pmb145

I'm excited to see how its going to play out between Roy and Jim. Maybe Dwight's purple belt will come in handy.

dirtyrascal7

So I just got home from watching Blades of Glory... and for the rest of you guys out there who also have a slight crush on Pam (Jenna Fischer)... I highly recommend you see it.

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"Tie yourself to your limitless potential, rather than your limiting past."

"Every man I meet is my superior in some way. In that, I learn of him."

MexicanOnABike

http://www.tvgasm.com/newsgasm/news/...na-fischer.php
check it out! for the ones who think pam's cute!

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ratbastid

There's also a great article in the episode about The Office. The feature article is about companies exposing their inner workings on blogs and wikis, and then there's this side article about this small Northeastern paper company called Dunder MIfflin that has brought a documentary crew into one of their more dysfunctional offices, and how sales have gone through the roof as a result. Hysterical!

Daval

On Two Continents, A Paper Partnership Unfolds


SCRANTON, Penn., March 31 — Michael Scott has a large banner hung across the Dunder-Mifflin branch office he manages here, emblazoned with the colors of the Union Flag: WELCOME BRITISH INVADERS.

“It’s like the British Invasion,” Mr. Scott cheerfully explains. “Dunder-Mifflin and Wernham-Hogg, we’re going to be like the Beatles! The Beatles with Elvis. Because Elvis is American, and the Beatles are not. And actually, Elvis would probably get top billing. You know what? We should change the banner.”

Increasingly threatened by ruthless competition from major office suppliers like Staples, U.S. paper company Dunder-Mifflin announced last week that it will merge with U.K.-based paper supplier Wernham-Hogg, which faces similar competitive trials in Europe. The $250 million deal is expected to close by the end of May, after which the companies hope to increase efficiency and expand opportunities for cross-selling their products.

Curiously, both firms have been the subject of TV documentaries in their respective countries. A BBC crew followed a Wernham-Hogg office in Slough from 2001 to 2003, while a team of documentarians from NBC has chronicled the lives of Scranton’s Dunder-Mifflin branch since 2005.

With both firms pledging no further layoffs, employees on either side of the Atlantic have greeted the merger with varying degrees of optimism.

“I’m very excited,” Mr. Scott said. “It’s going to be a partnership. Two equal partners. Except that our side will be better. Because we’re from America. America is a bigger country, so of course we’re just naturally going to be better. Plus, we’re not sitting around all day, you know, drinking tea. We’re more productive. Hey, anyone up for a Starbucks run? Coffee? Anyone?”

“Michael seems very enthusiastic about the merger,” said salesman Jim Halpert. “Very enthusiastic. I think he found some kind of British slang site on the Internet, but I’m not sure how much of it he read. He keeps going around saying he’s going to ‘take a butcher’s’ at the ‘apples and pears.’ Just those two phrases, over and over. He had to apologize to Angela [Martin, a fellow employee], because I think she got the wrong idea about what he meant.”

In rainy Slough, Berkshire, Mr. Scott’s British counterpart is also looking forward to his firm’s new era of trans-Atlantic cooperation.

“I see it like World War II, yeah?” said Wernham-Hogg regional manager Gareth Keenan. “The British and the Americans, fighting together, side by side, united against a common enemy. Except that no one’s dropping bombs on us, I guess. Which is good. Because I wouldn’t want to come in to work, and be, like, ‘Oh, I can’t use the copier, because someone’s dropped a bomb on it. And, like, Keith and them over there in accounting were caught in the explosion. And now Keith’s guts are all jammed in the machine, and it doesn’t work, and I need to make copies.’ That would be bad.”

Mr. Keenan then looked at the copier for a long while, making what sounded like explosion noises under his breath.

“I think it’s brilliant, yeah,” said David Brent, the previous manager of Wernham-Hogg’s Slough branch, now a freelance business consultant. “Mergers. Synergies. Meeting of the minds. It’s like, each company is a sandwich, right? And you take half of one sandwich, and half of the other, and you put them together to make a new sandwich. A better sandwich. Delicious. Novel. Unless it’s peanut butter and ham, because that would be disgusting. But they’re both paper companies, so I guess that would be like a ham sandwich and… another ham sandwich. Maybe a fattier kind of ham. Not that I’m saying Americans are fat. But they are, you know. Bloody porkers, the whole lot of them.”

Not every employee of each company seems quite so upbeat about the merger, however.

“I’ve gone from being a salesman at a company struggling to sell paper to people who don’t want it, to a salesman at an even larger company, struggling to sell even greater amounts of paper to even more people who don’t want it,” said Tim Canterbury of Wernham-Hogg, absentmindedly rubbing the wedding band on his finger. “Which, on their part, is an absolutely brilliant business move. Textbook, really.”

“I don’t trust them,” said Dwight Schrute, Mr. Scott’s assistant, from his desk at the Scranton branch of Dunder-Mifflin. “The British, I mean. Can I go off the record? I want to go off the record here. I’ve been receiving faxes from … let’s just say, very highly placed sources, regarding certain … transactions made through Wernham-Hogg by certain internationally notorious figures.” Upon hearing this, Mr. Halpert, at the neighboring desk, suddenly became very absorbed in Dunder-Mifflin’s latest catalog, while receptionist Pam Beasley appeared to be attempting to stifle a laugh.

“I don’t want to name names,” Mr. Schrute continued, “but … Saddam. Hussein. You heard me.” He nodded solemnly. “I’ll be keeping a very close eye on them, I can tell you that. Is that still off the record? Because you can put that on the record. That last part.”

“I’ve always wanted to go to England,” Ms. Beasley said, smiling shyly. “But, you know, I never had the money. So I guess it’s nice that we’ll be getting a little bit of England here. It’s funny, you know. You get so wrapped up in your life, and you never stop to think that way across the ocean, there are people just like you, in an office just like yours. You know, the same sort of desks. Same kind of coworkers. Same relationships.” She seemed to briefly glance at Mr. Halpert. “Friendly relationships. Friendly working relationships. Friendships. I meant to say ‘friendships.’”



Source

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"It is impossible to obtain a conviction for sodomy from an English jury. Half of them don't believe that it can physically be done, and the other half are doing it."
Winston Churchill

Daval

Nobody like the article? I thought it was hillarious and really well written.

__________________
"It is impossible to obtain a conviction for sodomy from an English jury. Half of them don't believe that it can physically be done, and the other half are doing it."
Winston Churchill

MexicanOnABike

it is. I guess i forgot to reply. i thought it was funny but without knowing much of the brittish version, it's hard to laugh at all the jokes.

on another note: the offfice tonight . it's back!

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Daoust

Only 5 hours to go until the new Office. Yippeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!

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I have faith in a few things - divinity and grace
But even when I'm on my knees I know the devil preys

pig

i just realized i have the hots for jan too. damnit, and a jan and karen sandwich would allllllllright.

but is pam about to get crazy and go pursue jim? put her big ole buzoongas up in his face? goddamn it - karen needs to get rewarded for being totally awesome.

/will volunteer

i enjoyed this episode quite a bit.

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MexicanOnABike

well now we know that Pam and Roy are OVER. and I mean for good. but i'm not sure Jim wants to be with Karen much. she seems too annoying. "go sell some paper so we can go on a trip!" just when Jim was saying something very important to him. bleh..

And yes, Jan +Pam +karren sandwich

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Daoust

This was such a good episode. Michael was hilarious. Dwight was hilarious. Darryl was hilarious. Creed was hilarious. Toby was hilarious. Even Kelly and Ryan, who I don't find funny, were hilarious.

The story, or the lack of story, with the JAMMAGE was frustrating to me. I don't know why Jim was mad at Pam for Roy attacking him. It wasn't Roy's fault. Pam just showed balls by telling Roy. Jim wanted to keep it secret. Suck it up, Jim. Fancy New Beesly is speaking her mind. She's saying it as it is. Jim, time to step up.

Bippity boppity. Make it hap'n cap'n.

__________________
I have faith in a few things - divinity and grace
But even when I'm on my knees I know the devil preys

pmb145

Last nights episode was great. I loved the ending when Dwight maced Andy. This is a great show.

dirtyrascal7

After last night's episode, it seems like they're building up for another Pam/Jim moment during the season finale... only this time with Pam initiating it.

__________________
"Tie yourself to your limitless potential, rather than your limiting past."

"Every man I meet is my superior in some way. In that, I learn of him."

pig

yeah, i think she's going to bring her a-game and fuck up my karen situation. damnit.

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Moskie

Great episode... Darryl was my favorite. I think this episode shows how much he (both the character and the actor) is being under-utilized. His timing and attitude were flawless!

And I think that's a good point about this season ending with another "Jam" moment. It's a shame that it takes a whole season to get this far, but the ride is a blast, so I can't complain.

Toby was great, too. Can't wait till next week...

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ratbastid

The whole thing about being tortured by the proximity to Ryan and Kelly was great.

Michael: Come on.
Toby: What? Where are we going?
Michael: Where are we going? I'm going to smack you in the head with a hammer. Come on.
Toby (glances at the partition): Okay.

guthmund

I don't really like Toby, but he had two of the better bits in the whole episode. The "Genius" line earlier on and the back and forth with Michael Ratbastid just mentioned. Very low-key, very funny.

I also thought the story device with Michael and Wikipedia was pretty damn funny as well. I had a boss just like that about 10 years ago...

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laconic1

I like Darryl's character as well. It was funny when Michael kept talking to the camera about how he would get in a position of power in that situation, and Darryl was able to take the power from Michael every time. He should be utilized more. Michael wearing a womans suit was hilarious.
Andy is back now too, I'm looking forward to seeing what happens with that.

dirtyrascal7

It wasn't a woman's suit... it was at least a bisexual suit.

__________________
"Tie yourself to your limitless potential, rather than your limiting past."

"Every man I meet is my superior in some way. In that, I learn of him."

Daval

The whole womans suit bit had me laughing really hard, the rest of the episode was great too, but the womans suit bit was the best.

__________________
"It is impossible to obtain a conviction for sodomy from an English jury. Half of them don't believe that it can physically be done, and the other half are doing it."
Winston Churchill

pmb145

Last night's episode was probably my all-time favorite Office. I've been worried a few times this year and I've been annoyed by Michael being a little over the top, but this was awesome.

Daoust

Interesting observation pmb145. I found it to be one of the slower episodes. If this episode was in S2 people would have said it was a disaster, but it seems to fit fairly well in S3. It had funny parts, I liked the betting stuff, and the Michael Dwight stuff on the roof, but it wasn't my favourite episode.

But, did anyone else notice the Jim and Pam interaction in this episode? And that they were standing next to each other in the parking lot? Oh, that parking lot...so much has been revealed there. My prediction is that the parking lot is where Pam will tell Jim she loves him, S3 finale...

__________________
I have faith in a few things - divinity and grace
But even when I'm on my knees I know the devil preys

pig

i enjoyed this episode quite a bit. my favorite so far are the 3 or 4 around the merging of the branches, but this one was pretty decent.

and karen didn't seem to are much for the comments about jim always being at pam's desk...i'm guessing/hoping she's going to back off and tell jim to knock it out, take his chance. jim and pam hook up. its great....but then the "crying game" takes over, and jim finds out pam is a man in drag. he is devastated. karen, meanwhile, decides she wants to try it out piggy style, and voila! el pigglet is introduced to the show in a cameo role. 3 eps into season 4, karen leaves the show to live with me on raymond burr's private island, and the rest of the show can do whatever in the fuck it wants to do.

le fin.

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laconic1

"Micheal is going to kill himself, pretending to kill himself"

This wasn't one of my favorite episodes. I did like the betting, especially the bet Ryan won when Kelly talked to him for ages about how Netflix works.

MexicanOnABike

this episode was allright. not the best this season.

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dirtyrascal7

I agree this episode was probably in the lower tier of this season... but I still laughed out loud a few times. We are so spoiled by the awesomeness of this show.

__________________
"Tie yourself to your limitless potential, rather than your limiting past."

"Every man I meet is my superior in some way. In that, I learn of him."

silent_jay

Decent episode, not great but not terrible. The Netflix bet was hilarious, changing the apple on Creed was funny as well. My favourite line though "Dwight you ignorant slut"

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Derwood

had it's moments, but no way you could follow up the awesomeness of "The Negotiation". That episode was one for the ages

MexicanOnABike

argh! why did they skip a week!? onto the next one plZ!

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Daoust

If you're big on spoilers, like I can be at times, you can go to www.officetally.com and find synopses for the remaining three new episodes for the season.

If you don't want to be spoiled, you can still go there, because there's sweet info.

__________________
I have faith in a few things - divinity and grace
But even when I'm on my knees I know the devil preys

Daoust

Okay, time to wind up this thread again, because the third last episode of the season Women's Appreciation is up tomorrow night, and I do believe it's supersized. It starts at 7 Central, 8 Eastern.

Lot's of chatter in the Office forums about how this year is going to wrap up. Seeing as Product Recall and even Safety Training were SO HORRIBLY JAMLESS we are wondering aloud if JAM will indeed get together this season or if the writers will only tease us till next season. No doubt they'll give us something, but from what I hear of the spoilers, the focus will be more on Michael and Jan than Jim and Pam in the next three eps.

__________________
I have faith in a few things - divinity and grace
But even when I'm on my knees I know the devil preys

laconic1

I liked this episode a lot. Michael's trip to the mall with the ladies was memorable. I was laughing so hard when he said he didn't like it when Jan made him wear the skirt or when she pretended she didn't hear him using the safe word. Wrong, I know, but funny. And the part at the end with the wishing well, and what he wished for each of the ladies. Courage for Pam, a brain for Kelly (that had me laughing out loud too), and I think he said a heart for Angela. I think there will be a cliffhanger JAM moment in the finale like there was last year, but not too much more JAMMAGE this season unfortunately.

ratbastid

!? Did you miss the subtext of that whole thing at the mall?

Karen was pushing for Michael to work it out--every relationship has tough patches. Pam was pushing him to dump her--you shouldn't be with someone you're not happy with. They weren't talking about Jan. They were talking about Jim.

MexicanOnABike

ha! that part was awesome! when she looked at karen all akwardly...
I didn't expect mike to break up with jan. that was weird.

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laconic1

I think subtext is a french word that means "things crazybill5280 is oblivious to." I'll have to watch the episode again. Although I did catch the part at the beginning of the show when Pam was talking about how Roy would have given the ass-kicking of the century to any guy that exposed himself to her - especially Jim.

dirtyrascal7

I caught a little teaser about the next episode today as I was watching the Kentucky Derby... it looks like there will be plenty of JAM action to quench our thirsts. I can't wait.

__________________
"Tie yourself to your limitless potential, rather than your limiting past."

"Every man I meet is my superior in some way. In that, I learn of him."

pig

no goddamn it. fuck pam. give me my karen. you people and your comic yearnings for this jam business. damn you all!!! drive karen off the show and i'll do something. i don't know what, but it won't be pretty.

drat and double drat!

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dirtyrascal7

Didn't Ryan say something about asking Karen out in this last episode? That would be an even more interesting love triangle... Karen/Ryan/Kelly. Oh man, I really hope the storyline explores that for a while.

__________________
"Tie yourself to your limitless potential, rather than your limiting past."

"Every man I meet is my superior in some way. In that, I learn of him."

pig

now that's true rascal, he did mention that. i could moderately handle that...would keep karen on the show longer, and that's really all that matters. i can see a reasonable argument on the relative attractiveness of pam and karen; i can't see kelly fitting in. not the same leve to me; her character is just too fucking annoying. i rather like the cast as it is; i hope they don't get rid of too many more people via downsizing or whatnot.

looking forward to seeing what happens with jan. i hope she comes back begging and that michael actually gets to have some hand...but he's such a fucker that i just can't see it yet.

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pmb145

I hope Karen is back next season. I like the dynamic between her and Pam.