*** The Office: Season 5 ***

[CaptainZombie]

Re: *** The Office: Season 5 ***

Was it me or did Stanley look completely different in this past week's episode? Can't put my finger on it. His face blew up or something, was it a part of the heart attack deal?

[aukevin]

Re: *** The Office: Season 5 ***

I thought it was a funny episode. The Jack Black stuff was totally stupid though, I wish that hadn't been in it. Everything else was funny. I thought the fire drill was funny, and the jokes at the roast were pretty good. Ipod shuffle LOL.

I didn't really notice anything different about Stanley.

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: *** The Office: Season 5 ***

Thought it was a bland episode. Not the best, not the worst. Some really funny lines on the roast.

Tomorrow...

Spoiler

They could kill the show. And the person who left for a better show on Fox, only to have it canceled after 2 episodes returns. I'm even surprised that they brought her back. If they make it Jim's baby somehow, I'm done with the show.

[Stumbleweed]

Re: *** The Office: Season 5 ***

The Jack Black thing was tied very loosely into the plot, but I didn't really mind it. It was better than trying to shoehorn some famous actors into the actual scenes... that would've been absolutely terrible. It was an obvious ploy to get as many viewers as possible in that key slot, but I don't think it really took away from the episode, especially considering that there's been worse filler in hour-long episodes before. It was a small part of the episode, and I laughed when Cloris Leachman was using her stair-climber machine to do the dramatic "come back and leave again" thing as Jack cried his eyes out.

Spoiler

And yeah, nervous about what they're doing with the Karen thing... however, they've put up misleading previews before and have a habit of misdirection when it comes to Jim and Pam, so I think this is probably another case of that.

If not though... yeah, I would be pissed. Not "give up on the show and stop watching" pissed, but disappointed that they had to resort to the soap opera "whose baby is it?" drama when the timeline of the show says that there's no way that it's Jim's baby. He would have to cheat on Pam to make this even remotely true (possibly when she was in NYC, that's the only thing I could even rationalize). My guess is that it's Ryan's baby, but he's a goner, so I'm doubting that. No clue where they're going with this. Someone on another board said that they saw a ring on her finger in the promo (I haven't watched it again), so it's probably something unrelated and they just brought her back to mess with Jim/Pam.

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: *** The Office: Season 5 ***

The Jack Black thing was tied very loosely into the plot, but I didn't really mind it. It was better than trying to shoehorn some famous actors into the actual scenes... that would've been absolutely terrible. It was an obvious ploy to get as many viewers as possible in that key slot, but I don't think it really took away from the episode, especially considering that there's been worse filler in hour-long episodes before. It was a small part of the episode, and I laughed when Cloris Leachman was using her stair-climber machine to do the dramatic "come back and leave again" thing as Jack cried his eyes out.

Spoiler

And yeah, nervous about what they're doing with the Karen thing... however, they've put up misleading previews before and have a habit of misdirection when it comes to Jim and Pam, so I think this is probably another case of that.

If not though... yeah, I would be pissed. Not "give up on the show and stop watching" pissed, but disappointed that they had to resort to the soap opera "whose baby is it?" drama when the timeline of the show says that there's no way that it's Jim's baby. He would have to cheat on Pam to make this even remotely true (possibly when she was in NYC, that's the only thing I could even rationalize). My guess is that it's Ryan's baby, but he's a goner, so I'm doubting that. No clue where they're going with this. Someone on another board said that they saw a ring on her finger in the promo (I haven't watched it again), so it's probably something unrelated and they just brought her back to mess with Jim/Pam.

Spoiler

I think you just nailed it, it's Ryan's baby. I read in TV Guide a few weeks ago that BJ Novak said he's coming back to the show in a top secret storyline. Also, the season finale this year is episode 100 for the show, I'm expecting something big.

[Stumbleweed]

Re: *** The Office: Season 5 ***

Spoiler

That would make sense given that article... I wasn't sure if he was coming back as an actor or not -- last I heard it was "undetermined" but that he would come back as a writer once the Tarantino project was over. That would tie everything together and make for some awesomely awkward Office moments. Karen't only back for a 3-episode arc I think, because she's doing "Parks and Recreation" with Amy Poehler.

And here's the description for tomorrow's episode... it's a two-parter:

First half of a new 2-part episode titled "Lecture Circuit."
NBC Summary: Michael goes on a speaking tour of the other branches to explain Scranton's relative success, accompanied by his driver, Pam. Back at the office, Dwight and Jim - now the heads of the party planning committee - forget a birthday, with severe consequences. Meanwhile, Andy falls for someone he should not.

[pfunk880]

Re: *** The Office: Season 5 ***

Spoiler

Dwight and Jim on the party planning committee? That could be epic!

[DickDalewood]

Re: *** The Office: Season 5 ***

"Spiderface"

Hahaha "She bit off the nose to spiderface."

Classic.

[callmetaternuts]

Re: *** The Office: Season 5 ***

I wonder if at some point they are gonna actually tackle a negative thing with Jim and Pam. They keep hinting at it or teasing it and then resolving it, but it seems like at some point they are gonna run with it.

[daflyboys]

Re: *** The Office: Season 5 ***

I'm starting to wonder if the series isn't starting to run it's course. I can imagine that it's tough to come up with new and fresh material all the time. We've seen other series throughout time get tarnished by sticking around too long. Not sure how long they're going to pull this off.

[Stumbleweed]

Re: *** The Office: Season 5 ***

Since Season 2 the main plot hasn't been that tight or cohesive aside from the relationship things. The episodes have had less and less to do with the office itself and have been staged outside the office more often each season. I'm okay with that as long as they keep the funny coming.

I don't expect them to live up to Season 2 given that they weren't sure how long it would even go on at that time -- now they pretty much know that they have a license with NBC to make the show for as long as the actors will stay around, so they can slow the progression down a bit and drag things out for a few seasons. There will undoubtedly be filler episodes along the way, but as long as I'm still laughing at the show and they haven't done some unforgivable "jump the shark" type of thing,

Spoiler

(like "It's Jim's baby!" would be)

I see myself watching it until Carell and whoever else decide that they don't have time for TV shows anymore. Losing a main character would be another thing that would make me question continuing to watch the show.. and I am afraid of that just because seemingly all of the main characters have gotten movie deals and it wouldn't surprise me if some of them leave the show in 2 years or so.

[born_bad]

Re: *** The Office: Season 5 ***

I'm definitely losing more and more interest in the show, although it is still funny at times. The great thing about the 1st few seasons and the BBC Office is that it there were funny things that happen in real life offices. This season is getting further and further away from that and while it's still getting laughs, it's getting them from completely unrealistic scenarios.

[WazzuRC]

Re: *** The Office: Season 5 ***

I agree with the last couple posts. The past couple of seasons have been less "The Office" and more of "Funny Days of our Lives set in the office."

Seasons 2-3 were some of the funniest stuff I've ever seen. I still constantly laugh at almost every part of all of those episodes. Since then, it's gone downhill where I chuckle a few times an episode, if that.

[mgoblue]

Re: *** The Office: Season 5 ***

I've been feeling the same way as a bunch of you lately. For whatever reason the show's just missing more than hitting lately. There's funny stuff (I've liked the Dwight/Andy stuff), but Michael's been way too painful to watch for me lately. His character will always be painful to watch, but it's been different. It's tough to explain, but whatever it is makes me not anticipate this show like I used to. I look forward to Big Bang Theory and HIMYM tons more than The Office now. The fire stuff was hilarious last week, but after that I ended up stopping watching because I wasn't in the mood...that didn't used to happen for this show.

[Stumbleweed]

Re: *** The Office: Season 5 ***

Creed always delivers though... that has not changed.

It's still in my Top 5 shows on TV and I look forward to it each week, but it has lost some of the appeal. I think a lot of it is that since Jim and Pam got together they don't have that drama/tension undercurrent making everything else that happens around them funnier. No matter what you "I don't want so much relationship drama in my comedy" people say, that was the driving force of the show in its best episodes and it was hard to keep the momentum up ever since that tension was (basically) resolved.