Chronicles of a Writer

The Office 6×11 ‘Shareholder Meeting’

It is not sheer comedic brilliance that makes 'Shareholder Meeting' such a memorable episode for The Office.  With knack for portraying the corporate climate with a fine eye, this episode is a hilarious rendition of that world with the ultimate corporate event: the shareholder meeting. Knight in Shining Armor While this would've deviated from the realism of the issue, I was hoping to see Oscar or Michael save the day during this massively awkward meeting.  Then again, in Michael's naive an...

The Office 6×10 ‘Murder’

So reality finally kicks in.  A surprisingly somber occasion for The Office, 'Murder' starts an interesting chain of events for Dunder Mifflin and all its employees. Bankruptcy No need to elaborate on the idea.  What is interesting is that the episode decides to introduce a major storyline that puts everyone in jeopardy and actually leaves it at a cliffhanger.  Most likely, this is done for realism, but it's still quite rattling to leave the fate of the entire office up in the air.  Ultima...

The Office 6×09 ‘Double Date’

After a rather uncomfortable episode where Pam yells at Michael, it seems rather appropriate that the latest episode of The Office leaves Michael dumping Helene fairly quickly.  Come on, Michael as Jim and Pam's father-in-law?  That would give dysfunction a whole new meaning. Pam the Barbaric The nice thing about the episode is seeing Pam somewhat returning back to the land of the sane.  While it's natural to add some comedic edge to the character (now completely lacking sexual tension wit...

The Office 6×8 ‘Koi Pond’ review

With the energy that only comes from Halloween and sugar highs, "The Office" takes a breather after the previous week's intense episode with some good ol' fashioned trick or treat. The Halloween theme actually runs a deep thread through the episode.  For one, people everywhere are wearing costumes and fooling people.  Jim pretends to be the good-natured co-manager when he is in fact suffering from a tinge of jealousy.  Pam and Andy pretend to be a couple expecting in order to boost their sale...

Chasing against time…the spec script

Writing a spec script for a television series is like writing the thing that almost matters.  It matters in that it's one of two primary ways of getting a job as a television writer.  It's also something of a gamble because time is of the essence. When I found myself compelled to write a spec script, the easiest piece to the puzzle was picking the show.  It had to be a series I knew like the back of my hand and it had to be still on the air.  I chose "The Office."  It's a comedy, it's only a ...