Thrillhouse!!!
Funny you compare this to "Marge Be Not Proud," because that had ONE joke about Marge decorating the Christmas tree — "There's still a little green left" — that was funnier than this entire episode.

I wonder
if this show would be stronger if it didn't care so mucha bout a plot, if from week to week we got more character-driven, standalone episodes. This show's been grasping for a plot all season and it hasn't worked.

Consistency…
I keep trying to give this show a chance, but I just find it intolerable. It might work for me better if the music was utilized better. "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" was genuinely moving and narratively appropriate, but then they follow it with a bunch of a capella versions of shitty pop songs.

The Lost Symbol
I too thought the cricket bat symbolism was a little too pointed UNTIL its purpose shifted away from "Sunil's just like the bat!" to "Sunil's borderline batshit." The tension between Sunil's clear violent tendencies and the casualness of his and Paul's relationship was its most palpable yet, I think.

Materialism is fun!
I just worked on my Amazon Wish List today, and it included Super Mario Galaxy 2 (still haven't gotten to it), a Kindle, an iPod touch, the Essays of E.B. White, and Season 3 and 4 of Mr. Show, to round out my set.

More to the point
Also, this week, I was sort of reeling from Jesse's episode, and all my dad had to say was, "He started a fire cooking PANCAKES? I think they're taking some dramatic license here."

Nothing new here
I love this show so much. What a refreshing change of pace from plot-driven shows. Granted, I love things like "Boardwalk Empire," but this has got to be some of the best character-driven drama on TV.

Extraordinary
My dad and I turned this on just to kill time between "In Treatment" and "The Daily Show," and ended up watching the whole thing. 85 minutes of fascinating, funny insights from an inspiring wit.

It must be said
I think I'm liking this show overall, even if it's taking a while to solidify its tone, but one thing that amazes me is the often TERRIBLE acting. Every AMC show until this one has had stellar acting, and now half the cast is distractingly bad. Merle's brother was probably the biggest culprit this time…

Fun to see this gem opposite tonight's horrible Halloween "Office"…
Also, "You punched a lady bee!" had me in hysterics, but I can't even pinpoint why the joke's so funny. I think that's why I love Community. It's just silly and fun and nails its absurdist tone better than any other comedy on TV.

McBrayer was mugging, but that's because it was a live comedy show, and in live comedy commitment is key. If he overplays it, that's good, that's key — it's a definition of character — but it's by no means a poor performance.

Magic
I agree with all your reservations, Todd, but I'm willing to forgive every single one, because this episode was absolutely MAGICAL. It captured everything about what makes performing live comedy so great — the energy, the sense that anything can change at any moment (if you were to let it), the instant feedback…

Yeah, I noticed that too — Dwight's changed a hell of a lot — but the other moment was there somewhere. Wish I could remember it for real so this comment would be relevant.

Stating the obvious
This was the best episode of the season so far.

The little things
My favorite moment of the episode, I think, was one of the smallest: the window slowly sliding open, everyone leaning in to look out the window and finally see their fateful surroundings — and then Jeff just holds the phone up to the glass to get a GPS signal.

Entourage 2.0
I'm sure you guys have talked about it before, but this show strikes me as an actually-funny Entourage. The show nails the way actual guys actually interact with each other — relentless ball-busting coupled with an indestructible (and inscrutable) trust and understanding. Even the ridiculous clown,…

I haven't really watched this show until this season
But this was one of the most enjoyable half-hours of comedy I've seen in a while

Reflexive
I can't remember the quote exactly (or even close), but at one point Michael — I think when first talking to Holly — said, "We're still as funny as ever" and looked at the camera all sly-like, as if The Office has become self-aware of how far it's fallen.

Oh, it was definitely clever — elegant, even — but definitely of the domestic, misogynistic philosophy that Peggy's been sort of built up to counter. Maybe the point was to simply show that Peggy's capable of running her own campaign, but to me it was also a sign that, at SCDP at least, she'll never escape the Boys'…

Peggy's Pitch
Did no one else think Peggy's pitch was awfully traditional? Yes, it put her almost on par with Don's creative feats, but it seemed more like an ad from circa-1960 SC than from SCDP of the Future! It seems like Peggy getting laid is great for her confidence but puts her in danger of falling into the…