all five horizons

I am so psyched (does anyone say that anymore?) about the new TV season which is *almost* here (well, it’s a month away and most of it won’t be over here but you know what I mean).  One of the shows I can’t wait to return is The Office.  Love the new promo - I have missed you guys!

So I think now most of the networks in America have announced their new fall line-up. You can see the full list over here. I have shown below the shows I actually watch/care about:

ABC

RENEWED

Pushing Daisies – superb! I love Anna Friel in this and her chemistry with Lee Pace is just lovely.
Desperate Housewives – cool!
Dirty Sexy Money – ACES!

Lost – of course.
Ugly Betty – still not seen the new season. Where has it gone, E4?
Scrubs (ooh moved from NBC) – Season 7 starts on Thursday! EEK!

CANCELED

Men in trees - was to be expected and frankly, I am not too disappointed. I am looking forward to watching the last of the last season when it finally shows over here but I think it had run its course.

October Road - again, not surprised but I am very disappointed. This show had loads more potential. Plus, I loved seeing Bryan Greenberg regularly.  According to IMDB and his blog, he is not going to be stuck for things to do though, which is cool.

CBS

RENEWED

NCIS – I am going to start watching the new series although, cute as Michael Weatherly is, his character, Tony, really got on my nerves. So did his girlfriend.

CANCELED

Moonlight - oh man. I liked this show. I am actually quite surprised – I thought the fans’ blood donation drive might have had an impact!

NBC

RENEWED

Chuck - Love this so, yay!
Heroes – still have to watch this from mid-season 1 onwards but glad it’s renewing. I just know I will love it when I finally get round to watching it.

The Office – do I need to say it? Oh ok. YAY!
ER – hanging on for the farewell season. I will be glad when it’s over because I have to watch it and sometimes it gets too much on a Thursday night!  

NEW

The Office [spinoff] – oooh, can’t wait to hear more news on this.
Kath & Kim – do not see how this will translate to the US. I know I said that for The Office, but it is even more specific, this time to Australian humour and context. I am prepared to see how it goes though…

FOX

RENEWED

Simpsons – of course
Family Guy - how superb that this show was cancelled, revived thanks to awesome DVD sales and now is being renewed again!
American Idol – of course
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

Bones – superb!!!

CW

RENEWED

Gossip Girl – Love it. Glad it’s coming back.

One Tree Hill – am eager to see the current season (yet to be shown here) – this is the ultimate in guilty pleasure TV – so stupid but fantastic at the same time.
Smallville – how is this show still going? It has gone so weird. I love me some Tom Welling and all, but come on… Maybe I ought to give it another try. I am not even sure it E4 are still airing it. All I see are ITV2 repeats from ages ago.

I am assuming the 24 is coming back since they have started making the new season that got ditched due to writers’ strike/Keifer’s ‘holiday’.  In any case, there is a buttload of TV to watch. 

The Office is still my favourite current obsession (if you have read this at all you will know how I latch on to a show for a while, devour everything I can about it then move on). I am keeping everything crossed that I am getting the season 2 and or 3 DVDs for my anniversary present so I can watch them all in one go and have JAM OVERLOAD! I love all the show, though, not just the deliciously awkward and realistic office relationship that is between Jim and Pam. However, since we are on the subject, let me give you a list of my favourite moments (so far - I have not seen all of Season 2 and any of Season 3 and I am not going to include clips I *may* have seen on NBC.com, youtube or fan sites).  John Krasinkski’s Jim and Jenna Fischer’s Pam are defintiely TV’s best couple:

• Pam falls asleep on Jims shoulder during a Michael Scott special in the boardroom confirming what we had already suspected that a) Pam digs Jim and b) Jim digs Pam.  When he has to wake her (most reluctantly) - so cute!  Despite losing out on an important sale thanks to Dwight, Jim ends his talking head (TH) “Not a bad day”.  AW. (Diversity Day)

• Jim and Pam make up hilarious diseases for the Health Care survey conducted by Dwight (Health Care): 
  Pam I’m inventing new diseases.
  Jim: Oh, great.
  Pam: So, like, let’s say that my teeth turn to liquid and then they drip down the back of my throat. What would you call that?
  Jim: I thought you said you were inventing new diseases? That’s spontaneous dentohydroplosion.
  Pam: Nice.
• Jim gets touchy-feely and nearly cops the business-end of Roy’s fist. This episode is just awesome with all the Jim and Dwight stuff too (The Alliance):
  Pam: An alliance?
  Jim: Oh yeah.
  Pam: What does that even mean?
  Jim: I think it has something to do with Survivor, but I’m not sure.
  Jim: Um, I know that it involves spying on people and we may build a fort

• After some super-cute smack talk between P and J, Jim totally kicks Roy’s ass at Basketball but ultimately is the loser as he has to hear about Pam and Roy’s bathing habits.  The end of this episode is an excellent example of why Krasinski is perfect for this role.  He is able to convey endearing smugness as he basks in Pam’s compliments only to be completely deflated pissed-on-chips stylee as he hears her say something about getting Roy into a tub.  Euw.  He really has the whole kicked-in-the-gut facial expression down.  Poor Jim (Basketball).
  Jim: You coming down?
  Pam: Yeah, I’m just forwarding the phones.
  Jim: You gonna wish me luck?
  Pam: Yeah, you’re gonna need it.
  Jim: Whoa.
  Jim: Is that trash talk from Pam?
  Pam: [laughing] I’m just saying, Roy is very competitive.
  Jim: Oh.
  Pam: And he wants to take the WaveRunners to the lake this Saturday so…
  Jim: Well, I’m going to the outlet mall on Saturday, so if you wanna save big on brand names and Roy has to work, which he will, because I’m also competitive, you should feel free to come along.
  Pam: Um, I think I’m gonna be up at the lake.
  Jim: I think I’ll see you at the mall. Yeah.
• Drunk Pam in The Dundies episode was a joy to behold… a kiss on the lips for Jim and an almost confession of something in the car park: what a start to Season 2! 

• Pam’s mum gives away something more than she should by whispering ‘Which one’s Jim” when she visits the office.  We see Jim’s reaction as he hears this - the smallest side-smile.  Just brillant.

• Much tomfoolery and fun during the Dunder Mifflin Olympics, more flirty comradarie between Jim and Pam and they even manage to cheer up Michael even though he has no idea.  My favourite non-Jam part of this episode is right at the end when they award Michael a gold medal (made by Pam from paperclips and yoghurt tops) and he wear’s it proudly over his arm as he puts his hand on his heart during the national anthem (Office Olympics). 

• Pam suggest to a clearly hurt Jim that he apply for a better job out-of-state and has to do some damage limitation (Halloween):
  Pam: Um I’m sorry… for pushing you towards Cumberland.  Seriously, if you left here, I would blow my brains out.
  Jim (TH): That’s just a figure of speech, you know? Blow your brains out? Come on. All it really means is that we’re friends. Who else is she gonna talk to if I’m gone, right? I mean, if she left, I wouldn’t blow my brains out. Of course, I would take that job in Maryland. Because it’s double the pay, and soft shell crab just happens to be my favorite food.
• The flirting moves into classic palm-reading and play fighting terrirory and its all good stuff - Jim literally picks her up from behind and his hands are ON SKIN on her torso and its totally hot.  And Pam is loving it until Meredith sees and then she freaks the hell out.  It looks like Jim might even cry a little when she yells at him to put her down.  Oh my. (The Fight)

• After sharing bad first dates with the group (during which we are given further proof that Roy is a total douche), Jim and Pam share a romantic dinner of grilled cheese sandwich on the roof watching Dwight’s fireworks only for her to piss on his chips again (The Client):
  Jim: Some might even say that we had our first date last night.
  Pam: Oh, really?
  Jim: Really.
  Pam: Why might some say that?
  Jim: Cause there was dinner, by candlelight.
  Pam: Uh hmm.
  Jim: Dinner and a show, if you include Michael’s movie. [Pam nods reluctantly] And there was dancing and fireworks. Pretty good date.
  Pam: We didn’t dance.
  Jim: You’re right, we didn’t dance. It was more like, swaying. But still romantic.
  Pam: Swaying isn’t dancing.
  Jim: Least I didn’t leave you at a high school hockey game. [me: Ooh BURN!]
  Pam: I have some faxes to get out.
  Jim: Oh, come on, Pam. I-
  Jim (in TH): Ok, we didn’t dance. I was totally joking anyway. I mean, it’s not really a date if the girl goes home to her fiance. Right? [me: oh, Jim]

• One of many superb pranks played on Dwight, I love the one when Jim and Pam convince him it is Friday instead of Thursday, thus making him incredibly late the next day. (Performance Review)
• Pam has a nose round Jim’s room during his BBQ and they have a bit of alone time.  Plus they are on to Dwight and Angela, although Pam totally freaks out again when Phyllis thinks she is talking about Jim and Pam when Pam asks about secret office romances.  Pam, denial aint just a river in Egypt.  (Email Surveillance)

• Jim’s gift for Pam - very cute indeed.  And even cuter once she decided not to keep the iPod and get his gift back from Dwight after some ill-advised Yankee Swap stuff at Michael’s behest (Christmas Party).
• The infamous 27 seconds.  A master-class in how to say so much without saying anything at all (isn’t that a Ronan Keating song?).  Much like in The Simpsons when Bart shows Lisa the exact moment that she breaks poor Ralph’s heart, we see Jim’s heart get a pummeling as Roy finally (and drunkedly) sees the light and sets a date for the wedding after their 3 year engagement.  Bonus: seeing Jim dump Katy in unceremonious fashion.  Shouldn’t be funny but it is: (Booze Cruise)
  Katy: Do you think that’ll ever be us?
  Jim: No.
  Katy: What is wrong with you? Why did you even bring me here tonight?
  Jim: I don’t know. Let’s break up.
  
  Can’t help sharing this cheesy but cute fanvid:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ku3o5hKHg0&hl=en]

• Michael accidentally burns (cooks) his foot on his Foreman grill and, well, the episode just soars from there.  I mean, how can this be a bad episode with that premise?  There is just one nice Jim/Pam exchange on the phone but I love this episode for Michael’s buffoonery and Dwight’s concussive kindness.  (The Injury)
• After Jim’s confession to Michael about his crush on Pam gets out (as it inevitably would with Michael as the confidante), he has some embarrassing explaining to do.  Pam is being almost willfully oblivious from this moment on.  (The Secret)
• After an entire episode where they are separated, during which Jim tries to move on by asking out a girl’s voicemail, it ends with Jim listening to his many voice messages from Pam which she left for him during the day.  Yeah, Pam.. just friends.  I get it. (The Secret):
  Jim’s voicemail: You have seven unheard messages.
  Pam: [voicemail message for Jim] Hey, Jim. It’s Pam. I keep looking up to say something to you and then Michael’s there and it’s horrible. Anyway, I’m bored. Come back!
  Pam: [voicemail message for Jim] Hey, guess what? I moved my computer so I can’t see Michael’s head. It’s working. I think I can have a career as a very specific type of decorator.
  Pam: [voicemail message for Jim] Sudoku. Level moderate. 18 minutes. Suck on that, Halpert.
  Pam: [voicemail message for Jim] I’ll transfer you. Dunder Mifflin, this is Pam. Hold, please. Dunder Mifflin, this is … okay, sorry. Michael was standing at my desk, and I needed to be busy or who knows what would’ve happened, so thank you.
  Pam: [voicemail message for Jim] Hey, what’s that word we made up when you have a thing stuck in your shoe? Anyway, I have a thing stuck in my shoe.
  Pam: [voicemail message for Jim] Hey, I have a chance to sneak out of here early, and I’m not messing this up, so I’ll see you tomorrow.
  Pam: [voicemail message for Jim] Calling from my cell phone. I don’t know if you guys figured out who did that to Michael’s carpet yet, but I have a theory that involves an inter-departmental conspiracy. Everybody in the office. We need to talk.
• In case we weren’t sure, this is where we are shown that Jim is perfect boyfriend material (encouraging Pam to follow her dreams) and Roy is, you guessed it, a total douche.  Jim cannot hide his disappointment and frustration with her when she decided not to go for the design internship (and of course that other unmentioned thing, namely dump Roy for Jim)
  Jim: So you’re not doing it.
  Pam: How did you know?
  Jim: Why not?
  Pam: Just like no big reason. Just a bunch of little reasons.
  Jim: Come on.
  Pam: Roy’s right. There’s no guarantee it’s going to lead to anything anyway.
  Jim: Roy said that.
  Pam: What? You have something you want to say?
  Jim: You got to take a chance on something sometime, Pam. I mean, do you want to be a receptionist here, always?
  Pam: Oh, excuse me! I’m fine with my choices!
  Jim: You are?
  Pam (unsure): Yeah.