TV personality

How did I love last week's episode of "The Office"? Let me count the ways:

1. The cold open -- Jim (John Krasinski) impersonating Dwight (Rainn Wilson) was a classic. If you missed the episode, click on the YouTube link a couple entries down from this one. If you know the show, you know Dwight's whole character can be summed up with "Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica."

2. The support characters were used to full effect:
2a. We got to delve into Creed's (Creed Bratton) psyche a little more -- the way he smoothly dumped off his mistake onto the shoulders of a mill supervisor, got her fired, and then passed around a collection envelope to help her and her family ... only to keep the money for himself? Too funny.
2b. "This day is bananas! B-A-N-A-N-A-S!" Perky Kelly (Mindy Kaling) training the accountants, especially no-nonsense Angela (Angela Kinsey), was hilarious.

3. The press conference. Michael (Steve Carell) called a press conference over an obscene watermark that was printed onto company paper. He even wrote the headline for the paper: "Scranton-area paper company Dunder Mifflin apologizes to valued customer; some companies still know how to do business." Maybe non-newspaper folk won't find that quite as screamingly funny as I do, but trust me. That's gold.

4. The whole episode was actually about work! Yeah, it's called "The Office," but most of the time we're treated to behind-the-scenes frivolity that has very little to do with real work: birthday parties or gossip fests. Which is great. Don't get me wrong. But in this episode, everyone was scrambling to deal with a product recall.
4a. Jim and Andy (Ed Helms) went on an actual customer call. It always strikes me as a little odd that these characters are salespeople, yet they're always in the office instead of out visiting customers.
4b. Jim: "Lord, beer me strength."
4c. Angela had such difficulty with apologizing to customers about the recalled product. "I already told you, the official company position is apologetic!"
4d. And Kelly's attempts to correct her! Oh! She is, like, seriously too funny, like, oh my God.

5. And my favorite part about Michael's apology video was the American flag behind his head -- the one made of four sheets of 8 1/2" x 11" paper with a quarter of the flag printed on each. That, and the ultimatum at the end. "They always give an ultimatum."

6. Michael even made one of his famous spoonerisms: "They are trying to make me an escape goat."

7. And the closer. Oh my word, the closer. Having Dwight come in imitating Jim was beyond priceless. Drumming his fingers on Pam's reception desk, slumping to his chair, doing his terrible imitation of Jim's famous "camera faces" and little comments ... wow. It was the perfect closing and the perfect episode, and I hope we see more like it.

Posted by Laura Marshall at 08:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I got an e-mail a little while ago from one Ms. Kerry Sullivan, who happens to be a fellow copy editor here at The Berkshire Eagle.

"Just wanted to tell you, I'm watching 'The Office' right now, and it's AWESOME!" she wrote.

Gloating over being at home when I'm stuck here scrambling to make deadline? Not fair.

Of course, in her defense, she was here on overtime tonight, and she really bailed us out and made things run a lot more smoothly, and we really appreciated that. So I guess she deserves to be at home watching terrific television ... but so do the rest of us!

Ah well. Ten minutes to deadline, and then I can go home and see what she's raving about.

Posted by Laura Marshall at 11:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Am I the only one who's seen those hilarious "gold kit" commercials? Or am I the only one who finds them hilarious?

I saw one again the other night while I was rewinding my tape of "House" and "Work Out," and I was delighted -- it had been several months, and I'd thought maybe someone had thought better of the whole enterprise. But no, they're still out there, it seems.

Do you know what I'm talking about? Those great cheesy ads for something called a Gold Kit that will give you Cash for your Gold! You know, all that gold you have lying around the house, gathering dust! They show happy, mostly elderly people praising the success they've had with the Gold Kit and telling you to Call Now.

I don't know. Something about the idea of mailing off your grandfather's watch, your mother's earrings and your own gold teeth -- in exchange for what would probably be, like, a quarter -- just hits me in the funny bone. Do people actually do this?

Posted by Laura Marshall at 04:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Last Thursday's 10:30 alarm went off as usual -- and I rolled over and reset it for 1:30. I don't sleep well, so on the rare occasions I'm not up hours before the alarm ... well, I figure I'm entitled to take advantage of my body's willingness to rest. It makes up for the days I don't get any sleep at all.

I was almost back under again when my bedroom door opened. "Hey," I heard from somewhere in the fifth circle of dreams. "They're doing a show about Vancouver on The Travel Channel."

Uh oh. Goodbye, dreams. I was up and out of bed before I knew it, and downstairs ensconced on the couch -- just in time for the program to move up the coast to Victoria, B.C., Canada. I missed the Vancouver portion, but thoroughly enjoyed the footage of the remote wilds of British Columbia.

I went to graduate school at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, and it was such a difficult place to leave: The vegetarian-friendly, ethnically diverse, outdoorsy, artsy population was so inclusive. I can truly say it was my favorite place to live. And I've been missing it more and more lately, as I've been getting more involved in hiking and outdoor activities.

Someday I'll go back. If not to live, then definitely to visit. And until then, hey, there's TV.

Posted by Laura Marshall at 09:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Okay, "Office" fans: NBC has uploaded a priceless video to YouTube.

In Season Two's "Drug Testing" episode, we saw how Jim (John Krasinski) does impressions of his coworkers. He imitated Kevin and Angela and Stanley, and Pam (Jenna Fischer) tried to recreate his impression of Phyllis, though she "can't do it as good as he can."

The impression we all wanted to see, though, was the one of Dwight.

This looks like the cold open for the upcoming "Product Recall" episode. Can't wait.

Posted by Laura Marshall at 09:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I have just one word to say about Chase and Cameron not getting back together in last night's episode of "House" ... Wait. Is "whew" really a word, or just an exhalation?

I was getting a little worried for a while there in the middle of the episode, when it seemed like their non-relationship was going to be on again. But then the writers did me proud, ducking around the obvious choice and leaving the two characters (played by real-life couple Jesse Spencer and Jennifer Morrison) stranded, drifting, apart.

I have no doubts the two will get back together at some point -- probably not by the end of this season, since there aren't very many episodes left, but someday.

In the meantime, at least we get to enjoy fabulous bits of choppy dialogue between House (Hugh Laurie) and Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard) -- last night's installment was chock-full of laugh-out-loud lines -- and the will-they-won't-they tension between House and Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein).

Good stuff. I can't wait for next week.

Posted by Laura Marshall at 11:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Is it possible I can make a blog post without mentioning "The Office"?

Apparently not.

Really, though, today's topic is the most recent project from "Office" creators Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant: "Extras." The show is, at its core, another half-hour workplace comedy -- only here, the workplace in question just happens to be the film industry. And the story follows an extra, played by Gervais, who's trying to break into show business and will do anything to get a line in one of the many films on which he works.

I can't say enough good things about this program. The first season came out on DVD a while back, but I only just got around to watching all six episodes -- man, I wish I had gotten around to it sooner. Each installment features a different big-name actor, playing a slightly skewed version of her- or himself. For example, Patrick Stewart plays himself as a wannabe screenwriter whose opus centers around the main character's ability to make women's clothes fall off. This is truly funny stuff -- wacky British humor at its best, with the peculiar brand of subtlety only Gervais and Merchant can provide.

The special features on the DVD are worth mentioning, too, if only because one of them is my favorite kind -- a blooper reel -- and another is a video diary of Gervais and Merchant trying to get Leonardo DiCaprio's agent's phone number, which has to be seen to be understood.

So this is my recommendation: Run, don't walk, to your nearest DVD-selling establishment and procure your own copy of "Extras." And then wait, as I must, for the next season to be released.

Posted by Laura Marshall at 08:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I never thought it could be like this: Last night's "30 Rock" was even better than the episode of "The Office" that preceded it.

Have I mentioned how glad I am that NBC has seen the light and put the two shows back to back? They have such similar vibes, and they're both smart and well-executed. But last night's "Office" was a little choppy, though there was plenty of hilarity. Last week's installment was so brilliant, so maybe anything that followed was doomed to seem less so. I watched this week's again this morning -- I always re-watch over breakfast on Fridays -- but then I did something I don't normally do ... I hit fast-forward through the credits and re-watched "30 Rock," too.

Tina Fey really is a good writer; there's a reason she became the first female head writer on "Saturday Night Live." But last night's episode was top-notch. I was laughing hysterically at her jammie-dance silliness and screaming, clutching my stomach, at the "The call is coming from inside the house!" sequence. Too funny. I also think Emily Mortimer was a great choice to play fiancée to Jack (Alec Baldwin) -- her purring, velvet tones are a great match for Baldwin's raspy gruffness.

So -- I never thought I would say this, but look out, "Office." You've got some catching up to do.

Posted by Laura Marshall at 02:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This Tuesday's episode of "House" was eagerly anticipated in the Marshall residence -- and, happily, was no disappointment. Though there weren't enough Huddy moments to satisfy -- come on, House and Cuddy were trapped on a plane together with a suspected contagion, and Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein) fell sick, which should have brought out more desperation in House (Hugh Laurie)! -- the episode as a whole was tight, well-written and fun ... except for the ending.

Maybe it's just that I can't stand the Chameron non-relationship -- mostly because I'm not a fan of Jennifer Morrison, who plays Cameron, though Jesse Spencer, who plays Chase, is okay -- but I just hate that the two had to rekindle the so-called heat of last season's fling ... just when Morrison and Spencer got engaged in real life. It's too convenient, and that makes it annoying.

So for me, ending the episode abruptly by the two calling off their obnoxious "secret" trysts was a little jarring. But also, I suppose, a relief. As long as they don't get back together next week (which I'm sure they will).

Posted by Laura Marshall at 08:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

How is it that I never saw the "Trunk Monkey" commercials until they showed up on YouTube? When did these ads air?

There's a series of about eight ads for Suburban Auto Group that demonstrate various aspects of a supposed Suburban feature: They show drivers who, upon getting into various jams, simply press the dashboard button labeled "Trunk Monkey." Their trunk pops open and out jumps a monkey, who then takes care of the problem.

The driver whose car gets egged by neighborhood pranksters? The monkey chases them, beats them up and makes them clean the egg off the car.

The driver who gets pulled over by a police officer? The Trunk Monkey offers a hefty bribe.

The teenager who wants to make out with his girlfriend in his parents' car? The "chaperone feature" of the monkey pulls out a shotgun and grins.

The driver who gets abducted by aliens? Well, apparently even extraterrestrial technology is no match for the undefeated Trunk Monkey.

The ads were made with a live monkey -- something I often frown upon with advertising, because it ends up looking fake and cheap -- but in this case, the production quality is great, and there's no cringe-worthy cheesiness to put me off. Yeah, they're a little cheesy -- how can ads about a Trunk Monkey not be? -- but it's cheesy in a good way.

Really, whoever came up with these ads is brilliant. I wonder if they do the commercials for Geico now?

Posted by Laura Marshall at 05:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: NBC really needs to make "The Office" into an hourlong show. Letting the episodes breathe a little, letting the editors leave in all the weird awkward moments, letting the show find itself -- all these are very good things.

So last night was the Roy/Jim showdown -- or the showdown that wasn't, thanks to the ever-vigilant Dwight and his pepper spray. I had read a spoiler, I think on YouTube or the NBC site, that said Dwight (Rainn Wilson) would step in at the last minute and save Jim (John Krasinski) from Roy (David Denman) with pepper spray, but I really had no idea what to expect. And Dwight's "talking head" immediately afterward, in which he's obivously suffering the effects of the spray himself but so proud of himself for having had the foresight to bring his weapons (nunchuks, throwing stars and all) to work -- genius.

Once again, props to the writers on the show for keeping it real ... and really funny. I laughed so hard at so many lines and situations in last night's eppie, I actually missed dialogue. No matter, though, 'cause I'm sure I'll be watching it again soon.

My one beef is with Pam (Jenna Fischer). When Roy came up afterward and asked if he could talk to her, both of us here at home waved our hands at the TV and said, "No, Pam -- don't!" But she did. And then she hugged him goodbye? Come on! Pam! I mean, I understand. They were together for years, engaged for three. There are feelings there. Complicated ones. But if Jim's prediction is true -- "I'm sure you'll find your way back to one another someday" ... well, barf. This isn't a criticism of the writing; in fact, it's the opposite. It's what would probably really happen, and I respect the writers for going in that direction. Pam, though? As a character? Not so much.

Incidentally, super-sizing "30 Rock" did very good things for that little show, too. Keep it up, NBC.

Posted by Laura Marshall at 10:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

So we're all hanging on for thirs Thursday's episode of "The Office," right?

This afternoon, I started up YouTube, as I am wont to do when there are only about fifteen minutes left before I have to leave for work, and right there on the front page of the site was a video posted by NBC ... a little music video-type thing with a couple extra seconds of promo footage for the next eppie. "Score!" I thought, and started it up.

Okay, Thursday cannot come fast enough. And not just because Thursday is my Friday.

Posted by Laura Marshall at 03:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)