The Office - season 6 - Page 5

I have kinda been losing interest in this show. Same ol' thing every week. It is getting old.

Glad I'm not the only one who caught it. Now, to be fair, I didn't notice the green fringing (although I don't even notice it in King Kong), but indeed the lighting looked off. But they're working on a budget, so it's understandable.

"Happy Hour" was a pretty decent episode.  Michael was out of control, and seemed more like a goofy drunk than Michael Scott...but I guess there isn't that big a variable between the two. 

Andy, and Erin were pretty funny as usual.
Can't wait until this is released on Blu-Ray.  I want to see all the extra scenes.

I think "Happy Hour" was one of the funniest episodes of the season. Michael was at his cringe-worthy best and overall there were a lot of laugh out loud moments. Great episode.  

Loved watching Oscar shooting hoops near the end and seeing him dodging the balls as they bounced back at him.  Hilarious!

Count me among those who think the show, while still worth watching, is now just too ridiculous for its own good. I've always appreciated that the show aimed for scattershot silliness, rather than the more subtle, poignant feel of the UK original (which they'd never have equalled), but nonetheless, those first three seasons did punctuate the lunacy with some genuinely heartfelt moments.

Now, though, the show is so over-the-top that there's absolutely no chance of the rare "emotional" or even just "realistic" notes hitting home.

At some point, you just have to make peace with what it is now. People have been saying it's worn out its welcome since Season 4, and yet everyone's still watching. It's not a completely-unprecedented exceptional sitcom now, but it never really was, and like Cheers, it's sliding into middle age with a decent amount of grace.


There's something to be said for the Arrested Developments out there. Like Heath Ledger, they get to be remembered as beautiful forever.

Kinda agree with you, Josh. I still watch the show every week, but now it's more out of loyalty than pure enjoyment. There are a few really good episodes every season, but it's a far cry from the first 3 seasons where every episode was pretty much brilliant.

True enough, Brent -- I don't disagree at all that, laugh-for-laugh, it's still a cut above the vast majority of other shows out there. The Gervais original made perhaps the most graceful, satisfactory exit ever in successful-sitcom history...it's unrealistic to expect similar bow-outs for other series, especially ones as popular as this.

Also, I'm not demanding strict realism, but the writers can't at least try to build an explanation around Jim staying on at the company (or at least him saying something like, "The worst thing is that there's nothing better")?

Of course, if the show were completely realistic, people would be wondering why a film crew was hanging around an office filming a documentary for 5 years. Actually, I kinda wish that --- in the end -- it turns out that Michael was paying the film crew all along (which is grossly unrealistic), but something that winks at the absurdity of the extended documentary.

I always assumed that it would turn out that Michael had been misappropriating company funds as a vanity/documentary project. Maybe some film school considers the "office job" to be a class offered every semester.

I really liked this last episode, though. It's been really interesting to watch them amp-up Andy. But the best part by far was the Sabre guy. What really pushed it over was him selling out, and doing a Cookie Monster joke to win everyone back at the end. And I liked Angela finally getting to do something again.

Also, Dwight's:

I have only become a fan of THE OFFICE over the past 
6 months.  Went on a crash course of Tivo and watching
every single rerun that was broadcast on TBS and FOX.

I can say without a doubt that the new episodes are not
as funny as the reruns.   Something happened since the
start of the Michael Scott Paper Company.  The show
went off in different directions in an attempt to stay fresh.
Then, it kind of "nuked the refrigerator" when it went into
the Jim and Pam baby episodes.  Nothing kills a comedy
show more than going down the maternity road.

I still love the show, but don't laugh nearly as much as
I did during the first few seasons.

i totally agree about the 4th season being the last good season.  same for Friends...  Seinfeld had a pretty good 5th, but it was definitely wacky by then.

Seinfeld was superb all the way through season 7. It was only seasons 8 and 9 that were sub-par and that's because Larry David had left the show.

There were writing changes with the Office around season 4 (i think) as well.

In any case, news is coming out that Carell might leave after next season. I love the show, but I think it would be good to wrap it up next year.

If Carell goes they HAVE to end the show. It would be horrible to try and keep on going without him as a part of it.

Unless they bring in David Brent, a former paper company manager from the UK...

Quote:
But could he sell printers? :)

ie. Positioning for a major salary bump to resign with the show.

Yeah, that's my guess too. I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure that The Office is their highest scripted rated show so NBC is going to want to keep it on especially since they have so few hits. Also, Tina Fey has been saying forever that she's done with 30 Rock after 5 years so that would mean that NBC would be losing their two most recognized shows after next year so I think they'll spend millions on keeping Steve Carell around or they'll continue on without him.

Actually, Fey is quoted as saying she'll keep going with 30 Rock "as long as she can."

http://www.fancast.com/blogs/2010/the-movies/tina-fey-on-date-night-stripper-dancing-and-the-end-of-30-rock/

Gervais would never do that....and bringing in anyone else to play his role would be blasphemy.

"Actually, Fey is quoted as saying she'll keep going with 30 Rock 'as long as she can.'"

Hmm, I know I've seen her say multiple times that she was doing 5 years in order to hit the 5 year/100 episode syndication mark and then she was done because all the work that she has to do on the show is such a drain. That being said, I'll certainly be happy if she changes her mind and 30 Rock keeps going.

Maybe Carell is doing it for bargaining, but he clearly wants to continue doing movies and is bigger than the show so I could see him wanting to move on.

I actually wouldn't mind seeing Dwight somehow land in Michael's position should Carell leave the show. It could happen. Dwight is not too dissimilar from Michael and Dwight is still the best salesman in the office (the one thing Michael excels at as well)

That may be true, but it still doesn't hurt when you're the star of a hit TV show to start saying you're thinking of leaving when the end of your current contract is coming up and seeing how much more they're willing to offer you.

As for being bigger than the show, not necessarily. He's had a few hits where he was the star of the movie. But I don't know if I would consider him in the same league yet as guys like Ferrell, Vince Vaughn etc.

Tonight's episode was the best one in a while, I thought. All of the situations involved real office situations for the first time in a long time.

Agreed - several laugh out loud moments.  Loved the "Sex" splash Michael added at the end of his Powerpoint presentation.

Michael licking the mint off her hand was just so painful to watch (in a good way).

Kevin screaming at Oscar over the M&Ms had me convulsing. That's easily the most animated I've ever seen Kevin.



I've enjoyed watching The Office over the years (heck, I still enjoy it, for the most part), but it's really obvious that they're running out of steam, and running out of ideas. It's being regularly overshadowed by its Thursday night compatriots (particularly Community, IMO). Without Carell (whether you love or hate Michael), the creative team will have very little left to continue with.

I say it's time to put the show down gracefully...by which I mean, close the Scranton branch due to the recession. I'll be pissed off if The Office gets a happy, sitcom-y ending -- it's not that kind of show.

series finale, anyone?

hmmm...
http://www.inentertainment.co.uk/20100502/ricky-gervais-wanted-as-guest-star-for-%E2%80%98the-office%E2%80%99-us/

Don't tease us with Holly's (maybe) return if you don't mean it, show.

I REALLY hope next season is the last. They seem very tapped out. An underwhelming finale to a likewise season. Not really buying the, "We'll keep going, even without Carell!" claims NBC is making.

 

Ryan's "Woof" killed me, and the promise of a returning Holly got me pretty giddy, but yeah...overall, I was somewhat let down by this episode. I haven't been crazy about Season 6 overall anyways, and the finale sent it out with a whimper. Which I guess is kind of appropriate.

 

I do feel it was one more instance where a deep-shit situation could have changed everything, and the writers chose to restore the status quo instead. That is probably the single greatest frustration with this season. The show went through four major storylines that were either duds, or were dropped.

 

First, there was Jim's promotion, which went nowhere. Then there was Dwight's diabolical "plan," which was inexplicably dropped in favor of Dunder Mifflin's bankruptcy. That could have provided a wonderful breath of fresh air, but only lead into the so-far-dull Sabre storyline.

 

Even the ending with Andy and Erin last night seemed to be a useless reset for them. Why was her touching his leg so important? Why did he secretly smile? These two were going out a month prior, yet the show acts like they haven't gone out at all.

 

That said, a few good moments:

 

• The "Speak!" gag was predictable, but Bates' reaction was priceless.
• The audio Todd Packer cameo.
• "Woody Guthrie wrote a song about us! Hey Mr. Bernard, who have you silenced today?"

• And the David Wallace cameo was inspired. ("SUCK IT!")

Totally agree with you, Josh. The season finale confirmed what I've known for a while now which is that the show's really not a great comedy anymore and needs to end next season. There were a few really funny episodes this year, but the season as a whole was mostly a letdown. Unfortunately it seems like that has been been the case for the past 2 or 3 seasons. I think it's also very important to note that's right around the time Greg Daniels and Michael Schur began focusing all their efforts on Parks and Recreation which is INFINITELY funnier than The Office and is now my favorite comedy on TV. That show has the laugh out loud quality The Office had in its first few seasons.