Mark Your Calendars People!

Season Premiere this THURSDAY on NBC at 8:30 pm ct!

Re-Tooling "The Office"

I, for one, love the casting of Amy Ryan as Toby's successor of everything HR on The Office. Of course, she provides the necessary love interest for Michael Scott now that Jan's become part of the lunatic fringe (I loved that she sang the Dusty Springfield song for 20 minutes during the post-natal baby shower on yesterday's episode). But Holly also appears to have 1) what could be a really interesting backstory and 2) the part of the brain that Michael Scott is missing. I'm interested to see how this current story line goes down.

Having said that, I really miss Toby and can't believe I'm the only one. There was something about that vitriolic relationship with Michael (although the vitriol always appeared one-sided) that balanced things out at Dunder Mifflin. Toby added another dimension to the inter-office relationships that, in his absence, now seem somewhat flat. Given that I think Holly can never be a replacement for Toby, I'm hoping that there's a comeback slated for later this season. I have a feeling that's just wishful thinking but one can hope.

And while I'm on the subject of missing my favorites from Dunder Mifflin, WE NEED PAM BACK. I'm scratching my head as to why they've chosen to write her off to New York and leave us with Jim who's whole "aww-shucks" appeal really blossoms when Pam is around. This whole Jim/Pam story seems ill-fated and makes me tense. I don't want to be tense with those two...yet.

And furthermore, where's the Angela we all know and love in that non-love-y way. She used to be funny because of her abject prudish-ness and her choice to shop at the American Girl store for her work wear. The fact that she's now the center of this "love triangle" with Dwight and Andy just betrays that brilliantly conceived original character. We haven't even seen one reference to cats or those t-shirts with the kids one them.

I still love this show. I'm glad they got past their 2nd season hour-long foibles and the writers' strike. But, I hope they don't forfeit the greatness of these characters as they were originally conceived to serve what seem to be overly-drawn, over-emphasized story lines.

Bottom line: I want to see more Meredith, Creed, Kevin, and Phyllis...and Stanley and Ryan and Oscar. And where's Pam?

Thank you.

Bonnie Hunt: Afternoon Snooze-Fest

I, for one, was very excited when I heard that comic/actress/Chicago native Bonnie Hunt was getting her own daytime talk show. Bonnie is wry sweetness and light in a darkly cynical world. Think Rosie O'Donnell before she really got angry. Think the fun of Ellen Degeneres but coming from a totally different angle. From her variety of movie roles that always played as though she wasn't acting but just "being herself" (Jerry Maguire, Cheaper by the Dozen), she seemed like the perfect person to have a fun, frivolous, frothy daytime talk-variety show with a snazzy, retro design and feel.

Cue up the snooze-fest button and my disappointment. Man, this show is about as interesting and fun as walking through swamp mud. Nothing of her personality translates onto live tv: she fails to be funny, witty, or personable really. Instead, she appears to be clueless and, frankly, uninteresting. Her hair always looks good. I love her Chicago accent (that is so played up it almost sounds fake...but then, virtually any really good Chicago accent sounds somewhat unreal). But this show is a drag and I think it's because she really sucks at interviewing people. Yesterday I watched a supremely awkward 2 segments with Jimmy Kimmel. I don't know...if you can't make people laugh with Jimmy Kimmel sitting there trying to help, I'm not sure you're funny.

Oh Bonnie. Oh, oh, Bonnie. We knew ever since your ill-fated sitcom in which you starred as none other than a talk show host that this is an endeavor to which you've always aspired. But I'm thinking maybe you should stick to small character roles...it involves less personal contact. And it hurts me to say that, really it does.

I Have a New Show and It's Name is "Chuck"

Oh this is very exciting. This summer was the pits for tv and since the return of the new fall season, I couldn't be happier but mostly because I keep stumbling upon these shows I didn't know existed! This is how I found Chuck. Which I now love.

The premise is simple: Chuck's an everyday "Joe Six-pack" (thank you Sarah Palin...or is that Tina Fey) who works as a devoted member of the Geek Team at his local big box tech store...except that he's got this special ability to decode spy "things" with his brain. So, he's been employed by the CIA to help deal with situations involving international intrigue. Protecting him is that blonde girl in the picture; yep, she's a hottie. And of course, all kinds of emotional things ensue...while they're fighting bad guys.

Of course, I picked this up in Season 2 so I have to go back and get caught up on exactly what's going on but in just one episode there are elements of this show that make me LOVE it: 1) Adorable, nerdy main character paired with vixen-ish, kick-ass girl-slash-possible love interest. 2) James Bond, Jason Bourne quality and feel to part (but not all of the show) 3) It walks the line between comedy and action/adventure nimbly. The show doesn't take itself too seriously in either genre. 4) GREAT supporting characters. Fantastic actually. 5) Plot points that aren't so far-fetched that it's all fantasy.

This is a thoroughly "likable" show. It's great. I say check it out. But prepare to fall in love with Chuck...because he's just too cute.

NBC, Mondays 8/7C.

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Some habits never die. For my family (really for me), the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is an annual ritual. While my mom slaves away in the kitchen making what is certain to be an excellent meal after which I'll drop off into a deep and satisfying coma nap, I'm within shouting distance (in case of kitchen emergency) watching the parade. But even as I sit here, watching a high-school marching band from Kansas play a selection from the nutcracker while their flag corp and dancers are dressed as the little girl (whatshername) and dancing with teddy bears, things are not copacetic. Why is there no joy today? Allow me to break it down:

1. I don't know at least half of the "featured" performers. Since I've been watching, the average age of such gems is about 15 and the word "Nickelodeon" has been thrown around more than several times. Frankly, they don't even look remotely exciting or interesting to me.

2. The best "features" of the parade--the enormous helium balloons and the marching bands--seem few and far between, replaced by crappy tween pop-stars and, well, crappy tween *up-coming* (or so they say) pop-stars. Instead of a festive and felicitous atmosphere, it's now a celebration of mediocrity. (It was always somewhat mediocre, but at least the atmosphere saved it).

3. The loss of Katie Couric as the parade play-by-play gal. Hey, you know--I don't like Katie Couric. But she was perfect for this job--that morning mix of perky and witty. Matt Lauer and (unfortunately) Al Roker don't cut the mustard on their own and Meredith Viera will never be able to fill Katie's annoyingly but perfectly *up* shoes.

4. And last: every musical performer (except the bands, of course) lip-synch. Ever since Tony Bennett royally screwed up "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire" Macy's canned all live-performances (literally) including the Broadway Show(let)s. So now instead of watching and hoping for these pre-teen tartlets to bite it while also looking forward to the prospect of getting to hear really excellent performers live, we get to watch people (poorly) attempt to matching their lip movements to their own song. The only joy I can try to find is waiting for the performer to stumble so that it appears that their voice is dis-embodied. See, it doesn't even sound fun.

So, I'm considering shopping for a new Thanksgiving tradition. While I have never objected to the overt consumerism or exploitation of Macy's workers in the name of an excellent parade, the fact that it now has lost any prior sense of entertainment is the last straw. I'm open for suggestions...be in touch if you have any.

The Office Bloopers

I'll admit, I just started watching The Office recently. Clearly, there's much to be said that I've yet to even touch on. However, I found the bloopers reels absolutely hysterical and so felt it necessary to share them. These two are season three.

The second part is also well worth watching the entire thing.

This is really a highlight of all of Dwight's craziness. My favorites are all his "talking heads" moments when Rainn Wilson can't keep it together--and really, who could? Seriously, "My uncle, Harvey Schrute, was a fudge-packer; he worked at Hershey Park..." C'mon. That's genius but it takes a special gift to deliver than line seriously.

Enjoy the bloopers and stay tuned for more of my "talking head" moments on The Office.

Kenneth, Where Have You Been All My Life?

I'm not proud to admit that before the Emmy's this year, I really gave Tina Fey's 30 Rock no notice. It wasn't a purposeful neglecting...it was merely a show that fell on a historically bad tv night for me (Thursdays...on which I always have class for 4 hours). But the fact that they were awarded an Emmy made me think that maybe it was time to pay the good folks over at the sitcom about SNL (basically) some attention. So last night, armed with a little sauvingnon blanc and a towel (as it was 90 degrees here) I sat in front of my computer and watched nearly 5 hours of full episodes on line starting at the beginning. And it was good.

This, like The Office, took a little time to catch on probably because it's SO smart that most people don't get it. Tina Fey's Liz Lemon is endearing and real in a world that is built to make money. I'm guessing most of Fey's greatness both in this part and in the writing comes directly from her experience as head writer at SNL--I believed the relationships shown on screen. Alec Baldwin is always a tour de force and he doesn't disappoint here as the corporate-loving executive producer of the show. I was most worried about the Tracy Morgan (on the show Tracy Jordan) part simply because I never warmed to Morgan when he was on SNL. Again, I was surprised--he's incredibly nuanced playing a character that serpentines between hardcore insanity (literally mental illness) and tender moments of lucidity. He's a much better actor in this format than he was in a sketch comedy format.

All of this is great, but Kenneth steals this show. Jack McBrayer brilliantly plays Kenneth the Page, the NBC go-fer for the show. His sweet naivete in the midst of this zany but deeply smart, often sarcastic, writers room scenario provides the perfect foil; his wide-eyed enthusiasm for "the business" that leaves bitter, washed-up stars in its wake keeps things fresh and new--and hysterical. Truth be told, I love Kenneth and and I think he plays a hugely important role in the success of this show.

My only disappointment in this whole thing is Jane Krakowski, replacing one of my SNL favorites Rachel Dratch, as the campy star-now-second-banana to Tracy Jordan. She's had great moments in the sun, including her entire run on Ally McBeal, but sadly times have changed and her character--the one she plays on every show--doesn't. It's the same old, one-dimensional blonde bimbo. Meanwhile, Dratch is making the most of her small character guest spots (the granola-eating cat trainer, the Latina maid hiding in the closet on a stolen yacht) but it still feels like too little compensation for being passed-over for what was her and now is Krakowski's role. Dratch could have given it a lot more.

Otherwise, I've concluded that 30 Rock is, indeed, "must see tv" on Thursday nights and, despite my class schedule, the VCRs warmed up and ready to the task. Watch it. It's good.

Singing Bee vs. Don't Forget The Lyrics: A Karaoke Smackdown

At the request of my (one) faithful reader on this blog, Jacob, I was asked to compare the virtues of NBC's "The Great American Singing Bee" to FOX's lamely-titled "Don't Forget the Lyrics." Let's begin the smackdown shall we:

This show blatantly stole the "Millionaire" format; thus it has one contestant for the entire 1/2 hour. While each contestant has 3 "life-lines" and they can choose the category of the song they have to identify while they hike up the "Pyramid" what everything comes down to is this: a lot of bad singing by one person who tried out but didn't make the cut at "American Idol" + Wayne Brady being his usual annoying self. The only PRO I could come up with for this show was that it's only on one night a week. Save yourself aggravation and switch over to...

NBC's the Singing Bee. Here's why this show is just fun, although I've already written about this:

1. Great band and "song introducers": Like on "Name That Tune" a singer from the band "introduces" most of the song and contestants are asked to fill in the words exactly correctly. The "stable" of singers they got covers all ranges and they really sound like the original artists.

2. Joey Fatone. I hate to say it. It almost makes me cringe. But Mr. Back-Street Boy knows how to host a show. Unlike attention-hogging Wayne, he doesn't sing a note (hey, he concedes his weaknesses) and creates a fun atmosphere full of laughing at the goofy contestants. The picture above is from the "80s Night" Special to which he showed up with a mullet and thin pink pleather tie--10 extra points.

3. Much better choice of songs and theme nights. These are actually songs you can and should sing to. They've already done "80s night" and "Girl-Power Night"--I can't wait to see what they come up with next.

4. Better game show format. It really does work like a spelling bee, only with songs...and singing.

5. Contestants clearly are not trying for 15 minutes (or 22 minutes not counting commercials) of singing success. They were chosen randomly by Joey at the beginning of the show and they come out with some awesomely-bad versions of the lyrics of the songs. It's hysterical.

My only issue: The Honey Bees. They're like the Fly-Girls...only not...and they're annoying and model-y and their presence is somehow exploitive (but thank god they have their own blog...sadly I assumed they were just mindless eye-candy)

CLEAR WINNER AND STILL CHAMPION:

Take that Wayne.

"Singing Bee" Spells Good Singing Fun

I decided early that I was NOT going to watch this show. Possibly my principles had gotten in the way: another stupid gameshow, hosted by Joey Fatone (who I lovingly call Fat One only because his name obviously begs for it), where the singing doesn't count. All of this conceptually sounded like a formula for a loser. But, I was at the gym and stuck with 5 choices of which this show was the best option. From the minute I turned it on, I couldn't stop singing along.

It was simply good, clean, Karaoke-in-my-livingroom FUN. The idea is that contestants sing Karaoke-style but without the words given and must get the song-wording exactly correct to move into the next round. Sounds easy...but it's not. AND you think you won't sing along or get into such a loser-y show...but you will. I was jumping up and down when the first guy won the $50,000 prize at the end of the show.

Joey's great, the contestants have been great, the song selection is good, and the live singers who sing the provided portion of the song are awesome--they've obviously been selected because they sound eerily familiar to the actual artist who made the song great. AND the number of songs to which I've been singing the absolute wrong words is staggering. It gives me a whole new lease on radio-music life.

C'mon...it's on Saturdays which makes me nostalgic for the days when variety shows ruled the weekend nights...just watch it.