I don't want to have to moderate comments because it really DOES make it less interesting to not see the posts immediately.  On the other hand, I'm tired of having to scroll through the entire pasted contents of my website every 5 messages. 

Let me know what YOU guys want.  Would you rather I just leave them open?

Nice work, Gary.

EDIT:

Here's some love for the other side.



*This is in no way an endoresment of John McCain or the Republican party in general. 

IT'S TIME TO SAY GOODBYE - SPECIAL ONE HOUR SEASON FINALE - OSCAR NOMINEE AMY RYAN ("Gone Baby Gone") GUEST STARS - It's Toby's (Paul Lieberstein) goodbye party at Dunder Mifflin and Michael (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) demands a huge celebration that matches the joy in his heart. Angela (Angela Kinsey), sick of Michael's unreasonable last minute demands, refuses, and Michael turns to Phyllis (Phyllis Smith) to take over the party planning committee. Meanwhile, Dwight (Rainn Wilson) and Meredith (Kate Flannery) haze the new HR woman, Holly (Oscar Nominee Amy Ryan). John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, B.J. Novak, Melora Hardin, Ed Helms, Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Oscar Nunez, Mindy Kaling, Creed Bratton, and Craig Robinson also star.

As always, leave your comments below.  Join Kevin and me in the TWSS Chat room immediately following the conclusion of the episode.  If you'd like to leave an audio comment (which might end up on the next episode of the podcast) call 206-666-FRAT and leave a voicemail.

Oh, and don't forget that Paul Lieberstein will be doing a live blog over at NBC.com after the finale.  Hmmm... chat with us, watch the blog... decisions, decisions!

(The blog will always be there, if it helps to make your choice...)

Well, looks like I owe John McCain a can of Duff... according to BJ Novak he IS a fan of the show (or at least knows the "Dinner Party" episode). Now the only burning question is "is OBAMA a fan"?  Maybe we'll see an OFFICE "quote-off" in November... extra bonus points to whichever candidate quotes from "Dwight's Speech" in their inaugural...

TWSS listener Greta pointed out that the folks over at TBPP have released an uncut version of the interview which runs about 40 minutes.  I haven't had a chance to listen to it yet, but we'll definitely share any useful information we find in the next episode of the podcast.

Jim (John Krasinski) hits the links with Andy (Ed Helms) and Kevin (Brian Baumgartner) to try and land his biggest client ever. Meanwhile, Michael (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) sets up a booth at a local job fair, which happens to be at Pam's (Jenna Fischer) alma mater, to find "the best and the brightest" for Dunder Mifflin's summer internship. Rainn Wilson, B.J. Novak, Leslie David Baker, Angela Kinsey, Creed Bratton, Oscar Nunez, Kate Flannery, Mindy Kaling, Paul Lieberstein, Phyllis Smith and Craig Robinson also star.

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Leave your comments below, and join Kevin and me in the TWSS chat after the show.

TAKING ON THE BOSS - When Stanley (Leslie David Baker) snaps at Michael (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) during a meeting, Michael tries to give Stanley an attitude adjustment. Dwight (Rainn Wilson) decides to buy Andy's (Ed Helms) car. Meanwhile, Pam (Jenna Fischer) deals with an unexpected inconvenience after spending the night at Jim's (John Krasinski). Brian Baumgarter, Kate Flannery, Angela Kinsey, Oscar Nunez, Phyllis Smith, Mindy Kaling, Paul Lieberstein, Craig Robinson and Creed Bratton also star.

As always, leave your comments below.

EDIT:

Here's a link to a large size picture of the organizational chart. Whose name is crossed off on the accountants side? And if Devon is here, where are the other Stamford people? :)

EDIT 2:

NBC has made a PDF file of the chart available for download. Click HERE to get the PDF of Dwight's "emergency" plan overlay.

Michael (Steve Carell) and Dwight (Rainn Wilson) decide to surprise Ryan (B.J. Novak) in New York for a night of clubbing and meet his friends. Meanwhile, the Scranton branch is upset when they find out they have to come in on a Saturday for Ryan's website project. Jim's plan to save them has unexpected results. Brian Baumgartner, Ed Helms, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, Paul Lieberstein, Oscar Nunez, Angela Kinsey, Phyllis Smith, Mindy Kaling, Leslie David Baker, Kate Flannery, Craig Robinson and Creed Bratton also star.

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Leave your comments below, and look for Kevin and me in the TWSS CHATROOM after the show airs (Kevin's got the Pacific shift).

Michael's (Steve Carell) fascination with a woman modeling a chair in an office supply catalog makes him feel things he hasn't felt in a while. With Michael distracted, Kevin (Brian Baumgartner) and Andy (Ed Helms) team up to win back Dunder Mifflin's stolen parking spaces, forcing them into a showdown with the bosses of the five businesses of the office park. Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, Oscar Nunez, Angela Kinsey, Phyllis Smith, Mindy Kaling, Leslie David Baker, Melora Hardin, Kate Flannery and Creed Bratton also star.

Funny thing is, I've seen at least two "screwball" comedies from the 1930s in the last month and a half-- "Mr. Deeds Goes To Town," and "It Happened One Night." George Clooney's "Leatherheads" takes a generous helping of inspiration from BOTH of these classic films, and while it gets some of the tone and trappings right, it just can't seem to find the HEART.

John Krasinski, as many of you know, plays and "up and coming" college phenom nick-named "The Bullet." He's an all-American guy, great football player and a war hero to boot.  He's got endorsements up the wazoo, and a promising law career ahead of him after he graduates.  Clooney plays the sort of manager, sort of press agent, sort of "star" of a rag-tag bunch of losers collectively known as the Duluth Bulldogs.  Professional football is still a joke, and the Bulldogs succumb to low ticket sales and general disinterest.  Rather than find other work, Clooney comes up with a plan-- do whatever it takes to make sure Krasinski plays for HIS team. 

Back in Chicago, Renee Zellweger plays a "gal reporter with moxie," who, much like Jean Arthur's character in "Mr. Deeds...," is charged with getting close to and then getting the DIRT on "The Bullet," who seems too good to be true.  Just like Claudette Colbert's character in "It Happened...," Zellweger ALSO starts falling more and more for Clooney's "Clark Gable-esque" rascally ways as they spend more and more time together. To make it a classic triangle, she ALSO seems to be falling for Krasinski, and he definitely seems to be falling for her-- so much so that he lets her in on a rather damning secret which may or may not end his career or damage his good name (it's never really clear WHAT will happen as a result of this information leaking out, actually).

This is essentially where the movie lost me.  The antics showing the early days of football were mostly amusing and interesting, and if the film would have STUCK with that angle, it might have been more entertaining in the long run.  Instead, it focusses on the love triangle.  No big deal, right? Colbert had to throw off her drip of a fiance in order to be with Gable.  Surely, like Arthur's character, Zellweger will suffer a crisis of conscience, repent of her evil, deceptive ways, beg forgiveness of the man she's double-crossed, and ultimately come to his defense... right?  WRONG. 

Bafflingly, the movie wants to set up Krasinski as the "villain" to Clooney's hero, but it just doesn't work.  We LIKE "The Bullet," we know his war story wasn't really his fault, and we never see him acting like a jerk or using his fame to manipulate people or do anything worse than take a swing at a man who has stolen his girl.  Zellweger, far from having to search her soul about what to do with the hot story, sells him out in a heartbeat... and the movie wants the audience to be on HER side when she's then threatened with being fired.  Frank Capra would have known that for the audience to be on her side we need Krasinski to be a total douche, twisting his mustache and threatening to "ruin her" or something.  But Krasinski, as I said, is a NICE guy.  I don't want to see him ruined, and I certainly wasn't on the side of a woman who'd romance a secret out of a guy and use it to crucify him (the scene Clooney orchestrates to humiliate him into confessing is also rather painful).

As if that wasn't enough, the film sends Krasinski's character to the arch-rival Chicago Buffalos team mere days before the Bulldogs are set to play them.  I guess this was also supposed to get us to see Krasinski as a bad guy or a traitor, but it still doesn't work: there are absolutely no stakes in the final game, I didn't really care if the Bulldogs won or not, and I still wasn't quite sure why Clooney-- and the audience-- was supposed to be rooting against Krasinski's character.

In the end, The Bulldogs win, Krasinski promisses to "fess up," Clooney gets the girl, and they ride off into the sunset towards connubial bliss. 

As the credits began to roll, I realized a few things: one, that the movie was an interesting attempt to recreate a certain long-lost film style, and two, I simply couldn't have cared less that Clooney and Zellweger got together. 

After further review, though, maybe they deserved each other after all.

Did you know that WWI (a.k.a. "the great war") ended in 1918? Given the year "Leatherheads" takes place (1925), and the fact that Carter seems to imply that he is 24 years old, he would have been all of 17 years old (maximum) when the "incident" took place. 

I got a chuckle out of some of the comments in the NYT article-- since the show was unnamed, the author asked, what names would its readers suggest for the show?

Reader Jaimie quipped: 'I think they should name it something like âCreative Oversightâ or âGigantic Error.â'

Damn right, Jaimie.

Can anyone REALLY see it as a good idea to split the attention of THE OFFICE's writing staff? A good idea to take characters from one of the most beloved and talented ensembles ever assembled and shuffle some of them off to another show?  THE OFFICE is amazing BECAUSE it has such a huge cast of characters... it's a TEAM effort, through and through. 

Sure, THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW gave birth to RHODA, THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW begat MAYBERRY RFD, ALL IN THE FAMILY spawned THE JEFFERSONS (and MAUDE), and DOCTOR WHO led into TORCHWOOD.  I GET the concept.  I know it's worked in the past, but it just makes me incredibly sad to think that one of the best shows on TV is going to screwed with in this way. 

For those people who say "But everyone said an AMERICAN remake of THE OFFICE would suck, and look how it turned out," I say "Bah."  The situations aren't analgous in the least.  The UK show was over, the American version took the pilot idea and ran with it, quickly making the show a very distinct beast.  None of the UK cast came to America, the UK audience didn't have to watch David Brent or Tim suddenly relocate to Scranton, PA, being replaced by some new "nobodies" (or even worse, not replaced at all).

Will I watch the new show? Of course.  Maybe I'll even love it.  But right now, it just worries me more than anything else.

They're both pretty amusing and charming, and John dishes about the future for Jim and Pam-- "Babies. Pam and Jim have Babies. Sextuplets."

Click the video above for a brief sample, and click on the Moviefone link at the top of the post for the entire segment.

In a new book published by Wiley-Blackwell, âThe Office and Philosophy:Scenes From The Unexamined Lifeâ, Editor and contributor Jeremy Wisnewski has assembled an impressive team of fellow philosophers who take a good look at the popular NBC Television program, âThe Officeâ.

Originally a BBC creation, the hugely popular show has spawned not just the multi-award winning American version, but French, German, and Canadian versions as well. Each plays to their individual cultures. This speaks volumes about the depth and insight of The Office.

According to the editor, Professor J. Jeremy Wisnewski, âThis show is hilarious, but it has something to say. Our book was written by fans for fans â every day folks who appreciate the show and who are a little more like Michael Scott than Socrates. We grouped the sections like office memos; each one reveals something new about The Office. It raises issues and lets us enjoy ourselves at the same time.â

Readers will identify with the topics the book raises in chapters such as âLaughter Between Distraction and Awakening: Marxist Themes in The Office,â and âAttacking with the North: Affirmative Action and The Office.â The authors cite the perception of class and race differences in the office environment, as well as the differences between the British and American versions of the program. The Office and Philosophy examines the close and personal connection that viewers feel towards a fictional interpretation of a collective and common reality.

The book works to further break down the â4th wallâ of the showâs audience. The author contemplates why viewers are fascinated by a world where it is acceptable to make outrageous statements and voice beliefs not normally appropriate in a workplace. âThe program offers insight into social expectations and plays with the boundaries of behavior and social mores.â [VF1]

The manner in which the characters resolve and cope with these remarkable circumstances allow the audience to identify with how they may be able to resolve their own issues. The book delves into the process of self-discovery and self-deception. âWe can see bit of ourselves in each characterâ, says Wisnewski. âWeâre the analyst and the analyzed at the same time.â

Political correctness, sexual harassment, business ethics, office flirtation, and humiliation are hot button points that show up in this snapshot of life. Even as it captures something of the human condition, The Office put the âfunâ in dysfunctional. âThis is philosophy that is meant to introduce you to, and help you understand, issues in a way that is as enjoyable as the show itself.â

There was a lot of talk about Rashida Jones potentially returning to  The Office this season, but then her Fox pilot was picked up and next  thing you know Jim Halpert is driving home from NYC looking for  dinner with Pam.

Unhitched recently debuted, and is also available on iTunes. I had a  chance to sample the first episode last week when it was free on  iTunes. Rashida Jones must have landed a winner if she was willing to  leave a plum role on The Office, right? Wrong. Unhitched is awful.

As if the phallic promo photo wasn't bad enough, the show was boring,  trying-too-hard- but-not-hard-enough-to-be edgy, and most of all not  funny. Check it out on Fox... while it lasts.

Matt says:

I've seen the majority of the first two episodes, and I have to agree with Kevin for the most part.  The show desperately wants to be the new "Seinfeld" (and Fox's ads for the show certainly go out of their way to make the same connection), but so far it seems more on par with the "made for cable" sitcoms currently airing on TBS. 

Did I laugh at the "shrimp/angel wing/skin tag" plotline from this past week's episode?  Not really... it certainly WAS rather disturbing (which makes sense, seeing as the show is a product of the Farrelly brothers).  All told, though, I actually sort of liked the "B" story of the mild-mannered doctor friend "Freddy" (played by Shaun Majumder). As for Jones' story... pretty forgettable.

Have you ever seen the first NEW episode of FAMILY GUY after it returned from cancellation? The one where Peter reads off a list of about 50 cancelled Fox TV shows?  I have a feeling UNHITCHED will be joining that list sometime soon.  I predict a big return for Karen in season five.

Because of all the new spam lately, I have turned off unmoderated comments.  If you leave a comment, I will have to approve it in order for it to show up.  Hopefully we can figure out what is going on and get back to normal soon.

EDIT:

The AP posted a brief comment from Rainn Wilson today, regarding the end of the strike:

Rainn Wilson, a Writers Guild member and co-star of "The Office," said he was hearing that everyone on the show will report back on March 10 to shoot six more episodes.

Early on, the strike was a hiatus from the daily grind for some. By Tuesday night's overwhelming vote to end the walkout, it was clear they were eager to get back to work.

"The break has been long enough," Wilson said. "Everyone slyly around December was like, 'Actually, this is kind of cool.' Then it was January, February, you know, so we're ready to get back."

Forget about getting a straight answer from the cast of "The Office," winners of SAG's comedy series ensemble award. In fact, forget about staying more than five seconds on a topic with the way the actors cut up the back room. How hard is it to keep a straight face? "It's very hard to keep a straight face," castmember Brian Baumgartner said with a straight face. "I'm thinking they should have a trophy check," B.J. Novak interjected, "like a coat check, but for trophies." Getting back to the awards at hand, Novak joked about the cost of his SAG card: "I donated 25 bucks to KCRW, and six weeks later, my SAG card came in the mail." Saving management for last, a smirking Steve Carell joked that "Office" creator Ricky Gervais was jealous of the success of the American version of the series. "In fact, before the show, I was downstairs in the restroom, and he was there, and he leaned over the urinal, looked at me, and said, 'I knew it!' That's my Ricky Gervais story." Carell added that he couldn't wait to be on Gervais' HBO series "Extras." "I'll follow him wherever he goes," he said. Finally, a straight answer.

(Why do I find the idea of Toby Flenderson writing "The Kings Of Comedy" material so amusing? Maybe this is the real life origin of the "Michael does Chris Rock" incident? :))

Rainn Wilson has reportedly been calling Angela every few weeks and asking her how "Dwight's baby" is doing.  Man, as if his turn in JUNO wasn't creepy enough... (^_^;).

Wilson's comments go back to what we mentioned before-- how would the writers have dealt with Angela's pregnancy IN SHOW? Lots of baggy clothes and hiding behind filing cabinets, or would it have been played as Dwight's love-child?  I can't imagine they'd have gone that route, since there isn't much deadlier to an ensemble comedy than adding an infant into the mix. I guess it will go down as one of those unanswered questions. 

'Office' relocates to Latin America -- BBC licenses comedy for Chilean remake

By BOBBIE WHITEMAN

BBC Worldwide Americas has licensed "The Office" for a local remake in Chile.

It's the first format deal in Latin America for Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's comedy and the first Spanish-language version.

"We stopped making 'The Office' in 2003, but the rest of the world didn't," Gervais said. "I won't be happy until I see an Inuit doing the dance."

"The Office" airs in 90 countries, with remakes in the U.S., France and Germany.

The license covers season's one and two of the office-set spoof documentary plus end-of-season specials. Chilecorto and Canal 13-Chile, part of leading Chilean network UCTV, will begin production early this year; the show will air on Canal 13-Chile in May.

Chilean actor Luis Gnecco will play the role of the smug boss played by Gervais in the British version (and Steve Carell in the NBC remake), which has gone into syndication.

BBC Worldwide will advise on the production, and Duncan Cooper, BBC Worldwide's executive producer of formats and local production, will assist Chilecorto and Canal 13-Chile in the show's development.

Carmen Gloria Lopez, head of programming at Canal 13-Chile, said: "From watching 'The Office,' we realized very quickly that the working day in Chile is actually very similar to office life in the U.K. and America. Our production will show you we have more in common than you might think."