"That's What She Said" - Saying Farewell to "The Office"

Saying Farewell to The Office…

 

After nine seasons and 201 episodes, America is about to say farewell to the gang at Dunder Mifflin Paper Company as The Office airs their one-hour series finale this week. The show that made Steve Carell, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, and Rainn Wilson stars ends its run on May 16th.

The series depicted the lives of the employees at the Scranton, Pennsylvania branch of the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company as a documentary crew filmed them for a documentary entitled The Office: An American Workplace. Debuting on March 24th, 2005 as a mid-season replacement, The Office quickly rose to the top of NBC’s comedy lineup through both a cult following and critical acclaim. Never among the highest-rated programs on television, The Office boasted a devoted following second to none throughout its nine-season run.  

Anybody who knows me knows The Office is one of my favorite shows of all-time. I discovered The Office during the early portion of the second season and quickly found myself addicted to the wacky personalities within the workplace. The Office became appointment television. While the post-Steve Carell seasons were not close to the magic of earlier seasons, The Office still remained one of the premiere comedies on television. Even at its most ridiculous, The Office still showed levels of heart, character, and intelligence rarely shared by its television counterparts. I laughed with, cried with, and cared for the characters on this show as if they were really friends that I visited with every Thursday night on NBC. 

The Office cast from season 4-5
L-R: Ed Helms, Phyllis Smith, Kate Flannery, Craig Robinson, Paul Lieberstein,
Rainn Wilson, Jenna Fischer, Steve Carell, Creed Bratton, John Krasinski, Oscar Nunez, BJ Novak,
Brian Baumgartner, Leslie David Barker, Mindy Kaling, Angela Kinsey

I think one of the major reasons I related to The Office so easily is that I could recognize people I know personally in every character on the show. We all know the couple who should and ultimately are together, participants in that great love story like Jim Halpert and Pam Beesley (Halpert). I cannot tell you how many know-it-alls I have encountered who are brilliant about some subjects yet are naïve to the real world like Dwight Schrute. I know many people who have the same anger management issues and flighty sense of self-direction as Andy Bernard (myself included). I have met many people so caught up in trying to have the latest in innovation or in popular trends that they become a walking cartoon character akin to Ryan Howard or Kelly Kapoor. We all know uptight and hypocritical Christians like Angela Martin, well-meaning individuals who cannot escape stereotypical comments at their expense like Oscar Martinez and dim-witted people in positions they are not qualified for like Kevin Malone. We encounter stern individuals like Stanley Hudson, lushes like Meredith Palmer, caring matronly figures like Phyllis Lapin-Vance, and eccentric individuals like Creed Bratton on a daily basis. Personally, I see a lot of myself in Michael Scott, a man who joked a lot – seemingly innocent albeit inappropriate – sometimes to the point of going too far and facing repercussions from superiors in the aftermath. The Office was not merely a wonderful ensemble comedy with a vast cast of characters. The Office was a reflection of everyday American life and the melting pot we call society.

In looking back at the 199 episodes that have aired before the final two air this Thursday night, I am concluding this retrospective on one of the great comedies in American television history with some of my favorites from The Office. The following are my favorite quotes, favorite Dwight pranks, favorite individual moments, and favorite episodes in the history of The Office. 

Top Ten Office Quotes:
10. From "Fun Run" (season 4, episode 1)
Creed: "I've been involved in a number of cults, both as a leader and a follower. You have more fun as a follower, but make more money as a leader."

9. From "Sexual Harassment" (season 2, episode 2)
Michael: "Toby is in HR, which technically means he works for corporate, so he's really not a part of our family. Also, he's divorced, so he's really not a part of his family."

8. From "Product Recall" (season 3, episode 20)
Dwight: "I grew up on a farm. I have seen animals having sex in every position imaginable. Goat on chicken. Chicken on goat. Couple of chickens doing a goat. Couple of pigs watching. Whoever drew this got it exactly right."

7. From "The Alliance" (season 1, episode 4)
Pam: "I suggested we flip a coin, but Angela said she doesn't like to gamble. Of course, by saying that, she was gambling that I wouldn't smack her." 

6. From "Sexual Harassment" (season 2, episode 2)
Michael: [On the sexual harassment policy] "Times have changed a little. And even though we're still a family here at Dunder Mifflin, families grow. And at some point, the daddy can't take a bath with the kids anymore. I am upper management, and it would be inappropriate for me to take a bath with Pam. As much as I might want to." 
Pam: [Cut to shot of Pam] "He said what?!?!"

5. From "Michael's Birthday" (season 2, episode 19)
Kelly: "I never really thought about death until Princess Diana died. That was the saddest funeral ever. That and my sister's."

4. From "Business School" (season 3, episode 17)
Dwight: "I don't have a lot of experience with vampires, but I have hunted werewolves. I shot one once, but by the time I got to it, it had turned back into my neighbor’s dog."

3. From "Diversity Day" (season 1, episode 2)
Michael: "Abraham Lincoln once said that 'If you're a racist, I will attack you with the North,' and these are the principles I carry with me in the workplace."

2. From "Diversity Day" (season 1, episode 2)
Michael: "...some burritos or some colored greens or some pad thai."
Stanley: "It's collard greens."
Michael: "What?"
Stanley: "It's collard greens."
Michael: "That doesn't make sense. You don't call them 'collard people'... that's offensive."

1. From "Sexual Harassment" (season 2, episode 2)
Michael: "Attention, everyone! Hello! Ah, yes! I just want you to know that, uh, this is not my decision, but from here on out... we can no longer be friends. And when we talk about things here, we must only discuss work-associated things. And, uh, you can consider this my retirement from comedy. And in the future, if I want to say something funny or witty or do an impression, I will no longer, ever, do any of those things." 
Jim: "Does that include 'That's what she said?'" 
Michael: "Mmm-hmm. Yes." 
Jim: "Wow! That is really hard. You really think you can go all day long? Well, you always left me satisfied and smiling, so..." 
Michael: "That's what she said!!!"

Top Five Office Pranks:
5. Vampire Jim - From "Business School" (season 3, episode 17)



In the episode, directed by Joss Whedon, a bat flies around the office and causes mayhem while Dwight finds ways to catch it. In the process, Jim starts acting weird around Dwight. Jim claims to feel “strangely powerful” after the bat bit him and displaying signs that he is now a vampire. Dwight falls for it completely as you can easily tell from the look on his face that he is all in. According to Dwight, this does not mean Jim will turn into a vampire but only that he has the vampire blood in him. He also recounts a moment where he shot a werewolf once that turned back into his neighbor’s dog by the time he got to it. The whole thing ends with Jim leaving the office in a coat, claiming to be really cold. Dwight only wishes him good luck. He does not really do anything about it. However, the fact that he believed it completely is a victory for Jim. 

4. Jim's Impression of Dwight - From "Product Recall" (season 3, episode 21)



In the cold open of this episode, Jim comes in dressed up as Dwight - from the hairstyle to the watch. At first, Dwight does not notice anything. Jim starts to speak and nails Dwight's exact speech pattern. Dwight is interested when Jim brings up bears. Then, Jim lists the three things Dwight loves most: Bears, Beets, Battlestar Galactica. That is when Dwight realizes what Jim is doing, but appears initially unfazed by it. Once Jim pulls out a bobble head, Dwight cannot hold it in anymore and warns Jim that identity theft is not a joke, “millions of families suffer every year.” Jim just screams “Michael” the same way Dwight does and goes into his office. Jim dressing up exactly like Dwight was incredible. However, nailing his speech patterns and getting Dwight to talk about identity theft put this over the top.

3. It was Dwight - From "Tallahassee" (season 8, episode 15)



Dwight, Jim and a few other members of the office travel to Florida for Sabre’s new project in this episode. Dwight takes it upon himself to wake everyone up at 5AM to make sure they are ready for work, work that starts at 9AM. The best part about this is Dwight thinks he is going to ruin Jim’s sleep. However, Jim gets to him first. Jim wakes up earlier than Dwight and spends his time setting up his room to look like a murder scene. Dwight and Erin walk in and are horrified at the sight, especially a message on the wall reading, “It was Dwight” in blood. As if this was not enough, Jim falls out of his closet like a dead body to freak out both Dwight and Erin. 

2. Rockin' Robin - From "The Return" (season 3, episode 14)





After Dwight shortly left Dunder Mifflin for Staples in season 3, Jim chose to pull his pranks on the also-annoying new Scranton team member Andy. Jim stole Andy's phone and hid it in the ceiling. Then, Jim and Pam called the phone throughout the day. This drove Andy closer to insanity every time he heard the ringtone of his a capella performance of "Rockin' Robin" play. Ultimately, Andy punched a hole through a wall in what he immediately called an overreaction. While it was not on Dwight, this prank was one of the finest pranks in the entire run of the show.

1. Asian Jim - From "Andy's Ancestry" (season 9, episode 3)



In the cold open of this episode, Dwight watches as Jim walks into the office like any other day. There is one difference though: it is not Jim, it is Steve - an Asian actor friend of Jim and Pam. Dwight asks what he is doing and does not believe he is the real Jim. Asian Jim sells it really well though as he gets all of Jim’s dialogue and quirks down perfectly and answers all of Dwight’s questions correctly. He even looks into the camera the same way Jim does. Dwight is about to lose it when Pam comes along and kisses Asian Jim, telling him about the reservation she made for them at a restaurant. Then, the ultimate kicker comes when Dwight takes a family portrait off the desk and shoves it into Asian Jim’s face, claiming that the person in that picture is the real Jim. Dwight turns it around only to see that Asian Jim is in that too. The level of commitment shown to mess with Dwight in this prank is truly on an epic scale. The photograph puts this on a whole other level. 

Top Jim and Pam Moments:
One of the most endearing aspects of The Office was the realistic portrayal of an office romance between Jim Halpert and Pam Beesley. From the innocent flirting in the first season through the heartbreaking rejection in the season two finale to Jim asking Pam on their first date in the season three finale and the simple yet romantic proposal in season five, fans of PB & J went along on the journey of one of television’s great love stories. I could write a book about my favorite Jim and Pam moments and still feel like I was forgetting one. 

From their first kiss in a Chili’s during the Dundies in season two to their most recent kiss after Jim let Pam know she is all he will ever want or need, their love story has set the bar for what future love stories will attempt to achieve on television. Through their ups and down, Jim and Pam have remained the couple we all root for. Their love story has been the backbone for nine seasons of magic. 

I could not choose my favorite Jim and Pam moments because there are just too many wonderful moments from which to choose. I did find two wonderful fan videos though which sum up the magic of Jim and Pam. Enjoy.





Top Ten Office Episodes:
10. “Goodbye, Michael” – season 7, episode 22 & “Garage Sale” – season 7, episode 19 (TIE)
9. “Andy’s Play” – season 7, episode 3
8. “A.A.R.M.” – season 9, episodes 22/23
7. “The Dundies” – season 2, episode 1
6. “Fun Run” – season 4, episodes 1/2
5. “The Injury” – season 2, episode 12
4. “Dinner Party” – season 4, episode 9
3. “Niagara” – season 6, episodes 4/5
2. “Safety Training” – season 3, episode 20
1. “Diversity Day” – season 1, episode 2







While I do not love some of the shows or movies that boast the most devoted fan followings, I can understand that devotion. I feel it for The Office. Even when it struggled in the initial aftermath of Steve Carell’s departure following season seven, I stayed a loyal fan. As the final season unfolded, I became glad I chose to stay as The Office finished with the same heart, humor, and awkward charm it started with so many years ago. Thank you to everyone from the cast and crew to the writers and producers responsible for one of the greatest shows of my lifetime. Thank you for The Office.