Variety, Tuesday, May 12, 2009 – Robert Abele writes about The Office 100th Episode and brings up some interesting dialog about the innovative nature of the American version.  My attention actually started with the first line, which contrary to popular practices, my attention span normally hits somewhere after the introductory blah, blah, blah.  I’ve learned to scan for information and I have an internal trigger that lets me know when the real stuff is about to begin.  So, sue me.

Anyway, I was drawn from the first sentence, “It wasn’t the ideal situation…”  I wondered what could be meant by that.  The Office is the off-spring of the British show with so many differences that it hardly looks the same anymore.  So, what could be wrong with a show that has met with its own success?  I didn’t realize I was reading that backwards.  I had put the cart before the horse, so I was thrown off by it.

The “Single-Camera Mockumentary Format” of The Office is just part of its allure.  I love how lost Michael Scott is when it comes to management, “You have to play to win, but you also…have to…win…to play.”  And Ryan is supposed to take something meaningful from that.  But, Michael is a very competent sales person.  His track record stands for itself.  Challenged by anyone in sales and he can blow them out of the water.  Even his superiors would say that, even though they can’t and won’t say anything good about his management skills.

And then, there are times when you see experience in Michael’s management abilities.  Jim took over one day so Michael could go out into the wild and try to survive.  Meanwhile, Jim was bombarded with plenty of requests when he tried to make it so that everyone’s birthday could be celebrated on the same day.  When Michael returned to the office, he and Jim shared the experience.  It seems that Michael had learned from his own mistakes, the same ones Jim had just made.

How the relationship between Jim and Pam is the perfect example of how The Office is making landmark decisions that throws traditional notions out of the window.  Sitcoms have previously made a big thing out of the chase and then destroyed the relationship once it was established.  Jim and Pam had their tensions at the beginning, but they’re over now.  The relationship is strong and its not being outplayed in the show.  It’s there and we all know it.  But, it’s not shoved down our throats and we really appreciate that.

This is the stuff of The Office.  But, there is so much more to the American version.  When Jim plays a joke on Dwight, it’s always good for a laugh.  When the entire office is placing bets, that’s just too good for television.  Getting off work early as in tonight’s episode is the stuff that makes The Office work.  There is perfect chemistry between the characters.  There is so much going on that the show can literally go in any direction and then redirect itself.  This is one perfect show.  And it’s starting to wear off on other shows.

Parks and Recreation was created with a great template in place and it’s only a matter of time before it finds its own wings.  It’s already showing signs of being able to take off, but it is still stuck in its awkward beginnings.  By the way, that’s what kept viewers watching.

I think The Office has tapped into something that is not just Americana, but deeply human.  Uttered perfectly by Jennifer Aniston in Friends years ago, “I can not not watch this.”

It has an awkward hilarity that we can’t stop watching.  The Office started off that way and it kept us watching.  I’m sure it’s that awkward hilarity that drew our attention to the British version in the first place.  The Office now has strong momentum and I think they’re going to share it with plenty of shows to follow.

Posted under Celebrity, Jenna Fischer, Jennifer Aniston, John Krasinski, Parks and Recreation, Reviews, Robert Abele, Steve Carell, The Office, Variety

Is it just me or is anyone else secretly in love with Meredith Vieira? Ok, my secret exists no longer. But of all the women in this world everyone else is drooling over, I find her absolutely amazing.

I watch Millionaire. Not to learn anything or to watch how much people win. But, to watch her. I watch Today and hate when she doesn’t get enough coverage. She’s refreshing.

Ok, so maybe I’m not in love. That’s a bit drastic. And she’s married, I know. I have great respect for the institution of marriage.

So, what is it? While the rest of the world is drooling over Angelina Jolie, Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, I’ve got the hots for Meredith Vieira.

Well, I think it’s because she’s beautiful, intelligent and down to earth. She scored a 1330 on her SATs her Junior year in High School. She could outdo some of the models on the catwalk, but she chooses to be in television and can practically do whatever she wants. Her career has been amazing. It’s compiled of good decisions that has her reportedly making about 5 million a year.

But beautiful and high powered or not, she is so down to earth and I love it. High powered women tend to get wrapped up in their careers and bypass family because they think if they get out of the rat trap, they’ll never be able to get back into it. Beautiful women can tend to get so wrapped up in themselves that having family is out of the question. Notice the word “tend” in both of those sentences because I don’t like stereotyping or classifying people in any way. In fact, Meredith would be the reason why.

Meredith is more your Jennifer Aniston beautiful. Jennifer could also knock them dead on the catwalk, but chooses to keep herself down to earth. And they both have a beautiful disposition toward family. They are all about it. In fact, in Meredith’s own words, “Honestly, I’m living my fantasy. It’s being with my family, preferably on a snowy afternoon with a fire going, cuddled up in blankets, playing a game. My family fulfills me.” December 21, 2004 Woman’s World.

Now if you asked, that’s the kind of woman who does it for me!

I wrote an article about the 100 Most Beautiful Women in the World. But, this thing I have for Meredith just started recently. If I were to write that article over again, I would certainly mention her.

Posted under Angelina Jolie, Britney Spears, Celebrity, Jennifer Aniston, Meredith Vieira, Paris Hilton

She may not be a celebrity in America. But, she is awesome. I’ve been a huge fan of Ninja Warrior for years, so I thought I would get into Women of Ninja Warrior.

Ok, I’ll be honest. It’s sexy as hell. A dancer wore a thong and a bra. There are plenty of white t-shirts and if they fall, they fall in water. So yes, I like it for the same reason I thumb through my girlfriend’s Victoria Secrets catalog. But, while watching it I literally fell in love with one awesome lady.

Don’t worry! My girlfriend knows. She sees it the same as being in love with Jennifer Aniston. In fact, she’s in love with Brad Pitt and I don’t have a problem with that either.

Anyway, Ayako Miyake has defeated all three stages of Women of Ninja Warrior three times that I know. Now if you haven’t seen what I’m talking about, I’ll give you a few of my observations.

The competition doesn’t entirely consist of Japanese women, but it is full of the very exotic beauties from the East Asian Island. Most are your average gorgeous exotic ladies, but there are some strange ones who enter and I think it’s just to get attention if only for a minute.

Women of Ninja Warrior is about competitors going against the most unique obstacles I’ve ever seen. Walking across a body of water only able to use steps that are of random distance and random height. Walking on a barrel roll that they have to balance on for a considerable distance (Have you ever noticed that you have to walk backwards on a barrel roll if you want to move forwards?). Walking on balance beams, climbing ladders and ropes, balancing across a domino walkway, running across rotating bridges and basically being put through hell to aspire to become part of the elite known as the defeaters of Women of Ninja Warrior.

There is one interesting obstacle that stands out in my mind. A slide takes the competitor down a ramp and then catapults them over water to a small island where they have to land or suffer falling off, getting wet and getting booted from the competition. It is amazing. And the most amazing part of Ninja Warrior, including Women of Ninja Warrior, is that when someone defeats all three stages, they make it even harder.

They don’t wait for several people or a whole bunch of people to start defeating it. They make it harder every time, which is only once or twice in Ninja Warrior. But, Ayako Miyake has done it three times in a row in Women of Ninja Warrior and I believe she is the only one. She can’t be beat. She is amazing. Here are some clips if you would like to see for yourself:

The First Time Ayako Miyake Defeated Women of Ninja Warrior

The Second Time Ayako Miyake Defeated Women of Ninja Warrior

The Third Time Ayako Miyake Defeated Women of Ninja Warrior

Posted under America, Ayako Miyake, Brad Pitt, Celebrity, Entertainment Look, International, Japan, Jennifer Aniston, Ninja Warrior, Women of Ninja Warrior