Step 3: TENDERLY Remove the Appendix

Why is it so funny watching other people crack up?





[Via Fresh Hell]

Does This Mean I'm as Smart as Him?

I have to say I agree 100% with what Ken "Yeah, I'm the Jeopardy Guy" Jennings has to say about the American version of "The Office." In fact, I think I've said the very same thing at some point. I just can't prove it.

And agreeing that the British version mastered the "mockumentary" thing better than the American version has doesn't mean I don't think the American version is funny. I think it's hilarious.

But the British version is a masterpiece. [via TV Tattle]

Because There's Nothing Better Than Watching The Office While In the Office

For some reason, this site has every episode of the American version of "The Office" online. For free and stuff. [via Too Much Free Time]

Edited to add: Well, that was fun while it lasted. I managed to watch almost all of the episodes I had missed before the site got taken down.

State of TV: Thursdays

Thursday! The most crowded night on television!

The 8 o'clock hour brings us "Ugly Betty" on ABC, one of the only new shows that can be called a hit. It's cute and it's for girls! My only fear is we've had three episodes so far, and they've been pretty much the same, storywise. Betty's happy about her job, her co-workers make fun of her, then Betty's sad about her job and wants to quit, then Betty saves the day and her boss's ass, and loves her job again. Yeah, we kind of get the she's-an-outcast thing. Maybe do something a little different with it? Also, for a show about fashion, the fashions on the show aren't that great. Still, it is charming, and not really like anything else on TV right now, so I'll keep watching.

Over on CBS, "Survivor" continues after teasing us with a "race war" and only giving us two weeks of it. I think I have the rest covered over in my locals recap, so let's move on...

To "My Name Is Earl" and "The Office." Earl continues to be amusing, but if Jamie Pressly wasn't on the show, I think I'd have to stop watching. As for "The Office," I'm not too happy with the way Jim and Pam romance played out, but I've expressed my annoyance at the old "gotta keep the people meant for each other apart! It's more dramatic!" convention before. For once I'd like to see those people just end up together and be happy. But then again, I can't imagine Jim and Pam ending up together and remaining as workers in that office, that would just be kind of sad, so I suppose there just isn't a choice here. Perhaps they'll just save the romantic resolution for the series finale, (or reunion, as the original series did). Aside from all that, the show is still pretty darn funny.

Come 9pm it's "Grey's Anatomy" and "CSI." "CSI" remains the only "CSI" I watch, and I still enjoy it, but I have to admit I don't really pay that much attention to it when I watch it. Since about 15 minutes of the show is devoted to some kind of lab work musical montage, I'm not missing too much, and I tend to get the gist of the mysteries involved. "Grey's Anatomy" continues to annoy me, or more specifically, Meredith continues to annoy me, but thankfully there are plenty of other, less annoying characters to watch, so I just go and do the dishes or wash my face or nap whenever Meredith and McDreamy are on screen. Yes, he's still pretty dreamy, but he's becoming just as annoying as Meredith, and I'd really like the show a whole lot more if each episode began with them sneaking into a closet to do it, where they'd remain, unseen, for the remainder of the episode. Then at the very end, they could come out looking sheepish, and the credits could begin. Perfect!

Finally, at 10pm we have "ER" and "Six Degrees." "ER" is obviously taking some clues from "Grey's Anatomy" and playing up the personal angle more than the ER angle. Even more than that, they've started using obscure pop songs during montages, which is pure "Grey's." It must be working as the show has seen an uptick in the ratings, and has even kept me watching when I was sure I'd call it quits this season. In all honesty, I think it's a better show than "Grey's Anatomy," but "Grey's" is just easier to watch, and a lot less intense.

It could be argued that "Six Degrees," another entry into the "many strangers, some connection" genre, is the weakest of those entries, as so far, there's nothing much bigger than coincidence connecting these people. No nuclear explosions, no bank robbery. Just...coincidence. And I kind of like it that way. Some would call the show boring, but I continue to watch week after week, and am more interested in these screwed up New Yorkers than I am in those Armageddon survivors in Kansas, or those bank robbery survivors in...LA? I care so little about them that I don't even know where they're supposed to live. There's no doubt where "Six Degrees" takes place; New York is practically a character in itself. I also think it helps that the show has some really good actors, like Hope Davis and Campbell Scott, and they manage to keep it more interesting than it might be with a bunch of the usual TV talent. I really can't argue with anyone who says the show doesn't seem to have a point; it doesn't. But when the acting is good, and the storytelling is good, sometimes, that's enough.

How Much Excitement Can One Person Take?

Don't forget: Tonight's episode of "The Amazing Race" is two-hours long. I think they're trying to avoid that annoying "to be continued" episode we had last season (remember? When Bolo and Lori looked doomed?) and are putting the cliff-hanger (and I think I mean that literally, as previews showed some blood on grandma, and a flipped car for, possibly, the brothers) in the middle of the episode. Betcha there's a non-elimination round in there! Also, here's something completely uninteresting: an interview with that whiny punk Patrick!

And for those who are bummed that "The Office" (which, I will admit, was really funny last week) is on at the same time, have no fear. Episodes will be re-run on CNBC, USA, AND Bravo. Sheesh! OK! We'll watch it already! Jeeze.

If You Want the Rainbow, You've Got to Put Up With the Rain

"Do you know which 'philosopher' said that? Dolly Parton.... And people say she's just a big pair of tits."

I had to include a quote from the original The Office that would never make it to American TV, just to drive home the point that, of course, the original will always be the best.

But the Americanized version continues to garner some good reviews, so I won't say any more about it until I actually watch a few episodes. (It premieres tonight at 9:30!)

For those who have BBC America, they're running a marathon of the first series on Saturday, and a marathon of series two next Saturday! Watch it!!