The Office

Synopsis: Everyone wants to hear the story of how Michael told David Wallace to stuff it. Of course, now that there’s a story from Michael they actually want to hear, he’s totally botching it. “The revolving door … broken!” The employees are disappointed that Michael didn’t go out in a blaze of glory. Maybe Oscar will have a quitting story someday. He’ll dream until then. We all know how much Michael screwed around at work when he was actually giving the effort. But now that he’s in the lame-duck two-weeks notice phase, he’s really living it up. He’s drinking Scotch […]

Synopsis: At the end of last week’s episode, Michael decided to take a detour on his tour of Dunder Mifflin branches, hoping to get some closure in his relationship with Scranton’s former HR rep, Holly Flax. When he and Pam arrive at the Nashua branch, however, they find that Holly is not there — and her current boyfriend, a salesman named A.J., is. In the face of this emotionally devastating development, Michael decides to proceed with his sales lecture, which quickly devolves into a Q&A regarding A.J.’s relationship with Holly. After hearing that Holly never asks about him, Michael makes […]

Synopsis: The main storyline this week follows Michael and Dwight as they go undercover to investigate a small family-owned competitor, Prince Paper. Michael enters the establishment under his favorite alias, Michael Scarn, pretending to be a brilliant but sometimes stupid local business owner. Ten minutes later, Dwight arrives as a disgruntled Dunder Mifflin employee looking for a new job. Despite their hamfisted espionage, Michael and Dwight find the Princes to be very trusting and forthcoming with information — so much so, that they’re willing to hand over their client list to two complete strangers. The Princes also happen to be […]

Synopsis: It’s a new year at Dunder Mifflin Scranton, which can mean only one thing: new candy! Pam has stocked the front desk with Hot Tamales. Oh, and Andy still doesn’t know about Angela and Dwight’s affair. Angela’s still not ready to tell him about it, so that responsibility falls to Michael, who decides to spill the beans mere seconds before leaving to discuss “big picture stuff” with David Wallace in New York. That leaves Jim to deal with the inevitable fallout. A duel is scheduled, with Angela to be awarded to the winner — an arrangement she seems eerily […]

Synopsis: It’s once again time for Dunder Mifflin Scranton’s annual Christmas party. This one is going to be different, though, because it’s the first one that Phyllis — not Angela — has planned. She has opted for a Moroccan theme, but making Angela miserable seems to be the real thread that holds Phyllis’ party plans together. Because she knows about Angela’s infidelity, Phyllis has decided to make the former party planning committee tyrant her own personal little … um, helper. Technically it’s not blackmail, since that would require a formal letter. The arrangement is short-lived, since Phyllis ultimately ends up […]

Synopsis: This week’s episode of The Office begins with some good news — news which Oscar needs to deliver three times before Michael understands it. There’s a $4,300 budget surplus, which needs to be spent by the end of the day to keep next year’s budget from being reduced by that total. Oscar suggests putting the money toward a new copier, while Pam wants new chairs. Teams begin to form, and surprisingly PB&J wind up on separate sides of the issue. Michael can’t make a decision, even with the help of Hank the security guard and David Wallace — the […]

Synopsis: How can things get any worse for Michael Scott? Holly has been forced to transfer back to New Hampshire, and now Toby Flenderson has been hired back to replace her. Despite his protests to David Wallace, Michael is faced with the reality that Toby isn’t going anywhere — unless Michael can frame him for sexual harassment or violence in the workplace. After trying and failing at both, Michael goes to Plan B, which is to buy a $500 bag of salad, which he believes is marijuana, and plant it in Toby’s desk drawer. When the cops come, Michael begins […]