The Funcooker

Oscar has an announcement, I do believe

Michael forces Oscar to provide potentially grim news using a “Savannah” accent. Apparently, Dunder Mifflin is running low on greenbacks.

My Thursday is complete. Parks and Recreation resumes with its second season, The Office returns with season six, and the premiere of Community, starring Joel McHale and Chevy Chase, all begins tomorrow night! Catch it!

Best use of a Bass Solo - Andy Bernard

The Office: Heavy Competition

Through the tenure of The Office, we have witnessed the many characteristics of Michael Scott, the boss. The positives are there. But it’s the train wreck-inducing negatives that make the character so compelling. And it makes you wonder why a person that displays such idiotic, narcissistic, selfish, racist, anti-feminist, etc. attributes at the work place, has been able to successfully manage a company for 15 years. Well, aside from being extremely loyal, passionate and knowledgeable about the paper industry, he is quite frankly, a damn great salesman. In Heavy Competition, Michael more than proves the latter, planting the idea that perhaps Michael Scott Paper Company can thrive after all.

The Good: Dwight’s loyalty to Michael has always been one constant on the show. Even with Michael starting a rival paper company, Dwight secretly meets with his former boss at the back alley, willingly giving up client information. That loyalty becomes tested after Charles begins to show appreciation for and favoritism to Dwight, and eventually severed after a betrayal that motivates Michael into stealing Dwight’s biggest client. The very rare Michael/Dwight feud starts out with simple sabotage, and escalates into ruthless and cut throat tactics. Their metaphor-laden phone conversations was the highlight of a very entertaining “Master-Apprentice War for the Big Whale”. Also, the cheese puffs intro was genius. You need to see it for yourself.

The Bad: The minor storyline between Jim and Andy was the weak link of the episode. After failing to book his acapella group for the Jam wedding and still harboring the effects of his failed engagement, Andy insists that Jim and Pam will go the way of he and Angela. Pretending to take this to heart, Jim leans on Andy in a series of faux shoulder-crying, soul-pouring acts. It culminates in a heart to heart moment where Jim ensures Andy that the right woman is out there for him. While the intent was there, the prank comes off a little too mean spirited, and the execution falls flat.

With minimal resources, and unorthodox methods such as color coding his Rolodex to avoid client catastrophe, Michael still is the best paper salesman in Scranton. Even proving it at the expense of Dwight, the best salesman of Dunder Mifflin, by netting his biggest client. Far removed are the days where episodes remained stagnant and pointless. These last few episodes of The Office have been satisfyingly story-driven, setting up a great final month of narrative. The answer to “Which company prevails in the end?” may not be so obvious anymore.