In Contention

Tag: The Office

  • Small screen query

    Taylor Kitsch in Friday Night LightsOff topic, of course, but I wonder if everyone else is as disappointed with some of the fall’s mid-season series as I am.

    My DVR is generally packed with “Friday Night Lights,” “The Office,” “Heroes,” “The Shield” and yeah, “The Big Bang Theory” (I love it — it’s harmless).  But at least three of those are a total drag this season.  “Lights” hasn’t learned the soap opera lessons of its second season and is settling into another melodramatic groove, while “Heroes” is just too convuluted (as usual).  I honestly just watch it out of habit at this point, but I derive no enjoyment out of it.

    “The Shield” is properly building the tension for a Shane/Vic stand-off, but I can’t shake the feeling that it’ll be a soft landing.  “The Office” is hilarious as always, and “Big Bang” is my guilty pleasure.  Thank God for small miracles.

    I latched onto the first two episodes of “My Own Worst Enemy, glued to the set and eating it all up, only to feel a weird lull during the third episode.  Boredom set in and suddenly I got the feeling that the show doesn’t have much space to grow.  Maybe it’s just me.  And I also picked up “Supernatural” on a friend’s recommendation this season.  Very cool show.

    Mainly, I just can’t wait for “Lost” to come back.  Blew my mind last season.

    Anyway, you guys?  Thoughts on the fall TV season?  Agreements?  Disagreements?

  • Slumber

    Nothing from me today.  The most epic of football confrontations, year in and year out, happens at 1:15 p.m. PST and I have to be ready.  Okay, the most epic for a Redskins fan.

    Meanwhile, talk amongst yourselves.  There are plenty of Newman obits out there but I find it sad to keep reading through them.  It’s also interesting that Pete Hammond has finally joined the Oscar blogging rat race after trying to make a column work at a couple of outlets the last few years.  We linked to his first item in yesterday’s round-up, which might or might not pan out.

    Other possible talking points include the over-analysis of the debate (it was a fucking bore, let’s move on and never let Jim Lehrer near the gig again), last night’s latest Palin sketch (so should Fey just join the cast again instead of lurking in the buliding and being on the ready?), Halloween costumes (I heard the best idea the other day: nurse Joker) and the relative disappointment of most of the fall’s television series so far (The Shield, True Blood, Entourage — though The Office season opener was awesome).

    Have at it.

  • In praise of Craig Robinson

    Craig RobinsonOne of our readers reminded me in the comments section of yesterday’s review of “Pineapple Express” that I failed to spotlight one of my favorite performances in the entire film, and a character actor who has quickly become one of the best go-to guys for comedic value.

    Craig Robinson is probably most often associated with his Darryl Philbin stockroom character in television’s “The Office.”  His matter-of-fact attitude and cadence go a long way whenever his character is utilized and never fails to make me smile.  But he’s also begun making quite a mark on the big screen as of late.

    It reall started with Judd Apatow’s “Knocked Up,” in which Robinson stars as a steadfast but introspective nightclub security guard.  You’ll recall the laugh-out-loud dialogue that Robinson handled so perfectly:

    I know… you’re right. I’m so sorry, I fuckin’ hate this job. I don’t want to be the one to pass judgement, decide who gets in. Shit makes me sick to my stomach, I get the runs from the stress. It’s not cause you’re not hot, I would love to tap that ass. I would tear that ass up. I can’t let you in cause you’re old as fuck. For this club, you know, not for the earth.  You old, she pregnant. Can’t have a bunch of old pregnant bitches running around. That’s crazy, I’m only allowed to let in five percent black people. He said that, that means if there’s 25 people here I get to let in one and a quarter black people. So I gotta hope there’s a midget in the crowd.

    Absolutely brilliant.

    Robinson also starred in the Apatow-produced “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story,” but I can’t comment on the performance because I ejected that piece of shit ten minutes into it.  HOWEVER, I’m sure he was a diamond in the rough.

    Well in “Pineapple Express,” Robinson hits consistent high marks as Matheson, one of Gary Cole’s two henchman hunting down Seth Rogen and James Franco’s bumbling stoners.  As usual, he holds court on the screen with specific and hilarious line readings.  His exit from the film is one of the funniest scenes of the piece and he plays it up for all it’s worth.

    I’m frankly ashamed that I didn’t mention this cat in the review.  So I felt compelled to dedicate a post to what I hope is a prolific new comedic talent.

    Robinson has a number of films on the horizon, including Kevin Smith’s controversial “Zack and Miri Make a Porno,” and as one might expect, the roles all seem to be supporting ones.  But I’d like to say it now and say it proud: give this guy his own stage!  Robinson needs his own show, his own starring role, SOMETHING!

    Heck, I’m tempted to write something for him right now, dust off the screenwriting software and be inspired because he’s going places.  He can’t just wither away just outside the spotklight, he has to shine, and someone, somewhere, better be of the same mind or it’ll be our loss.