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).

Re: Jim/Pam: I'd like to see them end up like Turk and Carla from "Scrubs", in that, it's not forgone that their being together solves all their problems, instead of that whole TV "We got them together, now they're boring." thing. On a shallow note, doesn't Krasinki have the best smile on television, right now? Looking at it really makes me want to smile.

On a shallow note, doesn't Krasinki have the best smile on television, right now? Looking at it really makes me want to smile.

His is pretty good but, right now, I'm going to have to go with Lee Pace's for the win (as the kids say).

Right...I forgot he has a show.

I forgot he has a show

He does, and it's a good one. I thought there would be more discussion about it but I've looked in various threads & didn't see anything. I'd probably notice Lee Pace's smile more if he weren't standing next to Anna Friel most of the time. She's very distracting. Not that I'm complaining.

Haven't seen any mention of It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, either. I'm enjoying it, too, especially when "The Gang Solve[d] the North Korea Problem." I'm on the same wavelength as its scuzzy absurdist humor but I thought my wife would HATE it. Much to my surprise she thought it was pretty funny (the episode "The Aluminum Monster vs. Fatty McGoo".)