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The Office, "Mafia": Best Lines of the Night

BuzzSugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 05:30:00 -0700

After last week's wedding extravaganza on The Office, we come back to a Dunder Mifflin minus Jim and Pam. With the two lovebirds on their honeymoon, the focus shifts to Michael, who once again gets himself into a pickle with a guy - who he thinks - is affiliated with the mafia. I always love Andy, Dwight, and Michael banter, and this week's episode is full of it.

Debate the events of the night with The Office! group in the BuzzSugar Community, and then check out my favorite lines of the evening when you read more.

"Jim is gone on his honeymoon, so I started opening his office to fart in."-Kevin
Kevin is so creepy, it's hilarious. First he takes over Jim's desk while Jim's gone - then his identity. I love his conversation with the credit card company where he tried to convince them to let the "criminal" (meaning Jim) continue to spend the money.

"Criminals are like raccoons. You give them a taste of cat food, and they'll be back for the whole cat."-Dwight
I really wish they could string out this mafia storyline a bit longer, just so I can watch Andy and Dwight strategize. My favorite part is when Andy dresses up as a car mechanic (Pat!) with a tire iron - "It's metal, so I can hit somebody with it." Gotta love Pat.

"I wouldn't last in jail, Oscar, I'm not like you. You don't know about jail? You would love jail."-Kevin
Ha! I know it's totally un-PC, but I think this line is hilarious. Oscar definitely puts up with way too many gay jokes.

"I think I'm in trouble with the mob. Or a major insurance carrier."-Michael
Michael's powers of perception have no bounds, as usual.

"If there's one thing I hate more than the mafia, it's a liar. I wish the mafia would go out and kill all the liars and then bury them in my yard." - Michael
Michael goes on a major power trip after making the "mob" back down. Not like Michael needs a power trip, but oh well...Hopefully, he won't take it out too much on the rest of the office next week.

So what'd you think of the episode? I'll admit that I sort of missed Jim and Pam, and I could always use a little more Kelly.

Photos courtesy of NBC

Which Network's Two-Hour Comedy Block Do You Prefer?

BuzzSugar — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 10:30:12 -0700

Next Thursday, NBC's two-hour Thursday night powerhouse will be complete again with the season four premiere of 30 Rock - get a sneak peek here. Meanwhile, ABC has just picked up its new comedies Modern Family, The Middle, and Cougar Town. With the addition of Hank, ABC now has a comedy block of its own, but which one do you prefer?

Photos copryight 2009, ABC, Inc. and courtesy of NBC

Are You Excited About Helen Hunt's Possible Return to TV?

BuzzSugar — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:15:09 -0700

Last week, I told you about Maura Tierney's departure from the new NBC midseason drama, Parenthood. I was admittedly bummed, even though her recovery obviously takes priority. It's just that after watching the pilot, I thought Tierney was perfectly cast in the role.

Well, now the word is that NBC has reached out to Helen Hunt as a potential replacement for Tierney on the show.

Hunt is reportedly still mulling over the offer, but I'm already jumpy over this news. She's been off the Hollywood radar for a while, but I've always thought that she was one of the most talented actresses out there. I loved her on Mad About You and throughout her film career - As Good as It Gets, Cast Away, and don't forget Girls Just Want to Have Fun! Tierney would've been amazing in the role, but Hunt is a worthy substitute and I just know she'd deliver the complexity, which a drama like Parenthood needs. What do you think - are you excited about Hunt's possible return to the small screen?

Remake of the UK's Prime Suspect Coming to NBC

BuzzSugar — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 10:45:37 -0700

In a deal between NBC and the UK's ITV Studios, America and Britain are swapping projects. ITV is doing a UK version of Law and Order while NBC has signed on for a remake of Prime Suspect, a drama series that starred Helen Mirren as Jane Tennison, "a tough homicide investigator who found herself juggling her difficult job and equally harrowing personal life." The show earned Mirren two Emmys and "made waves for featuring a woman as head of a murder squad."

NBC's primetime entertainment president Angela Bromstad said, "We want to carefully choose a couple of iconic titles this year to reinvent, and our intention is to create another classic television show from this brilliant original format."

Hollywood's all about "reinvention" these days, that's for sure. Who could reinvent Mirren's old role, though? Is there an American actress you could picture doing well with this character?

Ben Silverman Leaves NBC For New Media Company

BuzzSugar — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 10:30:48 -0700

Big news on the TV-executive front this morning: Ben Silverman, who's been the co-chairman of NBC's entertainment division since 2007, is leaving the network to start his own company.

Silverman previously ran the production company Reveille, which brought shows such as The Office and Ugly Betty to US TV networks. His time at NBC was a roller coaster, filled with big (but not always successful) ideas like Jay Leno's move to 10 p.m., shows based on "the greatest stories ever told," and revivals of former hits like Knight Rider and American Gladiators. He also ran afoul of striking writers back in 2008 when he referred to them as "the nerdiest, ugliest, meanest kids in the high school" trying to cancel the prom (aka the Golden Globes). But on the positive side, he worked hard to find ways to keep shows like Friday Night Lights and Chuck on the air.

In Silverman's place at NBC will be Jeff Gaspin, who's been running NBC's cable division since 2007. Silverman, meanwhile, is starting a new and as-yet-unnamed venture with Barry Diller's IAC to create and distribute media across different platforms.

NBC's been struggling in the ratings since before Silverman took over, though the network always performs well when it comes to Emmy nominations. I imagine the jury will be out on his time at NBC until we see how NBC's new shows - including Trauma and Parenthood - perform this season. Meanwhile, what do you make of this news?

Maura Tierney's Illness Pushes Parenthood to Midseason

BuzzSugar — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 18:30:51 -0700

On the sad, worrisome news front, Maura Tierney has fallen ill recently, and the production start date for NBC's new show Parenthood, based on the 1989 movie, has been moved from late July to late September. Thus, Parenthood will now premiere midseason, instead of its previously scheduled premiere date of Sept. 23. Another new NBC show, Mercy, will now begin in September instead of midseason, though it isn't clear yet which time slot Mercy will take. Apparently "NBC is re-evaluating its fall scheduling plans that now will include the simultaneous launch of two new medical dramas, Mercy and Trauma."

NBC has said that Tierney is "undergoing medical evaluation," and the network is "unable to release further details and ask that you respect her privacy at this time." Weirdly, this is the second unfortunate thing to happen to Parenthood, as NBC Vice President of Drama, Nora O'Brien, died unexpectedly on the set of the show in Berkeley, California back in April.

Please get well soon, Maura!

NBC's New Slate: Chuck in 2010, No More Earl

BuzzSugar — Tue, 19 May 2009 11:15:58 -0700

On the heels of ABC's announcements, NBC has declared what its Fall schedule will look like, with some shows not returning to the network and new original programming coming in. We'd already heard much of NBC's news, but here are some interesting tidbits from today:

NBC has dropped My Name Is Earl and Medium, though it's possible other networks may pick those up. CBS appears fairly likely to snag Medium while Earl could land at Fox or ABC.
Chuck fans will have to wait until after the 2010 Olympics to get their fix, as the show won't return until February 2010. When it does return, though, one character will be working at Subway, as the sandwich chain is a major sponsor for the show.
Heroes will take the 8 p.m. time slot in the Fall in an effort to draw viewers to the new show Trauma at 9 p.m.
Friday Night Lights doesn't yet have a start date on DirecTV, and it's expected to be back on NBC in Summer 2010.

NBC Entertainment Co-Chairman Ben Silverman is proud of the upcoming schedule with its mix of fan-favorites and new original programs: "NBC has picked up more scripted shows than last season even with The Jay Leno Show at 10 p.m. We're incredibly excited about our new and returning series and have more comedy programming than anyone else, as well as two of the most buzzed about new shows, Community and Parenthood. We can't wait for the Fall."

Remember, you can already watch some previews of the new shows. To check out the full schedule and descriptions of the new NBC shows, read more.

MONDAY
8 p.m. Heroes
9 p.m. Trauma
10 p.m. The Jay Leno Show

TUESDAY
8 p.m The Biggest Loser (two-hour edition)
10 p.m. The Jay Leno Show

WEDNESDAY
8 p.m. Parenthood
9 p.m. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
10 p.m. The Jay Leno Show

THURSDAY
8 p.m. SNL Weekend Update Thursday (multi-episode run)
8:30 p.m. Parks and Recreation
9 p.m. The Office
9:30 p.m. Community (moves to 8 p.m. after SNL Thursday is done, replaced by 30 Rock)
10 p.m. The Jay Leno Show

FRIDAY
8 p.m. Law & Order
9 p.m. Southland
10 p.m. The Jay Leno Show

SATURDAY
8 p.m. Dateline NBC
9 p.m. Trauma (encore broadcast)
10 p.m. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (encore broadcast)

SUNDAY
7 p.m. Football Night in America
8:20 p.m. NBC Sunday Night Football

Midseason Schedule
MONDAY
8 p.m. Chuck
9 p.m. Day One
10 p.m. The Jay Leno Show

TUESDAY
8 p.m The Biggest Loser
9:30 p.m. 100 Questions
10 p.m. The Jay Leno Show

WEDNESDAY
8 p.m. Mercy
9 p.m. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
10 p.m. The Jay Leno Show

THURSDAY
8 p.m. Community
8:30 p.m. Parks and Recreation
9 p.m. The Office
9:30 p.m. 30 Rock
10 p.m. The Jay Leno Show

FRIDAY
8 p.m. Law & Order
9 p.m. Southland
10 p.m. The Jay Leno Show

SATURDAY
8 p.m. Dateline NBC
9 p.m. Southland (encore broadcast)
10 p.m. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (encore broadcast)

SUNDAY
7 p.m. Dateline NBC
8 p.m. The Marriage Ref
9 p.m. The Celebrity Apprentice

2010 Winter Olympics preempt regularly scheduled programming from February 12-28

The New Shows

Community: Emmy Award-winning directors Joe and Anthony Russo (Arrested Development) comes Community, a smart comedy series about higher education - and lower expectations. The student body at Greendale Community College is made up of high-school losers, newly divorced housewives, and old people who want to keep their minds active. Within these not-so-hallowed halls, Community focuses on a band of misfits, at the center of which is a fast-talkin' lawyer whose degree has been revoked (Joel McHale), who form a study group and end up learning a lot more about themselves than they do about their course work. In addition to McHale, the series also stars: Gillian Jacobs, Yvette Nicole Brown, Danny Pudi, Alison Brie, and comedy legend Chevy Chase.

Parenthood: When Sarah Braverman (Maura Tierney), a financially strapped single mother, returns home to her parents and siblings in Berkeley, Calif. after packing up her Fresno apartment and uprooting her two inconvenienced kids, Amber (Mae Whitman) and Drew (Miles Heizer), she is greeted by her opinionated father, Zeek (Craig T. Nelson), and strong mother, Camille (Bonnie Bedelia), who are privately dealing with their own marital issues. As Sarah is reunited with her siblings - sister, Julia (Erika Christensen), and brothers Crosby (Dax Shepard) and Adam (Peter Krause) - all struggling with issues of their own, it's clear that the Braverman reunion is just what they need to face the everyday challenges of modern family life.

Trauma: Like an adrenaline shot to the heart, Trauma is an intense, action-packed look at one of the most dangerous medical professions in the world: first responder paramedics. When emergencies occur, the trauma team from San Francisco General is first on the scene, traveling by land, by sea or by air to reach their victims in time. From the heights of the city's Transamerica Pyramid to the depths of the San Francisco Bay, these heroes must face the most extreme conditions to save lives - and give meaning to their own existence in the process. Starring in Trauma are Derek Luke, Cliff Curtis, Anastasia Griffith, Aimee Garcia, Kevin Rankin and Jamey Sheridan.

Mercy
Mercy a new medical drama with a unique point of view, portrays the lives of the staff at Mercy Hospital as seen through the eyes of those who know it best - its nurses. Nurse Veronica Callahan (Taylor Schilling, Dark Matter) returns to Mercy from a military tour in Iraq - and she knows more about medicine than all of the residents combined. Together with fellow nurses Sonia Jimenez (Jamie Lee Kirchner, Rescue Me) and Chloe Payne (Michelle Trachtenberg, Gossip Girl), Callahan navigates through the daily traumas and social landmines of life and love both inside the hospital and out in the real world. The cast also includes: James Tupper (Men in Trees) as Dr. Chris Sands, a new doctor at the hospital who complicates Veronica's life; Diego Klattenhoff (Supernatural) as Mike Callahan, Veronica’s husband; and Guillermo Diaz (Weeds) as Nurse Angel Lopez. Mercy is a production from Universal Media Studios and Berman Braun. Joining writer/executive producers Liz Heldens (NBC’s Friday Night Lights) and Gretchen Berg & Aaron Harberts (Pushing Daisies, Pepper Dennis) are executive producers Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun. Emmy Award winner Adam Bernstein (NBC’s 30 Rock, Rescue Me) is the director.

Day One
From executive producer/writer Jesse Alexander (Heroes, Lost, Alias) and director Alex Graves (Fringe, Journeyman), Day One tells the story of life on earth following a global catastrophe that has devastated the world's infrastructures. Beginning with the immediate aftermath of the cataclysmic event, an eclectic band of survivors - played by Adam Campbell (Date Movie), Catherine Dent (The Shield), Julie Gonzalo (Eli Stone), David Lyons (ER), Derek Mio (Greek), Carly Pope (24), Thekla Reuten (Sleeper Cell) and Addison Timlin (Cashmere Mafia) - strives to rebuild society as they unravel the mysteries of what happened and face their uncertain future. The group, all residents of one apartment building in suburban Van Nuys, Calif., embarks on a quest for survival and discovers that hope is found in small victories - and heroes are born every day. Day One is a Universal Media Studios production.

100 Questions
Emmy winner James Burrows (Will & Grace, Friends) directs 100 Questions, a new comedy series written and executive-produced by Christopher Moynihan (For Your Consideration) that provides hilarious answers to 100 questions about love. Charlotte Payne (Sophie Winkleman, Peep Show) is looking for love and has rejected multiple marriage proposals - but she has yet to meet Mr. Right. When she joins a popular online dating site, she gets a little help from her dating counselor Ravi (Amir Talai, The Ex List) - who requires her to take a 100-question compatibility test. The questions aren’t easy for Charlotte to answer, and each one requires her to recount a poignant and humorous time in her life with friends Leslie (Elizabeth Ho, Women’s Murder Club), Jill (Joy Suprano, NBC’s Law & Order), Mike (Christopher Moynihan For Your Consideration) and Wayne (David Walton, Quarterlife). The test becomes a journey of self-discovery for Charlotte who begins to realize what she truly wants in a relationship. Ron West (Psych), Kelly Kulchak (Psych) and Michelle Nader (King of Queens) join Moynihan as executive producers. The series is produced by Universal Media Studios and Tagline.

Photos courtesy of NBC

The Office Rundown: Episode 27, "Cafe Disco"

BuzzSugar — Fri, 08 May 2009 11:30:48 -0700

I want to go to Cafe Disco so badly. I'm serious! Dancing, "expresso," the cast of The Office - it looks like so much fun. I think this is one of my favorite episodes of the season, and maybe that's just because there's dancing, and dancing in TV and movies pretty much always makes me happy. There are plenty of sweet/funny/awkward moment's from this week's episode, so to read about some of my favorite parts, read more.

I can't believe Dwight pays Erin to pretend she just won an art contest, just to get to Pam!
Michael: "I actually dance all the time. Tiptoeing around Corporate, it is a ballet. When I am breaking all the rules, I am break dancing."
Dwight finds out that someone is going to Ohio - turns out it's Jim and Pam to get a marriage license! This moment is so cute, it's almost borderline too cute:
Jim: "Right, oh, so this morning we are having breakfast together and I just looked up from my cereal and I said, 'You know what I want to do today? I want to marry you.'"
Pam: "I had just woken up. I didn't look cute. That's how I knew he meant it."
I think I love this Erin character. It's so adorable when she and Michael start dancing in the old Michael Scott Paper Company office and he offers her some "expresso." She just totally gets him.
Michael: "You gotta keep yourself dehydrated!"
Erin: "That's rule number one."
Michael: "Charles really did a number on these guys. They are way too focused on work. When I was in charge, this place was like Dave and Busters - people just hanging out, having fun, eating apps. I dunno, it's like Dave died or something." He tells them that they are in a funk. "Funk is the problem - and the solution."
Dwight's impression of Jack Nicholson from The Shining is scarily good! And it prompts Meredith to wonder if Michael's dance room is "like a haunted coffee-house thing."
Angela comes to retrieve Kevin, but Michael's not having it. "This is a no-work zone. Please respect the lei." Angela and Michael then stand on either side of Kevin and try to command him to stay with Michael or go with Angela. "Kevin, stay." "Kevin, come."

Phyllis is enticed by the "Everybody Dance Now" pumping through the vents so she tries to get Bob to join her in the Cafe Disco. He's on a call, though, says the receptionist who looks exactly like a slightly younger version of Phyllis. But then she throws out her back! They take her upstairs where Dwight works on Phyllis the way his family has worked on horses for generations. And he feeds her a carrot.
Michael: "You all took a life here today. You did. The life of a party."
Kelly: "Cafe Disco, more like crap-e disco."
Erin: "You're bad!" They start dancing and a dude with a Danny Zuko hairstyle spots them, gets his buddy and they join the girls in Cafe Disco.
Dwight says Phyllis grinds her teeth, which is as annoying as "children singing Christmas carols."
Andy: "I'm not sure, but I'm pretty sure I'm in a dance-off." Kelly-Andy dance-off?! It's like a dream come true.
I love that Angela walks easily right under the limbo bar. Angela: "I hate to be that person, but I just don't like the general spirit of music."
Creed gives the disco ball from his windshield to Michael, even though now he won't be able to see who's behind him.
Dwight and Phyllis start dancing and Bob Vance cuts in, asking Dwight if he can steal his wife. "You can't steal what is legally your property."
Angela starts cleaning up, which is her only way of having fun at Cafe Disco. Michael later asks her to dance and she refuses - but Michael notices that her foot is swaying to the music. He beams.
Andy, as Kelly prepares to pierce his ear: "Are you sure that's not the gay ear?"
Kelly: "'Gay ear?' Are you 12 years old?"

Will Mindy Kaling Be the Next Tina Fey?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 06 May 2009 05:50:34 -0700

Look out, America: Mindy Kaling is launching her takeover. The writer and actress - best known as Kelly Kapoor from The Office - has just signed a big deal with NBC that means she'll keep writing for and appearing on The Office while developing a potential new sitcom in which she'd be the star.

But wait, it gets better. Kaling - who also writes a funny blog that she hasn't updated in way too long - might want that show to be a buddy comedy about women, in the vein of Flight of the Conchords. Apparently, one of her pre-Office writing jobs was a pilot for the WB about two best friends straight out of college, and she's "always wanted to do another show about women."

Gotta say, I love this news. Kaling's hilarious and adorable, and I could definitely see her following in Fey's footsteps. It's also a relief to know she won't be leaving The Office anytime soon, because every time Kelly turns up, it's golden. What do you make of this deal?

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The Office Rundown: Episode 26, "Casual Friday"

BuzzSugar — Fri, 01 May 2009 10:45:47 -0700

"Oh, it is on, like a prawn who yawns at dawn."

Yes, it is, Office fans! In my opinion, this episode is definitely on like a prawn who yawns at dawn. What did you think? Michael, Pam, and Ryan have returned to Dunder-Mifflin and Michael has resumed "casual Fridays" at the office, even though Toby objects to almost everyone's outfit. Casual Friday or not, however, some of the employees are miffed that Michael, Pam, and Ryan took away their clients and now they want them back. I loved this episode. To read about some of the things I loved most and to share your own, read more.

I think I have to go back and watch Kevin spill and then try to collect, and then squirm around on the floor in his chili. It's so disastrously, hilariously awful and I'm not sure I got the full effect from just one viewing.
Michael: "I set the rules and you follow them blindly. OK? And if you have a problem with that, then you can talk to our complaint department. It's a trash can!"
Meredith to Ryan, who sits across from her now: "Don't fall in love with me, kid."
When held over heat, Dwight's "invisible ink" will be revealed to say that people should meet at the warehouse. Invisible ink = urine.
Meredith shows up at Dwight's warehouse meeting and he wonders why she's there. "I dunno, I saw a crowd. Thought there might be a dogfight or something."
The Michael Scott Paper Company already has a photo collage, with "Memories" written in glitter in the middle.
Michael: "The old Michael Scott might have taken this but not the new Michael Scott. They are in for a big surprise. I am not to be truffled with."
I love Creed so much! "Sometimes it's best just to stay out of it. Wanna play a game?" He and Jim play a game of chess, at which Creed appears to be quite good. Turns out, Creed wants to set up Jim with his daughter . . . even though he thought Jim was gay.
Michael brings out Dwight's "meat sandwich." Dwight: "It's pony."

I don't have any words beyond: Meredith's inappropriate dress!!! Best part of the whole episode, in my opinion.
Wow, the altercation between Dwight and Ryan with the client on the phone is genuinely intense.
Andy: "That's completely backward."
Michael: "It's frontwards!"
"Deceit does not come easy to me," Dwight lies. He's then seen writing in what we can only assume is urine, dipping from the mug with Ryan's face on it. So gross.
Erin compliments Kelly's outfit. "You look like J-Lo."
In the warehouse, one of the "walls" of paper boxes starts to move backward and we see Darryl. "What did I tell you about building forts in my warehouse?"
Michael: "I have a very difficult decision to make. It's like last week I was at the video store. Do I watch The Devil Wears Prada again? Or, do I finally get around to seeing Sophie's Choice? It is what you would call a classic difficult decision." Oh, there's so much wrong with that.
Toby stands up to Dwight! In front of everyone! Then he says that "casual Friday" has been canceled.
"Well there is no easy way of saying this so I think I will just drag it out." As a joke, Michael tells Pam that Ryan got the job. Then he starts cracking up and tells her the truth: Pam has the job.

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