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The Office Discussion Thread - Page 3

post #101 of 861
10/9/09 at 11:09am
I found myself not loving the episode at times, which surprised me--it's certainly one of the best hour-longs they've done. Maybe I was expecting a little more of the cutesy, lovey-dovey stuff--silly me, I should know better.

Maybe it's just because it was a wedding, but much of it felt even more cringe-worthy than usual (esp. Michael's exposition on condoms. Yikes. In fact Michael was in rare form last night; I think he was even worse than he was at Phyllis' wedding).

I knew Jim & Pam were going to run off and get married before their wedding (something similar happened on "Mad About You" many years ago). I thought the dance was dorky at first, but it grew on me. Thanks for the YouTube link; honestly, I'd never heard of that dance until tonight (of course, now that link's got over 26 million hits, hahahaha).

Andy & his torn scrotum were my favorite part of the episode. Although I love how Dwight can randomly score with hot chicks and then reject them immediately afterwards. What an awesome bastard (didn't he do that before, a season or two ago?).
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post #102 of 861
10/9/09 at 11:15am
What really sold the dance was the sheer glee on most of the dancers faces combined with the "Oh what the hell" looks on Jim and Pam. It was their friends being who they were, which was oddly appropriate.
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post #103 of 861
10/9/09 at 11:21am
I always enjoy watching a cast have a lot of fun while making a show. It really makes me happy to see they like what they are doing and enjoy working on it. So seeing them dance you could see in their faces that they were just having a blast with it and going with the ride.
Loved it.
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post #104 of 861
10/9/09 at 11:27am
Oh, and the bit with Kevin's shoes being destroyed made me both feel really sorry for him and laugh my ass off, especially when he didn't even have to think about accepting the free breakfast.

Oh, and, "My feet are so sweaty I can't even feel the ise."
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post #105 of 861
10/9/09 at 11:36am
"Because Ji--I mean, the bad man, kissed the boss's butt!"

"Ewwwwww!"

I didn't love the episode (though the cringeworthy stuff was the best they've had in a while), but I'm glad they got the wedding out of the way so early in the season.
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post #106 of 861
10/9/09 at 11:41am
MeeMaw's encounter with Bruno was really funny too.
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post #107 of 861
10/9/09 at 11:45am
For a second there, i thought Michael was totally going to sleep with MeeMaw.
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post #108 of 861
10/9/09 at 1:33pm
Best gag for me was when the turtle escaped from Dwight's wedding gift.
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post #109 of 861
10/9/09 at 1:53pm
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post #110 of 861
10/9/09 at 2:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Diva View Post
I love that they added a link to donate to a domestic violence charity in response to everyone's criticisms about starting their life together dancing to a song by a guy who did THIS to Rhianna's face.
It's THAT guy? Okay, I'm really out of touch.

That video, though. Jeez, white people. And knowing that the Office crew were just imitating something they saw online kind of cheapens the moment for me.
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post #111 of 861
10/9/09 at 2:06pm
This got a solid bump in the ratings. But still got beat by most of the other shows.
Man, NBC is in a really sucky place lately.
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post #112 of 861
10/9/09 at 2:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tati View Post
This got a solid bump in the ratings. But still got beat by most of the other shows.
Man, NBC is in a really sucky place lately.
Even suckier because as of next week when 30 Rock hits, NBC's Thursday night sitcom lineup has more shows I give a shit about than the other non-cable networks combined. Not that any of the networks really care about about smart comedy or tv, but NBC seems to try slightly more than the rest, and they get punished in the ratings for it.
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post #113 of 861
10/9/09 at 2:36pm
They need to add "CSI" to the title of all their shows.
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post #114 of 861
10/9/09 at 2:45pm
Nah, they should dump Leno and run a football game each night at 10. They would dominate.
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post #115 of 861
10/9/09 at 2:52pm
Really enjoyed this episode. Love the touch of having Jim giving away the pregnancy. Being the dense dolt I am, I thought Jim was hinting that Pam really was an alcoholic before he even tried using that to cover his error. Hahaha.

So did Michael actually get MeeMaw to stay for the wedding? There never seemed to be any moment that said she decided to stay. She was just there. Maybe I missed a beat?
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post #116 of 861
10/9/09 at 2:56pm
I thought the first half was strong, but the second half fell really flat for me (and the missus). It seemed like there were a lot of great setups in the first half with little/no payoff in the second (e.g. Kevin's wig, naming the kid after Meemaw, even everyone finding out about the pregnancy!). Overall, we found it to be disappointingly weak.
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post #117 of 861
10/9/09 at 3:48pm
I liked it but wasn't Stanley married to a white woman before? I think they showed her in the office awards episode at Chili's. I remember liking that they didn't make a big deal out of the interracial couple.
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post #118 of 861
10/9/09 at 3:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank The Tank View Post
I liked it but wasn't Stanley married to a white woman before?
Yeah, his wife was white in the "Dundie Awards" show.

I was eating pizza during the opening segment of last night's show. It's still in the fridge.
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post #119 of 861
10/9/09 at 4:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank The Tank View Post
I liked it but wasn't Stanley married to a white woman before? I think they showed her in the office awards episode at Chili's. I remember liking that they didn't make a big deal out of the interracial couple.
I thought that wasn't his wife? Isn't that why Phyllis made the crack about how his wife liked her hat when Stanley complained about the feather?
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post #120 of 861
10/9/09 at 4:06pm
Also, Stanley separated from his wife after Michael spilled the beans about his affair.
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post #121 of 861
10/9/09 at 4:45pm
While I absolutely hate that YouTube video, and would kill anyone who did that at my wedding, the juxtoposition of Jim and Pam on the Maid of the Mist made it great. I really loved how they handled that.

I cracked up over Michael's talk with Pam's grandmother. The way he approached the sit-down was like they were entering into business negotiations. That sort of brusque, "Okay, look, Meemaw..." just killed me.

Second the Helms love - Andy crying through the toasts, etc. was just adorable.

Jim's plans A, B, and C were lovely.

A solid episode, all around.
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post #122 of 861
10/9/09 at 4:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Louris View Post
I thought that wasn't his wife? Isn't that why Phyllis made the crack about how his wife liked her hat when Stanley complained about the feather?
See, I thought Phyllis was threatening Stantley when she said that the way she emphasized "WIFE" , andI thought that woman was supposed to be his wife. I guess I read the scene different then you did.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Diva
Also, Stanley separated from his wife after Michael spilled the beans about his affair.
I thought Stanley said she already knew about it and they were working past it. I don't remember where they officially seperated.
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post #123 of 861
10/9/09 at 5:22pm
That was Stanley's mistress. Didn't you guys catch the sly and smug "heh" when Stanley checked in as "Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Hudson"? That was one of my favorite parts.

I thought the whole episode was great. The YouTube dance was annoying but made sense considering the Office folks. i agree with Lisa that the juxtaposition of the real wedding made it work. Or maybe I'm just a big girl. Either way, I loved it.

And my DVR cut off the last minute or so- PLEASE tell me Kevin didn't put his gross, reeky feet in the ice machine.
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post #124 of 861
10/9/09 at 5:31pm
Okay, we won't tell you.
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post #125 of 861
10/9/09 at 6:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hammerhead View Post
It's THAT guy? Okay, I'm really out of touch.

That video, though. Jeez, white people. And knowing that the Office crew were just imitating something they saw online kind of cheapens the moment for me.
That was whole joke though. It's lame and derivative and exactly the kind of thing Michael and Andy and Kelly and Jim's brothers would find hilarious. And intercutting it with Jim and Pam's solution on the boat was exactly appropriate for the dynamic; they have always had an above-it-all, but accepting, relationship with the office dynamic but have managed to carve out a happy little corner of it for themselves.
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post #126 of 861
10/10/09 at 12:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hammerhead View Post
And knowing that the Office crew were just imitating something they saw online kind of cheapens the moment for me.
They were making fun of those people. That goddamn video got passed around in a "isn't this GREAT??" way, and they outed it as the dumbass Michael Scott/Jim's brothers idea that it was. (EDIT: uh...hey, Schwartz.)

Quote:
Originally Posted by gravedigger View Post
And my DVR cut off the last minute or so- PLEASE tell me Kevin didn't put his gross, reeky feet in the ice machine.
Of course he did. And Michael fucked Pam's mom.
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post #127 of 861
10/10/09 at 2:05pm
+1 to gravedigger, Schwartz and Phil. These are exactly the people who'd think it clever to ape an internet meme. That is why Jim said he bought the boat tickets as soon as he saw the Youtube video. The joke is actually foreshadowed in the opening bit where on the do and don't list it says DO: DANCE BUT ONLY WHEN IT IS APPROPRIATE.

The one thing that really killed me was Kelly and Erin's reaction when Michael asked to stay in their room.
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post #128 of 861
10/10/09 at 2:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mad Man Mundt View Post

The one thing that really killed me was Kelly and Erin's reaction when Michael asked to stay in their room.
Erin's reaction was particularly great since she's usually all smiles. The moment she registers what Michael said, that smile disappears instantly into one of disgust.
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post #129 of 861
10/10/09 at 3:16pm
I think the funniest part of the episode was the throwaway bit of Pam's grandma complaining about "that awful Charlie Rose".
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post #130 of 861
10/10/09 at 3:22pm
Yeah, he's horrible.
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post #131 of 861
10/10/09 at 3:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mad Man Mundt View Post
+1 to gravedigger, Schwartz and Phil. These are exactly the people who'd think it clever to ape an internet meme. That is why Jim said he bought the boat tickets as soon as he saw the Youtube video.
I can't be the only viewer who had no idea what meme (if any) was being referenced. Besides, it looked like they were having fun. Oscar's vogueing was the best.
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post #132 of 861
10/10/09 at 3:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Schwartz View Post
I think the funniest part of the episode was the throwaway bit of Pam's grandma complaining about "that awful Charlie Rose".
I loved that as well.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hammerhead View Post
I can't be the only viewer who had no idea what meme (if any) was being referenced. Besides, it looked like they were having fun. Oscar's vogueing was the best.
I'm sure you weren't but so what?

Yeah they did a good job of looking like their characters were enjoying themselves without a shred of irony.
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post #133 of 861
10/10/09 at 3:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hammerhead View Post
I can't be the only viewer who had no idea what meme (if any) was being referenced. Besides, it looked like they were having fun. Oscar's vogueing was the best.
I like Ryan doing the Sprinkler.
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post #134 of 861
10/10/09 at 4:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mad Man Mundt View Post
I'm sure you weren't but so what?
Well, it completely changes my perception of the joke. I don't consider myself particularly dense (at least I picked up that Stanley's companion was addressed as "Cynthia", unambiguously identifying her as his mistress) but without knowledge of the meme it just looked like the Office crew doing something spontaneous, goofy, and kind of fun.
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post #135 of 861
10/10/09 at 4:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ratty View Post
I like Ryan doing the Sprinkler.
Consistently, week in and week out, the little bits of Ryan being a douche bag are my highlights. Him reading Tucker Max a few episodes back fucking floored me.
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post #136 of 861
10/10/09 at 5:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hammerhead View Post
Well, it completely changes my perception of the joke. I don't consider myself particularly dense (at least I picked up that Stanley's companion was addressed as "Cynthia", unambiguously identifying her as his mistress) but without knowledge of the meme it just looked like the Office crew doing something spontaneous, goofy, and kind of fun.
That's what they think they're doing, but can you really not see how it's so much more in keeping with these characters that they do so by aping a dated youtube meme?
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post #137 of 861
10/10/09 at 5:57pm
Yeah, that long moment of silence between Michael and Dwight in the car is all the more funnier when you realize Michael was freakin' ASLEEP at the wheel. Which I've done, but that's only because the passenger saw fit to play Enyah or whatever its called.
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post #138 of 861
10/10/09 at 7:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Schwartz View Post
That's what they think they're doing, but can you really not see how it's so much more in keeping with these characters that they do so by aping a dated youtube meme?
It reminded me of Michael's limbo party from last season, which as far as I'm aware was a complete non-sequitur.

ETA: Dwight's make-out tape. Intentional attempt at sabotaging Michael or not?
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post #139 of 861
10/11/09 at 8:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Schwartz View Post
That's what they think they're doing, but can you really not see how it's so much more in keeping with these characters that they do so by aping a dated youtube meme?
Especially when this season began with Michael, Dwight and Andy jumping all over that really hot and current parkour craze.
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post #140 of 861
10/11/09 at 12:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hammerhead View Post
I can't be the only viewer who had no idea what meme (if any) was being referenced.
But they mentioned 2 or 3 times where they got the idea. Whether you saw the original youtube vid or not, Michael's gleeful "This was on YOUTUBE!" and Pam's "I saw it. I saw it", followed by Jim saying "I bought the boat tickets the day I saw the youtube video" places it in the exact correct context. Those of us who did see the video just got to be in on the joke a couple seconds earlier, but it didn't harm the central "ruining Pam and Jim's wedding by copying something they saw on the internet and thinking it's awesome" gag.
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post #141 of 861
10/11/09 at 2:53pm
Without knowing specifically what was being spoofed (never heard the song before), I tried searching YT for "wedding dance niagara" and got pretty much nowhere.

And it didn't play for me as if the wedding was ruined.

P.S. Spoke to the Parkour reference back in post 95.
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post #142 of 861
10/11/09 at 3:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hammerhead View Post
Without knowing specifically what was being spoofed (never heard the song before), I tried searching YT for "wedding dance niagara" and got pretty much nowhere.
I think your problem there is the word "niagara." The original is from a St. Paul wedding.

I'll admit it - when that video hit, I thought it was pretty cute. But within the space of a couple days, it was so hyped that a friend of mine was faced with the not-so-fun prospect of either being recruited for a ripoff of it at his sister's forthcoming wedding or strategically explaining that it wasn't going to be cool by the time the event actually happened.

I like to think that the Office parodying it will do the trick for him, and he and his family will be spared the indignity of taking part in a dated internet meme*.

* I should explain that said friend is an information studies PhD student whose work centers on internet discourse (in fact, his birthday party the other night was internet meme-themed), so he's hyper-aware of internet phenomenon, which would make it doubly painful.
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post #143 of 861
10/11/09 at 3:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hammerhead View Post
And it didn't play for me as if the wedding was ruined.
Me either, but that's because Pam and Jim pre-empted it by running away hours earlier and getting married on Maid of the Mist. That freed them up to stop trying so hard to make sure the wedding went well (e.g., giving their co-workers a list of do's and dont's). They were already married, and it was perfect in their eyes. They were free to shrug off the dumb dance routine (and actually come around to enjoying who their friends were) because it wasn't actually their wedding anymore. I thought it was nicely executed in that way.
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post #144 of 861
10/11/09 at 4:19pm
I remember when I first heard about the Youtube wedding video on NPR. It was some story about how ABC flew the couple in to interview them but refused to pay for their expenses once they learned that the couple also took on an appearance for NBC. Made me laugh. Had no idea what the video was.

Then a friend showed me. By then, it had the expectations of being something 'worthy' of being talked about on the networks and a million-plus hits on Youtube.

"That's it...?" was my reaction, of course. And I instantly hated it. Hahaha.

So the way The Office handled its use was pretty damned smart. I groaned at first, but couldn't deny how charming it came off.
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post #145 of 861
10/12/09 at 10:59am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mcnooj82 View Post
So the way The Office handled its use was pretty damned smart. I groaned at first, but couldn't deny how charming it came off.
Exactly how I felt about it, too. When they first started dancing down the aisle, I thought, "Noooo, they're not gonna do that..." until I saw where they were really going with it. It was handled well enough that I actually teared up a bit when they show the captain of the boat marrying them.
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post #146 of 861
10/12/09 at 1:26pm
Example of my denseness...

When the episode first cut to Jim and Pam walking onto the boat, I thought it was cutting to moments AFTER the wedding and that the whole reception came along.
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post #147 of 861
10/12/09 at 3:08pm
You're not the only one. I could have sworn some of the Office crew came along on the boat.

But I'm at Denseness Overload on this ep already, it seems.
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post #148 of 861
10/12/09 at 3:15pm
Kind of feel like the show has run its course at this point (somewhat later than quite a few other folks, I suspect). I may be taking it off the DVR list.
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post #149 of 861
10/12/09 at 6:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Overlord View Post
Kind of feel like the show has run its course at this point (somewhat later than quite a few other folks, I suspect). I may be taking it off the DVR list.
I'm just confused that somebody would reach that decision after that last episode which I've now watched twice and enjoyed the heck out of.
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post #150 of 861
10/12/09 at 7:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by A-Pathetic View Post
I'm just confused that somebody would reach that decision after that last episode which I've now watched twice and enjoyed the heck out of.
The story of the office is Jim and Pam's relationship. There are sideplots and tons of shenanigans, but in my mind, that's the heart behind the show. That relationship has kind of run its course. And yeah, it was a good finale to that plot (though I'm sure the baby will result in tons of hijinks), but for some reason the episode gave me closure.

Are you less confused now?
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