ScreenCrave.com » Steve Carell

Top 5 TV Comedies That Figured It Out

Damon Houx — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 21:05:01 +0000

As with every new year of television, the weakest shows that cost the most money are often cancelled after airing a handful of episodes. For example: this season, we’ve already seen The Playboy Club get shuttered, among others. TV shows are often about the ensemble, and most of their casts need time to work together to see how their chemistry develops over longer stretches of time. With comedies, that energy and chemistry is pivotal, and with so many shows put together through high-concepts or based around a name talent, everyone needs to find their footing. With that in mind, here are five shows that started rocky, and became brilliant.

5. 30 Rock:

When 30 Rock debuted, it was coming out the same time as Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Both were thought to be “takes” on Saturday Night Live with Tina Fey’s version supposedly the more friendly one. It was going to be about a sketch show where Jenna Maroney (Jane Krakowski) fought with unstable, Martin Lawrence-esque Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan), and their struggles with the company’s owner Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin). Though the residue of that remains, the show never became about the fake show as much as it became a workplace comedy, and spun off in all sorts of other different directions once the ensemble found their groove. In 2006, Studio 60 had a brilliant pilot, and 30 Rock had a first episode with some scattered laughs. By mid-season, Studio 60 was done, and 30 Rock congealed into near-greatness. Alas, that groove meant removing Rachel Dratch from the show.

4. Cougar Town

When Cougar Town hit the scene, even the creators knew the title was the terrible hook. At the time, Bill Lawrence and Kevin Biegel spoke of how the Cougar Town was a joke premise that became the pitch, and so for the first episodes it followed the newly divorced Jules (Courtney Cox) as she started dating younger men. But that idea couldn’t sustain a show, and so it quickly became about her Cul-de-Sac friends, and their neighborhood adventures. Everyone hated the title so much that season two offered a running joke during the credit sequence where they would actively make fun of their own name. But once it became about the ensemble, the show became about it’s goofy, wine-drinking, but loving family of misfits.

3. The Office

The first episode of The Office was nearly (and originally) a shot-for-shot remake of the first BBC episode of The Office. The original ran for two British seasons, and had a Christmas Special, and is one of the most perfect TV shows to ever air. Steve Carell couldn’t really do the same sort of desperate and obnoxious as Ricky Gervais – no one could. When Carell did his take on David Brent (renamed Michael Scott) it came across as too loud for America, and the cast couldn’t slip as easily into the same roles without it coming across as a bad cover. The first season, which ran six episodes (smart for comedies), is mostly a misfire with some good stuff here and there. But over the summer break they figured out their angle on the character – he’s just a good salesman who got promoted beyond his skill set – and everyone else started falling into place.

2. Parks and Recreations

Ironically, what hurt Parks and Recreations was a similar problem to that of The Office. The concept seemed to be that Amy Poehler was going to play a Michael Scott-esque small town bureaucrat whose reach exceeded her grasp. She made a new best friend (Rashida Jones), and kept interacting with a possible love interest (Paul Schneider). Like most of the shows on this list, those elements are now either removed (in Paul Schneider’s case, he left after season 2) or reconfigured to better fit another workplace comedy. The main thing was figuring out Pohler’s Leslie Knope, and that she shouldn’t be incompetent so much as perky. Once they made her goofy and loveable, they had a lead to hang the show upon.

1. Seinfeld:

The best example of giving a show a chance to develop its own aesthetic, Seinfeld started out as another in a long line of sit-coms based around a stand-up in the hopes of repeating the success of The Cosby Show, etc. Jerry Seinfeld played a variation on himself and had wacky friends. The first season – which ran four episodes – was hurt by studio interference, with Julia-Louis Dreyfuss’s Elaine character acting as an ex-girlfriend the studio wanted to make a possible love interest. Once the show was free from those sorts of notes, it kept getting weirder, better and less forced sit-com. Ironically, it’s now one of the templates for situational comedies.

Crazy, Stupid, Love: Movie Review

Mali Elfman — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 02:32:51 +0000

Crazy, Stupid, Love, is another simple, funny, easy to swallow and in no way challenging comedy that was made for everyone. It’s got some fine actors, giving good performances (though none of their best) with some solid comedic lines and quite a bit of heart. My only problem is that it really wasn’t anything that new or different. That’s not to say that this is a bad film, it’s just not great, it’s perfectly mediocre…

The Players:

Directed By: Glenn Ficarra and John Requa
Written By: Dan Fogelman
Actors: Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Kevin Bacon, Jonah Bobo, Marisa Tomei and Julianne Moore
Original Music by: Christophe Beck and Nick Urata
Cinematography by: Andrew Dunn

The Plot:

A father’s life unravels while he deals with a marital crisis and tries to manage his relationship with his children.

The Good:

Embracing the Title: Love is crazy, love is stupid, and love is lovely when it works — this film does an extroniadry job at showing the ridiculousness that is love and what all us stupid humans are willing to do to try and achieve it.
Acting: Gosling is charming enough to give this otherwise blank and mindless character enough intrigue to keep us watching, and perhaps now he’ll go from indie darling to A-list hottie. Possible career move? Could be, but it was fun to watch, especially if you want something extra with your average comedy. Stone is once again extremely funny and I appreciated her embodying the spirit of a woman taking what she wants and having both a mind and body. Carell is as funny as he always is, but also shows us his acting which gives him more of that Little Miss Sunshine-edge. Moore, Tomei and the rest of the gang all did a solid job at delivering both solid performances and some memorable one-liners.
Sense of Self: There were some solid one liners and great moments that had the whole audience laughing while mixed into the tried and true rom-com format. There are a number of cliches, which normally would have driven me mad if not for the line “this is so cliche” from within the film. The film knows what it is and plays with the idea, which gives it some unique moment, but more importantly, it knows who its target audience is and what they want, and for the most part it delivers without a hitch.
The ‘Dirty Dancing’ Moment: It’s so cheesy and yet it somehow has power… There’s something to be said for Stone and Goslings performances in that scene that take your from ridiculous comedy to sudden romance.

The Bad:

The Average-ness: The film breaks almost no new ground, it didn’t leave me loving it, it left me feeling quite tepid, which for me is a major pet peeve because I enjoy watching filmmakers take risks. There is nothing challenging about this film. That being said, Crazy, Stupid, Love is not about breaking new ground, and if you’re going for a sweet, easy-to-watch romantic comedy, this film has what you’re looking for.

Overall:

It won’t blow you away but if you’re looking to turn your brain off for 90 minutes and have a few good laughs with some fine actors, this is a great pick for you.

Rating: 6/10

The Office: Season 7 Episode 21: Goodbye, Michael – TV Review

Joseph Oliveto — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 03:41:28 +0000

Well, it’s all been building up to this. With word that Steve Carell’s tenure on “The Office” was up, fans have been sadly counting down the days until his departure. This week brought us the last Michael Scott episode ever, and seeing as he’s always been the show’s central character, it goes without saying that it was a big night. But did the episode live up to our expectations? Read the review to find out…

The Players:

Director: Paul Feig
Writer: Greg Daniels
Cast: Steve Carell, Will Ferrell, John Krasinski, Ed Helms, Jenna Fischer

Episode Title: “Goodbye, Michael”

The seventh season of “The Office” comes to its climax this week as Michael Scott finally leaves for good. However, he opts not to reveal the full truth to his employees, telling them he still has one more day left when he is indeed heading out forever at 4 PM. In the meantime, Gabe does his best to earn back Erin’s affections, and Andy is exposed to Deangelo’s “unconventional” sales techniques.

The Good:

Will Ferrell: As per usual, Will Ferrell brings the comedy to anything he touches. While he tones down his traditionally zany qualities, he still stands out as the most absurd character in the crowd–which is saying a lot, when you consider the kinds of characters that have been on this show. Who else could yell at a cake? Will Ferrell pulls it off.
Toby’s cousin: Toby mentions that he has a cousin, Rory, in Boulder. Fortunately, we get to catch a glimpse of said cousin, and he is exactly the kind of person Toby would be related to. “Does Michael like jam? Because my apartment is overflowing with preserves.”
Addressing the camera: It is easy to forget that “The Office” is meant to be a faux-documentary, since each episode breaks all of the rules that would make that possible. Still, given the fact that Michael was leaving this week, it was a little bittersweet to be reminded of the beginings of the series, when the documentary format was alluded to more directly. When Michael finally takes off that microphone, it definitely becomes real.
Gabe: As the by-the-books new guy, Gabe is rarely given the opportunity to be as outlandish as the other characters. However, this week, we get to see a side of him we’re not used to, a side unleashed by his recent heartbreak. Thankfully, it works. When he warns Andy that he owns more than two hundred horror films, it definitely scores a laugh.

The So-So:

Emotional Effects: As the final appearance of the iconic Michael Scott, we expected this episode to be a little more effective on an emotional level. While it doesn’t exactly leave us cold, it doesn’t succeed in eliciting the kind of reaction that it was clearly aiming for. Overall, we were underwhelmed.
Low on Laughs: Once again, given the importance of this week’s episode, we expected everyone involved to bring their A-game, but the writing was fairly stale and the laughs weren’t as strong as we would have liked. Granted, it’s tough to balance genuine emotion with humor, but that’s something that “The Office” has usually been pretty good at. There were some jokes that worked, but none that were particularly memorable.

The Bad:

Checklist: Michael makes it a point to say goodbye to everyone one last time, and while that allows him to spend time with each character, it didn’t give him an opportunity to have too many strong emotional (or humorous, for that matter) moments with anyone. Aside from an impromptu paintball game with Dwight and a nice talk with Jim, his interactions with everyone else felt rushed.

Overall:

We’re sad to say it, but we were fairly disappointed with this episode. What was meant to be an instant classic ended up being fairly boring and uninteresting. Sure, it wasn’t terrible, but for an event like this, we should have the strongest episode of the season. Instead, we got something nearly forgettable.

Rating: 6/10

“The Office” airs every Thursday night on NBC!

Photo Gallery:

What did you think of the episode? Let us know in the comments!

The Office: Season 7 Episode 19: Training Day – TV Review

Joseph Oliveto — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 13:06:30 +0000

“The Office” welcomes one of the biggest guest stars it has ever had this week to distract us from the fact that one of the key ingredients in the success of the show–Steve Carell–won’t be sticking around much longer. Well, for what it’s worth, the distraction succeeded. As it turns out, Will Ferrell is pretty funny. Who would have guessed?

The Players:

Director: Paul Lieberstein
Writer: Daniel Chun
Cast: Steve Carell, Will Ferrell, Ed Helms, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer

Episode Title: “Training Day”

Michael initially welcomes his replacement, Deangelo Vickers, with open arms, but begins to feel some animosity towards the man when others in the office express their admiration for him and when Vickers’s managerial style conflicts with Michael’s. Andy struggles to amuse his new boss, Jim and Pam worry that they’ve started off on the wrong foot with him, and Dwight makes it very clear that he would have preferred to take over the position.

The Good:

Will Ferrell: As is to be expected, Will Ferrell delivers the laughs as the new boss in town. While credit must be given to the writer–lines like “everyone I know who has ever gone skiing is dead” are just absurd enough to work–Ferrell’s deadpan delivery is pitch-perfect. Known for going over-the-top in ways that would make Jack Nicholson look subtle, it is fun to be reminded that Will Ferrell can be as hilarious playing a role with a straight face as he is when he’s in full-on Ricky Bobby mode.
Keeping it funny: With Michael soon to leave the show, you could be forgiven for fearing that the series would begin to take on a more reflective (aka “less entertaining”) tone during his final episodes. Fortunately, everyone involved seems to know that we primarily go to “The Office” for laughs, and that is what we got this week. We”l save our tears for “Grey’s Anatomy” or something like that.
Darryl: Darryl tends to be such a confident character that it was funny to see him eager to impress Vickers, behaving like a nervous middle-school student who isn’t sure if he sounded like a nerd in front of his crush. “That’s one of my favorite regions; I sounded so lame, didn’t I?”
Andy: If Darryl was making some poor attempts to impress his boss, Andy was going for broke. It turns out that Vickers is a fan of the same kind of comedy that babies find clever: people being physically hurt. Andy takes full advantage of this, going so far as to spill hot coffee on his own crotch. It shouldn’t be funny, but given the context, it worked a lot more than we would expect.

The So-So:

Kevin’s wig: One of the running gags throughout the episode was the fact that Kevin was sporting a wig. While the writer did manage to pull one good line out of the situation (“Is that Ashton Kutcher? No, it’s Kevin. Equally handsome, equally smart”) it more or less seemed like a wasted joke, as it didn’t exactly develop into anything funnier as the episode progressed.
Dwight: We all knew that Dwight would be disappointed with the fact that he wasn’t awarded the job of Office Manager, but predcitability isn’t such a terrible thing if the writer can find a funny way to approach the situation. Sadly, such was not the case this episode. With Dwight involved, we expected there to be a little more humor going on in this subplot.

The Bad:

Jim and Pam: Like everyone else, they do their best to get along with Vickers, but he isn’t all that interested in hearing about their baby. Which should be a reasonably funny scenario, but just doesn’t seem to work all that well here. It feels as if someone began to tell a potentially funny joke, but paused right before getting to the punchline. (Although Vickers’s final line of the episode in regards to the baby was pretty good, we’ll admit.)

Overall:

We were all looking forward to seeing what Will Ferrell could bring to this already entertaining show, and he definitely delivered. He was easily the best element of last night’s episode, and it is a shame to think that he probably won’t be a permnanent cast member. Either way, this was vintage “The Office,” packed with enough laughs-per-minute to qualify it as one of the funniest sitcoms on TV.

Rating: 8.5/10

“The Office” airs every Thursday night on NBC!

Photo Gallery:

What did you think of last night’s episode? Did you think Will Ferrell did a good job?

Crazy, Stupid, Love Trailer Offers Laughs, Entire Plot

Damon Houx — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 19:38:05 +0000

Crazy, Stupid, Love, the new film from Glenn Ficarra and John Requa opens July 29 this year, and a trailer has just been released. The film stars Steve Carell, Julianne Moore, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Kevin Bacon and Marisa Tomei. The trailer promises a lot of heart, a couple of laughs, and seems to lay out everything that happens in the movie from start to finish. Take a look…

Though the trailer is clever, this trailer seems to spell out every act of the movie. First act: Steve Carell gets dumped by his wife, who cheated on him. Then he meets Ryan Gosling’s character who seems part-ladies man, part-”Jersey Shore” cast member. Second Act: Carell gets his life together, Gosling falls in love. Third act, they see if they can make it work.

That said, the narrative of a romantic comedy is usually predicated on the leads – if a movie stars Sarah Jessica Parker and Mathew McCaunghey, it’s not as if they won’t end up together in the end. And the jokes in the film look pretty funny.

It’s also a good role for Gosling, who’s the super-serious actor of the moment, and doing something goofy and light could make for a nice respite from his actor’s studio performances. And it’ll be good for those who are suffering from Carell withdrawal after he leaves “The Office.”

Crazy, Stupid, Love… Are you in or out?

More Guest Stars for The Office’s Season Finale

Damon Houx — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 02:33:49 +0000

With Steve Carell out of The Office, there’s a hole to fill and it’s unknown who’s going to take his place. Will Ferrell is completing an arc this season, but he’s a big-time movie star, so it’s unlikely he’ll stick around. Ricky Gervais and Will Arnett have been tapped to be in the finale, but Arnett has set up another NBC show, so it’s unlikely he’ll come back. That would leave Gervais the last man standing if it weren’t for the news from The Hollywood Reporter that Ray Romano, Catherine Tate and James Spader are now all going to appear in the season finale as well.

Gervais may have been something of a logical choice, though he’s already covered the terrain before in the U.K. version, so unless he’s trying to build up his image stateside, he gets paid as the creator of the show regardless. Ray Romano’s been on the show “Men of a Certain Age” and it does not appear the show has been cancelled, so likely he’s a one and done.

Which leaves Spader and Tate. James Spader got famous playing jerks in John Hughes and other period young adult films, only to graduate to indie film star. He eventually moved into television, and did five Seasons of “Boston Legal.” Spader can be very funny, though this may be too familiar.

Catherine Tate is a British TV star, and my guess is that she’s going to play either the wife of the relative of Gervais’s character. From this breakdown, Spader seems the most likely replacement candidate.

Then again, they may not have this nailed down until next season. The finale airs May 19.

Who should replace Steve Carell on The Office?

Ricky Gervais and Will Arnett Guest on The Office Season Finale

Damon Houx — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 03:59:39 +0000

With “The Office” losing Steve Carell this season, it’s unknown how the show will try to replace him. The Hollywood Reporter is noting that both Ricky Gervais (from the BBC “The Office”) and Will Arnett (from “Arrested Development” and the recently canceled “Running Wilde“) will appear in the last episode of the show’s seventh season finale. This casting makes it hard not to wonder if either is being groomed to replace Carell as the show has been renewed for an eighth season.

There were many names put on the short list of actors to replace Carell, and Gervais was among them (and supposedly so was/is Harvey Keitel). Gervais showed up for a cameo earlier this season, but it was mostly a joke for fans of the original show, and a throwaway gag.It would be interesting to see him go into the mix, and after the mixed reception his films roles have gotten, it wouldn’t be that surprising to see him try to booster his American credibility as an actor/star stateside.

But the casting of Will Arnett tingles our Spidey-senses. For one, he’s happy in television, having made his name there. His film work is mostly in supporting turns, and he’s usually left playing jerks and cads, where this would offer some meat. For another, his wife Amy Poehler is currently starring in “Parks and Rec,” and though – obviously – he wouldn’t be working with her, both shows shoot in Los Angeles, and would be on similar work schedules.

As we haven’t heard if Keitel or others are coming aboard – and it would make sense to set up the next season in the finale – I would put money one (or both) will be returning next season in a starring or co-starring capacity. That said, the last couple episodes are scheduled to have some heavy-hitting supporting turns, including Will Ferrell, and this could just be more place-holding.

Who would you like to see as the new boss of The Office?

Steve Carell’s Final Air Date on The Office Announced

Krystal Clark — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 22:03:23 +0000

We knew it was coming. Steve Carell’s final bow on the NBC hit “The Office” is just around the corner. A while ago we learned that the actor and his alter ego Michael Scott wouldn’t stay on board for the end of the season. The character’s last appearance was speculated to occur with four episodes left on the schedule. Over on TV Guide, they’ve announced the official date and it’s closer than you think…

Carell will make his final “Office” appearance next month on April 28th. What are we going to do without him? We’ve had more than enough time to prep for his departure but that doesn’t make this decision any easier. One of the ways the writers are trying to distract us from this pending blow is by bringing in special guests.

It was announced earlier this year that Carell’s Anchorman co-star Will Ferrell would be stopping by for a short story arc. His entrance is supposed to overlap with Scott’s exit. On another note, the character’s love interest Holly (Amy Ryan) won’t be around for his last hoorah, which kind of sucks.

Ferrell will stay on board for one more episode after Carell leaves, so expect to see him again on May 5th.

What do you think of Carell’s air date? Is it too soon?

The Office: Season 7 Episode 17: Todd Packer – TV Review

Joseph Oliveto — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 16:03:53 +0000

This week’s episode of “The Office” delivered the laughs and proved once again that this season isn’t as awful as it seemed to be at first. The return of Todd Packer amps up the comedy, and while there was probably room for more jokes, we’re not displeased with the final product. Very few episodes lately have been as strong as the early ones, but it’s still an entertaining show. Read our review to see how we felt…

The Players:

Director: Randall Einhorn
Writer: Amelie Gillette
Cast: Steve Carell, Amy Ryan, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Ed Helms

Episode Title: “Todd Packer”

A familiar character from early seasons returns this week, and while Michael is happy and Holly is blissfully ignorant, just about everyone else is not too pleased with the sudden presence of Todd Packer in the office. His jokes and overall attitude are so grating that sworn enemies Jim and Dwight team up with one another to prank him. In the meantime, after Pam buys a new computer for Erin, Andy wants one too, and Pam breaks some rules help him out.

The Good:

Todd Packer: Hey, we know that this character is supposed to be a jerk, and with that in mind, it’s easy enough to just enjoy the fact that he is an obnoxious pain in the ass. After all, you can’t be a fan of “The Office” if you want all of the characters to behave reasonably. It’s kind of funny to have a character who needs to come to the realization that “it’s probably not ok to call my daughter a bitch in front of other people.”
Jim and Dwight: Although their partnership gets off to a pretty rocky start when Dwight rejects one of Jim’s prank ideas and Jim pulls it on Dwight in retaliation, it was a nice change of pace to see these two collaborating on a project. Even if that project did involve sending Todd on a trip to Florida.
Kevin: It’s an easy joke to make, but when Kevin gets angry and admits that he has “very little tolerance for stupidity,” it’s hard not to laugh. His insistence on not being offended by Todd’s obviously insensitive comments is also enjoyable; he really hits the “trying not to cry” notes perfectly.

The So-So:

Holly: Holly is a little inconsistent in this episode. Sure, she is swayed by Michael’s enthusiasm for Todd and is impressed by his sales, but her wishy-washy take on Todd is a little unrealistic.
Andy: Andy is usually a fairly nice guy, but he acts very selfishly this week. He cares too much about Erin to just take her computer the way he does. It didn’t seem to fit with his character.

The Bad:

Jim and Pam: Ok, now “The Office” is getting too realistic! Since these two have been married, their relationship has been at worst non-existent, and at best forced and tense. It’s a minor complaint, but we do miss some genuine romance on this show.

Overall:

Not fantastic or memorable by any standards, but a pretty entertaining episode nonetheless. The laughs keep coming, the writing is sharp, and there isn’t a moment when we felt like changing the channel. These aren’t the kinds of episodes that made “The Office” wildly successful, but they are the kind that made it worth watching after a long day of work.

Rating: 8/10

“The Office” airs every Thursday night on NBC!

Photo Gallery:

What did you think of last night’s episode? Tell us in the comments!

Steve Carell Cast in Dogs of Babel

Krystal Clark — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 21:34:47 +0000

Steve Carell has landed another post-Office gig. The actor will star as the lead in the Mandate Pictures Production of Dogs of Babel. It’s an adaptation of the novel of the same name written by Carolyn Parkhurst. The film will be a change of pace for Carell, who’s known for his comedic performances. The subject matter is darker and centers on life and death.

Synopsis:

The story follows Paul Iverson, a linguistics professor, who returns home one day to find his wife dead in their backyard. Police rule her death an accident, but Paul is not quite sure. The only witness to her death is their dog Lorelei. In Paul’s grief-stricken search for answers, he endeavors to teach Lorelei to talk in the hopes that he can uncover what happened the day his wife died.

The screenplay will be adapted by Jamie Linden. David Heyman, who serves as one of the producers on the film, had nothing but good things to say about Carell’s dramatic potential.

“Steve is one of those rare talents who can make you laugh uncontrollably and at the same time evoke real emotion. We can’t wait to see how he brings the role to life.”

What do you think of Carell starring in Dogs of Babel? Do you think he can pull off drama?

Source: Collider, Coming Soon

The Office: Season 7 Episode 16: Threat Level Midnight – TV Review

Joseph Oliveto — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 15:56:44 +0000

THE OFFICE SEASON 7: Having fully set-up the Michael/Holly relationship, “The Office” takes a break from the romantic angle this week and treats viewers to a gimmicky but effective episode which scores the laughs and showcases the talents of the various actors who appear on the show. We don’t know how long this series can last without Steve Carell, but we hope that from time to time, more focus is placed on these kinds of episodes.

The Players:

Director: Tucker Gates
Writer: B.J. Novak
Cast: Steve Carell, Amy Ryan, John Krasinski, Rainn Wilson, Craig Robinson, Ed Helms, Jenna Fischer

Episode Title: “Threat Level Midnight”

This week references an earlier episode in the series when the office convenes to watch the final production of Michael’s movie, Threat Level Midnight. While the film is only slightly better than an Uwe Boll movie, the cast gets a kick out of seeing their characters on screen. Holly, however, doesn’t feel like it is the next Citizen Kane; predictably, Michael is not pleased.

The Good:

Humor-centric: In recent episodes, we’ve been focusing on the budding relationship between Michael and Holly, so it was nice to take a little break from all the drama and enjoy an episode that exists primarily to make us laugh. Sure, there’s a tense moment around the halfway mark, and yes, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” got more laughs with a similar episode last year, but for the most part, this one kept the humor coming.
Flashback: While thankfully avoiding the cliches of a clip-show episode, this week gave us a look back at previous seasons by briefly bringing back characters like Jan and Karen while also reminding us of a time when Jim and Pam were still longing for one another. Now if only David Wallace has made an appearance…
Toby: Toby’s involvement in the Scranton Strangler trial has kept him away from the office, but he returns this episode as a character in Threat Level Midnight–he plays “a wanted animal rapist”–who gives the movie its bloodiest and perhaps most memorable scene.
Andy: Ed Helms shows off his acting skills yet again as a bartender in Threat Level Midnight who epitomizes the way someone like Michael Scott would perceive blue-collar workers. Everything from the accent to the obsession with sports is pitch-perfect, and because Andy appeared in a play earlier this season, it’s very in keeping with his character.
Creed: Creed’s role in Threat Level Midnight is the Mr. Miyagi figure. He’s an American-Indian who teaches Michael the intricacies of hockey by having him mop the rink first. He totally sells it.

The So-So:

Production values: This episode asks us to suspend our disbelief a little too much. Sure, Michael’s movie is poorly made, but it does look like something with a genuine budget and cinematographer. He simply wouldn’t have these resources at his disposal.

The Bad:

Gotta have drama: As was mentioned before, the general comedic tone of the episode is briefly interrupted by Holly’s dislike for Michael’s movie. Granted, this moment lasts only a couple of minutes, but it feels out of place; it would have been better to allow everyone to just enjoy the fun of film.

Overall:

Major plot developments involving Michael and Holly are certainly welcome, but with their relationship more or less established, it’s good to take a step back and let “The Office” make us laugh. That’s what it’s there for, and that is what it accomplished this week. Maybe this episode didn’t completely fulfill its potential, but it was still enjoyable.

Rating: 8/10

“The office” airs every Thursday night on NBC!

Photo Gallery:

What did you think of last night’s episode? Tell us in the comments!

The Office: Season 7 Episode 15: PDA – TV Review

Joseph Oliveto — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 17:41:24 +0000

Even though their relationship was only a typical sitcom romance, Jim and Pam used to hold “The Office” together. Their love for one another created an emotional core that drew in viewers even when the jokes weren’t as strong as we wanted. Now that they are married, they’ve been put in the background, but this week’s episode succeeds by celebrating a couple of other relationships on the show that are worth our attention. Read the review to see exactly how we felt..

The Players:

Director: Greg Daniels
Writer: Robert Padnick
Cast: Steve Carell, Amy Ryan, Jenna Fischer, John Krasinski, Ed Helms, Ellie Kemper

Episode Title: “PDA”

Michael and Holly are behaving like hormonal middle-schoolers after beginning their romantic relationship anew, and their coworkers are not pleased with the constant public displays of affection. However, when the prospect of Holly moving back to Nashua is brought up, Michael is reluctant to get closer to her. In the meantime, Gabe sends Erin on a Valentine’s Day scavenger hunt, and she enlists the help of Andy in the process. Jim and Pam have sex in the office. Yeah.

The Good:

Prologue: The funniest prologue of all season came with tonight’s episode. Daryl is mourning the death of his grandmother, and the office workers all signed a card to make him feel better. They just didn’t know that the card wasn’t for his birthday. “You deserve this.” Hilarious.
Andy and Erin: Although Gabe is a good guy who deserves his own happiness, we do want Andy and Erin to get together. It’s tough to be as emotionally invested in this relationship as we were in Jim and Pam’s, because Erin is such an empty character, but these two are still very cute together.
Dwight’s perfect Valentine: The final scene of the episode involves various characters describing their ideal Valentine’s day. Most are predictable, but Dwight’s is very clever (and not a bad idea, honestly).
Michael and Holly: They would be annoying to know in real life, but the attraction between these two is adorable in the way that two infatuated fourteen year-olds are. During a season in which Michael has primarily been a jerk, it’s good to see him truly happy, even if it happened a little too suddenly.

The So-So:

Jim and Pam: It was terrific to see these two in action together again, but when that relationship is relegated to sex in the office, you have to miss the emotional punch they brought to the show.
Kevin: Kevin has brought us some classic moments–Holly meeting him after being told he was mentally challenged comes to mind–but this episode goes a little over-the-top with his stupidity. He’s awkward; he isn’t Forrest Gump.

The Bad:

Michael and Holly: While for the most part, these two justify their inclusion in the “good” section of this review, the brief conflict that comes about when they realize tht Holly may have to move to Nashua is resolved too quickly. It feels like it was rushed, but that’s something we can live with.

Overall:

A very nice episode that focused on characters we all (usually) love. Michael and Holly make us believe that ridiculous dreams come true, Erin and Andy warm our heart with their unspoken attraction, and Jim and Pam do something a lot of us would like to. The humor isn’t as strong as it used to be, but the prologue just about makes up for that.

Rating: 8.5/10

“The Office” airs every Thursday night on NBC!

Photo Gallery:

What did you think of last night’s episode? Tell us in the comments!

ScreenCrave.com » Steve Carell

Top 5 TV Comedies That Figured It Out

5. 30 Rock:

4. Cougar Town

3. The Office

2. Parks and Recreations

1. Seinfeld:

Related Posts

Crazy, Stupid, Love: Movie Review

The Players:

The Plot:

The Good:

The Bad:

Overall:

Rating: 6/10

Related Posts

The Office: Season 7 Episode 21: Goodbye, Michael – TV Review

The Players:

Episode Title: “Goodbye, Michael”

The So-So:

Overall:

Rating: 6/10

Photo Gallery:

Related Posts

The Office: Season 7 Episode 19: Training Day – TV Review

The Players:

Episode Title: “Training Day”

The Good:

The So-So:

The Bad:

Overall:

Rating: 8.5/10

Photo Gallery:

Related Posts

Crazy, Stupid, Love Trailer Offers Laughs, Entire Plot

Related Posts

More Guest Stars for The Office’s Season Finale

Related Posts

Ricky Gervais and Will Arnett Guest on The Office Season Finale

Related Posts

Steve Carell’s Final Air Date on The Office Announced

Related Posts

The Office: Season 7 Episode 17: Todd Packer – TV Review

The Players:

Episode Title: “Todd Packer”

The Good:

The So-So:

The Bad:

Overall:

Rating: 8/10

Photo Gallery:

Related Posts

Steve Carell Cast in Dogs of Babel

Related Posts

The Office: Season 7 Episode 16: Threat Level Midnight – TV Review

The Players:

Episode Title: “Threat Level Midnight”

The Good:

The So-So:

The Bad:

Overall:

Rating: 8/10

Photo Gallery:

Related Posts

The Office: Season 7 Episode 15: PDA – TV Review

The Players:

Episode Title: “PDA”

The Good:

The So-So:

The Bad:

Overall:

Rating: 8.5/10

Photo Gallery:

Related Posts