The Office"Launch Party"
Original Air Date: October 11, 2007
Laura Ann - TwoCents Staff Writer
Tonight aired the episode “Launch Party.” It was written by Jen Celotta & unfortunately for her…I expected so much more. This episode really cemented the fact that this show is just not where it was two years ago. I feel like “The Office” has become the insecure high school girl who’s just realized that she’s pretty so now she’s using her sexuality to get ahead. There’s too much ego behind the show now. There are too many weird camera angles & recycled jokes & behavior that is not funny…it’s disturbing & weird. Not to mention that if a half-hour show is going to begin a season with four HOUR long episodes they better bring it. Sooo…now that you know my opinion…I’ll recap the episode’s events.
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ReplyDelete"Launch Party"
Original Air Date: October 11, 2007
Laura Ann - TwoCents Staff Writer
Tonight aired the episode “Launch Party.” It was written by Jen Celotta & unfortunately for her…I expected so much more. This episode really cemented the fact that this show is just not where it was two years ago. I feel like “The Office” has become the insecure high school girl who’s just realized that she’s pretty so now she’s using her sexuality to get ahead. There’s too much ego behind the show now. There are too many weird camera angles & recycled jokes & behavior that is not funny…it’s disturbing & weird. Not to mention that if a half-hour show is going to begin a season with four HOUR long episodes they better bring it. Sooo…now that you know my opinion…I’ll recap the episode’s events.
The cold open was very good. It was really reminiscent of the first & second seasons. The staff was in the conference room while Michael was talking to them about quarterly reports & Jim’s talking head reveals that they actually spend that time waiting for the floating DVD logo on the tv screen to hit the corner of the screen. The scene ends with the logo hitting the corner, everyone applauding, & then Michael of course assumes that it is for him.
The official Dunder Mifflin Infinity launch party is being held that day & so there is a party at a swanky nightclub in New York & so the other locations are using webcams & having their own satellite parties. One of the greatest parts of the episode was seeing Stanley groove to the music of the website at his desk & then playing dumb when Phyllis catches him.
Jim & Pam go back to their old ways & decide to pull a prank on Dwight. They make up a new IM name & message Dwight periodically as the new website as a newly born entity. Dwight wages war & decides that he can sell more paper in one day than the website can & does it in the name of Angela.
Jim gets chosen to go to the New York launch party with Michael & when they get there they find out that they are not invited. It’s a VIP pass only. They decide to return to Scranton so that Michael can have the best party to kick all the other parties’ asses. One of the better parts of the episode was when Phyllis decided to google “How to deal with difficult people” concerning Angela & then ultimately ends up throwing wads of paper in her face in a fury.
Dwight succeeds in beating the computer in sales numbers & Angela rejects him yet again. Andy makes plans to ask out Angela & Michael ends up ordering large amounts of pizza thinking he can use his 50% off coupon to cut the price in half on the WHOLE order. The pizza kid says that’s impossible so Michael orders him into the conference room & says he is not allowed out until he gives them a discount.
Andy gets Angela the ice sculpture needed for the party upon which the best line of the night was uttered: “I stole it.” AHaahahhahah
Jim & Pam had another date on the roof a la season two. It was very sweet & very much like I was watching a teen movie from the mid-90s. Don’t get me wrong. I love teen movies from the 90’s…but not on “The Office.” The TRULY adorable part of the episode was Andy singing to Angela acapella (with two friends on speakerphone for the other parts) Abba’s “Take a Chance On Me.” It was so funny & awkward & cute. Go Andy!!
The episode ends with Dwight & Michael going to New York for some “authentic New York sushi” & then doing Ryan impressions on the hood of Dwight’s car. Hilarious!
I’m going to get so much flack for this but I really believe it was the worst episode that “The Office” has put out. It was not fit for an hour long episode & should have been saved for another time. The kidnapping was not funny…it was weird & totally unrealistic. I think that NBC needs to take itself down a few notches. Dwight is just doing the same old Dwight things like a robot & very few things are fresh & truly funny anymore. I will say that they’re being smart by giving more screen time to the supporting characters so that we DO get a dose of some hilarity in the new episodes. They are getting way out of control with this & if you’re going to tell your viewers that you’re beginning the season with FOUR hour long episodes then…you need to bring it. I just hope they start generating great episodes when they go back to the half-hour time. Until then I’ll be laughing at “30 Rock.”
It wasn't a VIP party. It was an invite for the Web Party. Hence, Jim asking if the address had a "www" in front of it. You missed a pretty funny joke there.
ReplyDeleteI find it funny how some people miss Season 2, but then find a scene like the rooftop to be like a 90's movie. I agree that the kidnapping was odd and uncomfortable. I think Michael is about to crack.
ReplyDeleteFans always turn on shows. I'm sure in a couple of years, you'll find something to be disappointed in when watching "30 Rock."
I actually didn't have any problems with the episode, and actually laughed more this week than I did last week. I do prefer when The Office is a little more realistically rooted, but still cracked up at this episode.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Dwight is doing the same old thing, because right now he's pining after Angela. I loved the extra detail that he was unshaven.
I also loved that "mmmm" noise Darrell made when he found out Kelly isn't missing Ryan so much anymore. Hahaha.
I have to agree with a little of everything people have been saying here.
ReplyDeleteI don't think the episodes have been as strong as they have been, but maybe that's being stretched out to an hour?
I commented to a friend last night that I love how they spotlight the ensemble this season. (Phyllis, Stanley, Darryl, Kelly, Toby, Kevin, etc etc)
I HATED the kidnap angle. Was too forced for me.
And there was a VIP party in NYC - but it was for the corporate branch (It's where Ryan broadcast from and where they stole the sushi from at the end), but Michael's invitation was to the web party. A very funny joke.
I did miss the "www" joke & that was very funny but still felt like Michael & Jim driving all the way to NY was just an excuse to fill screen time.
ReplyDeleteI'm a bit shocked and saddened by your review. Of course, you're entitled to your opinion! I personally, have not been impressed with 30 Rock AT ALL this season, it seems like they've dumbed down the humor on that show way too much.
ReplyDeleteThe Office makes me smile. It doesn't have to be perfect. Please don't take it too seriously! Dwight was acting like a robot as a result of losing Angela, Michael is clearly on the verge of a nervous breakdown, Ryan's corporate career is going to go down in flames...And I can't wait to see what happens next!
Also, 90's teen movies WISH they were cool like Jim and Pam.