Every episode, I love Marc a little more.

The actor went to school with my friend's boyfriend. They apparently still chat.

I'm a little worried that The Office is heading toward an emphasis on intra-office romantic relationships. Which could be a little too close to soap opera land to be good for the show.

I thought that was part of the joke with the memo- that nearly every one was having an intra-office romance.

I loved Jim when he said he didn't want to be hip like Ryan. But I love Jim anyway...I want one!

I loved the shit eating grin he had after, "well, maybe not any girl he wants."

Ugly Betty:

he played James (dead angry 1950s lovesick ghost boy) in I Only Have Eyes For You.

Whoa, seriously?? Cool! This calls for a rewatch, of course. I think my crush on Henry rivals my crush on season-2 Jim Halpert, which is no small feat. So why do you think Betty was hesitating in that last scene? Just upset over the situation with her dad and Wilhelmina and Daniel, or is she really having second thoughts about Henry? (No!)

Every episode, I love Marc a little more.

I know -- and Amanda, too! I think those two are the best comedic actors in the cast. Marc really shone in that scene with Justin; I love that Justin is the one who brings out his softer side.

So what do you think Justin meant when he told the guy at the store that he's nothing like his dad? Because Santos was such a guy, and Justin is "swishy"? That's what I got from the bit with the basketball, although the way Justin said "I'm nothing like him" made me think there was more to the story. Does Justin have a secret???

I continue to be impressed with how they've been handling Alexis's storyline. After the last episode, I was a little afraid that she'd be freaked out about being Alexis and not Alex any longer, but I really liked seeing how happy she was with her body in this episode.

Also, there is NO WAY they would kill Betty's dad, after killing Santos. Right?

Meep! I don't think so, but I admit I'm a little worried. But then if he dies, Betty has no reason to keep Wilhelmina's secret anymore, so I don't think they'll go that route.

The Office:

Yeah, this was a relationship-heavy episode, especially with the addition of Ryan. It seems like there's a lot to establish at the beginning of this season, with all the changes that happened at the very end of the season 3 finale, but I think the romance stuff will eventually be toned down. Although I kind of hope that Dwight keeps trying to win Angela back in all kinds of inappropriate ways.

Hahahaha, Ryan, still a total dick, I see. His talking head about his haircut was SO Michael-like -- the kid really picked up a lot at Dunder-Mifflin Scranton, I guess.

The scene when Dwight and Michael went to reclaim the gift basket actually made me cringe. In a show that's full of watch-from-the-hall moments, I think that was one of the worst ones.

I loved the shit eating grin he had after, "well, maybe not any girl he wants."

Ha, yeah, that was great! And I loved his little wave after Ryan asked Pam out.

Oh, hi! I just started watching The Office last night!

Yay, Nora!

So why do you think Betty was hesitating in that last scene? Just upset over the situation with her dad and Wilhelmina and Daniel, or is she really having second thoughts about Henry? (No!)

I think she didn't know Christina had told Henry, and then Betty was also just already emotionally shredded, and didn't want to deal with Henry's wine-cooler-swilling emotional upset. You know, kind of like, "Not this, too!" Too much recent turbulence in her life.

So what do you think Justin meant when he told the guy at the store that he's nothing like his dad? Because Santos was such a guy, and Justin is "swishy"? That's what I got from the bit with the basketball

Me, too.

I continue to be impressed with how they've been handling Alexis's storyline. After the last episode, I was a little afraid that she'd be freaked out about being Alexis and not Alex any longer, but I really liked seeing how happy she was with her body in this episode.

I'm half-expecting Alexis to be faking the amnesia. Because (1) it would be totally in line for a telenovela, and (2) I just don't buy the sudden "Gee 'Dad,' maybe now that I'm a woman my softer side can come out and we can be pals!"

In general, though, I've really liked the way they've handled the whole MTF issue -- with Alexis saying she never felt like she was in the right body, and Bradford not being able to handle it, etc. I'm *so* glad they didn't play it for laughs. (Other than, you know, the fact that most MTF transsexuals would KILL to look like Rebecca Romjin. But -- ::handwave:: -- telenovella.)

Also, there is NO WAY they would kill Betty's dad, after killing Santos. Right?

Meep! I don't think so, but I admit I'm a little worried. But then if he dies, Betty has no reason to keep Wilhelmina's secret anymore, so I don't think they'll go that route.

I don't think they will, just because of the potential for big trauma. They tend not to go that way, with the exception of Santos, and since that was so recent, I just don't think they'd do it.

This isn't a Tim Minear show, after all....

The American CREATURE COMFORTS is coming out on DVD tomorrow. I think there were several that never aired.

How funny was "Phyliss' Wedding!"

Venture Brothers here? Some backgrounds for S3 on Jackson Publick's blog: [link]

Michael driving his car into a lake was a brilliant TV moment for me.

The actual writing on this in the second half was really good I thought, as it explored personal relationship breakdowns using the office as the context. Which is nice.

Pam and Jim are doomed, though. Being cute forever does not good drama make. (And Joss is directing the final one hour episode. Step away, Joss).