The Office

[Sprry75]

I'm just kidding, Neal.  No worries.

[Neal]

I'm just kidding, Neal.  No worries.

None here either.

[Matt]

As a ball sucker, I'm not really good at explaining myself (usually all I can manage is "mmmmfrffrmfffrrmbbllt," or if I've had a few drinks, "ssshllsssshslrrthtbbllt")

If you're gonna be a ball sucker, you might as well take some pride in your work--and Sprry's the best there is.  My hat's (and pants) off to you, good Sir.

---

I love the show, but I do agree with you guys somewhat in that there's something just a little off about this season compared to last (tall order, living up to Season 2 - that's one of the best seasons of any given show I've ever seen in my life--nearly every episode was a classic).

I think most of it can be attributed to the whole Stamford thing.  With Jim being gone, there was nobody to keep Dwigt and Michael in check, and the Jim and Pam relationship (arguably the main focus of the whole show) was put on pause.  Plus, we were spending a good chunk of those episodes with Jim at the Stamford branch, with a whole bunch of people we didn't know, so yeah, it felt weird. 

So that may have been the point--that everything felt weird without Jim around.  Granted, "weird" doesn't necessarily make for "good TV," but my guess is that the further we get into this season, the better the episodes will get.  The Karen/Jim/Pam love triangle (or rectangle, if Roy's back in the mix) will shake itself out, as will the whole Michael/Jim/Dwigt/Andy thing.

So I do agree that up to this point, this season hasn't lived up to the standards that Season 2 set.  But we're only halfway through Season 3 - and it's still way too early to throw the "jump the shark" phrase around, in my opinion (for the record, I'm guessing the show will JTS when Jim and Pam eventually get together).

[Matt]

The Show That Jumped The Shark Halfway Into Its Third Season returns tonight!

"Back from Vacation"

A refreshed and rejuvenated Michael returns from his Jamaican vacation with an interesting photograph which circulates around the office. Meanwhile an awkward moment arises when Pam is caught in the middle of an argument between Jim and Karen.

Airs: Thursday January 4, 2007

"Dwight, what is that on your stomach?  Is that a Muppet Babies tattoo?"

[Deanpaul]

The scene with Dwight and Pam where she was crying is what I've been missing in the recent episodes.  He seemed like a character there, rather than a caricature.  It was short, sweet and his timing on asking her if it was that time of month was perfect.  I really enjoyed the episode tonight.

[Mikey D]

I almost died when he took off his jacket, thinking he was going to put it on Pam and then ties it around his waist because it was hot. 

[Sprry75]

I would probably bitch about it if I could, but I had to work late so I missed it.  But Mrs. Sprry75 said it was a pretty good episode.

What are the odds of Pam and Karen hooking up?

[Mikey D]

What are the odds of Pam and Karen hooking up?

[Kevin] Nice [/Kevin]

[Matt]

Schrute-Space

January 04, 05:33 PM
Dear World Wide Readership

Best wishes and Happy New Year from all of us at Dunder Mifflin Paper Products and Schrute Farms! (Note the exclamation point! I really mean it!!)

Before I speak to you about my new years resolutions for ‘07’, let’s go over some past resolutions and their current status.

‘99 – quit biting fingernails.
Outcome? Done. On it. Haven’t chewed them since. Ever. Not one nibble. Even when I get a hangnail.

’00 – increase farm productivity by 18%.
Outcome? Schrute Farms had a record harvest that year surpassing ’99 by over 21%. Home run.

’01 – increase farm productivity by additional 4%.
Outcome? Not achieved. Profits increased by 7% but productivity when down by 2.5 %. It was a very dark time. Things got kind of ugly. (This was the year Mose gave up his moto-cross dream and hunkered down and committed to doing some serious beet farmin’.)

’02 – be more social.
This was the year I got into online gaming. Also began 4 year championship laser tag run. Went on more than 3 dates. Spruced up wardrobe. Switched deodorant to the kind that the sailors use.

’03 - write and record my songs and music.
Outcome? Not necessary. Decided against it. Waste of time. Songs are for children and inmates. Switched resolution to increase farm productivity by additional 3%. Achieved new resolution.

’04 – find mate.
Outcome? Dated more than 2 different women during this calendar year. Kissed approximately one of them on the mouth.

Increased sales, was voted top salesman by Dunder Mifflin, won first ‘Dundie’ Award ™, increased farm productivity by 2.7%, asked for and received raise, spent Christmas with Michael Scott, took Mose to the international harvester exposition (and Indian casino), moved up to a daily regimen of 27 pushups and 85 situps.

Did not achieve goal of finding mate.

Am OK with that.

’05 – Can’t remember what I resolved to do.
These pages in my diary are covered in chocolate milk.

’06 – Become top regional salesperson third year running and achieve ‘assistant regional manager’ status.
Done and done. Also found potential mate. Also vanquished Jim. Purchased spud gun. Learned Klingon. Personally saved Scranton branch from being downsized.

And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for. Drum-roll please…. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr….

Dwight Schrute’s New Years Resolution ‘07

I, Dwight Schrute, resolve, in the year 2007, to display more wisdom and benelovence to my inferiors.

It is said, keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Well I say, keep everyone as close as possible to you because you don’t know who is your friend or your enemy. Keep the people below you even closer if that’s possible. Even if they have to be inside you.

Remember: they work for you. They must respect you. If you can fool them into thinking that you really care, you can get them to do anything for you. Even kill if necessary.

Now I’m not saying I want Ryan or Kevin to kill a competitor or Andy or anything, but it would be nice to know that they would if I asked them to.

What are your new years resolutions. You can reply by clicking on something below.

That is all.

Dwight K. Schrute

’02 – be more social.
This was the year I got into online gaming.

I would probably bitch about it if I could, but I had to suck balls late so I missed it.  But Mrs. Sprry75 said it was a pretty good episode.

Funny--I didn't think it was all that great, but I was having problems with my TV antenna, and was pissed about that, so that could have been the reason.  Dwigt "consoling" Pam was easily the funniest scene.

[ruiner]

Dwigt "consoling" Pam was easily the funniest scene.

The only funny scene.

[Mikey D]

This line was my favorite

’04 – find mate.
Outcome? Dated more than 2 different women during this calendar year. Kissed approximately one of them on the mouth.

The only funny scene.

Definitely the funniest, but I don't know about the only one.  I was laughing when Toby was mentioning all the people who sent him the email, including his ex-wife.  And Andy cutting Phyllis' head off with a chainsaw and then making the chainsaw sound.  I'll agree that it wasn't the best episode ever (made more difficult by following the greatest episode of Earl ever), but it was still better than most of the drek on TV nowadays.

[Brian]

Definitely the funniest, but I don't know about the only one.  I was laughing when Toby was mentioning all the people who sent him the email, including his ex-wife.  And Andy cutting Phyllis' head off with a chainsaw and then making the chainsaw sound.  I'll agree that it wasn't the best episode ever (made more difficult by following the greatest episode of Earl ever), but it was still better than most of the drek on TV nowadays.

I liked some of the other stuff you mentioned as well Mikey, and I kind of enjoyed the whole opening sequence with the tape recorder.  The Muppet Babies tattoo got me for some reason, I remember that show .  I have to agree, I think that was the best Earl yet last night.  Then followed by the Office and Scrubs, probably our two favorite shows on now, it makes for a nice Thursday of TV viewing.  30 Rock isn't too bad either, and fills out the comedy block pretty nicely.

[Matt]

New episode tonight!

"Traveling Salesmen"

It's time for Michael to revisit his roots with the company as he hits the road for sales call duty. Meanwhile, Dwight attempts to cover up a crucial deadline missed by Angela while Karen is in for some surprising news.

"I'd like you fellas to meet Ryan Howard.  I'm 'onna let Ryan do a little pitch for you while I do my crossword puzzle.  Ryan?"

[ruiner]

Last night's episode was one of the better ones this season.  I enjoy the ones where Michael 'shines' and shows why he still has a job.

Jim and Dwight make quite the sales team..

[Brian]

I really enjoyed last night's episode as well.  The "Amazing Race" pair ups were good combinations, and I enjoyed each one of those.  Its funny how well Jim and Dwight worked together, and for one of the few times, I actually felt for Dwight by the end of the episode.  Definitely a good one.