Scene

Build-A-Bond

Breaking news: following the smash success of "Skyfall," Daniel Craig and everyone else involved with the newest James Bonds movie, from director Sam Mendes to the guy who gets sandwiches for the break room, shocks the world and quits. Billionaire Warren Buffet sees an investment opportunity, and opens his checkbook to Scene Editor Kevin Noonan and Assistant Managing Editor Sam Stryker. "Make the greatest Bond movie imaginable; spare no expense," Buffet tells the enormously talented, wildly good-looking and rather humble pair. All right, so most of that isn't true. But what if it was? What if Sam and Kevin could build an entire Bond film from the ground, picking everything from the car to the villain to Mr. Bond himself? Well, it would be a great Scene story, that's what. Kevin: I think the first place to start is to figure out exactly what we need. What are the core pieces that make up a Bond film puzzle? Off the top of my head, I'd say it's the Bond actor, the villain, Bond's car and the gadgets. And probably the director, too. Did I miss any? Sam: Kevin, you missed a key ingredient - the Bond girl. A James Bond movie without a leading lady is like chocolate chip cookies without chocolate chips. It just isn't right. Now, I may not know a lot about ladies, but I do know this - behind every great man is a woman. In James Bond's case, sometimes she wants to kill him and take over the world. Regardless, she's an important ingredient. One other key ingredient is who sings the theme song. In recent years, we have had Madonna, Alicia Keys and Adele lend their vocals to 007. You need someone with a solid set of pipes to sing a Bond theme song. Otherwise, I think you have a pretty good grasp on what makes a Bond movie tick. Kevin: So now that we've decided what we're deciding on, let's get to it. 1. Who's going to wear the tux? Sam: I'll be the first to say I am very disappointed Daniel Craig quit his role as James Bond. As a fellow blond, it was nice to see someone who looked (somewhat) like me in the role, fulfilling my fantasies of one day being an international man of mystery. He even looked good in a Speedo, to boot. Alas, now that he is gone, we need to find a new man for the job. James Bond needs to be handsome, suave and witty (like yours truly). But most important, he needs to be an embodiment of all things British. That is why I choose Christian Bale to be my new James Bond. When he is not too busy cursing out production assistants or saving Gotham City, Christian Bale is a handsome, proven Oscar-winning actor. And a little-known fact is that he is actually English. Now that he is done suiting up as Batman and hanging around in the Bat Cave, he has more than enough free time to don a tuxedo and save the world. I know an Aston Martin is a step down from the Batmobile, but somehow I think he would agree. Kevin: While I won't say that I don't like Christian Bale for the Bond role for fear of Sam going Patrick Bateman on me, I'm going to go in a different direction. An actor from the U.K. has traditionally played the role, but I'm going to pluck from one of the empire's former colonies - Guy Pearce. The Aussie actor has dipped in and out of the spotlight after a promising start to his career ("L.A. Confidential" and "Memento" followed by a decade of junk), but regardless, it appears no role is outside of his range. Daniel Craig brought a stony handsomeness to the role and it's been wildly successful for him, because - let's call a spade a spade -  he's a stonily handsome man. With Pearce though, Bond returns more to the Sean Connery model: suave and capable, yes, but also always the hint of a wisecrack on the tip of his tongue. I think Pearce brings a different angle to the role, and I like it. 2. The Villain Kevin: A wide range of characters has taken up the mantle as Bond's rival -  Christopher Walken once plotted to destroy Silicon Valley in "A View to a Kill." The villain must be menacing, of course, but Bond villains always seem to have a little character to them. They're never just ordinary villains, they're always a little unique, if not a bit gaudy. A Bond villain has to scare you, but also intrigue you to a degree. My instinct is to go with John Malkovich, because I'm pretty sure he's the square root of every movie villain ever, but it feels a little obvious. Instead, I'm going to go out on a limb and go with Adrien Brody. Brody is a spectacular actor, but always seems to play good guy roles. I think he could delve into a Bond villain like nobody else and surprise people with a legitimately creepy character. Plus, with his facial hair skills, he could be from just about any place in the world. Sam: Some of the most memorable Bond villains have been women. Evil does not have a gender. That's why I am choosing Angelina Jolie - who has expressed interest in playing a Bond baddie in the past - to play the villain in my James Bond movie. She's got looks, she has traveled the world and she has a slight edge to her. She certainly is scary, having worn a vial of blood around her neckewhen she was married to Billy Bob Thornton. Most importantly, she is one of the few ladies on the planet who is not only a talented actress, but also someone who can match the action star power of James Bond. She's been a tomb raider, Mrs. Smith and a handful of other shoot-em-up roles. Jolie is the perfect Bond femme fatale. 3. Bond Girl Sam: A Bond girl has to be beautiful, that is to be sure, but she also has to match wits with one of the most interesting men in the world. She needs to be smart, independent and hopefully a bit spunky. By no means should she just be eye candy. She needs to have a certain sense of allure to her, like Eva Green did as Vesper Lynd in "Casino Royale." That's why I choose Charlize Theron as my Bond girl. She's got acting chops and a serious mean streak, having won an Oscar for portraying a serial-killer prostitute in "Monster's Ball." She also has starred in her fair share of action movies. This South African stunner is no dumb blonde, and she is more than capable of defending herself. Plus, she gets mad props for starring in "Mighty Joe Young." If she can handle a gigantic gorilla and Bill Paxton, then James Bond should be a piece of cake. Kevin: I'm picking two. Deal with it. For my first Bond Girl, even though it might break the mold of the usual Bond fare, I'm going to go with a proven actress -  Freida Pinto. She's proven her merit in "Slumdog Millionaire," and played a core role in the likely to be forgotten, but still pretty good "The Rise of the Planet of the Apes." She's tough, she's gorgeous, she can complete sentences and given a few weeks of training, she could probably kick some butt. I'm going to cast Pinto in the role of "the one who seems questionable at first but turns out to be the good one." The second Bond Girl, who will play the role of "the one who falls for Bond's charms a little too quickly to be believable and turns out to be bad and probably dies before the end," is EmmanuelleChriqui. "Entourage" fans will know Chriqui as Sloan, E's off and on love interest, in what should be forever known as the textbook definition of "outkicking your coverage." Chriqus is absurdly stunning, with just enough deviousness in her to deceive Bond, for a while at least. 4. The Song Kevin: Like Sam said, a long line of accomplished singers have belted out the Bond theme song, including Paul McCartney, Gladys Knight, Tina Turner, Madonna, Alicia Keys and Adele. Those are some big, soulful shoes to fill. When it comes to soul, power and musical genius, there's no better in the music world right now than John Legend. A musical prodigy, there seems to be no limit to Legend's infinite abilities, and there's no doubt that he could belt out a memorable tune. Plus, with his collaboration connections, there could be some pretty sweet possibilities for "featuring" credits. Sam: Bond themes have been their best when sung by a British singer with power vocals - that's why Adele was chosen to sing "Skyfall" and absolutely nailed it. She may not quite have the star power of her English compatriot, but Florence Welch has a powerful set of pipes. Her voice is soulful and introspective and would serve the new Bond series well. She fits in the classic mould of Bond singers - think Shirley Bassey and Carly Simon - while also appealing to a modern audience. My backup choice is Sia. Either way, you can't go wrong. 5. The Car Sam: Choosing James Bond's car is obvious. It has to be an Aston Martin. Yes, he has driven other cars, including a BMW and - gasp! - a Ford, in addition to a Lotus that converted into a submarine. But Bond will always be synonymous with Aston Martin. Seeing him drive something else is like seeing him order something besides a vodka martini, shaken, not stirred. I sure don't want to see Bond sipping a Cosmo. So buckle up, Bond - you're still riding an Aston Martin if I have a say. Kevin: The Aston Martin is indeed the typical Bond choice, but little known fact; Aston Martin is a wholly-owned subsidiary of - gasp! - Ford. My movie is going to be a little progressive; I'm going after the hippie, environmentalist, "save the whales" crowd and that stuff. Therefore, my James Bond will be driving a model from the coolest electric motor company on the market - Tesla. The Tesla Roadster reportedly gets 120 miles to the gallon, in addition to look absolutely filthy awesome. 6. The Gadget Sam: I'm going to be honest; the gadget question perplexed me at first. Sometimes, when Bond's gadgets get too high-tech, the movie loses credibility. Remember the laser guns in "Moonraker" meant to mimic "Star Wars" or the invisible car in "Die Another Day"? Absolutely ridiculous. I prefer my Bond gadgets futuristic but within the realm of realism. That's why Bond absolutely must have a jetpack in his next film. Because when the Aston Martin can't get you to the top of a building, Q better have a good backup plan for you. Kevin: I was an engineering major for three days once upon a time. I'm anti-qualified to invent a gadget for a Bond movie. But, if I must, I think there might be a good joke somewhere if Bond had bulletproof pants. Simple-minded maybe, but they have bulletproof vests; who wants to get shot in the pants? Sparknotes Sam: Christian Bale as Bond, Angelina Jolie as The Villain, Charlize Theron as The Bond Girl, Florence Welch for The Theme Song, Aston Martin for The Car, Jetpack for The Gadget. Kevin: Guy Pearce as Bond, Adrien Brody as The Villain, Freida Pinto and Emmanuelle Chriqui as The Bond Girl(s), John Legend for The Theme Song, Tesla for The Car, Bulletproof Pants for The Gadget. To paraphrase the late great Buffalo Bill, would you see those movies? I'd see those movies.  

Best Bond Movies

1. "Goldfinger" Widely considered by many fans to be the quintessential Bond film, "Goldfinger" follows the formula for an epic 007 movie. Megalomaniac villain? Check. Girl with a double-entendre? Check. Aston Martin? Check. Throw in the first appearance of Q and you've got one of the best Bond films - ever. 2. "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" George Lazenby may have only played James Bond once, but boy did he make it count. Critics contend if Sean Connery starred in this flick it would be the best by a landslide. Set against the Swiss Alps, this action-packed thriller is about as good as it gets. Plus, the film packs the biggest emotional bang at the end of any Bond movie - but we won't spoil it for you. 3. "Thunderball" The fourth Bond entry into the series is the first when James Bond isn't just a British spy but a larger-than-life action star; and this film set the tone for the rest of the series. No longer was Bond just combating Cold War Communist baddies, but the evil organization SPECTRE. Throw in the underwater climax, and you've got a winner. 4. "Casino Royale" Daniel Craig's first foray into the world of 007 is one of the series' best. A franchise reboot, the film does not feature mainstays Q or Moneypenny, but nonetheless Craig brings a fresh, thrilling take on the character. Plus, Judi Dench as M and Eva Green as Vesper Lynd give inspired performances. 5. "The Spy Who Loved Me" Easily the best of Roger Moore's seven tries as James Bond, "The Spy Who Loved Me" features one of the best Bond girls ever, Anya Amasova, and a climax on a submersible villainous lair. Plus, Bond's ski jump, complete with a Union Jack parachute, is one of the signature moments of the series.  

Where are they now: 'Friends'

I don't know about you, but I just can't get enough of "Friends" re-runs. Every time I turn on the TV and encounter one of their famous episodes, I have to watch it. With 10 very successful seasons, friends Rachel, Ross, Monica, Chandler, Phoebe and Joey continue to capture viewer's hearts today. Their laughs, tears and overall stories and relationships have made "Friends" one of the greatest TV shows of all time. After the series finale in May 2004, our favorite friends parted in separate ways starring in new TV and movie roles. So, where are these actors now?

Know Thy Shelf

With the election this week, it would be remiss to neglect one of the greatest American popular historical authors of our time: David McCullough. Biographers like McCullough not only know how to write, but also meet the challenge of portraying America's history in a way that is engaging, enlightening and truthful. Perhaps the best modern biography today, McCullough's "Truman" (1992) won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography. McCullough took every step to understand Truman better - he literally reenacted the president's daily morning walk around Independence, Mo. The book won a Pulitzer and HBO turned it into a movie. "What I demand is accuracy for the sake of imagination," he said in an interview with the New York Times in 1992. The Yale graduate stands out for his thorough research and uncanny ability to bring historical figures to life. Charming and eye-opening anecdotes from letters and diaries give subjects like Truman and John Adams a modern voice and modern relevance. McCullough, who won the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor for a civilian, in 2006, said he wrote "Truman" in response to what he viewed as shallow political debate. "I felt that something needed to be said before people made a choice," he said. "This book is about the country, not just about Harry Truman. It's about who we are and what we can be." Even though his books can be found at Barnes and Noble, don't mistake McCullough for just another trade fiction sensation. McCullough writes American life through the details that made up our forefathers' past. While this usually means his tomes sometimes reach 1,000 pages, the story is well worth it. McCullough reportedly read every page of "Truman" aloud to his wife to make sure it sounded like he was talking to his readers. McCullough also won the Pulitzer Prize for his non-fiction book, "John Adams" (2001), which was one of the fastest-selling non-fiction books in history. HBO made it into a mini-series starring Paul Giamatti, which is worth any history buff's free time. McCullough's writing is definitely well-informed, but he manages to stay away from pedantic plodding through history. He instead populates what would be dull records and lists with the most important part of historical study: the people. Sometimes it's easy to forget that movements, events, rallies, bills, wars and treaties aren't just documents. They're spurred by intensely dynamic and painfully human individuals. Not only does this make politics enormously complicated, it also makes history heart-stopping and dramatic. Even though the confetti probably still lies on the ground in Chicago, it's strange to think: What will historians write about President Barack Obama? What parts of the election last night would McCullough include if he were to write "Obama"? Would this be the doom-and-gloom chapter? Or the tipping point for a new golden age in American history? "History is the story of people," McCullough said. Now more than ever, Americans are cognizant of how just one person can change the historical landscape. Contact Meghan Thomassen at mthomass@nd.edu The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Observer.  

The Best of 'Breaking Bad'

"Breaking Bad" is about a lot of things - it's a story about the meth epidemic in the American Southwest, a critique of the American healthcare system or a trying tale of a boy with cerebral palsy that really loves breakfast. At its core, however, "Breaking Bad" is about the complete moral corrosion of its lead character, Walter White (Brian Cranston). Just about every other television series features a protagonist who possesses a constant set of character traits and qualities. For example, Dexter of "Dexter" has always been the serial-killer anti-hero with a close attention to detail. What makes Walter White so compelling and original is his total character shift over the course of four and a half seasons - from lovable loser to egomaniac, from high-school chemistry teacher to meth kingpin and from dedicated family man to remorseless murderer. "Breaking Bad" is in the midst of its fifth and final season, and has taken a break - a very long break. An excruciatingly long break, in fact, was directly preceded by one of the show's biggest and most dramatic cliffhangers. Yes, the American people will have to wait until the summer of 2013 for "Breaking Bad" to return, which makes now an ideal time to reflect on the greatest moments Walter White and company have provided us with over the past four and a half seasons.

Keep Calm and Style On

There are very few people in the world who have flawless skin. For those individuals that do, I congratulate you and envy your fabulous gene pools. For the rest of you, who find yourselves dealing with the occasional breakout or worse, follow the steps below and you'll be amazed by the difference in your skin.

The Man with the Iron Fists': All Slashing and No Substance

There's violent, there's gory, there's weird and then there's "The Man with the Iron Fists."

Download, Listen, Discard

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Can you tell if it's SNL?

Political Style

Scene picks: best SNL political sketches

Star Wars moves to the dark side

18 Months' Dancetastic

For those students who were lucky enough to study abroad, I'm sure you have your handful of songs that remind you of your time away from campus. For me, "Titanium" reminds me of a weekend visit to London and "Moves Like Jagger" will always be associated with my semester in Rome. Usually the songs you associate with study abroad are fast-paced dance tracks you would hear during a night out on the town. With "18 Months," Scottish DJ Calvin Harris's third studio album, I feel as if I am listening to an entire album of study abroad anthems. "18 Months" is 15 songs worth of dance-ready tracks, some you probably have heard before and some you may not have. For those who have not been indoctrinated into the world of electro house music, Harris is the producer of Rihanna's international mega-smash "We Found Love" and has found success on his own with such singles as "You Used to Hold Me" and "Acceptable in the 80s." "18 Months" is actually nearly that long in the making. The first single, "Bounce," was released in June 2011 and more singles have been released sporadically leading up to the album's release earlier in the week. Even though nearly every track makes you want to get up and run a marathon or bust some serious moves on the dance floor, listening to "18 Months" doesn't feel repetitive. The standout cuts each have their own signature feel, be it a different featured artist or creative beat. Harris is one of the leading minds in his craft, and it shows here. "Bounce" featuring Kelis is a bouncing, club-ready track that proves the singer can do more than use her milkshakes to bring all the boys to the yard. The song has a serious beat drop of epic proportions and is one of the best-produced tracks on the album. "Feel So Close" is an interesting track. It features a slow piano key and Harris's soulful vocals, but also a steady beat in the background. In this way, it feels as if the song almost slows down and connects more with the listener while also being worthy of being played during a night on the town. Likewise, "Sweet Nothing" features the poignant vocals of Florence Welch from Florence + The Machine. Once again, there is a backing track of epic proportions to match Welch. This is more than just a song to run or dance to. Just like "Feel So Close," there is raw emotion in Welch's vocals that drives deep within the listener and grips his or her heart. "Sweet Nothing" is the type of track on "18 Months" that doesn't just show off Harris's skill set, but sets him apart as an industry leader. "Thinking About You" featuring Ayah Marar has not been released as a single, but don't let that distract you - this is a silky-smooth track with a sick beat. Listening to the song, one can imagine being transported to a club in London or Barcelona to dance the night away. "Let's Go" features crooner Ne-Yo, and it's about as good of a pump-up jam as you are every going to have the pleasure of listening to. While it lacks the emotional power of "Sweet Nothing," Ne-Yo sings with a sense of urgency that makes the listener's heart race. This is the type of track you close a marathon out with. "Let's Go" doesn't let you quit. People listen to different music for different reasons. Sometimes you need a song to calm you down after a long day at work. Maybe you need a mellow jam for when you are hanging with friends. Or maybe you want a head-banger for when you are driving cross-country. Regardless, I always find it amusing when people criticize electropop DJs for not producing "real" music or "lesser" music. Just because I am not going to find Avicii or Justice on "MTV Unplugged" anytime soon, it does not mean they are lesser artists - it just means you listen to their music with a different purpose. In that vein, Calvin Harris's latest release "18 Months" is about as good of an album as you are going to get for two things - dance tracks and some solid workout music. What sets Harris apart is his tracks more than just motivate listeners to get off the couch - often their very real emotion resonates deeply. Contact Sam Stryker at sstryke1@nd.edu

Fall Concert

The Notre Dame Chorale performs its Fall Concert today in the Leighton Concert Hall at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center (DPAC). This year's performance will include selections from Monteverdi, Bach, Mozart, Schumann, Wagner, DeBussy and Stravinsky. Lovers of classical music will surely be enchanted by the performance and find their taste for good old-fashioned entertainment all but satisfied. The selections are broken up into six sections: Works from the Middle Ages and late Renaissance, late romanticism, 20th-century romanticism, concerted church music for Salzburg, 20th-century Mass and finally 18th-century a capella motet. The weekend also serves as a reunion of sorts for Chorale alumni. The Chorale, who usually performs Handel's "Messiah" every year in early December, will stage a joint performance of excerpts from the oratorio with both current members of the Chorale as well as alums. They will also be treated to an organ demonstration in the Reyes Chorale and Organ Hall. The $1 million organ took organist Paul Fritts over a year to build. After it was built, the organ was disassembled and reconstructed over a full year in the Organ Hall. Judy Fritts, Paul's sister, designed the intricate carvings on the organ itself and features mostly flowers, animals and other elements of nature. The reunion is also an opportunity for past Chorale members to share stories of their experience in the concert choir when they were undergraduates. Following the Fall Concert the Chorale will begin preparing for their annual performance of "Messiah" and their winter tour. The winter tour traditionally takes the Chorale through various US cities where they perform in parishes. This year they're taking the tour to the "Great White North" and visiting Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa in addition to other northeastern American cities. Before they hit the road, check out the Chorale on their home turf this weekend in their Fall Concert. The concert is tonight at 8 p.m. in DPAC and student tickets are $3. Contact Courtney Cox ccox3@nd.edu

Campus Musician

Tucked into the leftmost practice room on the second floor of Crowley Hall on Wednesday, pianist Will Sievern, a junior music and pre-med double major, practiced his piece for the upcoming Concerto Competition. Two music books, both Chopin, lay on top of the small Steinway & Sons piano. "He's the best," Sievern said. "I go on binges for composers and for the past year I've been reading books and playing a lot of music, just trying to soak in Chopin's life, because he's really interesting to me. He only wrote for piano, so a lot of pianists feel a connection with Chopin." Chopin wrote his first concerto to establish himself as a pianist in Europe. Sievern will play the same piece for his first competition since high school this Friday at the Notre Dame Symphony Orchestra's Concerto Competition. Every November, student musicians compete to play with the orchestra the following spring. Sievern will play against violinists, vocal performers and other pianists for the same prize. "A concerto is written to be played with an orchestra, but most people don't get to play a concerto with an orchestra in their whole life," Sievern said. Sievern gave a sneak preview of the concerto he will perform in Friday's competition. He played the first resounding lines triumphantly and then eased into a lovely, complex melody. His hands were nimble and strong on the keys and his expression was firmly concentrated, even though he played the entire piece from memory. Sievern's love affair with Chopin began when he picked up Chopin's first piano concerto, which he started practicing the piece last January. "It's really emotional," he said. "It really tells a story to me." Extending his long fingers, he played a bittersweet piece that rose gracefully to passionate heights and fell slowly to melancholic lows. "It feels so real to me, what Chopin was writing," he said as he played. "What's awesome about it too, it changes character again at the very end. It goes up to some kind of a happy ending. Maybe this is the grieving process for someone." Sievern began his career when he was 6 years old. His father, who gave up his career as a trumpeter early on in life, encouraged him to play the piano. "I didn't really know what I was getting myself into," Sievern said. With natural talent talented, Sievern practiced and competed, but his plans for college track crowded out any time for piano. "I threw [piano] aside, and then injuries and other things kept me from fulfilling my potential in track, so I quit and I wanted to play the piano," he said. "I had been taking lessons, and I was already a music theory and history major along with Arts and Letters Pre-Professional." Sievern said he started preparations for the Concerto Competition with the help of associate professor John Blacklow in the Department of Music. "I put a lot of time into it, more than I usually do for a piece," he said. "There's different kinds of practicing. You can practice and not really concentrate and just play the notes and get along with it. Or you can practice and take every ounce of concentration that you have and pour into it, and it's exhausting. But once I wanted to do it, it became a lot easier to do it. I'm really happy with how I'm playing now." When it comes to performances, the pressure can be overwhelming for competitors. To cope, Sievern said he practiced two hours a day for the past nine months. "And it all comes down to a 15-minute time window in a competition," he said. "If I screw up massively, it seems like all the work has gone completely to waste. There's always the chance that you'll mess up. There's always a margin of error. You're going to play a little bit differently every time, and some of those difference manifest in mistakes." "Once you have a large sample size of performing and competing you always know there's going to be another time if you screw up. But it's a huge monster to tackle." Contact Meghan Thomassen at mthomass@nd.edu 

TV Faceoff

"The Office" How many of you are still watching "The Office" on NBC? From what I'm usually told, most of you stopped following the show a couple of seasons back when Steve Carell left the cast, or maybe long before that. Fans of the show would argue the series has become monotonous (What documentary crew needs nine years of footage on a paper company?), or say the quality of the show has drastically declined in quality since it's earlier years. There were even plans for a Dwight spin-off called "The Farm" (which NBC recently passed on). The real issue isn't that the series hasn't been delivering some quality episodes the past couple of years, but that "The Office" hasn't felt like the same show fans have come to love. For any of you who have lost faith in the show over these past few years, I'm here to tell you that your worries can be put to rest for their final season. "The Office" is good again. There are several reasons for this turnaround. First, the original series show-runner Greg Daniels is back to take control of the final season. Not only was he behind the wheel when "The Office" was at its comical peak, but he left the show to help turn NBC's "Parks and Recreation" into the hilarious sitcom it's become. While Daniels deserves most of the credit, it's possible that giving producer credits to John Krasinski (Jim), Jenna Fisher (Pam), Rainn Wilson (Dwight), and Ed Helms (Andy), has brought some positive changes behind the scenes as it allows the key actors to become more invested. The story lines have not just been funny; they seem far more genuine than they have in recent years. I wasn't happy with how the show handled the Andy/Erin relationship because they broke one of the most important rules of visual storytelling: show and don't tell. We loved those moments with Pam and Jim because we just knew from their awkward interactions that they had feelings for each other. Andy and Erin just kept saying in interviews that they liked one another, then story lines were created to pair the two together. Thankfully, this season we're seeing a new romance between Erin and a newcomer named Pete (Jake Lacy), which works because as we are seeing a romance blossom that has yet to be acknowledged. On the note of relationships, the writers have finally made Jim and Pam's marriage interesting again. With Jim planning to move the family out of Scranton and invest their savings into a start-up business, there's plenty of tension building between the two. Even better is how other long time characters, like Andy and Dwight, are continuing to reveal more about their character through interesting story lines. While I'm not trying to suggest that this season is perfect, it is the final installment of a comedy series that is greatly adored. "The Office" will never be as clever and fresh as it was in the early years (especially without Michael Scott) but it's refreshing to see the show returning to familiar roots of humor and storytelling. "The Office" has improved, so why not see how it all ends?

Best Halloween TV Specials

Halloween episodes on television have always been more successful with a little humor involved. Looking back on shows both old and new, I want to highlight some of my personal favorite Halloween specials. They may not be considered by all to be the best, but they're definitely entertaining.

Do-it-yourself Halloween Costumes

Rip a page from the book of "Project Runway" challenges and make your costume yourself. Don't be afraid to step out on a limb and try some of these cool suggestions - you'll end up with a unique look that's fun and shows off your creative side.

Last-minute Costume Ideas

So you want to get in the Halloween spirit, but don't want to do any real work or spend any money? Easy. There are plenty of costumes you can make in which laziness it part of their charm.

Scene Selects

Paranormal Activity (2007)