just when we thought parks and rec couldn’t get better

Bobby fucking Newport

Not only a great Sweetums callback but the choice of a hilariously self aware Paul Rudd as the spoiled, dimwitted candy heir and would be city councilman us spot on. No surprise though, even if Aziz might not give a fuck about going 0 for 82, the Parks and Rec squad is looking like the 96 Bulls.

oh yeah 

#cancelwhitney , #savecommunity , #sixseasonsandamovie

20 January 3 Permalink

jim and pam: the slow and painful death of the office

This was an awesome moment for any Office fan. From Seasons 1 and 2 watching poor Jim as he had to watch Pam and Roy, to sweating out whether Jim might be over Pam and happy wither Ann Perk…er Karen Filepelli, to Pam leaving for art school in New York, to a nightmare wedding scenario in Niagra. Finally, Jim and Pam manage to escape to get married on their own, and, having finally gotten the girl, Jim gives his class smirk to the camera.

And then The Office died.  

Now, I am of the opinion that the American Office far surpassed the British original.  Maybe it’s just not what I appreciate, but the British version is just fucking SAD and the people are MEAN. I don’t find myself rooting for or identifying with Tim Canterbury  they way I do with Jim Halpert. I think the scale of the American show has also generally worked to its advantage. In only 14 total episodes, the original British characters don’t have much time to be fleshed out, but at Dunder Mifflin, we know that in addition to being a Cornell grad, Andy Bernard was in the “Here Comes Treble” a capella group with the likes of “Broccoli Rob” and “Lunchbox.” Overall, it makes me care more about these people, because I know who they each are (well except for Creed Bratton). 

However, the conflict of The Office died with Jim and Pam’s wedding.  The show is ostensibly about how these two normal people survive the insanity of their coworkers and their blase office existence.  It is apparent to the audience that they are perfect for each other, even when it isn’t to them. That fact alone is the crux of the first three seasons of the show. Sure you laugh at “That’s what she said” and the string of bear and beet facts imparted by one Dwight K. Schrute, but the truth is no one would care if they weren’t watching Jim and Pam fight to understand their feelings for each other.

By putting them together in Season 4, the downward fate of the Office had been sealed.  The strong supporting characters, along with the train wreck of Michael and Jan, as well as just sheer excitement over seeing Jim and Pam together was enough to push season 4 right along, with the minor road block of Art School and engagement in season 5 keeping things interesting as well.  When Jim and Pam tie the knot though, it becomes apparent that it’s over.

Why? Because Jim and Pam are perfect.  They can’t ever fight. Really, if you’re a fan of the show, imagine a storyline where Jim and Pam have a troubled marriage…..thought so.  Once they started dating, the characters were doomed to perfection, and thus immediately became less compelling.  If writers ever introduced serious relationship issues between these characters, fans would RIOT.  This isn’t just because of some sappy emotional fan connection, the reaction would only be appropriate, based on what the writers have told us.  From the first episode of the series, it is drilled into the viewer’s brain that these two characters are legitimately perfect for each other.  Seeing two people who are perfectly matched not be together is extremely compelling.  Watching a perfect couple exist happily, have babies, and be in love is boring as shit.

What really sucks about this aspect of the demise of The Office is that it is born directly out of what once made it great. If Jim and Pam hadn’t been so goddamn great, they wouldn’t be so goddamn disappointing.

oh and by the way, even the worst episode of a declining office is infinitely better than Whitney.

Whitney is a disgrace.

#cancelwhitney

18 January 4 Permalink