Grid Effect

Someone needs to make a plea to NBC and Gary Daniels for Office episodes to be extended to a full hour. Last night serves as fitting evidence for the case to be made, it had a wealth of material, an underused cast and only thirty minutes of air time (twenty two after commericals).

So what did the network and the show do? They completely removed Andy and Oscar from the episode with no real explanation. Coinicdentally, they would probably have the best material for an episode that revolved around strippers. Andy, being the boorish dolt that he is would probably provoke everyone. And Oscar, being the lone gay man in the office, his presence alone would extract hysterical reactions from Michael, Dwight, and subsequently, Jim. But this is all hypothetical, as I have said the word “would” three times in this paragraph.

The material used in it was fantastic, that’s why I think the series would thrive in an hour long format. Watching the episode with my roomate, when little ad came on about going to NBC.com for deleted scenes, his reaction was, “That’s it?!” Though it was internal, I had the same reaction, tilted my head up to look at the clock and responded, “apparently”. I know it would be a break from the mold for a comedy, and would resemble the British version even less than it does now (though I think the producers are so fargone from attempting to pay homage to its predecessor that I hardly doubt this is a concern anymore), but it would generate more money for the network, the cast and crew on the show and kill an extra half hour for me on Thursday night. Everyone wins.

As for the episode itself, Michael’s overreaction to getting a lapdance, then calling his girlfriend/boss to report that he had a stripper at work for Bob Vance’s bachelor party was probably the most ill-advised decision ever, though it was influenced by the stripper herself with a elementary school lymiric, which Michael interpreted as sagwe advice because it rhymed. I’ll be surprised if no one voices a complaint about the stripper be dehumanized, but hopefully everyone realizes that Michael and Dwight are more pitiful and hateful.

Pam and Karen saw whatever firendship they had deteriorate with Karen’s probing about Jim and Pam’s history, followed by Pam’s unearthly awkward response to it. Pam was all kinds of uncomfortable this episode, with Karen and beforehand when offering advice to Jim about getting eight hours of sleep as opposed to six, and him replying, “great advice Beasley”. At first I thought she was trying deter him from those late night conversations with Karen (hence why he is tired), but she was actually desperately fishing for something (anything) to talk about.

In television and film women often use the “I don’t know what I want” card, and I always felt it was insincere. More of a ploy to keep multiple men chasing them that they may or may not have actual interest in rather than genuine emotional uncertainty . But Jenna Fischer really did sell this well and made it seem earnest. Now She appears to know eaxctly who she is aiming for, but the recent development is actually is quite disconcerning for me, I prefer too maintain my cynical view of the opposite sex, and I don’t appreciate pop culture or some charming character on a TV show tampering with that perspective.

Pam might have some, well, not worthy competition. But obsessive, at the very least. That stare down Karen was giving Jim, followed by that march to his desk for a prolonged hug, then the stomping right back to her desk without saying a word had to be a little unsettling for him. While Pam is portraying herself as disinterested by asking Ryan to set her up with “one of his business school friends”. Seems like she is taking a page out of the Tyra Collette playbook and letting him know that she has options.

Quotable Quotes:

“Shut! Up! Angela!” -Meredith, after Angela protests that Michael hire a male stripper. Ten times funnier because it’s only the second line I remember Meredith having. The other one from the christmas episode being, “No thanks, they’re to sweet”, after Kelly offers her a margarita.

Dwight: What do you prefer? Brunette or red head?
Jim (Still keeping his head down, motionless): Blond.
Camera pans to Karen, then to Pam, listening on with heightened interest. That’s some great self-awareness on his part.

“Jennifer Garner portrayed a stripper on Alias. One of her many aliases.” -Dwight, after Jim asks him if he has ever seen a stripper.

“Hey, um, stripper, can I ask you a question about… women?” -Michael

Again, good episode, but we need an extra thirty minutes before “That’s it?” becomes all too familiar.