*** The Office: Season 4 ***

[NYJets]

Re: *** The Office: Season 4 ***

And what the hell? The Wire is totally not on people's radar -- I can't believe it didn't even get nominated when it's been by far the best show on TV for a while now... At least it made it to Season 5 so we can finish out the story arc... that was always supposed to be the final season anyway, but I was concerned that it would get cancelled due to fairly low ratings and minimal attention from the big critics. I don't really care about Emmys at all, but I know the people on the shows do, so I'm bummed for them.

Speaking of that, I intended to start watching the Wire this summer, and I saw the first 2 or 3 episodes of season 1, and I couldn't get into it. It was boring too me.

Is it a show that picks up later on, or does it pretty much stay the same?

[Acid]

Re: *** The Office: Season 4 ***

Andy is one of my favorite characters on the show. LOL

Beer me that CD!

[born_bad]

Re: *** The Office: Season 4 ***

Beer me that CD!

lol.. the Andy character reminds me SO much of a guy I work with, so I find it hilarious. I don't think he's supposed to be "likeable" so I'm not surprised some people don't like him. Most of the characters on the show aren't likeable, though, (Angela, Michael, Shrute, etc.) they're just funny.

[Stumbleweed]

Re: *** The Office: Season 4 ***

NYJets, I didn't get hooked on The Wire at all at first... I had to basically force myself to watch 3-4 episodes to get into the show, but it's quickly jumped to the top of my list. The first episode (really the first 6 or so episodes) are all just set-up for the rest of the series. The Wire is essentially a TV novel because the story has already been written, so you can look at the first episodes (arguably even the first season) as the prelude to the rest of the story. It just introduces the basic characters on both sides and expects a lot from the viewer to stay interested, but it's VERY rewarding once you do.

I don't watch any other crime dramas (any dramatic series really except for when Weeds gets sentimental), so it's not my type of show at all, but it's definitely my favorite thing on TV at the moment (fighting with The Office for the top overall spot). Once you get to the later seasons, the ensemble cast has developed so well and so many huge things have changed that show that it almost seems like a new show. Every season is a rebirth pretty much -- you get many of the BPD characters back, but it's an ever-changing cast and they're all excellent.

And one word:

OMAR


It helps that he's based off a real guy (not sure what exactly is true beyond robbing drug dealers for a living), but he's the most dymanic, engaging character I've ever seen..

Season 3 is my personal favorite, but they're all great. Each season focuses on an aspect of Baltimore -- Season 1 focuses on police/criminal interaction and the workings of the drug trade, 2 focuses on the ports and the other areas of Baltimore (namely the poor white folks in the area), Season 3 focuses on politics, Season 4 focuses on education and rehabilitation, and Season 5 will focus on the media. It's a very interesting way to set up a show, especially since you hardly notice it due to the show being so organic and natural.

Watch it -- if you at all like crime dramas, you owe it to yourself. If you don't (like I did), watch it anyway... there's little reason for people not to like the show unless they can't handle hearing the f-bomb dropped every other word or just have no interest in how the drug trade or the other focuses of the seasons work. My friend didn't like it at first either, but I forced him to watch it and now he's over at my place almost every night begging to watch 2 more episodes.

[bjf1377]

Re: *** The Office: Season 4 ***

True, he did get better then. I think it is just his singing that gets on my nerves. Of course, when you are in my case and watch the episodes really fast on DVD during the summer, sometimes the character don't have as much time to grow on you as a regular TV schedule. When he got inflated at the beach and left, that was pretty funny.

I just love it when he's sitting on the beach talking into the camera, and then all of a sudden he yells out "MALLARD!" and chucks a stone into the lake

[Flyboy]

Re: *** The Office: Season 4 ***

Man I couldn't agree more. I have major issues with people who don't find this show funny. It's not even about arrogance.. if you don't like The Office you don't like quality comedy.

I find the people who don't like the show are usually intrinsically different than I am, and that we probably wouldn't get along. It's that serious.

My roommate dislikes it because she prefers more "subtle" comedy and enjoys the British version instead.

[NYJets]

Re: *** The Office: Season 4 ***

NYJets, I didn't get hooked on The Wire at all at first... I had to basically force myself to watch 3-4 episodes to get into the show, but it's quickly jumped to the top of my list. The first episode (really the first 6 or so episodes) are all just set-up for the rest of the series. The Wire is essentially a TV novel because the story has already been written, so you can look at the first episodes (arguably even the first season) as the prelude to the rest of the story. It just introduces the basic characters on both sides and expects a lot from the viewer to stay interested, but it's VERY rewarding once you do.

Cool, thanks, I'll give it another shot.

[NYJets]

Re: *** The Office: Season 4 ***

My roommate dislikes it

Take a **** on their pillow.

[Brandwin]

Re: *** The Office: Season 4 ***

If you don't like the Office, you should be stoned to death.

[dieselboy]

Re: *** The Office: Season 4 ***

hahahahahaha

"I think I dated a black girl."

[ESPNdeportes]

Re: *** The Office: Season 4 ***

Can't wait for the office to start up again.

Four 1-hour episodes to start? Hell yeah

[GBrushTWood]

Re: *** The Office: Season 4 ***

My roommate dislikes it because she prefers more "subtle" comedy and enjoys the British version instead.

That's another thing that bugs me: people who pedantically claim that they will not give the American version a chance because the British one is supposed to be so great. Not coincidentally, these are the same people who think Dane Cook is funny, eat two burgers a week, and enjoy singing Journey songs throughout the day. In short, these people should be drawn and quartered.

And I'm not even that large of an Office fan.

[longshadow11]

Re: *** The Office: Season 4 ***

I eat as many burgers a week as I can get my hands on.

[Stumbleweed]

Re: *** The Office: Season 4 ***

Both are great shows, and I can see why people prefer one over the other... I happen to prefer the US version because it has had a better chance to develop the dramatic elements and the side characters are more prominent -- the UK version ended relatively quickly and then they tacked on the Christmas episode to tie up the loose ends of the story. I think by the time the US version is done, they will have far surpassed the original.

But yeah, Ricky Gervais is hilarious in anything and the dryer British wit is always appreciated. I just prefer the cast in the US version overall, and I really think that all the side characters add a great deal to it despite some of them not being so "subtle" (Dwight, Andy). They do a really superb job of blending comedy with dramatic elements in nearly every episode -- whether it's Michael tearing up at the Office Olympics ceremony or the ongoing Jim/Pam plotline (which is obviously a large part of the appeal for most people), they always seem to deliver on both fronts, and I didn't necessarily get that with the UK version (which really was just the Tim/Dawn story, which is less developed than the Jim/Pam story).

I'm a nerd in so many ways, it's getting ridiculous. Anyway, can't wait for the show to start back up. Thanks for posting that clip OP, I don't normally watch much non-DVR'd TV anymore, so I didn't see that.

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Re: *** The Office: Season 4 ***

Fun Run

Summary (NBC): A freak accident causes Michael to feel the office is cursed. He explores the religious beliefs of his employees before deciding to hold a charity 5K fun run. Meanwhile, further developments in the romances of Pam and Jim, and Dwight and Angela are explored.

http://www.nbc.com/The_Office/video/#mea=160113