The Pop Tart

Since there's not much on tv this summer I've been catching up on a couple of shows that I only saw hit-or-miss during the regular season. One makes me happy every time I watch it and one makes me sad. And I love them both.

The show that makes me happy is My Name is Earl. I just smile when I watch, and many times laugh out loud. Earl's view of the world is such a nice one. You know the story, he's a reformed petty con who won the lottery. Now he keeps a list of everyone he did wrong and in each episode sets about righting that wrong, often with unintended and hilarious results. A favorite so far? Earl realizes he didn't pay $500 dollars in taxes to the government and tries to repay it. He and his brother Randy end up hanging from ropes inside an abandoned water tower. You'll have to catch the repeat to figure out why.

I just love the tone of this show and Earl's ex-wife Joy and her new husband Crab Man make me laugh in just about every scene they're in. Want a look at the Earl's list? Makes me smile just thinking of the episodes to come.

Equally wonderful, but not nearly as happy is Earl's companion show on NBC, The Office. The theme of the show? "Inappropriate remarks? Petty behavior? Zero productivity? All in a day's work." And each episode lovingly captures how that happens in an office. This particular office is attached to a warehouse. The company is Dunder Mifflin and they ship office supplies. The people working in the office are the paper pushers and are led by the inept, but oh so egotistical, Michael.

The writers get the feeling of pointlessness workers experience just right. That's what makes each episode so good. It's also what makes me feel so melancholy after watching. I just want to find these people and give them all hugs (even Dwight). The creators also get the feeling of camaraderie right. These are people who might never be friends if they met anywhere else, but because they have common problems (work, Michael) they're able to bond and find some common ground.

I'm starting to sound a little corny (my own motto). But it's the people we work with who make our jobs bearable. My co-workers have made me laugh and kept me sane when I've had to deal with the Michael's of this world. And I thank them for it.

The Office gets the dynamics just right. I just wish these characters could have some of Earl's joy (not his wife). Of course, then The Office wouldn't be nearly as good.