Guest Jules Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 I'm actually glad to see the show refuse to milk the old will-they-or-won't-they story thread. That gimmick has been worn to death. When two people that obviously ought to be together are artificially kept apart through endless contrivances, both the show and the characters just end up looking stupid. Besides, why can't an office sitcom include as part of its dynamic a committed couple? Might be refreshing to see a healthy, funny relationship, especially when they serve as foils for all the other lunatics.Meh. Well said Beltmann, but I guess they just annoy me with all the cutesy couple schtick. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 I can't think of any sitcoms built on how happy a couple is together. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Oil Can Boyd Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 I can't think of any sitcoms built on how happy a couple is together.I think the danger is that it becomes Mad About You. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 :shudder Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Jules Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 I think the danger is that it becomes Mad About You.exactly my point Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dmait Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 >I now believe this show jumped the shark with the whole Jim-Pam thing. I'm tending to agree. I'm sure it won't be long before they break up and a Rebecca character will be introduced to play off of their Sam and Diane. How bad was Cheers when everything was roses for Sam and Diane? It was best when they hated each other with underlying longing. That pending post-break-up vitriol would take the Office in a different direction than the former unrequited love and present relationship. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
austrya Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 Meh. Well said Beltmann, but I guess they just annoy me with all the cutesy couple schtick. Man, you'd hate to be around Jay and I then. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 Man, you'd hate to be around Jay and I then.Or any other happy couple. There's a reason they don't build sitcoms around them. And Cheers was still good when Sam & Diane were together, because they were so not a happy couple.Not saying The Office has jumped the shark because of Pam & Jim, but it is definitely a brave/odd thing the show is doing by focusing on their relationship. It has definitely led to some great moments already - with Pam & Jim being together, we wouldn't have had Toby touching her knee/jumping over the fence. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kimcatch22 Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 Before Jim and Pam got together I was really hoping she'd go on a date with Toby. Man that would have been awkward. Guess that won't be happening. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
austrya Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 But they can be happy, there's always Angela and Andy to balance that out. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beltmann Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 I think the danger is that it becomes Mad About You.But The Office isn't built solely around Jim & Pam; their relationship is just one facet of the overall office dynamic. Besides, what makes a coupling work or not work isn't so much the circumstances, it's the characters. In the case of Sam & Diane, the appeal of that coupling was the friction, a natural outcome of those specific personalities. In the case of Jim & Pam, the appeal has always been their easy-going friendship, a point of warmth and humor that has been consistent whether they were dating or not dating. In other words, these characters in this group dynamic don't ever have to resemble something like Mad About You. (Actually, I think the show was at its worst, its most contrived, when trying to show the awkwardness between them while Jim was dating Karen. It was funny, but I didn't believe it.) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
myboyblue Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 (Actually, I think the show was at its worst, its most contrived, when trying to show the awkwardness between them while Jim was dating Karen. It was funny, but I didn't believe it.) Completely agree... The Office is one of the few shows on television that is laugh out loud funny. The relationship between Jim and Pam, thankfully, is just a small aspect of the show. The contrived awkwardness in the first couple of seasons was my only "beef" with the show. I was hoping that they wouldn't drag it out forever. Oh, and Mad About You wasn't a horrible show, was it? I kind of remember liking it. The bar was a bit lower for network tv back then but still. Paul Reiser was pretty funny. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 Mad About you was/is its worst between commercials. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
aricandover Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 from the NBC upfronts:http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/05/12/the-upfronts-nbc/ Also: There will be a spinoff of The Office, which will air after the Super Bowl (along with an episode of The Office). no details, but this seems unnecessary, and will probably suck. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 We talked about that somewhere around here. I don't see how those characters could work without one another. I'd say Andy stold the show last week. People assume I'm great at golf, but like everybody I hated golf lessons when I was a kid so, I used to just hang out with the sailing club instead. Got my knot on. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
myboyblue Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 I'd say Andy stold the show last week. He is who I am hoping would have a spin-off. That would be worth watching. Ed Helms is brilliant. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 He is who I am hoping would have a spin-off. That would be worth watching. Ed Helms is brilliant. I'd say it would have to be him - if they make a show for Jim and Pam, I think The Office would sink. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
watch me fall Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 Andy biting the dust in that golf cart was classic. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
austrya Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 I was hoping something would happen with Angela staying behind at the office with Dwight. I'm still curious to see what will happen this week. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
aricandover Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 He is who I am hoping would have a spin-off. That would be worth watching. Ed Helms is brilliant. so is Rob Corddry, and his show, "the Winner", was horrible. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 I think NBC is just trying to capitilize on the success of The Office - which means they will run it into the ground somehow. That seems to be the thing to do these days - hence the 4 CSI shows. I can see this happening with My Name Is Earl also - it would be The Crabman Show - I would guess. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bobbob1313 Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 I think NBC is just trying to capitilize on the success of The Office - which means they will run it into the ground somehow. That seems to be the thing to do these days - hence the 4 CSI shows. I can see this happening with My Name Is Earl also - it would be The Crabman Show - I would guess. I hope not, though Crabman is great. I think the thing about both shows is they have such strong ensemble casts that they could probably lose a main character without hurting too much. By the way, this last weeks episode of Earl was one of my favorites of the entire series. So good. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 It was getting pretty weird - I thought last week was an improvment. There is also the so-called Seinfled curse to think about. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 Earl's quality dipped for a stretch there, but it seems to have righted itself. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 I thought that was funny when he said he missed a couple of weeks working on the list due to chickenpox - which actually happened to him in real life. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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