Not that it comes as a surprise. Carell has been talking about his future for a while now.
Even though we've had some time to think about it, it's hard to imagine a world where Michael Scott is not part of The Office. Dunder-Mifflin couldn't survive when Michael went off and formed his own paper company. How can the show possibly survive an entire season? It can't, can it?
Of course, everyone seems to have ideas about how the show could/must go on. NPR's Linda Holmes had an interesting idea of putting Darryl in charge. While that's the best I've seen, I can't imagine that Craig Robinson has much gas left in the tank. Even though he actually took the money to host Last Comic Standing, he's popping up in just about everything else.
He's not the only one, either. John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, Ed Helms, Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak have all been part of other major projects. Maybe it's just time.
Also, let's face it. When a major (and I mean MAJOR) character leaves, the chances of survival are slim. Scrubs is the most recent example of this massive failure. What is one of your favorite examples?
My solution? Spin-off. There's opportunity for other castmates to join the show. Carell could even show up as a special guest star. While a Dwight/Mose show would certainly have a spot on my DVR, I would love anything starring Creed. Any other ideas?
Ready?
OK, let's start with the end of The Office: Whistleblower first.
Holly/Amy Ryan might be coming back! At least, the possibility of that is out there now that Jo Bennett (Kathy Bates) owes Michael a favor for reading a statement to the press about the printer recall.
That could set up a dramatically different Season 7 if Michael has a real possibility at love, a real chance at happiness, in what could be Steve Carell's final year.
But let's finish Season 6 first, starting with...
Intro:
As someone who works in the news business, I greatly enjoyed the intro. At the end of last episode, Michael had to give a statement to the press denying certain Sabre printers catch on fire (despite Andy finding out that they do, in fact, do just that). Now Michael is loving watching his news clip, and wants to bump it up to number 1 on the local TV station.
"We cannot let the pedophile win again." - Michael
But of course the staff gets distracted by a cute otter video. And I can validate this by saying I've written many news stories that get bumped down Top 10 lists because of cute animal stories. Spot on.
Main:
So Jo Bennett and her Great Danes are back, miffed (well, just Jo... I doubt the dogs care) that the story leaked about the printers. Immediately, people suspect Andy, but Andy says that's silly, because Bernards are known for silencing whistleblowers.
"Oh, Mr. Bernard, Oh Mr. Bernard, who have you silenced today?" - Andy
Michael vouches for everyone, but Jo isn't having it. As a former prison guard, she has a tried and true strategy to locate anally-placed packages get the truth out: Innocent people want justice for the person at fault, guilty people want mercy. Remember this when you play your The Office: Clue set (which, by the way, I now own.) Kathy Bates has been a bit hit-or-miss for me on this show so far - sometimes she fits right in, sometimes it's too much corporate forced into the scene. But in this episode, it seems apropos, considering the circumstances. And her mannerisms as Jo Bennett - Southern, polite but controlling, stern but not mean - work well here.
Meanwhile, Nick the IT guy, or Big Brother in this case, is searching computer files as part of the investigation, forcing Kevin to dash to his computer (he probably has porn on it), but it's too late.
"Sometimes, I run. I'm, uh, a runner." - Kevin
As it turns out, Darryl, Pam and Kelly are all guilty of tipping off the press for one reason or another. Actually, Kelly's reason is obvious, as she puts it.
"I'm a talker." - Kelly
And that leads us to the first time Ryan has made me laugh in a long time. His "Woof" idea of merging all social media, which he demonstrates and has his IM, fax, phone, cell phone and e-mail go off at once, capped by Erin telling him he has a Woof on line 1. That is definitely something Ryan would think of, and, for once, it's not douchey.
Michael gives Jo the silent treatment, and she tells him to "come with her," which leads Michael to think he's in trouble.
As they sit on her private plane, though, she confesses to him she wishes she didn't turn out to be the kind of person she ended up - CEO of a trifling company - and that confessing her company did something bad will just kill her. At this point, I'm not sure if she's hamming it up to make Michael take the fall, but when she laughs at Michael's "Shirley/surely" Airplane joke, you realize she really does appreciate him doing it.
Back at the office, Gabe finishes up his pointless investigation. He blames Andy, Jim says not so fast, Creed blames Gabe and Angela - wait, the coin flip says Angela - and it's all up in the air until IT Nick come back for some odd reason.
He's mad no one remembers his name (dude, I barely remembered you were on this show) and proceeds to spill dirty IT laundry - i.e., what's on eveyryone's computers - such as Darryl's Facebook page, Ryan's crappy photography and, oh yes, Andy's e-mail to the Scranton Tribune (who must love this episode, honestly).
But, as I said at the top, it all ends up OK, with Michael reading a statement, almost giddy at the opportunity to stand up for the company and save his employees, and Jo promising to take a look at bringing Holly back (but will she come back?).
In the subplot:
Jo tells Dwight he should look into buying real estate as a good way to invest. Dwight immediately jumps on the idea, and eventually decides to put in an offer to buy Scranton Business Park. Dwight as Sabre's landlord? Delicious.
And that is that for Season 6. I'll have a wrap-up of the season and a poll on it soon, but can you believe it's over?
Thoughts:
World's Best Episode: I rarely give these out, and in fact, I'm trying to remember the last time I did. Maybe the wedding episode? But I need to, and it's not because this was the funniest Office episode - it was funny, for sure, but not the funniest - and not because it's the most original - Corporate coming in and causing a ruckus is basically a plotline for all of season 5.
But it did do many things well, and all considering this uneven season, it was a delight to finish it off with me liking Michael again, laughing at/with Kevin, pulling for Andy, not resenting Jim and Pam, kinda liking Ryan and finding humor in everything from Meredith's van to Andy's goofy grin after Erin touched his leg. That's the Office I like. That's the Office I know.
Nice touch:
"Does that make me a hero?"- Andy
"No, it does not!" - Kevin, off-camera.
What did you think? Leave a comment, and vote in the poll...And follow me on Twitter @officetvfodder
Dwight refused to honor the contract, while Angela was tired of taking beet cleanses.
They settled on having intercourse five times, instead of Dwight paying her $30,000.
But what about that contract? The one that involves "The Matrix" clause? Well, NBC has made it available.
And here's an excerpt:
"If the child is breeched, he must be turned around in the womb via mind-power."
"The child will be male."
And there's even a close forbidding (!) Dr. Seuss and Roald Dahl books!
]]>"Curve the bullet like my favorite James McAvoy film, 'Wanted.' - Creed. There's more than one James McAvoy movie?
Dwight figures out you need to shoot all three with one bullet in the neck, lined up. This will come quite in handy in case I'm ever trapped in a time warp with only seconds to kill society's villains and the human resources manager of a mid-sized paper company.
Main:
Erin and Pam try to plan ahead for Michael's inevitable depression after he discovered his girlfriend, Donna, is married. At least, that's what they're doing in this scene, even though Michael seemed fine in the last scene. They've got ice cream and Kevin in the conference room - already giggling - to watch "Mr. Bean."
But then something strange is going on, and it's not the fact Kevin isn't jumping all over a chance to eat Cake It to the Limit ice cream. Michael doesn't seem sad, and even spurns a chance to play Billy Joel Rock Band with the Halperts. Oops, that's why. He's still seeing Married Donna, as she shall thus forth be named.
"If you asked her husband, or if you take a random poll, yeah, it's wrong." - Michael
Michael says Scranton is the Paris of northeast Pennsylvania, which is funny, because I used to live near London, Pennsylvania, on the western side. For real. Actually, there is a Paris, Pennsylvania, too. We're a weird state.
In Paris, it's rude to have less than four lovers, Michael says. That must explain why they are so skinny.
Michael rudely points out Andy got cheated on, but then makes a good point that Stanley was a cheater (and Phyllis?). Andy, who is a cuckold - that just sounds dirty - challenges Michael's premise that Donna's husband is a jerk. Of course, when they meet him at a baseball game, the guy (a coach) is really nice, and Michael feels horrible. Or like James Freakin Bond. Whatever.
The entire office thinks he's awful, but he doesn't care. That motivates Ryan to tell Erin he wants to sleep with her/showcase how B.J. Novak is a mediocre actor who has a half-baked character at this point.
All the comments eventually get to Michael, and he doesn't go through with his motel rendezvous.
Weird moment though. In the tag to the show, Michael gets approached by an NBC news crew in the parking lot. You knew what was going to happen before anyone said a word- they were going to ask him what his response was to the situation, and he was going to think they meant the affair and not situation X (the printer fires). Kind of wish they hadn't used that - I would have rather they shown more awkward Halpert moments as they listened to Dwight and Angela.
Plus, there was a girl holding a boom mic for the news crew, but the reporter had a hand held mic. That's not how that works. Just saying, NBC.
Subplot:
DO NOT DO A BEET JUICE CLEANSE! I just learned that after seeing Angela's hideous beet-covered teeth. It was one of the stipulations in the baby-making contract - ahem, alleged contract - she and Dwight signed. They are using a mediator to get out of it. That teeth thing was easily the funniest thing Angela's done all season. Damning with faint praise.
The mediator decides the contract is good, but that Dwight can't be forced to impregnate Angela, as that's some form of womb rape or something. So, he should pay her $30,000 instead. Anyone wonder why they are allowed to have this meeting at the office? No? Just me?
Dwight instead agrees to be what amounts to a stud- have sex with Angela five times in lieu of $30,000.
Oh, and suddenly Jim and Pam aren't getting enough sleep because of the baby, even though you'd think they would have been tired for weeks now. Gabe catches them sleeping, but only reprimands them with a verbal warning and then asks for advice about getting info out about the printer fires Andy discovered. Jim can barely stay awake, as it's so warm in the office, "it's like a sleeping bag." Well put.
The two subplots come together, as subplots tend to do, when the Halperts learn of a secret place in the warehouse where they can nap that just happens to be near where Dwight and Angela like to bang one out. So, everybody is sleeping together. Bam!
Thoughts:
Dwight Good: There were definitely some things I could have done without - the news crew bit, which was telegraphed; some of the baseball game stuff, which went on too long; and Ryan's moments.
But otherwise, it had the old-fashioned Office laughs: Kevin being Kevin, Dwight and Angela's twisted relationship, people thinking Michael's an idiot and some good sight gags, like Kevin sitting in the conference room so excited to watch the movie.
As I noted, the first scene and the second didn't jive, because they would have already known his mood. But it makes sense that they would all be better prepared for his bad moods, and would want to avoid it. And even though it was a terrible thing to do, I get why Michael's character would want to keep the Donna thing going, because at least she liked him and made him feel good.
I just wish the show was more consistent. I never know on a given week if it'll be good or mediocre. And it's rarely excellent anymore, in the same vein that Parks and Rec is now, and even Community, have done this season. There's always next year.
Nice touches:
"You probably shouldn't keep a baby up that late, though" - Erin
"OK, Morgan Freeman narrating everything." - Michael
What did you think? Leave a comment, and vote in the poll...And follow me on Twitter @officetvfodder
I have no idea what Pam wink-coded to Dwight, but I'm sure it was a yo momma joke.
Main:
Donna Newton (Amy Pietz) and Michael are still together. Plausible? Hey, he kept Holly around for a bit. Now he wants weekend activity ideas. I like Meredith's Poconos idea.
"They have heart-shaped hot tubs ... with room enough for three." - Meredith
But then Kelly and Ryan fill Michael's head with the idea Donna must be cheating on him; Ryan, after all, is the master at this so he would know.
Michael is reduced to eating comfort food - mayonnaise and black olives? - and waiting to hear back from his private investigator, Dwight. Why Michael would trust Dwight, I have no idea. Dwight's plan is to sleep with Donna and then tell Michael she's cheating.
Pam points out Michael self-destructs his relationships, but Dwight is too deep into his operation to pull back. Actually, Dwight is using a head harness weight, so he has more problems than just that.
Donna doesn't fall for Dwight's ... um... charms or his kegal exercises. The whole thing should have been hilarious, but it felt so forced and obvious. And for Michael to be that dumb to send Dwight after the woman he loves, well, by now he should have known something bad would happen. We're too many seasons in at this point.
At least the writers didn't let Donna get away over this. She gives Michael a pass this time. But Pam starts to think maybe Donna really is cheating on Michael, and does what anybody would do ... she Facebook stalks her. Turns out, Donna has some incriminating photos. Michael confronts her, and Pam was right.
Actually, Donna's married. Dang it. I liked Donna and Michael.
Subplot:
Andy's client had their Sabre printer catch on fire.
"My doctor told me to cut back on hot dogs. We all have problems." - Stanley
Darryl takes the opportunity to get revenge on Andy for screwing him over a few years ago. He convinces Andy he's getting fired because of the customer complaint. He even pays Creed $3 to give a throat slash to Andy.
"I've done a lot more for a lot less."- Creed, saying "Darnell" is a chump
Gabe gives Andy a gift card for bringing the issue up. Darryl gets Andy to do a witness tape.
"If you see this, I'm a state's witness because I know too much." - Andy
Turns out, the printers do catch on fire. We don't need no fire, let the mothe... ah, never mind.
Thoughts:
Dunder Middle: Just a weird episode, ruining some good momentum the show's had. It was redeeming to see Michael's paranoia actually pay off, but it made no sense for him to risk ruining the relationship of a woman he loves off of a whim. You'd think he wouldn't believe it and would have to see it for himself, if anything.
The entire subplot didn't work for me, other than Andy talking high during the video and Creed's brief line. Darryl upstairs isn't jiving. You'd think it'd be comedic gold, but the thing about Darryl was that he represented a different part of the office environment, and now he's just one of them.
I did like Dwight running the spin class on the tag, although I've seen a funnier take on zealous outsiders overtaking a fitness class on "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," when Sweet Dee and Dennis don't even let the guy get going because they are too concerned about what song will be played.
Nice touches:
"That seems quick. Even for lesbians." - Oscar
"If they catch us, they will rape us." - Dwight
What did you think? Leave a comment, and vote in the poll...And follow me on Twitter @officetvfodder
That's when his contract runs out.
"I think that will probably be my last year," Carell told BBC Radio.
I'm not sure why everyone is surprised by this announcement, as you'd think it was inevitable: Carell is a major movie star now (Date Night, by the way, was hilarious), and The Office has been on for six seasons now, meaning it could only be expected to last for so much longer.
That's not to mention the future of John Krasinski (Jim), who has also become a movie star (Jenna Fischer/Pam, and Ed Helms/Andy, to an extent as well).
This could all just be a way of Carell trying to set himself up for a bigger paycheck come renewal time. Or he really could think this is his last hurrah on his trademark character.
Although I love Michael Scott, it isn't beyond belief the show could continue without him. In a sense, it already has in some episodes in which he's barely used. And as they develop new characters in recent seasons (Andy, Erin, etc.), there will be a way to fill the void of those who leave. It would be a different type of show without Steve, but with such a good ensemble cast, it could continue, if that's what NBC wants. "Spin City" would be a good example (Michael J Fox to Charlie Sheen).
Whose to say a new boss couldn't come in?
]]>"Or a Chinese-German hybrid" - Dwight
To help with Michael's Spanish gender differences, Michael puts Post-it notes around his office to signify male (testicles) or female (boobs). I couldn't imagine it any other way.
Main:
The Halperts are teaming up for a sales pitch for the first time, although evidently Pam acts like a bad stand-up comic when she's selling printers.
They are meeting in the office with Donna Newton (Amy Pietz), who you may recall from the Happy Hour episode. Michael had turned her on by standing up to her. He interrupts the sales pitch to give a slide show of alternating Michael photos/sexy images of Tom Selleck's mustache.
It seems to be working, as Donna's practically flashing her boobs ... Jim tells Michael not to mix business with pleasure, but Michael points out Jim did exactly that with Pam. Can't say he's wrong. Even Pam wants Michael to find someone (remember, she's tried to set him up a few times now), so she tells him to go for it.
The entire office watches Michael try to work his magic. Pam points out Donna may be crossing her arms to make her boobs look bigger, so of course Kevin tries to do the same. Your boobs aren't nearly as nice, Kevin. Sorry, Cookie Monster.
But nothing is working for Michael, not even his (patented?) sucking a mint off of Donna's fingers. Pam points out Donna could have run away if she disliked him.
And, after running out to the parking lot to chase her down (despite everyone's advice), Michael discovers Donna never left. She actually does like him, and was just holding back to be professional.
Too bad nobody in the office believes him.
Subplot:
Sabre corporate drone Gabe is trying to sign up people for the company's minority management training. Darryl, the "Cinderella of the office," is interested, and that makes Dwight nervous. So he makes the mistake of getting Kelly interested, although she's busy yelling at a clothing salesgirl on the phone.
"White people, right?" - Dwight
"I don't know if she was white" - Kelly
"Well, you can kind of tell by the voice." - Dwight
".... Yeah." - Kelly
Kelly can't think of any Indian CEOs (what about her?), let alone a CEO at all not named Julia Roberts, but she's in.
Surprisingly, Ryan actually gives Kelly good advice on the interview, telling her to flip every question around ... except they also promise to clean house. Dwight has screwed up again, and can't convince Stanley or Oscar to sign up.
"I'll slap you in the face with a rainbow." - Stanley, who I believe would do just that.
It's even worse when Darryl pulls out of consideration to keep in his softball league. That only leaves Kelly and the Asian warehouse guy Dwight grabbed. Kelly gets the spot, and promises to never forget what Dwight tried to pull against her. So does this mean Kelly is the new Ryan?
Thoughts:
World's Best Episode: I loved almost everything about this episode, even if I can't quite put my finger on exactly why. Maybe it was Pam and Jim being funny again. Maybe it was Kelly finally having a good storyline. Maybe it was Kevin freaking out about M&M's, or Michael finally getting a woman.
The only part I didn't like was some of Dwight's actions. The lines that they gave him were too often so far out there that I can't even think Dwight would say them - the line about skinning a face off someone, for instance. It's like they're trying to continue to make his actions shock us, but we're well past that point.
Side note: Amy Pietz really had great chemistry with Steve Carell, so I'm glad it looks like they'll get a chance at a relationship. Although he's still weird, he's charming enough around her that you get what she sees in him.
Nice touches:
"I don't even know who you are anymore" - Jim
"Why don't you move the M&M's?" - Andy
"Why don't you SHUT UP!?" - Kevin
And of course...
"Did you ever notice you can only ooze two things? Sexuality and puss. Man, I tell ya ..." - Creed
What did you think? Leave a comment, and vote in the poll...And follow me on Twitter @officetvfodder
Intro:
There's an amazing viral video of Kevin's voice as the Cookie Monster, made by Oscar. Even Angela, who hates fun, likes it.
"This is my favorite day" - Angela
Main:
Andy tries to be sweet and get the whole office to celebrate Secretary's Day. Dwight brings in a bushel of beets. Creed brings in a stuffed bear.
"If it wasn't for secretaries, I wouldn't have a step-mom" - Andy
Michael, begrudgingly, asks the rube Erin to lunch. She is super excited. Michael doesn't like Erin all of a sudden? He used to think she was cool, because she respected him so much.
Of course Michael has "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" on tape. If you thought Mo'Nique was good in the movie, just wait until she's on audio cassette! But Erin wants to talk instead .... and talk ... and talk. I chuckled as she asked Michael about his favorite day, or month.
And we get to learn she used to work at a Taco Bell Express, but was overwhelmed when it became a regular Taco Bell. And she loved April when she was 7.
But then Michael dishes how Andy used to date Angela, and Erin didn't know. How could that not have come up? And then we get to see Ellie Kemper (Erin) get her true improv comedy on, as she starts looking like Cousin Itt from the Addam's Family.
"In the foster home, my hair was my room" - Erin
Andy is oblivious that Erin is upset, and, in typical Andy fashion, busts out a guitar (not the banjo?) for an original song, "Secretary of Love" whicCAKE TO THE FACE! It's on like Donkey Kong. Erin is pissed, Andy is in the dog house, and Angela is disgusted people remember she and Andy were at one point Andgela.
Pam's words of wisdom (remember, she was engaged to Roy before being with Jim) fall on deaf ears. But it was nice of her to try. Erin decides to be on her own, much like Precious in "Precious: Based on the novel 'Push' by Sapphire." God, that joke is still funny for some reason. Andy better be prepared for some fried pig's feet.
But Michael does what Michael does best: Make his employees feel better. So maybe Erin and Andy can get back together.
Subplot:
Poor, sweet Kevin thinks Oscar is making fun of Cookie Monster and is only just catching on that they are making fun of him. So he gets that guy from Sabre (who I forgot even still works there) to stick up for him.
Except that guy A) Wants to leave parodies to "the good people at MadTV" and B) Has no idea what he's up against.
But then he starts doling out two-day unpaid suspensions like, well, cookies.
"C is for Suspension" - Illiterate Kevin
But it turns out that guy (really, is it worth knowing his name? He's a plot device ... anyway, it's Gabe) has no real authority, so Pam and Jim just walk right out, while oblivious Dwight offers to kiss his hand like he's the king. Kiss the pimp hand, Dwight.
Kevin's revenge plot - a viral video with Oscar's voice for the Count on Sesame Street - falls flat, although I love that Kevin figured Oscar is an accountant and would be a perfect fit for the Count.
"Why didn't you do Oscar the Grouch?" - Oscar
Oh, and Pam's finally back from her maternity leave. Dwight offers to milk her, not unlike Greg Focker saying he used to milk cats into a little saucer.
"This is going to traumatize me a hell of a lot more than you" - Dwight, as he puts on hand sanitizer and prepares to milk Pam.
Pam finds her breast pump. On Meredith's boob.
Thoughts:
Dwight Good: The episode felt a little scattered - at times it was going for character development, at times it was going for meta humor, at times it was like an old-fashioned Office episode with lots of little quips from all the characters. But it still made me laugh, and isn't that the primary reason we watch? It was nice to see more of Erin (loved her doing the hair covering thing), and Dwight was in fine form asking to milk Pam, which is totally a Dwight thing to do.
Nice touches:
"This is like the Cadillac of breast pumps" - Meredith (how often does she use one???)
What did you think? Leave a comment, and vote in the poll...And follow me on Twitter @officetvfodder
Michael does his feats of strength (Is it Festivus?) by doing 25 pushups (and 1 girl pushup), and challenges the rest of the office to beat him.
Stanley looks like he's going to die ... maybe because he didn't even take off his suit jacket. The things that man will do to get out of work.
Main:
It's a little strange the opening credits still has Pam as a receptionist, and doesn't include Erin (Ellie Kemper) at all, even though she's now a featured character. Just noticed that.
Anyway, Oscar wants to hook up with gay Matt from the warehouse. Hot Tub Time Machine Darryl sees through Oscar's scheme of "Let's do an office happy hour," but he's up for it. Jim, not so much.
"This baby is amazing. She gets me out of anything ... and I, er, love her. I love her very much." - Jim
Pam, however, is pumped to get out of the house (and, you know, back on the show, eh, Jenna?), so they are in.
Wait, what's that? Sorry, I got distracted by the awesome Kevin doing perverted things during Andy and Erin's first couple interview. His laugh is hilarious. Sounds like a mischievous schoolboy.
.... Annnndddd then it gets a little weird when Kevin sees Pam and tries to emulate a baby's cry (instead, he just sounds like a banshee), saying he thinks it'll make the new mom lactate. Kevin, do you spend all night Googling this stuff? Eventually, he gets his wish. Congratulations?
At least things are progressing with Michael, who finally gets his dream of the office staff hanging out after work, and he even gets to play pool with Jim, Pam and Pam's cute friend, Julie. When Michael finds out it's a date, he turns into "Date Mike." He even busts out the newsboy hat he had in his trunk (that's where I keep mine). You'd think after this many seasons, Michael would have become more comfortable around women - Holly being a prime example - and not tried to overcompensate.
Michael embarrasses himself to the point that the best friend from "Caroline in the City" wants him out of the bar. He calls her out for being rude, and that turns her on a little bit. That's what happens when you own a Chrysler, I never always say. At least he wasn't so clueless as to not appreciate the fact the bar manager lady is asking him out.
Erin and Andy are outwardly worried about people seeing them together at the bar, when you know internally they are just deflecting the uncertainty of a new relationship. Yeah, I just busted that out on ya. Clearly, Erin isn't happy with this secretiveness, and then when Andy flirts with a girl, she starts groping a guy, which causes Andy to do a nice spit take.
"What movie did you learn that from? Black Snake Moan?" - Andy
He does the right thing though and announces their relationship. Arin is official. Or Erndy.
Dwight's sexual dream, Pam's bridesmaid Isabel (Kelen Coleman), is back. She's Dwight's sexual napalm. She's got birthing hips and that sweet, sweet O- blood. But Dwight signed a binding contract to father Angela's child, so it's very Maury Povich.
Ha! Love it. Isabelle whacked-an-Angela. Looks like we're going to have a love triangle and the return of Dwight to a more meaningful plot device.
Rating:
Dwight Good: I always like it when the show gets out of the office and out into a different environment. It shows just how strange and peculiar the people are. When Pam and Jim say, "What's going on?" upon seeing all the oddities around them, that kind of sums it up: This is a special crew.
Bringing them all out for happy hour was a smart plot, if only to see things like Creed being awesome, Andy and Erin try to handle their new relationship, and Michael having an unfamiliar territory to conquer. I'm glad they didn't make Michael entirely oblivious, which would have been painful to watch. He's not that dense, just kinda clueless. Good to see Pam back, even if she didn't add anything particular to this episode other than a complement to Jim.
I could've done without most of the Oscar stuff, though, which mostly seemed like a "We need to have a story about that whole "Oscar's gay" thing," instead of having a funny idea to run with.
Nice touches:
"Essentially what we have here is one of those stories where a mother lifts her car to save her baby" - Oscar
"$@#^!" - Dwight, when Angela is stalking him.
"Whack!" - Isabel
What did you think? Leave a comment, and vote in the poll...And follow me on Twitter @officetvfodder
After checking out the community site, I still can't say exactly what it is, which may not be a bad thing. Rainn's goal is to get people to talk about all kinds of issues, some irreverent, some thought-provoking.
Rainn will have his own mini-talk show on the site, "Metaphysical Milkshake" with celebrity guests talking about the "intersection of faith and art." People can pose their own questions for others to respond to, and there all all sorts of things to check out.
Here are some sample questions:
Rainn hopes the site becomes a place for people to talk about spirituality without pretense and judgment. For a TV sitcom actor, it's a powerful goal.
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"Yeah, I read in People magazine that he was looking for a two-bedroom condo in Scranton" - Jim, with a trademark half-grin.
Main:
Sabre is really pushing the sales staff, which is making them feel more important than the rest of the Scranton crew. That rubs Michael the wrong way.
"Make friends first. Make sales second. Make love third. In no particular order" - Michael
The sales staff is going crazy trying to be the King of Sales. They are wearing douchey earpieces for their phones like they are on Wall Street. Andy even got so agitated about getting a pencil from Darryl that he wrestled him. It was amazing to watch, but not great to experience, I'm sure. Darryl doesn't play around.
Michael finally gets the big sales leads Sabre promised, but he won't hand them out. Sabre orders him to hand them out ... so he does, to all the non-sales crew. And he hides the rest, scavenger-hunt style. Brilliant.
Jim reads off a clue: "When arrogant salesman are mean to my face, a certain manager will go to his moppy place." Actually, it's "mopey place," Pam tells Jim on the phone (she's still on maternity leave). And another clue is in a can of Chef Boyardee. More scavenger hunts, please!
Kevin hid Dwight's leads in the trash, which Dwight thinks is code for Meredith. Meredith proceeds to start taking off her dress. What is this, the Christmas party? Turns out the leads are in the real trash, which ended up in the dumpster, and it's trash pick-up day (and "Ghost Whisperer" day, Kevin points out).
Out at the green screen Scranton dump, Michael tells Dwight he's mad Dwight isn't the Dwight of yesteryear (so are viewers, I should point out), the kind that would have supported Michael. And Dwight says he regrets following Michael. The whole scene is awkward because it feels so fake. And I'm not even talking about the backdrop. Why don't they have Sabre just mail them a new copy of the leads? Surely Sabre didn't spend all that money to track down leads and only have one copy. But at least Michael and Dwight make up in the end. Bean bags have that effect on people.
Jim, meanwhile, can't even use his cute baby in a onesie photo to make Kelly and Oscar (non-sales staff) like him, although it was great how Oscar wanted to look at the photo and Kelly stopped him. Jim gathers the sales staff to find a solution to the tension. Andy gets advice from Erin:
"People love shells from faraway beaches" - Erin
Truer words have never been spoken. But they settle on giving 2 percent of their collective commis... oops, they mean just eclairs and donuts. Stanley is adorable: "Nice, all of us back together." More Stanley. More often.
Oh, and we finally got our Erin/Andy kiss ... at the dump!
"Rid-dit-dit-dit-do..." - Andy
Rating:
Dunder Middle: I was with this episode until the dump stuff. Up to that point, it felt like a good old fashion season 2 or 3 episode. I liked seeing all of the cast involved, and all the little eccentricities showing (Angela being snide, Phyllis being glib) ... and then we got to the dumpster stuff, which was A) poorly executed and B) felt like it could have been cut out entirely. I would have preferred following more of the scavenger hunt stuff. Why couldn't they get the warehouse involved? Or Bob Vance of Vance Refrigeration?
Nice touches:
Best quotes:
"You say Jesus is King of King. Oh, well what does that say to you about what I think of myself" - Dwight
"Tonight is Ghost Whisperer. So, Friday" - Kevin
"It's coming off either way" - Meredith
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"Not today!" - Meredith
Main:
Jim's back after the birth of his daughter, but Dwight's not ready for it yet. He has Mega Desk set up with surveillance, gaming and business, using Pam's and Jim's desks. I like it. And it's totally Dwight, just like when he tried to use the conference room as his office when choosing health care packages.
Jo Bennett (Kathy Bates) is back for one last day (guest appearance) at the branch (show). Michael gives her a lump of coal (a Scranton treasure) as a gift.
Jo holds a town hall-style meeting to get ideas. Kevin's idea of suntan lotion soap is brilliant, but rejected. Darryl gets Jim's old office just for a good idea about shipping (which he probably stole from that UPS guy who draws the bizarrely straight lines on the white board).
Michael, in typical fashion, is overzealous when Jo gives general platitudes about "come down to see me anytime," and books a ticket. Jo shuts him down, and later guilts Michael into making everyone stay late. On the blessed day of St. Paddy's! What about the green beer! No worries, our old friend Todd Packer is partying hard.
Darryl is also finding out life on the office floor isn't so bippity boppity. He can't leave early. Fortunately, Michael mans up and tells Jo he and his staff are leaving. It actually gets him some respect.
Oh, and Jim started to succumb to Dwight's scheme to send Jim back to his baby so Dwight can reclaim Mega Desk. That's what "Cats in the Cradle" does to a man, I guess. But eventually, Jim gets back to doing what he does best - outsmarting Dwight - and finagles a way home before Dwight does.
In the subplot:
Andy is rocking his sister's old field hockey skirt (!) as a kilt for St. Patrick's, in advance of the big date with Erin.
But Erin gets sick and is sent home; Andy fakes being sick to join her, another sweet move ... that is broken up by Erin's random foster brother, who totally manblocks him. By the way, Erin looks totally cute in her "jammy jams," but really, Ellie Kempner is just cute overall. She gives Andy a nice kiss on the cheek. It's adorable. These two are really, finally, getting together. And that, kids, is How I Met ... er...
Rating:
Dwight Good: There was a lot to like in this episode in the character development side of things. It had a very season three or four feel to it, with Jim/Dwight going at it, Michael misinterpreting someone's feelings, and the rest of the staff doing what they can to goof off.
Kathy Bates has been good, in small doses, although I think it's better that she's leaving for now. It'll be nice to have the office just back to normal, with no corporate drones around.
The Erin/Andy stuff was nicely done, although I could have done without the foster brother thing. They've had enough roadblocks already. With the cold and the foster brother, that's two more. I think the writers are trying to Jim and Pam us again, but with no Roy, it doesn't quite work.
Oh, and please give us more Kevin in a giant green suit.
Nice touches:
Best quotes:
"That's the date that your kids have been patiently been waiting to hear about, and you'd better have a good story for them" - Andy, thinking his life is like "How I Met Your Mother."
"It is the closest that the Irish will ever get to Christmas" - Michael
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And now, all of a sudden, Pam is having her baby! The baby that was barely mentioned throughout this entire season! That's now about to be born to much fanfare!
And with it, predictably, come a lot of laughs in one of the best Office episodes of the season. It was Ultra Feast worthy.
Intro:
Dwight realizes Jim and Pam are making more sales because they have a baby on the way, so he tries to do his own personal story on a sales pitch.
"My cousin came down with a case of that nasty new goat fungus." - Dwight
That's when he realizes he needs his own baby. Commence subplot.
Main:
It's an hour-long episode, so a lot is packed in here, as it seems like the writers wanted to (breast) milk everything they could out of the pregnancy thing ... which is kind of a headscratcher, since they could have done that this entire season but instead decided it was funnier for Michael to get advice from David Wallace.
Pam and Kevin realize they share the same eating habits now that she's preggers and he's ... Kevin. This includes "second breakfast, lunch, second lunch and first dinner."
Pam has already started some contractions, but Kevin wants to have one last "Ultra Feast" with her, which sounds both delicious and hilarious. He has already cooked through the Julia Child cookbook and is now working on the Twilight (!?!?) cookbook.
Pam and Jim are trying to hold off going to the hospital until midnight so as to maximize their insurance coverage of the hospital room. That turns into the whole office coming together to help distract Pam with things like Walter Jr.Andy doing the "complete evolution of dance" (or was it Dance, Dance Revolution?). Just don't distract him.
I love having Michael back in charge, because Jim can't be a Debbie Downer as much. Even though he wasn't a fan of Michael's (and Pam's) ideas, he couldn't do much about it. Salesman Jim is much more likable, and even when he got irritated, it's understandable as a new dad.
Even after Pam's water broke, she still refuses to go to the hospital. That's when I start figuring out it's because she's scared, not just because of insurance. And I'm soon proved right, as Jim tries to comfort her... with Michael and Kevin also holding her hand.
"I'm petrified" - Kevin
Hospital time: Michael drives (and tries to text at the same time), and they arrive alive, after Dwight gets pulled over as the escort for impersonating a police officer (love that the officer said Dwight's name while he pulled him over).
Inside the hospital, it takes more than 19 hours before the baby arrives, ruining Andy's sweet idea to have the birth day's newspaper framed (Scranton Times-Tribune, which must have been thrilled to be featured on the show). "Scranton Strangler Strangles Again" is the unfortunate headline now. Ha!
Little Celia Marie Halpert is born. Pam's mom, Helene, makes an appearance, which turns awkward when Michael stops in. Then things get more awkward, as a staff person helps Pam learn how to breastfeed. A male staff person. John Krasinski (who had a truly great episode, as did Jenna Fischer) did his classic puff-cheeks look.
And in a joke you saw coming a mile away but was funny anyway, Pam accidentally breastfeeds her roommate's baby (the roommate, I believe, was a girl Ted dated on How I Met Your Mother). Good stuff.
"This is not our baby!" - Pam
In the subplot:
Dwight and Angela (hey, there, cast member who used to be on all the time and then disappeared) agree to have a baby "for business purposes," and, as only they can, decide to come up with a parental contract that calls for things like possibly naming the child Ebenezer or Jedidiah. I loved Dwight's belief you can make a baby male by alternating hot and cold womb temperatures.
Eventually, the two sign the contract, although Dwight ends up hesitating, probably because he saw the hot bridesmaid from Pam and Jim's wedding and thought of what could be.
In the other subplot, Andy and Erin finally, finally, agreed to go on a date, which should be hilarious when it happens. He had already spent part of the episode stalking her and Kevin (Michael tried to play matchmaker) behind a plant, before growing a pair and asking her.
Rating:
World's Best Episode: I don't think I've given any episode this season this rating, and for good reason - it's been a very uneven episode. But after a good episode last time, and a great one this time, it was well deserved. It was like everything was back to the way it's supposed to be: Michael being goofy but endearing, Dwight being an overzealous dork, Jim and Pam being the fun couple, Andy and Kevin provided great comedy and little one-liners from everyone else (Meredith's "George Clooney"). Let's hope things stay like this, eh?
Nice touches:
"You can poop yourself!" - Kelly
"Nobody touch Pam's nipple" - Michael
"Stick spicy food up her butt!" - Kevin
"You had to have the after-dinner delight" - Michael
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Main:
Sabre executive Jo Bennett (Kathy Bates) is coming to visit the Scranton branch after her company recently bought Dunder-Mifflin.
"She bought us sight unseen, like a mail-order bride"- Michael
Kathy Bates is so perfect for this role- a Southern firecracker with some aggressive overtones, someone who, for once in this company's history, won't take the usual crap and stupidity.
Right away, she sees Jim and Michael are doing half a job. Where were you on that one, David Wallace? Michael thinks he should stay manager, with Jim returning to sales, as he notes that there are two types of people, "those who ain't, and those who are knee-high on a grasshopper? Which type ain't you ain't? Y'all come back now."
Pam figures out Jim could make more money as a salesman, anyway, so Jim decides to "let" Michael have it. That is, until Michael finds out the same thing, and Jo decides to make Jim manager.
Dwight decides it's time to take action, and asks Ryan to help get revenge. Ryan's idea is to re-enact "Saw." Offffffff course it is.
"I might start a diabolical plot against him after this one." - Dwight
Michael has a tough time adjusting to sales. Phyllis' sulfur smell overwhelms him, for instance, and Erin no longer is at his service. He and Jim agree to switch back.
In the subplot:
Andy wants to make a move on Erin by giving her a Valentine's Day card, but, so as not to appear overeager, he gives everyone a card (actually, he gives Meredith a paper cut). Erin loves her card, even the smell of it.
"It's Roger Federer for Men. I sprayed some in there." - Andy
Andy was dumb, though, and gave Kelly a romantic card and Erin a friend card. Erin is now convinced Kelly is the one for him. What's a guy gotta do to get these two together?!?!
"If I got that card, we'd be in the bathroom doing it... right... nowwww" - Meredith
Andy has to send an e-mail out to everyone not to misinterpret his cards, but he can't admit he likes Erin. This is like a middle school dance.
Rating:
Dwight Good: The show finally appears back on a track it hasn't touched since before Christmas. Michael was goofy but lovable, Jim wasn't too snobby, and the staff got in some great one-liners (Meredith!).
Having Jim back as a salesman should do wonders to restore his image, as I think a lot of people were growing weary of co-manager Jim. And Kathy Bates adds some life to the show, too. Good stuff. They could have cut out the Dwight/Ryan ordeal, however, and not be missing much. Ryan is so strange on this show now, like his style and mannerisms don't fit in with the flow of the show. And Dwight seems narrowed down to a person who only thinks about getting back at Jim- he isn't into romance anymore, he doesn't seem to care about sales, and he's got to interest in his beet farm. It's getting a little one-track.
Nice touches:
"Don't try to cut my throat" - Meredith
"Truman Capote and I slept with three of the same guys" - Jo Bennett
"I can't go near a cigarette now without thinking of a penis... and vice versa" - Michael
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The whole office has to figure out how to get all the electronics back in the package to make it look like they haven't touched it, which answers the question, "How many Dunder-Mifflin employees does it take to repack a box?"
(By the way, check out Sabre's official company Web site)
Main:
Gabe Lewis announces he is there to coordinate the merger. The poor guy has no idea what he's stepping into. Andy and Erin have a fun welcome song for him, "Dunder-Mifflin Is a Part of Sabre," in the style of Miley Cyrus' "Party in the U.S.A." (which is a terrible song). The problem is, Sabre is pronounced "Sab-er" like the sword, not "Sab-rey," which would rhyme with U.S.A.
"Are you sure it's not pronounced Sab-rey?" Andy asks after the song fails.
It's alright, Andy. "Dunder-Mifflin Is a Part of Sabre" doesn't roll off the tongue, regardless.
Holy cow, Christian Slater is the host of Sabre's corporate video! That has to be the best corporate video ever. Michael is impressed. And there's Kathy Bates, except she's playing Jo Bennett, Sabre CEO. Sabre sounds sucky, though. Only two weeks of vacation are offered, and a tech guy is blocking all the good Web sites. Michael won't be able to download "You're Beautiful" anymore. Actually, wait - he just wanted to listen to a snippet.
Michael says the emotional/breathing/baby-making part of him thinks "These changes suck balls." Or, actually, "suck b..." as it cut to commercial break. Well played. I laughed out loud on that one, which is becoming a rarity on this show as of late.
Jo, on a video conference call, points out Dunder-Mifflin was the worst run company this side of her grandson's snowball company. This is the most we see of Kathy Bates all episode, which seems like a waste. They couldn't have her stop by to insult Michael in person?
She tells him to think hard about demanding changes, basically saying she'll fire him. For once, Michael doesn't do the stupid thing and quit, which he's done in the past. Instead, he does the stupid thing and seeks the sage advice of one David "Worst CEO Ever" Wallace.
Rather predictably, Wallace has been loafing around his house. It's a bit hackneyed- the fallen business exec becomes a bum. With Wallace always playing the straight man to Michael's antics, it's hard to accept the role reversal. I didn't think it was funny, except for Wallace halfheartedly saying maybe he and Michael will go outside just for something to do, as if that's a big deal.
Wallace offers no good advice, and instead tries to get Michael in on his toy-sucker-upper, the Suck It. Even Michael knows that's the worst idea since the time he spontaneously promised a bunch of little kids to pay for their college tuition one day.
In the subplot:
Jim and Pam are trying to find a daycare, but they need to ace an interview. The daycare looks awesome, too, with a slide, fingerpainting and more. I wish I was there.
But Jim accidentally walks in on the interviewer as he's doing No. 2 in the kiddie bathroom (the interviewer is the guy who was in Twister and The Single Guy). This spooks Jim so much he acts all awkward. Why would Jim, at this point in life, get so easily rattled like that? This isn't season 1 Jim. This is co-manager Jim.
Pam figures out the interview is going poorly because of the bathroom incident, but is soon corrected.
"Did you ever consider you aren't as charming as you think you are?" the interviewer says in a "Hallelujah!" kind of moment as a viewer. It's about time someone said it, because Jam have been a little too smug lately.
In the other subplot, Erin and Andy keep playing games in the "Will they or won't they" that we enjoyed so much with Jim and Pam. These two would be great together, if only they wouldn't wait for the other person to make a move. Not sure why Erin thinks Andy should or will get an even bigger surprise going to formally ask her out. He already did the marching band thing. And, after all of that, why can't Andy just man up and ask her? It's not like she doesn't know he likes her.
Look for a resolution on that storyline in the Valentine's Day episode next week.
Rating:
Dunder Middle: Much better than last week's clip show, but the episode has continued a string of middle-of-the-road episodes. Some laughs, some questionable decisions and a lot of "eh."
Nice touches:
"Have you ever tasted a rainbow? At Sabre, you will" - Christian Slater
What did you think? Leave a comment, and vote in the poll...And follow me on Twitter @officetvfodder