Maybe I was just in a mood because ABC canceled Pushing Daisies, but both 30 Rock and The Office were lackluster tonight. Actually, no. Even without ABC's huge mistake, they were laaaaaaame. There, I said it.
Basically, Michael is shocked, SHOCKED to find out that Toby is back in the office even though he's been there for a week. David Wallace calls Mike back after his urgent text---911 CALL ME--which is always effective. They can't fire Toby, unless he physically hurts or sexually harasses someone. Dwight's been taking lessons from The Shield and they decide to frame Toby. Sure, it's illegal, but it's also Toby. Worth it! An unwilling Pam and a disturbingly willing Dwight don't help out much in the sexual harassment department and Michael can't convince Toby to hit him. Mike scores some weed from the Vance Refrigeration guy, which actually makes sense because they're the ones that left the joint in the parking lot in "Drug Testing." Leaving a baggie filled with Caprese Salad in someone's desk is not a crime, so Michael gets off the hook.
B-story! Someone left a mess in the microwave and Pam is not going to be the one to clean it up. Really, Pam? A passive-aggressive note? I once had a roommate leave a note for our apartment that insisted that we would not be able to find husbands if we didn't learn to clean up after ourselves AND she meant every word. Yeah, I don't miss that. There's no resolution to the storyline, although the first deleted scene does elaborate on the sitch.
Elsewhere in the office...
-Creed really shouldn't be around cops. Ever.
-Jim did end up buying his parents' house for him and Pam. It's terribly romantic, leading to a perfect moment of "I love the house, Jim." Aw, huggy hugs!
-More importantly, we got a great glimpse of Jim's arms when he was trying to remove the creepy-a clown painting.
-Ryan is going to Thailand with some high school students. I'm gonna miss that guy, even if he'd just make the microwave mess worse.
-The Vance Refrigeration boys are played by Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky, two of the show's best writers.
-Dwight's ideal crime is eerily similar to his perfect date. This is my favorite deleted scene of all the deleted scenes.
There were some very funny parts, but as a whole, the episode didn't mesh for me. The plot lines had potential, but simply were not carried out especially well. The episode was written by Mindy Kaling, my future bff, but her past few episodes haven't been up to snuff. She wrote some of the best Season Two eps, like "The Dundies," "The Injury," and "Take Your Daughter To Work Day," but then she wrote "Benjamin Franklin" and "Frame Toby." She is incredibly talented and I just hope that she remembers to pack her a-game next time around, because she keeps forgetting it at home. Oh snap!
I think the biggest part of why I didn't like this one is because I feel the same way about Toby that Michael does. Seriously, why is he the way that he is? I hate so much about what he chooses to be. Perv ball. Convicted rapist. That guy needs to stick a letter opener in his skull. Also, I feel like the Michael-Toby storyline has been worn thin. Couldn't he get another job elsewhere? Why would he choose to come back to Dunder Mifflin Scranton? I realize Holly barely just left, but I think we need a new character.
Please tell me I'm not alone in my assessment. Or was there some redeeming factor I didn't catch?
Friday, November 21, 2008
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11 comments:
I did enjoy the episode, but I agree it didn't seem like it meshed too well. I was upset that there was no resolution to the microwave incident.
As far as the Michael-Toby storyline...I'm kind-of on the other side of the fence. I kinda like Toby's character, but I do think it's time for him to go. I just want him to "get his" before he leaves 'cause Michael is so mean to him all the time. Which is funny, just overplayed.
I am so glad Ryan is leaving for awhile..I hate his character. But I did love his response to Kelly's "But I broke up with Darryl for you!". "Hey you can't put that on me. But let's have sex one more time and if you have any extra money that would be great too."
Aw, really? My roommates and I definitely enjoyed it more than some of the earlier shows this season. We thought it definitely went back to the awesome season 2 days. If it hadn't been for Holly, I think the first few episodes of the season would have been awful. I think the show is finally getting its old shine back.
Then again, I don't really watch Pushing Daisies (please remain my blog friend!) so its cancellation has not tinged my view on television...
I agree on a lot of your points here. I didn't think it meshed well at all. too many things going on. The bit with Creed was funny and I did like the cold open with Michael's reaction, a lot. The Caprese salad bit was awful and just a letdown for that storyline. Jim's house was....definitely not what I expected. I was hoping it was a little bit nicer. Why would he buy that? But I love that Pam loved it and how relieved he was. Her reaction was perfect.
30 Rock was lackluster too. I don't get why that is so hit/miss?
oh my... I loved 30 Rock so much I'm watching it again... I got scared because of all the guest stars, but they are on a roll. Basically I am Liz Lemon.
"I just wish I could start a relationship about 12 years in where you don’t really have to try anymore and you can just sit around together and goof on TV shows and go to bed without anybody trying any funny business."
Hahaha... and the Office is sadly no longer appointment TV...it's more drama than comedy... but I thought it was pretty funny this week.
The Pushing Daisies news was a total bummer, although they said they would continue it as a comic book which is cool!
This past season of The Office has been horrible. Maybe it's because some of the writers are working on the non-office spinoff with Amy Poehler, but this season sucks. I love Pam and Jim, but we are seeing way too much of their relationship outside of the office. It just doesn't make sense. Even though it was sweet of Jim to buy the house (I don't agree with people on Officetally saying that Pam is letting Jim call all the shots), we the audience shouldn't have seen that. It's like the writers are totally ignoring all the rules of it being a documentary, because they want to see something different.
30 was kind of blah. I was really tired last night and fell asleep when there was only about 5 minutes left. From the sound of your post though, I don't think I missed anything.
PS-I have been obsessed with Passive Aggressive Notes for the past few weeks! When I saw what Pam did last night I totally thought of that website. My other new fave is Cake Wrecks.
http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/
I agree with your assessment of the episode, as per usual. I think it was really hit-or-miss. The way they played out Michael trying to frame Toby with drugs, and the cops came in. It was just too much, I thought.
As for some of the other points...I will organize my thoughts in this simple, yet very elegant, dashed list.
- Ryan pisses me off. He's a douche, and I'm glad he'll be gone.
- I super miss the bit characters in this show. Kevin, Creed, Phyllis...they're all great. But you know who I really miss? Stanley. Think about it; How many times this season have you actually seen him? I count 2, and they are both very brief. Sad.
- The style of this season does kind of bother me. Pretty much the whole season has revolved around relationships. Jim/Pam, Micheal/Holly, Kelly/Darryl/Ryan, Angela/Andy. If you aren't involved in one, you're pretty much not in the show now. Sad. Especially since I've been watching (read: am currently watching)season 2 (email surveillance). SO choice!
- I like Toby, but we're done with him. You know? It's too much now.
I look forward to next week when I can lament and analyze with you again.
There's a woman in my office, and I feel about her the way that Michael feels about Toby. When she arrives to the office, it's hard for me not to scream "NOOOOOOOO!" That's the only reason I find that storyline kind of funny. Because my rational brain is confused as to why he hates him so irrationally, and then I remember I feel that way about my coworker, somewhat irrationally.
This episode was ... well ... uh ... not bad.
You don't like "Benjamin Franklin"? That's one of my favorite episodes of season 3. And Gordon is probably my favorite one-episode guest character.
I kind of wish Pam HAD delivered the sexual harassment note to Toby, just so we could see if he's in a different place re Pam now that he's back.
I was waiting for Pam to have a talking head saying "I hate it" after she said she loved it. Which would have been sad, but funnier.
30 Rock vs. The Office: I'll rewatch 30 Rock, I probably won't rewatch this.
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