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The Office: Stress Relief
(S05E13) Let me ask you a philosophical question: is it possible for a sitcom to be funny and still not be a very good episode? Technically, all a sitcom is trying to do is make you laugh; if it accomplishes that, it's hard to argue that it's a bad episode. Yet, despite above average guffawing throughout tonight's Office, nothing about it worked that well.The cold open perfectly encapsulates what I'm talking about. Dwight's actions officially crossed the line from odd-but-likable-doofus to dead-eyed sociopath. I get that Dwight's a little out there, but when it becomes plausible that a sitcom character might have a basement pit filled up with hitchhikers he's planning to use to make a girl-suit, you have to take pause and consider how he's being handled. That fire was stupid, unbelievable, and ridiculous.
But it was damn funny. You see my dilemma ...
The rest of the episode stuttered down the same path as the cold open, consistently combining odd pacing and awkward characterization with bursts of laugh-out-loud comedy.
Take Jim and Pam's subplot, for example. This is the first we've heard where they're at in their relationship in months, and the best the writers can give us is an off-camera drama between Pam's heretofore unseen parents? And, on top of that, they try to wring some unearned pathos out of it by having Jim's advice turn out to actually be sweet. (Was there a person on the planet that didn't see that coming, by the way? My 18 month-old son called that "twist," and he only knows how to say like ten words).
And yet, if you can't laugh at a steamy post-bath makeout session between Jack Black and Cloris Leachman, there's a good chance you're dead inside. Plus Andy's reactions to their in-depth "movie review" were fantastic.
So how do you review that?
If tonight's episode were a reality TV character, it would be one of those wannabe MILFs on The Real Housewives of Orange County. Each part was surgically polished to a kind of bottle-blond perfection, but when you consider the big picture, you realize there's not really that much to get excited about. Also, it might try to sleep with you to steal your youth.
Other stuff:
-- The spontaneous "Staying Alive" musical bit was the highlight of the episode. I'm a sucker for unexpected singalongs in my sitcoms (anyone else remember the "We Will Rock You" cold open on Cheers?)
-- A close second was Creed not knowing what a text was.
-- Another predictable but funny piece was Michael's self-thrown roast. Not since Bob Saget defended the honor of the Olsen twins has the point of a roast been missed so completely: the second Michael announced that there was going to be a roast, you knew his feelings were going to be hurt. That said, it was nice to see him get a round of real laughter from Stanley and the rest of the office crew; as a comedian with self-esteem issues that make Michael Scott seem like Steve McQueen, I can fully appreciate how good those laughs can feel.
-- "If his thing were an iPod, it'd be a shuffle."
-- It was nice to see a little bit of accountability being added into the mix with Dwight being called up to corporate to answer for his crimes. I felt a little bad for Michael that one week after David Wallace complimented his fine leadership, he's immediately back to being yelled at for allowing shenanigans to go on. In the words of MC Skat Cat: it's two steps forward, two steps back.
Your thoughts are always appreciated in the comments, especially this week!
The Office' Photos
THE OFFICE Steve Carell as Michael Scott and Amy Ryan as Holly star in the episode "Weight Loss." Airs Thursday, September 25, 2008.
NBC
THE OFFICE Steve Carell as Michael Scott and Amy Ryan as Holly star in the episode "Weight Loss." Airs Thursday, September 25, 2008.
NBC
THE OFFICE Mindy Kaling as Kelly Kapoor and Craig Robinson as Darryl Philbin star in the episode "Weight Loss." Airs Thursday, September 25, 2008.
NBC
THE OFFICE Amy Ryan as Holly and Brian Baumgartner as Kevin Malone star in the episode "Weight Loss." Airs Thursday, September 25, 2008.
NBC
THE OFFICE, Steve Carell, ''Did I Stutter'', (Season 4, airing May 1, 2008), 2005-. Photo: Chris Haston / NBC
THE OFFICE, Rainn Wilson, ''Did I Stutter'', (Season 4, airing May 1, 2008), 2005-. Photo: Chris Haston / NBC
THE OFFICE, Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, ''Did I Stutter'', (Season 4, airing May 1, 2008), 2005-. Photo: Chris Haston / NBC
THE OFFICE, Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, ''Night Out'', (Season 4, airing April 24, 2008), 2005-. Photo: Mitch Haddad / NBC
THE OFFICE, Rainn Wilson, Cassie Fliegel, ''Night Out'', (Season 4, airing April 24, 2008), 2005-. Photo: Mitch Haddad / NBC
THE OFFICE, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, Rainn Wilson, ''The Dinner Party'', (Season 4, episode 4013, aired April 10, 2008), 2005-,. Photo: Chris Haston / NBC / courtesy everett collection
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