Can Dwight Schrute and his proud family tradition carry the weight of a spinoff?

On Wednesday, Deadline.com began the rumor mill by announcing that NBC was considering an Office spinoff starring Dwight, Schrute farms, beets and the whole Schrute family. The show would be slated to begin sometime in midseason of 2013.

According to Deadline, the genesis of the spinoff started with actor Rainn Wilson and Office executive producer Paul Lieberstein (a.k.a Toby). A Deadline source is quoted as saying, “Paul and Rainn have been joking for years about Dwight’s life on the farm, his family and how ill-suited he is to run a B&B. A while ago, it started to feel like a show to them. NBC agreed, it’s been further developed to include multiple generations, many cousins and neighbors. At its base it will be about a family farm struggling to survive and a family trying to stay together.”

Considering the poor track history of TV spinoffs (think Joey, The Brady Brides, Baywatch Nights), the proposal may initially come as a bit of a surprise. In fact, can you name even one or two spinoffs that went on to become successful? However, The Office has been one of NBC’s great pickups. Winning an Emmy in 2006 for best comedy series, and still drawing more than 6 million viewers per week in its eighth season, The Office has become the staple brand of  NBC.

If the spinoff is indeed in the works, it could signal for this to be the final season of the network’s prime-time draw. With Rainn, hypothetically, leaving to start the spinoff, and Ed Helms, John Krasinksi and Mindy Kaling all unsigned for next season, this could be the end of NBC’s most successful show. Could the show possibly continue without Andy, Jim, Kelly and possibly others? Doubtful. And as critics have opined, it may be for the best. After Steve Carell’s departure, the remaining core characters, and an infused James Spader as Sabre CEO, have been unable to save the show’s ratings from declining.

TV shows rarely last as long as The Office. For every Friends (10 seasons) and Cheers (11) there are dozens of shows that barely make it to a third season (wishfully hoping Whitney falls into this category), let alone past the pilot. And for those that do enjoy a long running voyage, few end with their dignity and ratings still intact (see Smallville). So, whether or not the spinoff becomes a hit with the 18 -49 demographic that has sustained Jim, Pam and Dwight’s long run, perhaps it’s all for the best.

Technorati Tags: dwight, jim and pam, office, schrute, spinoff, television show, the office, tv

Who doesn’t love Dakota Fanning? We adore this young actress, who began her career when she was merely five years of age. She impresses us for having been the youngest person in history to be nominated (for her role in “I Am Sam”) for a Screen Actor’s Guild Award. We first got to know Dakota through a Tide detergent commercial, followed by appearances on famous television shows like ER and Ally McBeal. We were enthralled by her appearance in TomCats, and we haven’t stopped following her since…

Most recently, we spotted Dakota Fanning wearing a Lemon Sorbet watch by Fruitz, which manufactures fun, colorful and fashionable timepieces.

Fruitz currently offers three collections: Fruitz Classic, Sorbet and Happy Hour. The Sorbet collection differs from the other two in that watches in this collection have expandable stainless steel bracelets, as opposed to watches in the other collections with have silicon straps.

All Fruitz watches, including the Lemon Sorbet that Dakota loves, have natural frequency technology disks embedded in their case backs. These disks are infused with the same frequency at which the earth resonates, and claim to relax and calm wearers.

Looks like Dakota Fanning is pretty relaxed in her Fruits watch, don’t you think? Well, apparently her watch has her in good spirits; as she says, “I am so happy to have one!”

Technorati Tags: dakota fanning, fruits, watches

Stephen Colbert, host of the Colbert Report

In this episode of the Colbert Report, Stephen discusses an electronic vocal organ that is posing as a teacher, converses with PK Winsom about tea party racism, expresses his distaste for the 4/20 pot-head celebration, and interviews the CEO of Dreamworks Animation, Jeffrey Katzenberg.

The episode opens with Stephen Colbert discussing a controversial clip of him using a Chinese accent that was somehow perceived as racist. After re-showing it – for those that missed it – he moves to his own defense, by rolling a story about a innovative and highly-complex electronic vocal organ that was recently invented by Japanese scientists. Stephen claims that he learned with the robot teacher, since the new creation was designed  to help the hearing impaired with their vocal training.

Jeffrey Katzenberg, CEO of Dreamworks Animation

Later on in show, Tea party racism is allegedly accredited to the fact that the rallies are – in general – mostly white with an insignificant number African American participants. To remedy this issue, PK Winsom shows up, offering his services to any protest that needs a few black people to reduce the any racial tensions. Then, as a tangent on the subject of race, Stephen stakes a claim against the pot-headed holiday, four twenty.

To close the episode, Jeffrey Cassenberg, the CEO of Dreamworks animation, announces that every future Dreamworks movie will be shown in 3-d, citing that life is in 3 dimensions, so why not our movies?

Technorati Tags: 4/20, CEO, colbert report, dreamworks animation, jeffrey katzenberg, PK Winsom

This host is tough as nails

Stephen Colbert opens his report with a newsweek cover, he then probes into the slavery side of Confederate Month, leads a conversation about fast-food in afghanistan and cupcakes in Germany, before finally wondering if nature could ever be gay.

To kick it all off, the host holds up the NewsWeek cover that displays the words “America’s Back!” over a patriotic background. He supports the celebration, happily announcing the news that the Dow Jones closed above 11,00 for the first time since September 2008. And even though he isn’t quite sure what that means, his trusty financial advisor, Gorlock, assures him in a new book, ”To Serve the Investor,” that it’s best for Stephen to just “relax and fatten up.”

In other news, Governor Robert Mcdonald of Virginia decides to call April, Confederate History Month. Stephen creates a new bumper sticker, “VIRGINIA IS FOR LOVERS of embarrasing moments in American History,” which brings him It him to the Word: Slavery. In the snippet, Stephen discusses how some southerners consider slavery as an insignificant issue.  They want to merely focus on states rights, which just so happen to include slave ownership in certain regionns. As Alexander Stephens so elegantly phrased it: “[The Confederacy's] corner-stone rests upon the great truth that the Negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery — subordination to the superior race –is his natural and normal condition.” By the end of The Word, Stephen tells everyone to strip the hateful word of its meaning, as he begins referring to everyone in the audience as his “slave-uhs” (as in slaver, or someone who owns slaves.)

The Nussbeugerl reflects the 'German Smile', which is a frown to Americans.

The episode moves into a discourse on the fast food ban in afghanistan, and a burger king commercial depicting a crazy King, which lead Stephen to believe that food advertisers are in fact lunatics; he goes on to cite the campaigns for Coco Puffs, Almond Joys/ Mounds, and the KFC Double-Down Sandwich as further proof of commercial craziness. Then he transitions into a story about Germany turning down Mcdonald’s line of American cupcakes, after their citizens continue to prefer their own native bavarian pastries, (like the “Nussbeugerl.” ) Desperate to show Germany the good stuff, Stephen invites German Ambassador of the UN, Hanz Bienholdt, to come in and try a cupcake. After explaining the bizarre item to the Ambassador, the German representative decides that he doesn’t like “cuppit ckaes”, though he does openly admit that he’s done many unforgivable things for a Klondike Bar.

The episode closes with a discussion about ‘They Gay,” an article in The New York Times by the straight-human, Jon Mooallem. It discusses whether or not animals can be homosexual. And, as it turns out, it’s difficult to tell; however, studies have reported that one third of a studied population of Albatross have actually paired off in lesbian couples. Stephen doesn’t get much evidence to swing either ways, so he swings alittle in both directions.

Technorati Tags: afghanistan, confederate month, cupcakes, fast-food, gay, germany, nature, report, slavery, Stephen Colbert

The host of the Daily Show looking more serious than usual

Jon Stewart starts the daily show with a story that is almost completely without meaning and subsequently hilarious. The story? A scandal about the thousands of dollars spent by the G.O.P at a bondage-themed strip club. In defense of the expenditures, once might argue that Voyeur, located in West Hollywood, isn’t a sleazy go-go bar, but “a destination for provocative revelry that combines eroticism and nightlife exclusivity.” Alison Meyers, head of RNC’s Young Eagles, was fired for her direct involvement with the ordeal, while Michael Steel was competely let off the hook.

In other news, John McCain is struggling to maintain a narrow lead in a tight senatorial primary against J.D. Hayworth. With his back against the wall, the prodigal daughter – Sarah Palin – tries to save the falling maverick in her own not-very-helpful way.

Sarah puts McCain beneath her wing for the upcoming primaries

Robin Williams is the guest of the evening, and he thanks Jon for inviting him to relapse (a direct reference to the gift basket that included a bottle of vodka). He also mentions his heart, which is now constructed partially from cow parts, and recommends doctor’s in Cleveland for all future medical procedures. His book,

“Weapons of Destruction,” isn’t mentioned until the last second of the episode.

Technorati Tags: Alison Meyers, Daily Show, GOP, Jon Stewart, scandal

Stephen is Fighting for America

In Tuesday’s Colbert Report, Stephen expresses his surprise when Ricky Martin comes out of the closet, admitting that the news has rendered him upside-inside-out. He is saddened by the fact that The Holy Week has been tainted by more priest abuse cases, which are slowly popping up across Europe. Stephen urges everyone to forgive and forget, since sex abuse has only been committed by 4% of priests.

Another edition of “Thought for Food” discusses Nature Babycare Diapers – which are manufactured from corn-based materials – and a study asserting that fatty foods are as addictive as heroin and crack cocaine. Stephen laughs at Jaimie Oliver, when his show fails to convince kids that chicken-carcus-slurries don’t make a good chicken nugget.

Stephen was surprised to hear that Ricky is gay

Stephen interviews Simon Johnson about his book 13Bankers, in which he discusses the five year pattern of wallstreet-sanctioned financial meltdowns. He explains why failure is important to the market, and how Obama’s administration failed to break up with big banks. He calls the president a capitalist, and admits that he doesn’t have faith in the country’s judicial system. Johnson also convinces Stephen about the danger of the enormous banks, and how they metaphorically flip over the game board when they start to lose at their global game of economic monopoly.

Technorati Tags: colbert report, priests, ricky martin, Stephen, the holy week

Stephen is Fighting for America

Stephen welcomes Jewish viewers with a humble shalom, which he describes as the hebrew word for “aloha,” and celebrates Passover by inviting Elijah over for seder. When he learns that he’s been stood up yet again, he turns desperately to fill the slot with Senator Claire McCaskill. He uses a top-shelf bottle of Maneshewitz wine – intended for the seder – to degrease an old bike chain, and finds that free health care means that it makes sense to wash your hands with raw chicken.

In other news, hundreds of vultures are reportedly circling the Sun City retirement community in Georgetown, Texas; Americans have started to target those who voted for the Health Care reform bill, and Republicans vow not ever to cooperate on a bill like H.R. 4495, where both parties revolutionarily worked together to rename the United States Postal Service building in Patagonia, Arizona, the ‘Jim Kolbe Post Office.”

Senator McCaskill stands firmly behind the president's reformation of health care

Later in the show, Stephen tips his hat to the Jews after he learns that they’ve gone commercial with Passover, sighting a product at Bed Bath and Beyond, which renders the ten biblical plagues as wonderful finger puppets. He closes with an interview with Senator McCaskill, who expresses her expert vision of how to improve America, and grants well-wishes to Rush Limbaugh who is out looking for a better life in Costa Rica.

Technorati Tags: jewish, seder, senator claire mccaskill, Stephen

The Leader of The Colbert Nation

Stephen Colbert chokes on a tongue-twister of a story, when he reports on the growing support for a gonad-less March Madness; that’s right, this year’s March Madness doesn’t just involve basketball, but it hopes to inspire male fans to go to their neighborhood doctor for a simple snip, medically known as a vasectomy.

A vasectomy, which is a general procedure for male sterilization, is now being popularly marketed by Doctor-endorsed March Madness free-pizza enticements, and a lifestyle choice that earns the right to watch basketball for ‘rejuvenational purposes.’

But, Stephen sees how a vasectomy  can translate into three days off work, and he raises the petty procedure to a full-out lobotomy, which would not only lay a man up for the entire season of UFC, but irreparably degrade his mind enough for him to actually enjoy it. And, fortunately enough, not only will the ‘vasectomized’ patient be thoroughly invested in the nourishing world of UFC and basketball, but he will also get a formal introduction to a more bad-ass type of chess game.

Check Mate!

Chess-boxing combines the wit of chess with the dim of boxing, to create a new hybrid-sport. In this trendy game, opponents first duel out four minutes of brutal chess, before they put on the gloves and duke it out rocky-style.

And to think, all that truly divides a man from manhood, is a vasectomy! Wow!

Technorati Tags: basketball, march madness, Stephen Colbert, vasectomy

The HOst of The Daily SHow on Comedy Central

Jon Stewart went political on Senator Chris Dodd, aka the Democrat from Connecticut – aka the Banking Committee Chairman – when he learned of the Senator’s decision to pull the emergency brakes on any possible bi-partisan negotiations for healthcare reform. Senator Dodd announced that he would draft his very own bill, which was expected to include: an end to “too-big-to-fail bailouts;” the invention of an early warning system for future economic catastrophes; and finally, the introduction of transparency and accountability in hedge-funds and derivatives, or as the Senator himself called them, “exotic instruments.”

But, Mr. Stewart had heard all this jabbertalky already, his attention was focused on the consumer watch dog, a small and independent entity meant to protect consumers. In his excitement,  Jon recommended getting the watch-dog laser eyes, a jet-pack, and adamantine claws, on top of Dodd’s humble promise to get it a louder bark and a stronger bite.

The New Consumer Protection Agency

Later on in the show, Stewart goes on to explain the normal world, where people who sell fraudulent products go to jail, and how it differs from the realm of Mr. Lehman, where it’s okay to package something in gold wrapping paper and call it pure gold. He describes how corporations hire third-parties to rate their assets for far more than they are actually worth, and that if they still fail to find investors, they simply establish another corporation, in which the hide their garbage stocks. Stewart sites Citi as an example, since they were reported for having two segments of operations: one being, Citicorp, which had good stuff, and the other titled, Citi Holdings, responsible for hiding the parent company’s trash from view.

In the end, this episode teaches everyone how to act like a corporation, and turn their $900 dollar piece-of-junk Volvo into a $10 million Volvo-jet.

Technorati Tags: banking committee chairman, healthcare reform, Jon Stewart, senator chris dodd

Smells like Brand Spirit

When Jay-Z first emerged on the scene, he became notorious for his slippery style of staggered raps and liquid delivery; nowadays, he’s the famous name behind the shoes, the drinks, video games and clothing that have propelled him to social icon status. And with his newest album release, The Blueprint 3, Jay-z continues to push marketable singles to those who are looking for the best rapper alive. His formula of building albums around popular hits has enabled him to brand Superbowl ads, fashionable fragrances, and other merchandise that regular lyrical lions can only dream of selling.

As it stands, branding the crowd is much easier with a single and a t-shirt than a message and a melody. The Jay-z from Reasonable Doubt (1996) was the shrewd business man, wearing a talent for rhythm and

Rocawear, his clothing line

rhyme on his sleeve. But, in 2010, Jay-Z is decked out from head to toe in an all black outfit, which his company manufactures. Almost like a walking commercial, Jay-Z has mastered the technique of branding an audience with the fire of a hot single. He’s left the New York state of mind for an Empire  State Of Mind, where everyone in his fan-base is also a customer of the commercial machine, whose cheapest item is the CD.

Technorati Tags: album, blueprint, brand, Jay-z, rap