Meglos

CPA-ESQ.

I think this episode was a bit of a stinker. The daycare sub plot missed the mark. And the David Wallas "Suck it" thing was a bit dumb.

But I suspect that most everyone here will continue to rave about the Emperor's Clothes

Tracer Bullet

I'm starting to get a little tired of Jim and Pam... hopefully the baby will make their relationship interesting again.

I'm also not a fan of the Erin/Andy subplot. It smells of the writers trying to recreate the Jim/Pam storyline, and it just doesn't work. Andy seriously just needs to come out already. That would be much more interesting.

Drav3n

with the way they have hinted at it so much, im surprised they havent turned him gay already... maybe they feel it would be overload between him and oscar?

Seantn

I know what you're saying and I could see them thinking that, but it'd be sad if they thought that having 2 gay characters in an office full of straight people would be "overload".

Gizmo

You want 'classic' (good) Office? Go watch Parks and Recreation!

Gizmo

Wallace seemed exactly how an out of work, highly paid exec would be - a bit crazy and unsure of what to do next in his life. Even his Wife was asking him if he left the house etc. It reminds me of whatshisface from Office Space making the 'Jump to Conclusions' mat.

JuryDuty

LOL I am always amazed at the comments for the Office. More than any show they're divided week-by-week, corresponding to the various senses of humor on this board.

Just FYI, this was John Krasinski's directorial debut (that's the writer, Jennifer Celotta, next to him):

siddd5

Krasinski should stick to 'looking dumbfounded' instead of directing.

Sex Fiend

I thought the episode had some funny moments - the Michael and David Wallace scenes primarily. But I also agree that the show is a shadow of what it used to be. It took a left turn away from realism a few seasons back, and although there are occasional nods to it since, it has never really regained that quality which made it so great the first few years of its run.

I did think the whole concept of the Sabre takeover and instituting its own policies that go against the grain with Michael has possibilities to produce some good plots that are grounded in reality. But like Fat Tony said, I wouldn't be surprised at all if they completely desert that storyline after three episodes or something, and the show is soon back to the same absurd formulaic style into which it has drifted these last few seasons.

Goldblum

The fact that they got Kathy Bates to ply someone who wasn't herself took me out of it.

bluetoast

Yeah, after seeing Christian Slater in the vid introducing himself, I expected Kathy Bates to be "herself" at the end of the vid.

Gizmo

How did Slater get permission to be on an NBC show when he is starring in an ABC (Disney) one?

Rob V

What?? It turned away from realism?? It's funny because it's NOT real. The issue is that it's just borderline stupid now. The jokes used to be subtle... now they might as well start talking about farts.

story

Five Internet Dollars says David Wallace's "Suck It" product really takes off by the end of the season.

Double or nothing, when Michael learns about "Suck It" doing well he tries to get in on it only to have David tell him off the way he's always wanted to.

uteotw

Loved it. Really seemed to be hitting on all cyclinders. C. Slater asking if you've ever "tasted a rainbow" (with Jim's look after) was great, as was Pam's blunt "Is this because Jim saw you using the bathroom?" So much great awkwardness...

Stu 17

the first might happen but most likely not. the 2nd definitely wont.

andicus

Why has David always wanted to tell Michael off? I've always had the impression that he liked Michael. In fact, he was very hesitant and saddened in The Deposition to have to say anything that would hurt Michael's feelings.

redskull

I noticed that too. Probably because he's a big-time movie star now.

There's an episode in the Season 5 (I think) DVD box set that has an alternate opening that features the entire cast. Not sure why they're not using that one every week.

Boba Fett

I loved the classic Jim response to it: "Come on man, you still use the little toilet? Why didn't you just lock the door?"

maingon

that was a great scene, so awkward.

esc24

That was done for the Superbowl episode. I guess they wanted to include everyone since they knew it would have a huge audience. It's kind of messed up that they only added Ed Helms but nobody else. He's definitely a bigger name than a lot of the supporting characters, but most of them have been there longer and have about as much screen time as Helms. It just seems kind of messed up to keep out everyone else especially when they still have BJ Novak in the opening even though he's had about 5 minutes of screen time this whole season.

As for the episode yeah it was pretty bad in terms of The Office but still better than most comedies. I never would have thought that The Office would be the weak link in NBC's thursday night comedy block.

bluetoast

Then again why was Jim that interested in seeing the bathroom facilities?

kstublen

I lost it when Jim said that if they couldn't get the baby into the daycare center it was "Off to the Army...the Infantry."

Pretty solid episode. The stunt-casting of Kathy Bates was unnecessary, but she was fine in the role. I just hope that her being cast in the role doesn't prevent them from using the CEO in the future. Slater was pretty funny in the infomercial.

I actually liked the Jim and Pam Daycare Center storyline. Thought it was great how they said it must be going badly because Jim saw him in the bathroom because they were such nice people; his response of them not being as charming as they think seems to echo what a lot of people feel about the couple now. Jim showing a little bit of aggression with the line Boba Fett quoted was gold.

I think some of the changes are probably unnecessary. The site blockers makes sense, but the water bottles is a little ridiculous. How about instead have people use reusable plastic cups? Those big aluminum bottles not only prevent other people from getting water (as we saw, which was pretty funny), but are bound to make the water taste awful.

Thought it was great to see Michael in a better position and acting far more reasonably than David Wallace for a change.

At least they are trying something different with the show and moving it in a somewhat different direction. Michael having to adjust or else will definitely provide for some great comedy - Kathy Bates isn't like the idiots that ran Dunder Mifflin; they kept him around because he was the only good (productive) part of the company, but she really does seem like she'd just as soon fire them all than put up with his crap.

Count Dooku

Who gets credited and who does not is all a matter of contracts and salaries. And often it doesn't make any sense --look at House, for example.

As a credited cast member of The Office, BJ Novak gets a paycheck for every episode whether Ryan appears in it for 10 minutes, 10 seconds, or not at all. They are not going to fire him --he's also one of the show's producers. And he would be a total fucking idiot to voluntarily give up the money.

Ed Helms being added to the credited cast was definitely a result of his higher profile after the success of The Hangover. He's probably receiving more movie offers, and if they want him to turn any of those down to film Office episodes, he let them know that he would need an increase in status and more money.

I always thought it was odd that Rainn Wilson was second credited before Krasinski and Fischer, but he had more television experience than them, and was able to parlay that into better billing.