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Herc Gives Tonight’s OFFICE, Scripted by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, Four Stars!!

first mufuckas by Cruel_Kingdom	Nov 30th, 2006 08:21:35 AM
adf
I Heart The Office, by the way... by Cruel_Kingdom	Nov 30th, 2006 08:22:55 AM
Both versions, but hey, I admit it, I relate a little more to the American version, so let the flaming begin. :)
Please let me be first. by Pipple	Nov 30th, 2006 08:24:36 AM
This show is the best. It's like Seinfeld but a billion times more funny.
OH Straberries.. by Pipple	Nov 30th, 2006 08:25:19 AM
Im second
VENOM by _Kayser_	Nov 30th, 2006 08:45:37 AM
http://i11.photobucket.com/alb ums/a177/_Kayser_/Venom.jpg
Karen is just so awesome by godzillasushi	Nov 30th, 2006 09:02:57 AM
again, this show is the only reason to watch NBC on non-football nights.
Mcpoops by BadMrWonka	Nov 30th, 2006 09:12:02 AM
I would say the only show funnier than the Office is Scrubs...but both of us can have our mixed berry yogurt and eat it too! holla for thursdays!
_Kayser_ by StovetopStuffin'	Nov 30th, 2006 09:16:53 AM
Yeah.....we know....it's on Sony's website in their video about the movie. Not a big secret anymore.
Yay Harold Ramis by beefywhore	Nov 30th, 2006 09:35:59 AM
Even his weaker stuff (bedazzled) is way funnier than most comedy directors these days
Office/Scrubs Power Hour Sans Laugh Track by Hagakure	Nov 30th, 2006 09:39:32 AM
If this doesn't make NBC king of the Thursday night lineup again, then nothing will. This line up is going to start people talking about the old Seinfeld/Friends line up. And I think "Arrested Development" just missed the mark. If NBC had someone picked up that show, their Thurs. lineup could have been Earl/Office/Scrubs/Arrested Dev., and it would have been one funny as hell night with no laugh track in sight.
Better than the British version by Jor-El23	Nov 30th, 2006 09:58:44 AM
Hands down...and I'm one of those snobby people who always likes the original better than the remake.
A wonderful show, cannot wait... by DanielKurland	Nov 30th, 2006 10:12:44 AM
That's all.
I agree with Hagakure... by filmicdrummer17	Nov 30th, 2006 10:19:32 AM
...but daydreaming about the greatness that was Arrested Development, and how NBC made "a huge mistake," will get you no where. That said, I'm not really feeling 30 Rock. I don't laugh near as much as during those other three shows. I think it's just trying too hard.
Not looking forward to this as much... by ejcarter9	Nov 30th, 2006 10:21:12 AM
...I find the British version too uncomfortable to watch. I'll try to keep an open mind, though. However, nothing will dampen my spirits for the RoS (Return o' Scrubs).
Behihana Christmas? by SydBarretsMyDad	Nov 30th, 2006 10:43:39 AM
I take it you mean Benihana...the restaurant.
i loved... by Buzzsawlenny	Nov 30th, 2006 11:13:10 AM
the british version also,but alas i do believe that the U.S. version has elevated it and steve carell/rainn wilson in particular...genius
Office and Scrubs are both ok...but Sunny in Philly.. by 2for2true	Nov 30th, 2006 11:32:10 AM
..is the real shit.
no laughtrack and/or audience by BizarroJerry	Nov 30th, 2006 11:36:39 AM
NBC made some reference to it, but I still say someone should be making a bigger deal about 2 straight hours of sitcoms with no studio audience and no laughter! And none of the shows are clones of any of the other three. 30 Rock started weak, but it's grown on me. Earl, on the other hand, seems to be weaker this season.
This show just keeps getting better by quadrupletree	Nov 30th, 2006 11:49:13 AM
Can't wait to fire up the ol Tivo tonight!! and Harold Ramis next episode!?! Sa-weet! My biggest fear with this show is that Steve Carell will get too big for his britches and decide to leave or ask for so much money that it'll effectively end the show, I HOPE that doesn't happen though.
Earl / Laugh Trak by Hagakure	Nov 30th, 2006 11:54:10 AM
I completely agree that Earl has lost some steam, where as Office continues to get stronger. And my only fear is that the other networks are going to confuse "no laugh trak" with "succeess" so we are going to get a flood of new crappy shows with the laughtrak removed.
Phildadelphia by Hagakure	Nov 30th, 2006 11:55:55 AM
...would never play on a regular network and still be able to be as good as they are. Which is one of the reasons FX kicks ass when it comes to orinigal programming.
Last episode of 30 Rock by cromulent	Nov 30th, 2006 12:20:29 PM
was downright hilarious. Show started a little weak for me, but I'm looking forward to it now. And of course The Office and Scrubs. Earl? meh
Did Yoda write the invisotext? by -guyinthebackrow	Nov 30th, 2006 12:36:41 PM
"Jim continues to be not stupid." That's some awkward phrasing! But, to be fair, Yoda you probably jugg fuckle that sentence into something more like, "Stupid be not, Jim is."
Wait a second... it's INVISTOTEXT??? by -guyinthebackrow	Nov 30th, 2006 12:41:42 PM
Invistotext? Huh? I guess I've never really looked closely at the spelling of "invistotext". I always figured it was "inviso-text" or maybe "invisio-text"... something that would bring "invisible" and "text" together... but "Invistotext"??? You're bringing "In" and "Visto?" and "Text" together? WTF?
30Rock by BadMrWonka	Nov 30th, 2006 12:48:34 PM
I Wasn't convinced, but the outtakes of alec baldwin trying to deliver his lines in the video were the funniest thing I've seen in a while. I was dying.
Place your bets... by BanAllFIRSTPosters	Nov 30th, 2006 12:55:56 PM
THIS will be the final season of The Office. Carrell will go to greener pastures and end the show. I really think they could carry on without him. Can you imagine a power struggle between Dwight and Andy (is it?)?
I really hope Carrell doesn't leave... by DanielKurland	Nov 30th, 2006 01:01:23 PM
I can see it happening in theory, but I'd like to think he isn't that much of an asshole. And yes, a show with Dwight or Andy running the Office would work, but it would just scream "beginning of the end" whether it had declined or not. It's not a good idea. And Andy continues to get better and better; Him liking Pam? That will be great.
When is the JJ Abrams episode? by Prior Walter	Nov 30th, 2006 01:10:15 PM
Probably not till February, huh?
. by TheRealDilbert27	Nov 30th, 2006 01:20:13 PM
DAMN YOU RACHEL RAY!
Won't be on in Cincinnati tonite :( by magic_ninja	Nov 30th, 2006 01:54:40 PM
Still, it'll be great to watch the Bengals (hopefully) deliver an asswhoopin to Baltimore tonight. WHO DEY!
Office rocks by Cl_Kilgore	Nov 30th, 2006 02:29:05 PM
This episode sounds great and I can't wait for the Ramis one. And I agree with the posters above that Earl/Office/Scrubs/AD would have been the dream lineup. sigh The wife and I loved AD, couldn't believe it was canceled. I'm still holding out a fool's hope for a Family Guy like come back...
Jim and Karen by Hagakure	Nov 30th, 2006 02:33:53 PM
I actually prefer Jim with Karen. They have a great chemistry together, so I hope they keep both her and Andy around as long as possible. And I think Steve will stick it out as long as possible. He knows it was this show that turned him into a star, and if you listen to some of the audio commentaries on the DVD's, people are always talking on what a professional he is, sometimes sitting in his office for hours at a time when he is in the background of certain shots just to keep the continuity going.
Wow ... about 25 posts in and no one by Itchy	Nov 30th, 2006 02:44:06 PM
has blathered on about whether they prefer UK or US Office yet ? Amazing. The Office merge is incredible so far. Andy versus Dwight has severe (although limited) comedy potential. Best case scenario ? Dwight enlists Creed to help get rid of Andy. Creed is the Ace in the Deck of this ensemble cast. Absolutely hilarious.
magic ninja...who dey! by vinceklortho	Nov 30th, 2006 02:46:51 PM
I'm not too optimistic about the game, but it is in Cincy. I'm lucky here in Cali. (hopefully) I got the Bengals beating up on the Ravens and then head back for the return of the two best comedies on television. Here's to a great night!!!
Prior Walter by Ribbons	Nov 30th, 2006 03:29:16 PM
lol!
Office is funny, but... by Mr_Boombista	Nov 30th, 2006 03:34:22 PM
Anyone who thinks it's funnier then Seinfeld is an idiot. Even AD, as great as it was, can't touch Seinfeld or the old Simpsons. Those shows were on a whole other level.
Mr. Boombista... by DanielKurland	Nov 30th, 2006 04:01:50 PM
I agree that Office is great, but not at Seinfeld level, but AD may have been. I often wondered which of the two was my favorite comedy, and although Seinfeld has proven itself, all of those in jokes that AD has were insanely rewarding. It's a very tough call. And then you bring Sports Night into the mess and it's a whole other story.
DanielKurland by Mr_Boombista	Nov 30th, 2006 04:13:09 PM
I agree about AD - if there's a show that reaches Seinfeld's level, AD is it. But I think that the 3rd season of AD wasn't very good (at least no as good as previous years), and Seinfeld was brilliant for at least 6-7 seasons. But maybe if it hadn't been cancelled, it would have gotten back on track.
yeah, but does it approach the "brilliance" of 30 Rock? by wash	Nov 30th, 2006 04:24:40 PM
snicker
I'm a huge Arrested Development fan by Poacher	Nov 30th, 2006 04:32:43 PM
But I can see why it was cancelled. I think for one it's a "get it or don't get it" type of humor. In addition to that, it was not very accessible to first time watchers. The episodes weren't as self-contained as The Office. The continuing storyline was rather convoluted and that was part of the hilarity if you knew what was going on, but confusing and not half as funny if you didn't. It's like the LOST of comedy -- you have to go back to the beginning if you want to really get the full effect, or even know what's going on.
umm by Quin the Eskimo	Nov 30th, 2006 04:51:38 PM
DAMN that GEORGE WILL just keeps on getting MORE AND MORE CONSERVATIVE!
I think AD is consistently good... by DanielKurland	Nov 30th, 2006 05:09:28 PM
I can understand people not liking a lot of the 3rd season (the new writers had FAR too many call backs) but the last four were pretty flawless .The problem was that when the 2nd season ended, a lot of the writers left, assuming the show was cancelled, had that not happened, and they didn't have a rushed 3rd season, I'm sure it would have been much better. And it definitely wasn't accessible for new viewers, not only did they not make it easier for new viewers as it went on, but they intentionally made it more difficult, which I loved.
I didn't know that... by Mr_Boombista	Nov 30th, 2006 05:24:47 PM
about the AD writers... I guess that explains why the show relied much more on crazy situational comedy and much less on the characters for laughs. Most of the episodes got too out of hand for me in the 3rd season, the I think the writers got too locked in to the 'story' and kind of wrote themselves into a corner. That said, I do agree that the show ended very solidly and seemed to be getting better when it ended. It's a shame that NBC didn't pick it up, it would have fit in perfectly on Thursdays. Maybe Job could get his own spinoff, as his character alone could carry a show. Will Arnett should get his own sitcom.
Gob and Tobias... by Mr_Boombista	Nov 30th, 2006 05:59:56 PM
both got shafted, and the Charlize Theron storyline was just bad... a lame attempt to save ratings probably.
Season 3 had one of the most laugh out loud moments by Poacher	Nov 30th, 2006 06:29:04 PM
...when they flashed back to Michael's ex girlfriends and how the family screwed up each one...they show him with a big breasted girl and in the background Buster is mocking her, walking around behind her back wearing huge fake tits. Probably one of the only things that makes me laugh till I cry just thinking about it.
Ribbons by Prior Walter	Nov 30th, 2006 07:13:41 PM
I can see the humor, but JJ Abrams really is directing an episode of The Office
re: s3 of AD by Prior Walter	Nov 30th, 2006 07:24:33 PM
S.O.B's was one of the best shows of the entire series.
NBC didn't pick up Scrubs for a simple reason... by DanielKurland	Nov 30th, 2006 08:07:05 PM
Hurwitz wan't fucking interested. Showtime offerred them two seasons, and if Hurwitz had said yes, we'd be half way through season 4 right now. The show had a chance to continue, Hurwitz just didn't want to. Yeah, I'm a little bitter.
You mean AD, DanielKurkand? ;) by The Wrong Guy	Nov 30th, 2006 08:17:36 PM
Hurwitz has moved on to remake The Thick Of It, an excellent British comedy. Should be good, provided it gets picked up.
I almost pissed myself when... (SPOILER) by beastie	Nov 30th, 2006 09:19:05 PM
...Prison Mike said that the Dementors were the worst part of prison. I missed, probably, the next 8 jokes or so because I was laughing so hard.
best part: by waggy	Nov 30th, 2006 10:02:51 PM
dwight with the back pocket filled with bills.
I too enjoyed Dwight's bid for entrapment. by Hercules	Nov 30th, 2006 10:05:19 PM
Even if I've said as much earlier.
I Love Angela by Prior Walter	Nov 30th, 2006 10:24:20 PM
The actress is horrible, but she gives the best looks ever.
speaking of Dementors... by Bloo	Nov 30th, 2006 10:52:13 PM
Is Azkaban strictly a English Wizard Prison or is it an international wizards Prison or is it only open to the nonenglish if they commit a wizardng crime in England...the things my mind wonders about...
AD Season 3 by Strshp2rpr	Nov 30th, 2006 11:57:32 PM
I think Season 3 was great. Season 2 was teh best, but S3 was easily better than 99% of any season of any show ever. Mr. F, with the insane Rocket Man/Mole fight, and the whole mole confusion in general, was Arrested Development at its most convoluted best. I thought Tobias definetely got plenty of time in the third season....the gag about the hair implants was hillarious and gave us that great prison/banquet riot. I could spend another 12 hours dissecting every episode and why its the greatest show in the history of mankind, but I will spare you. And yes, Will Arnett absolutely needs his own show, STAT.
Carrel's weird Jersey accent as prison Mike by ChorleyFM	Dec 1st, 2006 12:21:00 AM
was just so fuckin hilarious. I love this show, not quite as much as AD, but I still love it.
Gervais is a genius by veritasses	Dec 1st, 2006 12:46:06 AM
They should hire him to write all the shows.
Thanks for the invite but I have better things to do. by mrfan	Dec 1st, 2006 04:53:04 AM
Like...well...anything else comes to mind.
Love the Office, Hate NFL by Black Satin 2	Dec 1st, 2006 05:37:06 AM
That was a great ep. Loved the way the show took that premise of ex-con and did something remarkably fresh with it. NFL: Leave me alone Aren't there ENOUGH things on Thurs. NBA, Greys, CSI, Betty,The NBC comedies,College Football, College Basketball, Hockey. Well, maybe not Hockey but Jeesh!
AD Season 3 by BanAllFIRSTPosters	Dec 1st, 2006 05:50:44 AM
The last season was pretty much forced into having closure for all the characters involved. I agree that both Gob and Tobias were wrongly placed on the backburner but there were only...what? 13 episodes for season 3? I still mourn the cancellation to this day.
"Technology is cyclical." by tonagan	Dec 1st, 2006 07:05:29 AM
That line alone made tonight's 30 Rock a great episode for me.
seinfeld by arrangedletters	Dec 1st, 2006 08:56:29 AM
was never funny
The last 30 seconds of the show ... by Itchy	Dec 1st, 2006 09:09:33 AM
with Andy serenading Pam on the coach with a banjo playing pig-latin version of Rainbow Connection might be the funniest thing I ever saw. No one in that scene could keep a straight face. It just displaced the 2 second flash of DUI Roy as the best Office moment ever.
tonagan, I agree. That line and... by beastie	Dec 1st, 2006 09:44:13 AM
..."No. He doesn't need a mentor. That man has it ALL figured out".
TOO SOON by Pageiv	Dec 1st, 2006 09:55:22 AM
OHHHHHHHHHHHHH crap!! I thought it was rerun!!!!
here it is for whoever didn't watch it by roccotheripper	Dec 1st, 2006 10:21:34 AM
http://www.dailymotion.com/vis ited/search/The%20Convict/vide o/xq8h6_the-office-s03e09-the- convict
Who Dat Ninja?? by scratcher	Dec 1st, 2006 12:24:16 PM
You've gotta give 30 Rock a chance. I've been a fan of all the other 3 shows from the beginning, but I look forward to 30 Rock more than the others. Alec Baldwin should win an Emmy - he makes every line hilarious. My favorite from last night - "I'm waiting for a call from 1983." Last week's product placement episode was the best so far, so download it if you missed it, and try to dispute the genius that is 30 Rock.
One of the best episodes ever... by Cruel_Kingdom	Dec 1st, 2006 12:25:27 PM
I really liked this episode a lot. Prison Mike cracked me up, too.
An ordinary episode, which is to say it was great... by Freakemovie	Dec 1st, 2006 12:28:09 PM
But for Gervais & Merchant I'm surprised it wasn't as clearly superior. Then again, they're really good at writing to Gervais's own strengths as a performer, so it's a different ball game. I missed the part where their names showed up as the writers, so I didn't know they wrote it until just now. I thought it was a pretty good episode, not better or worse than most of the others.
not enough dwight by roccotheripper	Dec 1st, 2006 01:07:13 PM
andy replaced dwight in this episode. still really funny tho
Apollo Creed by Jack Burton	Dec 1st, 2006 03:17:04 PM
By far the funniest scene was when Michael was listing the black men he trusted more then white men. When someone said "Jesus" and his response was "Apollo Creed" I had to pause and rewind I was laughing so hard. It was not the best ep this season (that would be the gay episode) but this show is still the funniest comedy currently on TV.
contracts by imageburn13	Dec 1st, 2006 03:27:45 PM
according to Jenna Fischer/Pam's myspace page, they all have signed long term contracts. Whether or not this applies to Steve Carrell I dont know, but i'm just thinking positively and going with what she said.
Great episode by wash	Dec 1st, 2006 06:57:47 PM
And entirely consistent with the characters. Just with more funny than usual. I'm Prison Mike's beeeeaach.
Office vs Arrested Development by werideatdusk	Dec 2nd, 2006 12:09:18 AM
The Office is definitely not as clever as Arrested Development, but it has a lot more heart and more genuine inter-character drama. I'd say both shows stumbled quite a bit in their third seasons. I'd also say they're two of the best comedies I've ever seen.
How annoying! by Chilly	Dec 2nd, 2006 06:59:42 AM
I checked in to read about Ricky/Steve's input into the US Office and what do I get? A full-pitched forum on Arrested Development, I show I discovered and fell in love with far too late. Does this mean I now have to check on every single talkback on everything, on the off-chance that it might touch upon other stuff I want to hear opinions on? Does AICN's search engine take you into forums to read stuff on, say, AD, even if it isn't related to the main talkback?
Jenna Fischer by NNNOOO!!!	Dec 2nd, 2006 04:36:51 PM
Her 'interview' after Andy takes his first shot was priceless. Just the way you know she's smiling because she knows Jim set it up, and knows her that well.
I dont' get all the love for Scrubs by INWOsuxRED	Dec 2nd, 2006 11:45:56 PM
It just seems so forced and desperate to me. I wanted to hate 30 Rock for many reasons, but everything I've seen (I'm not sure how many I've missed) has been great. I don't imagine Scrubs will be back next season, so I wonder what will fill the gap, assuming NBC has the balls to stick with a high quailty third place finish on Thursdays.
I dont get all the love for gervaise. by emeraldboy	Dec 3rd, 2006 07:03:44 AM
I have seen the office and Extras. both series. There is something about him and his comedy that I find odious and nasty. I think it might be making jokes at other peoples expense. I do realise that Brent is a fictional character as are all the characters in Brent or Andy millmans world but it is hard to tell where Brent ends and gervaise begins. I Watched the first series of Extras all the way to its clever finale, where he sets up through Patrick stewart his sitcom at the BBC. Is there anything funny about failure, that is what the second series was about. His sitcom and how it failed. The office finale was sweet but I think that Gervaise and Merchant have made a mistake by bring their show to the US. American Comedies tend to last for a decade (the simpsons being the glorious exception, ie it has been on the air for two) and american comedies do tend to run out of steam. I think Gervaise was wise to pull the show after two series. Move on to something new. If evan almighty is huge success it will mean more film work for him and less time for tv. This new darker brit comedy doesnt sit well with me. Lead Ballon has been a huge success for Jack Dee and the BBC. For those who havent seen it Jack Dee veteran 20-year comic and the most morose man on the UK comedy circuit plays a version of himself ie Stand up comic who fails at everything he does including comedy, the term of the show comes from going down like a lead balloon.
If Carell leaves.... by Poacher	Dec 4th, 2006 12:48:06 AM
They should end the show...if they wanna keep the characters like Jim and Dwight then make a spinoff, call it something else, but don't call it "the Office."

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Herc Gives Tonight’s OFFICE, Scripted by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, Four Stars!!

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