Re: The Office -- "The Seminar" -- 1/27/11
 

Kevin's line about himself being future Jim if he'd never met Pam was hilarious.

The cold open was great.

Overall an OK episode.

Re: The Office -- "The Seminar" -- 1/27/11
 

after years of anticipation the Ricky Gervais cameo just was ok, nothing special

The rest of the episode was blah

Re: The Office -- "The Seminar" -- 1/27/11
 

Except it was a lot funnier when it was originally done on I'm Alan Partridge, which is why that moment got the only laugh from me during the whole episode. Not a good sign when the only laugh a show can muster is by making you think of an older, funnier show.

Now this is comedy:

Re: The Office -- "The Seminar" -- 1/27/11
 

I think we all remember back to 2002 when Steve Coogan SHOCKED the comedy world by coming up with the completely original idea of someone getting sick while speaking in front of an audience.

Re: The Office -- "The Seminar" -- 1/27/11
 

:lol:

Re: The Office -- "The Seminar" -- 1/27/11
 

The remark was made that it's "about as The Office as you can get". Clearly you agree with my sentiment, by implying that it's even less original than I stated. :D

Re: The Office -- "The Seminar" -- 1/27/11
 

Pretty much every joke in a modern comedy is borrowing from something already done, what makes it funny is how well it's executed

Re: The Office -- "The Seminar" -- 1/27/11
 

No. The effectiveness of a time-tested comedy trope is all about the context and execution.

That Kevin brought himself to that state in a completely misguided effort to rise to the occasion is funny. That Kevin is in such poor physical shape that a few runs around a small conference room would bring him to the edge of collapse is funny. That Kevin would end up on the floor, vomiting into a garbage can, at the exact moment that he exhorts the audience to "picture a winner" is funny.

And the whole scene lasts just two minutes, not the interminable three minutes of that Alan Partridge bit you posted.

Re: The Office -- "The Seminar" -- 1/27/11
 

Actually, I think it's more confusing for people who have seen the UK office. WTF is David Brent doing in Scranton?

Re: The Office -- "The Seminar" -- 1/27/11
 

Yeah, I was pretty confused about the circumstances of them meeting. Where were they even? I couldn't tell.

Re: The Office -- "The Seminar" -- 1/27/11
 

As a fan of the UK Office I thought the opening cameo was kind of a let down after all of the hype.

Re: The Office -- "The Seminar" -- 1/27/11
 

The opening would have been better if they'd kept it a secret.

Re: The Office -- "The Seminar" -- 1/27/11
 

Yes, exactly. Because I would have geeked out and ran to the computer to see what everyone was saying about it, giddy as a school girl. As it was I said, "meh" and moved on. You can see how long it took me to post is it was.