Shifty: A lot of people want them to stay in the office, have more work minded plots but really, I'm happy either way. I wonder if Dwight will feed them beets, then make them watch BSG?n

BTW, Pam breasts are just ok and I seen the actress Jenna outfits in other movies and they are just okay! Why do fanboys find women like Tina Fey, Jenna, and Rachel, and that Mystery Men woman hot?

And I agree that the hour format has watered down the sharp edged, quick hitting aspect of the 30 min show.

On the great "Michael driving into the lake" question, I am sympathetic to the viewpoint that he did it on purpose (consciously or subconsciously) to prove some point about using technology instead of human interaction. I do think that they could have played the scene a little differently if that is the point they wanted to make (e.g. when Dwight was saying "no, Michael, don't!" he could have said something like, "No, this is what the computer said to do. We have to trust computers now.")

The way they did play it, it seemed more to me like the Michael personality tic they were emphasizing was his tendency, when something he's doing is going badly and he doesn't know what to do, to keep foolishly pushing on rather than stop and think. I thought driving the car into the lake was a bit of a stretch either way; I thought him demanding back the basket and thinking by getting it back he had somehow 'won' was a much better example of the skewed logic he lives his life by.

Cuz it couldn't be just a comedy bit that didn't play well. No. That is inconceivable.

I hear new religions are forming to worship the various mutant hybrid animal gods that Michael named in the equally unfunny bit from before....

What a sweetheart to prop up Dwight when his world is crashing around him.

The breaking up with Angela storyline is going to really let them go good places creatively, especially with Andy seriously in the mix. Ed Helms was amazing. Check out the look in his eyes as he's doing a cappella with the two phones (a genius gag, by the way) -- he's doing this fantastic "please love me" thing that totally makes it work, and shows why Angela might be affected by it.

The pizza guy kidnapping bit was a little bizarre, but I loved all the little true-to-life touches like them being obsessed with the bouncing DVD screensaver, or everyone having an opinion about what local pizza place is better than the other. And the scene at the end, with Michael and Dwight sitting on the hood of the car, really brought back a little of that dark, sad tone from Seasons 2-3 that makes this show special.

What's a Jim?

Does he drink Starbucks coffee, too--cuz then watching Earl puts money in his pocket that he then spends on Starbucks, so Watching Earl = Supporting Starbucks.

I mean, if the entire cast, crew, and production company were funded by scientology, and all profits went to the 'church' then I guess maybe I could see it.

Or if it was blatantly promoting scientology...

I guess I can't watch 24 anymore, since that is supporting DUI--Keiffer drives drunk you know....

the more people watch, the better the ratings, the more money that the creator and stars get, and the more money they put into scientology. I don't buy R Kelly albums either.

Yes, she actually smiles. You might not even recognize her when she flashes that smile.

and so, yes, if someone is an active and vocal member of the "church" of scientology (they just call it a church so they get tax breaks and don't have to open their financial records to the government) then I'm much less likely to see their stuff. no my name is earl. no paul haggis written or directed piles of shit, no tom cruise movies. no john travolta. the irony is, in general, giving up these people's "art" isn't much of a sacrifice. if someone needs scientology to either kickstart or reinvigorate their career, then it means they probably couldn't succeed on their own merits. so missing out on their stuff is actually a blessing. R Kelly is much the same story, his music is boring as hell, even besides him being a child rapist.

polanski's hard though. because there were weird circumstances sorrounding what he allegedly did. and also, man, the Pianist was just so amazing. but I see where you're coming from.