(S05E08) Being a fan of The Office is kind of like dating Scarlett Johansson (which I can comment on because I have the WOPR running continuous simulations of me and Scarlett Johansson dating; incidentally, every scenario seems to end in global thermonuclear war). You get spoiled. Whenever she comes to bed wearing something insanely sexy, you think, "Well, of course she's wearing Princess Leia's gold bikini, she's Scarlett Johansson!" The one time she shows up in sweatpants and one of your t-shirts, however, you don't know what to do. She's entitled to be comfortable, and, after all, lots of girls wear sweatpants to bed, but it doesn't seem right. Scarlett Johansson doesn't wear sweatpants.
Tonight's episode felt like sweatpants. It was ordinary. It was a sitcom episode. And, worse than that, it was an unlikeable episode.
Here's a philosophical question: is The Office a sitcom?
The answer to that question is the defining factor as to whether "Frame Toby" was a good episode. See, if it is a sitcom, tonight's episode was perfectly serviceable: there were plenty of laughs, and all our favorite characters had something to do. Solid B effort.
If, however, The Office is, as I and others have argued in this space, something more than a sitcom, tonight's episode felt like a betrayal of what we've come to expect from the show.
Here are the elements of an ordinary sitcom that The Office managed to fulfill tonight:
1. Everything resets to "normal" eventually. Toby returns from Costa Rica as Holly's replacement. We all guessed that this was going to happen -- isn't it sad that we all guessed that this was going to happen?
2. The joke outweighs the character. Michael doesn't know that Toby is back as his H.R. rep for an entire week. Let me channel Seth Meyers for a second: Really? Really? That's the writers manipulating Michael's IQ down a few points solely to set up the (rather lame) Michael screaming "no!" joke in the cold open. Maybe that crap is OK for Wings or Designing Women but not for The Office.
3. Cartoonish behavior is acceptable because we're not dealing with reality. If Charlie Harper or Barney Stinson were real people, they wouldn't be lovable cads, they'd be STD-infested sociopaths. You don't think about it because Two and a Half Men and How I Met Your Mother don't exist in the real world. Dwight and Michael were pushed into Charlie and Barney territory tonight with their insane plot to frame Toby. At best, they get the guy fired, at worst, he goes to jail.
It's that last point that ruined the episode for me. Either these are real people that I'm supposed to care about or they're cartoons whose actions are inconsequential. It doesn't matter that the "grass" Michael bought was actually a salad, he and Dwight plotted to send Toby to jail. If you knew somebody who actually attempted this, would you ever talk to them again?
Seriously, I felt betrayed tonight. Now I know how Kevin Bacon felt at the end of Wild Things.
Other stuff:
- I wasn't expecting Pam to be happy about that god awful house out by the quarry (and Creed!). There's been a surprising lack of conflict concerning Pam's move back to Scranton. Anybody have any guesses where they're going with this plot?
- So Ryan's going to Thailand now? Uh... wait, what? Where did that come from? I love the new/old Ryan! Don't take him out of the office! I mean, hell, he hasn't even processed through his feelings on 9/11 yet!
- Where do you side on the signage issue? I agree with Pam, and not just because she's cuter than a mogwai hugging a puppy. The mess was more obnoxious than the sign. Also, it set up the great Pam/Ryan exchange where he claims he's not qualified to clean up the mess. I've had this conversation with my wife about sixty-one million times. It turns out she's right: the argument does seem a little ridiculous.
- I didn't TiVo tonight, I watched it live. Consequently, I caught the last 15 minutes of Kath and Kim. This isn't a real show, right? Please, somebody tell me that Jeff Zucker lost a bet or something.
- Dwight's idea of the perfect crime was the highlight of the episode: "Thirty years later, I get a call. I have a son and he's the sheriff. Now here's where it gets interesting."
- Am I putting too much pressure on The Office? Sometimes I feel like evil basketball coach G.D. Spradlin from the Robbie Benson vehicle One on One, pushing too hard for a perfection that's impossible. If that's the case, feel free to tell me to "take my review and shove it up my a** with a red hot poker" in the comments.
The Office' Photos
THE OFFICE Steve Carell as Michael Scott and Amy Ryan as Holly star in the episode "Weight Loss." Airs Thursday, September 25, 2008.
NBC
THE OFFICE Steve Carell as Michael Scott and Amy Ryan as Holly star in the episode "Weight Loss." Airs Thursday, September 25, 2008.
NBC
THE OFFICE Mindy Kaling as Kelly Kapoor and Craig Robinson as Darryl Philbin star in the episode "Weight Loss." Airs Thursday, September 25, 2008.
NBC
THE OFFICE Amy Ryan as Holly and Brian Baumgartner as Kevin Malone star in the episode "Weight Loss." Airs Thursday, September 25, 2008.
NBC
THE OFFICE, Steve Carell, ''Did I Stutter'', (Season 4, airing May 1, 2008), 2005-. Photo: Chris Haston / NBC
THE OFFICE, Rainn Wilson, ''Did I Stutter'', (Season 4, airing May 1, 2008), 2005-. Photo: Chris Haston / NBC
THE OFFICE, Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, ''Did I Stutter'', (Season 4, airing May 1, 2008), 2005-. Photo: Chris Haston / NBC
THE OFFICE, Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, ''Night Out'', (Season 4, airing April 24, 2008), 2005-. Photo: Mitch Haddad / NBC
THE OFFICE, Rainn Wilson, Cassie Fliegel, ''Night Out'', (Season 4, airing April 24, 2008), 2005-. Photo: Mitch Haddad / NBC
THE OFFICE, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, Rainn Wilson, ''The Dinner Party'', (Season 4, episode 4013, aired April 10, 2008), 2005-,. Photo: Chris Haston / NBC / courtesy everett collection
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
11-21-2008 @ 12:12AM
Wii60 said...
If Scarlett Johansen wants to come to bed in one of my sweatpants and t-shirts I encourage it.
Reply
11-21-2008 @ 9:51AM
willy the impeached said...
Wise words. So say we all.
And as for the "Please, somebody tell me that Jeff Zucker lost a bet or something." I can say with little doubt that theres clear evidence of this. How else do you explain Ben Silvermann?
11-21-2008 @ 12:15AM
pumpkinhead said...
Totally right. I don't know what they were thinking. Or not thinking.
And I'll usually be the one to read the negative review or comment and scratch my head wondering if they were watching a different show than the one I enjoyed so much.
But tonight actually scared me a little bit for the future of the show.
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11-21-2008 @ 2:20AM
Andrew said...
I guess I'll take your place as the guy scratching his head. I loved this episode.
11-21-2008 @ 12:26AM
StevieG21 said...
I think that when you love a show so much you have high expectations. This season so far has been great. I was disappointed last season and this year has restored my faith in the show.
No show is perfect and not every episode is going to be great. This episode did fall flat. I'm not sure where the Pam/Jim storyline is going. It doesn't seem right for Pam to return to her old job. Art school didn't work out, but she could still look for a more rewarding job. Of course it is more enjoyable to have her back in the office with Jim. It reminds me of season 3 when Jim worked at the other branch for awhile.
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11-21-2008 @ 12:32AM
MWM said...
I wished they had followed up on the Andy/Angela drunk dialed phone call from last week.
It's so good to see Pam back in the office setting.
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11-23-2008 @ 12:00PM
natalie said...
Honestly! I want to know how Andy got forgiven. What did he have to do?
I feel gypped.
11-21-2008 @ 12:33AM
Monkeydog said...
Well all the episodes can't be great, especially when it comes to a show that has to turn out 20 + episodes a year.
I don't think the Ryan thing is that big of a problem...I mean...when has anything involving his character made much sense? His whole character seems very random.
Also, I'm surprised you didn't mention the new webisode series that started today.
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11-21-2008 @ 12:46AM
Kate said...
I agree, Jay. Tonight, the episode was... okay? Is that the best word to use? The best parts for me were Dwight saying how everything the cops do on “The Shield” is illegal (one of my personal favorite shows) and then at the end, when Dwight was talking about stealing the chandelier and had this huge intricate storyline planned out for himself. Most of the episode was just okay to watch though. I must say however that any part featuring Creed is a hilarious part.
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11-21-2008 @ 1:13AM
PC said...
Where are Jim/Pam headed?
My guess is that Pam is pregnant? Seems like easy territory for the writers to naturally fall into.
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11-21-2008 @ 1:17AM
Usama said...
Jay what happened last week w/ the surprise visit?
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11-21-2008 @ 1:23AM
Usama said...
Uh.. sorry perhaps that's too personal, ignore that. But I was rooting for you.
Anyway I agree, this episode was disappointing, as you said the characters became too cartoonish. Oh well..
11-21-2008 @ 1:27PM
nisesmith said...
I also think you are right about tonight's episode. It felt short to me, not like time flies when you're having fun, but... is that all? sort of feeling. I too loved Dwight at the end and his crazy story.
I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop with the JAM storyline. They can't stay happy forever, can they? So far the writers have done a good job at keeping me guessing. I keep waiting for the bottom to drop out but it hasn't happened yet. I honestly can't see something that could break these two up...but I'm sure that's what the writers are for.
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11-21-2008 @ 2:18AM
Andrew said...
As a fan of more traditional wacky sitcoms (Seinfeld, Friends, HIMYM etc) I am usually able to realize that it's just a TV show and not real life. I found this episode hilarious, definitely up there with Customer Survey as one of the best of the season so far. It's great to see Pam back in the office, and I'm kind of glad Ryan is leaving because I'm sick of seeing him with Kelly.
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11-21-2008 @ 2:28AM
Andrew said...
I will say that I was disappointed that they didn't follow up on Michael's call to David Wallace from last week. I hope they don't just drop that storyline and say that he was just venting and now he's over it.
11-21-2008 @ 2:22AM
ac said...
This was too cartoonish of an episode I think. The whole idea of framing Toby was just too overdone. Also I always felt sorry for Toby but Im a little pissed to see him back now. Must of been those weeks of Holly in his place.
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11-21-2008 @ 2:26AM
Melissa said...
I never liked Ryan's character much until this season.
If you pause and read the note on the microwave, I think you'll find it completely obnoxious. Leaving a note isn't obnoxious, but the wording of that particular note is.
Creed has never EVER let me down. He needs to steal himself an Emmy.
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11-21-2008 @ 6:30AM
Freud Pachenko said...
Shark, you have been jumped. Season two of The Office had me telling everyone I knew to watch it. Each episode seemed to be better than the one before it, and the one before was always a great episode! It was the only show I couldn't miss and often watched in real time because I didn't want to wait until later to see it.
Of course, I wasn't expecting the writers to maintain that level of intensity (though I was hoping) and while the next season didn't, it was still quite good.
The current season reminds me of America in the late 70's: it's fallen into a malaise. None of this season episodes has been more than above average. The characters, the comedy, the situations, the show seems to be all over the place.
Granted, even a mediocre Office is still better than most current comedy shows, but it's still disappointing. Despite my opening line, I will continue to watch the show and hope for improvements, but I can't help but wonder if this marks the beginning of the end.
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11-21-2008 @ 7:23AM
David said...
You all are being too kind. I thought this episode was awful. All of the jokes fell flat. The whole thing just felt very forced. I wanted to laugh, but I couldn't force myself for example in Michael's scene with Toby in the intro. But since this show has been so solid for so long, it's entitled to a mulligan every now and again.
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11-21-2008 @ 7:59AM
eugene said...
I haven't watched yet, and I'm actually a week behind or so anyways, but just a few weeks ago you complained about Dwight destroying a stroller just to see if it was worth the money. And you talked about it being a little too much, even for Dwight. So perhaps they are running out of show so they are doing one-off eps, which i guess end up being sit-com like.
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