Dirty Sexy Money...and Todd FREAKING Manning!

So far my new favorite show of the season is Dirty Sexy Money. I was not expecting to like this show, because well, I didn't think Peter Krauss could do more than look pretty. Clearly, I was mistaken. Within the first 15 minutes of the pilot I had already stopped my TIVO to set a season pass.

The show follows New York City's richest family, the Darlings, and their newest family lawyer (and son of their previous lawyer) as they deal with being too rich for their own good. Nick George tried to turn his back on the Darling family after his father's recent death, but it was virtually impossible when Tripp Darling (Donald Sutherland) dangled a $10 million endowment for a foundation in his father's name in his face. Nick prides himself on being moral and thoughtful, however he falls prey to the Darlings just as easily as his father did 40 years before. The pilot deals mainly with his decision to stay and his conclusion that someone killed his father.

I LOVED the show, but my favorite part was 3/4 of the way into the episode. Nick has fled the Darling parent's anniversary party after a catastrophic night, only to be chased down by Attorney General Patrick Darling in his limo on the way to meet his "tranny hooker" lover. Nick refuses to tell Patrick's paramour to buzz off, even after Patrick plies Nick with a sob story that he is unable to tell the woman himself. Suffice it to say, Patrick is left to share the message with Catalina himself. A little campy, but it fits perfectly with ABC's Ugly Betty. This show is just too much!!

PB&J...ohmyfreakinggod

I just finished watching the season premiere of The Office, and it was everything I hoped it would be. The writers were definitely on their game, stretching their imaginations in ways to simultaneously make me laugh, make me awe, and then make me vomit my Alfredo sauce. Thanks for that one Greg Daniels!!

Fun Run opens with a tour of Michael Scott's condo and the big reveal that Jan is still shacking up with her Scranton honey. It was fantastic to see Jan Levinson sprawled out across Michael's bed, completely unaware of the camera's intrusion into the house. Also fantastic, Michael hitting Meredith with his car and then coming into the office late only to tell everyone that the doctors did everything they could to save her...and that she is going to be fine. OHMYGOD, Stanley's response "what's wrong with you?" was the greatest thing I have EVER heard on The Office. Yes, better than Jim confessing his love to Pam in Casino Night. Now, I could spend the entire day talking about JAM, or PB&J, but I'm not going to. Okay, just this--how great was it to see them outed by the frustrated camera crew? So great...

Let's move on to my other favorite couple (however unstable) Dwight and Angela. They have some of the funniest chemistry on TV, but they are still so sweet and believable. I especially loved Dwight's quick acceptance to feed Angela's cat, even though two seconds later you could sense that Sprinkles wasn't going to last long after Dwight's visit. I loved so much in this episode, which I guess you could say is because it has been an excruciatingly long summer of waiting. I do have to agree, however, with some critics who are saying that the episode felt a little long in spots. I have not been a fan of the three one hour long "episodes," because often they sound impressive, but then they seem to drag on. Yes, Fun Run was really just two episodes in one, but I much preferred the second part with the actual RUN, than the mowing down of Meredith. We have three more Thursdays with hour-longs, and they will be phenomenal just because it is The Office. Fun Run provided me with an hour of excellent entertainment, and left my appetite watered for next week's episode Dunder Miflin Infinity.