Watching The Office

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Congrats to The Office for one incredible season finale. It was marvelous, it was surprising, it was hilarious, and it was a fantastic end to a great season. Okay, let’s go…

We open with Michael arriving one day early for his interview to the surprise of David Wallace. Michael tries to cover up and says he was just in the city and thought he would stop by and ask Wallace some questions. Michael feels this was a good run-in with the boss.

Michael: (While waiting for his call to go through to Pam) “I have go it made in the shade. I know this company. The other regional managers are total morons. (On the phone now) Hey Pam, yeah, I forgot which day the interview was and I drove to New York accidentally, I’ll be 3 hours late.”

Opening credits.

Back in Scranton, Jim walks in with a haircut that makes him look eerily like Jimmy Stewart from “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.”

Kevin:(To Jim )”What’s different about you? You look worse.”
Jim: “Thanks, Kevin.”
To top it off, Andy dubs Jim “Big Haircut”, to replace his former title as “Big Tuna.”

Headshot Jim: “Karen suggested I get a haircut for the interview tomorrow, so that I could look presentable and not so, as she so lovingly put it, homeless.”

Next we hear from Pam as she retells what happened at the beach after her big speech. Jim came to speak with her, gave her a big hug and told her that he missed her too and that she meant a lot to him. Sweet.

Michael is now back at the office and has Dwight come to his office. Michael presents Dwight with the job of Regional Manager of the Scranton Branch. Dwight begins sobbing profusely and Michael becomes visibly uncomfortable and actually ends up walking out on Dwight.

Pam tells the camera crew that she is not embarrassed by what happened at the beach, yet she realizes she may have made others uncomfortable, namely Jim’s girlfriend. Pam walks into the break room to find Karen and immediately apologizes if she made Karen feel “weird.” Karen brushes it off and says that we all say things when we’re not thinking. Pam corrects her and lets her know that she was thinking and had been thinking for a long time. Karen doesn’t like Pam.

Kevin approaches Jim to see if Jim thinks Pam or Karen is hotter. Jim obviously backs down from that man-trap, but encourages Kevin on his quest to see which woman is ultimately better. We see Kevin throughout the day making notes as he or others comment about characteristics of either of the contenders.

Pam goes again into the break room for a snack and Oscar makes a bit of fun over Pam’s speech at the beach, saying, “Pam, I miss our friendship.” Pam laughs it off. Stanley butts in.
Stanley: “I’ve never heard you that much, I thought it was Kelly.”
Kelly:(Obviously missing the insult) “Are you kidding me? I would never have done that. It was pathetic-ville. No offense, Pam.”
Meredith assures Pam that no one probably remembers her speech because they were all too drunk. Creed says he remembers and blogged all about it.
Headshot Creed: “www.creedthoughts.com.www/creedthoughts. Check it out.”
Headshot Ryan: “Last year, Creed asked me how to set up a blog. Wanting to protect the world from being exposed to Creed’s brain, I opened a Word document on his computer and put an address at the top. I’ve read some of it. Even for the internet, it’s pretty shocking.”

Next we learn, through a conversation with the accountants, that Michael, in preparation for his new job, has sold his condo.
Michael: “I sold it on Ebay. The buyer was very motivated, as was I. It went for 8% of what I paid. It went in record time.”

Dwight approaches Angela and informs her that he has become the new Regional Manager. The have an awkward, secretive, love moment and then Dwight departs. Alone, Angela realizes the power that Dwight will hold and says, “Goodbye, Kelly Kapoor.”

Dwight is relishing his new position and while sitting across from Jim, pumping away on a hand exerciser, says…
Dwight: “Jim Jim Jim Jim Jim Jim.”
Jim: “Oh, hey Dwight.”
Dwight: “I’m gonna be you new boss. My greatest dream come true. Welcome to the Hotel Hell. Check in time is now, check out time is never.”
Jim: “Does my room have cable?”
Dwight: “No, and the sheets are made of fire.”
Jim: “Can I change rooms?”
Dwight: “Sorry, we’re all booked up. Hell convention in town.”
Jim: “Can I have a late check out?”
Dwight: “I’ll have to talk to the manager.”
Jim: “You’re not the manager, even in your own fantasy?”
Dwight:(Hesitates) “I’m the owner. The co-owner with Satan!”
Jim: “Okay, just so I understand it, in your wildest dreams you’re in hell, and you’re co-running a bed n’ breakfast with the Devil.”
Dwight: “But I haven’t told you my salary yet.”
Jim: “Go.”
Dwight: “$80,000 per year!”

Headshot Dwight: “Once I am officially Regional Manager, my first order of business will be to demote Jim Halpert. So I will need a new #2. My ideal choice…Jack Bauer. But he’s unavailable, fictional, and over-qualified.”

Jan comes back and Michael declares a Def-Con 10. While Jan waits in his office, wanting to talk to him about something, he gathers the girls in the conference room in case he needs assistance.
Jan wants to get back together. Michael needs assistance.
The girls tell him to be strong, to remember why he broke it off in the first place and above all, not to get back together with Jan.
When Michael returns to his office, Jan has taken off her jacket and it is painfully obvious that Jan has gotten a breast augmentation, if that’s what the kids are calling it these days.
Michael gets back together with Jan, citing that she’s changed. Jan parades around the office with the new girls.
Pam and Jim share a moment where they can’t believe what Jan has done to herself. Karen looks on and becomes jealous because who wouldn’t and decides to take Jim’s attention off of Pam.

Dwight posts a sign-up sheet for the position of number 2. Andy signs up and Dwight proceeds with an interview.
Headshot Andy: “I’m a great interviewee. Why? Because I have something that no one else has…my brain, which I use to my advantage…when advantageous.

They later arm wrestle, Andy loses and Dwight says he’ll let him know.

Karen and Jim head to New York. Apparently, Karen is more familiar with the city than Jim is and she leads the way. They eat, they catch a show, they go to a bar, they possibly see Lauren Michaels…they have fun.

Flash back quickly to Michael as he takes off. He knows this will be his last moment with the folks of the Scranton branch, so he wants to say goodbye. He places a small recorder on the desk and it plays “Thank You” by Natalie Merchant. He leaves as the music plays.

Back to New York quickly, we met up with Karen and Jim as Karen all of the sudden asks about what will happen to them when she gets the job. The joke for a minute about which of them will get the job, but Karen brings it back to a serious conversation. She says she’ll come to New York if Jim gets the job. She also says that if she gets the job, Jim needs to come to New York because he can’t stay in Scranton. I think she’s trying to imply that Jim will start things up with Pam if left behind in Scranton.

Back at the office, Dwight is enjoying his new position. He has made Andy his number 2, Dwight still retains the position of Assistant Regional Manager and he has made Pam his secret Assistant to the Regional Manager.

Pam: “So you would be the regional manager, and the assistant regional manager, Andy is your number two, I would be the secret assistant regional manager.”
Dwight: “Mmm, let’s call it secret assistant to the regional manager.”
Pam: “Mm-hmm.”
Dwight: “Do you accept?”
Pam: “Absolutely I do.”

Apparently, Jim taught Pam that if Dwight ever offers her anything, she was supposed to respond with “Absolutely I do.”

Pam: “I literally cannot wait until I see what Dwight has planned. And I wish Jim were here.”

Dwight’s first action in office is to institute Shrute Bucks. What was personally funny about this to me was I had a job once where they offered us “Happy Bucks” when we did something good. Although it didn’t quite take 1,000 to get anything.
Dwight: “When you have done something good, you will receive one Schrute buck. One thousand Schrute bucks equals an extra five minutes for lunch.”

Dwight is also going to have a series of lectures all about the history of paper. His first lecture is in 10 seconds. This first lecture, in a series of lectures, is about how trees grow. The office staff starts to rebel a bit.
Dwight: “Don’t you want to earn Schrute bucks?”
Stanley: “No. In fact, I’ll give you a billion Stanley nickels if you never talk to me again.”
Dwight: “What’s the ratio of Stanley nickels to Schrute bucks?”
Stanley: “The same as the ratio of unicorns to leprechauns.”

Dissention is speadly rapidly. Pam rallies the troops.
Pam: “Hey, c’mon! Let’s listen to Dwight’s presentation.”

Back in New York, Michael is having his interview. Things are going pretty good. Michael suggest that they change the name of Dundler Mifflin to something like Super Duper Paper. At the end of the interview, Michael learns that it is Jan’s position that they are hiring for. And since we all know how well Michael can keep a secret, Michael ends up telling Jan, who immediately storms into Wallace’s office in the middle of his interview with Karen.
Jan’s reaction to the news reminded me of how Michael might handle things if he were a bit more confrontational. In the end, Wallace tell her why she is being let go.
Wallace: “Your behavior in the last two years has been completely erratic.”
He deems her unstable and I’d have to agree.

Speaking of unstable, back in Scranton Andy and Dwight are enjoying the black paint job their giving Michael’s office.
Andy: “It’s like I’m staring into my soul when I look at this wall.”
Dwight: “It’s like outer space without the stars, it’s so black.”

Back in N.Y, Jan is taking her things by escort of security out of Dundler Mifflin. She hugs Hunter goodbye.
Jan: “Good luck with your band. Don’t let them change you.”
Jan’s walks out, giving Wallace a colorful farewell. Michael tells Wallace that he looks forward to hearing about the job. Wallace tells Michael that they will not be hiring him. Michael comes back with…
Michael: “I don’t think I could take my girlfriend’s job. That’s not being a good boyfriend.”
So he respectfully withdraws his name from the running. Wallace accepts his withdraw.
Michael heads out the door to drive Jan home.
In the car, Michael is now dealing with an emotionally unstable woman who is also on pain killers for the surgery, which Jan says, “makes my mood completely erratic.” Interesting. She’s goes from thinking everything is going to be okay, to crying, to thinking this will be good for their relationship. Michael tries to help.
Michael: “Well, I guess you could come and stay at my condo. I think I could back out of the sale. Probably get some negative feedback on my eBay profile.”
Jan: “I could wear stretch pants and wait for you to come home at 5:15.”
Sounds like everyone is happy…..

Michael comes back to Scranton to Dwight’s horrible dissapointment and to a newly painted office.
Michael: “Why is my office black?”
Dwight: “To intimidate my subordinates.”
Michael: “That’s stupid.”
Dwight: “It was Andy’s idea.”
Michael: “You shouldn’t have taken it.”

As everyone settles back in at Scranton to the way things once were, Dwight takes a moment to thank Pam for her loyalty while she had the office of Secret Assistant to the Regional Manager. Pam salutes Dwight, he salutes back and struggles to keep it together.

Back in N.Y, Jim is now interviewing and it’s going really well. Wallace asks for the performance reports that Jim was supposed to bring and among the papers is a note from Pam basically wishing him good luck. Then we get a rare treat for this show, a flashback. This flashback expounds more on the beach encounter with Jim and Pam.
Jim: “How are your feet?”
Pam: “Medium rare. Thanks.”
Jim: “The real reason that I went to Stamford was because I wanted to be … not here.”
Pam: “I know.”
Jim: “And even though I came back, I just feel like I’ve never really come back.”
Pam: “Well I wish you would.”

We don’t really see how the rest of Jim’s interview goes, all we know is he’s supposed to meet up with Karen afterward, but instead he goes back to Scranton.
Pam: “I haven’t heard anything. But I bet Jim got the job. I mean, why wouldn’t he? He’s totally qualified, and smart, everyone loves him. And if he never comes back again, that’s okay. We’re friends. And I’m sure we’ll stay friends. We just … we never got the timing right. You know? I shot him done, and then he did the same to me, but you know what? It’s okay. I am totally fine. Everything is going to be totally …”
Jim: “Pam.” (To camera) “Sorry. Um, are you free for dinner tonight?”
Pam: “Yes.”
Jim: “All right. Then it’s a date.”
Pam: (Turns back to camera with a huge smile on her face)”I’m sorry, what was the question?”

So now we don’t know what Jim is going to say at dinner, but it seems it can’t wait because he ditched Karen is New York to come say it. Who knows?
Before we end though, we come back to see Wallace on the phone with whoever he offered the job to. We find out that the job is going to Ryan. Ryan gets off the phone with Wallace.
Kelly: “Who was that?”
Ryan: “Nobody. You and I are done.”
Kelly: “What?!”
Ryan gives the camera a look of “Free! I’m free!”

Credits roll.

I was totally surprised by the ending. It was not at all what I expected and I think some of the spoilers we got were totally intentionally misleading. Once again we all will wait in agony for 3 months or so as we wait for the first episode in season 4.

Check out this deleted scene.

One last note. This will be my last post. I have decided to give up the blog. I won’t go into why, but it has been very fun writing these many posts and hearing from you guys. Hopefully they get a new writer soon so you’re all not just left hanging.
Well…..see ya.

The Office, The Office season finale, Office episode recap, NBC, The Job”

-Anna

If you were staying up late last night to watch Jenna Fischer appear on Conan, you would have be very dissapointed. The Office star was not able to do the Conan show because she took quite the tumble down a flight of marble stairs. According to sources, she broke her back in four places and had to be hospitalized. She is currently staying in her New York hotel room in order to recover enough to fly back to L.A.

Her publicist said Fischer will make a full recovery in four to six weeks and shouldn’t miss any “Office” production time.

Apparently, both James Gunn her husband and fellow Office pal Angela Kinsey have been with her since the incident.

I have to say that this isn’t any old mishap. Falling down stairs, especially marble stairs, is pretty painful. I fell down carpeted stairs once and broke my tail bone. It still hurts sometimes.
Get well soon, Jenna!

The Office, Jenna Fischer, Conan, NBC

-Anna

Not only do we have some interesting previews of “The Job,” but we have some cool videos on Jenna and John at the NBC’s Upfronts where NBC announced plans for the fall, and a video of Rainn as he appeared on The Today Show yesterday. All of these clips are a bit spoilery, but I’m thinking that all that talk from John and Jenna about the ninja and robot might just be crazy talk.
Thanks to OfficeTally.com for providing the links and to IESB.net for providing most of the videos.

Preview #1 of the Office Finale “The Job.

Preview #2

Preview #3

Jenna and John at the Upfronts clip

Rainn on Today

I have no idea how Jim will react to Pam’s speech of last week, but I’m going to try my hand at some speculations.
Since we’ve been told time and time again that something big is going to happen with Jan and Michael, I’m thinking that either Jan will pretend she is pregnant in order to get Michael to stay with her (she has proven crazier in the past) or she really might be pregnant. Or it could be that offering to interview Michael was just an excuse to get Michael within her reach.
Let’s look at the possible ways in which Jim could respond to Pam’s campfire plea for friendship.
I’m thinking that one option would be for him to somewhat awkwardly to apologize for neglecting her and their past and offering a lame handshake as a symbol of their enduring friendness.
Another option would be for Jim to tell Pam that he appreciated her honesty, but that he is with Karen now and that being friends may not be an option if he goes to New York.
Another option, of course, is that at the end of the finale, we have the two get together and Karen is tossed aside.
Truthfully, I don’t think that Pam and Jim will get together. It would kill the show and I think Pam has developed to a point that getting Jim or any other man right now is not what she’s about.
Anyway, the finale should prove to be exciting, awkward, hilarious and so much more. Expect a full recap of the finale to appear Friday morning.

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-Anna

Thanks to Sparkles Gallery for the pics.

Jenna Fischer and her husband James Gunn (Slither) appeared recently at this year’s Saturn Awards. While on the red carpet IESB.net interviewed the couple and we get a few tiny hints at what the season finale of The Office might hold for us. Watch the video by clicking here.

In other news, John Krasinski was spotted, on stage, at Death Cab’s Ben Gibbard’s concert. MeeVee reports…

[At] the concert of Death Cab’s front man Ben Gibbard at the 9:30 Club in D.C. when none other than Jim Halpert himself, yes John Krasinski took to the stage. Ben and John were joking around and having fun. John, armed with a guitar, professed his loved for the band Wilco and sang a little tune. John has been a long time fan of Death Cab and even co-hosted their Directions DVD launch party last year.

Gibbard is also reportly taking his shot at acting in “Brief Interviews with Hideous Men” which was directed and written by Krasinski.

And lastly,
We all know that Rainn Wilson has numerous projects going on this summer as he takes a break from The Office, but what to do first. Cinematical.com reports of all the happenings with Wilson and what he has decided to take on first in his long list of movie deals.

Wilson has decided which one of his many upcoming projects will shoot first; with production beginning this June, he’ll star in The Rocker — a comedy for Fox Atomic that stars Wilson as a modern day Pete Best. Essentially, like Best, he’ll play a drummer who gets the boot from a band right before they hit it big time. Thus, he’s forced to pick up the broken pieces of his career and seek out a second chance at super-stardom.

Wilson will be working on this film along side other projects including, “The Girlfriend Experience,” “Kanan Rhodes: Unkillable Servant of Justice,” and “Bonzai Shadowlands.”

The Office, Jenna Fischer, James Gunn, John Krasinski, Ben Gibbard, The Rocker, Rainn Wilson, Office spoilers

-Anna

LifeintheOffice.com has just reported that the supposed change to hour-long Office episodes will not be happening this coming fall. However, ComingSoon.net reports that…

The network has ordered 30 half-hours of the hit series “The Office,� including five hour-long episodes, and also has increased the season order for “My Name Is Earl� to 25 episodes.

So I guess this means that we’re getting more episodes overall and more hour-long ones. I suppose this is the middle ground. Jumping right to hour-long episodes seems a bit risky for a show like The Office. Perhaps in a few seasons will get more hour-long episodes and fewer half-hour episodes. Some other changes for The Office, according to LifeintheOffice.com is that they will be moving to the 9pm time slot. This means they’ll be taking on such shows as “Grey’s Anatomy” and “CSI.” Do you think The Office can compete? I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

Some other news before I go….

1. Tuesday, the 15th, Rainn Wilson and Angela Kinsey will be on The Today Show. Jenna Fischer will be on Conan.
2. Thursday, the 17th, Brian Baumgartner and Angela Kinsey will be on The Morning Show on Fox.

Stay tuned this week as I speculate on what will happen during the hour-long season finale of The Office.

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-Anna

Before I do any recapping, I have to say that I loved Pam in this episode. She was great and even if she never gets Jim, that’s okay, because she is becoming her own character it seems and that’s wonderful.

Okay, now onto “Beach Games”

We begin with Michael and Dwight trying to self-diagnosis Michael by using some online medical site. We learn from Pam that…
Pam: “About forty times a year, Michael get really sick but has no symptoms. Dwight is always gravely concerned.”
Coincidently, the sickness comes with paper work. Hmmm.

Michael gets a call from David Wallace from corporate.
Michael: To what do I owe this honor David Wallace?”
David: “Michael, I am calling to…”
Michael: “And Grommit.” (Snickers)
David: *Sigh*
Michael: “Jan? Is Jan there?”
David: “Jan is out of town right now.”
Michael: “Oh. You sigh like Jan. I broke Jan’s heart, David. And I feel awful. It was never my intention to ruin a life, but you know what? Sometimes…”
David: “Michael?”
Michael: “Sometimes you just gots to get your freak on.”

David goes on to tell Michael that he wants to interview him for a position at management. Michael immediately starts thinking about who should replace him as regional manager.

As the office workers get ready for the big beach day, we learn that Toby will not be going. Someone has to stay behind and who does Michael dislike the most? Toby. Toby offers Pam his sunscreen (SPF30), and is crestfallen when he learns that Pam is going to be wearing a two-piece. Michael goes around the office to make sure everyone is ready.
Michael: “Oscar, you’ve brought your speedo I presume.”
Oscar: “I don’t wear a speedo, Michael.”
Michael: “Well, you can’t swim in leather pants.”
I wonder if Michaels knowledge of the gay culture comes entirely from watching The Village People.

Michael also approaches Pam.
Michael: “Hey, Pam. I have a very important job for you today.”
Pam: “I though we were just having fun at the beach.”
Michael: “We are. We are. But I would like you to take notes. And I want you to find out about people’s character. Now, not their hotness persay, but their humor and charisma and the indefinable quality that makes you all glad to follow me.”
Headshot of Pam: “I have the most boring job in the office, so why wouldn’t I have the most boring job on beach day?”
Sounds like Pam is going to have a GREAT time.

On the bus, Kevin breaks into song. The rest of the gain joins in on a rousing rendition of “The Gambler” by Kenny Rogers. Mmmm….chicken…..

Once at the beach, Michael sets up a survivor-ish atmosphere and calls on teams captains, Dwight, Jim, Andy, and Stanley to pick teams.
Dwight’s team names theirselves Griffindor, and likewise, Jim names his team Voldemort. Stanley’s team is the Blue team and Andy’s team is Team America.
Michael: “Very good. Pam take a note. Andy is patriotic.”

In the background, Creed catches a fish with his bare hands.

The first event is an egg race. Participants will have to walk a race blind-folded carrying an egg on a spoon. Andy leads Kelly, but she gets freaked out thinking she might hit a huge rock. Dwight leads Ryan by screaming at him and Ryan flips out at Dwight. Jim leads Karen to water. Phyllis takes two steps for the Blue Team and drops the egg.

Next event, Michael had Pam cooks up hundreds of hotdogs for a hotdog eating contest. No one is really keen on the idea and in his frustration Michael finally reveals his plan. Whoever excells at these challenges will be the next regional manager. Stanley starts stuffing his face.
Stanley: “I would rather work for an up-turned broom with a bucket for a head than work for anyone else in this office besides myself. Game on!”

Creed walks up, “No one told me we were having hotdogs.” The fish he caught earlier is now only bones.

Meanwhile, Michael takes toll of his candidates so far.
Michael: “Jim Halpert. Pros: smart, cool, good looking. Remind you of anyone you know? Cons: Not a hard worker. I can spend all day on a project and he can finish the same project in 30 minutes. What does that tell you?”
He continues.
Michael: “Andy Bernard. Pros: He’s classy, he gets me, he went to Cornell, I trust him. Cons: I don’t really trust him.”

Anyway, we next join Dwight and Angela having a secret meeting.
Dwight: (Whispers) “Sabotage.”
Angela: “What? What are you saying? Did you say sandwich?”
Dwight: “No, I was saying that before, not now. Now I am saying, (whispers) sabotage. The ancient Dutch art of screwing up your own team.”
Angela: “I know you were saying sabotage. I was giving you an example of it. I will misunderstand everything that Andy says until he goes insane.
Dwight: “If Michael organizes some sort of support group, stand next to me.”

Well, wasn’t that a delightful and completely normal exchange.

Next event, sumo wrestling.
First up is Stanley and Jim. Stanley, with the possibility of taking over Michael’s job, rushes toward Jim with a crazed look in his eye. Being smart, Jim runs as fast as the fat suit will carry him and face plants it in the sand.
Next, Andy vs. Dwight. The battle goes on for a bit and during the match we hear a bit from Oscar as he looks on.
Oscar: “If either of these guys are put in charge, I will transfer to Albany. Bill can come if he wants. I’ve been looking for a way out of that relationship anyway. I think I might try girls for a while.”

Andy loses to Dwight twice and waddles down to the shore in the fat suit. He falls in and like a beetle on its back, he’s helpless. Angela walks by as Andy floats away, but uh oh, she can’t hear what Andy wants.
Angela: “Bye Andy!”

The last event is walking on hot coals. No one wants to, surprise surprise. Jim challenges Michael to do it if he’s going to ask his replacement to do it. Michael is unsuccessful and Dwight comes forward.
Dwight: “I will walk and stand on these coals until you award me the position of Regional Manager.”
Dwight ends up badly burnt.

Fed up with his crew, Michael gathers the troops in a circle and says that whoever can demonstrate his humor and leadership the best will get the job. He asks Jim to go first and this is when Michael learns that Jim will be interviewing for the same job as Michael. Michael doesn’t believe him however. Dwight comes forward with a rather confusing story about aristocrats. It is supposed to be humorous.

Meanwhile Pam gets up the courage to walk across the coals. She does it successfully and runs over to the group to tell them. This is the moment now, that a lot of fans have waited for. Pam finally stops being a mouse and she’s tells the group all of her feelings and Jim gets an earful.
Pam: “Hey! I want to say something. I’ve been trying to be more honest lately and I just need to say some things. I did the coal walk…just…I did it. Michael, you couldn’t even do that. Maybe I should be your boss. Wow! I feel really good right now. Why didn’t any of you come to my art show. I invited all of you and it really sucked. Like sometimes some of you act like I don’t exist. Jim, I called off my wedding because of you. And now we’re not even friends, and things are just weird between us and that sucks. I miss you. You were my best friend before you went to Stamford. I really miss you. I shouldn’t have been with Roy. There were a lot of reasons to call of my wedding. But the truth is that I didn’t care about any of those reasons until I met you. And now you’re with someone else and that’s fine. It’s whatever…it’s not what I’m…I’m not…okay my feet really hurt. The thing that I’m just trying to say to you, Jim, and to everyone else in the circle I guess, is that I miss having fun with you. Just you, not everyone in the circle. Okay, I’m going to walk in the water now…okay…good day.”

Bravo Pam! However, Michael insists that he needs someone will more a sales background.

We end with the whole gang back on the bus singing the theme song from the Flintstones.

Credits roll.

Don’t forget the hour long season finale next week!

The Office, Office episode recap, Beach Games Recap, NBC

-Anna

First order of business…

It looks like the majority of you do not like the prospect of Karen remaining on The Office. I find it interesting that Pam has earned herself so much loyalty, while Karen, despite her congenial behavior is still scorned simply because she exists at all. Ah well.

Now onto some Office interviews. Below are blurbs and links from 3 interviews with different Office cast members. First up is an interview that IGN did with Brian Baumgartner who plays Kevin.

IGN TV: Are you comfortable with the improvisational aspects of the show?

Baumgartner: Yeah, with my background in theater in terms of ensemble and creating material, I’m totally comfortable with. The show is a hundred percent scripted, but in all of the scenes we are given some freedom. We can change certain words, to extend scenes longer. Every episode is obviously a little different, but we are definitely given the ability to add and change things. As long as the story stays the same.

Here we have an interview via TV Guide with Oscar Nunez, who plays Oscar of course.

TVGuide.com: When did the Office writers officially tell you Oscar would be gay?

Oscar Nuñez: It was toward the end of the first season. At first, it started as a rumor. The actors started saying, “Oscar might be gay” when we’d read the scripts, and I was like, “Really?” Then, lo and behold, there was a script where Oscar was gay. [Executive producer] Greg Daniels came up to me and said, “Hey, Oscar, would you mind if your character was gay?” I’m like, “Greg, there’s a script already written. I’ve seen it. Thanks for asking me now.” But I didn’t mind.

Lastly, we have an interview done by The Vancouver Sun with Rainn Wilson who plays Dwight.

If Steve Carell’s Michael Scott is the prototype terrible boss, Wilson’s Dwight qualifies as the prototype irritating office worker. This is a character Wilson loves to play and is determined to keep fresh.

“The struggle is not to go into auto pilot with him but to try and challenge myself to find different ways to allow his character and his comedy to come through the material. I’ve got several more years playing that big, annoying doofus, so I’ve got to find ways to keep me interested in it and to keep having new surprises coming from him.”

Don’t forget about tonight’s Office episode, “Beach Games.” It was directed by Harold Ramis and is going to be a supersized episode. This is the second to last episode of the season.

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-Anna

WARNING: This post contains spoilers.

Rashida Jones, who plays Karen on The Office, will be here for Season 4. I originally thought that if Rashida would be back for season 4 then that would mean that her pilot “The Rules for Starting Over” did not get picked up by FOX. But as someone over at Netscape.com has just posted, that pilot did get picked up by FOX. I’m not sure what this means for Karen on The Office or how much we’ll see of her, but I’m glad that she’s staying. I used to not like the character of Karen simply because it messed with Pam and Jim, but the more I think about it, the more I like the idea of Pam and Jim never getting together. I think they are great friends, but may have grown apart romantically.
Here’s what OfficeTally.com found out about the whole season finale situation…

The scoop: There’s an opening at Dunder Mifflin corporate, and Michael (Steve Carell), Jim (John Krasinski) and girlfriend Karen (Rashida Jones) all want it. “Somebody does take the job,� cocreator Greg Daniels tells Us (best bet: Jim). “We’ll see more of the New York offices next year.�

Office crush: Fans rooting for Jim and Pam (Jenna Fischer) to revisit romance may be disappointed: Jones is back for Season 4, and, says Daniels, “Pam is on a journey of self-discovery. Her happiness may be more about her self-realization.�

So it looks like the world of The Office will be expanding quite a bit. If Jim does get the corporate job, it makes one wonder about how that will work with him and Karen. I guess New York isn’t too far from Scranton. The comment that Pam is on a journey of self-discovery was an interesting one. Perhaps getting another boyfriend is not in the cards for The Office receptionist. I would like it if, through this self-realization, Pam stops glancing longily at Jim and starts being or at least acting more like a independent woman whose happiness does not rely on a guy. That’s my opinion anyway.

Season 4 might just prove to be a very interesting and a very different season. I do find it interesting that with this kind of comedy where absurdity is rampant, that they would choose to include such meaningful storylines such as Pam journey of self-discovery. But I suppose the big-wigs at NBC and the writers for The Office are smart enough to know that comedy alone will not carry a show.

Tell me what you guys think about Karen staying. Are you for it or against it? Vote on the poll below and I’ll post results tomorrow.

The Office, Rashida Jones, Karen, Office season finale, Jenna Fischer, John Krasinski, Pam Beesley, Jim Halpert

-Anna

Click here for video #1

Click here for video #2

The Office, Office spoilers, Office videos, Beach Games, NBC

-Anna

My last post spoke about 2 possible endings to the season finale of The Office. One had Karen leaving and one had Karen staying. Each of these endings would obviously have other consequences for other storylines in the show. Officetally.com explains…

I can’t believe your Office scoop about Karen and the two endings! Aaah! Does this mean no one knows yet whether Pam and Jim get together?

Precisely. In one ending, they get together. In one, they don’t. However, I can tell you that Pam will grow a spine and say some things she’s been dying to say (are you not loving the new, ballsy, tire-changin’ Pam?!) and that Jim will have to make a choice between them. Brian Baumgartner of Scrantonicity fame (they rule!) dishes: “Kevin plays a crucial role in determining: Pam or Karen?� Gaaah! Brian also confirms that they’ve shot “several endings,� adding, “We honestly don’t know for sure what will happen at the end. There’s a job opening at corporate, and there are several people from the Scranton branch who are vying for that job in New York.� I’m told Karen and Jim are two of the three people who want that position, which is why Rashida (Karen) was spotted shooting scenes in New York with John (Jim) just last week.

That would be interesting wouldn’t it. I’m actually rooting for Karen. I’m starting to like her more than Pam.

In other speculation/spoiler news for The Office…

Gustavo in Provo, Utah: Do you know if Jan is pregnant on The Office? I think she’s pregnant by Michael.

There are big developments coming on the Man front. Angela Kinsey tells us, “There’s a big new twist for Michael and Jan. It’s really funny. They just keep getting a little more bent. I love that storyline, actually.�

Dani in Great Neck, New York: Any Office romance news?

Dwangela is dwiiirrrty. Angela Kinsey says this of her recent make-out scene with the Schruter: “One of the writers, Mike Schur, told me that after he watched that scene being filmed, he realized that Dwight and Angela have probably made out all over the office at different times, after hours, and it sort of makes us all look at the office in a new way. So I think they’re gonna have some more rendezvous moments—absolutely!�

So I guess The Office will be focusing a lot on all of these dysfunctional relationships it has created. I’ll tell you though that if Jan happens to be carrying Michael’s baby, I will feel horrible for that baby. Jan, I believe, has some serious issues and Michael can’t function like a normal adult to save his life. I’m somewhat thinking though that this won’t be the case with these two. I don’t know what will be the case though. Jan is too weird to speculate what will happen between her and Michael. Maybe she’ll start stalking Michael or something.

Thanks again to OfficeTally.com for the info.

The Office, Office spoilers, Office season finale, Michael Scott, Jan Levinson, Pam Beesley, Jim Halpert, Karen

-Anna

So, we all know that Rashida Jones, who plays Karen on The Office, is shooting a pilot for Fox called “The Rules for Starting Over.” We all thought that this would definitely mean that Karen would somehow leave The Office, but according to OfficeTally.com, there is also a good chance that Karen could stay.
Here’s what they had to say…

Sources [say] that The Office is shooting two endings to the current season—one in which Rashida Jones (Karen) leaves the show, and one in which she stays—because it is not yet known whether Rashida is back next season.

But why is everything up the air about this “Is Karen leaving or not” situation? Apparently, there is a chance that this new pilot for “The Rules for Starting Over” may not get picked up by FOX. If that happens, then Rashida’s character will remain on The Office.

To be honest, I hope the pilot doesn’t get picked up. The character of Karen has grown on me and I’m not sure I want her to leave. Jenna Fischer’s character, Pam, has become somewhat annoying as of late and to be honest, she blew it with Jim. She didn’t have the guts to do what she really wanted and now she’s suffering for it. That’s life. Karen on the other hand, to me, has become sort of an endearing character. She’s no Pam, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. So, in the end, I kind of want Karen to stay.
But neither Rashida or fans will know what will happen until late next week.

One more tidbit of news relating to The Office…
OfficeTally.com reports that…

The Office may be expanding to a full hour next season. Word is, NBC execs are seriously considering a lengthier Office on Thursday nights (perhaps signaling a move of Scrubs to ABC).

Exciting huh?

The Office, Rashida Jones, Office spoilers, NBC

-Anna

What a show, what a show.

Jim walks into the Office and immediately he receives a demerit from Dwight for tardiness. Dwight goes onto explain that…
3 demerits= 1 citation
5 citations= 1 violation
4 violations = 1 verbal warning
2 verbal warnings= 1 written warning
2 written warnings= 1 disciplinary review that will go to his superior, who happens to be Jim.
Jim then demands that this review be on his desk by 5 or he’ll have to give Dwight a disadulation(not a real word). Dwight is visably unnerved by this prospect.

Opening credits

Phyllis comes into the office and we learn that she has just been flashed by a man who was asking for directions. When Michael hears about this, he thinks it’s somewhat funny that it was Phyllis who got flashed and not some more attractive woman like Pam or Karen. To make light of the situation, Michael puts his finger through his pants and jokes about flashing everyone. Toby walks in and deems Michael’s behavior as inappropriate. Michael accuses him of being the flasher simply because Toby just got there and could have had the opportunity.

Meanwhile, Dwight is searching the parking lot with a wooden stake and is determined to catch the pervert who flashed Phyllis. Andy wants to help too.
Andy: “What happened? What can I do to help? I’ll check the web.”
You do that, Andy.

Michael comes to the shocking realization that his behavior beforehand may not have been the correct behavior. We also get some rather weird tidbits about Jan.
Michael: “Women can’t have fun if they don’t feel safe. For example, Jan and I have a safe word in case things go too far. Foliage. And if one of us says that word, the other one has to stop. Although last time, she pretended she didn’t hear me.”

Dwight is authorized to start the Emergency Anti-Flashing Task Force. He ask Michael if he can show Phyllis a file of photos of the male anatomy to see if she can identify the culprit. Where Dwight gets such a file, I don’t know and I don’t want to know.

In a head shot, Pam speaks about the days events.
Pam: “I don’t often miss Roy. But I can tell you one thing. I wish someone had flashed me when I was with Roy. Because that would have been the ass-kicking of the year. Especially if it had been Jim. He would not have wanted me to have seen Jim’s … whoo, I am, I am saying a lot of things.”

As part of the Anti-Flashing Task Force, Dwight sends out a memo that he thinks will keep the women safer.
Karen: “Hey, did you guys see this memo that Dwight sent out? (Reading) “Women will be sent home if they wear makeup or heels exceeding one-quarter inch. Females are not allowed to speak to strangers unless given written authorization by Dwight Schrute.â€? This is ridiculous.”
Pam (reading): “Sleeves down to the wrists, button-up collars, and muted colors.� Nobody dresses like that. (Sweeping shot to Angela)
Dwight also does the women a favor by removing all the bananas from the break room. Good thinking, Dwight.
Michael protests this memo.
Michael: “If Pam wants to show more cleavage, she should be able to. I encourage that.”
Michael decides to hold a meeting for “Women’s Appreciation.” The purpose? To make the women feel appreciated.
Michael speaks about how women are portrayed in the media as these skinny, hot godesses, but how that is not the case in the office.
Michael: (Gesturing toward Pam) “Even the hot ones aren’t really that skinny.”
Karen: “What you’re saying is extremely misogynistic.”
Michael: “Yes. Thank you. That was not necessary, but I appreciated it. And it proves my point. Women can do anything.”
Karen: “I’m saying that you’re being sexist.”
Michael: “No, I’m being misogynistic. That is insane, I am not being sexist.”
Karen: “That … it’s the same thing.”
Phyllis: “Michael.”
Michael: “Yes.”
Phyllis: “When I got my hair cut short, you asked me if I was a lesbian.”

Michael realizes that the women are not comfortable talking in such a male-dominated environment like the office, so he tells them that he’ll take them where they are comfortable; the mall.
Angela: “Malls are just awful and humiliating. They’re just store after store of these horrible salespeople making a big fuss out of an adult shopping in a junior’s section. There are petite adults who are sort of … smaller, who need to wear … maybe a kids’ size 10.”

The girls and Michael head to the mall in Meredith’s van. They get to the mall and they all sit down in the food court to talk or “dish.”

Meanwhile, the men back at the office have discovered that the women’s bathroom has a rather comfortable lounge. They all take advantage of this rare opportunity and hang out in the girl’s bathroom. Here we learn that Jim is taking Karen out tonight for their 6-month anniversary. Ryan has a surprised look on his face. He didn’t realize that Jim and Karen had been dating for SO long.
Ryan: “She might mention an email that I wrote awhile back, um …”
Jim: “Oh, right. I remember that one. She read it to me. She said she’s not really ready to date somebody in the office, but she really likes you as a friend.”
Ryan: “I figured. It’s cool. I don’t … I really wouldn’t want to be in an office relationship anyway.”
Awkward.

Back at the mall, Michael is discussing his very very strange relationship with a very very strange Jan.
Michael: “I like cuddling and spooning, and she likes videotaping us during sex.”
Michael: “And then watching it back right afterward to improve my form.”
Karen: “That is *not* healthy behavior.”
Michael: “No, it’s not that bad. The worst part is, that she shows it to her therapist and they discuss it.”
Michael (crying): “You guys … what am I going to do about Jan?”
Phyllis: “Don’t think, just answer. What do you want to do about Jan?”
Michael: “I wanna break up with Jan. Wow! I wanna break up with Jan.”
Phyllis: “My mom taught me that.”
Good job Phyllis.

Back at the office, Dwight and Andy are on the flasher case.
Andy: “I really appreciate your letting me work alongside you so closely today.”
Dwight: “Of course you do, moonface. That’s because you’re a preppy freak, you’re the office pariah, and nobody likes you. So, start hanging these all around the building.”
Andy: “This guy looks like a real deviant.”
Dwight: “No duh! That’s why we gotta catch him. Start hanging those!”
Andy: “Aye aye, Cap’n.”
Dwight: “More like, “Aye aye, General.â€?

Dwight and Andy are hanging up sketches of the deviant that Pam drew. Since Phyllis didn’t get a very good look at the guy, Pam sketches Dwight with a mustache and no glasses.

At the mall, Michael offers to buy one thing for gals from Victoria Secret as a thank you for helping out with his Jan problem. Karen gets something sexy and Phyllis declares that Jim will love it. Pam gets something too.
Pam: “I’m kind of in between boyfriends right now. So I don’t need anything sexy. But I do need some new hand towels, I figure I could cut up this robe.”
On the way home, the van gets a flat tire. Michael tries to help.
Michael: “Do you have a crescent? A crescent Allan?”
Luckily they have Pam and she changes the tire.
Pam: “You know, I changed a tire today. All by myself. This bathrobe’s already coming in handy.”

Michael and the girls all arrive safely back at the office. The guys have, by this time, vacated the women’s bathroom. Michael immediately goes to his office to call Jan and break things off. He ask his girls to be with him, so Phyllis, Karen and Pam go in to offer support.
Jan’s voicemail picks up.
Michael (leaving voicemail for Jan): “Hey, Jan, it’s me. Michael. I’m just calling to say that I think we need a little break. Permanently. And, uh, I know everybody says this, but I wanna remain friends. Or at least, business associates who get along. Oh just so you know, it’s not me, it’s you. Okay, buddy. Somebody just walked in (Jan), I have to go. Um, so I’ll talk to you later.”

Jan is there to apologize for a call earlier in the day where she was demanding that Michael come to New York again. While talking with him, her phone buzzes to let her know that she has a voicemail. She listens and realizes what is happening. She leaves.

We end with a little monologue from Michael.
Michael: “Any man who says he totally understands women is a fool. Cause they are un-understandable. There’s a wishing fountain at the mall. And I threw a coin in for every woman in the world and made a wish. I wished for Jan to get over me, I wished for Phyllis a plasma TV, I wished for Pam to gain courage, I wished for Angela a heart, and for Kelly a brain. “Michael, how can you appreciate women so much, but also dump one of them?â€? You mean, how can I be so illogical and flighty and unpredictable and emotional? Well maybe I learned something from women after all.”

But wait, there’s more.
Dwight receives a call.
Dwight: “Dunder Mifflin Paper slash Sex Predator Hotline. This is Dwight Schrute.”
Jim: “Hey, Dwight. It’s Jim.”
Dwight: “Jim, what are you doing? I’m busy.”
Jim: “No, you’re not. I’m looking right at you.”
Dwight: “Ugh, I’m hanging up.”
Jim: “Don’t. I have information about the sex predator.”
Dwight: “You have information about the sex predator?”
Jim: “I saw him two minutes ago.”
Dwight: “Where?”
Jim: “In the women’s bathroom, above the sink.”

Dwight barges into the women’s bathroom and looks into the mirror. His face aligns with a mustache drawn on the mirror and the horrific realization comes to him.
Dwight: “PAM!”

Credits roll.

All in all, it was a good episode. I think the first few minutes after the flashing with Michael had to be the most awkward moments in Office history. Let me know what you thought of the episode.

Thanks to OfficeTally.com and JustJared for some of the pics and quotes.

The Office, Women’s Appreciation, Office episode recap, Office quotes, Steve Carell, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, Rainn Wilson, NBC

-Anna

Here are the links to the deleted scenes from the most recent Office episode “Product Recall”

Deleted Scene #1

Deleted Scene #2

Deleted Scene #3

The Office, deleted scenes, Product Recall

-Anna

First off, it looks like 46% of you DID believe the story yesterday about CBS’s version of The Office and 54% DID NOT believe it. So I feel better about myself now.

Now onto Angela. She’s been very busy recently with interviews, the new show “Thank God You’re Here”, and other appearances. I thought I would provide some links to her appearances and some text from her interviews. WARNING: There may be some Office spoilers from this point on. Thanks to OfficeTally.com for the info.

First off, IGN interviewed Angela. Here’s a blurb.

IGN: Any hints you can give on what’s to come in the last episodes of the season?
Kinsey: Oh, they’re great episodes, I have to say. We have three more. Two are super-sized and our season finale is an hour-long special. One episode we go to a lake and Michael’s decided he wants to do sort of like a Survivor meets The Office to see who’s really got what it takes for leadership qualities. John Krasinski had to wear an outfit, and I will forever look at him differently, because he looked so hilarious to me. That’s about all I can say about that. Dwight and Angela have a scene. We always shoot our scenes back to back. We never look at each other, because we think we are super sleuths. We really think we’re getting away with this big secret. And in one episode coming up they wanted us to face each other as we spoke. And first of all, I know why I should never look at him, because I laughed through every take, because Rainn as Dwight is hilarious to me. But it totally changed [things], and it had this amazing dynamic the minute we faced each other. So that was a fun moment for me personally. And I can say this about the season finale: questions will be answered. There’s some big, big twists. And Jan and Michael have something big that happens to them; I’m gonna emphasize the word big.

Interesting. We’ve also been told recently that JAM fans will be well pleased with the season finale.

Okay. Angela also did an interview with PopGurls.

Has there been a scene from Season One where you catch yourself passing a note?

No, I don’t think I was ever busted. The one thing I remember is from the episode “Health Care.” Rainn, as Dwight, is listing off a list of insane diseases. Hot dog fingers, on and on. If you look over to accounting — I full on break and so does Brian. It’s just a split second, but we’re completely out of character. That’s not my character laughing. And they just left it in! The producers said it just made [them] laugh.

Of the cast, whose trailer has the best amenities?

I think that Jenna’s trailer is the most tricked out because she brings in all kinds of stuff. Ed Helms, one time, stopped by my trailer and was like, “Oh my god! Look how nice your trailer is!” I have a throw-blanket my mom quilted with some candles and some pictures up. I have a little TV tray. So I said, “You should see Jenna’s trailer.” She has this little coffee/tea machine, she has a TV tray because my commercial agent, who’s also a good friend of mine, Valerie, gave me a set gift four TV trays — two for me, two for Jenna. Jenna also has knickknacks and pictures, comfy pillows and a big down comforter. I think Jenna’s is the most tricked out. Then mine, as far as feminine things, is runner-up.

This is just a small snippit of this really cool interview. If you’d like to view the rest, please visit PopGurls.com.

Alright, now for some video links. First clip is of the cast interviews from the new improv show “Thank God You’re Here.”

This next clip is Angela’s first skit on “Thank God You’re Here.”

Next clip has various cast members of “Thank God You’re Here” as the director of the next God Father movie.

Next we have a clip of Angela with her fellow cast members on “Thank God You’re Here” all playing fat people.

That’s it for clips of Angela. Don’t forget “Thank God You’re Here” is on NBC Wednesday 8/7c.

Well, we’re happy that Angela is finding so much success out there. Don’t forget tonight’s episode of The Office “Women’s Appreciation.” It is supposed to be a supersized episode.

The Office, NBC, Thank God You’re Here, Angela Kinsey

-Anna