J. We're cursed, cursed I tells ya! When a triumvirate of tragedies torment the Scranton crew, Michael looks for a way to break the curse. His solution? A rabies awareness fun run, natch. Elsewhere, a new relationship blooms, while another teeters on the brink... What's a farmboy to do? will Michael digest his fettuccine alfredo? Will Pam get a good deal on a light fixture? Will Sprinkles get into cat heaven? And for the love of god, won't somebody think of the rabid? Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. Check out Kevin's blog and podcast at fratpackpodcast. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
EDIT: The task is now live. You have to use the online design tool supplied by the DMI site, so my "official" logo is out. In fact, the only text you can have in your logo is the name of your branch... so not even a TWSS reference. Sigh.Still, we need all DMI branch members to head on over to the site and start designing! You have until midnight on Tuesday.Oh, and our desks are live too... you can buy stuff to populate your desk, but I'm not sure if I want to waste my SB's that way. Still, if you submit a design you get 50 SBs, so that's something. ====================================OK folks, they've given out the first official task over at the DMI game-- design your branch logo.I already jumped the gun and designed a logo on Friday, just for the heck of it (you can see it on the sidebar). But that doesn't mean that someone out there can't do a better one.Unfortunately, the DMI website appears to be broken again since the link to start designing your logo goes nowhere (and the promised desk feature STILL isn't working, despite a message saying it is). The deadline for the task is 6pm E on Monday, so keep your eyes open.
They've been busy over at the NBC/Universal store hand-crafting a selection of cool new THE OFFICE related T-shirt designs. Whether you're joining a fun run, farming beets, jamming to Kevin's latest rock project, or debating the value of the weakened dollar against the SchruteBuck, they've got you covered. The official RACE FOR THE CURE T-shirt:The Scrantonicity shirt:The Stanley nickels:ScruteBucks Ratio T-shirt:The official Schrute Farm Beets long-sleeve T:And once again, I take a size XXL (not sure why I keep saying that... haven't had anyone bite yet...)
It's been four long months, but the season premier is finally upon us! Unfortunately, I am being forced to attend our school's "open house" on Thursday, so I won't be able to see the episode until later in the evening. Feel free to hit the TWSS chatroom, though! Maybe I can coax Ian or Kevin or a few other notables to stop by...From the NBC website:FUN RUN 9/8c TV14 09.27.2007THE RUN FOR THE CURE-SPECIAL ONE-HOUR PREMIERE - A freak accident causes Michael (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) to feel the office is cursed. He explores the religious beliefs of his employees before deciding to hold a charity 5K fun run. Meanwhile, further developments in the romances of Pam (Jenna Fischer) and Jim (John Krasinski), and Dwight (Rainn Wilson) and Angela (Angela Kinsey) are explored. B.J. Novak, Melora Hardin, Ed Helms, Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, Oscar Nunez, Phyllis Smith, Paul Lieberstein, Mindy Kaling, Craig Robinson and Creed Bratton also star.-----------------------------Starting the season with four hour long episodes really puts the pressure on, so I'm hoping the premier will be able to deliver without stretching things too thin.
EDIT: Right after posting this, I found Eric's email in my spambox... to quote Professor Farnsworth, "good news, everyone!" The Schaumburg branch officially belongs to TWSS! ----------------------------OK, I just got an email saying I was officially "hired" on as an employee in the SCHAUMBURG, IL branch. According to the FAQ, you are automatically hired *IF* the person whose code you entered is selected as the regional manager, so I'm hoping Eric was able to get his winning notification. If not, there are still several open branches. Ultimately, I'd like everyone who listens to TWSS to be in our branch, but it might not happen unless we take control of one ourselves (if the manager whose code you entered DOESN'T win, your hiring is left up to the whims of the manager that DID).At this point, it almost seems like too much of a hassle to get EVERYONE who signed up to RE-sign up under a different branch, but I guess I'll have to wait and see if Eric was notified. As of now, if you click on the link for "your branch," it only gives an error message. BTW, the game FAQ has been posted, if you're interested in seeing what you're getting yourself into.
Episode # 27 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds Matt and Kevin firing up the flux capacitor for a trip to Diversity Tomorrow (because today is almost over). What's the world coming to when a white man can't use the N word? Michael finds himself in hot water when his Chris Rock impression attracts the wrong sort of attention from corporate. Will Michael learn the error of his ways? Will Jim close the big sale? Will Pam hear the thwip thwip thwip sound? Will Kelly ever buy that googi googi? As Abraham Lincoln once said-- if you don't like this episode, I'll attack you with the North. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast.com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
Thanks for your patience, guys.Kevin and I recorded out "Diversity Day" episode tonight, and I will edit and upload it (hopefully) by tomorrow evening some time. Look for the NEXT new episode of TWSS in about 7-8 days, based on the hour long season four premier episode, "Fun Run."
On Friday, the organizers of the official Scranton THE OFFICE convention posted the following information on ticket prices. Keep in mind that AS OF NOW, they still haven't confirmed what cast members or writers will be attending-- although they are promising an announcement soon.Tickets officially go on sale on Tuesday, Sept. 25th at 10 AM EasternThroughout the weekend we will have a street festival (free and open to the public) featuring food, local vendors selling Scranton-related merchandise, the NBC Store, Office Olympics and two open-air stages offering a wide assortment of live entertainment. There will likely be a number of random cast sightings at the street festival and tons of other fun things to do. If you want to ensure a great The Office Convention experience, however, you'll want to sign up for a weekend pass. You will need an "Assistant to the Regional Manager" pass or higher to get into limited-admission cast appearances.The Intern - $25 Weekend Pass Your packet will include:
Ok folks... the long rumored "The Office" home game is gearing up to start, and we need to get our TWSS branch up and running. Eric "Sabai" Olsen is going to be my contact on this front, and he has set up a branch for us to join. The first manager that gets 15 people to sign up under their access code gets control of that branch.I'm REALLY rather pissed off that the Racine, WI branch has somehow already been taken. Because of this, we're going to have to go "south of the border" and start our very own SCHAUMBURG, IL branch.To sign up, to go the official site:Http://www.dundermifflininfinity.comregister, and say you would like to be an employee for the SCHAUMBURG branch. When asked, enter this code:74gtynbdl9Time is really of the essence. The first one to get 15 people to sign up gets control of that branch. We definitely need to be in charge of our own TWSS branch, so let's get signing up!
Tying in with yesterday's Emmy coverage, the Scranton Times-Tribune posted an interview with Greg Daniels which talks about his plans for the convention in October as well as some spoilers for season four.From the article:"Mr. Daniels, executive producer of the Scranton-set NBC sitcom "The Office," which will vie for its second consecutive Outstanding Comedy Emmy tonight, told The Times-Tribune in a recent interview that he's currently trying to get the network to pay for him and the show's other writers to come to Scranton for the first "The Office" Convention, set for the weekend of Oct. 26-28.Mr. Daniels has been privy to the convention's plans since early this year. Overall, he's been encouraged by what he's seen."It looks like they have their act together," he said from his car while en route to "The Office's" production offices in Van Nuys, Calif. "It seems to me that a lot of the fans would like to meet each other. There's sort of a community there; they've become friends online." <!-- if (parseFloat(navigator.appVersion) == 0) { document.write('<IFRAME width="" MARGINWIDTH=0 MARGINHEIGHT=0 HSPACE=0 VSPACE=0 FRAMEBORDER=0 SCROLLING=no BORDER="0" BORDERCOLOR="#000000" SRC="http://bannerads.zwire.com/bannerads/bannerad.asp?ADLOCATION=4000&PAG=461&BRD=2185&LOCALPCT=100&AREA=525&VERT=11053&NAREA=470&AT=IF&barnd=2144"></iframe>'); } //--> <A HREF="http://bannerads.zwire.com/bannerads/redirect.cfm?ADLOCATION=4000&PAG=461&BRD=2185" ><img border=0 alt="Click Here!" SRC="http://bannerads.zwire.com/bannerads/bannerad.asp?ADLOCATION=4000&PAG=461&BRD=2185&LOCALPCT=100&AREA=525&VERT=11053&NAREA=470&barnd=3140"></a> The visit, he said, would be productive on two levels. First, they could participate in the convention itself, most likely in some sort of Q&A forum. Second, it would give the writers a better feel for the area and the chance to grab a few new story ideas.Then there's the matter of the cast. Convention planners have extended invites to everyone from star Steve Carell (buffoonish boss Michael Scott) on down, but so far no one has made the commitment to show up. Originally, the week leading up to the convention was to be a hiatus week for the cast, but the network's demand for an additional episode has turned it into a full-shooting week, Mr. Daniels said."You can read the full article HERE.Maybe it's just me, but the convention certainly seems pretty haphazard. Here it is, September 17... the convention only a month away... and they still don't know IF the writers will come, or IF any of the cast will be attending. I've never seen a convention like this in my life. Hell, I'd be willing to put my money down if I knew for a FACT who was going to be there. As it stands? It's like a huge roulette game-- the ball might come up Greg Daniels, Steve Carell, and Jenna Fischer... or it might just be a total wash-out. I wish I could attend regardless, but right now, I just don't have enough incentive to try and swing it.
Tough competition this year... let's hope for the best!First category... Best Suporting Actor in a Comedy Series... Aaaaaand... Rainn Wilson loses to Jeremy Piven! Ah well... tough call for me, as I love both THE OFFICE and ENTOURAGE. I really think that Rainn carried a LOT of the comedic weight last season, and that he was pretty integral to the show's success. It's just too bad that this category was so strong... Ari Gold, Dwight Schrute, Johnny Drama? Hard, hard decision.Speaking of Rainn Wilson, did anyone else see his new commercials with the U.S. women's soccer team?Score so far: The Office 0, The Other Guys 1Next up... Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series... (come on, Jenna!)... aaaaaaand... GAH! Jenna Fischer loses to Jamie Pressly! Her character definitely had a huge role in the second season of MY NAME IS EARL, but it's definitely a one note role. I guess the Emmy voters went for the BROAD comedy of EARL over the more subtle emotional journey that Pam went through in season three.Score so far: The Office 0, The Other Guys 2OK, Steve Carell is presenting now. He's got his usual "every man," nice guy thing going. He's giving "props" to all of his Office-mates. Ha! Nice montage of "quotes" from Rainn, John Krasinski & Jenna Fischer. Something to look forward to on the season four DVD I guess... and it's worth a point! Why not? :)Score so far: The Office 1, The Other Guys 2Ok... Ken Kwapis up for Best Director... Aaaaaaand.... Kwapis loses to the director of UGLY BETTY! The Office denied yet again (although GAY WITCH HUNT was never my favorite episode).Score so far: The Office 1, The Other Guys 3Outstanding writing in a comedy series... Greg Daniels up for GWH, Mike Schurr up for THE NEGOTIATION... come on, Mike! I'm rooting for ya, man... Aaaaaaaaand... GREG DANIELS WINS! Finally!Score so far: The Office 2, The Other Guys 3Hmmmm... Rainn Wilson is up on stage with Wayne Brady now... and apparently he's going to compete somehow against Kanye West in a "Don't Forget The Lyrics" battle over "Kanye West lyrics." Loser has to quit show business! Har. And Rainn Wilson wins! ;) Give 'em another point.Score so far: The Office 3, The Other Guys 3Here's the big one... Lead Actor in a Comedy Series... AAAARG! Ricky Gervais wins out over Steve Carell! But wait-- Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert decide to give it to Carell since Gervais couldn't make it! Take that, British guy! ;)Score so far: The Office 4, The Other Guys 3All right... the big one... Outstanding Comedy Series... goes to 30 ROCK! Sheesh! The Office is just totally dominated tonight! I'm a fan of 30 ROCK, but I'm not sure if it was ready to win based on just this first season. Well, the Emmy voters have spoken. Score TOTALS: The Office 4, The Other Guys 4 (a tie?)Gotta say, I'm pretty disappointed in The Office's showing this year, but they were up against some pretty tough competition. The Emmy voters went for some non-traditional choices all told, so I can't complain too much (I mean, at least Tony Shaloub didn't win for best lead actor in a comedy series, right?). If The Office couldn't win for best series, I'm glad it went to 30 ROCK. Here's hoping the award will give 30R some wiggle room in the schedule if the ratings aren't there this season. Various shots of the cast from the red carpet:Mindy Kaling 1 2 -- wow, Mindy's in the "worst dressed" category on Yahoo!'s Emmy coverage. Yikes.Looks like some of the other live blogs are calling Jenna Fischer's dress a "fashion faux pas." Yahoo! also put Jenna in the "worst dressed" category on their coverage page. What do you guys think? 1 2 3Rashida Jones 1And just for good measure, a shot of Sarah Chalke. She's purty. Oh, and you can see Rainn Wilson in the background too. 1For the ladies, here's a shot of John Krasinski in his tux. 1
Part of why our dear friend Ian Casselberry stepped down from co-hosting TWSS had to do with his desire to make a name for himself in the blogosphere. He's been working on his own personal blog and his sports themed blog for a few years now, but more recently he's gotten a paying gig writing about his local love, the Detroit Tigers. Thanks to traditional media embracing the blogging world lately, Ian has been asked to represent the Tiger Blogger's point of view on ESPN.com, and most recently in an article for USA TODAY.Let's all wish Ian good luck and further success with his writing career.
The New York Times today posted a rather lengthy article looking at the upcoming film "DAN IN REAL LIFE," and speaking with its star, our old pal Steve Carell. Apparently, Steve is a big weirded out by being called "nice" all the time.From the article:“I don’t think I’m especially nice... I just don’t think I’m a jerk. To have that be kind of your banner is odd, and a little sad, because I think it speaks to ... Everybody should just be nice. I happen to think it’s something you shouldn’t be singled out for being.?
As for the nice thing, he just can’t help himself. Over the course of a dinner interview at Jerry’s Famous Deli in Studio City he apologized for showing up a half-hour late for the interview — delayed because shooting the first episode for the new season of “The Office? took longer than expected. And he apologized for the noise level in the restaurant, which made taping the interview impossible, and for the lateness of the appointment.
But hadn’t he also had a long day? “I never want to hear myself complain about how grueling acting on a TV show is,? he said. “We’re far too lucky. I see too many people work too hard at jobs they don’t enjoy to complain about acting on a show that makes me laugh really hard every day.?
He paused just long enough. A beat.
“But yes, it’s terrible, and I can hardly see straight.?
Click HERE to read the rest of the article.
(photo by J. Emilio Flores for The New York Times)
If you didn't pull the trigger on the season three DVD set last week, Circuit City this week is offering the set for $29.99 (which also includes an "exclusive" The Office mousepad). This is the lowest price I've seen on the set so far.The deal runs from Sunday September 9th through Saturday September 15th.
Old news by now, surely:Jenna Fischer and husband James Gunn have made a joint announcement on their MySpace pages that they will be separating/divorcing.To quote from the posting: "We are sorry for any pain this causes family and friends. The enthusiasm we have expressed for each other's lives, spirits and careers is real—we have been each other's cheerleader and friend during the past six years and continue to be so now and in the future."Maybe I'm out of the loop, but this certainly came as a surprise-- they always seemed to "couple-y" in all of the posts and comments, TV appearances, etc. Ah well. Did John C. Reilly break up their marriage? :) I guess we'll never know. Damn that Dewey Cox.Still, at the very least, delusional male fans of THE OFFICE can look forward to Fischer being "on the market."
by Kevin Crossman
ReviewComing to stores on September 4th is the DVD release of Season 3 of The Office. The four-disc set contains all 22 episodes and a host of extras.
The EpisodesEach episode is presented in pristine widescreen format and looks sharp on DVD. After an incredible Season Two that was one of the best seasons in television history, The Office's Season Three cannot help but be somewhat of a letdown. The early episodes with Jim in a separate branch office in Stamford in particular are not well-loved by fans. These early episodes also feature Pam as kind of an aimless soul. However, both storylines work well when placed in the context of the entire season and are well-worth a second look as part of the entire season package on DVD.
The packaging of episodes is pretty much what you'd expect. The episodes are shown in entirety, with Deleted Scenes for each episode easy to get to after playing the episode. Unfortunately, the Deleted Scenes are presented as one large clip, unlike the Deleted Scenes on The Office website where you can pick and choose which scene to watch. Another note is that the "Traveling Salesmen" and "The Return" episodes are presented together as they were when rerun as an hour episode. While this means additional scenes are included, each episode's individuality is reduced. This hurts "The Return's" cold open with Dwight (Rainn Wilson) on the job-hunt, for example.
Fans of the show have commented that this season belonged to the character Pam and actress Jenna Fischer. Fischer takes a character that appeared as a timid wallflower in Season One and has turned her into a sympathetic and dynamic character by the end of Season Three. John Krasinski's Jim character is subdued for most of the season, a turn-off to many fans. However, placed in context of his character's story-arc this acting style is understandable. New characters Andy and Karen (Ed Helms and Rashida Jones) are great foils to the existing cast and are definitely two big reasons to remember this season.
Steve Carell continues to evolve the character of Michael Scott from an insufferable, mean, and bloated windbag in Season One to a tragically flawed man-child in Season Three. He has many standout moments, and increases the mix of funny moments, cringe-worthy statements and monologues, and adds this season many emotionally effective performances.
The Bonus MaterialsA complete list of bonus features is shown below. A couple "unique to the DVD" items include "Kevin Cooks Stuff in The Office" a funny vignette featuring Kevin (Brian Baumgartner) and the high-energy "Dwight Schrute Music Video" that has to be seen to be believed. More interesting is the original mini-episode "Excerpts From the 2006 NBC Primetime Preview Hosted by “The Office? Cast" that features a storyline with Michael buying a flat-screen television. This is also funny and is produced with the same quality and care as a regular episode. Hip-hop and comedy fans will also appreciate the full version of the "Lazy Scranton Video."
The commentaries are a mixed bag. For the most part, the commentaries decline with the number of people on the commentary track. In particular, the season finale "The Job" is neither fully entertaining or informative because of all the people who are trying to participate. A better option would have been to make two commentaries for this important episode, featuring John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, and Rashida Jones for one and Melora Hardin, Editor David Rogers, and Director Ken Kwapis on the other. This would have allowed more discussion of the two principal storylines.
Commentaries with fewer participants are better, even if they are for lesser episodes. The “Initiation? Commentary with BJ Novak, Rainn Wilson, and Leslie David Baker is both informative and hilariously entertaining, for example. Novak and Wilson are also good together along with writer Brent Forrester on "Business School." Another standout commentary is for the penultimate episode "Beach Games." In our opinion, writer Jennifer Celotta could do commentaries for all episodes as she is insightful and pleasant to listen to. Ed Helms and Brian Baumgartner are also effective on this commentary, though Director Harold Ramis does not participate as much as he does on the commentary for "Safety Training."
The "Bloopers" provide the only season-spanning bonus feature and that's a shame. The blooper reel is actually really good, but a twenty minute feature about the storylines for the entire season would have made for a more interesting and unique keepsake. A "Making Of" feature for the Stamford branch office would have also been welcome. Given these missing features and Steve Carell being unable to participate in the commentaries, The Office's bonus features are only good but not great.
The PackagingThe "office" theme is presented well in the packaging. Lots of "highlights" over the episode listing by disc, and cast photos, "post-it" notes, and more. Thankfully, the cover of the DVD set features a normal looking Michael Scott, rather than the infamous "Prison Mike" (from "The Convict") that was shown when the DVD set was first introduced.
The DVD menus are animated and well-done. There are visuals and audio that are pertinent to the episodes on each disc, and they provide a wonderfully immersive experience.
OverallIf you're a hardcore fan of The Office, there's no question this is a must-own item. Casual fans will be well-served by this set as well, since the immersive experience can help you understand and appreciate the show's humor and sensibility. However, the middling bonus features and uneven commentaries do present flaws to be aware of.
Bonus MaterialsBloopers, photos, and more at the official The Office DVD site.
Disc 1I already mentioned the Best Buy exclusive edition, and now Target is offering their own version of The Office season three DVD.Wrapped in a brown paper "Nifty Gifty" bag, the Taget exclusive comes with an extra bonus disc featuring Q&A with the cast and crew at the Museum of Television and Radio. It also comes with a retail price of $37.99, which seems a bit steep for that extra disc. The regular season three DVD set is priced at $31.99.
Nearly everyone and their mothers are reporting this breaking story, so why not jump on the bandwagon?NBC Universal, fresh from announcing their new "hulu.com" on-demand download service, has so far refused to renew its contract with Apple's iTunes store to sell episodes of THE OFFICE, SCRUBS, HEROES, and all other NBCU owned properties. The current contract is set to expire in December.Some of you may remember the ruckus Universal's music arm caused a few months ago when they refused to renew music rights with Apple as well. Seems like the big-wigs over at NBCU want to be able to charge and force bundle whatever they want, and don't like the flat $0.99/1.99/9.99 structure Apple has sworn (and profited) by. NBCU properties currently account for 40% of all videos sold on iTunes, and I suppose they feel they deserve a bigger cut of the action.The New York Times is reporting that Universal's argument is that "NBCU wants to sell a package, say an episode of “The Office? with the movie “The 40- Year-Old Virgin,? because they both star the comedian Steve Carell." Apple, obviously, doesn't want to do that since they feel complicated pricing turns customers off. NBCU also claims that piracy concerns have something to do with this, although why you'd DENY people a chance to buy a show legally is beyond me. All this does is drive more people towards Bittorent.Editor Jeremy Horowitz of Apple fan-site iLounge.com has posted an editorial on the decision which echoes some of my same points:"Hi, NBC. It’s me, Jeremy. You probably don’t know me, but I’m one of your customers. That’s right, “customers.? Two years ago, that word wouldn’t have made any sense to either of us. The idea of paying money for your TV shows was next to ridiculous to me back then. Even today, I think it’s on the fine edge of foolish, and all it would take is one really dumb move by your company and I’d stop paying to watch your shows.
Today, you did something that comes as close to “really dumb? as you’ll need to get to lose my business entirely. You announced that you’re considering pulling your videos out of the iTunes Store come December over piracy and pricing concerns. The New York Times also reported that you’re holding back on selling movies through iTunes because you’re worried about piracy.
[...]What you should have learned from the iTunes experiment is simple: Apple is helping you make money, and build fan bases. Shows like The Office that were going nowhere suddenly developed religious fans and—in my case—customers. I missed the first and half of the second seasons of The Office because nothing you did to promote the show worked properly. Then, one day while I was on vacation, a friend recommended the show. So I downloaded an episode from iTunes. Then I downloaded the entire series. I let my now-wife watch, then she and I both got our fathers (and other family members) hooked, and so on. The same thing happened with Battlestar Galactica, and this week, I bought the entire first season of Heroes. It’s purely coincidence, I think, that The New York Times reported this morning that those are your three most popular shows on iTunes.
Without iTunes, this would never have happened. I want to underscore the word “never.?To read more of Jeremy's editorial, go HERE.
So what do you guys think? Did you learn to love THE OFFICE through iTunes downloads? Do you care about this move? Many people believe iTunes sales are what kept THE OFFICE viable to NBC in the first place, so is it "fair"? Or just business as usual?EDIT: Apple responded to this whole thing, giving some insight into NBCU's demands for pricing--Apple (R) today announced that it will not be selling NBC television shows for the upcoming television season on its online iTunes(R) Store ( http://www.itunes.com). The move follows NBC's decision to not renew its agreement with iTunes after Apple declined to pay more than double the wholesale price for each NBC TV episode, which would have resulted in the retail price to consumers increasing to $4.99 per episode from the current $1.99. ABC, CBS, FOX and The CW, along with more than 50 cable networks, are signed up to sell TV shows from their upcoming season on iTunes at $1.99 per episode. "We are disappointed to see NBC leave iTunes because we would not agree to their dramatic price increase," said Eddy Cue, Apple's vice president of iTunes. "We hope they will change their minds and offer their TV shows to the tens of millions of iTunes customers." Apple's agreement with NBC ends in December. Since NBC would withdraw their shows in the middle of the television season, Apple has decided to not offer NBC TV shows for the upcoming television season beginning in September. NBC supplied iTunes with three of its 10 best selling TV shows last season, accounting for 30 percent of iTunes TV show sales. $4.99 per episode? Seriously NBC?For those of you who actually pay attention to the TWSS news segments, you may remember Ian and I talking about how Fox and NBC were teaming up to create a YouTube-like video streaming service that would both allow on-demand streaming of popular shows as well as allow other services access to distribute the videos themselves. Well, let's let the good people at Adweek.com explain how this thing workds:"When it does launch, the site will allow fans to stream episodes of NBC series such as The Office and Friday Night Lights, along with the soon-to-launch remake of The Bionic Woman. Meanwhile, Fox is planning to offer on-demand episodes of staples like The Simpsons and Mad TV as well as premiering shows such as the New Orleans-set cop drama K-Ville. In addition to Hulu.com, the sweeping venture will see these series distributed across the biggest sites on the Web, including AOL, MSN, MySpace and Yahoo!."Well, low and behold, the thing is finally almost ready to launch sometime in October. The name of the new site? HULU.com. Yep. Hulu.Why Hulu, for the love of god? To quote the CEO of the new venture:"Objectively, Hulu is short, easy to spell, easy to pronounce and rhymes with itself," he wrote. "Subjectively, Hulu strikes us as an inherently fun name, one that captures the spirit of the service we're building. Our hope is that Hulu will embody our (admittedly ambitious) never-ending mission, which is to help you find and enjoy the world's premiere content when, where and how you want it."Ooooooh-kay. In any event, if you'd like to try and beta-test the new website, head on over to hulu.com and leave your e-mail address. You just might get lucky.
Just a quick note-- Angela Kinsey recently participated in a moderated discussion about the secrets of improvisational comedy at I. O. West's monthly "Inside the Improvisors Studio" show. Backstage.com summarized the talk for our reading pleasure."Kinsey said the seeds of her career were sewn at an early age. "I went to a very progressive [elementary] school in Indonesia," she recalled. "My English teacher had us do improv exercises as a way to brainstorm, and then I had this great theatre teacher, Dr. Allen, and he used improv. And so I just kept looking for that kind of thing." She continued her acting training at HB Studio in New York. "They were doing a lot of classical pieces, and I would bring in pieces I wrote and it would be like, 'Hey, I wrote this thing. It's called "Plant Lady." She talks to her plants,' " she said with a laugh. Kinsey later moved to Los Angeles to study improv at the Groundlings and I.O. West. "It just seemed like where I was studying in New York was much more classical, which was great, but I wanted to experiment."To read the rest of the article, go HERE.
Not sure what I think about this promo clip... it's about 3 minutes long, and features all of our favorite "Officians" dishing on what they did over the Summer. The problem? This little clip actually covers a lot of material I assumed would be dealt with in the ACTUAL episodes. And Ryan's posture? Come on, man... you've only been gone four months (at most). What's with the big act?Well? What'd you guys think?
As most of you may already know, the reruns of THE OFFICE will begin airing on cable channel TBS on Tuesday September 11th at 10pm/9pm Central. The episodes will continue to air on subsequent Tuesdays.TBS's official THE OFFICE page can be found HERE.Do I need to remind anyone that the season 3 DVD set hits stores on September 4th? I didn't think so.What you might NOT know is this-- Best Buy is offering a special exclusive set for season 3, called the "Welcome Aboard Kit." Included in this special pack is the DVD set, a Dundie Award, a Dwight Schrute Mini- Bobblehead and a Welcome Aboard letter packed in an "Office" storage box. The price for all of this extra swag? $42.99.The regular old vanilla set will run $32.99. If you're interested in the special set, prepare to get their early-- supplies will be limited.
The official convention page finally posted some information today:Memo To: All Employees From: Dunder-Mifflin Corporate Party Planning Committee Date: August 29, 2007 Re: The Office Convention Just a reminder that the October 26-28 company gathering is rapidly approaching. We're in talks with employees from all of our regional branches and everyone is very excited, especially the Scranton branch, who will be hosting the convention. At this time, we don't have a full list of who may be attending since it's right in the middle of Dunder-Mifflin's fall busy season, but we expect a lot of participation from our favorite employees. We are, however, happy to announce many of the activities that we've already scheduled, and we are doing our best to encourage as large an attendance as possible. Here's a sampling of some of the planned activities:
Just got this press release through the wire:----------
Los Angeles CA (Billboard Publicity Wire) August 17, 2007 -- On October 2, critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Wisely is set to release an all-new CD entitled Wisely on Oglio Records, a Fontana/Universal distributed label. The new album is self-titled, because, as the artist relates, "I feel like this is the first record I should have ever made. I finally captured what I hear in my head when I write."
Wisely's music features a lush and heartfelt sound described as 'evocative pop'. For this, his 3rd album as Wisely, the artist teamed with co-producer/drummer Petur Smith (The Januaries, Jason Falkner), and calls upon contributions from Rusty Anderson (Paul McCartney), Joshua Grange (Dwight Yoakam), Rick Boston (Low Pop Suicide), Kalle Gustafsson Jerneholm (The Soundtrack Of Our Lives), and Ludwig Boss (Boss, Ray Wonder). The album was recorded in the legendary singer songwriter refuge of Laurel Canyon (Los Angeles) as well as in Gothenburg and Malmo (Sweden). Jenna Fischer, from NBC television's "The Office", is a huge Wisely fan (they became close while Wisely was scoring Jenna's self-directed/written film Lollilove). Jenna stars in the video for the album's first single "Through Any Window", directed by John Cabrera (Brian Fuller on Gilmore Girls).----------Click on the big play button below to watch the video.Kevin pointed out to me that the first trailer for Jenna Fischer's next big film "Walk Hard" has been posted. Co-starring John C. Reilley, WH is a spoof of a musical bio-pic, following the rise (and one presumes, the FALL) of a Johnny Cash analog over the course of his tumultuous career.Head on over to Kevin's Frat Pack Tribue site for more stills and a higher quality trailer download.There's some good laughs in the trailer, although it also seems pretty broad in places (flipping the car, for example). Still, doesn't Jenna have the purtiest voice you've ever heard? I wish she'd blow ME.... kisses.
After a couple of OFFICE cast related flops this Summer, I'm still holding out hope for Steve Carell's slightly more subdued turn in "Dan In Real Life." The first full length trailer dropped this week, and it looks like it could go either way. What do you guys think? Hidden gem, or another dud?
PEOPLE magazine published a small update about Jenna Fischer and her continuing recovery from the fall that broke her back last May. How's she doing?"I'm still sore," Fischer, 33, told PEOPLE at Thursday's Universal Media Studios Emmy party in Malibu. "I have good days and so-so days. I'm definitely able to work." In The Office, Fischer usually sits behind a computer. She adds, "They got a variety of chairs for me. I had to sit in, I think, six different chairs, and got to pick my favorite one." Fischer, who hurt her back after falling at an NBC party in mid-May, explains, "Truthfully, I'm not in a lot of pain anymore. It's more some discomfort. I don't have a headache, but I would say it's comparable to having a low-grade headache." (Photo by: Frazer Harrison / Getty)To read the rest of the article, follow the link.
As a high school English teacher, I am always amazed at how few students I deal with on a day-by-day basis that actually READ outside of school. Maybe that's why this press release caught my eye.FIRST BOOK, a literacy organization that provides books to kids in need, recently had an online poll to determine which book or series got adults "hooked" on reading. The most popular result? NANCY DREW. I was more of a Hardy Boys man myself, but Carolyn Keene (a pseudonym for several authors over the years) certain deserves props for introducing generations to the wonderful world of reading. (I wonder how many people read the controversial Clue In The Clock? Tsk tsk tsk... so many swears...)To quote from the press release, "research shows that the single strongest indicator of a child's future reading ability is the number of age-appropriate books in the home. Yet access to books is almost non-existent for children living in poverty. A recent study found that in middle-income families there is an average of 13 books for every child, compared to just 1 book for every 300 children in low- income neighborhoods. First Book addresses this crisis at its root by providing new books directly to children in need through community- based programs already serving their families." Towards these ends, the program gave away 50,000 new books to the state of Oklahoma (winner of an online vote). OK, that's all well and good, but what does this have to do with THE OFFICE? The FIRST BOOK site interviewed a handful of celebrities and asked them what was the first book that "hooked" them. One of the celebs? Our very own John Krasinski. Says John: "There were so many great books I read growing up. I was always a HUGE fan of all things Roald Dahl. Every book from James and the Giant Peach to The BFG to The Witches, nobody wrote more imaginative stories for kids. These worlds he created had the nonsensical appeal of Dr. Seuss, while at the same time, the characters were all written with wonderful complexities and enormous heart. It was a feast for any imagination! And with so many great books, short stories and poems to choose from, you could go on an adventure any day of the week!"As for me, I remember reading the NARNIA and the OZ books when I was in first or second grade... I dug Encyclopedia Brown, Dr. Seuss, Shel Silverstein, and lots of other great stuff. The lesson here? If there's a kid in your life, do them a favor and buy them a book! They just might grow up to be OFFICE fans.
I've said before on the podcast that the 60s spy-spoof "Get Smart" was one of my all-time favorite comedies. Will Steve Carell and company manage to do the original show the justice it deserves? Only time will tell, I guess, but in the mean time, check out the first teaser trailer for the new film adaptation.
Maybe you feel you don't have the voice or time to be a co-host on TWSS, but would you still like to help out?I'm currently looking for a dedicated TWSS office staff to help with things like news gathering, public relations, and more. I'd like to grow the show as much as I can in this upcoming season, and I just can't do it alone.What do I specifically need?
In case you were wondering about the "Superfriends" video I was talking about on the podcast, here it is in all of its fabulous glory.True. True.p.s. for those of you who have no idea what this is all about, check out this ridiculously detailed Wikipedia article.
Episode # 26 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds Matt and Kevin firing up the flux capacitor for a trip to the very beginning of time. What's this? A documentary about a local paper manufacturing company? That'll never work! Herein then, lies the origin story of our favorite brit-com turned sitcom. Who was there from the beginning? Who gets their office supplies dunked in jello? What, exactly, DOES Roy have in that bag? And why do I feel like I've seen this all somewhere before? Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at thatswhatshesaid. libsyn.com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
I got an e-mail today from Amazon.com linking to pre-order pricing for all of the "Emmy nominated" shows coming out on DVD this Fall.Now, for me, pre-ordering is always a gamble. Is this the best price? Will it be cheaper in stores when it actually comes out? Still, for those who appreciate "to your door" delivery service, I guess this is pretty hard to beat. Most (if not all) of these sets are 35% off the suggested retail price, so I suppose you really can't go wrong. Remember, too, that Amazon gives free shipping on all orders over $25.Pre-order THE OFFICE season three -- $32.49 (normally $49.99)Pre-order HEROES season one -- $38.99 (normally $59.99)Pre-order 30 ROCK season one -- $32.49 (normally $49.99)Pre-order MY NAME IS EARL season two -- $32.39 (normally $49.99)For the complete list of all winners/DVD sets, click HERE.If you look at the cover for season three posted above, you'll notice one subtle difference from the earlier cover-- no Prison Mike! Which is the "true" cover? Only time will tell.
The Office made big strides with today's Emmy nominations:
Comedy Series: The Office
Lead Actor In A Comedy Series: Steve Carell
Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series: Rainn Wilson
Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series: Jenna Fischer
Directing For A Comedy Series: Ken Kwapis, for Gay Witch Hunt
Writing For A Comedy Series: Greg Daniels, for Gay Witch Hunt
Writing For A Comedy Series: Michael Schur, for The Negotiation
Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Comedy Series: Dean Holland, Dave Rogers, for The Job
Sound Mixing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (half-hour) And Animation: John Cook, Peter J, Benjamin Patrick, for The CoupKEVIN'S COMMENTS:
While JAMers are probably complaining about John Krasinski being left off the list (he was on the initial list of top 10 nominees for Supporting Actor), if you look at the actual nominees it's not like Krasinski was robbed. While I don't watch Jon Cryer's Two and a Half Men, I can say with certainty that the nominations for Jeremy Piven and Kevin Dillion, and Neil Patrick Harris are most deserved. Certainly Rainn Wilson did a better job this season than Krasinski who's Emmy chances were likely doomed to his character's required sleepwalking through the entire season. The fact that Wilson scored one of the slots should be viewed a big step forward for the show and actor, considering how competitive this category is.Besides, The Office employee most deserving of a nomination was Jenna Fischer anyway. She was the focal point of the entire third season and continues to be the emotional center of the show. The show could have swept the Supporting Actor cateogory including Creed Bratton and Brian Baumgartner but if Fischer had been snubbed it would have been a dark day. So, let's celebrate Fischer's recognition, along with Steve Carell, the producers, the writers, and directors. Krasinski will have plenty of time next season to show a range of emotions. Or so I hope.
MATT'S COMMENTS:I pretty much agree with Kevin's comments above. Steve, Rainn, and Jenna really WERE the most integral characters to season three, and I also agree that John K. didn't really get a chance to show us anything noteworthy.I'm a bit more baffled by the TWO nominations for one of my least favorite episodes of season three, GAY WITCH HUNT. Are they giving Kwapis credit for that totally improvised kiss at the end? Maybe it got the recognition simply because it dealt with the issue of being gay in the workplace. For my money, though, there were MUCH better episodes they could have chosen (although the way I understand it, the show itself submits what they think are the best episodes). In any case, let's hope our favorite show gets the recognition they deserve come Emmy time.NBC held a panel for their Thursday night comedies at the TV Critic's Conference this past Monday (July 16th), and representin' for The Office were producer Greg Daniels & John Krasinski.Gael Fashingbauer Cooper of MSNBC's TEST PATTERN described what went down:Executive producer Greg Daniels and star John Krasinski (Jim Halpert) were on the panel, and had a little fun with that show's big online presence and tech-savvy audience. When Daniels noted that online spoilers were a big problem, Krasinski humorously butted in with "That's my bad, by the way. I needed a little extra cash, (I'm online) dishing the secrets."
The Jim-Pam romance of course was discussed. One critic noted that last year's promos for the show tended to hype the "Jam" lovin' even if it meant ignoring the show's humor, and Daniels agreed. He noted that the Jim-Pam romance actually has "more impact when it's not carrying the weight" (of being the show's main thread) and claimed that "(the romance) has always been the B-plot," to which Krasinski pulled mock outrage and pretended to storm out.
The panel was also asked how they would handle NBC's newly announced "green week" in November, which might seem a tough fit for comedies. Krasinski was quick to joke "Well, we're screwed. We're a PAPER company."
To see what's in store for the OTHER three shows on Thursday night, click the link above.
So what's an OFFICE fan to do for comedy during this interminable Summer rerun season?Me? I'm on a Patton Oswalt kick right now. I empathize with his "wow he reminds me of ME" nerd character Spence on THE KING OF QUEENS, I enjoyed his voice work as Remy in RATATOUILLE, I laughed my ass off at his last comedy album FEELING KINDA PATTON, I dug his COMEDIANS OF COMEDY TV show (with Zack Galifianakis, Brian Posehn, and Maria Bamford)... he's a comic book geek, loves Star Wars, and other pop-culture crap, but is also highly educated in the same snooty "English Major" way that I and most of my friends are. In fact, if there's one "celebrity" I'd like to hang out with, Patton's probably the guy.His new album WEREWOLVES AND LOLLIPOPS came out on July 10th, and he's been making the rounds this week. He's got in interesting interview in THE ONION, and is also featured in the latest episode of THE SOUND OF YOUNG AMERICA podcast.So if you'd like to hear a bit about why Patton wants to kill George Lucas with a shovel, how Bush and Cheney are like the Dukes of Hazzard, or how KFC's new #1 menu item is a "failure pile in a sadness bowl," check out the new album. Well worth it.
Thought this was kind of interesting. The Citizens Voice is reporting that the new "prop guy" for The Office will be in in Scranton next week to make a pitch for local props for next season. Well, I'll let them get into it:---------The prop master for “The Office,? the Emmy-winning sitcom about a fictional paper supply company based in Scranton, will visit The Mall at Steamtown next week to meet with businesses for two days to see what else Scranton has to offer in the way of local props to augment the sets of the sitcom. Philip Shea, prop master for “The Office,? will be at The Mall at Steamtown, Lackawanna Avenue, Scranton, on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 17 and 18, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Representatives of businesses willing to be mentioned or have their material or products shown on the hit NBC show “The Office? are welcome.Previously, the show relied on the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce for local props. The search for additional props through this prop casting call at The Mall at Steamtown is an effort to give the show more scope as it prepares to film its fourth season.Company representatives are asked to bring business cards and promotional and marketing materials.---------Here's to a Scranton-ier season four!
Episode # 25 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds Matt and Kevin awash in a seas of Summer (not-so) blockbusters, discussing the future of TWSS. Hey, where's our RETRO episode? There's a shake-up in TWSS-land, people... one host shall live, and another will die... well, not REALLY, but I do have some bad news. Out of the ashes, a contest is offered... who will be americas next podcasting star? Who will be... THE ONE? Only the oracle knows for sure. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at thatswhatshesaid. libsyn.com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
I know I've been having some health issues, but some of you might be wondering when Ian & I will be getting to those promised Season One retro episodes.I'm afraid I have some bad news.Because of work/time related issues, Ian has told me that effective immediately, he will no longer be able to participate as co-host of TWSS. When I thought up this crazy idea for a podcast last Summer, Ian really stepped in and helped save my bacon. I felt the show was something of a snooze-fest as a solo production, and he really helped to establish that sense of banter and reparte that I think we've become known for. For that, I definitely owe him a debt of gratitude. It wasn't easy putting out more than 25 episodes of TWSS this past season, and he stuck by my side through thick and thin (except when he had to go party in Hawaii... the bastard). He participated here on the blog page, and did a lot to help the show become what it was.So now I'm left with a couple of choices-- end the show, go back to a solo show, or try and find a new co-host. I think it'd be a shame to just quit, and if episode #3 of TWSS taught us anything it was that I should not do this alone. I guess that leaves option number three, although part of why I did the show in the first place was because it allowed me to work with a friend... I'm not sure if I can find someone else who I can be comfortable with or who'll make me want to record an episode when my grades are due or some other bit of trouble crops up.So here's what I'm going to do-- if you think you'd like to try and step into the TWSS co-host role, I'm going to hold open auditions. Send me an audio clip of yourself talking about an episode of THE OFFICE, making sure to tell me what you liked about it, and some things you thought could have been better. You guys know how we roll-- I don't want anyone who can't be both objective and critical of the show. If you think every episode is "the best episode," don't bother to waste my time. :) I don't really know what will come of this whole thing, to tell you the truth. Maybe I'll find someone that I really click with. Maybe we'll have a rotating panel of co-hosts. Maybe, in the end, I'll just decide to retire from the world of podcasting. We shall see.I'm planning on releasing a mini-episode sometime in the next few days which talks about this and gets out to everyone that subscribes, opening up the field for possible co-hosts even more. I just thought I'd let you guys in the "inner sanctum" get the first head's up. Thank you, too, for your patience and support of the show this past year. Both Ian and I really appreciate it.
I've been toying with this for a while, since I wasn't sure if anyone would be interested, but what the hell. I set up a storefront for TWSS at the cafepress.com website. For those of you who don't know, cafepress is an online "boutique" shop where people can create their own t-shirts/mugs/hats/etc. using their own images. Normally, if you want to make a profit, you can mark the prices up HIGHER than the base price... but since the base prices are so high, I am offering these products to listeners of the podcast AT COST. I repeat-- if you order one of these shirts, neither Ian nor I will be making a penny.check it out, if you so desire:http://www.cafepress.com/twsspodcastBe the first on your block to show your support for TWSS :)
The other big piece of news from this past week has been the big syndication deal NBC has brokered for reruns of THE OFFICE. This has been pretty much all over the place, but I'll stick with the home-team and quote this article from the SCRANTON TIMES-TRIBUNE:----------On Thursday, NBC Universal’s syndication worked out a deal to sell the rerun rights to the Scranton-set comedy to comedy-focused cable station TBS, as well as 10 big-market Fox stations, in a deal worth more than $130 million. TBS also picked up the rights to “The Office’s? Thursday night schedule mate, “My Name is Earl.? Reruns for the show’s first three seasons will begin airing on TBS and the 10 Fox affiliates this fall.TBS will pay about $650,000 per “Office? episode, while the 10 Fox stations, which does not include the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre market, will collectively pay $300,000, according to Daily Variety. The deal is unusual in that “The Office? is about two seasons away from the normal syndication period. In recent years, TBS has devoted most of its programming to comedy, with a powerhouse lineup of sitcom greats that includes “Seinfeld,? “Friends,? “Everybody Loves Raymond? and “Sex and the City.?----------Not too shabby.
According to Hollywood.com, our pal John Krasinski is in the running to replace Chevy Chase in a new film in the "Fletch" franchise. To quote the article:----------HOLLYWOOD - The Office star John Krasinski is the hot favorite to play Irwin 'Fletch' Fletcher in a new adaptation of Gregory McDonald's series of novels. A number of actors have been considered as successors to Chevy Chase--who played Fletch in three 1980s films--including Jason Lee, Ryan Reynolds and most recently Joshua Jackson. But Krasinski admits he is in the running for the role. He tells MTV News, "My name was tossed around a little bit for the role, and it's something that (I might consider). "I have no idea (if they'll cast me). I've been shooting a movie down in North Carolina, so I've kind of lost touch with who (else) is in the running. "I read the script, and it is hilarious. It's just one of those things that is so terrifying, to step up and be in a role that was done so perfectly. "I mean, Chevy Chase not only created that role, but he did it pretty damn well. So (playing that character) is a scary situation. I don't know what's going on with it right now, but I am sure whoever does it will be fantastic. You just have to have some guts to do that." COPYRIGHT 2007 WORLD ENTERTAINMENT NEWS NETWORK LTD. All Global Rights Reserved. ----------I don't know if JK can measure up to the genius that is "Chevy," but this certainly can't be worse than "LICENSE TO WED" (I'm sorry... I know I should try and be positive... but... man, is THAT movie going to suck).
Hey everyone--Sorry for being 'incommunicado' these past two weeks. I've been going through some big health issues for the last 10 days, and I'm slowly starting to recover (long story short, I had severe abdominal pain after eating and have gone to many doctors appointments, tests, etc., with more to come).I also still have one more week of graduate credit classes coming up from June 25-29, but I will be talking to Ian soon about recording the first Season One "Retro" episode. Thanks for your patience and understanding.
Just saw this at boston.com:"The Office star Steve Carell and his actress wife, Nancy Walls, purchased a four-bedroom house in the seaside South Shore town of Marshfield for $700,000, according to the Plymouth County Registry of Deeds. The Acton-bred Carell stars in Evan Almighty, which opens June 22, and filmed Dan in Real Life in Rhode Island last fall."Looking online, Marshfield seems like a pretty darn ritzy place to live. Guess that "EVAN ALMIGHTY" check must have cleared :)Local THE OFFICE fans, keep your eyes open!
As long time fans of THE OFFICE know, John Krasinski "got game" when it comes to the roundball-- he played in high school, and showed us his mad skills during the season one episode "Basketball."He also got taken to school by a man who's old enough to be his father.According to LEATHERHEADS co-star George Clooney (age 46), Krasinski (age 27) had been "talking $#it" about how he would "kick [Clooney's] ass" during the entire shoot. Krasinski was so confident in his abilities that he offered up a wager of $1,000. Alas. On the last day of shooting, the one-on-one game finally took place, and Clooney ended up winning 11-8. Said Clooney -- "I was on cloud nine... I was wiping my forehead with $100 bills going, 'Whooo, is it hot in here?"
Just a few new tidbits of information coming out about Jenna's injury and/or recuperation.According to Actress Archives, Fischer's back doctor has estimated the recovery time to run about 12 weeks. Plenty of time before the new season begins. Just don't look for any 'limbo' parties during season four.The Edmonton Sun is reporting that the very first doctor on the scene to help Jenna after the unfortunate fall was none other than a certain John Dorian, MD. To quote the article:Zach Braff knows how to make an injured person feel better; forget flowers, send them cupcakes.The Office's Jenna Fischer was at an NBC bash where she fell and hurt her back. "Zach Braff was at the party when I fell," Fischer told USA Today. "And bless his heart, the next day he sent a big tray of cupcakes to my hotel. In those first few days, all my husband and I did for pleasure was watch a Larry Sanders DVD and eat those cupcakes."Frequent readers of Fischer's MySpace blog will no doubt be aware of her fascination and/or obsession with cupcakes (she even pimped out a fancy new cupcake carrier). Nicely played, J. Dizzle.
For those of you wondering how Jenna Fischer and her broken back were doing, USA Today published are article yesterday checking in with her and recapping the disasterous events of two weeks ago:-----------------------Fischer feeling better after big fallBy William Keck, USA TODAY Jenna Fischer, who plays lovable receptionist Pam on NBC's The Office, is in pain. A lot of pain. But she wants her fans to know that she is on the mend after breaking four bones in her back in a nasty fall May 14 at an NBC party.
"I had a rough night last night," Fischer says from the Central Park-area hotel where she has been recuperating. "I'm mostly off the meds, but I did take some last night because sleeping is probably the most uncomfortable thing right now. I just can't get comfortable."
Two weeks ago, Fischer, 33, came to New York to speak with advertisers about NBC's fall lineup. She was looking forward to letting loose with her co-stars. "It's one of my favorite parts of the year. My (summer) vacation starts then. I was ready for a lovely break -- no pun intended."
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Head over to USAToday for the rest of the article.
For those following the news, Rainn Wilson has been talking a lot this past season about his religious beliefs as a member of the 'still mostly unknown in this country' BAHA'I faith. Recently, the official Baha'i news sources ran an interview they did with Wilson, asking about his beliefs, where they came from, what they mean to him, how he sees Hollywood, etc. Here's a sample:"LOS ANGELES, United States, 24 May 2007 (BWNS) -- Actor Rainn Wilson is used to talking to the media - he is part of the award-winning cast of the U.S. television series "The Office," and his recent role in the movie "The Last Mimzy" brought a flurry of new interviews. Time magazine, TV talk-show hosts and others came calling.
A member of the Baha'i Faith, he seems just as comfortable discussing his spiritual beliefs as he does shooting the breeze about Dwight Schrute, the pompous assistant manager he plays on "The Office," the American version of a popular British TV show of the same name.
His show, seen weekly by 8 million people in the U.S. alone, also airs in Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, parts of continental Europe, Australia, Saudi Arabia, parts of Latin America, Singapore, and several other countries.
His other acting credits include the character of Arthur Martin in the series "Six Feet Under" and a one-episode stint in "Entourage," both on the U.S. cable network HBO; guest hosting "Saturday Night Live" on U.S. television; and movie roles in "Almost Famous," "America's Sweethearts," "Galaxy Quest," "House of 1000 Corpses," "Sahara," and "My Super Ex-Girlfriend."
In a recent interview with U.S. Baha'i News, he talked about Hollywood, his family, his life and his beliefs. Here is that interview, reprinted with permission:
Q: Rainn, what was it like to grow up in the Baha'i Faith?
A: When you grow up with a spiritual foundation that asks you to be conscious of the fact that all races are created equal, that men and women are equal and that all religions worship the same (God), it helps you see the world as one family and not get lost in the traps of political, social, and economic belief systems that can lead you astray. I always think of myself as a world citizen. It's a powerful thing."
You can read the whole interview HERE.
So how does the cast keep busy over the summer? By presenting at awards shows, of course.John Krasinski has been tapped to present at the 2007 MTV MOVIE AWARDS, set to air June 3rd at 8:00 pm eastern. Other presenters include Cameron Diaz, Lindsay Lohan, Jessica Beil, John Krasinski, Mandy Moore, Robin Williams, Justin Long, Bruce Willis, Jessica Alba, Josh Duhamel, Samuel L. Jackson, Amanda Bynes, Chris Tucker, Katherine Heigl, Seth Rogen, Shia LaBeouf, Michael Chiklis, John Travolta, Zac Efron, Tyrese Gibson, Chris Evans and Ioan Gruffudd.For those who prefer life on the "Great White Way," Rainn Wilson will be one of the presenters at the 2007 TONY AWARDS, set to air June 10th at 8:00 pm. Joining Wilson at the podium will be Harry Connick Jr., Felicity Huffman, Jane Krakowski, Angela Lansbury, Audra McDonald, Bernadette Peters, William Petersen, David Hyde Pierce, Liev Schreiber, Kevin Spacey, John Turturro, and Patrick Wilson.On a somewhat related note, Steve Carell will be in Boston on June 21st to host a fund-raiser/premier night for his new film EVAN ALMIGHTY. Money raised will go to the Zachary Carson Brain Tumor Fund at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Carson, now 21, was diagnosed with a malignant tumor two years ago. His mother organized the event after meeting Carell on the set of THE OFFICE.
A few OFFICE related news items this week:First, NBC has apparently fired entertainment cheif KEVIN REILLY. For those of you who wonder why this news belongs here, Reilly has been a big champion of THE OFFICE (and MY NAME IS EARL) the past few seasons and was also responsible for the Thursday night comedy block this past season. Oh, and he made a cameo during THE RETURN as one of the guys interviewing Dwight.From what I can tell, NBC execs decided that Reilly had to go after the network came in 4th (!) place this season, and the recent upfront presentation didn't seem like enough of a change to pull the peacock network out of the basement. Even though NBC just renewed his contract for another three years, they're apparently ready to cut their losses and just get rid of him.So is this BAD news for THE OFFICE? Not really. Even though new execs love to change up the schedule when they take over, the #1 name being thrown around to replace Reilly is BEN SILVERMAN-- head of Reveille Entertainment and finder/adapter/producer of THE OFFICE, UGLY BETTY, THE BIGGEST LOSER and THE TUDORS (among others). In other news, NBC is also putting the kibosh on "Super Sized" episodes next year. While once a promising and original strategy, NBC execs have come to the conclusion that starting a show at 8:23pm isn't necessarily the smartest move in the book. For now, the five full hour long episodes of THE OFFICE next season are still a go, but we won't be seeing any more of the 35-40 minute extended shows.
Episode # 24 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Ian bawling like little schoolgirls. It's DEFCON 20 when Jan wants Michael back, but is he strong enough to withstand the new dynamic duo? Tell her I said I want to squeeze them... it's code. She'll understand. With Michael, Jim, and Karen in NYC for the big interview, there's a new sheriff in town... and his name is ME (erm, Dwight, actually). Will a load of Schrutebucks win his co-workers' love? And remember -- when looking long term, sometimes all you need is a yogurt lid to remind you where your heart lies. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at thatswhatshesaid. libsyn.com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
Yes, the rumors in the other post are true-- today, May 22, is my 36th birthday. Man, where did the time go? I really don't feel that "old" at this point, but now I'm looking at the backside of my 30s, with "40" at the bottom of the hill. THAT'S a scary thought.And how will I be celebrating my birthday? By recording the "season finale" episode of TWSS! Are you people happy now!? Seriously, it's been a labor of love for both Ian and me, and we both really appreciate the support that you've shown us over these last 8-9 months. (And if this week's episode is a little late, cut us some slack! ;))
Angela Kinsey & Brian Baumgartner's visit to Scranton this past weekend was the perfect excuse for organizers to release the first batch of information regarding the first convention dedicated solely to our favorite sitcom.Scheduled for the weekend of October 26-28th, 2007, in lovely Scranton, Pennsylvania, THE OFFICE CONVENTION should be quite the interesting time (on the site, it is joking described as being like a Star Trek convention where the geeks wear Dwight Schrute glasses instead of Spock ears).No details have emerged at this time as far as who might be attending, or what events are planned to fill those three days, but keep checking the official website for more information.http://www.theofficeconvention.com/I've offered TWSS's services to help promote the convention, but I haven't heard anything yet. Regardless, we'll keep you updated on all the latest news as it becomes available.
It might be a bit early, and you might have to take it with a grain of salt, but TVShowsOnDVD.com is reporting that the Season Three DVD set will be released on September 11, 2007.According to the live blog that followed the season finale, the S3 DVD will feature all of the deleted scenes shown on NBC.com over the past year, as well as "a lot of other stuff" that we haven't seen yet.
I mentioned this in the chatroom after the show on Thursday, but Ian is going to be out of town on both Sunday (our usual recording time) and Monday this week. Because of that, we had a choice -- either rush and record it today, or wait until Tuesday.Unfortunately, after working all week, I just wasn't up to putting the show together today. Hopefully, because this was the finale, people can excuse us a little bit and enjoy the podcast a little later in the week.As for what we plan to do over the summer... well, we haven't nailed down the specifics yet, but the plan tentatively is calling for a new "Retro" episode of TWSS every two or three weeks. I'd like to cover season one, doing episodes #1-6 in order. Once again, thanks for your support. Ian and I have had a blast doing the show this season, and hope to be back in full force for season four.
To celebrate the season three finale, the NBC/Universal store is offering 20% off all "The Office" merchandise this weekend. Now's your chance to get that Dwight bobblehead you've always wanted, the plush bath robe, the "world's best boss" mug, or so much more, all at a decent discount.Sale ends Monday, May 21st. Great timing, too, since my birthday is the 22nd... (XXL, please).
Well folks, here it is... the season finale. Will all of our hopes and dreams for JAM come true? Will Jan bear Michael's love child? Will Karen ride off into the sunset? (seeing as how her FOX show got picked up, it seems pretty darn likely). Can the writers top CASINO NIGHT? What will Matt & Ian do now?? Only a few more hours until we find out.NBC describes the episode like this:-------------------------------THE JOB One-Hour Season Finale 8/7c TV14 05.17.2007 THE FINAL REVIEW - In a special one-hour finale, the office is still buzzing from the events of their day at the beach. A job opening in Corporate pits coworker against coworker as Michael (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell), Jim (John Krasinski) and Karen (Rashida Jones) all head to New York for final interviews. In Scranton, Dwight's (Rainn Wilson) new regime institutes sweeping reforms, Pam (Jenna Fischer) plays an interesting role, and Jan (Melora Hardin) comes in with exciting news. B.J. Novak, Ed Helms, Leslie David Baker, Kate Flannery, Angela Kinsey, Oscar Nunez, Phyllis Smith, Paul Lieberstein and Creed Bratton also star. ------------------------------And once again, REMEMBER-- this is an HOUR LONG episode, and it starts 30 minutes earlier than usual.BJ Novak and Greg Daniels are doing a LIVE BLOG on NBC.com immediately following the Eastern/Central airings, which is cool, but you can also stop by the TWSS chat room if you so desire. Ian won't be there, but I will be. See if "Thursday Matt" was pleased, or if he has murder in his eyes! :)
I don't know if this is already widely known in THE OFFICE fandom circles, but "friend of the show" Kevin Crossman pointed me towards this blog entry on USA Today's POP CANDY page--"An inquisitive e-mail came from Pop reader Abby V. today:
"I've been hearing that Jenna Fischer got hurt recently, and I was wondering if you had heard anything or knew someone to ask ..."
Unfortunately, there's some truth to that rumor. Fischer's rep tells me the Office star "fractured her lower back in four places" in New York Monday after falling down some marble stairs in high heels. Her pal and co-star Angela Kinsey "has been with her the whole time" and her husband, filmmaker/actor James Gunn, has flown to be with her.
He added, "She is expected to make a full recovery and will not miss any time on The Office.""
------------------------------------ Ouch! Hope she's doing OK, and hope this isn't getting in the way of all these films she'd been linked to recently.Ms. Pop Candy suggests leaving some "get well" messages at Jenna's MySpace page, and I suppose that's as good a place as any. You can access her page from our LINKS section on the right.Get well soon, J!So word has come from the NBC honchos -- The Office will be moved to the 9pm/8pm Central time slot next season, going head to head with two huge shows on the other networks.No switch to an hour, although we WILL get 6 hour long episodes during the season. The hour long eps will air during the weeks when SCRUBS doesn't (they've only ordered 18 episodes of the Jay Dizzle, for shame). The rest of the schedule for Thursday looks like this:8pm/7pm Central -- My Name Is Earl8:30/7:30pm Central -- 30 Rock(9pm/8pm Central -- The Office)9:30pm/8:30pm -- ScrubsI know it's gotten high critical acclaim, but I'm actually rather surprised that NBC stuck with the Thursday night comedy line-up since the ratings have been so poor. Kudos to them for believing in the block.
Episode # 23 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Ian heading for elimination in the tribal council. Outwit? Outfloat? Outeat? Michael finally got the call to the bigs, but can he find anyone in the office Bines-ian enough to take his place? When Beach Day becomes Survivor: Scranton, all heck breaks loose. Andy, dead? Dwight, char-broiled? Pam, finder of cojones? And where will it all lead? Only the season finale knows for sure. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at thatswhatshesaid. libsyn.com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
If the promos are to be believed, this is the start of all the JAM action build-up for the 3rd season finale. Did Michael's mall fountain wish come true? will Pam find her courage? Will Stanley flatten Jim in the sumo ring? Only a few more hours to go.NBC describes it like this:---------------------------------------BEACH GAMES Special Time 8:42/7:42c TV14 05.10.2007 LIFE'S A BEACH - Michael (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) is being considered for a position in Corporate and has to recommend his replacement. While the group expects a fun outing at Lake Scranton, Michael has planned a day of Survivor-like competitions to find his successor. Meanwhile, Pam (Jenna Fischer) is not asked to join in any of the activities and is forced to watch Jim (John Krasinski) and Karen (Rashida Jones) have fun together. Rainn Wilson, B.J. Novak, Angela Kinsey, Oscar Nunez, Kate Flannery, Phyllis Smith, Ed Helms, Paul Lieberstein, Mindy Kaling, Brian Baumgartner, Leslie David Baker and Creed Bratton also star.---------------------------------------REMEMBER-- Yet another bizarre starting and ending time this week. Set your DVRs/VCRs appropriately.Join Ian and me in the TWSS Chatroom immediately after the end of the episode.
Episode # 22 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Ian learning to get in touch with their feminine sides. There's a flasher loose in scranton, people... that's what we know, and the office is up in arms. Dwight's hot on the trail of the perv, but as Michael Jackson once told us, he might want to start with the man in the mirror. Love on the rocks? Ain't no big surprise... Michael and the ladies of Dunder-Mifflin hit the mall, and a healthy dose of dish leads him to make a monumental decision. Meanwhile, the guys find out that sometimes, the grass IS greener on the other side (not counting Creed's twosie, that is). One final warning-- miss this episode of That's What She Said, and you're looking at a serious disadulation. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at thatswhatshesaid. libsyn.com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
This is pretty common knowledge by this time, but if you hadn't already heard, the phone number on Dwight's "pervert" flier is indeed a real live working number.1-800-984-3672I gave it a try tonight, and it's definitely good for a chuckle if you can get through. Dwight himself has laid a cunning trap for the flashing perv, and he also seems ready to part with one of his most beloved possessions! Simply shocking.
We all know Michael appreciates the ladies, so why not a special day just for them?(and if you've seen the promo clips -- school girl fantasies indeed! How scary is that?)NBC describes it like this:------------------------------------WOMEN'S APPRECIATION Special Time 8:36/7:36c TV14 05.03.2007 CAN'T LIVE WITH 'EM, CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT 'EM - Outrage breaks out in the office after Phyllis (Phyllis Smith) gets an unexpected eyeful from a flasher. Michael (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) makes some important personal decisions when he takes the women on a special outing. Meanwhile, Dwight (Rainn Wilson) and Andy (Ed Helms) work on catching the predator. John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, B.J. Novak, Melora Hardin, Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, Mindy Kaling, Angela Kinsey, Paul Lieberstein, Oscar Nunez, Rashida Jones and Creed Bratton also star.------------------------------------Don't forget -- THIS IS ANOTHER EXTRA-LONG EPISODE, STARTING AT AN UNUSUAL TIME.Post your comments below, and join Ian and I in the chatroom after the show.
What can I say? Enjoy the comedy goodness. CBS To Release Own Version Of NBC's The Office
NEW YORK—Hoping to replicate the success of the Emmy-winning NBC show The Office, executives at CBS announced Monday that the network will adapt the highly rated comedy for CBS audiences.
"We're excited to bring the fresh, groundbreaking comedy of The Office to a completely new channel," CBS President Leslie Moonves said. "Some people say a show like The Office can only work on NBC, but we're out to prove them wrong."
Since securing rights to the sitcom, producers Bruce Klein and Greg Winston have worked diligently to repackage the show for its new context.
"We're huge fans of NBC's The Office—we want to remain faithful to that while at the same time creating our own voice," Klein said. "Obviously we had to change some of the language and cultural references to things our audience will understand. But the show's central message is the same: Just because they call it 'work' doesn't mean you can't have a few laughs while doing it."
The show's pilot, a shot-for-shot re-creation of NBC's Office pilot, features comedian David Spade as boss Peter Craig, the fun-loving and inspirational boss of a small-town Ohio paper company.
"Having David on the project is such a thrill," said Klein, who offered Spade the part after Ray Romano and Kevin James turned down the role. "Don't get me wrong—Steve Carell is great, but David's combination of zippy one-liners and all-out zaniness just can't be beat."
The remake will also feature the same will-they-won't-they love story between a plain-looking receptionist engaged to a man from the company's warehouse who doesn't appreciate her, and a perfectly suited coworker who pines for her from afar. But producers at CBS said the love triangle will be "completely revamped" for the new series, as new names have been created for all three characters. (MORE)
Well, you ASKED for ours... what are yours?
Episode # 21 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Ian in a mad dash for the money beets. TWSS Cri-Man-Squa, FnC Double-time! We're at threat level midnight, folks, and all hell's about to break loose. The office staff finds themselves up against the wall when a disgruntled employee outs two beloved cartoon characters on 500 boxes of paper- but is apologizing enough? Will God beer Jim strength? Will Angela say she's sorry? Will Andy and Chris Hansen become intimately acquainted? And seriously, is Creed the devil? Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at thatswhatshesaid. libsyn.com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
We're down to the "Final Four," folks, and I ain't talking basketball.Oh Jwight. You scare me deeply.PRODUCT RECALL 8:30/7:30c TV14 04.26.2007 UNPRINTABLE? AN OFFICE IN CRISIS - The office is in crisis mode after a large shipment of Dunder Mifflin paper is accidentally sent out with an obscene watermark - and Michael (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) tries to manage the media with an impromptu press conference. Jim (John Krasinski) and Andy (Ed Helms) also attempt to calm the high school principal who has sent out prom invites on the affected stationery. Rainn Wilson, Jenna Fischer, B.J Novak, Phyllis Smith, Leslie David Baker, Mindy Kaling, Rashida Jones, Creed Bratton, Oscar Nunez, Angela Kinsey, Brian Baumgartner and Kate Flannery also star.Based on the description, this episode could be either totally sublimely funny, or a catastrophic "too much Michael" fiasco. Here's hoping for choice #1!EDIT:
There. I said it.Why do I love so many NBC shows, yet they're in such dire ratings trouble?Sigh.After a break that made THE OFFICE's six weeks look like chump change, I am currently as giddy as a school-girl watching the new episode of HEROES. Please, god, let it live up to the hype!P.S. I think I have a man-crush on Greg Grunberg
I ran across this article on Digg.com this morning, and it got me thinking.Anthony Burch, of Tubewad.com, posted an essay called "The Biggest Changes the Best Shows on TV Need to Make," listing what he thought was "wrong" with all of his favorite (?) shows. Now, it's not like this guy is the voice of his generation or anything, and I find a lot of his comments pretty hyperbolic, so take it with a HUGE grain of salt. What does he think THE OFFICE needs to change? "Create a character whose sole purpose on the show is to punch Pam Beesley in the throat every other episode
I'm dead serious. Pam was absolutely adorable in the first and second seasons: her shy, understated glances at the camera frequently worked as the perfect punchline to Michael Scott's ridiculously offensive ramblings, and her blossoming quasi-romance with Jim was cute enough to make even a grown man interested in how it turned out.
Season three, however, has taught us that Pam's really just a hugely indecisive bitch... (more)"
I think we can all agree that's maybe going a BIT too far. But it makes me curious-- what do YOU guys think the writers should change about our favorite show for season four? I know we're still up in the air about how this season is going to end, but is there anything-- right now-- you think needs changing? Anything that they can do to make the show better than it is? How do you want to see the finale play out? Have you stopped caring about JAM? If so, how can they make you care again? Etc., etc. Or maybe you think everything is fine just the way it is. Hey, let us know that too.Post your comments below!Do you love it 65 dollars worth? The NBC/Universal Store is now selling official replica terry robes, as seen in the episode A BENIHANA CHRISTMAS.Dunder Mifflin Terry Robe Lounging around the house doesn't get better in the Dunder Mifflin terry robe. This robe is the exact same one as worn by Michael and Toby in the Office's holiday episode. It features the Dunder Mifflin Inc logo embroidered on the chest, a removable waist strap, and hand warmer pockets on both sides. Measures approximately 48'' from collar to hem. One size fits most. Machine wash cold. Tumble dry low.(Ian and I will gladly accept them as gifts...)
Episode # 20 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Ian furiously working around the clock to finish their depression quilt. He can bail if he wants to, he can leave his friends behind... because his friends don't bail, and if they don't bail, they're no friends of mine! Michael finds himself chastized by the warehouse crew over his lack of safety, but who can blame him? It's just a fancy red trash compactor, after all. And Michael's right-- Since when did Nerf stop being cool? It's all about the visuals, though, and it just takes is a bouncy house and a five story drop to get Michael's point across. Oh, and by the way, What are the odds on this episode of That's What She Said being completely awesome? About 10,000 to 1... Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at thatswhatshesaid. libsyn. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
Man, talk about your dilemas! What's a Dwangela fan to do? Tonight, Rainn Wilson is going to be on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, and Angela Kinsey will be appearing on The Late Show with David Letterman. I'm guessing Angela will be talking about her appearance on "Thank God You're Here", as well as the typical OFFICE related stuff (did anyone watch that show, btw? I missed it).Rainn Wilson seems to be a late add to Leno... still, he's always entertaining in these sorts of venues.Set your DVRs, folks.
Geez... what the heck? Only seven days since THE NEGOTIATION and we have another NEW episode? I'm completely gobsmacked.Kidding aside, NBC describes SAFETY TRAINING thus-wise:SAFETY TRAINING 8:30/7:30c TV14 04.12.2007 SAFETY LESSONS IN THE OFFICE - Andy (Ed Helms) returns to the office after several weeks of anger management training, determined to make a fresh start with all the Dunder-Mifflin employees. Meanwhile, it's safety training day in the office, and Michael (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) and Dwight (Rainn Wilson) are on a mission to illuminate the true dangers of the workplace. John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, B.J. Novak, Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, Mindy Kaling, Angela Kinsey, Paul Lieberstein, Oscar Nunez, Phyllis Smith, Creed Barton, Rashida Jones and Craig Robinson also star. As we asked on the last podcast, will Andy find a place for himself at Dunder-Mifflin? Have we had enough of his Cornell referencing shenanigans? Guess we'll soon see.Remember, Ian & I will be in the TWSS chatroom tonight after the show, at 9pm Eastern/8pm Central.Also, NBC finally posted a deleted scene from THE NEGOTIATION... it's pretty long, and not THAT funny (Michael talks in-depth about how he came to buy his suit, and how he got popped in the eye by a "Missy Elliot type"), so I can see why it was deleted.
Episode # 19 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Ian pondering their love of nunchucks and throwing stars. Pippity Poppity, give Micheal the Zoppity! After fourteen years without asking for a raise, it's time to make it hap'n, cap'n! With a crack crew like Darryl and Toby along, it should be a piece of cake. Right? Er...right? Jim avoids a serious beat-down thanks to Dwight's quick thinking, but what do you get for the man who refuses to take anything? Pam and Roy making peace? And the return of Dunder Mifflin's prodigal son. Who could ask for anything more? Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at thatswhatshesaid. libsyn. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
Since it's Easter, and since I just stumbled across this a few minutes ago, I thought I had to get the word out! Our very own B. J. Novak has uncovered a conspiracy so insidious, so horrible, so... evil... that the world must be made aware!Cadbury have shrunk the size of their (in)famous Creme Eggs, and they're trying to cover it up! For Shame!
Just thought this was somewhat interesting-- The Scranton Times-Tribune interviewed several cast members of THE OFFICE, asking them what they thought of when they thought of the REAL city of Scranton, PA (none of them has ever been there, aside from Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, and Kate Flannery).So what do they imagine Scranton is like?Jenna Fischer (Pam): “I’ve always imagined Scranton as something like a hybrid of St. Louis and Kirksville (the small Missouri town where she attended college). Not as small as Kirksville, but not as big as St. Louis,? said Ms. Fischer, who also pictures a bunch of family-owned businesses doing battle with the Wal-Marts of the world. “I always imagine Roy’s family owned an appliance store.? Ed Helms (Andy): “Cold, for some reason. I have like a frigid association with it. And a little bit like the smaller towns around Atlanta where I grew up. Sort of like some strip malls and some low rise office buildings. And a very charming and cheerful population.? Angela Kinsey (Angela): “I picture sort of a quaint New England town.? Well, Ms. Kinsey will find out for herself in May, when she and co-star Brian Baumgartner (Kevin) visit Scranton to promote a proposed “Office? convention that organizers hope to hold sometime this fall. Oscar Nuñez (Oscar): “I grew up in New Jersey, so I picture it like New Jersey. When I see the opening credits, yeah, I know about that town. It’s industral, there’s a lot of people.? Leslie David Baker (Stanley): “Not as action-packed as this office. People aren’t knocking each other down or knocking cups out of their hands. Probably real quiet, peaceful. That’s a good safe answer, isn’t it?? Kate Flannery (Meredith), a Philadelphia native who has been to Scranton: “What I love about Scranton is that it seems like it hasn’t been corrupted by the ’70s and ’80s architecture,? said Ms. Flannery, who visited friends at the University of Scranton in the mid-1980s. “It feels like the architecture is very pure ... I just love the sense of history of it. It’s also a great college town.?My girlfriend and I drove into town back in January of 2007, but we didn't get to see much in those 25 minutes. Maybe someday...EDIT:Did I just miss them saying people are trying to organize an OFFICE convention sometime in the fall? Has this been common knowledge? It's news to me. Sounds like the first TWSS roadtrip!EDIT 2:The Scranton Times ALSO had an article recently talking about how Scranton is becoming a tourist destination for fans of THE OFFICE. Hey, it worked on me... one shocking bit of news? The "Welcome To Scranton" sign featured in the opening (which I was trying to find) had been mothballed by the city! City officials are talking about bringing it out of the warehouse, though, since people keep wanting to see it. I guess you can't blame the local tourist bureau for trying to cash in on this... that's where the aforementioned "fan convention" comes in.
Wow, has it been six weeks already?After "newpeats" and "Flender-thons," we're finally back to see if Halpert receives his promised "ass beating" (thanks, Elisa!) or not. The mind boggles at the possibilities.NBC describes the episode like this:THE NEGOTIATION 8:00/7:00c TV14 04.05.2007 SALARY NEGOTIATIONS DRIVE MICHAEL TO THINK ABOUT HIS OWN PAY - Darryl (Craig Robinson) decides to meet with Michael (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) to negotiate a pay increase. Meanwhile, Jim (John Krasinski) deals with the consequences of Pam's (Jenna Fischer) confession to Roy (David Denman) . Rainn Wilson, B.J.Novak, Melora Hardin, Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Angela Kinsey, Oscar Nunez, Phyllis Smith, Minday Kaling, Paul Lieberstein, Creed Barton, and Rashida Jones also star. REMEMBER-- It's "Supersized" and starts a half hour earlier than usual!
Episode # 18.5 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Ian revving up the flux capacitor for another trip back in time. Michael's down, gang... all for the love of crispy, crackling bacon... and it's Dwight to the rescue (whether Micheal wants him to or not). What's more serious-- a foot injury, or a head injury? Michael's faith in his employees is shattered, but can Pam and a tub of Country Crock make things right again? And Dwight? What's a little concussion between pals? Oh, by the way, you forgot your bumper, man. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at thatswhatshesaid. libsyn. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
As most of you surely know, tonight will see a special "Flender-thon" of FIVE (count 'em... five) episodes of THE OFFICE wrapped around a lone episode of ANDY BARKER P.I. The episodes will be "hosted" by the writer/HR rep we love to hate, Paul "Toby" Lieberstein, and the shows in question are linked thematically because they are all (supposedly) "human resource nightmares." The Episodes on the air tonight are: "Diversity Day" (8-8:30pm ET), "Healthcare" (8:30-9:00pm), "Sexual Harassment" (9-9:30pm), "The Injury" (10-10:30pm) and "Gay Witch Hunt" (10:30-11:00pm)For those who came to the show late, this is a great chance to catch some rarely played first season classics (Diversity Day & Health Care), as well as two pretty darn fine second season gems (Sexual Harassment & The Injury). As for Gay Witch Hunt... Eh. Haven't we seen this episode enough times in reruns this season?For those who care, NBC is also hyping that a special trailer for Steve Carell's EVAN ALMIGHTY will air sometime during the marathon.
I'm sure astute THE OFFICE googlers might have seen this already, but just in case you haven't, I thought you could use a little eye candy (heaven knows I certainly can!) -- Our dear "Ole Pammy" can currently be seen gracing the cover of the April issue of WIRED magazine.With BLADES OF GLORY opening this Friday, and two other movies coming out this year, 2007 is gearing up to be Jenna's time to shine.Mmmrooooowr!
Listener and author of the "Office" section at the "Remote Access" blog Brian Howard wrote and asked me for an interview a while back. Imagine my surprise. Me? Interviewed? Well, if you inSIST.With my illness, it's been sort of a bitch to connect, but Brian and I finally got to talk a bit last weekend, and THIS is the result. Brian and I get into my philosophy for reviewing the episodes each week, my origin in podcasting, why I started this thing in the first place, and whether I'm a "JaMichael" or "Dwangela" fan (long time listeners know where I stand on that one, natch!). From the article: Matt Sommer considers himself a passionate fan of The Office, but he doesn’t see why he shouldn’t criticize the show when he sees something he doesn’t like.
Too bad not every reviewer of his podcast at iTunes or comment poster at its companion blog sees it that way. Maybe Sommer should be used to that. After all, he even got a bad review just because he got sick and couldn’t post a new episode for a few weeks.
“I’m inexplicably flummoxed by people like that,? said the 35-year-old high school English teacher from Racine, Wisc., who has been recording his and his friend Ian Casselberry’s musings on Michael Scott and Co. since August 2006. “That’s the kind of (expletive) that just really drives me crazy with doing something like this, I’ve got to say.?
But it doesn’t get him or podcast partner down... (READ MORE)
Head on over to Brian's blog (and bookmark it, for gosh-sakes!) to read more that you've ever wanted to know about me.I tuned in to THE OFFICE at 7:30, so I'm not sure exactly what new material, if any, there was to be found in THE RETURN (other than the "I've been sent to anger management" stuff, of course). But I *DID* stick around to catch the pilot episode of Andy Richter's new show ANDY BARKER P. I.Good stuff.Very good stuff. Lots of promise.I really enjoyed ANDY RICHTER CONTROLS THE UNIVERSE, and weeped openly at his second, much MUCH lamer show QUINTUPLETS. So naturally, I am glad to see his return to quality TV comedy. Say what you will about NBC, but they are leading the league in quality SMART comedies right now. Nice work, guys.ANDY BARKER's cast is also fantastic, especially Tony Hale (a.k.a. Buster Bluth from ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT) as Andy's mini-mall video clerk neighbor. I have a feeling that like 30 ROCK, this show will most likely tank in the ratings because people just arent... well, I don't want to be a snob, but dammit, what does it take for hilarious shows to get watched these days?If you missed the first episode, iTunes was offering the pilot as a free download.
Episode # 18 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Ian wondering just how many shots it takes to prevent us from collapsing in on ourselves like dying stars. Michael's all a twitter when Jan asks him to sign a "love contract" before their "coming out party," but does Jan truly want what Michael's selling? Slam you against Where? Remember-- "no" means "please don't!" Will Dwight find any termite damage in the crawlspace? Will Jim sink the trey? Will Karen battle Phyllis for the title of "easy rider"? will fancy new Pammy Beesly show the world who's boss? And please, seriously, won't someone think about the Jet Skiis?? Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at thatswhatshesaid. libsyn. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
Well, it's been three weeks, and I'm finally starting to feel better. My voice still isn't 100%, but Ian and I are gearing up to record episode #18. I know it's been a while, and I appreciate your patience. If anyone has any fresh comments from the last week or two, send 'em in or post them under this thread-- especially any reactions to the Paley Fest stuff. Be talking to ya soon. Seacrest out.
As many of you no doubt are aware, the (nearly) entire cast of THE OFFICE participated in a Q&A session on Friday March 2nd at the Museum of Radio and Television's 24th Annual William S. Paley Television Festival.So what IS the Paley Festival? According to the website:MTRs annual William S. Paley Television Festival is one of LAs hottest tickets. The events often sell out to Members so join today to take advantage of the Member discounts and advance ticket dates. Over twelve nights from March 1 to 15, 2007, MTR will unite stars, creators, and their fans for behind-the-scenes looks at the most talked-about shows. PaleyFest 07 takes place at the DGA Theatre Complex at 7920 Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. Named for William S. Paley, founder of both MTR and CBS, the Festival is an annual celebration of televisions great programming and the creative process behind it. During these events, the audience watches episodes or highlights of the featured work and participates in a Q&A with the shows cast and creative team.Several sites have done write-ups of the whole thing, so it's almost like being there. Sort of.http://tv.ign.com/articles/770/770400p1.htmlhttp://www.givememyremote.com/remote/the-office-paley-festival/http://www.eonline.com/gossip/kristin/I'm sure there are more out there-- OfficeTally is usually better at this kind of thing that we are.
I am sick, people. Sick. My weekend in NYC was marred by this illness, and I have been forced to call in sick to work for the past two days as well... congestion, a wicked cough, and all the trimmings... I can hardly think straight.I appreciate all the kind words people have sent me in the last few days about the show, and I'm sorry the COCKTAILS episode of TWSS is so late. I don't know WHEN I am going to be able to get back into gear. Sorry.UPDATE:After one full week, I am STILL sick. I called in sick every day last week, got lots of sleep and drank lots of fluids, but the same congestion and coughing keeps right on bothering me. I went to the doctor last Wednesday, and he gave me some antibiotics, but I'm not sure they did anything. At this point, I can only say that the new episode will be out whenever my voice returns (right now, it's at about 50%... and might get worse since I now have to go back to work and yell at kids all day long). I'll keep you updated as I can, and again I apologize for the long delay.
As I said on the last podcast, I will be in NYC this weekend for the Second Annual New York Comic-Con, being hosted in the Jacob Javits Center. The NYCC has set up a "Podcasters Arena" and invited a lot of the big names in comicbook podcasting to attend with free passes. As some of you know, I got my start in "comics" podcasting, first with AROUND COMICS, and later with COMIC TIMING (the host, Ian L., is an occasional contributor to the TWSS blogpage). Thanks to "the other Ian" (as TWSS's own Ian Casselberry calls him), I'm getting a free pass and a chance to meet many of the friends I've met and made in the comic community over the last few years.If you're going to be attending the con, stop by and see me (if I'm there, I'll be at the COMIC TIMING table). If you live in the area and want to participate in some sort of meet-up, let me know as well.So what does this matter to the average TWSS listener? Not much, except for the fact that being gone will delay the release of episode #18 of TWSS. Ian and I probably won't be able to record until Tuesday night at the earliest. But look at it this way-- instead of a rerun of The Office next week, you can look forward to us! Just as good... right? right?ah well.
Will "Cocktails" be everything we're looking for and more, or will it fail to get us "buzzed"? NBC describes the episode like this:COCKTAILS 8:30/7:30c TV14 02.22.2007 MAKING IT OFFICIAL - Michael (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) and Jan (Melora Hardin) go public with their relationship during a party at their CFO's home. At the party, Jim (John Krasinski) meets Karen's (Rashida Jones) ex. Meanwhile, the rest of the office decides to go to happy hour for drinks. Rainn Wilson, Jenna Fischer, B.J. Novak, David Denman, Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, Angela Kinsey, Oscar Nunez, Paul Lieberstein and Mindy Kaling also star. There's obviously loads of potential for "awk" when alcohol is involved, so I'm expecting a good dose of somewhat cringy scenes. Will some truth come out, once the defenses are down? Can "JaMichael" last, once properly registered with Human Resources? Only time will tell.
Episode # 17 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Ian wondering how to battle the five Goliaths that are endangering America. It's the moment Michael's been waiting for-- a chance to inspire a new generation. But is business school ready for his 100 Grand ideas? Meanwhile, Dunder-Mifflin has a bat in its belfry, and Dwight is just the man for the job. And Jim? One crisis at a time. Pam puts her self esteem on the line, but will Scranton's Fab Two grind her dreams to dust? And Ryan? Welcome to the annex, monkey-boy. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at thatswhatshesaid. libsyn. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
So... This is the big Joss Whedon directed episode tonight, and it looks to have at least three different plot threads running through it. I can only imagine Ryan invited Michael to his class in order to mock him (or let Michael mock himself), and the Dwight Vs. The Bat thing... well, I hope it's funnier than it sounds. I am most interested in the Pam has an art show story-- I wanna know just how sexy that art is!NBC describes it thusly:BUSINESS SCHOOL 8:30/7:30c TV14 02.15.2007 MICHAEL GOES TO BUSINESS SCHOOL WITH RYAN - Ryan (B.J. Novak) invites Michael (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) to be a guest speaker at his business school. Meanwhile, Dwight battles a bat that gets loose in the office while Pam (Jenna Fischer) invites co-workers to her first art show. Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Melora Hardin, Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, Angela Kinsey, Oscar Nunez, Phyllis Smith, Paul Lieberstein, and Mindy Kaling also star.Let the commenting begin!Oh, BTW-- JOIN IAN AND I IN THE TWSS CHATROOM AFTER THE SHOW (9:00e/8:00c). Not sure how many people can fit in the room, but we're willing to find out!
Episode # 16 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Ian exhausted after trying to sneak through Dwight's security cordon... man, the things we do for free booze! It's wedding season, you sand-bagging SOBs, but Phyllis forgot rule #98-- hell hath no fury like a Michael scorned! She got her 6 weeks, but will she live to regret asking Michael to be in the wedding party? Will Dwight catch any of those nasty wedding crashers? Will Toby finally get lucky? Will Ryan survive the bouquet toss? will Jim, for the love of god and all things holy on this great green earth find the cojones to tell Pam how he feels? Or not? And who says it's bad to backslide? See what twenty bucks can do? Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at thatswhatshesaid. libsyn. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
Due to popular demand, I went looking for some kind of free chat room I could add to the site... not sure if this is optimal, but it's the best I could find on short notice!Scroll down the page, and under the Frappr Map, there's a new link-- JOIN THE TWSS CHAT. Give it a try!
"T" minus 12 hours and counting until the big event tonight. Post your comments, predictions and criticisms here.NBC describes it like this:PHYLLIS' WEDDING 8:30/7:30c TV14 02.08.2007 HERE COMES THE BRIDE - Phyllis (Phyllis Smith) regrets giving Michael (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) an important job at her wedding after several embarrassing moments. Pam (Jenna Fischer) has flashbacks of her own wedding planning when she sees Phyllis's decorations. Meanwhile, Dwight (Rainn Wilson) is determined to catch wedding crashers. John Krasinski, B.J. Novak, Melora Hardin, David Denman, Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, Angela Kinsey, Phyllis Smith, Paul Lieberstein, and Mindy Kaling also star.Man, ANOTHER party? Hope this one blows us away.edit:the more I think about this episode, the more IDENTICAL it feels in structure to "Booze Cruise." A big party outside of the office, Michael acts like he's in charge, and gets punished for it... Dwight is given a "fake" job to keep him occupied, Jim is there with someone he doesn't really want to be with, Jim and Pam seem like they might do something, but then Roy makes a big move which pushes J&P farther apart. At least in "Booze Cruise" Jim had the cojones to give Katie the boot.
Racine, WI-- the place I grew up and where I am currently living-- used to be a pretty amazing center of industry. CASE tractors, In-Sink-Erator, Johnson's Wax, Horlick's Malted Milk, and Western Publishing (to name a few) all made their start here. During my senior year in High School, a representative from Western contacted our theater teacher and said they were looking for a group of kids to try out and be voices for a new board game they were putting together. Being a drama dork (among other things), I tried out and got accepted as part of the crew.We had to drive up to Milwaukee to a professional recording studio, and spent the afternoon reading goofy situations from a script-- situations dealing with a guy calling a girl on the phone, and either getting lucky or striking out. The game? A little thing called GIRL TALK DATE LINE. In the game, you had to move around the board and take two character tiles (a guy and a girl), match them together and jam them into a tiny portable speaker box thingy you'd have hooked up to your cassette deck. The tape would then play one of the conversations mentioned above. If you got a "good" one, you were successful. If you got shot down... well, better luck next time. I got paid a few hundred dollars for my efforts, I remember... all of which went towards paying my bills for the senior prom. I never really knew what kind of impact this game had, or whether it was popular or whatever, but apparently it won 6th place in the 1991 Deutscher Spiele Preis. After doing the game, I briefly considered trying to work in the voice acting arena, but like a lot of things when you're 18, it got swept under the rug.Ah... what MIGHT have been.EDIT:You can download an MP3 of the "loser" calls here. That's me, on the first call... And also on the "call me when you decide to go Italian!" one.
Episode # 15 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Ian dealing with the disappointment their impersonator fathers are feeling with their chosen career paths... seriously, dad-- we're allergic to powdered wigs! Hear ye, hear ye! 'Tis time for Dame Phyllis' wedding shower, and gentle goodman Benjamin Franklin's in the hiz-ouse! Every man should know how to throw a bachelor party, and Michael's on the case, armed with some horrible advice from Todd Packer. Separate but Equal? So THAT's what that means! Will Michael be able to survive his lap dance? Will Jim and Pam finally have more than an awkwardly phrased conversation? And what, exactly, have Jim and Karen been doing instead of sleeping? Talking? Yeah right! Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail. com, or leave a comment on our blog page at thatswhatshesaid. libsyn. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
Damn that flux capacitor! The only thing I can't figure out is how we got Dwight AND Robo-Dwight together in the same room (especially since he only has a 6 foot cord). (mathercize, you so CRAYzee...)
So most of us thought Andy Bernard was gone... if not forever, at least for the 10 weeks promised by his Anger Management course. People even mentioned that they enjoyed the Andy-less BEN FRANKLIN episode, so I'm not sure what to make of this news.According to ZAP2it.com, Ed Helms has been promoted to "series regular" status (bumped up from "guest star") for the remainder of the third season. To tell you the truth, after the horrific melt-down we saw these last few weeks, I was glad to see him gone from the office. I have a hard time imagining how they can possibly bring him back into the show after that, but I guess we shall see.
A mere 24 hours or so away from the next chapter in our little saga-- BEN FRANKLIN. The episode description goes a little something like this:Michael celebrates Phyllis' wedding shower by bringing two adult performers into the office, a stripper and Ben Franklin. Meanwhile, Karen confronts Pam about her past history with Jim.Ben Franklin has an obvious Pennsylvania connection, and in fact they have a big "Franklin-impersonator" that walks around Philly doing appearances and such. I gotta say, though, that I can only imaging what is going to happen in this episode... it sounds so... ODD. But then again, there ain't no shower like a Scranton shower, 'cause a Scranton shower don't stop!Bring it on, boys.
Sorry for that horrible title. I didn't catch the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards last night, mostly because I got burned watching the Golden Globes and saw all of my beloved The Office cast members come up with bupkis. While the SAG awards looked a helluva lot like the GG awards, there were a few notable differences: for one, THE OFFICE took the award for best Ensemble in a Comedy Series! Nice job, folks. Steve Carell also got another statue when "Little Miss Sunshine" took the award for best Cast of a Motion Picture. Steve gave the acceptance speech for THE OFFICE:STEVE CARELL: This is quite the honor having these people present this to us.[applause] I was craning my neck, Oh my God! There she is! They're there! Oh my God! Let's get serious for just one second. Webster's defines the word 'ensemble' as follows: a complete costume of complementary clothing and accessories.[laughter] And even though this is not the right definition, I think it applies to our cast.[laughter] I'd like to... we'd like to thank Greg Daniels, our executive producer, [applause] for being the person who assembled the ensemble, and choosing people who get along, who work well together, who enjoy each other's company, who are friends. Also Allison Jones who took part in that trip.[applause] It's really a great honor and we will treasure this. Thank you.[applause]The "people" he's referring to above (who presented the award) were the reunited cast of the classic MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW.None too shabby.edit:TVGuide.com also had some THE OFFICE related information:9:00 Male cast members of The Office (sans Steve Carell, who was readying to present) enter the pressroom after the show wins for best comedy series ensemble. "We're the men of Ugly Betty," quips Rainn Wilson, who reveals that his likeness was used in conceiving SAG's Actor statue: "I actually posed for this several years ago. I was the model for the buttocks." 9:01 Paul Lieberstein (Toby), who's also one of the Office scribes, was asked to offer up a juicy February sweeps preview. "Someone will get married," he shares, "[and] someone will die." Really?!"I'm kidding about someone dying," he adds, "but an animal will attack. Nobody is safe." 9:03 Did actors from The Office get to talk to The Mary Tyler Moore Show cast? "I told [Mary] that I sold her some flatware at Bloomingdale's 15 years ago in New York City," says Oscar Nunez (Oscar). "And now here I am. That's pretty cool."
This is pretty old technology, which has been done by thousands of blogs and podcasts, but what the hell? As I was driving around tonight, I started to wonder about where everyone was located and thought it might be cool to get a graphical representation.For those of you who don't know, FRAPPR is basically a mapping service. You can sign in and leave your details, upload a picture, etc., and you'll then show up on the map of the world along with all the other TWSS listeners who have done the same.Hope to see you there!
For those of you paying attention, you know that our dear Jenna Fischer is set to co-star in the film BLADES OF GLORY with Will Ferrell and Jon Heder. The plot of the movie? Well, Wikipedia says:At the 2002 World Figure Skating Championships, rival world-class men's singles skaters Chazz Michael Michaels (Will Ferrell) and Jimmy MacElroy (Jon Heder) disgraced their sport with an all-out brawl. Consequently, they were both banned from the men's singles competition for the rest of their lives. After three long, arduous years away from the sport they love, they attempt to put aside their differences and team-up in an effort to exploit a loophole in their suspension. It turns out that there is one category in which they can both still compete: pairs figure skating. Of course, that event is usually reserved for opposite-sex couples and the duo is sure to find fierce competition from rivals far more experienced at the art. Stranz (Will Arnett) and Fairchild (Amy Poehler), the uncompromisingly competitive reigning pairs champions, comprise one such team.I mention this because the trailer recently hit Apple.com (today, in fact). Check it out if you're so inclined. Jenna plays someone called "Katie," who unfortunately doesn't appear in the trailer. Pity.Mr. Crossman, you looking forward to this one?edit:BTW, while you're there, check out HOT FUZZ, the latest from Simon Pegg & Nick Frost (Spaced, Shaun of the Dead)... it looks totally dawesome.edit 2:Kevin sent me a link to a shaky trailer on youtube for SMILEY FACE, a stoner comedy starring Anna Faris. Why should anyone but Creed care? Because a nearly unrecognizable John Krasinski also stars as Faris' "nerdy best friend." Lord, what will the "Jammers" think?
Not that I'm above dropping any hints (although both Ian and I would LOVE to receive one of these babies), but I just thought these were cool and needed to be brought to your collective attentions if you didn't know of them already:You get 8 cards for $9.99, apparently... looks like 2 copies each of four different designs.Card #1 reads: Jim & Pam - Outside verse: Secret admirer? Inside Verse: What "secret admirer?" Card #2 reads:Dwight peeking - Outside Verse: So this guy I work with asked me to hook him up with one of my hot friends. Inside Verse: Kidding! Put down the stapler. Card #3 reads: Michael holding red candy heart with all the ladies - Outside Verse: Happy Valentine's Day. Inside Verse: ...or as some say, "the annual review."Card #4 reads: Michael & Dwight fighting - Outside Verse: On this Valentine's Day... Inside Verse: good luck with "conflict resolution."Looks like these can be found at your local TARGET store.
Episode # 14 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID find both Matt and Ian reaching for the bleep button as Matt goes off the deep end... With Dwight gone, who will fill that oddly shaped hole in our hearts? Why Oscar of course... and not just because he's gay. We also appreciate his mexicanity! Lemonyaday all around! Andy's gotten his wish for more face-time with michael, but is that a GOOD thing? Will Halpert finally step up to the plate and come clean to Karen? There's one thing Ms. Fillipelli forgot about the Scranton branch-- nothing brings two star-crossed lovers together like a mind-destroying prank. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at thatswhatshesaid. libsyn. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
In other "sort of related to THE OFFICE" news, David Koechner (known as Todd Packer to you and me) is currently starring in a new show on Comedy Central entitled "THE NAKED TRUCKER & T-BONES SHOW."Comedy Central describes the show thus-wise:Comedy vets David Koechner (T-Bones) and David (Gruber) Allen (The Naked Trucker) bring their off-beat characters to television in a free-wheeling, weekly roundup of their cross-country adventures. Before a live audience, they show and tell twisted tales from the road while mixing social commentary, original tunes (from funk to folk-fried rock) and a lot of jackassery in a one-of-a-kind comedy show that is as diverse as America itself.When The Naked Trucker, a free-spirited everyman, met T-Bones, a lovably cracked transient of dubious moral fiber, in a desert flare gun "accident," a legendary American friendship was born. Now this liberty-loving duo rides an eighteen-wheeler across the country in search of good times, friendly faces and questionable cargo.Each week The Naked Trucker and T-Bones hit the stage to share assorted and sordid stories from the road, a censor-defying tune or two and everything from hobo tips to accidental up-skirt video. Occasionally, viewers will get to see familiar faces from television and film in some unfamiliar places from truck cabs or bathtubs.The first episode aired this past Wednesday (January 17th), but knowing CC it'll be replayed more times than you can stand.EDIT:Also, Koechner was on the 1/12/07 episode of THE SOUND OF YOUNG AMERICA podcast, if you want to check it out.
We've seen a pretty big upswing in downloads over the last few days, and I'm not exactly sure WHERE those are coming from.BUT, browsing iTunes today, I was pleasantly surprised to see THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID listed on the "What's Hot" listing on the main podcasting page! Ian? Grab your steel drum... we've got some partying to do!I'll just take this time to thank everyone for supporting our little show here, and for sticking around while the two of us over-analyze a 21 minute comedy program! And for everyone who has given us a shot recently and are new to the show, I want to welcome you and ask "what took you so long to get here?":)
Maybe it's just me, but the bump at the end of the episode tonight was the first I've heard of a "producer's cut" for this "The Return."According to the NBC.com site, it should be going up sometime after the show airs on the west coast. For those who buy the show on iTunes, you should get the new "producer's cut" automatically.
I'm sure everyone has heard this already, but just in case you've been living under a rock:NBC made an announcement this week at the TV Critics Association press tour that THE OFFICE has been officially picked up for a FOURTH season with a full compliment of 22 episodes.Also renewed are HEROES, MY NAME IS EARL, and LAW & ORDER: SVU. The mind boggles at what plot developments await us in 2007-2008!
Tonight's the night-- Oscar finally returns... Jim, Pam & Karen will hopefully get revenge on Andy for last week... Dwight will (hopefully again) make his triumphant return to the office, thus restoring balance to the universe.Post your comments below.I promise not to delete the thread this time...EDIT:Seriously, WTF is going on with Andy? Has he gone off his lithium?Angela... damn, made me teary eyed again. Oscar... um... not an auspicious return. Same old stuff. "not right now, but ask me again 10 years ago" -- Brilliant."I have a big personality" -- oh Phyllis! El oh el!I think it's strange/odd that Jim and Pam are sort of coming back together by default... no one else is as childish! Not that manic-Andy doesn't deserve it. But remember what happened when Jim put his calculator in jello? I think a return of psychotic-Andy might be around the corner.Kinda weird feeling so far... nowhere near as good as last week... very strange vibe. Liking some of it, not liking other bits.Love that Mexican lemonade (with the "enye," natch).EDIT 2:"We broke his brain..." DUH.Daaaaaaaaaamn Halpert... "yes"? "YES"? Just like that?WHAT THE FLIPPING HELL??THERE'S A PRODUCER'S CUT? ANOTHER ONE!??!ARRRRRRRGGG! THANKS FOR THE WARNING!EDIT 3:Am I imagining things, or did they play "Up Where We Belong" during the scene where Michael comes to get Dwight? Vaguely creepy, to equate that scene with "An Officer and a Gentleman"...
Somehow I managed to deleted the entire thread for episode 12 and 13. It's since been reposted, but I've lost all of the awesome comments. ARG!From now on, maybe I should let Ian take care of running the blog page.My apologies.
Episodes # 12 and 13 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID find both Matt and Ian drowning in a chocolate river... Double your pleasure, double your fun... we're off on a mad marathon covering two, two, two episodes in one. Michael's back from Jamaica, but is Scranton ready to take a chill pill and embrace the island lifestyle? Is Jim ready to allow Karen to live on his street? Will Pam ever find her Midol? Then we're on the road again, as our crack sales staff pairs off to doubleteam the crap out of area businesses... Will Phyllis let the cat out of the bag? Will team Jwight rekindle the old magic? Will old Jim teach young Jim new tricks? And Remember friends-- while today it is us, we all shall fall! Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at thatswhatshesaid. libsyn. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
Well, despite the nominations, the Hollywood Foreign Press has shown no love for THE OFFICE tonight.Alec Baldwin (from NBC's 30 ROCK) beat out Steve Carell for the BEST MALE ACTOR IN A COMEDY award, and FUGLY BETTY took the BEST COMEDY category. Ah well. Can't win 'em all.WE know it's the best show on TV, anyway.
From NBC.com:It's time for Michael (Steve Carell) to revisit his roots with the company as he hits the road for sales call duty. Meanwhile, Dwight (Rainn Wilson) attempts to cover up a crucial deadline missed by Angela (Angela Kinsey) while Karen (Rashida Jones) is in for some surprising news. David Denman, Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Jenna Fischer, Kate Flannery, Melora Hardin, Mindy Kaling, John Krasinski, B.J. Novak, Oscar Nunez, Phyllis Smith and Paul Lieberstein also star.Post your thoughts and comments here!EDIT:Is this the first time in the history of the show that they've used an abbreviated opening theme song?Holy crap, 7 minutes in, and this episode is pure comedy gold... GOLD, I tells ya!The beauty parlor, the "young Jim" photo... Dwight in the car "psyching" up... "Hawkman"... Sigh! I love you, Cousin Mose! You write a mean episode.EDIT 2:Go team Jwight!Phyllis?? Oh no you dih-ent!EDIT 3:I literally had tears in my eyes during Dwight's farewell speech... Sniff!Yikes, cliffhanger! BASTARDS!Oompa-loompa, oompity dawesome... this episode was totally awesome!EDIT 4:Oh, Snap! Hell hath no fury like a pissed off Angela.
I still haven't caught up with the first series yet, but HBO has just offered the first episode of series two of Ricky Gervais' EXTRAS as a free download through the iTunes Store.Not really sure why, but HBO has this technically marked as a PODCAST, and NOT a TV show (perhaps it's to keep the filesizes small, since Apple seems to demand a much higher resolution for their TV episodes than the iPod can display). Long story short, it will show up in your VIDEO PODCAST menu (oh, and you can still download and watch the episode even if you DON'T own an iPod-- iTunes works just fine).
So we've already had a special Ivan Reitman directed episode, a Ricky Gervais written episode, and we're still awaiting the J. J. Abrams directed episode to hit sometime soon.News hit the blogs this week that none other than "Mr. Firefly/ Buffy/ Astonishing X-Men" himself, JOSS WHEDON, is now onboard to direct an episode of The Office as well.According to Televisionary:Rumor has it that Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator and TV ubergod Joss Whedon will return to television to direct an upcoming episode of NBC's hit sitcom (and Televisionary obsession) The Office.The move marks Whedon's first return to the small screen since the release of Firefly feature film spinoff Serenity. Before that, the prolific creator wrote and directed a number of episodes on Buffy, Angel, and Firely (and wrote his fair share of Roseanne scripts as well).Entertainment Weekly verified the rumor yesterday, so it seems a lock.What, if anything, will Whedon bring to our favorite work-space? Only time will tell.
After looking over our options for how to get episode #12 "Back From Vacation" out the door, Ian and I were faced with several key issues:
Enjoy the episode tonight everyone... I'll be traveling and won't be able to see it myself until perhaps Friday at the earliest. Not sure when the new episode of TWSS will be up, but I will let you know as soon as I can.Right now, I'm wondering if I should make a detour through Scranton on my way home?Hmm...Edit:Hey, I *did* visit the "Electric City," if only for about 25 minutes. Good times!
Episode # 11.5 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Ian revving up the flux capacitor for a trip back in time. What's up, mah-nerds? It's Christmas time in Scranton, Pee Ay... and Michael's cookin' up anger, resentment, heartbreak, and betrayal. How could one little ipod cause so much trouble? Yankee Swap? I agree with Jim-- I think that's called nasty Christmas my friend! Everything turns around, though, with a little visit from the christmas spirits (all 15 bottles of them). And maybe...just maybe... this is the episode where Jim and Pam will finally get together! Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at thatswhatshesaid. libsyn. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word! Oh... and if you're a user at Digg.com, give us a digg on their new podcast page! Thanks as always!
Well, it's that time of the year again... the crippling stress, the fisticuffs and cat-fights over a TMX Elmo, the ever-present Fox News manufactured "War on Christmas"... it's enough to get anyone down.Be that as it may... let's take this time to be thankful for what we have, for our families and friends, for lots of gifts, and for glass after glass of "Nog-a-sake" to help smooth out all of the rough edges.I'd also like to thank everyone for participating on the blog page here, for supporting and listening to our little podcast, and for giving me a reason to get out of bed in the morning (oops, did I say that out loud?).Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays, everyone!
I've mentioned John Hodgman on the show before-- he was a veteran of THE DAILY SHOW, and is best known as the "PC guy" in those annoying Mac ads. He's also hilarious.Not only that, but he recently wrote a book entitled THE AREAS OF MY EXPERTISE, which he describes as "a compendium of COMPLETE WORLD KNOWLEDGE." Publisher's Weekly further illuminates the contents of the book:"From sections titled "What Will Happen in the Future" to "What You Did Not Know About Hobos," he piles up smart-alecky nonsense in layer upon layer of surreal, wholly fictional factoids. Whether highlighting American presidents who had hooks for hands, or sketching out the mythical secrets of Yale University, Hodgman creates a strange and intermittently hilarious parallel universe where lists of history's worst haircuts (in addition to the Mullet, there are the Scrape, the Scab and the Shag-Swoop) are printed alongside descriptions of "famous novels that were not originally published as books." Sprinkled throughout with breathless "factual" interjections..."Were you aware of it? The body of Thomas Edison was never buried. Instead it was displayed for many decades in a traveling carnival.... DOES IT EVEN SEEM POSSIBLE?"this "almanac" demonstrates Hodgman's formidable imagination, if not his ability to amuse consistently."Funny stuff, indeed... but the REAL reason I'm posting this is to let everyone know that iTunes is currently GIVING AWAY a 6 hour audiobook version for FREE. Hodgman reads the book in his usual dead-pan fashion, and his friend/comedy partner Jonathan Coulton (who we heard on TWSS with his song "Code Monkey") provides musical accompaniment. I've listen to the first 2 hours so far, and I am enjoying it immensely. Check it out... it will definitely help fill the void as we wait for January 4th.
So as we thought, NBC has started the usual weekly trickle of deleted scenes. The two new scenes posted today show a side-plot where Ryan and Kelly experience their OWN trouble in paradise. Seeing as we know they manage to get things patched up before the big karaoke session, I guess we can rest easy."Don't dump me while I'm in the dumpster!"edit:Scene #4 features more Kelly and Ryan in the dumpster.Scene #5 has Michael calling Carole from the restaurant... sometimes it's best NOT to ask certain questions.Scene #6 Shows Michael's literary side... I agree, man -- Shakespeare just doesn't get enough credit these days.Scene #7 Gives us a peek into Angela's human side... something we didn't see much of during the actual episode.
Episodes # 10 and 11 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID find both Matt and Ian wishing for the days when they only had ONE party they didn't want to go to... We've got two tickets to paradise, folks, but we're left with nothing but trouble. Who would have thought a little photoshop could cause so much heartache? When Michael's down, though, it's Andy to the rescue with the rebound hook-up at Asian Hooters. The rest of the office find themselves caught between scylla and charybdis-- margaritas and karaoke, or angela and double fudge? What's a drone to do? Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at thatswhatshesaid. libsyn. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
Listener Louis was lucky enough to see Rainn Wilson in Scranton, PA today... live from the fabulous Steamtown Mall. He filed this report:When I first got there, there was a really long line. Then after like and hour, dwight came out and talked for a moment. Then he started autographing stuff. Then my friend got two passes to get to the front of the line. I was really happy. Like I said, Dwight autographed my season 2 dvd and my calender. Also, when my friend was done talking to Dwight, he said that he was awsome and then Dwight said he was awsome. After I talked with Dwight for a bit I went to walk around the mall and then I found Jitterz, which is the coffee shop that Stanley's daughter was talking about. Then when I went to walk around Scranton for a bit, I heard Dwight yell "We our Warriors!" from the Speech episode. Then we walked in Scranton and I found one of buildings in the The office theme song video thing. The one that says Penn Paper. Then I left. That was a fun day.Thanks again, Louis! Anyone else see Rainn today? Let us know!edit:Another account of Rainn's visit, provided by "The Citizens' Voice," a local PA news outlet.
NBC has added a new feature to their website for The Office-- a virtual tour!Start in the foyer and make your way up to the Dunder-Mifflin offices on the 2nd floor. Explore the office, the conference room, the break room, Angela's "death nook," the warehouse, and much more. Zoom in and out, rotate the camera... read the full text of Dunder-Mifflin's "mission statement"!I'm probably making this sound way more fun than it actually IS, but it's worth checking out... definitely helps give a sense of the actual layout of the floorplan in our favorite workspace.
EDIT:Best. Episode. Of. The. SEASON!:)-----Only a few more hours left until the longest episode in the history of THE OFFICE. The Boston Herald TV critic has already called this episode an "instant Christmas classic," and hopefully he's not just engaging in hyperbole. I've always enjoyed Harold Ramis, so hopefully he'll work some of his patented magic here with the Dunder-Mifflin crew.Post your comments here!EDIT:The image above comes from NBC.com/the_office... send a lovely holiday e-card to your favorite "The Office" fan today!
I knew it would happen sooner or later-- we have a "copycat."I'm not going to dignify it with any links or references, but another "The Office" related podcast has reared its head on iTunes. Perhaps not surprisingly, it is structured very similarly to this one, even starting off with a "#0.5" episode, and using the Dwight "scuttlebutt" sound clip.Highly annoying. EDIT:On further reflection (and after drinking a few beers), I've calmed down a bit. There's room in the world for more than one show, I guess. Ian and I will continue to do the best job we can, and hope that what we have to offer is valuable to fans of "The Office."
Another day, another deleted scene added to the NBC.com website. This is quite a strange one-- basically an extension of the scene in the episode where Michael tells Dwight to "be cool." "Sometimes you....umm... behave LESS well... than anyone has EVER behaved.""That strikes me as the pot calling the kettle black... Michael, what's going on? Are you in danger? Blink twice if you're in danger."edit:Scene #4 is up on the site now, which gives us MUCH more insight into why Martin would quit (which we complained about in episode #9). Watch Angela flee before the scary convict, and gasp with amusement at Dwight's cunning display of kara-tay.edit:Scene #5 is up as of today... more between Michael and Dwight, discussing why Martin, the convict, is not to be trusted. Look in Martin's personnel file? That's unconstitutional. Don't worry-- constitutions are made to be broken.edit:Scene #6... Oh, what can one say about scene #6? Simply this-- Goodbye, Meredith. Nice knowin' ya.LAST EDIT:Aw, sheesh... *9* deleted scenes now up for "The Convict." You know where.
Episode # 9.0 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Ian locked in the conference room of life, just trying to finish the Junior Jumble. Gird your loins folks, there's a fox in the henhouse, and his name is Martin Nash... this hardened ex-con is spreading his anti-office propaganda, and Michael refuses to stand for it... and not just because he's black. Do the jammers in the room have reason to celebrate, or is jim just being a dick? The very worst thing about this episode of TWSS? The dementors. They hoit! Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at thatswhatshesaid. libsyn. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
Last week, while Jenna was back in her hometown of St. Louis receiving a "women in the arts" award, she sat down for a very lengthy interview with a reporter for local NEWSCHANNEL 5.Check out the interview on the link above. Some good stuff, although nothing real die-hard fans of THE OFFICE haven't heard before.For some reason the video would ONLY work when I used IE7 (it doesn't like Firefox, I guess).
Skype and eBay are teaming up to auction off chances for average Joes like us to have a 10 minute private chat with various celebrities.Between November 30th and December 10th, you can visit this page and place your bid to chat with such celebs as Rainn Wilson (Dwight), Jenna Fischer (Pam) and Paul Lieberstein (Toby). There are also a handfull of OTHER stars on the list, including Veronica Mars' Kristin Bell, Rob Lowe, Family Guy's Seth MacFarlane, and Henry "The Fonz" Winkler.All proceeds from the auctions will go to benefit The Young Storytellers Foundation, a Los Angeles based arts education organization.(Good luck... The top bid for Jenna is sitting at $630 right now... with 7 days left to go! Only $157 for Flenderson, though... here's your big chance, ladies of the blog comments page!)
One of my original gripes with how NBC was marketing "The Office" was their cluelessness about merchandising-- all of their T-Shirts said "The Office" on them! How lame is that? Surely, real fans would want a "Dunder-Mifflin" T-Shirt instead... that's why I snapped up the "World's Best Boss" mug & the Dwight bobblehead when they became available... I mean, these are actual ARTIFACTS from the show itself. Very cool.Someone at NBC must have been paying attention, because suddenly the official store has a TON of actual cool stuff... from T-shirts with Jim, Michael and Dwight, to a mug that has the DM logo and "Dundee award winner" on the side (and plenty of snowglobes and talking keychains thrown into the mix as well). They even have some slightly higher scale stuff, like a gray polo shirt with the DM logo embroidered on the front, just like Michael and Dwight wore in "The Convention."Just in time for Christmas.(I take a XXL, by the way...)EDIT:Enter coupon code OFFICETALLY at checkout to receive 10% off on all The Office merchandise.
Well, here we go folks-- mere hours away from the new episode, penned by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, creators of the original UK "The Office."Which of the new employees will be proven to have a "criminal" past? Only time will tell!EDIT:Watching now...Uh oh.EDIT 2:Flenderson FTW!
As you may have heard on episode # 8.0, I had the very great pleasure of meeting Sam Van Hallgren a few Mondays back. Sam is the cohost (along with Adam Kempenaar) of my favorite podcast of all time, FILMSPOTTING (or Cinecast, as it was known before they changed the name for legal reasons).Sam's is one of the most professionally produced shows out there, and is literally a beacon of excellence in a sea of mediocrity. If you like film, if you're looking for a show in the Ebert & Roeper vein, if you're looking for a place where listener interaction is appreciated, this is a podcast you should be checking out on a weekly basis. Just recently, they also parlayed their podcast into an actual radio show on WBEZ in Chicago.Sam has been a fan of THE OFFICE and a listener of TWSS, and he really was great to talk to during our brief meeting. He offered lots of good advice and insights into podcasting, and I really appreciated it.He ALSO did me the honor of a name drop in the most recent episode, #136, at around 22:26-31:23 or so. Since we're off this week, I ask you to give FILMSPOTTING a listen, if you're haven't already done so.Great stuff.
While Thanksgiving has interrupted our "The Office" love for now, I'd just like to take this opportunity to wish everyone out there a gut-busting, rip-roaring holiday.I'll be heading over to my usual family get-together to eat turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and green bean casserole until I regurgitate (that's when I know it's time for pie). Gotta love it.Take care, and see you next week!
As the title suggests, NBC posted more deleted scenes from "The Merger" on their site (5 total, now). One features Michael commenting on the mysteries of the menstrual cycle & Martin Nash discovering Creed's "old man smell." Another has Michael giving up some words of wisdom, a third has Meredith meeting Karen, while the last two have Andy interacting with Kevin. Also, they posted a link for a new "The Office" related solitaire game. Check it out!
Episode # 8.0 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Ian vying for the bouquet at the wedding of the century. Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the joining of this lovely couple in merged bliss... Scranton, do you take Stamford to join your branch, to love, torture and humiliate them, to make things not better but WORSE, as long as you both shall live? You do? Really? It's the moment we've been waiting for, folks-- Jim is back... bringing treble with him. Will things go as smoothly as Michael hopes, or will we suffer a quicky divorce? One thing I *DO* know? Ed Helms + Rainn Wilson = Crazy delicious! Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at thatswhatshesaid. libsyn. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
A couple of new things posted today:NBC.com has posted 2 deleted scenes from THE MERGER. As usual, NBC is doing this differently again... you won't find them under the "Deleted Scenes" section, only on the main "The Office" page. The FIRST deleted scene is simply the complete and unedited LAZY SCRANTON video (which seems a shoe-in for Jim's iPod this week). The second deleted scene shows Andy's first meeting with Kevin. Let's just say that Andy feels the cold, cold karmic sting of poetic justice.Rainn Wilson also posted a new "Schrute Space" entry.Jenna Fischer also did a live blog last night after the show. She was only online for 25 minutes, and she didn't really spill any new information... just fielded a lot of Jim/Pam questions. Check it out at the link above.
Funniest part of the episode? The Andy/Dwight rivalry. Not only is he after Dwight's position in the office & dissin' the D-man's ride, he's also charming the chastity belt off of his girlfriend. The almost killed even this, though, in the "way too long" credits sequence.Least funniest part of the episode? Everything else.So I guess it's official-- Jim and Karen are "dating." This certainly wasn't the reunion the "HalpEesley" fans were hoping for, and it also seems like it's following along with the UK version... which is OK in and of itself. Like the last few episodes, this was definitely a plot mover. I hope that being settled officially in Scranton we can get on with the regular office- hijinx episodes we've come to know and love.I think Martin hit the nail on the head-- too much filler, not enough meat.
Some Jenna Fischer news:She and husband James Gunn will be on LoveLine tonight, November 15th... Check it out if you're interested (and if you read this in time!).As Greg Daniels did last week, Jenna will be doing a live blog on NBC.com following the East Coast/Central airing of "The Merger" on November 16th. (which should be around 9:20pm/8:20pm). Personally, I haven't been a huge fan of NBC's blogs, but hey, you never know when a tasty bit of information might leak out. AND Jenna might respond to your question, so there's that.
Episode # 7.0 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Ian scared, lost, confused and baffled... what do we do when our jobs are downsized? It's the moment we've been dreading since season 1, folks... Scranton is being shut down... but michael won't let it go without a fight. It's brains and brawn vs... michael and dwight, corporate greed vs. blind ignorance, it's the bout to knock the other branch out! Will Jim return? Will Josh enjoy his time at staples? Will Andy find solace in the cornell alumni network? Only time will tell... Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at thatswhatshesaid. libsyn. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
In case anyone doesn't want to bother going through NBC.com to view the "Producer's Cut" of BRANCH CLOSING, I just noticed that the iTunes Store is selling this version for the usual $1.99. In fact, they're ONLY offering this version... the regular "over the air" version is nowhere to be found.
Just got done watching it... took me about 20 minutes to find the damn thing, so if you're stuck, try this:Go to NBC.com, click on the "24/7" link, choose the "Prime Time" tab, select "The Office." and then FINALLY choose EPISODES.The producer's cut is presented in 4 parts.Aside from some incidental extra scenes, we get two large plotlines that were cut from the version that aired-- one dealing with Meredith, and one with Creed. Neither of which is really all that interesting... Poor Kate Flannery... her only big scene all season ends on the cutting room floor.Anyway, it's worth a re-watch.
Anyone have any pre-show comments?Don't forget-- the "Producer's Cut" will start streaming at 9pm PACIFIC time... also, Greg Daniels will be doing another live blog right after the episode airs in the Eastern/Central time zones (i.e. 9pm/8pm central). The first one wasn't all that great (too many comments from fans, not enough time or ability to address all of those comments on the part of the person being interviewed). Still, if you want to see it, go to NBC.com and click on the "live blog" link. If you miss the party, NBC posts the transcripts on the regular "The Office" web page.I hate to buy into needless hype, but Jenna Fischer saying this is the "best episode we've ever done" has me definitely intrigued.
So two more DIWALI deleted scenes up at NBC.com. First up, is a rather short scene where Kevin tries to drum up business for "Scrantonicity" at next year's Diwali party. It's pretty short, and pretty pointless... good cut.The second scene, though, is hilarious. Michael calls Jan to explain why the entire office is leaving early for the party... Michael plays her like a violin, spinning her from point A (I am going to rip you a new one) all the way to point B (Why didn't you tell us? We could have chartered a bus!) in the span of 45 seconds. Masterful, big man... just masterful. Who says Michael doesn't know how to manipulate the PC system?
Well, looks like this slow trickle is our future, folks.The third deleted scene has Carole introducing herself to Ryan, and sharing an extremely awkward moment with Dwight. I know Nancy Walls is Steve Carell's real-life wife, but I'm just not a big fan of her acting style in this episode... it's just too self-consciously "twitchy." Maybe that's a side effect of dating Michael...
So Jenna posted a new Myspace blog, talking about how she's getting ready for a flight to NYC for her Letterman appearance (she's also going to do a taping for the Rachel Ray show, airdate TBD).She also gave this edict to the fans:"Finally, you MUST catch our show this Thursday night. I've already seen it and it is THE BEST ONE we've ever done. I'm not kidding. It is called "Branch Closing". Michael finds out that the Scranton branch is being shut down. He and Dwight go to New York to try and save the branch. The stuff they do together is the absolute funniest thing ever on our show. And also the most touching. Meanwhile, the folks at Stamford find out they have to absorb the Scranton folks. The entire episode is amazing. I can't wait for you to see it. And...as if it couldn't get better...Pam has a new hairstyle again. I won't tell you what it is. I'll let you be surprised."I am officially stoked for this week's episode.
Wow... this is pretty big news. Not sure if I appreciate having to watch the show on the web, though.
NBC'S 'THE OFFICE' WEB EVENT STREAMS ONLY ON NBC.COM
"Producer's Cut" To Be Web-Exclusive Event On NBC.com On November 9th
BURBANK, Calif. November 6, 2006 NBC's Emmy-winning comedy "The Office" (Thursdays, 8:30 9:00pm ET/PT) will offer fans a first-ever, web-exclusive "producer's cut" on November 9th. The episode will include additional scenes and extra footage not shown in the broadcast version. Viewers can log onto NBC.com at 9:00pm (PT) on November 9th to see the web-exclusive event.
The announcement was made today by Vivi Zigler, executive vice president NBC digital entertainment and new media.
"This is a first-of-its-kind and a real bonus for fans of 'The Office,'" said Zigler. "It's also a natural for this show which has continually pushed the envelope in the digital landscape. We're seeing an incredible audience reaction to the evolving digital extensions of our programming and anticipate this being one of their favorites."
In the pivotal November 9th episode, Jan (Melora Hardin) tells Michael (Steve Carell) that the Scranton Branch will be shutting down and Michael strives to keep his staff's spirits up. Meanwhile, everyone privately begins to envision how their lives will change in the aftermath. Rainn Wilson, Jenna Fischer, John Krasinski, B.J. Novak, David Denman, Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, Angela Kinsey, Phyllis Smith, Paul Lieberstein and Mindy Kaling also star, and Ed Helms ("The Daily Show"), Rashida Jones ("Wanted") and Charles Esten ("Whose Line Is It Anyway?") guest-star.
Through October 29, "The Office" has averaged a 4.0 rating, 10 share in adults 18-49 and 8.5 million viewers overall, making it this Fall's #3 half-hour comedy on any network in adults 18-49. "The Office" is also primetime's most upscale comedy, with the highest concentration of homes with $100,000-plus incomes and highest median income for its 18-49 audience among network comedies. "The Office" has improved the Thursday 8:30pm half-hour for NBC by 14 percent versus the network's 18-49 average at this point last season. "The Office" has matched or improved upon its adult 18-49 lead-in from "My Name is Earl" with every first-run telecast this Fall.
Episode # 6.0 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Ian battling for the hearts, minds, and souls of the American people. It's Diwali time folks, and the office gang heads out into the real world for some big fun... hindu style! Could Jim get any drunker? Could Michael retain any self esteem? The indigo boys reunion tour? Will Kevin see a podiatrist? Just what, exactly, *IS* the union of the monkey? and What's wrong with dating Zack Braff? From Jim's iPod this week, Michael Scott with the DIWALI SONG. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at thatswhatshesaid. libsyn. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
This is sort of a really horrible weekend for me... I have to calculate the final quarter grades for 150 students, to be turned in by Tuesday at 8am. This means that I am going to have to be busting my ass today and Sunday (and Monday night) to try and get this task accomplished.Long story short, I'm not sure when episode #6.0 will be recorded/posted.Now, don't freak out or anything :) but I just want to give you all a heads up in case it is perhaps later than usual. It still might be up on Sunday night as usual, but I can't promise anything.Thanks for your patience.
So I'm guessing this may be old news for the forum browsing crowd, but it was news to me tonight--Kristin Veitch over at TV Guide is reporting that original "The Office" creators Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant have turned their attention to the US version and have penned an episode set to air on November 30th.Titled "The Convict," the episode will revolve around Michael discovering that one of his new coworkers has a criminal past. Stay tuned... I'm sure the Daytona Beach News-Journal will soon declare it the "funniest episode ever!"(ah, sweet, sweet sarcasm...)
Well, I've only managed to watch this episode once so far, so I'm not sure what my FINAL opinion will be by the time we record TWSS #6.0, but I'll try to give some of my initial impressions...Seems like there was some "hate" for this episode, or, if not HATE exactly, a lot of "eh, it was OK" kind of sentiment. I think my biggest let-down is the simple fact that this episode has been hyped as being all about Michael at a DIWALI celebration when in fact the actual party scenes were too few and far between. What did he really DO? Ok, he came in his Halloween costume, somehow (?) mistook "simosas" for "s'mores," askes one SORT OF inapropriate question to the Kapoors, and had fun dancing. Oh, and he also humiliated himself with Carole. But still... I certainly didn't find myself squirming at his behavior (except for that kiss/lean-in thing... brr!).I think this episode was striving to be like "The Christmas Party" or "The Booze Cruise," where the entire cast is placed inside a situation and we see their interactions with that situation as a backdrop. Part of why this episode perhaps didn't work as well as those other episodes is the simple fact that we kept breaking away from the party to go to Stamford-- we kept leaving that "bubble" and shifting over to another plot that wasn't really all that interesting (and leads to other strange questions, like "did Karen do this whole thing to have her way with Jim?" :) ).I know we are only a few weeks away from having Jim back in Scranton, so hopefully these kinds of things will work themselves out in the PS (post Stamford) era.The "outro" where Michael and Dwight performed a Diwali version of Adam Sandler's "The Chanukah Song" was also kind of funny, but really didn't seem to have a place in the actual world this episode took place in... it played more like an appreciative group of citizens applauding Steve Carell. Ah well... as I said, this is based on only one viewing... I'm sure I will find my opinion softening with repeated viewings. And Martin-- I'll take your challenge.
Dagnabbit...So we record episode five, and play the deleted scenes for THE INITIATION... THEN NBC comes out with 5 MORE deleted scenes, which we cover on episode #5.5... NOW NBC has posted yet ANOTHER deleted scene. ARG.Curse you, you peacock loving bastiches!Edit:Maybe I'm going crazy, but I also just noticed that NBC has uploaded TWO (1, 2) new deleted scenes from GRIEF COUNSELING that we never mentioned or analyzed on the podcast. The first one gives us more Pam & Roy interaction, and the second shows Jan & Michael on the phone talking about Ed dying ("Does his family know?").NBC... you guys are killin' me here.
Episode #5.5 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Ian lost in a sea of confusion... if a show airs no new episode, is there anyone around to hear the podcast? It's rerun day here folks, but we've still got a good handful of tidbits to dissect, news to go through, and e-mails to ridicule. From Jim's iPod this week, Jonathan Coulton with "Code Monkey"... Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at thatswhatshesaid.libsyn.com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
So Brian "Kevin" Baumgartner gave some big news on his myspace blog today.#1) November 16th's episode of THE OFFICE will be yet another 40 minute super-sized episode. Tasty! As we've seen, the episodes ALWAYS run long, so I am really happy for another "Casino Night" sized ep... This episode, of course, must be fallout from November 9th's "Branch Closing"... so I'm guessing this is when we'll see Jim (and Karen?) being relocated back to Scranton.#2) Starting November 30th, DEAL OR NO DEAL will no longer be airing on Thursdays. Instead, NBC will go back to the good old fashioned "Must See TV" all sitcom line-up! From then on, we'll get Earl, The Office, Scrubs and 30 Rock... capped off with the 27th season of ER. Based on the news from last week, this is sort of interesting... glad to see NBC is giving 30 Rock another chance (I thought the first episode was pretty funny, although I missed the last one... or two?).Not too shabby.
In case anyone else missed the news from the comments area, NBC has posted several new deleted scenes from "The Initiation."Ah, Stanley, I *knew* you had it in you... you just made it to the podcast sound clip library! Congrats, big man.Speaking of which... can the members of TWSS/DAC give me a hand in finding ALL the "That's What She Said" clips that have ever been uttered during the three seasons of "The Office"? Episode number & time would be greatly appreciated... I'm toying with the idea of putting them all together into a big sound clip for use in promotional materials.Thanks for any assistance!
We mentioned this on the show this week, but just in case you missed it, Angela Kinsey posted this reminder on her myspace.com blog:just wanted to give you a heads up that Brian (you know you love Kevin) and I will be on Loveline, KROQ 106.7, tomorrow night---Tuesday, Oct. 24th. Here are the details about the show: Loveline follows the call-in question-and-answer model with the primary goal of helping youth and young adults with relationship, sexuality, and drug addiction problems. Actors or members of popular bands often participate as guests. It is a nation-wide show but I'm not sure how you listen in if you are outside of California. In the past---Jenna, BJ and Rainn have all been guests.So there you go... if anyone listens to the show, let me know how it goes.
Episode #5.0 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID has turned both Ian and Matt into diehard "Jam/Pim shippers"! It's pretzel day here folks, and we're jonesing for "the works" along with Michael and Stanley. Pam a snitch? Jim, master of Psychological warfare? Bob Vance, a dick? Will Ryan be able to wrestle his fear to the ground? And oh, what a phone call... Episode discussion, news, emails and more. Nothing from Jim's iPod this week... Sorry about that... Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at thatswhatshesaid.libsyn.com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
According to the Associated Press's "Today In History" column, everyone's favorite chip-finding, CoD sucking, Pam-avoiding actor John Krasinski was born the 20th day of October, in the year of our Lord 1,979.Doing the math he's...let's see... 27 today.Happy b-day, big guy!
Well, what did you all think?I'll post my impressions tomorrow...How about those last 10 minutes?
The Pittsburg Post-Gazette ran an article today which explored how the actual citizens of Scranton, PA feel about their fictional neighbors from "The Office."Long story short? The mayor has a Dunder Mifflin banner flying outside of City Hall (see image), the Chamber of Commerce sends the show Scranton mugs & other objects with pride, two "twenty-something" baristas feel the show makes fun of the city (but they're down with that), and a local firefighter says the show is "not funny" and is "stupid" (partly because they apparently used the wrong color coats on the firefighters in "The Fire").There's still talk of trying to fly the entire cast to Scranton for a big St. Patrick's Day love-fest.All in all, well worth a read.
Episode #4.0 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID reunites Matt and Ian to discuss "Grief Counseling" for much longer than is probably healthy-- don't forget, though, that it's mandatory. Matt would like it known that he's ok with a 2/3rd scale robot as a memorial... but a 15' extension cord would be cool. Episode discussion, news, emails and more. Nothing from Jim's iPod this week... Sorry about that... Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at thatswhatshesaid.libsyn.com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
Not a whole lot to say about this other than... she sure cleans up nice, doesn't she? Jenna has a 3 page article in ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY this week. Not a whole lot of behind the scenes information or anything, but some interesting insight into her take on playing Pam. Ummm... Ahh...Must... stop... looking... at... picture...But really... just LOOK at her. She looks amazing. And I know I shouldn't be buying into this male dominated "penistocracy" society that forces women into flashy clothes and layers of make-up and airbrushing to be desirable, etc., etc., etc. But SHEESH! LOOK at her! LOOK AT HER!!ehem.I'm better now.
This episode is definitely an interesting one to watch-- you can almost see the hamster turning the wheels inside Michael's head.Surely Michael doesn't really CARE that Ed Truck, his old boss, is dead. I mean, he told us in "The Carpet" that he was the worst boss ever, and that turning into Ed was his "greatest fear" (Creed: "You should have much bigger fears than that"). So why does Michael go so bat$#!t in this episode?Simple.If no one cares about Ed's death, then no one will care about MICHAEL's death either, and that's just too much for him to deal with. The Answer? Force everyone in the office to feel depressed in a futile hope it will carry over when Michael goes on to the afterlife.Good luck, Michael.Some unanswered questions:
Thanks to everyone's support and iTunes reviews, we've made it to the front page of the iTunes Podcast page today! Well, it's under the "What's New" section, and you have to go to the second group of podcasts to see it, but hell-- I still call it cool. I've been having a great time putting this show out so far, and I hope this will lead to greater exposure for the show. My goal? To get name dropped by the cast, like Northern Attack or Office Tally do :) Seriously, thanks again to everyone who has stuck with me for these first three and a half episodes. I'm looking into adding a forum for the show, so we can sit around and talk about how wrong I am, or other such fun facts! It boggles the mind...Only one more day until "Grief Counseling"...
Just wanted to give a quick link to Prospect Mali's myspace page here, in thanks for allowing me to play their song "The Silence" in episode #3.0... Thanks again, guys! I'm usually not a huge fan of music that is "inspired by" something else, but in this case, I'll give them a pass... I really do like the song, and the Jim/Pam connection is always a plus.I'm sure playing non-stop on Jenna Fischer's blog page is much higher profile than being on my little podcast, but hey-- every little bit helps.
So after saying on episode #3 that the ratings were apparently "good enough," we get this article today in the NEW YORK POST with writer Adam Buckman saying that "The Office" is "doomed" because of low ratings.From the article:THE better it gets, the lower its ratings go.
With the new fall season only a few weeks old, “The Office? is fast becoming the “Arrested Development? of NBC - which is not good news for either the show or the network.
What’s the problem? Like “Arrested Development,? “The Office? is proving to be too good to be popular.
My advice to the show’s fans: Enjoy “The Office? while you can, before NBC discovers it’s not working and yanks it.Granted, the NYP is no bastion of great journalism, and this guy has no say in what NBC will or won't do, and I know I should keep a positive outlook, but it's just not nice to see something like this in print.Wow... only 1 minute into episode three, and I already messed up. Blame it on my shoddy show notes. The Coup, of course, aired on 10/5/06... NOT 9/28/06 as I said in the introduction.Sigh.
Episode #3.0 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds Matt alone in the office to talk about THE COUP. Can he handle the pressure? Tune in to find out! Episode discussion, news, emails and more. Music this week provided by Prospect Mali (see them on myspace) as well as the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at thatswhatshesaid.libsyn.com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be What thou art promised. Yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o' the milk of human kindness To catch the nearest way...I taught the play MACBETH for years to advanced high school juniors, and "The Coup" plays out a similar 'tragedy' in modern-day Scranton, PA (is that anywhere near Scotland, PA?). In any event, when Michael drops the ball with Jan yet again (and really, is 30 minutes a week really such a terrible thing?), Lady MacAngela accosts Dwight and convinces him to make a play for Michael's job.Needless to say, it doesn't go well for anyone.Dwight, Dwight, Dwight... why on earth do you have such intimate knowledge of Jan's personal shopping habits? Why did you order all of that food? And why didn't you bring your D.W.I.G.H.T. (Determined, Worker, Intense, Good worker, Hard worker, Terrific) sign with you? Give Michael credit for being more clever than I thought possible... he let Dwight dig himself deeper and deeper into a hole from which the D-man could not escape. Holy crap, that drool on his face when he stood up was priceless.Lessons learned?Don't @#$% with a man's Sebring.Creed is icky.Never invite Jim Halpert to your LAN party.And remember to always-- ALWAYS-- hug it out, b!tch.**CAUTION: do not use with female co-workers.
For those who care, the parable of "the prodigal son" IS indeed from the New Testament, and more specifically, the book of Luke. From Wikipedia-- In the story told by Jesus, a man has two sons. The younger demands his share of his inheritance while his father is still living, and goes off to a distant country where he "wasted his substance with riotous living", and eventually has to take work as a swineherd. There he comes to his senses, and determines to return home and throw himself on his father's mercy. But when he returns home, his father greets him with open arms, and does not even give him a chance to express his repentance; he kills a "fatted calf" to celebrate his return. The older brother becomes angry. But the father responds:It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. (Luke 15:32)Jim, the prodigal son? Well, he left... but he certainly seems MORE successful in Stamford than he ever was in Scranton... Leave it to Michael to misunderstand the context.
As THE OFFICE moves onto its second episode of the season, THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID follows with Episode #2.0...Join Matt and Ian as they discuss Michael and Jim's friendship, Dwight and Angela's clandestine affair, and Pam back on the market, along with the latest news and listener e-mails...Music by Jerzy Jung, courtesy of music.podshow.com... Contact us at TWSSpodcast@gmail.com, and drop by our blog page at thatswhatshesaid.libsyn.com... Please leave a review on the iTunes page, if you get a chance, and spread the word!
Now that the cat is out of the bag regarding Jerome "The Bus" Bettis's guest appearance on "The Office," I thought I'd point you to this article on ESPN.com (scroll down below all that Kobe stuff) that takes a much more in-depth behind the scenes look at the cameo.Most interesting to me is that the male half of the cast apparently play EA's Madden "every single break," and according to John K. they also "play for money." The Steelers are Rainn's virtual team, hence the Bettis love.Thanks to "Office Tally" for the heads up on this story.
In case you missed it, TV Guide has run a two part interview with John & Jenna about the new season. The first part saw print last week before the premiere, and the second part came out yesterday. Some spoilers given below, from the article:
Dang these late night talk shows... right after I post the first episode of TWSS and say "no guest appearances," The Tonight Show books Jenna Fischer. And, as it so happens, I totally missed it. Hopefully a youtube search will prove fruitful.On her blog, Jenna said she was very nervous, but thought it went well. She also mentioned that B. J. Novak would also be on The Tonight Show sometime next week.BREAKING NEWS!Someone posted the the link to the video on Jenna's blog. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zb2NkZPW0y0It's about 8 minutes long, and JF is pretty interesting-- very manic, as well. Good luck with that boat, Jenna!
Got stuck having to attend "open house" at my school last night from 6-9 pm, so I missed the show... thank the lord for the DVR. Only got to watch it once so far, so just some basic impressions:Very cool to see the gang out in the "real world." I always find it interesting when the cast does this... makes the show seem bigger and broader in some respects. Plus, we got to see the stylin' Dunder Mifflin polo shirt."Dwight got a hooker!" -- as hilarious as that was, I am a bit shocked that Ms. Martin would engage in such scandalous behavior. Surely she knew Michael and Jim would be there... Michael, Michael, Michael... like with the episode "The Client" last season, we start off with Michael looking like a total inept fool, and end with him brokering what seems to be a pretty large business deal. I kept waiting for the rug to be pulled out from under him, but they let it ride. Unfortunately, his "off da hook" party was a party of one... or TWO, when Jim showed up. As sad as Michael might be, surely no salesman would pass up a chance for free booze during a convention? And Jim... why does he continue to be so darn NICE to Michael? "You're a great boss"? Ah well... that's just Fat Halpert for ya. Leave it to Michael to then revive the "Jim and I are best friends" idea from "The Secret."Toby's last name? FLENDERSON. And Pam... poor Pam. Being single and now starting to date, she has become the object of attention for the office males, esp. Mr. Flenderson above. Remember during "The Fire" when everyone admitted (including Oscar!) that they'd "hit that"? I think things are going to get pretty awkward fairly soon.I wasn't too impressed with the cold open-- it seemed a bit too forced. Still, the rest of the episode was none too shabby.Watch for the new episode of TWSS on Saturday!
So even though I am a huge fan of "The Office," I have never gotten involved in fan forums or anything of that nature... so I've only recently discovered that Jenna "Pam" Fischer has a rather active myspace page going on, where she posts both blog entries and pictures quite regularly. That's all fine and good, as it is, but what just blew me away is that on the bottom of her page, under "People I'd Like to Meet" she has a picture of JOE MATT! Matt, the creator of the comic PEEPSHOW, was also one of my favorite creators from the 90's autobio boom, along with his fellow Canadians (Joe's actually an American, but he was living in Toronto) Seth and Chester Brown. Matt was always one of those guys who I felt just never lived up to his artistic potential... he rarely got a book out, and just never had the work ethic (if you believe his own stories) to buckle down and crank the stuff out... not like he made the serious cash on Peepshow or anything, but still... he's been missed. Of of my friends told me that he's finally coming out with a new book in October, so that's something to look forward to.Check out his stuff if you haven't done so already.
Episode # 1.0 is here, along with the season opener of THE OFFICE...Join Matt and Ian as they discuss the ins and outs of the Emmy award winning NBC sitcom...Music by The Fire Apes, courtesy of music.podshow.com... Contact us at TWSSpodcast@gmail.com, and drop by our blog page at thatswhatshesaid.libsyn.com...THANKS!
Holy S#!t.So much to process here... in fact, I'm not sure what to think of this episode yet. It is literally darker than the dark, dark space under Dwight's porch. Do you remember when you went off to college? And then you came home that next summer and hooked up with all of your old high school friends... but things just seemed OFF in some way? That was my initial reaction to the show... holy cow, everything we knew, everything we THOUGHT we knew, it's all different now. I mean, SHIT... Jim eating a tuna sandwich? Has the WORLD GONE MAD?! Where will it all end? Won't someone think of the children?Seriously, though, it's really odd to see Jim alone in the Stamford office... Ed Helms as "Andy" definitely isn't a real fun guy-- he seems like the worst aspects of Dwight and Michael merged into a creepy package. Word of warning-- don't put anything of Andy's in jell-o. He's not down with it.Like REALLY not down with it.Moment of zen? Meredith eating/licking the hand sanitizer.Or was it Creed, saying a man "may have slipped in there"?"We're all homos... HomoSAPIENS."True dat, Michael. -Matt-
Another last minute TV show appearance for John K-- he's supposed to show up on Conan on Thursday, 9/21/06... so that makes it TWO hours of late night talk show's I'll have to set the old DVR for on this particular Thursday (Steve Carell is on Leno).With his appearance on TODAY, doing a signing in the NBC store, then showing up for the Conan taping, looks like John's in for a busy day... and that doesn't even account for the actual show premiere. EDIT:Man, even more add-ons... Rainn Wilson will be on the fledgling "The Megan Mullally Show" on Thursday. Megan's show just launched on monday of this week, and so far people don't seem to be too impressed... yet maybe her interview with Rainn will be a bit more scintilating than Ellen's. Wow... do I REALLY have to watch this now that I'm doing the podcast?? ;)
So Rainn Wilson was on the Ellen show yesterday, and I have to admit this is the first time I've ever watched her show... is this how it is all the time? Yikes. Definitely not what I'd call "polished."Rainn was on stage for about 10 minutes, but during those 10 minutes I learned literally nothing about season 3 of THE OFFICE, and only 1 or 2 tidbits about the man himself.First off, they played a brief scene from the new season between Dwight and Angela in the break room-- they weren't looking at each other (still in secrecy apparently), but Angela was yelling at Dwight for going away to a business conference... she didn't know why he was going anyway, since it was for managers. Dwight ensures his "monkey" that he is an ARN (assistant regional manager) and therefore must attend. Disappointed that they aren't spending enough time together, Angela retorts with a "don't 'monkey' me" before she leaves the room.Trouble in paradise, I guess. I suppose it's only natural... gas ain't free, after all.Other than that, Rainn jokingly suggests that as an actor he creates characters through hairstyles (just like Brad Pitt), shows off a recent thrift store art find of two monkeys in wedding clothes holding asparagus (!), mentions that he and his wife went to Hawaii over the Summer, and that he (possibly) plays the bassoon. That was about it. I'll put one or two audio clips from the show in this week's TWSS episode.
Oops... missed this one: Before appearing at the NBC store at Rockefeller Center from 9-9:30am on Thursday, September 21st, John and Jenna will be doing the TODAY SHOW.
First post here... still trying to iron everything out before the official launch of the first episode. Stay tuned!
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