I hadn’t seen the American version of The Office until a few weeks ago, when I heard an interview with Jon Krasinski on the morning radio show here. The host (Kidd Kraddick) was going on and on about the episode where Steve Carrell’s character burns his foot, so I decided to check it out. I grabbed a few episodes from iTunes and was hooked immediately. The wife and I ended up watching the whole second season over the last three weeks, ending with the finale last night. We were just blown away by the finale! Such a great great show.
A few things I love about it:
I love the documentary setup. If you think about all this as an actual documentary, the crew is really good at capturing the action. I love the moments when they end up ducking behind cars or filming at long distances to capture something the employees don’t necessarily want on camera.
The reaction shots are great, especially from Jim. I think my favorite was during the sexual harrassment episode when Phyllis asked if they were supposed to report all office romances to HR, even one-night-stands. Jim’s look to the camera when she said that was great.
The background employees in the office. I love them all so much it’s impossible to pick a favorite. Creed, who’s in charge of… something. Stanley, with his strong work ethic and penchant for the tangy zip of Miracle Whip. Meredith, who has resolved to stop drinking… during the week. And of course Toby, who works for corporate and therefore isn’t a part of Michael’s family. Also, he’s divorced so he’s not really a part of his family.
I can’t wait for next season. In the meantime, anyone want to share some favorite quotes?
Toby: “Go ahead, tell them what you wanted to say.”
Sasha (Toby’s adorable daughter): “Do you need any help?”
Angela: “No. We’d have to explain everything, and it’s just easier that we do it ourselves.”
Toby (Turning away with Sasha): “Ok, I wasn’t expecting that.”
Ryan: “Kelly and I agreed we’d just have fun, but her definition of fun is apparently getting married and having lots of babies right away… with me.”
Pam always let’s Michael get his first greeting out of his system before transferring people to him…
Pam: I have Jan on the line for you.
Michael: Jan Levinson I presume!
Pam: Still me. Ok, here’s Jan.
Michael: Hi Jan.
Michael: Dinkin Flicka.
Daryl: Dinkin Flicka.
Creed: I steal things all the time. I stopped caring a long time ago.
I’ll think up a few more later.
While we’re on the subject, how about some speculation? Dwight mentioned in an interview that he generally liked the people he works with, with four exceptions. I assume that includes Jim and Pam as there’s obvious friction between them. I’d also guess he’s referring to Ryan, as he’s jealous of the attention he gets from Michael. Who’s the fourth?
I have started watching it about a week ago too.
I am currently halfway through the second season, and although it doesn’t measure up to the original series, it is quite good.
It has a bit more of a sit-com feel to it then the original series had.
Also I think that Michael is a lot more friendly then the original Brent was.
Brent was a person everybody would hate, but would also feel for because he is such a sorry excuse for a person.
Michael is more somebody that is quite annoying, but basically means good.
It is not really a person you could hate.
Keep watching, anc try to avoid the spoilers. It gets really good toward the end of the season. And I think Michael is easy to hate mainly because he’s so inconsiderate. He doesn’t see it, but he tramples on everyone around him to get what he wants constantly. He does mean well though for the most part.
A few more:
Michael: “There’s nothing funny about AIDS. Believe me, I’ve tried.”
Michael: “Wow, did you learn that one the street. (Realizing what he just said) I’m sorry.”
Stanley: “No that’s OK. Actually, I did learn it on the street. On the ghetto.”
Michael: “So in the future if I want to say something clever, or funny, I will not do that.”
Jim: “Even ‘That’s what she said’?”
Michael: Yes.
Jim: “Wow, that is really hard.”
(Michael grimaces)
Jim: “You really think you can go all day?”
(Michael looks like he’s going to explode)
Jim: “Well, you always left me satisfied and smiling.”
Michael: “Mmmmm THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID!”
Jan: “Michael!”
Michael: “You’re just upset you didn’t think of it first.”
Michael: “Does it smell like updog in here?”
Kevin: “What’s that?”
Michael: “What’s what?”
Kevin: “That thing you just said.”
Michael: “Dammit!”
I have to admit I never thought it could be better than the original. It’s the episode called “The Injury” where Michael burns his foot on the George Foreman grill.
The scene with Jim spraying Dwight and Michael with the spray bottle in the car elevated it to equal/better than the original. Since then, I’ve considered them both classics.
I got a taste of “The Office” back in January (or December?) when “The Injury” first aired – I was visiting someone who has network TV, which my house does not – and was instantly in love. The part where Michael falls in the bathroom and wants Ryan to come and pick him up (and, uh, clean him up)? And Ryan’s face? Had me in tears.
Then I went home and had to suffer without the show (and “House” sniff). But then I recently rented the first season on DVD. And then watched every clip I could find related to the show on the NBC.com site and YouTube. And caught the last two episodes – THE FINALE! – at my neighbor’s house.
Holy cats, the finale!! I won’t tell you how many times I’ve watched the last 2 minutes…oh, lordy. I can’t wait for the summer’s “webisodes” to show up on NBC.com. I heard they should be up in June.
There’s another episode - I can’t remember which one but it’s recent - where Ryan overhears some inane but obviously sexual talk between Dwight and Angela and the documentary crew cuts to one of those ‘confessional’ bits of Ryan, just sitting there in shock. He doesn’t say a word, but he’s figured out what’s going on between them and is horrified by it. The look on his face is priceless.
I can’t pick one favorite episode, but there are lots of little scenes that are really funny. I loved the bit with Jim shooting Michael and Dwight with the water bottle, the recent bit with the security photos (Creed getting the head shot and automatically turing left as if for a police mug shot), Toby’s having to explain in patient terms why the Boys Scouts couldn’t be a Casino Night with drinking and gambling and half-naked waitresses, Pam’s giving Michael the ‘second chance’ with all his phone calls (“Still me…okay, here’s Jan”).
Too many to remember, but I always end up laughing out loud all the way through. I have to tape it and watch it again just to catch what I missed the first time.
I think it was the second-to-last episode this season…the one in which Toby reads through the list of complaints Dwight has filed about Jim…I haven’t laughed that hard in a long, long time.
