Episode # 42 -- "Night Out" (4/24/08) Episode # 42 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds both Matt and Kevin lost in a land of Hobbits and amazons. You know, it's not the horniness... it's the LONLINESS that gets you. A string of non-Crawford-esque dates has Michael up against the wall, but nothing solves a dry spell like a night of clubbing in NYC with your coked-up boss/ex-protege. At least the man from Schrute Farm managed to PULL like a team of Clydesdales. Jim's second attempt to be Michael goes as well as the first, as he manages to get everyone locked in, be racially insensitive, AND watch his best girl get man-handled by the HR rep... a perfect trifecta of sadness. One thing's for sure-- that Toby's got hops. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. Check out Kevin's blog and podcast at the-frat-pack. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
Direct download: TWSS42.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:36am EDT
Comments[20]

Friend of the show Brian Howard, of the Remote Access TV Blog, posted the first part of a two part interview yesterday with Cassie Fliegel  AKA Tall Girl #1 AKA the hot chick that made out with Dwight during the NIGHT OUT episode.

Check out the interview HERE, and look for the second part to be posted sometime soon.


Category:general -- posted at: 12:02pm EDT
Comments[2]

I still cannot comprehend how the image below could ever come to pass, but I suppose I have only mere hours to wait for an explanation.



From NBC.com:

NIGHT OUT
9/8c TV-PG
04.24.2008


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.

-----------------

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

Category:general -- posted at: 11:46am EDT
Comments[52]

**WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD**

I know we just complained about spoilers in episode #41, but since most of this info is spoiler-y without being specific, I figure it's OK.  In the latest "Ask Ausiello" column, we get three new (sort of) tidbits of information:

SPOILERS ARE IN WHITE TEXT IN THE SPACE BELOW.  TO SEE THEM, CLICK AND HOLD THE LEFT MOUSE BUTTON WHILE DRAGGING DOWNWARD.

1) One couple is getting engaged in the finale

Seems too obvious that it'd be Jim and Pam.  My money is on Dwangela, mostly because it'd make me cry if Michael and Jan got back together.

2) One cast member is leaving the show

Nothing new there, really.  We've known this since Silverman's big announcement of the spinoff.

3) When asked if Amanda Peet would be the new "boss" on the spinoff show (not sure where that rumor floated from), Ausiello replied "Y*s! C*ng*at*lati*ns!" (whatever the hell THAT means). 

So is he agreeing? Is it some secret code?  Is NBC ready to have Peet as the boss of yet another failed show on their network?

In other spoiler news, E!'s "Watch with Kristin" said that Pam was going to be revealing some "secret" before the end of the season.  I figured that it would have something to do with why she couldn't agree to the engagement (that she'd taken another job-- the DM art internship-- perhaps?).  Might tie in with the "one cast member is leaving" (sort of) cliffhanger for the season finale. 



Category:general -- posted at: 8:16pm EDT
Comments[13]

Episode # 41 -- "Chair Model" (4/17/08) Episode # 41 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds Matt and Kevin both craving a hot and juicy red-head. Where were YOU, the day the chair model died? Michael finds more than just a great Aeron chair in the newest supply catalog, and feels ready to enter the next phase of his dating life... if only the rest of the office would cooperate. Sure, she's feisty, but can she fit into an average-sized rowboat? Parking problems cause Kevin and Andy to confront the five families with an offer they (hopefully) can't refuse, and a shocking revelation for PB and J that is going to kick your ass. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. Check out Kevin's blog and podcast at the-frat-pack. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
Direct download: TWSS41.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:54pm EDT
Comments[24]

Yes, it's true... I am indeed SICK again.  I felt perfectly fine last Wednesday until I had to pick my parents up from the airport.  One hour later, BAM.  Sore throat, congestion, the whole nine yards. 

Kevin and I recorded the show last night, so all that remains is the editing.  As I said, HOPEFULLY that means it will be online sometime tonight.

Thanks for your patience.


Category:general -- posted at: 11:46am EDT
Comments[9]

In conjunction with the May release of GET SMART, the most recent issue of WIRED magazine explores ways to "improve your brainpower."  Steve Carell not only appears on the magazine's cover, but he also provides several rather tongue-in-cheek suggestions of his own on how to gently tease the old grey matter onward to new heights of excellence. 



One tidbit:

Act "Human"
When I go to parties, people often look stunned at how smart I am. But nobody wants to talk about astrophysics at a dinner party. Hey, when I want to talk like that, I head to the lab! Instead, I talk about "human" things they enjoy and understand: midrange wines, movie trivia, and mundane subjects like family and emotional fulfillment. I like to end my conversations with a quote, usually something in French, like "c'est la vie," which means "down the hatch!" But don't overdo it: Nobody likes a show-off.

Check newsstands now, or head over to WIRED.com for the article.


Category:general -- posted at: 10:28am EDT
Comments[0]

A month has passed since the ill-fated dinner party... can't wait to see what we'll get in the first "post-strike" written episode.  *IS* this episode the introduction of the spinoff characters? Will Michael find a new "special someone"? I guess only time will tell.

Watch the full episode NOW:



CHAIR MODEL
9/8c TV-PG
04.17.2008


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.

----------------

Leave your comments below, and don't forget to join us in the chatroom immediately following the episode.

Category:general -- posted at: 11:51pm EDT
Comments[45]

Episode # 40 -- Dinner Party (04/10/08) Episode # 40 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds Matt and Kevin arguing about who's going to be sleeping on the bench. Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf? Why, Michael Scott of course. Michael finally tricks Jim and Pam into attending a dinner party, and surely nothing awkward could happen, right? Add a healthy dose of wine, the heady stench of homemade candles, a dash of Andy-gela, Dwight (plus guest), one amazing power ballad, shake, and watch relationships explode like Diet Coke and Mentos. Here's hoping Michael enjoys the irrigation room.  SERENITY NOW! Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. Check out Kevin's blog and podcast at the-frat-pack. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
Direct download: TWSS40.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:26pm EDT
Comments[24]

So I'm editing the "Dinner Party" episode of TWSS right now and watching the MY NAME IS EARL episode "Stole P's HD Cart" on TBS.  What do I see in the background but the very burger joint that Pam & Jim hit at the end of the episode?

The image is kind of small, but you can make it out:



It's a "Winky Dinky Dog" franchise in MNIE.  Not sure what it is in the universe of THE OFFICE. 

Best damn cheeseburgers in town, though.


Category:general -- posted at: 10:08pm EDT
Comments[3]

Man o man, this is getting ridiculous: The NBC Universal store is now offering "Serenity by Jan" candle sets.  There are three different sets, each with 4 different candles.  I'm not sure how "bonfire" ends up smelling like hazelnut, but you can't expect a TRUE Jan original for only $15.


Category:general -- posted at: 2:53pm EDT
Comments[4]

Hard to believe, but a new episode is finally here! From NBC.com:



DINNER PARTY

9/8c TV-PG
04.10.2008


GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER - Pam (Jenna Fischer) and Jim (John Krasinski) find they have run out of excuses and are forced to go to Jan (Melora Hardin) and Michael's (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) house for dinner. When Andy (Ed Helms) and Angela (Angela Kinsey) are also invited to dinner, Dwight's (Rainn Wilson) jealousy gets the best of him. Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, Oscar Nunez, Phyllis Smith, Paul Lieberstein, Mindy Kaling and Creed Bratton also star.

As always, leave your comments below.

Category:general -- posted at: 11:59pm EDT
Comments[45]

With the return of our favorite show tomorrow, TV Guide's Michael Ausiello dove into a triumvirate of The Office "spoilers" in today's column

I won't spoil the "JAM" stuff he mentions, but I definitely want to discuss the following in light of our "the spinoff is a horrible idea" stance:

Question: What do you know about the Office spin-off? — J.R.

Ausiello: I know that, contrary to speculation, it will not revolve around Dwight. According to an insider, the Michael-Dwight dynamic is "too integral to the show." The likelier scenario, according to a Peacock insider, has Ed Helms' Andy headlining Office 2.0. "That idea was batted around prior to the strike," whispers my source, "and NBC seemed interested."

Despite my initial "no way!" reaction, this sort of makes sense.  Ed Helms is definitely a "bigger name" than some of the other actors on the show, and while I've enjoyed him in season 4, both Ian and I always felt that the Andy character was a bit too redundant (half Michael/half Dwight).  If anyone were to leave the current show, I think I'd miss Andy the least.

The only problem I have with this is that it seems to imply a "more of the same" kind of sequel show.  As I said in episode # 39, I do NOT want to see "The Office 2.0" in the spinoff.  If they can take the Andy character and put him in an environment that's different enough from the Dunder Mifflin digs, it just might work.  Until we see more concrete plans, however, I'm going to reserve any more judgement.

(BTW, Ausiello also makes it clear in this column that Greg Daniels and NBC would be "insane" to not consider ex-Gilmore Girl Lauren Graham for the "new Michael" role in the spinoff.  This just in: Ausiello smokes crack.  News at 11...)

Disclaimer: AFAIK, Michael Ausiello does not smoke crack.

Thanks to Ian for the tip.
 


Category:general -- posted at: 10:30pm EDT
Comments[4]

Timed to both promote "Leatherheads" AND the return of THE OFFICE this week, The Onion AV Club ran a rather lengthy interview with everyone's favorite football phenom/Office hearth-throb Johnny K.

Most of the interview focusses on "Leatherheads," but it eventually shifts over to THE OFFICE towards the end. 

One quote on how the writer's strike affected the show:

AVClub: How did the strike affect the show? The Office can do standalone episodes as well, but it also has plot developments. What happens when the strike blows a hole through the season? How do you recover from that and make a complete season out of it?

John Krasinski: I didn't know how they were going to do it. But I think they've done a great job of sort of picking up and creating these little mini-arcs, and just planting seeds. But yeah, the strike definitely devastated any chances of long lead arcs or very intricate arcs. I was really interested to see where it's going to go, but it didn't affect the tone of the show. Some of our funniest episodes are coming up now. And every episode relies at least a little on having some prior knowledge of the show. For instance, on our first episode back, Pam and I finally go to dinner with Michael and Jan, which has been in the works for a long, long time.

Read the rest of the article HERE.

EDIT:

The Sporting News posted a Q&A session with old JK today as well.



Category:general -- posted at: 3:31pm EDT
Comments[0]

I always wonder how these reporters/writers convince their bosses to let them tie their favorite TV show into their job somehow (kind of like those people you read about who write their masters dissertation on "Lost").  Call me cynical, but I imagine lots of "expensed" DVD sets and many a working hour "taking notes" while the aforementioned DVDs play happily in the background. 

U.S. News & World Report is the latest in a long line of periodicals that have attempted to find some deeper meaning in the world of Dunder Mifflin.  Check out their article on "7 Career Lessons From NBC's THE OFFICE."

Now if only I could figure out some way to design a few lesson plan units around the show... hmmm...





Category:general -- posted at: 2:58pm EDT
Comments[0]

Episode # 39 -- Season 4 (part 2) PREVIEW Episode # 39 of THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID finds Matt alone at the switchboard, gearing up for the big return next week. Two audio clips this week, including Kevin and I teaming up with Sarah from THE OFFICE ALLIANCE to discuss our thoughts on movies, what to expect in the rest of season 4, and the proposed Office spinoff series. Then join me as I talk to Jeremy Wisnewski, editor and contributor for a new book entitled THE OFFICE AND PHILOSOPHY. I prank, therefore I am? Find out more inside. Incidental music provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Email us at TWSSpodcast @ gmail.com, or leave a comment on our blog page at TWSSpodcast. com. Check out Kevin's blog and podcast at the-frat-pack. com. iTunes reviews are always appreciated! Help spread the word!
Direct download: TWSS39.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:20pm EDT

Now that the file finally posted, I guess I'll change this "Libsyn stinks" post into a "please leave your comments about episode # 39" post (since comments seem to be AWOL on the real post above).




Category:general -- posted at: 11:15pm EDT

WARNING: THAR BE SPOILERS BELOW!


LEATHERHEADS

Rating: C




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.


BONUS! Fun "Leatherheads" Trivia!

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. 



Category:general -- posted at: 1:33am EDT

Aside from Steve Carell's role in LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, I haven't seen any of films starring the various Office cast members (MY SUPER EX-GIRLFRIEND? Looked dumb... WALK HARD? Killed by bad reviews... LICENSE TO WED? Do I really have to have a reason? HORTON and EVAN? No thanks). 



I am kind of curious to see LEATHERHEADS, though.  Maybe it's because I used to play football, or because I enjoy a "screwball" comedy, or maybe just because the cast looks solid.  The reviews, however, haven't been very kind (currently earning a whipping 55% freshness rating at Rotten Tomatoes).

Still, 96% of critics drooled over JUNO, so what the hell do they know, right? (-_^)

Anyone see the film?  What did you think?

Category:general -- posted at: 2:24pm EDT

So... Anyone watching MY NAME IS EARL?  Note to Jeff Zucker-- You're not funny (neither is this episode of Earl, really, but at least it's NEW).

I don't think I'm going to sit through the two hour marathon just for the John Krasinski bits (that's why god invented the DVR, after all), but feel free to make any comments about his appearance below.

Just saw the preview for DINNER PARTY... gotta say, Andy Bernard is one snappy dresser (Note to self: more over-the-shoulder sweater ensembles). The episode has been described as "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolfe?" meets... well... THE OFFICE.  A crying Dwight, Michael discussing his three vasectomies... who could ask for anything more?



 
That clip's a bit old, but I figured I'd show it anyway. Is it me, or did it get a little dusty in here?

Don't forget, too, that Greg Daniels and the writing staff will be doing another live blog after the show on 4/10. Head on over to NBC.com to submit a comment.

Category:general -- posted at: 8:25pm EDT

Bad NBC... BAD!
Well, NBC has been busy unveiling its 2008-2009 prime time schedule today, which includes some rather baffling (but not unexpected) news -- "THE OFFICE SPINOFF" will debut in January 2009.  A regular episode of THE OFFICE will air in the coveted post-Super Bowl slot, followed by the pilot episode of the unnamed (I can only pray it's not named "The Office Spinoff"...) spinoff.

The ORIGINAL show will return in September, once again, with hour long episodes.  E! is also reporting that the episode order for 2008-2009 is "28 half hour episodes" (not sure how those hour longs fit into that).

The New York Times got the following information on the new show from Ben Silverman:

NBC isn’t revealing much about the show itself. “The entire creative team of ‘The Office’ is behind this show,? Mr. Silverman said, including Greg Daniels, the show’s executive producer.

It’s a tall order for Mr. Daniels and his colleagues, as they will also be producing hour-long versions of “The Office? throughout September.

Mr. Silverman noted that “The Office? has a “huge ensemble? of actors.

“We can’t even service some of these great actors and performers [on the original show], so it’s very likely you will see some of those actors on the spin-off,? he said.

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 “Creative Oversight? or “Gigantic Error.?'

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.



Category:general -- posted at: 6:11pm EDT


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The Show:

That's What She Said is a weekly podcast dedicated to NBC's Emmy Award winning show The Office. Every episode of TWSS includes TV episode clips and commentary, news, reports on upcoming media appearances of the cast, a selection of podsafe music, and much more. If you have a news item, piece of gossip, comment, constructive compliment, or are interested in promotional cooperation, please contact us:

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