Saturday, March 28, 2009

Quitting Quandary

After giving in his two week notice, Michael astounded the office coworkers as he became even more goofy and annoying than usual, topping his typical degree of disruptive inappropriate behaviour. As Charles, the manager, interviewed external candidates to replace Michael as regional manager, Michael talked to a potential applicant and learned that there were very few job opportunities at the moment. Michael decided that rather than looking for a new job, he would start up his own "Michael Scott Paper Company." He then proceeded to approach the office staff members and he tried to convince them to join his company to little avail. Charles learned about Michael's activities and he had him escorted off the premises. Michaels crawled back in to make one more plea, and this time he was successful at getting Pam the receptionist to join his new company, with the stipulation that she would now be a salesperson. They walked off together in silence, likely pondering their drastic career moves, and lack of concrete plans for the future.

As an employee, there have been times where I have wanted to escape my job and move on to something better, however, I have learned to appreciate the fact that jobs are not always available, and at times it is best to just stick it out. Granted, Michael was upset about Charles' intrusion into the Scranton branch, however, it was quite foolish of him to quit with no real prospects for the future. I predict that he will be back at the Scranton branch before long.

Funny moments of the week:
When Michael tried to recruit Jim as a salesman for his new paper company Jim told him, "I am not going to do this and you are not going to either. Here's the thing, what I wish for you is that you land a job at a company that A) exists and B) has a salary because they are set up to do that kind of thing"
It was also funny to see Michael literally crawl back into the office after being walked out by security.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Michael's Manager Misfortune

Michael prepared a special "C" shaped bagel breakfast to welcome Charles, the new manager, to the Scranton branch, with high hopes for their impending relationship. However, the manager had no interest in Michael's petty jokes and pitiful comedy routines, and he expressed displeasure with the way that he was running the branch. Charles was focused on maximizing productivity and dispensing with the silly nonsense that was so prominent. Michael was further upset when Charles disbanded the party planning committee that was supposed to be planning Michael's 15th Anniversary party. He was so distraught with Charles' changes to the branch that he went to David Wallace at corporate headquarters to complain. David promised Michael that he could still have his party, but Michael was so troubled that he quit right then and there.

It was not just Michael that got off to a rough start with Charles. When Charles arrived, Jim was wearing a tuxedo, because he was trying to make a statement about observing the dress code, since he had been singled out by Dwight as a dress code offender. Charles was not amused in the slightest, and he felt that Jim was a slacker who was making a mockery of the office.

The incidents that transpired on "The Office" bring to mind the fact that the atmosphere of the office is very dependent upon the leadership style of the individuals in charge. Michael probably falls at the far end of the lackadaisical spectrum, so it will be interesting to see how the office fares if Charles becomes a more dominant presence at the office. Perhaps the reason that the Scranton branch was so succesful was because of Michael's relaxed leadership style, so it would be interesting to see the effect of new management on the staff.

Funny moment of the week:
When Jim approached Charles to tell him that he was the number two in the office and he held the position of assistant to the regional manager. Charles asked if there were any responsibilities that went with the title and Jim said no. It was comical when Charles said in a incredulous manner "you want to keep this made up position"

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Ticket Trouble Turnaround

Michael got a brainwave for a promotion inspired by "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory." His hid five golden tickets in the paper shipments, and the customers who recieved the golden tickets were given a 10% discount off their paper order. However, it turned out that Michael did not distribute the golden tickets well and all of the prizes ended up with their largest customer, thereby giving them a 50% discount. Naturally, Michael's bosses were not pleased, so Michael blamed the whole promotion fiasco on Dwight. However, it turned out that the customer was so happy with the amazing discount that they decided to make Dunder Mifflin their exclusive provider of their office suppies. The bosses were thrilled with this news and congratulated Dwight. Michael then tried to get Dwight to admit to the true originator of the idea and it finally came out that Michael was responsible.

During the episode, Jim, Pam and Andy were all giving Keven advise about how to woo a woman that he was interested in. I though that Andy's advise was so weird when he told Kevin to ignore the women and insult her. I don't think that Kevin would get too far listening to that kind of advise.

Funny Moment of the Week:
Michael disclosing that he has plans to create a men's shoe store called "Shoe La La" that specializes in shoes for "special occasions in a man's life, like the day that you get married, or the day your wife has a baby or for just lounging around the house"

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Valentines Vacancy

Recognizing that a preponderance of office staff lacked a Valentine on Valentines Day, Michael decided to throw a Lonely Hearts party where singles could mingle. Moreover, he was hoping that a certain lady he met at the mobile blood bank would show up. She did not appear. The office staff wasn’t wholeheartedly in the spirit of the party, as Dwight tried to turn his potential suitor into a client to no avail.

Meanwhile, Jim and Pam had a couple’s meal with Phylis and her husband, only to have Phylis and Bob leave them during the meal so they could express their love to one another in the handicapped washroom. Jim and Pam were shocked to learn this, and they didn’t quite know what to say upon the resumption of their meal.

Whenever I go out to meals, it is usually encouraged that friends can take fries off each other’s plates. It was surprising and funny to see Pam bite into Bob’s steak when he left the table.

Funny moment of the week:
The office coworkers went back to the blood bank for the sole purpose of getting free cookies. They pretended to still be woozy from giving blood, however they had cotton balls over their supposed blood wounds, when the blood bank has been using band-aids. Furthermore, as they tried to abscond with the cookies, Creed walked out with bags of blood.