Post "Seinfeld" Era: "Arrested Development" set the bar high....
....and "The Office" smashes right through it.
Thursday night's episode of "The Office" was as good a half hour of TV as I can recall seeing. It wasn't just achingly funny. It was also (gulp) more than a tad thought provoking. While Arrested Development was pretty much straight laughs (wildly successful at that, certainly), "The Office" brings more to the table, in large part channeled through Steve Carell's Michael Scott character, one of the most memorable TV personalities you hate to love.
Thursday's The Gay Witch Hunt episode was directed by Roger Nygard (this guy worked on "Mind of the Married Man"? is this possible?) and was written by the brilliant Ricky Gervais and Stephan Merchant (from the original British series). Are more episodes going to be penned by G & M? Hopefully.
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Also...
The current issue of The New Yorker calls "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" "...entertainment...of the highest order."
Yes, it's true. The new edition to NBC's Monday lineup hit like a sledgehammer this past week. A simply jaw-dropping, sparklingly fresh script as well as cast came out of the shoot running. A slickly made, whip smart slew of walk and talks (what, you expected "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" from Aaron Sorkin? The energy level of his characters on "Sports Night", "West Wing" and now "Studio 60" are off the charts.) that grabbed me by the throat from the getgo.
From what I saw in the first episode, this Matthew Perry guy could be a star. And I did not know that, as Carson used to tell us, Amanda Peet could actually act. My goodness, I'm giddy.
===============================
Thirdly, do yourself a favor if you have IFC and watch an episode of "The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman" on Friday nights at 11pm. If you like it, remember who told ya.
===============================
Now, when the hell is Tina Fey's show going to open?
Thursday night's episode of "The Office" was as good a half hour of TV as I can recall seeing. It wasn't just achingly funny. It was also (gulp) more than a tad thought provoking. While Arrested Development was pretty much straight laughs (wildly successful at that, certainly), "The Office" brings more to the table, in large part channeled through Steve Carell's Michael Scott character, one of the most memorable TV personalities you hate to love.
Thursday's The Gay Witch Hunt episode was directed by Roger Nygard (this guy worked on "Mind of the Married Man"? is this possible?) and was written by the brilliant Ricky Gervais and Stephan Merchant (from the original British series). Are more episodes going to be penned by G & M? Hopefully.
===============================
Also...
The current issue of The New Yorker calls "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" "...entertainment...of the highest order."
Yes, it's true. The new edition to NBC's Monday lineup hit like a sledgehammer this past week. A simply jaw-dropping, sparklingly fresh script as well as cast came out of the shoot running. A slickly made, whip smart slew of walk and talks (what, you expected "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" from Aaron Sorkin? The energy level of his characters on "Sports Night", "West Wing" and now "Studio 60" are off the charts.) that grabbed me by the throat from the getgo.
From what I saw in the first episode, this Matthew Perry guy could be a star. And I did not know that, as Carson used to tell us, Amanda Peet could actually act. My goodness, I'm giddy.
===============================
Thirdly, do yourself a favor if you have IFC and watch an episode of "The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman" on Friday nights at 11pm. If you like it, remember who told ya.
===============================
Now, when the hell is Tina Fey's show going to open?
posted by joe sweeney at 4:07 PM
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