Tag Archives: Mafia

2009/11/05 · 4:09 pm

If You Prick Michael Scott, Does He Not Bleed?

“What is so wrong about me?  I’m caring, I’m generous, I’m sensual. Is it really so horrible that I could possibly go out and find happiness?” – Michael Scott

We’re back from vacation here at Jumped The Snark and before we march on to more relevant subjects (and tonight’s new The Office), we wanted to take a moment and comment on the last two weeks’ of Office entries, most notably in regards to our recent list of the Five Least Awesome Office Episodes.

Prick in a Box! After compiling the lists of the “worst” Office episodes we discovered that the quality of the show most often hinges on which Michael Scott we receive, the childish, clueless but ultimately well-meaning and redeemable Michael Scott or the obnoxious, selfish, boorish borderline psychotic Michael Scott.  In the worst episodes we find ourselves with the latter, a vile, unseemly and ultimately unbelievable character.  In the best episodes we might not always find the former, but he is frequently present in the show’s best, most emotional moments, when he demonstrates his humanity and vulnerability, such as the truly uncomfortably honest beat at the end of season 4’s “The Deposition,” (You expect to get screwed by your company.  But never expect to get screwed by your girlfriend.”) or at the close of this season’s “The Meeting” when Michael brings Jim his very own “World’s Best Boss” mug.

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Filed under Dunder Mifflin, this is Pam, Good Humor, Must See TV

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2009/10/22 · 11:07 pm

The Five Least Awesome Episodes of ‘The Office’

In honor of last week’s rare Office misstep, “Mafia,” and in preparation of tonight’s new episode (which will hopefully wash out the bad taste from last week) we’ve decided to compile the Five Least Awesome The Office episodes, because really, it doesn’t sound right to say the “Five Worst,” as even their five poorest efforts are better than almost anything on TV (looking in your direction, ‘Til Death).  We’ve also gone ahead and disregarded the six episode first season, because during this very brief mid-Spring run they were still trying to find their rhythm, and were basically staging The Office UK re-enactments every week.  For our purposes, the show really started with season 2’s premiere, “The Dundies,” (and indeed when I tell people to watch the show I encourage them to begin at this point and then go back to season 1 once they’re hooked).  So, in descending order, let’s get to it!

Continue to the worst of the cream of the crop…

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Filed under Count Bleh, Dunder Mifflin, this is Pam, Lists

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2009/10/16 · 12:39 pm

The ‘Office’ Has Not Jumped The Shark

Office LunchAfter feeling like I was in the minority with my mild disappointment with last week’s wedding episode, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that I was not alone in my distaste for last night’s The Office, “Mafia.”  I watched it in a new place, with a large dinner still digesting, the mood already soured by another messy, frustrating episode of Glee (a story for another day), so I gave this latest Office entry the benefit of the doubt, even though I found it much too silly and the premise (Michael, Dwight and Andy believe that a local insurance salesman is “connected”) too far fetched, even for this show.  Something seemed off, and I sensed there were far too many stretches without laughs, and even the ones that occurred often felt forced.  So I was actually rather comforted when I flipped on the ol’ Internet and found near unanimous negative reaction for this episode.  However, my appreciation was short lived, as it seems that after one episode, the blogosphere is hitting the panic button, fearing The Office is past its prime, and maybe should be put down like an injured thoroughbred.  Indeed, Cinemablend titled their recap, “NBC’s The Office Isn’t The Show It Used To Be.”

Relax.

Seriously. Relax.

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Filed under Analysis, Dunder Mifflin, this is Pam, Growing Pains, Must See TV, Saved by the Bell

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