The Office -- "Lecture Circuit Part 2" -- 2/12/09

[Cardiff Giant]

With Michael breaking down during the presentation was the first truly "super awkward" moment that the US version has had. Much like numerous moments as I watched the British version with David Brent being insanely awkward, I actually had to cover my eyes and look away at how awkward Michael was. That's always the sign of a good episode.

[Grock]

Originally Posted by Jimmy James

I can relate to being a married father more than I can relate to being a single dad who is thrust into the role of running a troubled company when my father is jailed on tax evasion charges, but that doesn't make According to Jim better than Arrested Development.

Hmmmmm.......which show was cancelled first? Which show was much more successful if you go by viewers? I think Accroding to Jim was for the reasons I mentioned before. I didn't like either show. Ron Howard's voice is annoying. I heard they are making a lame movie version of it for the obsessed fans though. I bet it tanks. Time to move on gang. Hey I liked the show HUFF but it was cancelled and I moved on.


.........G

[Grock]

Originally Posted by Cardiff Giant

With Michael breaking down during the presentation was the first truly "super awkward" moment that the US version has had. Much like numerous moments as I watched the British version with David Brent being insanely awkward, I actually had to cover my eyes and look away at how awkward Michael was. That's always the sign of a good episode.

Why would you have to look away from a TV show? They are just actors reading a script. It's not like it is a real life situation and you are embarrassed for an actual person. These people are comic actors. The only time I look away from a TV show is when people are eating bugs and gross things.......not because I care about those people eating the bugs but because it makes me sick to my stomach.

Anyway as far as The Office goes...............like all shows it has gotten weaker as it has gone on. Every great show has done the same thing................Seinfeld, All in the Family, MASH,Cheers, Fraiser, The Sopranos.......etc.
But I am still going to watch it every week of course.



............G

[Jimmy James]

Originally Posted by Grock

Hmmmmm.......which show was cancelled first? Which show was much more successful if you go by viewers? I think Accroding to Jim was for the reasons I mentioned before. I didn't like either show. Ron Howard's voice is annoying. I heard they are making a lame movie version of it for the obsessed fans though. I bet it tanks. Time to move on gang. Hey I liked the show HUFF but it was cancelled and I moved on.


.........G

1) You just abandoned your premise
2) Swap in "Daddio" for "According to Jim" and even this argument loses

[Cardiff Giant]

Originally Posted by Grock

Why would you have to look away from a TV show? They are just actors reading a script. It's not like it is a real life situation and you are embarrassed for an actual person. These people are comic actors. The only time I look away from a TV show is when people are eating bugs and gross things.......not because I care about those people eating the bugs but because it makes me sick to my stomach.

Anyway as far as The Office goes...............like all shows it has gotten weaker as it has gone on. Every great show has done the same thing................Seinfeld, All in the Family, MASH,Cheers, Fraiser, The Sopranos.......etc.
But I am still going to watch it every week of course.



............G

that's kind of the whole point, he's being so awkward that even on a TV show i look away instinctively because it's so uncomfortable. For a TV show to be able to do that is a sign of good writing and acting. The British version had tons of those moments so far only a few for me with the US version but last night defintiely was one.

[Draven]

Originally Posted by Grock

Why would you have to look away from a TV show? They are just actors reading a script.

............G

Why do you sign your posts even though your name is to the left of every one? We all do things that don't make sense.

[Grock]

Originally Posted by Draven

Why do you sign your posts even though your name is to the left of every one? We all do things that don't make sense.

So do you sign your e-mails even though people can see your e-mail address when you send one? Most people leave signatures when posting on message boards. I think you need a hobby dork.


...........G

[Grock]

Originally Posted by Jimmy James

1) You just abandoned your premise
2) Swap in "Daddio" for "According to Jim" and even this argument loses

Look Jimmy.............if you make a list of the most successful shows in TV history the vast majority are in a setting that the "Average Joe" can relate to. Cheers, Seinfeld, All in the Family, Happy Days, Leave it To Beaver, The Honeymooners, The Office, Friends, ER, Everybody Loves Raymond,CSI, Law & Order, King Of Queens, Home Improvement.......etc. I don't even know what Daddio is??????? Anyway it is just my opinion.............and you have yours. I just think 30 Rock and Arrested Development are too "out there" for most people. Arrested Development would probably do better on HBO or Showtime. And I think 30 Rock is just very limited in the script department. There's Tina Fey the aging spinster with relationship problems, there's the goober hillbilly page dude , there's Tracy Morgan the clueless star..........the other washed-up blonde bimbo..........I mean it's the same jokes over and over. I watched it a few times and the humor is too dumbed down for me. How many times can you hear Tina Fey say " I want to go to there" ????? It wasn't funny the first time. She wasn't that funny on SNL either. She is an okay writer in my opinon but she can't act.


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[DarkestPhoenix]

Originally Posted by Grock

Lost and Heros both suck. lol They just keep them going as long as they can sell advertising. Very soap opera type acting. LAME!

Uhm...I would pretty much agree with you except for the glaringly obvious fact that Lost has ALWAYS settled on a specific run, with a known end-date. Seems counter-intuitive of being motivated solely for advertising sales.

[DarkestPhoenix]

Also, I have to disagree with your 'all shows' theory...especially regarding Seinfeld. That first season was pretty piss poor. The later years was when it really picked up...probably close to S4.

[Grock]

Originally Posted by DarkestPhoenix

Uhm...I would pretty much agree with you except for the glaringly obvious fact that Lost has ALWAYS settled on a specific run, with a known end-date. Seems counter-intuitive of being motivated solely for advertising sales.

If the ratings tanked it would be over by now. They got off the island and now they are back on the island. Then they moved the island.........now they are time traveling. I mean it seems like they are just making shit up to keep it going on forever. Even when you watch it On Demand there are way more commercials than with other shows. It's like the Ghost Whisperer and Medium and all the other crap that I don't watch. I have only watched Lost now and then since everyone I know talks about it. To be honest I didn't even see the first few seasons............I watched the 5 minute recaps on cable to catch up to last year. It looks like the set of Fantasy Island from when I was a kid. The show is pointless. And HEROS is unwatchable.........unless you're a teenager I guess.



..........G

[crankyman]

that's quite an investment you've made.

[Grock]

Originally Posted by DarkestPhoenix

Also, I have to disagree with your 'all shows' theory...especially regarding Seinfeld. That first season was pretty piss poor. The later years was when it really picked up...probably close to S4.

True some good shows start off slow but we were on the topic of when shows "Jump The Shark"...............which is a reference of when The Fonz jumped a shark on water skis when Happy Days was at a loss for scripts. I think one of the only shows that got out with good writing until the end was the HBO series Six Feet Under. Even The Sopranos went on way past the good scripts. Again just my opinon.



..........G

[cdollaz]

Stop being an asshole.

[Grock]

Originally Posted by cdollaz

Stop being an asshole.

LOL! Attack of the "Shut-in"! Someone needs to wheel your ass outside.
Now play nice nerd.




.............G

[Jimmy James]

Originally Posted by DarkestPhoenix

Also, I have to disagree with your 'all shows' theory...especially regarding Seinfeld. That first season was pretty piss poor. The later years was when it really picked up...probably close to S4.

I think it's about midway season 3 when the show became consistently entertaining. Season 4 was the first season that was sheer genius.

[JTH182]

Originally Posted by Grock

Hmmmmm.......which show was cancelled first? Which show was much more successful if you go by viewers? I think Accroding to Jim was for the reasons I mentioned before. I didn't like either show. Ron Howard's voice is annoying. I heard they are making a lame movie version of it for the obsessed fans though. I bet it tanks. Time to move on gang. Hey I liked the show HUFF but it was cancelled and I moved on.


.........G

[Grock]

Originally Posted by Jimmy James

I think it's about midway season 3 when the show became consistently entertaining. Season 4 was the first season that was sheer genius.

Yeah I agree that Seinfeld was a great show...........and it started slow the first couple of years and then the writing got better. But that last year or so was pretty rough compared to when it was great. They might have hung on a year too long. You could tell they missed Larry David's writing after he left the show. But even he beat the George Steinbrenner thing to death.
Even Larry David's HBO show " Curb Your Enthusiasm" has gone on too long. The past season and the upcoming one were not supposed to happen but I guess the money was too good to pass up. Larry David knew that the writing had run its course and it shows. The whole story line with the black family living with them was absurd...........that was definitely jumping the shark.



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[Grock]

Originally Posted by JTH182

LOL! I'll play nice.

[Deftones]

after the great episode last week, this one really fell flat. not nearly as funny as last week.

[cornflakeguy]

I like The Office and 30 Rock. Even though they are both 'sitcoms', they are totally different, and that is the appeal.

That said, I would cancel The Office in a heartbeat if it meant KNOWING I would get 3 more seasons of 30 Rock.

[Michael Corvin]

Originally Posted by Grock

If the ratings tanked it would be over by now. They got off the island and now they are back on the island. Then they moved the island.........now they are time traveling. I mean it seems like they are just making shit up to keep it going on forever. Even when you watch it On Demand there are way more commercials than with other shows. It's like the Ghost Whisperer and Medium and all the other crap that I don't watch. I have only watched Lost now and then since everyone I know talks about it. To be honest I didn't even see the first few seasons............I watched the 5 minute recaps on cable to catch up to last year. It looks like the set of Fantasy Island from when I was a kid. The show is pointless. And HEROS is unwatchable.........unless you're a teenager I guess.

You're too much. I couldn't imagine anyone enjoying the show that only watched the recaps for the first three seasons. It definitely explains why your opinion is of the show is so warped. Until you've actually watched the show, quit pissing on it. That one sentence has pretty much nullified every other post you have made. The fact that you pass such judgment on a show you haven't seen speaks volumes about your 'opinions.'

Originally Posted by ............................G

And HEROS is unwatchable.........unless you're a teenager I guess.

If you don't enjoy Lost or Heroes don't watch. More importantly quit insulting those that do.

[cultshock]

Originally Posted by Grock

Why would you have to look away from a TV show? They are just actors reading a script. It's not like it is a real life situation and you are embarrassed for an actual person.

But the acting and writing is so well done that you often forget you are just watching a made up TV show. That's what makes an entertaining movie or TV show for me, one where I can forget what I am watching isn't really happening and I get caught up in the story. The Office has had many cringeworthy scenes that made me want to turn away (I thought I was the only one who did that though ). There haven't been as many such moments as there used to be, but Michael's "lecture" was definitely such a moment for me.

[That'sAllFolks]

Originally Posted by Grock

Anyway as far as The Office goes...............like all shows it has gotten weaker as it has gone on. Every great show has done the same thing................Seinfeld, All in the Family, MASH,Cheers, Fraiser, The Sopranos.......etc.
But I am still going to watch it every week of course.



............G

I actually disagree with this. Most great shows hit their peak in the the third or fourth season. By that time the writers and actors have defined their characters and tailored the scripts to their strengths. Seinfeld and MASH (though many would disagree with this) got better as time went on. I laugh as much at season 9 of Seinfeld as Season 3 or 4 --- even though the scripts are much more clever in S3 or S4. Star Trek TNG is also a very good example of this (though not a comedy).

Shows that start out really strong usually lose their steam for some reason even though they have solid beginning. The Office is not as funny as it was, but is still the funniest thing on TV (though IMO, I laugh just as much at Psych, though not as hard).

Though you do have a point with Cheers. It started out great and got worse as it got more popular. I haven't watched enough All in the Family to make a determination, but aside from MASH and Seinfeld, I think Frasier was the most consistently funny sitcom ever. I think because they never take the low road in their humor.

Originally Posted by cornflakeguy

I like The Office and 30 Rock. Even though they are both 'sitcoms', they are totally different, and that is the appeal.

That said, I would cancel The Office in a heartbeat if it meant KNOWING I would get 3 more seasons of 30 Rock.

I watch 30 Rock consistently b/c it gets such high acclaim, but I just don't laugh. I like Alec Baldwin's character and think Jenna is hot, but just don't think the jokes are really funny. I get them, I just don't think they are funny. It feels like a chick show to me, for some reason.

[chuckd21]

Grock is making me hesitant to be human and have opinions of my own...