FAMILY BUSINESS -- Michael and Dwight (Rainn Wilson) go undercover to do a bit of industrial espionage on a paper company competitor. Meanwhile, the rest of the office holds a debate to settle the question: is Hilary Swank hot? John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, Leslie David Baker, Phyllis Smith, Angela Kinsey, Ed Helms, Kate Flannery, Brian Baumgartner, Creed Bratton and Craig Robinson also star.

I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, so to speak, but this episode description doesn't exactly fill me with confidence. The infiltration plot sounds like BRANCH WARS (will Michael and Dwight bust out the mustaches again?), and really, an entire subplot talking about Hillary Swank?  OK, Office crew, I'm trusting you to deliver a good episode despite the somewhat iffy plot summary.

No big shocker, but NBC officially announced yesterday that they are renewing THE OFFICE for the 2009-2010 season (along with 30 ROCK).

As for the still unnamed Amy Poehler non-spinoff show, TV Guide gives a few more details:

This much we know: NBC's new and as-yet-untitled comedy starring Saturday Night Live alumna Amy Poehler as the chairwoman of the Department of Parks and Recreation in a small Indiana town is not a spin-off of The Office — even though that is what Office exec producer Greg Daniels originally was asked by the network to explore.

According to the article, the show will use essentially the same "mockumentary" format used on THE OFFICE and will share much the same comic sensibility (Poehler's Leslie Knope is also a clueless boss with an exasperated staff). Thankfully, the two shows will never interact with one another:

"Actually, theoretically, we can't," Michael Schur, an exec producer on the new show, tells TVGuide.com, "because Rashida Jones is playing a different human being — unless [the new show's] Ann Logan and Karen Fillipelli are identical twins who don't know the other one exists." Are the new show's bosses at all bummed that these worlds can never collide? "The network might be more disappointed than I am," Daniels tells us, adding, "I've never been a huge fan of those kinds of stunts."

The article also confirms that Rashida Jones will reappear on THE OFFICE in an episode airing some time after February 1st. Poehler's new show is set to debut on April 9th.

Will there ever be a TRUE spinoff to the show? Greg Daniels had this to say to the folks over at EW:

"It's not possible, physically, for me to be involved in it right this second, but I'm talking to people over at The Office about another idea, and [The Office's British creator] Stephen Merchant came back and directed an episode of The Office so were were talking about the idea," Daniels told critics at NBC's annual Television Critics Tour on Thursday. "It's possible that some combination of other Office people could produce it without my giving blood for it."

Michael Ausiello over at EW.com is reporting on what he calls an "exclusive" -- Greg Daniels admitted that they want Amy Ryan to return to the show.

"She will come back," says Daniels. "We haven't written it yet, but we're discussing her coming back for the season finale. We're hoping she'll be available."

Daniels went on to say that he's "very open" to working out a more permanent Office arrangement with Ryan. "Because [Michael and Holly] have such a deep connection, I don't think she can blow in and out every so often," he explains. "It would be too hard for him as a human being. So, we're hoping to find some very significant things for them. And if we can get her to sign on for a really long period, we'll do it."

While this is good news, and I am all about Holly returning, IS this truly a confirmation of anything? They WANT Amy Ryan to return, and they're TALKING about it, but nothing has been officially decided.  I'll exude more geek-joy when something is down on paper.

For Hollywood funnyman Steve Carell, who spends his summers in Marshfield, the Marshfield Hills General Store was an opportunity too good to pass up.

"This is much more of an emotional investment than a business one," Carell said of his recent purchase of the store.

"I saw an opportunity to help to preserve a little piece of history," Carell said in an e-mail. "I also felt that places like the Marshfield Hills General Store represent a gathering place, and give people a sense of community. These spots are growing more and more scarce. I hope to keep this particular one alive and well."

Carell learned the store was up for sale in October, when his sister-in-law Tish Vivado went to California to visit Carell and her sister, actress Nancy Walls. According to Vivado, who lives in Marshfield, Carell had always been interested in being part of the community. Carell purchased the store in November and the ownership changed hands on New Year's Day.

The store now is being run by Vivado and staff of four people. But they could get some high-profile help in the summer, when Carell plans to take an active role in the day-to-day activities.

"I will be manning the cash register, and stocking the shelves as time permits!" wrote Carell, a Massachusetts native. "For the time being, however, I am looking to give the building a bit of TLC."

NBC sent out a press release announcing that actor Idris Elba (best known for playing Stringer Bell, everyone's favorite MBA-earning drug kingpin on HBO's THE WIRE) has been hired to appear in at least six episodes of THE OFFICE this season as a "new no-nonsense hire at Dunder Mifflin's corporate office that will throw Michael Scott (Steve Carell) into turmoil."


 Kevin and I have both been asking for a new character to step into the Jan/Ryan role, and this sounds like it could be just the thing to breathe yet a bit more new life into the show. One has to wonder, though, just how they will play this-- In any "real world" scenario, Michael would have been fired years ago. Since we need him to stick around, just how "no-nonsense" will this new boss be? Will he just be early "Jan" in male form? Or will Michael actually find himself in some serious trouble? Only time will tell, I suppose, but I'm really looking forward to how this plays out.

Read the entire press release HERE if you're so inclined.

A FIGHT TO THE FINISH - The office is on eggshells because Andy (Ed Helms) still hasn't found out about fiancee Angela's (Angela Kinsey) affair with Dwight (Rainn Wilson). When Michael spills the beans, Dwight and Andy take matters into their own hands. Meanwhile, Michael is nervous about being called down to corporate for a meeting with Wallace (Andy Buckley). John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, Mindy Kaling, Phyllis Smith, Oscar Nunez, Creed Bratton and Paul Lieberstein also star.

Well, Kevin and I both said we didn't want to see this drag out all season, so I am very excited to see this resolved so quickly and can't wait to see how they pull this off without Andy getting himself sent back to anger management.

As always, leave your comments below and join Kevin and me in the TWSS chat room after the show.

Well, we still have a few weeks before the next new episode of The Office airs on January 15th, so Kevin and I were thinking of trying to squeeze in a retro episode next week. The only problem is, we don't know which episode to do next!


Here's where you guys come in-- In the comments below (or by e-mail, if you'd prefer), tell us WHICH retro episode you'd like to see us do and explain WHY you'd like us to cover that particular episode.  It's just that easy.

You've got about a week to send in your reply, and the "winner" (aside from having Kevin and me review the episode of their choice) will receive major props on air, as well as a free copy of the book THE OFFICE AND PHILOSOPHY (a $17.95 value!).

Get your entries in ASAP.