Alba and Black to Star in Office Episode

Jessica Alba

What do Jessica Alba, Jack Black, and Cloris Leachman all have in common? A guest spot on NBC’s “The Office” of course!

It’s confirmed that Jessica Alba and Jack black will be visiting “The Office” on the shows post-Super Bowl episode, and according to Zap2It.com, Cloris Leachman also recently signed on to  guest star in the episode.

Unfortunately, the star’s won’t actually be conversing with the Dunder Mifflin employees; instead they will be a part of a movie that the employees are trying to pirate during work.

TV.com is suspecting “record ratings for the comedy cornerstone of NBC’s Thursday nights.” Others are skeptical on the star-studded post-Super Bowl show, but this also might provide some great entertainment for those new audience members NBC is hoping to collect.

What do you think about NBC’s decision to make their Thursday night comedy a hot guest-star spot? Will “The Office” hit the high ratings like people are speculating? Comment below!

“Moroccan Christmas” Not So Festive

Meredith

Most office Christmas parties tend to be a stale combination of painful conversations with co-workers, pathetic bonuses, and bad drink concoctions. I was hoping that “The Office” would go beyond these boundaries for their office Christmas party. However the hilarity I was looking for may have overstepped into some major awkward territory.

It all began with Phyllis hosting the annual Christmas party at Scranton. “This was not your grandmother’s Christmas party — unless, of course, she’s from Morocco,” declared Phyllis.

Everyone seemed equally amused, minus Angela, however, who was forced to do the heavy lifting of the party planning, (she’s still being blackmailed from Phyllis who knows about her affair.)

The main plot of the night focused around Meredith’s problem with drinking. Definitely a heavy topic for “The Office.”

It all begin when Michael decided to serve her “One-of-Everythings,” consisting of equal parts Scotch, Absinthe, Rum, Gin, Vermouth, Triple Sec, and two packets of Splenda.
Then more drinking.
Then some belly-dancing.
Then Meredith’s hair catching on fire.

The rest of this plot made many viewers really uncomfortable; Michael wanted so badly to help Meredith with her alcohol problem, however, she didn’t feel she had one. So instead, the episode focused on Michael awkwardly chasing Meredith around the rehab center parking lot, trying to force her to go in, while Meredith screamed bloody murder trying to escape this kidnapping.

Unfortunately, Michael realized he can’t force any one to go to rehab. That’s when vowed to make Meredith hit rock bottom: ” So I think I know what I need to do at this point. I need to find ways to push Meredith to the bottom. Um. I think I can do it. I did it with Jan.”

Despite this unfortunate subplot, the rest of the episode was fairly newsworthy. The most affective part of the night was Phyllis’s transformation from a goody-too-shoes to a woman who is fed up with Angela.

So when the blackmailing stops working and Angela pushes Phyllis too far, she did was most of us would have never seen coming: she told the entire office (minus Andy, of course) that Angela has been sleeping with Dwight behind Andy’s back.

Soon after the announcement, Andy comes in and sings his bride-to-be a Christmas carol while the entire office sits in uncomfortable silence. Angela is almost is tears while tension thickens the room.

Although last night’s episode included some less-than-par material from the writers, it definitely wasn’t a failure. The dark material didn’t make for a very festive mood at Dunder Mifflin, but this episode definitely set up the plot for upcoming ones.

What did you feel about the episode?

Miss “Moroccan Christmas”? Watch the full episode on Hulu
or
Watch a clip from the episode when Jim pulls a prank on Dwight.

Carell, “Office” get Golden Globe Noms

Steve Carellrecently received a Golden Globe nomination for his work as Michael Scott, regional manager of Dunder Mifflin on “The Office.”

Carell was nominated last year for a Golden Globe, and won a Golden Globe in 2006 for his role as Michael Scott.

The entire office clan was also nominated for a Golden Globe for “Best Television Series.”

The 66th annual Golden Globe Awards premier on NBC at 8 p.m. EST.

The Surplus Review: Chairs vs. Copiers

This week’s episode of “The Office” took a major stance against a huge what if: what if Michael was loved and admired by everyone in the office. Now, the viewers are all aware that this would never happen; his buffoonery is too much for an average worker to appreciate. But, when Michael has to decide what to spend the office’s $4,300 surplus on, people started taking sides. And each side realized the only way to win Michael over was to kiss-some-major-behind.

The office divided into two teams: Team Chairs (led by Pam Beesley) and Team Copiers (led by Jim and Oscar). All Team Copier needed was a high-five from Jim and an invitation to lunch to get ahead in the game. Michael is always looking for a chance to befriend Jim, and this was his chance. But just when it looked like Team Copiers was going to win, Team Chairs swooped right in. Pam got all made up and did a great job flaunting herself out to Michael. She continuously complimented his ass and his $4 tie from TJ Max. Stanley even gave Michael one of those rare smiles, hoping to sway him towards Team Chairs.

However, Michael finds out that if he turns in the surplus to corporate, he gets a $645 bonus. That would “literally make [him] a king at Burlington Coat Factory.” So instead of letting half of the office down by choosing a side, Michael decides to let the entire office down by choosing a huge fur coat.

Now back to reality. Once the office finds out that he won’t pick a side, everyone turns off the facades and gets down to business. Presuming no one would agree on one item, Michael lets the office decide; if they can’t come to a decision, then no one gets anything (well, actually Michael would get a fur coat). The office eventually decides on chairs, and Michael is left with an ugly fur coat and no way to pay for it.

The other side plot of this episode was Andela’s visit Schrute farms to prepare for their wedding ceremony. When Dwight is practicing with Angela at the alter in front of a German minister, he secretly has the minster marry them. Angela, who was super angry at the situation, decides to mack on Andy in front of the entire office. “Was that hot or what.” I’m not sure if that was her finally picking Andy over Dwight, but critics have a huge hunch that it’s not over yet. Anyone else grown tired from this soap-opera love-triangle?

Great quotes from “The Surplus”:

• “You are the silent killer. Go back to the annex” – Michael to Toby
• “We’re getting married at Schrute Farms, no matter what. I have looked at twelve venues, I have lost eight deposits and I have seen Angela naked zero times. I am not losing another deposit.” – Andy
• “I swallowed all your ideas. I’m going to digest them and see what comes out the other end.” – Michael
  
• “Look, I really need this new chair. I mean, seriously, how is it possible that in five years I’ve had two engagement rings, and only one chair?” – Pam
• “There’s that ass. Aw, don’t take it away!” – Pam

Watch the full episode on Hulu
or
Watch an extended scene from Dwangelandy’s wedding planning.

Rashida Jones to Star in “Office Spinoff”

Rashida Jones

Rashida Jones has recently signed on to star in the (still) untitled “Greg Daniels/Mike Schur/Amy Poehler Project.”

Variety.com reports that the “Office” alum is set to play Ann Logan, “a nurse whose boyfriend has a strange injury…that leads Jones’ character into the world populated by Poehler and Ansari.”

Right now, Jones is keeping a tight lip on the very secretive comedy.

“For my money, there’s no more emotionally intelligent, cerebral comedy writers in TV than Mike and Greg,” Jones said. “There’s something about the way they capture the complexity and awkwardness of human dynamics that’s so relatable yet so unique. What I don’t know [about the series], I still trust in these guys so much.”

Producers are expecting to begin filming the new series in early 2009.

Jones had played Karen Filipelli, Jim Halpert’s love interest, for 24 episodes on “The Office.” She will also be starring in a future episode of “The Office” this season.

Jones can be seen in the upcoming “I Love You, Man,” with Paul Rudd and Jason Segel, and “Brief Interviews With a Hideous Man,” alongside fellow “Office” actor John Krasinski.

If you can’t wait any longer to see Rashida on the big screen, you can check her out on a hilarious video from Funnyordie.com, also starring Natalie Portman.

Carell and Fey Star in “Date Night”

Fey and Carell

“The Office’s” Steve Carell and “30 Rock’s” Tiny Fey are going to begin “Date”-ing next year.

The two NBC stars will begin production on the movie “Date Night,” a comedy that will focus on a couple’s routine date night that “becomes much more than a mere dinner and a movie.”

The 20th Century Fox production will be directed by Shawn Levy and start production sometime next year when the sitcom stars go on hiatus from their NBC shows.

“I wanted to do a relatable, grounded character comedy about marriage and the lengths we go to preserve the spark,” Levy told Daily Variety. “Tina and Steve are smart and relatable, and the tone of their comedy perfectly fits this film.”

You can currently catch Carell, as Michael Scott, and Fey, as Liz Lemon, on Thursdays at 8PM and 8:30PM on NBC.

Frame Toby Review

He’s back folks, and Michael is definitely not happy.

Toby, who we had last seen venture off to Costa Rica for some much needed time away from the office, is back in Scranton and annoying Michael once again.

Michael: Is there no way we can get rid of him?
David: Not without cause, Michael.
Michael: I have cause. It is because I hate him

Michael and Dwight decided to come together, a Bonnie and Clyde combo, to get rid of the hated HR rep once and for all. So what do they frame him with?
*An secret office relationship? No…
*A bit of violence against Michael? No…
*Drugs. Yes. Drugs.

Unfortunately, the $500 weed that Michael bought as bait was really only a half-eaten Caprese salad. And last time I checked, possession of that isn’t a crime. Poor Toby. The HR rep is here to stay I guess; which is somewhat of a bummer since Holly seemed to fit right in with the Dunder Mifflin crowd.

Jim was missing a bit this episode. His mind was focused around finally buying off his parents house so Pam and him can have a place to live together. How romantic…sort of.

Everyone was a bit nervous when Jim brought Pam up to the house and, “surprise!”, showed her THEIR new house. Her face dropped, and she stayed speechless for a very awkward two minutes.

After showing her around the small quarters with the hideous shag carpets, extremely creepy permanent clown picture, and wood paneling, he shows her the art studio he’s created for her in the garage. And just as Pam looks like she’s about to rip on Jim for this brash purchase, she exclaims, “I love it! You bought me a house!” Yes he did Pam.

This episode definitely showed less potential than others. However, one of the funniest parts of the night was when Dwight discussed his perfect crime:

I break into Tiffany’s at midnight. Do I go for the vault? No. I go for the chandelier; it’s priceless. As I’m taking it down, a woman catches me. She tells me to stop. It’s her father’s business. She’s Tiffany. I say no. We make love all night. In the morning the cops come and I escape in one of their uniforms. I tell her to meet me in Mexico but I go to Canada. I don’t trust her. Besides, I love the cold. Thirty years later I get a postcard. I have a son. And he’s the Chief of Police. This is where the story gets interesting: I tell Tiffany to meet me in Paris by the Trocadero. She’s been waiting for me all these years. She’s never taken another lover. I don’t care. I don’t show up. I go to Berlin. That’s where I stashed the chandelier.

Oh, and Ryan is leaving Dunder Mifflin Scranton, again. This just confirmed everyone’s speculations about Novak’s leave of absence.

Watch the FULL episode HERE.
Watch a web-exclusive where Pam discusses her stance with the microwave.

Ryan leaving “The Office”?

BJ Novak

BJ Novak, who plays temp Ryan Howard on NBC’s “The Office” might be leaving the NBC comedy, for good.

Michael Ausiello, from Entertainment Weekly, reports that Novak is leaving “The Office” to appear in Quentin Tarantino’s latest film, Inglourious Basterds.

Some speculate he will be gone for only a few episodes, while others think that he is gone from the show for good, “at least as a performer.” An EW mole stated “he may write more episodes, but as far as playing Ryan, I think he’s ready to move on.”

Will his departure mean more air-time for (soon-to-be) receptionist Pam Beesley? BuddyTV speculates that his parting will mean Pam needs to make a big decision about her future at Dunder Mifflin.

           What do you think about Novak’s departure?

Business Trip: To the Foreign Land of Canada

In order to butter Michael up for sending Holly packing to New Jersey, David Wallace decides to send an elated Michael on a business trip to the distant land of Winnipeg, Canada.

Michael gets to bring two of his employees along: a translator (Andy) and a numbers man (Oscar). The combination of these three men was a great change of pace for “Office” characters. Rarely do “Office” fans get to see these three men interact.

When they arrived at the hotel, they go to the concierge (Winnipeg’s equivalent of a geisha) to find out the best places to go for dinner. Michael is instantly infatuated. Later, the cameras catch Michael leaving with the concierge. Is this what the doctor ordered for a broken heart? Apparently not. Michael is left missing Holly, hungry, and depressed in the exotic country of Canada after his one-night-stand.

For the night, Andy decides to be Oscar’s wing-man: “you will thank me when they spank thee.” The two get drunk off of long island iced teas (“they are way stronger in Canada”) and discuss Andy and Angela’s future. Oscar asks why they haven’t had sex yet. Andy, who wants to know the same thing, decides to drunk dial Angela. “We will discuss this later, naked,” he stammers. If Andy wasn’t so drunk maybe he would have noticed Dwight’s voice in the background. Or maybe not. Why is Andy so ignorant towards the Dwangela affair?

While Michael and his co-workers are enjoying all things international, Jim is counting down the days until Pam comes back into his life. Everyone else in the office is aware of Jim’s sudden giddiness (except for Ryan and Kelly, who are hooking up in their backroom nook). However, with one day left, Pam tells Jim that’s she’s failing a class and has to stay in New York.

Maybe it was the idea of leaving her boyfriend in Scranton or maybe it was her hatred for the graphic arts, but Pam returned into Jim’s arms. Is everything finally working out for this couple? I don’t think the writers are going to let us off that easy…

Watch the full episode on Hulu here!
Check on an exclusive webisode of “Business Trip” here!

Next week’s episode, “Frame Toby,” will be on NBC this Thursday.

Update: Steve Carell on Leno

Did you miss Steve Carell on “The Tonight Show” this Wednesday?

Watch a clip of the “Office” boss talk about his kids, surviving Hollywood, and showbiz.

Carell also gives us a taste of what really annoys him, and how his kids are coping with their famous dad.

Click here to watch a highlight from the interview!