Sun, 1 February 2009
From NBC.com:
STRESS RELIEF | 02.01.09 | 10:30 ET/7:30 PT | TV-PG L
 
STRESSED
OUT IN THE OFFICE - SPECIAL ONE HOUR POST SUPERBOWL EPISODE FEATURING
GUEST STARS JACK BLACK ("SCHOOL OF ROCK"), JESSICA ALBA ("FANTASTIC
FOUR") AND CLORIS LEACHMAN ("MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE") - After Dwight's
(Rainn Wilson) fire safety seminar goes awry, he must make amends to
the stressed-out office. Michael (Steve Carell) tries a number of ways
to get his employees to relax before discovering that he is the number
one stressor at work. So that people won't feel afraid of him, he
insists on a no-holds-barred roast of himself. Also, while watching a
pirated movie, Andy (Ed Helms) is convinced that Jim (John Krasinski)
and Pam (Jenna Fischer) are film gurus. Leslie David Baker, Brian
Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, Mindy Kaling, Angela Kinsey, Phyllis Smith,
Oscar Nunez, Creed Bratton, Craig Robinson, Paul Lieberstein and Melora
Hardin also star.
-------------- Well, here we are, ready for the big super-show tonight. Lots of questions remain: will the "guest stars" fit into the show? Will the the episode be extra "wacky" to try and appeal to this massive mainstream audience that will theoretically be sticking around to watch? Will Michael's roast be as predictable as it sounds (Michael throws the roast, no one wants to insult him, he insists, they insult him, he feels bad, everyone has to cheer him up, etc.), or will the writers surprise me as they have done many times in the past? Here's hoping for the best. Oh, and if you're not busy before the episode, there's apparently some football game or something going on.
Category:general
-- posted at: 12:54pm EDT
Comments[40]
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Apparently it\'s not possible to get fired from Dunder-Mifflin. You can get your branch merged and you can possibly get laid off in that process. But you can\'t get fired for incompetence or fraud. Look at Michael\'s incredible comments and behavior with Jan before they were even an item. Plus his behaviour at corporate over the years. Dwight\'s being called on the carpet at corporate a SECOND time and not being fired is unbelievable. And then their\'s Kelly\'s fraud. Corporate HR not backing up Holly. I know you have to suspend some belief for humor\'s sake but it\'s getting a bit ridiculous. I\'m with those who found this episode mostly cartoonish and felt empty afterwards. I didn\'t take Pam\'s anger at Jim\'s as catastrophic. Every member of a couple eventually does something to anger the other. It\'s not the end of the world. Their love story was slowly built over the years and it can take some normal emotions once they\'re together. The one thing I\'ve enjoyed the past few episodes is seeing some variety with Stanley\'s character. I\'ve been fine with his negativity because that\'s how they\'ve written his character over the years. But I\'m also enjoying a bit of change with him. Before - you never saw him smile except on pretzel day.
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Very good episode! The only thing that was a little strange is how people in the office seemed to actually hate Michael. Don\'t they know him by now? Did they have to hurt him like that? Michael\'s reaction reinforces my impression that he is a 10 year old kid in the body of a 40 year old man.
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I wouldn\'t want an episode like that every week, with a very different feel to it from the usual show (it used to be all about the uncomfortable silences and glances, remember?) but BY JOVE did I laugh! Didn\'t even realize it was a 40m episode until you guys mentioned it.
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That cold open killed me. I\'ve watched over and over, still laugh just as hard as the first time. I loved the chaos Dwight caused by yelling fire and cutting the phone lines and blocking the exits. Oscar climbing through the ceiling to get out and Angela throwing the cat, was classic. I do have to say that I loved how Jim took the copy machine and used it to knock the door down. Could that have been his excuse to get a new copy machine??? HMM!? The CPR training was another great moment.. Dwight costing the company more money. I did feel bad for Michael during the roast. I know that he asked for it, but I don\'t think that he was expecting it be that bad. He loves those people and sees them as family. Perhaps he should really think about what Holly told him when she said that the work people are not his family. Maybe based on what he heard that day he will change his mind about his relationship with everyone... Over all, great episode. It\'s on my top ten fave list....
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So here\'s the thing. There was something missing from the episode. I don\'t really know what it was but it just was different. I was almost like watching a different show. The same people were there but it didn\'t fit. I understand pulling back from the storylines we, the avid viewers, know so much about because of the Super Bowl, but was an episode that was missing the character of the show itself. Don\'t get me wrong, it had its moments, \"If it were an iPod, it would be shuffle.\" and Michael\'s comebacks at the end, but it was just SO out of place. I don\'t know, I think I\'m going to have to watch it again just to see if I\'m right or not. And see right there, that\'s sad, if I have to watch an episode again to see if my discontent is real or not; then something is wrong. I should want to watch an episode to relive it all over again.
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What saved this episode for me: a bunch of awesome one-liners, Steve Carell\'s performance and the cold open. What ruined it: the roast. Seriously, as if these people wouldn\'t know that what they said would upset Michael. And don\'t even get me started on Pam\'s penis joke, completely unnecessary. I\'m glad others liked it though, hopefully this episode will get them new viewers.
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Wow... I\'m surprised to see how many people really like this episode because watching it left me feeling empty inside. I mean, I\'ve come to expect a lot from this show, I\'ve loved it for a few years now and this episode\'s script just felt as if it had been written by an amateur. The ending felt rushed, as if the writer (s) had been planning something else but then decided that there wasn\'t enough time and just had... Michael walk back in, through some burns and everything is alright? As for the \"guest\" starts. Am I the only one who felt that it felt very forced? The inclusion of the movie had NOTHING to do with the office and felt more like a publicity stunt. They could claim to have all of these big guest starts in the show, in order the lure more people into watching. That entire plotline felt pointless. Yes, we see Jim loves Pam, but hello, we know that already. The roast felt very unnatural. I work in a similar environment and you don\'t say those kinds of things to the person you see every day or even work for. Also, a lot of the things the said, right to his face displayed a degree of cruelty that honestly felt very out of character for these people. Sure they would say these things about Michael behind his back, but the fact that they previously didn\'t do this TO his face put them above Michael\'s level. I find it hard to believe that Dwight wouldn\'t have seen more serious repercussions after his little stunt. Infact the entire fire scene wasn\'t funny but more horrific. How could there not be more serious consequences for Dwight causing that much panic and actually placing Stanley\'s life in actual danger? We\'ve seen in the past that the company\'s moral\'s are... questionable at best but this is just too unbelievable to let slide. Over all this episode felt to me, like a cartoonish, almost dumbed down version of the office geared to appear to the beer sodden post game crowd, which in my opinion, is a waste of one of the very few one hour episodes that we get. Two very sad thumbs down on this one but I look forward to your boy\'s take on it.
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I\'m re-watching it now and really enjoying it. Too much good stuff to mention. Opening was great. Stayin\' Alive dance party. Andy saying \"me lady, me tuna\". I\'ve already laughed more than I have all season. The best of Stanley clip fest was great. Too much post game crap on NBC. I wish it had started earlier. Wondering too when NBC and Apple decided to get back into bed?
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I really liked this episode it had a bunch of laughs, a bunch of jam, and Michael Scott in a turtle neck. And I\'m so happy they got new opening credits that had one of my favorite jam moments! And for Matt all I have to say is \"MATT CHEER UP BARACK IS PRESIDENT!\"
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I have to say that I love the way they put the guest stars into the show. I wouldn\'t have liked it at all if they were actual characters trying to fit into the office. This was a hard episode to watch because it didn\'t take long for me to start to really feel sorry for Michael. The other problem that I had was that I had Tivo\'d it and the super bowl went over and I lost the end of the episode. So I just watched the end on Hulu. I thought the end really tied it together well. Though I did think that it would have been more realistic for Dwight to just be fired, but I guess that\'s probably how Michael is still in his position, corporate doesn\'t seem to be able to commit to discipline (see also Meredith\'s paper discount)
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I think we should all take it for granted that an episode in this slot would aim at a wider audience - and I think it\'s unfair to hope that the writers don\'t. On the $5300: it was misheard and misstated - cause he\'s wasn\'t listening to Wallace, which happens many times in that scene. Remember Wallace\'s face! HA! And you know there\'s a very, very long list of things Michael has done way wackier than that. What about the walk to the window - \"the city\" - classic Carell! This is a big barometer for people like me who liked it: I laughed out loud and said \"wow\" aloud (the cat toss, Oscar falling through the ceiling, to start) many many times in one episode. And just to even out the love/criticism - I guess I\'ll agree that the bootlegged movie didn\'t go anywhere great - it wasn\'t terrible though.
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i\'m with you matt... as i said in the chatroom afterwards... this was just an awful eppy for me. one of the worst. if this was their attempt to draw in more/new fans - they missed the mark, imho. looking over the comments, i am in the minority - oh well. (but i did get my FoTC tix, matt - 8th row, center!)
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So...just managed to watch this episode after doing the hulu thing as usual, proper pain trying to keep up from England. Have to say best episode of this series yet! i was cracking up over the intro, thought it was mega funny with everything going on, espec michael throwing stuff at the window and the office getting mullered! not to bothered about the hooky film bit, but i think its getting set up for a wedding towards the end. Ending was a bit different to what i thought it would be, like matt said i thought every1 would be trying to cheer michael up so nice change at the end! Summary - funny stuff, the intro led into the main part and throughout and i think it would have gained alot of new viewers from those first time watchers! looking forward to the podcast (pls include the thats what she said bit!!)
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I enjoyed the episode, but definitely not the \"best ever\" or even best of the season, so I\'m with Matt. Had some good laughs, had some silly stuff, but it definitely was a little crazier than usual. I\'m not going to lie, my friends and I were rolling during the cold open, perhaps due to being a bit tipsy after the game. Favorite lines: \"Call it.\" --Kevin \"If it were an iPod, it would be a shuffle.\" - Pam
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I agree that this was not the greatest (or the worst) episode. It felt more artificial than most episodes (clearly trying to appeal to a mass audience, post-Super Bowl). I think that\'s particularly apparent in the cold open. I\'d be lying if I said that I didn\'t laugh very hard and very loud. Considering it in a general realm of what\'s funny, I thought it was hilarious. But in \"The Office\" realm of what\'s funny (where understatement and subtlety are the show\'s strengths), it was overdone.
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hey kevin and matt wow what do i say about this episode! it was everything i look for in an episode! great andy moments,great stanley and micheal interaction, great jim and pam, and a fantastic cold open!!! i really was so happy about the amount of laughs in this episode and definatly the best of this season if not the best since the dundies. i really think this episode made me have hope again in this show considering that i hated the duel and wasnt a fan of prince family paper. lets hope that every episode is as good as this one and the beginning of the season can kiss this episodes ass BOOM! ROASTED!
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\"Boom - ROASTED!\" \"That\'s what he said...because of gay.\" Loved the beginning with everyone going crazy. Loved Stanley\'s montage of freakouts. Angela throwing up her cat was hilarious. Jim and Pam were sweet... I thought they were going to go the way of so many other sitcoms (Pam freaking out that her parents are splitting up and then postponing the engagement) but I was definitely wrong. This episode is even funnier on a second viewing.
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I laughed at The Office for the first time in... um... a really long time. And I really, really laughed, not just at the cold open. So I am already much more inclined to be positive than maybe I would be on any other episode. I loved the Jam plotline. Loved, as in deeply, deeply adored. Bottom line, it was an excellent brand of non-generic tension, and more or less nicely suited to where Jim and Pam are in their relationship. (I do feel very sorry for Pam\'s mother, though.) Another important thing to note, particularly perhaps, for Matt, due to his Michael-love (and I say that with only respect!): Michael put himself back together this episode, and I was very impressed. Many episodes in the past follow the line of Michael does something horrible --> Michael gets torn down by whomever he wronged --> Michael gets put back together. In fact, I was even wondering, after the roast, how this last third was going to come about; who was going to come and put back all the shattered pieces. But miraculously (whether it was because of a tiny bit of maturity gained from his relationship with Holly, or the Prince Paper incident, or whatever) Michael managed to do it himself. (One caveat: loved the turtleneck look on Steve Carrell, hated it on Michael. Very glad Dwight called him on it.) I hated the movie thing, though. NO ONE, except perhaps a Mr. Leachman, should EVER have to see that much of Cloris Leachman.
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Matt, I have got to say, that was the best episode in a very long time for the office, and probobaly the best this season, not to mention my favorite cold open(we all knew Angela loved her cats, but who knew? And Kevin breaking the vending machine was priceless!). This is the kind of writing that I miss from The Office, and look forward to more episodes like this. Though Jack Black\'s movie plotline felt a bit forced, I thought it was quite funny. Also, saw a teaser for the new Amy Poehler show. FINALLY. How long has it been? 2 years? Ah well, at least It looks funny.
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Ohmyword I haven\'t laughed this hard in forever. My whole family watched this ep together (following the Bowl) and that whole CPR/dancing/creepy dwight sequence was just so. freaking. funny. Yes, it was a little crazy, but I loved it. Also, I figure that if they have to use guest stars (to get attention) putting them in the movie plot like that is a good way to do it; I don\'t think I could handle Jessica Alba actually in the office--too distracting. (And Creed would just DIE.)
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Overall, I really liked the episode. The opening fire scene was HILARIOUS, and there were a lot of other funny parts, too, although probably more in the first half of the episode than the second. The pirated movie stuff _was_ shoehorned in, but at least the movie itself was really funny. The episode gets a solid B+ in my book.
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Overall, I too enjoyed this episode. There were some really over the top moments, but I was expecting this episode to feel a bit different. While I was excited about the new opening sequence, I also felt a bit sad. I know change is good, but it definitely made me realize that this was going to be a different episode. I wonder if they\'ll continue to use this new title sequence. I loved the beginning but was getting worried after the first ten minutes or so that this was going to be a not so great episode after the introduction of the \"movie\" plotline. The entire movie plot was a waste of time in my opinion. And what was with all the shots of Cloris Leachman\'s feet? I hate feet and am scarred from those shots. And I felt there was a bit of a \"Did I Stutter\" feeling to the main plot. But the last few minutes made it all worthwhile. The Jim/Pam moment had me tearing up, and Michael brought it home with his roast.
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This was a brilliant episode from Michael willing Stanley to stay alive because \"Barack is President\" Michael saving Dwight\'s job twice! \"No one should come to work to die, that is what a hospital is for!\" The Stanley clips of him going nuts was great. So many wonderful lines and moments too many to mention. Finally what I really liked was the fact that EVERYONE GOT A MOMENT IN THE SHOW!(Kelly dancing to staying alive was fantastic!) I can\'t wait for the podcast of this show!!!! I even enjoyed the pirate movie stuff that was in it and I think the fact that they didn\'t over kill the pam / jim stuff was great!
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Wow, what a weird episode! The open was ridiculous, but I don\'t think I\'ve laughed harder at the Office in a while. If it was another show or a scene in a movie or something, I\'d have no criticisms, except that it is insane, even for Dwight, to do something that psychotic. Oh well, it\'s supposed to make us laugh. A lot of lame jokes & flat one-liners that just didn\'t fall. Does Michael actually that 3500 dollars is actually five thousand, 300 dollars? Would Dwight truly go berserk on a CPR dummy like that? Ok, & that \"guest starring\" movie was a cheap, crappy unfunny joke. I swear they must have filmed a parody movie for SNL or 30 Rock, but no one wanted the footage, so the Office just figured the lamest way possible to integrate it into their show. One thing that bugged me is that there was NO resolutions with past plot lines. Whatever happened to dealing with Meredith\'s drinking? Why haven\'t Dwight, Angela & Andy said a word about the whole breakup thing in 2 weeks now? However....the entire roast plot line & the Jim/Pam plot line were great! I know it\'s becoming repetitive, but I like the fake-outs. They keep doing them well & it puts reality into the relationship. Also...they had lots of snow this time.
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Aw man I got nothing but positive things to say - just watched it a second time cause I\'m that much of a fan. I\'m calling this one in the top ten episodes ever. Add all these up: \"Boom: roasted,\" \'resuscitate\' and \'heed,\' organ donor and Dwight\'s knife, the awkward delivery on \"that\'s what he said,\" the Phyllis-Dwight signature showdown. Plus small lines like Creed\'s \"That\'s where I know you from, I met you in the parking lot,\" and Kelly\'s bizarre dancing when Andy starts singing. I gotta disagree with Pete above - the $5300 line was a really, really funny quick line: just watch Wallace\'s face! Hilarious! Michael\'s saunter to the other side of the table, leg on chair to the window, saying - *sigh* - \"the city.\" And of course I\'m calling it the best open ever: Angela\'s secret cat \"stash,\" the cat toss and fall. Oscar jumping in and falling through the ceiling - c\'mon - amazing! I think the writers were going for a let\'s-get-everybody-going-nuts theme - I mean, they had it to do it big for the slot. It worked! Credit due to Paul the head writer on this one!
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Overall I liked the episode, plenty of LOL moments. Could\'ve done without the movie plotline, and I agree with you guys. The \"Jim/Pam appear to be on the brink of disaster just to fake us out\" is getting very, very old and tired. Again, other than those two things, I really liked the show.
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Hey Matt First comment of the night. Wow. Gotta set the tone right. Definitely a highlight of the season. The cold open was probably the most insane thing they\'ve ever done. Can\'t wait to see it again for all the visual gags I missed although Angela tossing her cat into the roof is I think the best visual gag of the series. Dwight continues to show how much of a freak in the CPR session he is. And while the plot points you mentioned happened, Michael roasting everyone at the end was a creative twist to the proceedings. As for Jim and Pam, if they kept all their moments and jettisoned the completely useless movie plotline, it would have been one of their best moments. After this ep, hopefully Daniels and Co. will hold strong to their \"no celebrity guest stars\" policy. Glad to see a new credit sequence that finally shows the entire cast, the spot for PARKS AND RECREATION looks great and Thursdays ep looks great with the return of preggo Karen. And I\'m sure Jim is NOT the father, so let\'s get that out of the way. In short, an above average ep that\'s marred with pointless stunt casting.
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