Ah, vintage Office. A tight, well-nigh packed half-hour of comedy gold, with little to no padding. It's really kind of beautiful.

Thursday's episode, the first half-hour episode after a season-opening run of sometimes great, sometimes shaky hour-longs, hit a lot of really good notes for me. It featured classic Michael, convinced he could do better than corporate and getting frustrated at every turn, some good light PBJ moments and, one of my favorite things about the new season, extended Dwight-Andy interaction.

And, no small thing here, it left me wanting more.

(Spoilers coming right up, and you don't even need a Second Life avatar.)

Dunder Mifflin is making a series of ads for its local branches, emphasizing its non-big-boxiness, and Michael -- screenwriter and star of Threat Level Midnight -- is understandably excited. He has a vision, something edgy, "MTV on crack." And of course, he's utterly dismissive of the ad-agency professionals corporate has sent down.

See, the company is producing the same ad in all its markets, with only the final five seconds turned over to each local office; as the condescending ad guy explains, "You don't have to wave. You can clap, you can be sitting, stand inside, outside, whatever. This is where you really get to be creative."

Quixotic Michael throws down a challenge to corporate ("And thus Michael Scott sealed his own destiny -- in a good way"), saying that if corporate (that is, Ryan and Ryan's boss) doesn't like the ad he makes, they can send the agency back and they'll do their five-second wave at Michael's expense.

And though Michael insults Darryl's jingle (I liked the soul-ish second version, myself) and screams at Andy and reduces Phyllis to tears, and even though corporate rejects him, darn if Michael's ad wasn't pretty decent.

Sure, maybe it's not the best idea to put your lone African-American salesman in a prison jumpsuit (though Stanley didn't seem to mind seeing himself on screen), and maybe the slogan "Limitless paper in a paperless world," however poetic it may be, kind of points out how obsolete the business is. And yes, it used the Chariots of Fire theme. But the visuals and the general idea of it all: actually pretty good (as of this posting, the ad hadn't made it up onto NBC.com. I'm sure it will be there soon).

We saw the ad courtesy of Jim, who has been on a beneficent kick of late thanks to Pam (it's gotta be Pam, right?). Even his pranks this season have been fairly benign, and I love how Pam busted him on his Second Life avatar: "You're a sportswriter in Philadelphia? Nice build, too. ... There's a guitar slung on your back; I didn't know you played guitar." (Cue Jim, looking totally uncomfortable and found out.)

That's as far as the Second Life story went, though I'm sure those of you who take part in such things can find both Dwight and Philly Jim in there somewhere. It's kind of a lot of work to go to make Jim look embarrassed, but the payoff was pretty darn good.

I'd relate all the details of Andy's attempts to get past the necking stage -- "literally necking, like rubbing-slash-nuzzling our necks together" -- but frankly it just creeps me out. What I'd rather do is list all the attempts Andy made to complete the Kit-Kat jingle: "Break me off a piece of that": applesauce, Chrysler car, football cream, lumber tar, Snickers bar, Grey Poupon, Claude Van Damme, Nutrasweet, Fancy Feast ("it has to be something that rhymes with 'piece'").

And now, another list, of more highlights from the episode:

• Ryan: "It's like, maybe you can cook, but you shouldn't open a restaurant." Michael: "I can't cook, and I am opening a restaurant. Mike's Cereal Shack."
• Angela: "I find the mystery genre disgusting. I hate being titillated." Of course she does.
• Michael's entire unicorn story, which both made me laugh really hard and kind of want to cry a little bit. Sort of like unicorns themselves.
• Pam's dedication to her animation, which also ended up looking pretty good. Pam must really be into this thing, because really, why else would she pull an all-nighter at the office. Here, let her explain: "I worked till 2:45 a.m., then I had to decide if I wanted to spend the night with Michael editing in the office, and Dwight watching Michael edit, or drive home and probably fall asleep at the wheel and die in a fiery car wreck. I passed out on the keyboard trying to decide."
• And, just before that, the totally sweet gesture of Jim bringing her an Egg McMuffin for breakfast. "Sorry," Jim says. "I looked away for a second and Creed snagged your hash browns." Cut to Creed licking his fingers.

Happy to have the regular-size Office back? Wish you had limitless paper in a paperless world?

Comments

I'd prefer the hour long Office... I do like Scrubs, but it is hard to find decent comedy on primetime (except NBC on Thursdays), and there should be more room. The ad was good... in fact, other than the Geico commercials, it is probably the best one one in a while. Too bad I'd still rather buy everything online from big box stores.

AC | Oct 25, 2007 10:23:16 PM | #

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For me, the moment of the night, outside of all the usual Office antics, was Kevin: "I kinda know what it's like to be in commercials. In high school, my nickname was Kool-Aid Man." cue the Kool-Aid Man face!

ceecee | Oct 26, 2007 6:02:17 AM | #

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Thought this episode was a gem. That line "And thus Michael Scott sealed his own destiny -- in a good way", was one awesome, classic Micheal Scott as was the line about Mike's Cereal Shack. Both were perfectly deliverred.

I'm glad Ed Helms stayed and love the directions they've taken his character, turning to Dwight as his kinda idol when all the while he is getting in the way of Dwight's happiness. The creepy moment they shared when Dwight found out Angela was moaning 'D' when she and Andy where doing whatever it is they were doing was precious.

Also, thought the irony of the commercial itself was well-executed and all too tru in that corporate was trying to show itself as the company that was about people and not like the big box stores but the way they chose to execute that was by having 1 commercial for all their offices with only 5 seconds devoted to the actual people that worked there.

Lats, I loved Jim's comments about people wonderring what Dunder-Mifflin actually sells. "Some think it's mufflers, some think it's donuts. Consider we sell paper ..... I don't usually correct them."

Oh Jim oyu sweet jaded bastard.

sac | Oct 26, 2007 7:26:48 AM | #

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Liked the return of the half hour episodes. But the one thing that bothers me about the Office is that fact that keep on saying that paper is an obsolete medium. I know its used for effect to show Dunder Mifflin is outdated, but what is outdated is their business model not paper itself.
Offices are using more paper than ever and in conjunction with electronic records.
Just a pet peeve.

JJ | Oct 26, 2007 7:28:30 AM | #

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What's up with Second Life lately? Its on The Office and CSI:NY.

Doane | Oct 26, 2007 12:17:58 PM | #

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I was very happy to see the return to the half-hour format. You pack a lot of comedy in thar short time span and leave people wanting more. I still can't think about Kevin's Kool-Aid face without laughing out loud!

Jason | Oct 26, 2007 12:35:43 PM | #

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one of the best lines all time
micheal: Ryan is being a real bitch

matt | Oct 26, 2007 12:56:51 PM | #

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im sorry little bitch

matt | Oct 26, 2007 12:57:18 PM | #

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you just got nard dog-ed

matt | Oct 26, 2007 12:57:54 PM | #

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Loved how Jim jumped in and immediately instructed everyone not to tell Andy what the ad was for. His impish little look was priceless.

Loved the ad and its illogical but catchy motto.

I think this was the best ep of the season so far.

Sam | Oct 26, 2007 1:00:17 PM | #

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The Office and 30 Rock make up the best hour of comedy on TV.

How Steve Carell and Alec Baldwin, each with SAGs and Golden Globes, not have an Emmy yet..I will never understand.

| Oct 26, 2007 2:28:56 PM | #

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I loved the "Oh, D!" part. I understand why you'd find that creepy, but I loved that part.
I loved the "World's Most Creative Boss" note.

Billiam | Oct 28, 2007 9:38:15 PM | #

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Loved it, loved it, loved it! Especially the soul version of the Dunder Mifflin jingle and seeing Kelly in a sari for her part in the commercial. Priceless. Sigh. I heart this show.

Girley | Oct 29, 2007 6:59:07 AM | #

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I'm surprised nobody mentioned that when Pam stayed overnight at the office, Jim had to catch a ride home with Meredith. There was a shot of the poor guy hesitating at getting into a car with the "sex queen." She yelled at him, "Piss or get off the pot!"

Dianne | Oct 30, 2007 1:08:02 PM | #

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Kelly's glee at being called upon by Michael to do makeup for the commercial was perfect.

Sue | Oct 31, 2007 6:59:27 AM | #

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