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Season 3 episode 2. Michael and Dwight head off to the annual Northeastern Mid-Market Office Supply Convention in Philadelphia to meet up with Jan, Jim, and Josh (Stamford’s manager and “the Poor Man’s Michael Scott) while we see how the office-ites back in Scranton react to Pam’s date/availability.

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We start off with Michael in his office preparing for the convention. Items include: 3 pairs of pants, 3 pairs of socks, “fun jeans”, per diem, and 3 packs of condoms (”yeshhh…”). Dwight seems to only pack a neck pillow. On their way out, they ask Pam if she wants to give Jim a message. The message ends up being “um.” Um, um um um um bum bum-bum-bum!

In the break room, Creed tries to get a “Benjamin” aka “sheckles” from Angela (or as he calls her, “Andrea”). After insulting her, he eats her cereal and introduces himself to Meredith. LOL. What is the deal with Creed anyway? It’s like he’s been there for years. No one knows who he is and he doesn’t know who anyone else is.

Just after that, Kevin, talking about Pam’s availability, tells Toby that “so hit that” (soooo inappropriate!). What’s kinda weird is that later on, Toby, the by-the-book HR guy, almost asks her out. It seemed out of character to me.

Back at the convention again, we see Michael trying to recruit people, including Jerome Bettis, a BlackBerry, and a Hammermill rep, for his booze party (room 308). I want one of those Microsoft Office 2003 cabana shirts. In terms of the whole convention, I really liked how they had real companies there with real SWAG. Another thing I noticed later on, though, was that Michael has a standard clam-shell cell phone (doesn’t have email), but in season 2 he calls Ryan with a Treo (has email). He should have brought the Treo to show off to Josh. I think Jack Bauer has a Treo in season 5 (”Day 5″) too.

Back in Scranton, we get to see Pam’s double date with Kelly and Ryan. Ryan always looks so uncomfortable. Even more so than usual when he’s around Kelly. I think it may be because he only wears blue shirts and white shirts. “He loves ketchup.”

At the end, we see Michael sitting by himself in a room with blasting techno music, black lights, and strobe lights. Pretty sad. But at least now he thinks that he’s “best friends” with Jim.

I wonder when Jim will actually visit the Scranton branch. Maybe there will be more shifts in employment and some Stamford people will come to Scranton or vice-versa. I am still looking forward to knowing more about the people out in Stamford though. So far we only know two of their names (Josh the manager and Andy in sales). Until next time…oh god, I hope it’s urine.

Season 3 episode 1. The Office is back for season three! Last season we left off with wondering what would happen to Jim (and his possible branch transfer) and Pam (and her upcoming wedding with Roy). In this episode, we learn what happened during the summer as well as find out what happens when Michael finds out that Oscar is gay. This episode also lets us see some of the workers at the Stamford branch of Dunder Mifflin, Inc.

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The first thing we learn is that Ryan has now taken Jim’s position (and desk) as “junior sales associate at a mid-range paper supply firm.” I found this kind of odd because he seemed to be doing tech support (like installing file share on all the computers). He also had an iBook. Salespeople are not allowed to have those!

Jim “Big Tuna” Halpert, in the meantime, has taken a higher sales position at the Stamford branch in Connecticut–complete with a nice view and a new more serious, less funny Dwight-like sales buddy named Andy.

The next major thing we learn is that Pam bailed out of her wedding just days before it was supposed to happen. On the bright side, she (and Roy I assume) have five weeks worth of frozen leftovers (since she couldn’t return it). I’m not sure how she would store that much food though. On to the episode’s storyline…

Michael finds out from Toby that Oscar is gay after Oscar tells Michael that Shakespeare in Love is a better movie than Die Hard. After apologizing (after all, you don’t call retarded people “retards”…it’s bad taste), Michael ends up spilling the beans to the entire office.

Some funny character reactions to hearing of the news:

• Kevin: LOL
• Angela: “It explains so much.”
• Dwight: “Absolutely not. He’s not dressed in women’s clothes so…”
• Kelly: “It is so cool that you’re gay. I totally underestimated you.”
• Jan: *smile* *wave* Generic yelling at Michael.
• Creed: “I’m not offended by homosexuality. In the sixties, I made love to many, many women. Often outdoors, in the mud and the rain, and it’s possible a man slipped in. Would be no way of knowing.”
• Oscar: “No, I’m not gay.”

In Stamford, Jim plays the Jell-O joke on Andy. Unfortunately, Andy takes it much more seriously than Dwight and says he is going to lose his “freakin’ mind.”

Back in Scranton, Michael gathers the office workers to send the signal “Gay Good.” As a result, he kisses Oscar (eww!) to show that he is comfortable around gays. Dwight’s reaction: “Michael appears to be gay, too. And yet he is my friend. I guess I do have a gay friend.”

In a final effort to discover gays, Dwight uses his Gaydarâ„¢ (sent to him by Jim), supposedly from Sharper Image.

I’m certainly looking forward to seeing more of the new minor characters. So in conclusion, that’s what she said…or he said.

It’s Casino Night in the office warehouse! This episode is the season finale for the second season. Also, it was extended from the usual 20 minutes to almost 28 minutes. Overall, the episode had a lot of laughs (Creed!) and was quite groundbreaking in terms of the plot. Here’s my list of funny moments. The ending will not be revealed here since I think you should watch the episode yourself for that part.

• Mind control. Powered by umbrellas. “Oh my god.”

• “Well, they need our money. They don’t have cookies like the Girl Scouts.”
• “We are giving money that has been gambled. Why don’t we just deal drugs, or prostitute ourselves, and donate that money to charity?”
• Michael openly stating that he hates Toby and everything that he does.
• “Guys, the Afghanistananis.”
• “I hope to someday live in a world where a person could tell a hilarious AIDS joke. It’s one of my dreams.”
• Fleece it out. Goin’ Mach-5. Dinkin’ flicka.
• I wish I had telekinetic powers.

• Scrantonicity! Featuring Kevin Malone on drums and vocals.

• “Two queens on Casino Night. I am going to drop a deuce on everybody.”
• “Codename RE/MAX is here. No sign of Lan Jevinson.”
• “We must deceive them, so as not to hurt them. And in that way, we honor them.”
• “Oh, I steal things all the time. It’s just something I do. I stopped caring a long time ago. You should see how many supplies I’ve taken from this place. Honestly, I love stealing things.”

• I rolled an 8. Yeah! My prize:

• Jim loses to Pam. Notice Kevin’s gold bracelet…lal.

• “I won the 2002 $2,500 No-Limit Deuce to Seven Draw Tournament at the World Series of Poker in Vegas. So yeah, I’m pretty good at poker.” “Look I got all the clovers!”

• Michael’s dates. Attack of the clones!

• “Thanks, I’ve never own a refrigerator before.”
• Near the end. What happened? You should watch the episode.

What a great episode! This is one of my favorites this season and it kind of makes up for the slightly lackluster “Drug Testing” episode. In this episode, some of the more minor characters get plenty of lines; specifically Toby and Creed (who now seems to be a fan favorite). Gogogo with the episode highlights!

• “I’m in a band. We really rock.”
• “Clown paint…”
• Spud gun in a duffel bag shooting taters at sixty pounds per square inch.
• Michael touching Ryan’s clothes a little too much.

• “What do you know about conflict resolution? Your answer to everything is get divorced.”
• “A Mediator’s Toolchest.”

• “It’s kitsch. It’s the opposite of art. It destroys art. It destroys souls. This is so much more offensive to me than hardcore porno.”
• *click* *turn* “You’re all good.” “Great.”

• “There. No more conflict. I had to use win-lose on that. It was not pretty.”
• “Are you sure?” “Oh he’s sure. Just shoot.”

• “Creed is sick of looking at the redhead all day and wants a seat facing the receptionist.” “Nice.”
• “Here is a Kelly complaint. Ryan never returns my calls. Well, join the club.”
• “Then why is there a picture of a white man on the door?”
• “Very nutritious but they smell like death.”
• “Maybe we should get our photo ID taken together.”
• “Smile.” “No.”

• Dwight’s huge “Security Threat” ID.
• “My middle name is Kurt not Fart.”
• “Talk to Michael. I gave him the box.” “What box?”
• Jim’s several methods of annoying Dwight through the years. (Replacing pens and pencils with crayons, calling Dwight “Dwayne” for $5 per person, convincing Dwight that Dwight murdered someone, an abandoned infant in the woman’s room but seeing Meredith instead, Dwight hitting himself with the phone handset, “Dwight” –> “Daipers”, and slowly moving Dwight’s desk closer to the copier.)
• “Well, it’s a computer camera, right?” “You mean digital?”
• “Smile? Try to smile?”

They finally aired a new episode of The Office! Although this one wasn’t nearly as good as the previous two (”Michael’s Birthday” and “Bring Your Daughter to Work Day”), it’s still a lot better than most of the stuff on TV. Like my previous blog entry, I’ll be listing my favorite parts of the episode and post a few screenshots too. (Warning: Spoilers ahead!)

• Dwight dressed as a volunteer sheiff’s deputy.

• “Dwight finding drugs is more dangerous than most people using drugs.”
• “Stop! This is not Kelly Kapour Story Hour!”

• “I don’t think Michael’s ever done drugs. I don’t know if anyone’s ever offered him any.”
• “Have you ever…pooped a balloon?”
• Dwight’s interview getting taken over by Jim.

• “I do not think that is funneh.”
• “It has to be official. And it has to be urine.”
• “Kevin, what perscription drugs are you taking, besides Rogaine?”
• “Mine was green.”
• “I need your urine.”

• “I want him to have all the urine he needs.”
• Volunteer Sheriff’s Deputy –> Official Security Supervisor of Dunder-Mifflin, Scranton Branch (actually, an Honorary Volunteer Corporal in charge of assisting all activities security)

• “I’ll have to bring in my bo staff.” “I don’t think so.”

So last night was episode 19, “Michael’s Birthday” on The Office. The following are all plot points, so you should watch the episode beforehand. Highlights:

• Dwight calling Michael’s birthday the “most important day of the year.”
• Michael and Dwight “raising the roof.”

• “Well then I guess I forgot to give you a donut.”
• “This has arms. Is that all right?” “Sure…”
• Dwight, Ryan, Oscar, and Creed lift Michael in a chair. A Hebrew tradition.

• Eight-foot bologna, tomato, and ketchup sub.
• 69 Cup-of-Noodles.
• “Don’t expect any cookie.” (And Ryan’s corresponding reaction.)

• Oscar’s figure skating talents.
• Michael checking Toby into the glass.
• “Those things are like ticking time bags.”
• I LIVE STRONG for a yellow piece of paper around my wrist.
• “Well, apparently, in the medicine community, ‘negative’ means ‘good.’”
• “Thank you…Dwight, that’s great. Thanks.”