(S03E14) According to Michael Scott, the "dilly-o" of life includes learning how to jumpstart a car. His "epiphery" led him to create a video message for his future son, and his instructions on how to take off a woman's bra were fairly informative. But the sight of Dwight in a bra, even if taken from behind, was slightly disturbing, to say the least.
So Phyllis will be marrying Bob Vance of Vance Refrigeration in about a week. Good for her! She seems to be one of he few sane souls in Scranton, and she deserves to be happy. Lucky for her, when Michael discovered what "Primae Noctis" was, he quicklhy backed off.
I've worked in offices where a shower would be thrown for a female staffer with the men invited, but it always seemed awkward for us guys to be there. I liked Michael's solution of throwing a bachelor party in the warehouse much better. I loved the continuous reference to the 2:30 to 3:15 timeframe.
The Jim-Karen-Pam situation certainly took a weird turn, didn't it? You get the feeling that this whole thing is going to come to a head fairly soon, but I, for one, can't seem to get a handle as to what is going to happen. If the show follows the form of the British version, Jim and Karen will break up and Pam will continue to go back and forth as to whether she'll hook up with Jim. Too many awkward conversations and glances to believe that nothing will happen.
Some other thoughts:
- Was the Ben Franklin impersonator really a male stripper/dancer? He did end up hitting on Pam, but we never got any hint of him ready to start doing a Chippendales sort of thing. The character had some great lines--very well-written part.
- The scene with Michael and Ryan in the sex shop didn't seem to go anywhere, but the tiling out of the inventory got a big laugh out of me.
- We only got a fleeting glance of Stanley this week. Too bad.
- The man meat joke seemed rather Beavis and Butthead-ish.
- Michael's guilt over his behavior at the bachelor party was rather surprising. The fact that he called Jan, who I guess is now his girlfriend, took some cojones. Is Michael in love? It seems like it.
Finally, one last thought. Where was Andy? You would think he would have been the most obnoxious boor at the bachelor party, but after his wacked-out behavior a few weeks ago, he may be laying low for a while. Since Ed Helms has been signed on for the entire season, the expected blow-up will likely come at the end of the season.
A solid episode. Not much happened here other than the Jim-Karen-Pam triangle, which seems to be headking for some sort of confrontation sooner or later.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
2-02-2007 @ 1:07AM
Brent Schmidt said...
That sex shop scene was hilarious... "he hasn't said anything yet, he just keeps laughing" or whatever got me to laugh the most. And the fact that nearly everything was censored.
How'd that rhyme go again? Prolly won't be up to watch for another hour or so. I need a DVR.
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2-02-2007 @ 1:32AM
Melanie said...
As I mentioned in a previous thread, the producer's cut of the last episode ("The Return") shows Andy being sent to anger management for 5-10 weeks. So he'll be back, just later on. :)
Decent episode. Ben Franklin was good, you're right. But yeah, the whole episode felt a little... repetitive. Like, jokes, glances, and so on seemed to be played twice this week. Kinda weird. But still good!
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2-02-2007 @ 1:23AM
Nick said...
It's "dealio".
This was the first reference to Jim sleeping with Karen. Caught me off guard, and Pam's reaction ("you should get more sleep") was interesting.
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2-02-2007 @ 1:22AM
Borat said...
Great reference to the grill which Michael 'injured' his foot on.
Also you forgot Todd Packer! That guy is hilarious.
Also, 'GAI' and 'man shower'. Not the best episode, but still guaranteed quite a few laughs.
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2-02-2007 @ 1:24AM
C said...
am i the only one who's really bored with the whole "Jim & Pam" thing??
the show is still funny though, but 30 Rock is funnier.
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2-02-2007 @ 1:39AM
smashthesymbols said...
"Was the Ben Franklin impersonator really a male stripper/dancer?"
No. It was Jim's job to find a male stripper, but instead he hired Ben Franklin from some educational place. I forget the exact line, so I'm sure someone will come up with it later.
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2-02-2007 @ 2:12AM
Noreen P said...
Where did Oscar go? Didn't he return last week??
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2-02-2007 @ 11:43AM
Lisa said...
Re Jim and Karen putting in long nights, I think all they did was talk endlessly about the relationship. I didn't get that it was nonstop sex or anything, more that Jim was humoring Karen who was into talking about the Pam issue all night, but I could be wrong. They're adults; they had to do a LITTLE something. But maybe they didn't come to a resolution, judging by Karen's conversation with Pam. A few of the actors have MySpace pages. Sometimes I get insight from their blogs (Pam, Angela and Kevin mostly).
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2-02-2007 @ 2:52AM
Audge said...
I'm still a fan of Jim and Pam :) so yeah, this episode didn't help to move things in the "Jam" direction.
I also thought the sex store scene was funny - but also couldn't help but wonder how long it took to tile out all that!
Oh yeah, where *was* Oscar?
http://audgepodge.blogspot.com/2007/02/my-take-office-stripper-and-ben.html
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2-02-2007 @ 5:18AM
Christian H. said...
I feel this was kind of a weak episode compared to the standard we all have grown accustomed to. But that's okay, in fact I'm relieved... So the writers of "The Office" are human after all ;)
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2-03-2007 @ 1:28AM
Dr Sak said...
The best Dwight line "I am 99.9% sure that isn't Ben Franklin"
It rivals when Jim and Pam convinced Dwight it was Friday when it was really Thursday.
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2-02-2007 @ 8:47AM
Steve said...
Dwight: I am 99% sure that he is not the real Ben Franklin.
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2-02-2007 @ 9:31AM
Gordy said...
This is the first episode I laughed more than I cringed. I'm not sure what that means yet.
I agree with the earlier post, 30 Rock is funnier, but I really enjoyed this episode, especially the Ben Franklin/Dwight interaction.
"I am 99% sure that is not the real Ben Franklin."
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2-02-2007 @ 9:48AM
bojac said...
"Shut up, Angela!"
At least Meredith got a couple of lines this week.
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2-02-2007 @ 10:32AM
bojac said...
So many uncomfortable/awkard/weird moments this week: Karen suddenly hugging Jim in the middle of the office, Michael telling Karen to get a skirt/dress for Phyllis' wedding, Todd Packer "either Karen is a dude or Jim's been scared straight", Pam trying to keep her REM sleep converstaion with Jim going in the break room; it felt like one was watching the original British version.
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2-02-2007 @ 10:04AM
Porchland said...
I liked this episode better than the two previous eps, and I think it's because Ed Helms wasn't there. He's a great actor, but the Andy character just doesn't fit into the humor of the show.
Loved Michael saying he got all the "foot" off the grill.
Love Phyllis's reaction shots when Michael insults her (which is every episode).
Jim-Pam-Karen isn't as compelling as it should be.
Second best cold open this season (after Dwight from the future).
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2-02-2007 @ 10:07AM
Scott said...
I'm sure that Michael Sciannamea is probably a really nice person, but could we maybe get someone from TV Squad that really watches (and more importantly "GETS") this show. Honestly, reading this review - it's as though they grabbed Mr Sciannamea off the street....
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2-02-2007 @ 10:12AM
Scott said...
The Stripper Rhyme (I think):
A secret secret
is not fun
A secret secret
can hurt someone
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2-02-2007 @ 10:26AM
mad_dr said...
michael was "giggleing" the whole time in the porn store ..not laughing...some words are much funnier than other words,,,, giggleing..like the grill episode when pam said michael was "fussy" not complaining...the two words that were used connote childish behaviour and that fits with the michael storyline and character
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2-02-2007 @ 11:09AM
const said...
15. I'm sure that Michael Sciannamea is probably a really nice person, but could we maybe get someone from TV Squad that really watches (and more importantly "GETS") this show. Honestly, reading this review - it's as though they grabbed Mr Sciannamea off the street....
Posted at 10:07AM on Feb 2nd 2007 by Scott
Bingo! It'd be less unfortunate if this was the only show it is obvious that the reviewer/recapper doesn't regularly watch/get the show.
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