I think they're kind of selling Jan as a desperate divorcee of sorts (she's divorced, right?). It's clearly a bad idea but she's got that whole television trope about Women of a Certain Age choosing between settling and Crazy Cat Lady.

Oh, my god. "Lord, beer me strength." I fear this may become my very own "That's what she said."

I think they're kind of selling Jan as a desperate divorcee of sorts (she's divorced, right?).

Yeah, she is. That's a good possibility, though it isn't how I'd been thinking about it. I have to listen again to her "this is what my therapist said" scene.

The thing is, I work in Coporate for a mid-sized company. I used to work with a man called Andy, who thought he was my manager, except he actually was a team leader. Which meant nothing, really, in the structure of the company. He was constantly brown nosing, but was just a complete idiot. He said things which just made the people in the office look at each other and make odd faces. At this minute I'm sat in the office playing a prank on a co-worker by redirecting all their web access to The Muppets homepage. We have our own Jan, who everybody knows is dating somebody completely stupid for her in the office, but nobody says anything to her.

The show, aside from being something which is - you know - funny, and cleverly put together, is something I can completely relate to.

I think they're kind of selling Jan as a desperate divorcee of sorts (she's divorced, right?). It's clearly a bad idea but she's got that whole television trope about Women of a Certain Age choosing between settling and Crazy Cat Lady.

Yes. And Gould didn't want to have kids, while Jan did, so there's a bit of the biological clock cliche going on, plus...

Yeah, she is. That's a good possibility, though it isn't how I'd been thinking about it. I have to listen again to her "this is what my therapist said" scene.

Jan seems to say her therapist is encouraging her self-destructive tendencies.

Whenever the show fails to hit a note for me though, it's most often when Michael's behavior is just too over the top, even for Michael. His antics in Phyllis's Wedding made me cringe -- but not for the characters -- for the writers, directors, editors and actors.

Jan seems to say her therapist is encouraging her self-destructive tendencies.

And what better way...

Oh, huh, that kind of explains why she said yes to the trip in the ep before. Sometimes I catch up late. Or not at all.

His antics in Phyllis's Wedding made me cringe -- but not for the characters -- for the writers, directors, editors and actors.

Heh, I think that's the only ep I caught while it was airing this season, and it made me wonder whether I'd be able to deal with the show if his character was that absurd. I'm glad I tried anyway.

I think that's the most absurd Michael's been, at least in a setting where I couldn't buy into the behavior, even coming from Michael. I found that part of the episode very disappointing. It's usually not that bad, or when it's close, it doesn't seem to go on as long or be as big a part of the episode.

I could buy it. Michael likes to be the center of attention, which he usually is in the office. When he's not, he tends to freak out.

But even if Michael usually doesn't get it, he usually gets that there's something to get (if that makes sense). I could see him with an inflated sense of his own role in the wedding. And of course he'd make an ass of himself. But he'd be more likely to do it while trying to do the right thing.

Michael is the embodiment of "the road to hell is paved with good intentions."

The Office actually has me shipping a couple (Pam and Jim). I never ship. Except, well, now. And, as much as I want to hate Karen: I kinda like her.

I adore Michael going to see Pam's artwork. Yes, I nearly cried. Perfect moment of TV.

The Office actually has me shipping a couple (Pam and Jim). I never ship. Except, well, now.

I'm the same way, Kevin! I don't ship either, but dammit: Jim and Pam must be together!

And, as much as I want to hate Karen: I kinda like her.

I love Karen. I don't even want to hate her. She's too cool to hate. A girl who will play Call of Duty with you is a girl...you should play Call of Duty with, if you catch my drift.