"Office A-Ha Moment"

So I was innocently watching "The Office" this week and suddenly a Sabre printer blew up over my head. Heretofore I had experienced complete disequilibrium when I thought of "The Office" and its legacy. My mind couldn't make sense of how the show could go on- minus the effin' STAR OF THE SHOW. But! As I sank into this week's episode-the 2nd in new boss Andy's regime-it hit me!

"The Office" will no longer be thought of as 100% great. Shows like "Seinfeld" or "I Love Lucy" were pretty excellent throughout their runs. And it took me this long to see that our beloved Dunder Mifflin employees now belong to another club. Not a bad club- indeed some of the greatest shows ever belong to it- but a different club.

There is a line in a Toby Keith (!) song on country radio right now that goes: I ain't as good as I once was . . . And that's what I'll call the different club. Not that the shows got terrible or unwatchable- just not as good as they once was. Members of this club include:

"Designing Women" featured a somewhat similar shift from really good to meh when stars Delta Burke and Jean Smart left. The new designers never really measured up.

"Roseanne" went downhill when our working class heroes won the lottery.

When "The Simpsons" (I hate to use the phrase 'jumped the shark'-but what else fits?) depends on who you ask- look in your heart and you'll know.

BUT!!! A-Ha moment conclusion: The upside is even if the show's evolutions leave you sour enough to eventually stop watching, oftentimes in syndication these second tier episodes grow on you. You've seen all the "best ones" over and over and so you relent and watch. And they ain't half bad! I began to appreciate Jan Hooks, Julia Duffy, and whoever played B.J. when "Designing Women" ran late on Nick at Nite. Similar situation with "Roseanne"- and well, I still like "The Simpsons." Will there ever be another Monorail-level episode? Doubt it- but who could ask for more than one?

And so I think the same will go for "The Office." Now that I have the correct mindset, I think I can handle Andy's managerial status (as they really seem to be sticking with that decision-really guys?)

Thus endeth this treatise on whatever it was I was writing about.

In Response to Your Letter . . .

[Post received 9, 24, 11]

"Dear Blog Poster,

What did you think of this week's season premieres?

Just whatever shows you feel like blahhing about.

Thanks,

Sincere Listener/Blog Reader"

Dear Listener/Reader,

I'm so glad you asked!! I did just finish watching the "Community" season premiere, like two seconds ago! And fear not- it was not unweird at all! They're back in great form and oh yeah- Homie don't dean this!!

As for this week's Michael Scott-less "The Office" . . . the jury I keep stored in my chest cavity that makes decisions like this for me is still out. I still have an affection for Jim, Pam, Dwight and a few others- but I do not like Andy as the manager. What got him there? His terrible sales record? I was conflicted- enjoyed parts, but for half the time I seriously wished they'd gone off the air last season. Hmm . . . only time will tell? That's a saying, right?

"Parks and Recreation" you ask? Oh- it was great! I kind of forgot already what happened with Leslie and Ben, but yeah- great as per usual! I am so excited that Andy is now . . . oh you didn't see it yet? Okay.

But what about "Modern Family"?? Hold on, I'll get to that. First- "Glee"! I cannot handle all the drama!! Sam's gone, Lauren Zisces has pretty much left us- upheaval! And we have barely even met any of the newbs still to be foisted upon us! I do love me some Rachel, Finn, Kurt, and oh yes BLAINE. He makes it all better. He better be a senior though, so he can spin off with Kurt and Rachel!

Okay- "Modern Family"- both episodes were great! What did you expect? I'm not on board with them hogging the Emmys, but Phil is much deserving and Gloria was killin' it!

Hope this answers your question "Listener" and feel free to write back anytime!

Yours,

Blog Poster

Hair Post

Also, as I watched "The Office" last night- I became very jealous of Jim's hair. Bald men will do sad things like that. Pick up old Barbie dolls from Goodwill and stroke their straw-like locks, now matted with gum and grime. Jealously wishing . . .

Anyway- Jim's hair did remind me of "The Simpsons" Halloween show where Homer wore a toupee made from Snake's hair after he was executed and then Homer goes crazy. I believe the segment was called "Hell Toupee." Gosh, for a cartoon, Snake had some great hair too. Hair someone might . . . kill for . . .

Time Marches On Case-file #520

So last night as I was watching the inconclusive season finale of "The Office," a realization came to me!! James Spader, the once sexy star of Sex, Lies, and Videotape, was interviewing for the position recently vacated by Michael Scott. And lo, James Spader (like the rest of us) has gotten old! (and like the rest of us: balder and fatter!).

I know that time marches on, and sooner or later you realize it's marching across your face- but c'mon! It's always jarring to see a one time sex symbol that has morphed into a friend of your Dad's.

Or more specifically, morphed into Garry Shandling (God love him!)

T-Shirt Idea: Goodbyes Are a Bitch

Last night I finally worked up the courage to watch Michael Scott's last episode of "The Office"- and I was right to put it off!! I wept profusely!! I'm talking Dobby's Death Scene level of weeping- through at least half of the show! And I was alone when I watched it- so it was ugly crying! No dignity whatsoever- flat out balling!!!

And then today, I was watching "The Larry Sanders Show" on Netflix streaming- and I reached that show's series finale!! First of all, it's a BRILLIANT show and if you've got Netflix streaming you can watch all six seasons online (like I did in the past month or so) and then you too can get all choked up when you bid farewell to Larry, that scary-lovable sidekick Hank, and Artie! Oh, Larry's producer Artie!!! Thank God I have our producer Mr. Snodbottom!!

All this is to say that I am EMOTIONALLY SPENT!! And also Tyler if you're reading this could you bring some more tissues to my office. This time I really do need them because I'm crying (I swear!) And now- I have to find a new show to watch!! Oh Michael- Goodbyes ARE a bitch!!!!

I'll miss you Larry! I'll miss you Michael!! (Michael please come back when "The Office" goes off for good!!! Or else I might not weep enough tears to refill the river Jordan!)

P.S. In 50 years when our show ends (or when the internet is shut off and/or podcasts are no longer a thing) you know there will be tears!!! Long, long, very lengthy clip packages and TEARS!

Why, Dunder Mifflin, Why????

Oh GOD this sounds terrible. (Spoiler Alert) But click HERE to read a brief forecast for the end of this season of The Office.

(Remember, Spoiler Alert!) Okay, I hate to be so negative, really!- but, according to the link above, Steve Carell will be leaving the show with at least 4 episodes remaining in the season. In those four episodes we will witness (the tedium of?) Dwight, Andy, and Darryl scrambling to assume power. We will also be reunited with Todd Packer. Why? I would say it's because in our past lives, fans of the show must have done something really, really bad. Todd Packer is not funny in and of himself. Michael Scott's extreme fandom of Todd Packer is funny.

(Now I'm gonna get weird) When you're a big fan of a show, it's especially hard to watch that show become terrible. Like Roseanne, The Office was so good that it's sharp turn towards bad is even more noticeable and more difficult to take. I'm not saying the current season of The Office is equal to the all out rottenness of the season after Roseanne and Dan won the lottery, (I'm assuming that next season will fill that role, and with any luck, will similarly be the show's last) but this season is right up there with season 8 of Roseanne which saw some crazy shit in the name of comedy- like Sharon Stone welcoming Mark and Becky into their trailer park, etc.

Maybe the writers will turn it around and spin this season's dross into gold- but if what's transpired so far is any indication- I wouldn't hold my breath.

(Now more personal shit) I don't feel like the show "owes me" anything, and I don't begrudge Steve Carell a movie career, and I don't think the writers, actors, and other crew of The Office should be penalized for wanting to carry on working together. But for me- someone who has bought all the previous seasons of the show- what do you do? I'm not that OCD, but I can't lie and say I don't feel the void on my shelf that marks where season 9 of Roseanne would be, were it not awful. And I've thought about buying it- simply to 'complete the collection' and so in case of nuclear fallout I might have 'em all- for whatever reason. But what of season 7 of The Office? I think it might just make me sad to have it, knowing it was so weak, and never wanting to watch it.

I am far too wrapped up in fiction and I know this. Yet, don't we feel a loss when a show we love ends? When we can't peak in at the lives of those characters anymore? There is also a difference between a show abruptly ending (Arrested Development, for example) and watching a show slowly fade into lameness. One feels like a car accident, swift- and you can always say "They had such a good life! Right up to the end!" The other feels like watching someone die from a long disease. They wither away, and you are there to hold their hand and watch the light leave their eyes. In the end you are simply glad they no longer have to suffer. (I warned you above this would get weird).

Maybe The Office will rally, beat the cancer and live life to the fullest! Maybe they will shed some cruddy current story lines (Dwight and Angela's sex contract- never funny; Andy and Erin's romance- a sad grasp for Jim and Pam's glory days) and come back with something fresh and new! Let's hope so!! (Or maybe a grizzly will attack the place and Dwight will be the only one left standing? That's okay too).

Steve Carell and Alec Baldwin Are Trying to Ruin My Life

'Sources' confirm that Steve Carell is indeed leaving 'The Office" at the end of the upcoming seventh season, and sources sadly confirm that 'The Office" will not be concluding its run when the STAR of the show awkwardly (I'm guessing) moves from Scranton to work for Kathy Bates full time in Georgia (or something).

This is BAD. I know you know why, I won't even go on- let me just point to 'The X-Files" Mulder-less seasons (and I LOVE Gillian Anderson, she was my favorite always, but still- how do you pick up the pieces when one of the stars, or in Dunder Mifflin's case THE star of the show leaves?) They should really end the show. And I love the show and never want it to end. But more than that I want it to not get BAD. (See also case file #689 "Roseanne's 9th Season Worse than Vietnam War")

And now Alec Baldwin is saying (again) how much he wants to leave (!!!!) "30 Rock"!! He's said it before, but now he points to the end of his contract in 2012 (after season 5 and hypothetical season 6). C'mon NBC execs! Work some magic and get him to give one more year! That would be 7 seasons of Liz and Jack antics- and I believe Tina Fey is smarter than whoever's minding the store at "The Office" and would know when to call it a day, before the show lost one of its MVP's (sports analogy). It's no shame to end a show after 7 years, before the beloved characters get a chance to move away or simply become cartoon-ish parodies of themselves. Evidence:

Shows with seven great seasons:

"The Golden Girls"

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer"

"The Mary Tyler Moore Show"

Happy Birthday Dwight!

It's the birthday of one of our favorite TV Stars- Rainn Wilson aka Dwight Schrute!!

Rainn Wilson also belongs to a really nice sounding religion, according to this Oprah podcast I listened to once- sounds like fun!!

Happy Birthday DWIGHT! (He's 44) Let's hope this year you can get knock Jim Halpert down a few rungs!! Wait- am I confusing reality with fictionality too much? 

Awwwwww

How can you not love them!?!?!? I cry at all their moments and assume I will at the wedding too! But we all know what assuming does to U and Me! (They will marry October 8th in an hour long episode).

Dwight, Oprah, Oprah, Dwight

Click HERE to hear/see the most exciting meeting of the day!! That's right Rainn Wilson aka Dwight Schrute did a sit-down with the Big O herself- Miz Winfrey!!  They talked all about Dwight's new website called Soul Pancake (really!). 

No word on how many Schrute-Bucks it costs to join the site!  Also- through the first link you can download their conversation in podcast form- just like Cliff and Kendall: Coast to Coast!