Paul Lieberstein Movies
Known to many as downtrodden accountant Toby on TV's The Office, Paul Lieberstein began his award-winning career as a writer helping pen the young adult series Clarissa Explains it All for Nickelodeon. He would go on to write for King of the Hill, The Drew Carey Show, in addition to The Office, for which he would also act as a producer. In all, Lieberstein would take home Emmies, SAG Awards, WGA Awards, Primetime Emmies, and Daytime Emmies for his work in the industry. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide
Season 4 of the acclaimed mockumentary opens with the discovery that Ryan Howard (B.J. Novak) has ascended the corporate ladder from fresh-faced intern to stylishly bearded corporate chieftain. The young gun promptly exercises his authority by charging Dunder Mifflin into the digital age, an affront to technologically dull Scranton branch boss Michael Scott (Steve Carell). Here are the romantic "fax" of life at the office: Jim Halpert (John Krasinski) and Pam Beesly (Jenna Fischer) are hot, Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson) and Angela Martin (Angela Kinsey) are not, and Andy Bernard (Ed Helms) and Angela are giving it a shot. A giddy Jam (Jim/Pam) proudly bring their hushed and long-delayed romance to public light, even spending an unsettling night at the Schrute family farm. Dwight confesses to killing Angela's treasured cat Sprinkles, prompting Angela to terminate their romance, which leaves tight Dwight heartbroken and miserable. Angela, in turn, falls into the arms of newest staffer Andy, but only reluctantly. As for Michael, he huffs and puffs through a 5K fun run; hopes to attend a Web-site launch party in the Big Apple; faces a ballooning personal debt; goes on a wilderness survival retreat; butts heads with desk jockey Stanley Hudson (Leslie David Baker); and travels a bumpy-road romance with high-maintenance ex-bigwig Jan Levinson (Melora Hardin), who's mired in a messy wrongful-termination lawsuit with corporate. All this doesn't stop Michael from obsessing over a model in an office-supply catalog or clubbing for "hot hotties" with Ryan in New York. As the year winds down, slumping human-resources drone Toby Flenderson (Paul Lieberstein) decides to quit his post and move to Costa Rica. This development prompts the arrival of a new HR worker named Holly (Amy Ryan), whose sunny presence clearly begins to brighten Michael's downcast world. ~ Dean Maurer, All Movie Guide
As Season 3 of The Office gets underway, Pam (Jenna Fischer) remains unable to express her feelings for Jim (John Krasinski) after the pair recently shared a kiss and now Jim has taken a promotion that means transferring to Connecticut. Michael (Steve Carell) has discovered that Oscar (Oscar Nunez) is gay, and has enlisted the aid of Dwight (Rainn Wilson) in determining who else in the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin might be homosexual. Despite the fact that Pam called off her wedding to Roy (David Denman), her ex-fiancé is determined to win her back. Later, Michael holds a special meeting to encourage others who may be gay to openly express their sexuality. In a misguided effort to sincerely express that he believes there is nothing wrong with homosexuality, Michael attempts to kiss Oscar, who is clearly uncomfortable, on the lips. After that incident, Jan (Melora Hardin) attempts to get Oscar to sign a document saying he will not sue Dunder Mifflin. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
The American TV version of the award-winning British sitcom The Office opens by establishing its faux documentary format, as Michael Scott (Steve Carell), regional manager of a branch office of Dunder-Mifflin Paper, jumps through hoops to convince the filmmakers that he presides over a happy, well-running ship. This is but one of Michael's many pathetic self-delusions: he also thinks he's the epitome of "cool," he's convinced that everything he says is a laugh riot, and even worse, he actually labors under the misapprehension that he is qualified for his job. Meanwhile, Dunder Mifflin's employees inadvertently but efficiently put the lie to Michael's self-serving prevarications: sales rep Jim Halpert (John Krasinski) continually cooks up methods to undermine his hated cube-mate, the obnoxious know-it-all Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson); receptionist Pam Beesly (Jenna Fischer) continually deals with Michael's insensitivities and flubs; and office temp Ryan Howard (B.J. Novak) acts mostly as an observer of the insanity around him. Some of the episodes in The Office's six-episode trial run carried over general plot ideas from the earlier British series, particularly the threat of wholesale downsizing that weaves through the various plots and subplots; however, only the pilot was a direct adaptation of one of the U.K. version's episodes. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steve Carell, John Krasinski, (more)
It's time to clock in for Season Two of The Office, the hilarious and witty TV-mockumentary starring Steve Carell (The 40-Year-Old Virgin) in his Golden Globe Award-winning role. From sexual politics to performance reviews to email espionage, the employees at Dunder-Mifflin are there to get the job doneâ¦or not. Join earnest but clueless boss Michael Scott (Carell), Assistant to the Regional Manager Dwight (Rainn Wilson), receptionist Pam (Jenna Fischer), sales rep Jim (John Krasinski), and the office temp, Ryan (B.J. Novak), as they make the daily grind a lot more laughable. Fully staffed with 22 outrageous episodes and hours of side-splitting bonus features, itâs the must-own collection that caused Time magazine to declare "Never has a lousy job been so much fun."
- Starring:
- Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, (more)
- 2001
Inasmuch as he's been declared legally dead, Drew (Drew Carey) decides to take on a whole new personality. Accordingly, he purchases a motorcycle, dons a leather jacket, and begins passing himself off as his own "wild man" brother Kyle. When insurance agent Julie (Lauren Stamile) shows up to investigate the policy taken out on Drew by Lewis (Ryan Stiles) and Oswald (Diedrich Bader) (who hope to use the dough to launch a singing career), she meets and falls madly in love with "Kyle"--who rounds out the deception by earning the undying respect of several real bikers at Smelly Mary's bar. In fact, Drew is having so much fun not being Drew that he seriously considers remaining "dead" for the rest of his life! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
In the first episode of a two-part story, Drew (Drew Carey) begins dating a girl named Rachel (Ileana Douglas), only to be warned by Lewis (Ryan Stiles) that Rachel is actually an activist protesting a current DrugCo project, and may be playing up to Drew merely to get secret information. Though it turns out that Lewis is right, Rachel's motives are not quite as cold-blooded as they seem. Be that as it may, whatever DrugCo is cooking up just might be the reason that Drew and his friends have suddenly begun to glow in the dark! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
This first episode of The Drew Carey Show's sixth season wastes no time plunging the title character in deep doo-doo yet once more. Under pressure to balance Winfred-Louder's budget, store manager Mr. Wick ($Craig Ferguson) orders his assistant Drew (Drew Carey) to fire someone. When Drew can't bring himself to do it, Wick diabolically arranges for the employees to demand that Drew himself be sacked--just as he has purchased an engagement ring for Kate (Christa Miller). Unable to find a decent job thanks to lies circulated by his traditional enemy Mimi (Kathy Kinney), Drew is reduced to working in the cafeteria at his former high school, a chore that proves to be as sloppy as it is humiliating. So how can we extract a happy ending out of THIS situation? Well, wait and see... ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
