I was (and remain) a huge fan of the original BBC show The Office. Huge. Watched em all multiple times (and while I may rewatch movies often, I rarely rewatch TV shows), never failed to enjoy.
When the NBC version started, I really had to force myself to stick with it, as the first few episodes seemed to be “weak” versions of the UK original. But then somewhere mid-season, all of a sudden the show changed. As if the actors and writers woke up one morning and decided to make their own show. I became a loyal fan, I even watched some of the Webisodes this summer (also great, but almost frustrating due to the shortness).
Anyhow, last season ended with a cliffhanger (for those catching up via DVD I won’t discuss plotlines or anything), and I was quite excited for the season premiere two weeks ago. While vacationing in Montreal I fired up my Slingbox, connected to my Comcast DVR, and there it was, right after My Name Is Earl, an episode of Globe Trekker. Huh?
Turns out, for whatever reason, the DVR missed it. Maybe it was marked as a repeat, I dunno. Not there. Nothing. Crap-all. So I panic, accuse the wife of deleting it, you know, all the usual things.
Next, I called all my friends, none of whom record it. While their whimsical agreement that the show’s pretty good was nice to hear, it most certainly didn’t put the episode in front of my eyes!
A ha! I remember a coworker also watches it, call to check. Yup, he has a Season Pass(TM). Awesome. Guess what? His DVR didn’t get it either! I felt like Charlie Brown playing football with Lucy!
Back at work, I mentioned my dilemma to my officemate who reminds me it’s on iTunes. Yes! She downloads it with the intent to burn it to a DVD so I can watch it on my flight today. Of course the download doesn’t end up on her office PC, but on her home PC, so it takes another day before she can bring it in. And there we have it, the “book on tape” equivalent of the show. Her suggestion that I act it out in my head while I listen didn’t quite help, but it did make me chuckle. Or growl, I can’t remember.
Another friend of mine offered to find it online, using one of those Internet tubes or something. A week goes by, no luck.
I’m about ready to give in, and then when my wife turned on the Comcast OnDemand channel today, I noticed “network shows”. My heartbeat raced. I selected it, then saw the channel lineup. Oh my, there’s NBC! Glory glory hallelujah. Two remote buttons later, and there it is. The Office, Season 3, Episode 1.
$0.99? no problem (although if I’m paying for a show that was already aired for free I don’t really like seeing the ad at the beginning – either make it paid-for or free, not both, but then again, right now I’m a beggar, not a chooser).