Yeah, I wasn't a big fan of "Parks and Recreations". Then again, Amy Poehler has never been funny so I wouldn't expect her to suddenly start.

Upright Citizen's Brigade

Speaking of...the new receptionist is from UCB as well, and has written for Conan O'Brien, The Onion and McSweeney's.

They really don't mess around even when casting the minor roles.

Parks and Recreation felt like the bare bones that a good show could hang on. The pilot was...bad. Really bad. But I saw the potential for a funny show in there somewhere.

Apparently. Kelly the receptionist is the girl is this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZItsbLzc73s (contains adult language and situations)

Michael mentioned having quotes from the suppliers in one of the episodes.

yeah, i just assumed the sheet they were quoting prices off of when they took their first order were from some wholesale supplier

I really loved these last two episodes. I love how Ryan even after hitting rock bottom, has learned NOTHING from the experience, and if anything, is an even bigger jerk than before.

And I love how Charles is slowly getting a personality, and can even turn a simple love of soccer, into yet another gut-wrenching moment for Jim.

Probably not a realistic idea since the season is so close to being over, but it would be an awesome season ender if Pam turned into a good salesman, and Charles ends up hiring Pam as a salesperson, making Jim happy to work with his fiancee again, only for Charles to then fire him.

"I'm aware of the effect that I have on women" instantly endeared me to Charles.

I'm anticipating a showdown between Jim and Charles - maybe even to the point where Jim quits to join the up-and-up Michael Scott Paper Company.

Sorry, had to correct the name. It's just so Michael Scott

"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." - Wayne Gretzky, - Michael Scott

Rob

"It's Britney bitch, I'm back."

The best part about this is that Michael pulled up in his car and said this with a Lady Gaga song blasting from the speakers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zm84NTSW0zg

not really Office related, but Rivers Cuomo with Rainn Wilson on BONGOS singing What if God Was One of Us.

It's even more awesome than it sounds.

Another excellent episode tonight. Having the "old" Jim back for one night was nice, since I was starting to feel bad for him getting his balls busted every week. The fact that the Michael Scott Paper Company is somewhat succeeding is great, and the cheese puff stuff had me rolling. Dwight was awesome, and Charles is actually starting to become kinda funny.

I have to say that there is no episode this season that I've outright hated, even some of the "bad" ones had enough stuff to make me laugh. Best season yet? I'd like to think so.

Another solid episode. "SPIN MOVE!" They've really got it back together now with Michael on his own.

Solid is a good way of putting it. I thought the first half was much funnier than the second half which was just kinda there. The "return" of Jim actually left me kinda cold, since in a certain respect, Jim tormenting a guy who is trying to be his friend is pretty much what Charles is doing to Jim.

Jim practicing soccer on the crumpled up sack was a nice touch.

Best season? Jury is still out with me, but so far I think this is the best story arc they've had that wasn't Jim-Pam in the early days.

I think the later stuff with Jim and Pam has kinda ruined my hindsight on the early stuff with them, unfortunately. The stuff at the beginning of this season with those two was just annoying and bad. I'll have to bust out the dvd's and give another look.

I would gladly watch Jenna Fischer catch cheese puffs with her tongue for at least two hours a day. In fact, I would subscribe if this were a pay service.

Parks was also shockingly hilarious...maybe I shouldn't give up on that yet.

I already do, VOD.

You know, I went ahead and watched the recorded Parks & Rec first, and I think it cut down on the "it's just the Office in Indiana" feel from the first episode, which I loved BTW. Is it only supposed to be like six episodes like the first season of The Office, because that would work best? Tom is the best character on that show besides Leslie.

Yeah, last night's episode of The Office was pretty great.

Michael vs. Dwight always brings the goods, and this episode was hilarious. The Andy/Jim subplot wasn't much, but the A story was killer. I think the idea that Jim is doing to Andy (and has done to Dwight and others) what is being done to him may dawn on him soon enough.

Parks and Recreation was much improved over the first episode. Tom is terrific and his spiel on the phone to the different contractors was pretty funny.

It's funny everyone liked the second episode of Parks and Rec over the first, because I feel the exact opposite. I loved the pilot episode, but I didn't enjoy the second episode nearly as much. It wasn't nearly as funny, in my estimation. I love Tom's character.

As for The Office, I loved the back-and-forth between Dwight and Michael.

Yeah I really hope that someone said "Dude, just be Suge from Jerry Maguire on a much smaller level of business".

The Office has been fantastic since Idris Elba came aboard. Coincidence? I think not.

I don't know, I think as long as they use the one-on-one interviews, shaky "real" camera work, and pretty much every other writing and directing technique that The Office uses, P&R will always be viewed as Office-lite.

That's probably true, but remember that "The Office" was seen as "UK Office Lite" for about a season or so before people realized it was a good show despite being a remake. I know Parks isn't a remake, but it could develop into a good show despite using the style of The Office.

Hell, I'm still having trouble convincing people of that. Damn Anglophiles are quick to bunch every "American (Hollywood) remake" together. Meanwhile, the BBC makes just as many lame remakes. Robin Hood, anyone? Wow.

Yeah a few of my friends watched the first few episodes of The Office and gave up because they felt it was just a cheap ripoff of the original. I had never seen the original so I stuck with it, and I'm glad I did. Even though they haven't seen an episode since season one one of my friends and his girlfriend rip on the show whenever I bring it up. I guess the need to feel superior is deeply ingrained.

I barely remember the British version now. I own all 3 DVDs, so I could go back and watch, but this version has been so great for so long now that I don't feel there's a point to doing that.

I own the box set of the BBC Office, too, and I watch it once a year around the holidays (wrapping up with the finale on Christmas Eve or night is my yearly tradition, and it gets me every time), but I don't even consider them the same show. The US version has grown and changed so much, and the characters are so fully defined as individuals instead of "based upon" characters that I don't feel you can even compare the two shows except for the setting and title.

"ARE YOU SAYING YOU INVENTED PAPER?!?!"

I died.

She also appeared in the "Games" episode of Importnat Things with Demitri Martin, the David Cottonwood: Emotional Escape Artist skit to be specific. She is cute and funny and there needs to be mopre of of her on my TV!

James

To be fair, the first season of the US Office was pretty much using scripts from the UK Office, so I can see the comparison.
And I'll make the contentious statement...I don't really like the UK Office.

-jlowe

I'll second this... people always have a hard time with this because "you've got to like it". It's just one of those things I guess. The first season of the American Office was pretty hard to watch at times as well.

I agree with this. Not even necessarily saying the US version is better or worse (from what I have seen of the UK version, I like the US version better but thats just me), but it has definitely branched out beyond the first 2 or so seasons enough to be different.

Yeah, the pilot kind of killed it for them. That makes it harder to convince them to give it a try now. Oh well.

What another great episode. Just like to say, "Nailed It".

Loved tonight's episode so much. One of the few things that I occasionally don't like about the Office is the occasional episode where nothing really plot-progressing happens. So naturally I loved this one that had so much going on. I loved Michael's hair brained scheme working out, Ryan and Pam were both pretty awesome; my friends and I literally popped when he cut Charles off. Great shit, totally eager to see what happens in the remaining episodes.

Michael pwning Wallace by saying that he doesn't need to outlast Dunder Mifflin, just him was some fucking epic shit. I still can't believe he accomplished getting his, Pam and Ryan's jobs back by basically threatening to not stop being completely stupid.

I'm going to be the dissenter here probably. Not as big of fan of the episode because I'm sad to see this story arc come to an end. I really think the last month and a half have been some of the best and most original this show has been in a long time, and while I knew it would end up going back to "business as usual," I'm bummed to see the end of Charles. Of course, once you call Dwight what he is, there isn't much else you can do with him.

This episode really felt like a season-ender. I can't wait to see what bomb they still have ready to drop.

My sentiments exactly.

Yeah for as many times as they make Michael out to be a simple minded jackass, it's nice to see them let him show some business sense

Also cool to see Jim grow some balls with Charles in the meeting; to paraphrase, with Charles saying something along the lines of "I was going to say that", and Jim immediately and calmly with something along the lines of "But you didn't."

I can't wait to see the dynamic between Dwight and Michael now that Michael is back in his job......Dwight did everything he could to sabotage Michael and his company....the falling out over that should make for some awesome TV.

As the guy with the "I hate Michael" rant some pages back, I have to say the last two episodes have seen Michael at THE best he's ever been. He kept his dorkiness and retained a tiny bit of his asshole-ish "its all about me", but baby seeing him out scheme Dwight last week in the competition for Dwights client and then tonight, my how the table's have turned and I'm loving Mike as Doofus who can do no wrong.

Wallace stepping up for Jim when Charles tried to push Dwight as the 2nd in command was excellent. Didn't like Charles bashing Jim left and right while suckups like Andy and Dwight were buddying up to Chuck, but I'm glad they had Wallace give Charles that "seriously, what the fuck?" look when Charles said Dwight showed lots of promise.

And Jim capitalizing on Dwights idiot manners, that was epic

"The turn...tables..."

PAUSE

PAUSE

PAUSE

Cut to commercial.

I laughed for about a minute.

Did this whole conclusion kind of seem rushed? Like they could have dragged it out for one or two more episodes? There's gotta be more big stuff coming.

Thank GOD David Wallace was back so Jim could grow a pair. I knew that it was only a matter of time before David got involved, and since he and Jim are somewhat close, that would end the whole thing with Charles acting like a dick. Even better was Charles wanting Dwight to be in the meeting, instead of Jim, and David essentially responding with, "Wait, what?" Everything from then on was great, with Charles basically being exposed to not being a great management guy.

Then there's all the shit with Michael. This was Michael at his best, and I thought he hasn't been this slick since the booze cruise where he has a heart to heart with Jim, and you think, "Wow, this guy isn't a complete moron." Michael ditching the 12 year old mindset and actually using some business sense not once, not twice, but three times was pretty epic. You also had your touching Office moment with Michael saying Pam would be a salesperson. Man I loved this episode.

I fucking marked hard for this episode! awesome. The Korean church bus, Michael telling Charles to fuck off, Pam the salesperson. All of it really worked in the way a sitcom should work. Good stuff!