Watching The Office

Finally! There’s something to look forward to this week as a new episode of The Office airs on Thursday! It’s actually their Valentine’s Day episode but got pushed to airing March.

The Office: Blood Drive
It’s Valentine’s Day at the office. Michael meets a mysterious woman at a Valentine’s blood drive. Dwight and Kevin pair up with single women at the office “Lonely Hearts Party.” Meanwhile Jim and Pam are banished from the office for being too publicly affectionate, and have an awkward lunch with Phyllis and Bob.

Bryan Forrester wrote the episode and Randall Einhorn directed it.

Here’s the teaser for NBC Thursday nights, below:

To get a taste of what’s to come this Sunday, NBC has a behind-the-scenes interview with Jessica Alba and cast from The Office. See what they have to say about the upcoming episode that airs after the Super Bowl:

Check for an early review of the whole episode via Give Me My Remote.

These upcoming episodes will air in a couple of weeks:

THE OFFICE - LECTURE CIRCUIT
MICHAEL SCOTT GOES ON TOUR– Michael (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) goes on a speaking tour of the other branches to explain Scranton’s relative success, accompanied by his driver, Pam (Jenna Fischer). Back at the office, Dwight (Rainn Wilson) and Jim (John Krasinski) - now the heads of the party planning committee - forget a birthday, with severe consequences. Meanwhile, Andy (Ed Helms) falls for someone he should not. Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, Mindy Kaling, Angela Kinsey, Oscar Nunez, Phyllis Smith, Creed Bratton and Paul Lieberstein also star.

THE OFFICE - LECTURE CIRCUIT PART 2
TOUR OF THE BRANCHES—PART TWO– Michael (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) and Pam (Jenna Fischer) continue their tour of the branches with Michael taking a lesson from their visit to Utica. Dwight (Rainn Wilson) and Jim (John Krasinski) struggle to fulfill their new party planning duties with a grumpy staff. Angela’s (Angela Kinsey) new cat causes a stir. Ed Helms, Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, Mindy Kaling, Angela Kinsey, Oscar Nunez, Phyllis Smith, Creed Bratton and Paul Lieberstein also star.

The spoilers follow after the cut…

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STRESSED OUT IN THE OFFICE–SPECIAL ONE HOUR POST SUPERBOWL EPISODE FEATURING GUEST STARS JACK BLACK (”SCHOOL OF ROCK”), JESSICA ALBA (”FANTASTIC FOUR”) AND CLORIS LEACHMAN (”MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE”)– After Dwight’s (Rainn Wilson) fire safety seminar goes awry, he must make amends to the stressed-out office. Michael (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) tries a number of ways to get his employees to relax before discovering that he is the number one stressor at work. So that people won’t feel afraid of him, he insists on a no-holds-barred roast of himself. Also, while watching a pirated movie, Andy (Ed Helms) is convinced that Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam (Jenna Fischer) are film gurus.

Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, Mindy Kaling, Angela Kinsey, Phyllis Smith, Oscar Nunez, Creed Bratton, Craig Robinson, Paul Lieberstein and Melora Hardin also star.

Here are the list of upcoming episodes for The Office. The show officially returns to the boob tube next Thursday. The February 1st episode is the much talked about post-Superbowl show, with stellar guests such as Jack Black and Jessica Alba.

Episode 5.11 - Duel
After Michael spills the beans about Angela’s affair with Dwight, Andy and Dwight deal with the matter on their own. Michael is nervous about meeting at corporate with David Wallace.
Airing: 15th January 2009

Here’s the teaser to Duel (SPOILER ALERT):

Episode 5.12 - Prince Family Paper
Michael and Dwight spy on a rival paper company. The rest of the office debates whether or not Hilary Swank is hot.
Airing: 22nd January 2009

Episode 5.13 - Stress Relief
As Dwight gets trained as a fire marshal, trouble occurs at the office. Michael requests his employees roast him. Meanwhile, the workers watch a bootleg video instead of working.
Airing: 1st February 2009

Phyllis, the head of the party committee did come extra prepared this year. The office looks really pretty and colorful. I am loving the Moroccan theme. But she may not have been prepared for what’s about to happen. Because instead of a party, Michael thought it appropriate to do an intervention thinking Meredith, who burned her hair belly dancing and drinking, was an alcoholic.

But when his initial plan backfired and his staff was unsupportive of this, he decides to drag Meredith to rehab. Only, when they got there Michael was told what he did was illegal. Because for this intervention to work, Meredith was supposed to willingly subject herself to it. And she’s been insisting she is not an alcoholic. A little bit looney maybe…and addicted to porn, maybe. But she insists she is not an alcoholic. Well, they know (and we all know!) she is, but Michael’s handling of it was just so wrong and ridiculously hilarious.

With his plans backfiring, Michael promises himself he is still going to help Meredith into a rehab, if it means — “finding ways to push Meredith rock bottom.”

Meanwhile, Dwight is cashing in on parents’ desperation with getting the hottest toy of the year — the Princess Unicorn dolls. Genius of an idea? Perhaps. Dwight buys the toy in most of the stores in the vicinity until there’s none left. And then he sells them back to parents who have yet to get their daughter’s Christmas present, for profit. Falalalalalalakaching indeed!

Did it hurt you to watch Toby desperately begging Daryl for the last of these dolls so he could win by his daughter? And then did you feel his discomfort when what he got was so not the one he’d like to give his daughter? Poor pathetic Toby…

I am not liking Phyllis the Blackmailer. Especially not when he squealed Angela’s affair with Dwight to everybody BUT Andy, who didn’t hear what she said because he was probably busy learning a song on the sitar. Or did he hear that and was just in denial? Poor Andy…Wait, wasn’t the Save The Date supposed to be November 24? Wonder what happened about that? And is Dwangela still married to each other? Too bad we won’t get the answers to this until January, when the show returns.

Clearly, this has been the worst office Christmas party ever.

But this?

Jim’s effortless gift-wrapping of Dwight’s work station (thanks to his black belt in gift wrapping!)? This I want for Christmas!

Here’s the official synopsis to this week’s brand new episode from NBC:

Episode title: Business Trip
Written by: Brent Forrester
Directed by: Randall Einhorn

Summary: Michael is ecstatic when David Wallace decides to send him on a business trip to Canada. Andy and Oscar become unlikely friends when Michael decides to bring them along on the trip. Meanwhile, Jim is counting down the days until Pam gets back from art school.

Some of the cast and crew actually went to Canada to shoot some of the scenes…

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Tonight’s episode is one directed by The Office’s original series co-creator, Stephen Merchant —

Summary: Dwight and Jim are shocked when they get the results of the annual customer survey report. Pam and Jim decide they want to spend every minute together using their bluetooth phones. Meanwhile, Angela and Andy pick an unusual location for their wedding.

Written by: Lester Lewis
Directed by: Stephen Merchant

This week’s episode mark’s the 70th one for the whole show.

Episode Title: Crime Aid

Written by: Charlie Grandy
Directed by: Jennifer Celotta

Summary (NBC): Michael helps Pam get a part time job at corporate so she can afford to go to art school. Michael and Holly get an early start at the office on their date night. After the office gets robbed, Michael decides to hold an auction to raise money for all the items lost.

And below is the video promo — guess who returns to The Office!!!

This week’s episode will feature Jan’s Baby Shower —

Written by: Aaron Shure
Directed by: Greg Daniels

Episode Summary: Michael practices for the birth of Jan’s baby by having Dwight go over possible birthing scenarios. Meanwhile, Michael tells Holly that he will pretend to dislike her for Jan’s benefit.

The promo clip below:

This weeks episode is entitled Business Ethics.

Episode synopsis from NBC: Following Ryan’s recent scandal at corporate, Holly must hold a business ethics seminar. The meeting gets out of control when Michael lets everyone speak freely about their unethical behavior at work. Meanwhile, Jim makes Dwight comply with the company’s “time theft” policy.

These are random favorite scenes from The Office Season 4. Do you and I have the same favorites?

• Andy singing Take A Chance on Me to Angela during the Launch Party -  On top of his very good voice, his move to try to win over Angela by having his buddies sing a capella with him over the phone — who can resist that? The moment was corny alright, but yet there was something heartfelt about the way he orchestrated it. What can I say, I’m a sucker for serenades.
• A brokenhearted Dwight gets consoled by Jim - Angela and Dwight break up and he isn’t taking it too well. He releases his pain by crying at the stairwell of the building. Seeing Dwight cry like that? Broke my heart, too. And the gesture by Jim to try and console him? That was a really touching scene between these two, a different side to what we usually see with the two of them pulling pranks at each other.
• Jim’s fake proposal -  I really thought he was gonna do it at the pavement. Pam’s reaction was also realistic.Toby’s accidental slip -  Such an awkward scene for everyone involved. I understand why Toby had to jump over the fence because of it.
• Screensaver bouncing off TV - Perhaps considered one of the best episode opener of The Office. The whole staff is gathered at the conference room where Michael is addressing them and it seems like they are listening intently to him. They really aren’t; but are rather focused on the little DVD square screen saver. It’s a pretty hilarious moment. Watch.
• Whoever/Whomever debate - Best performance by an ensemble.
• The Dunder Mifflin Scranton Ad - Sure Michael’s idea for the ad was over the top. But I actually liked theirs better than the actual ad the company ran.
• The confrontation between Michael and Stanley - Michael did fold and come out looking like a sissy when he was asking Stanley why he’s always the way he is at him. But for what it’s worth, Michael handled this somewhat maturely.
• Dinner Party - The worst dinner party ever is one of The Office’s better episodes. Jan dancing to That One Night, Michael’s flat screen TV and bed space, Jim’s attempt to ditch the party, Dwight and his guest…everything was just wrong it was funny!
• Michael’s testimonial at the Deposition: And realizing where he’s at in Jan’s life. More than anything, to me it showed Steve Carell’s depth and capabilities as an actor. 
• Holly thinking Kevin was mentally challenged: She pulled it off and handled him well. For his part, Kevin was just being himself; which makes this comedy gold because they didn’t have to have funny dialogs to make it funny. 

The Office, The Office Season 4, The Office best moments of Season 4

The official description of tonight’s episode — Goodbye, Toby from NBC: IT’S TIME TO SAY GOODBYE - SPECIAL ONE HOUR SEASON FINALE - OSCAR NOMINEE AMY RYAN (”Gone Baby Gone”) GUEST STARS - It’s Toby’s (Paul Lieberstein) goodbye party at Dunder Mifflin and Michael (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) demands a huge celebration that matches the joy in his heart. Angela (Angela Kinsey), sick of Michael’s unreasonable last minute demands, refuses, and Michael turns to Phyllis (Phyllis Smith) to take over the party planning committee. Meanwhile, Dwight (Rainn Wilson) and Meredith (Kate Flannery) haze the new HR woman, Holly (Oscar Nominee Amy Ryan). John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, B.J. Novak, Melora Hardin, Ed Helms, Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Oscar Nunez, Mindy Kaling, Creed Bratton, and Craig Robinson also star.

The episode’s cold open has also been posted and there are spoilers after the cut…:

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This week episode of The Office is called “Did I Stutter?” and it is written by Brent Forrester and Justin Spitzer; direction is by Randall Einhorn.

Summary (NBC): When Stanley snaps at Michael during a meeting, Michael tries to give Stanley an attitude adjustment. Dwight decides to buy Andy’s car. Meanwhile, Pam deals with an unexpected inconvenience after spending the night at Jim’s.

And I’m wondering what Meredith is doing in this photo (via Sparklies):

There is also a photo with Dwight showing the Organizational Chart of Dunder Mifflin (see photo to the left, click for larger view), which has some really interesting, hilarious things to note like:

• the words - intellectual property of Dwight K. Schrute for 1,000 years. Check his position too. His box ranks slightly above Jim Halpert’s because to Dwight, he thinks he’s more senior than him.
• Creed’s name is in quotes. No one knows what his real name is?
• There supposedly is a Star of David on Toby’s box, denoting he is Jewish, while black employees Stanley, Darryl and Lonnie have symbols in their too (black fist). Kevin has the Irish leaf on his.
• The women have the woman symbol, of course. Oscar has both male and female symbol.
• The women’s menstruation chart is also there. Pam is first, followed by Kelly, followed by Madge, then Angela. Phyllis is post-menopausal, as well as Meredith, who’s also charted with her hysterectomy.
• Those two positions with X in the box are the ones fired from the previous seasons, Tom and Devon.

The promo clip below:

The Office, The Office Episode Guide, The Office Did I Stutter

Oh, are the boys gonna get lucky tonight?

Michael Scott needs to get in to the action so badly, he actually hugged Ryan? “Best night ever!” Michael says… Now, that should be something to look forward to.

Episode Synopsis: Michael (Steve Carell) and Dwight (Rainn Wilson) decide to surprise Ryan (B.J. Novak) in New York for a night of clubbing and meet his friends. Meanwhile, the Scranton branch is upset when they find out they have to come in on a Saturday for Ryan’s website project. Jim’s plan to save them has unexpected results. Brian Baumgartner, Ed Helms, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, Paul Lieberstein, Oscar Nunez, Angela Kinsey, Phyllis Smith, Mindy Kaling, Leslie David Baker, Kate Flannery, Craig Robinson and Creed Bratton also star.

Here are the promo videos to tonight’s episode:

The Office, The Office Night Out