Unlikely, since that actor was also recently the "bad guy" in a Law & Order episode and I can't see Mad Men copying that particular storyline.
The reason those plot points seem similar is that they're logical narrative trajectories for both. I somehow doubt S, C, D, and P are going to get re-absorbed. I don't think Mad Men relies on keeping the cast together in the same way The Office does, either. #madmenandtheoffice
The whole situation with Don Draper's identity being stolen reminded me of the Simpsons episode when Principal Skinner's true identity is revealed. #madmenandtheoffice
This just shows how much my love for The Office has waned in recent years...I read this claim and thought, "don't insult Mad Men like that!!!" #madmenandtheoffice
@browngirlinthering: When Pam went to art school, and met a dude played by the actor who plays Harry, who said something Jim-esque that one time, and we were all like, "Uh oh! Tough competition for old Jimbo! Wonder what's gonna happen?!" and then he was never, ever heard from again. The end. #madmenandtheoffice
I finally watched the MM finale and didn't even make that connection. Huh.
I loved the pioneer spirit of all the new peeps in their office/hotel room! And I totally predicted that Joan would come in and whip that shit into shape. #madmenandtheoffice
@JoaquinPhoenix's Hairstylist: I have said and continue to say that the Office started sucking when Jim and Pam got together as a permanent thing. Their star-cross'd tension and little jokes between them used to drive the show, and Michael and Dwight and Creed were pleasant diversions. Now it's the Michael Scott show with Boringest Couple in the World playing sidekicks.
@bluebears: What, a creepy clown painting that they can't scrape off of the load-bearing wall of the house that Jim bought for Pam isn't realistic enough a problem for you?
@bluebears: Honestly, I've been quite disinterested with Pam and Jim for a few seasons now. The last good plotline was centered around Michael getting fired and starting his own paper company, but even that seemed to fizzle out. #madmenandtheoffice
@bluebears: They've made Jim way too perfect. He'll never do the wrong thing, make the wrong decision, fight with Pam, etc. They made him so swoon-worthy that without the romantic tension, the character's got no teeth. #madmenandtheoffice
@jigglyball: Oh, I have to disagree. He may be boringly perfect in his personal life, but his work life is still a mess. Now that he's co-manager, you can see he's not that savvy about the workplace. His every move is a misstep and he's this close to being overthrown by the plebes. Even Pam's been pissed at him about his management style. He's like Michael-in-training. Now I can see what Michael was like when he first became a manager. #madmenandtheoffice
@willwriteforfood: I agree that he's not super adept in the managerial role, but the office shenanigans, while great, were always kind of secondary to the relationships. For me, at least. #madmenandtheoffice
@mbprice: Except perpetual star-crossed stuff gets really annoying. Although The Office is a kind of hyper reality, it still maintains at least the perception of "this is possible". The show's been on for 5 years Pam and Jim would've gotten together, or one of them would have left.
I honestly don't think they're boring. I think we're too used to soap operatic relationships in these types of shows. So the expectations need to adjust. I mean, it's fine if you don't like it, but I don't think people getting together and staying together is inherently boring. I'm relieved, honestly. I find will they won't they stuff really boring once you go past 3 years.
My only real gripe with the show is that we need a direction for some of the characters. Jim is weirdly inept at being a manager, and while I'm all for showing character flaws, he's doing things that don't hold up to past development.
@bluebears:
Well...there was the long distance thing while Pam was in school. There's been the job stuff. Pam's folks splitting up. A pregnancy. And the wedding which didn't exactly go as planned.
Sure, some of the other stuff is silly...but that's kind of the show. It's always been like that.
And the house thing, well, first time home buying can be weird. I don't know that personally, but friends have gone through stuff way weirder than the clown painting. #madmenandtheoffice
@tiredfairy: it's just that every problem is "resolved" in a ridiculous manner. The house thing for example. I mean he bought a house for them to live in without once discussing it with her. His partner. Totally fine...It's just that stuff happens there is 10 minutes of dramatic tension and then its resolved. And I don't agree that it was always like that on the show. Compare that to the tension that was ongoing in season 2 and I don't mean sexual tension. There were issues and they weren't resolved by the end of the episode or they didn't just go away in 3 episodes by inserting some deus ex machina into the scene. #madmenandtheoffice
@bluebears: No, I'd agree with you there. They do tend to wrap things up almost immediately more than they used to. Although some of that could be explained via the relationship. They legitimately seem to be in sync a lot of the time, which was always what I liked about the relationship, even when they were apart.
Yeah, I know, I think we've discussed the house thing before. :} And I would've liked more there, even if it was just Pam saying she loved it, or showing her using the studio, or whatever.
I do think they've done things and then dropped the thread more than they used to. Most of the stuff that's left dangling is for other characters, Jim and Pam seem to deal with their stuff, which is fine. We just don't see as much of them as we used to. Which is partly due to relationship evolution, but also I think a lack of focus in other storylines.
To be honest, I'm not especially thrilled with the Jim-is-incompetent thing they've got going. I don't need to see him act like Michael, only in a Jim way. Jim's character has needed some forward momentum for awhile now, but this particular choice just seems out of character to me. Kind of like how bizarrely out of character Pam was in that chair episode. I have no problem with characters evolving, or even being unlikable or having unlikable sides to them...but it shouldn't seem like it's an entirely different person all of a sudden. #madmenandtheoffice
11/13/09
The reason those plot points seem similar is that they're logical narrative trajectories for both. I somehow doubt S, C, D, and P are going to get re-absorbed. I don't think Mad Men relies on keeping the cast together in the same way The Office does, either. #madmenandtheoffice
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I loved the pioneer spirit of all the new peeps in their office/hotel room! And I totally predicted that Joan would come in and whip that shit into shape. #madmenandtheoffice
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Break up Jim and Pam! Save The Office! #madmenandtheoffice
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What do you want, their left arm or something? #madmenandtheoffice
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Mine depicted a lonely sailboat and we managed to scrape it off that wall.
Shut up, The Office. #madmenandtheoffice
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I honestly don't think they're boring. I think we're too used to soap operatic relationships in these types of shows. So the expectations need to adjust. I mean, it's fine if you don't like it, but I don't think people getting together and staying together is inherently boring. I'm relieved, honestly. I find will they won't they stuff really boring once you go past 3 years.
My only real gripe with the show is that we need a direction for some of the characters. Jim is weirdly inept at being a manager, and while I'm all for showing character flaws, he's doing things that don't hold up to past development.
11/13/09
Well...there was the long distance thing while Pam was in school. There's been the job stuff. Pam's folks splitting up. A pregnancy. And the wedding which didn't exactly go as planned.
Sure, some of the other stuff is silly...but that's kind of the show. It's always been like that.
And the house thing, well, first time home buying can be weird. I don't know that personally, but friends have gone through stuff way weirder than the clown painting. #madmenandtheoffice
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Yeah, I know, I think we've discussed the house thing before. :} And I would've liked more there, even if it was just Pam saying she loved it, or showing her using the studio, or whatever.
I do think they've done things and then dropped the thread more than they used to. Most of the stuff that's left dangling is for other characters, Jim and Pam seem to deal with their stuff, which is fine. We just don't see as much of them as we used to. Which is partly due to relationship evolution, but also I think a lack of focus in other storylines.
To be honest, I'm not especially thrilled with the Jim-is-incompetent thing they've got going. I don't need to see him act like Michael, only in a Jim way. Jim's character has needed some forward momentum for awhile now, but this particular choice just seems out of character to me. Kind of like how bizarrely out of character Pam was in that chair episode. I have no problem with characters evolving, or even being unlikable or having unlikable sides to them...but it shouldn't seem like it's an entirely different person all of a sudden. #madmenandtheoffice