(S05E18) Today, reality came crashing down on the good people of Dunder-Mifflin like Godzilla's foot onto Bambi. It came not in the form of a giant, atomically mutated Japanese lizard, however, but rather in the striking good looks of "black George Clooney" Charles Miner, the new Vice President of the Northeast Region.Michael's batting average with VPs has been pretty good -- he got to have sex with one and got to act like Jennifer Jason Leigh from Single White Female with another -- so he figures he'll be in fine shape with Charles Miner.
Unfortunately for Michael, Miner is neither a sex-crazed cougar nor a coke-addled narcissist. He's a no-nonsense businessman who very quickly realizes what every executive at Dunder-Mifflin should have realized a long, long time ago: Michael is an awful manager. Really, just brutally awful.
The sparks between the two were brief, intense, and glorious...
First things first: overall, this was a great episode. This week managed to continue last week's winning form with another Michael-centric episode that dialed up the cringe-meter to British Office levels.
I do have a question, however, about what, exactly, Michael's standing at Dunder-Mifflin is (or, I should say, was). I mean, I understand why David Wallace wants to keep Michael under control and out of his hair, but why now? Earlier this year, we were told that Michael's branch was doing so well that he was sent out to give speeches to the other branches to reveal the secret of his success. Yet, all of a sudden, the company brings in Charles Miner to be Edward Vogler to Michael's Dr. House? It doesn't make sense.
Isn't this inconsistent? Or am I missing something? I'd love to hear your thinking on the matter (and, while you're at it, let's open the floor now to predictions for where this is all headed...)
Other stuff:
-- Jim in a tuxedo provided two important things for my family. First, it gave me the rare pleasure of watching one of Jim's jokes backfire; it's nice to see him squirm for once. Second, the act of watching Jim in a tuxedo for a half hour actually increased my wife's fertility levels 9000%. I sneezed during the show and I'm pretty sure she's pregnant now.
-- Wow, I could really use a few more promos for Parks and Recreation! Speed bumps on a slide! Get it? Get it!?
-- How great was Steve Carell tonight? Michael is a complex creature -- even Carell doesn't always manage to find the right balance between childlike wonder and schizophrenic craziness -- but tonight he nailed it. There was so much going on in Michael's head leading up to his resignation, and every bit of it was on his face. Somebody should throw him a party that has ever-shrinking strippers popping out of a series of smaller cakes.
-- Has Kelly achieved Andy and Creed status yet, where you get excited every time she's on screen? I think I'm ready to say yes she has.
-- A small admission: I've been saying for years now that I'd like to see Michael held a bit more accountable for his actions at the office, just for realism's sake. And you know what? About ten minutes into the show I actually hated Miner for doing just that. Does this make me a hypocrite? It most certainly does.
As always, you're comments are like bagels cut into little C's to me.
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 2)
3-20-2009 @ 3:11AM
SJ said...
Miner is almost as ruthless as Stringer Bell. *Kinda* wish Idris Elba was playing something different than a no-nonsense serious businessman. Oh well, he still did a great job.
Best part was seeing Jim squirm.
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3-20-2009 @ 7:22AM
Chris W said...
Agreed on Jim. The smug shrugs can only get him so far.
One thing I'm not too clear about is why Michael quit when he did. Was he so expecting David to cancel his party that he didn't hear what he actually said? Or did he have a mature realisation that there was a bigger issue and David didn't "get it"?
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3-20-2009 @ 11:09AM
Happy Steve said...
It really seems like the latter. I think when Michael said out loud "It's been 15 years. I deserve more." it finally sunk in.
3-20-2009 @ 8:22AM
sarajlewis said...
Longtime reader, first time commenter, blah blah blah....
To respond to your question about Michael's relationship vis a vis the management at Dunder Mifflin, I think last week's Willy Wonka debacle is comng back to bite Michael in a big way. Not necessarily the Wonka promotion, as it was shown to have been a positive thing overall for DM; moreso the argument between Michael and Dwight in the presence of David Wallace, and the revelation to Wallace that Michael had schemed to throw one of his own employees under the bus. Indeed, that's no way to manage people, and I think with Wallace it hit home that Michael, though a competent salesman, definitely needs more oversight. The hiring of Charles Miner may or may not have been a done deal by then, but I guarantee that Miner's job description was tweeked following that.
Just my two cents, of course.
Reply
3-20-2009 @ 8:36AM
Ryan said...
Also Miner oversees all the Northeast branches, so directly managing Michael is only part of his job. He did say he does things the same way at every branch, so it's not inconsistent with Michael's branch being the top earner right now.
3-20-2009 @ 12:08PM
Dan said...
I think you're right. They saw that Michael's actions could cost a ton of money and felt the need for a no-nonsense business manager to oversee him and his counterparts.
I thought this was one of the best episodes this show has had. Maybe it wasn't that funny, but it was fully realistic and it had me absolutely focused and worried about the results. What happens now that Michael is gone? Does Dwight take over the office because Jim's actions in the episode? Does Charles come and work in Scranton as the new manager with disasterous results? What happens when Michael leaves, does production go downhill? AWESOME episode and I can't wait for the next one.
3-20-2009 @ 8:40AM
Jason said...
OK, this is a strange comparison. However, in Season 2 of Battlestar Galactica, they introduce a new captain, Cain (of the Pegasus, and she becomes Admiral) and she comes in and starts bossing around the crew and pointing out all their flaws. She's right, but you hate to see an outsider messing with the disfunctional family you've come to know and love.
That's what happening here. Without the space battles, but with a healthy dose of awkwardness.
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3-20-2009 @ 8:42AM
marcel said...
that cold open was classy.
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3-20-2009 @ 9:16AM
edgore said...
I dunno...it was trying really hard, and that can sometimes be not classy...
3-20-2009 @ 9:52AM
Moedean said...
My guess having the new corporate district manager has less to do with Michael and the branch, and more to do with filling the position that has been vacant since Ryan got fired. But it did seem somewhat odd since just a few episodes ago Michael was on a tour of other branches to share his management style. A simple exchange between the black George Clooney and David Wallace about corporate's frustration over the Willy Wonka incident, and Michael acting like a child, might have gone a long way.
Also, wasnt Jim actually made the number two at the branch after the merger? I know that storyline never really went anywhere, and some time has gone by since then, but I even remember Jane recognizing the position and her not Michael giving him that role. Maybe even then it was a fake position she created to not give Dwight or Michael power.
Reply
3-20-2009 @ 12:10PM
kip said...
@Moedean: "Also, wasnt Jim actually made the number two at the branch after the merger?"
This bothered me too. Jan made Jim the #2 in the office after the merger, because he was the only one that had experience with both teams. And he does have real responsibilities--when Michael is gone, he runs the branch (and we've even seen this on 2 or 3 episodes!). Why couldn't Jim talk about that?
3-20-2009 @ 10:59AM
Joe said...
This was another one of those hard to watch epeisodes. I love it, but Michael makes me cringe.
The "classy" PPC scene was great!!
http://www.joeonthetube.com
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3-20-2009 @ 12:08PM
rusty said...
As someone else mentioned, the position had been vacant for awhile. I'm guessing that while Wallace had been pleased with the numbers Scranton was turning out, the Dwight incident last week reminded him of what an incompetent manager Michael happens to be. He had been interacting with him directly thanks to the fact that this position was empty, but now that things changed...he wanted to stop dealing with that. (Not to mention maybe he still had some guilt regarding the Holly situation...but the incident last week may have been the last straw.)
Also, one thing that drives me nuts about this show:
Its a two hour drive from Scranton to New York if traffic is good. How do these execs make it all the time in the middle of the day? Do they take the PATH and drive from NJ?
Reply
3-20-2009 @ 12:10PM
Dozus said...
Kevin mentioned he had used the wrong spreadsheets for Jan. & Feb. Could a major accounting error explain the Scranton branch's high yields?
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3-20-2009 @ 12:56PM
Diego M said...
he said he used 2008 spreadsheets. the dates were wrong the numbers were right.
the high sales and the high production of the branch is legit. i think they stablished that.
the only problem with the branch was the golden ticket stuff.
plus without jan michael has been talkin to wallace a lot i think he needs some distance after all he is the CEO but to have Miner there with his no nonsense attitude i think that's coldblooded.
they should've told him that michael is a special kind of manager and needs some freedom and he'll produce results. hilarious results that is... ok i'll stop
3-20-2009 @ 2:20PM
Dan Sarazen said...
Hmm, hasn't this been an issue before? Where Kevin was entering information in the wrong section of their accounting forms? I think we saw Angela correct him.
I'm still wondering about the validity of the Scranton Branch sales numbers and if it will come back as an issue future episodes.
We saw how the followed up when Ryan was double-entering the sales (D/M infinity.com AND manually.) They might see follow-up here.
As for the NEW mistake with the calendar, the end of March is the end of the first quarter. We may see a correction then, JUST in time for the summer break!
3-20-2009 @ 10:28PM
Corey D said...
David Wallace is the CEO of, not CFO. My biggest gripe is that David doesn't serve the role most CFO's play. I can understand that with the vacancy he had to be more involved, but typically CFO's don't have a hand in how the chain of command like they show in The Office.
3-20-2009 @ 10:30PM
Corey D said...
That's reversed David is the CFO, not the CEO.
3-20-2009 @ 12:27PM
MERVE-THE-PERVE said...
I loved Dwights Michael Scotch phone call to Davids secretary.
Reply
3-20-2009 @ 12:51PM
Sarah said...
I don't remember the line exactly but I loved the part when Michael said that he works best when there's no accountability.
And, I'm glad they addressed an issue that myself and everyone in the office I work in has always wondered; how can they afford so many parties? Apparently it was in the Dunder Mifflin budget.
Oh, and I just read the Spoilers Anonymous post and I hope its true!...and I hope its Pam.
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