The Office has new leads

     NBC's The Office has new leads.  Yes, that was the title of this week's episode.  And yes, it likely referred to the 'new leads' that Sabre, the new parent company, sent to the office for them to follow up on.  However, if you have been watching, there has been a shift lately, and it's apparent who two of the new leads in the show are
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     When the series began there were five character in the theme song, and that is how it has stayed during the show's run.  However, recently a sixth face was inserted.  Andy Bernard (Ed Helms, The Daily Show, The Hangover) started as a recurring character back 2006, gained popularity, was hired full time, and now is one of the people that the show focuses on.  Deservedly so.  The man who began an annoying guy with anger management issues has wormed his way into the hearts of fans everywhere.

         Last spring another new face showed up in The Office and stayed.  That face is Kelly "Erin" Hannon (Ellie Kemper, Upright Citizen's Brigade, The Onion).  She replaced Pam (Jenna Fischer) at the receptionist desk, and as soon as she established herself as part of the ensemble, it have Andy the boost he needed to be a leading man.


     For five years the romantic themes in the series were always about Jim (John Krasinksi) and Pam.  Now that they are married and have a baby, their connection has stabilized.  While this is primarily a workplace comedy, there needs to be romantic tension to keep things going.  Andy and Erin have become that couple.  They're a little bit goofier than Jim and Pam, and their trip to the altar shouldn't take nearly as long, but it's nice to get a new, fresh thing going on.  This week, they even shared their first kiss.  In a garbage dump.

     The Office airs on NBC Thursdays at 9pm.

How to Make It in America doesn't quite make it

     HBO has a new show out called How to Make It in America.  It is about friends Ben (Bryan Greenberg, October Road) and Cam (Victor Rasuk, ER) trying to make money while living in New York City, apparently in the fashion scene, though after watching, I thought it was more the art world.  It is attempting to be gritty and realistic, or at least it comes across that way.  The theme song may be confusing, but it resembles the photographs shown at an artist showcase later in the pilot episode.

     This series has plenty going for it.  Besides Greenberg, it boasts other notable stars such as Eddie Kaye Thomas (American Pie, 'Til Death), Lake Bell (Boston Legal), Shannyn Sossamon (Moonlight), Martha Plimpton, and Luis Guzman.  Unfortunately, it didn't land in the premiere.  There was plenty of the two main guys, but very little of anyone else.  They are charming and interesting, but there wasn't enough plot to adequately set up what the series is going to be about.  Not only that, unlike other recent HBO shows, I didn't get invested in the characters right away.  At this point, I could never watch another episode and never wonder what happened.

     However, I am going to watch next week's episode.  It does intrigue me that I don't what it's about.  I've always thought that pilots are often a poor representation of the series, and I hope this one is as well.  Because I can't predict what else is coming, I will watch at least another half hour or two until I decide whether or not it is worth my time.

     If you'd like to check it out, How to Make It in America will rerun throughout the week, and new episodes will be presented Sundays at 10pm on HBO.