A ‘Night Out’ with THE OFFICE
April 25, 2008 by Kath Skerry
Tonight, on a very special episode of THE OFFICE we learn the consequences of drug abuse, inappropriate touching, and being locked in a room with your co-workers with no chance for escape. Thankfully this is THE OFFICE so all those ‘life lessons’ come in a hilarious 30 minutes of unbridled joy.
Previously on Varsity Blues…
In last night’s episode, Ryan forces the Scranton branch (and my guess, only the Scranton branch) to come into work on a Saturday to input their recent sales into Ryan’s flailing corporate website in an effort to cover up his missteps. But when Ryan brags to a desperately horny and lonely Michael about all the hot women in NYC, the last thing on Michael’s mind is the paper business. Then again, when is the paper business ever on Michael’s mind?
Michael and Dwight head to NYC to go clubbing with an unsuspecting Ryan, while Jim launches a plan to have everyone work late to avoid coming in on the weekend. Neither endeavor goes quite as planned. In NYC Michael spends his night getting shot down by women while Dwight gets all the play, and he ends his evening by dragging a coked-up Ryan home. But sadly for Michael, this isn’t necessairly a bad night. Back in Scranton, Jim’s lack of planning results in all the employees being stuck in the building at the mercy of Hank, the cranky security guard.
Best.Night.Ever….
I think Michael Scott said it best when he said, “Best.Night.Ever”. As a die hard fan since season one, I think I have earned the right to recognize and criticize THE OFFICE when its not on its game. But I have to tell you, these three post-strike episodes we’ve been treated have been some of the best of the season. Much like “Dinner Party” and “Chair Model”, tonight’s “Night Out” was sharp, dark, and so multi-layered that I know it’s going to only get better with repeat viewings. And the uncomfortable, ‘hide-your-head-in-your-hands-omg-he-did-so-not-just-do/say-that’ moments that have come to define THE OFFICE were brilliant and plentiful.
There were all kinds of spectacular messes last night, so settle in – grab some coffee (you’ll need it) and let’s get to it.
Drugs are Whack, So Watch Your Back…
This is your brain. This is your brain on drugs. Any questions? Yeah, I have a lot of questions. Number one: How dare you?!
It’s oddly comforting to know that someone has had to resort to illegal drugs just to deal with working at Dunder Mifflin. I’m actually surprised more of the employees don’t have debilitating drug habits.
Oh Temp. Didn’t they teach you to just say no?! It wasn’t too long ago that Ryan Howard was collecting the emergency contact names for his from his fellow Dunder Mifflinites, and now it seems as if he is the one having the emergency. Things aren’t looking good for Ryan whose professional and personal life are taking a swan dive. Dunder Mifflin Infinity, his baby, is failing miserably. He’s got subordinates like Jim Halpert, whom we all know Ryan secretly hates, going behind his back to his boss. He’s taken his already rampant douchebaggery to a whole new level. And now he’s got this pesky coke habit to deal with. Remember when his only issue was starting a fire with his cheesy pita? Ryan is on a downward spiral that I fear will only get worse. I can’t help but wonder if Ryan’s ‘rock bottom’ will come in the morning when he wakes up to find Michael and Dwight in his bed.
What’s in store for the former Temp? Fired from Dunder Mifflin? Rehab? Or will his drug problem become so out of control that he finds himself back together with Kelly?
BREAKING NEWS: Jim Halpert is not perfect…
I think we’re starting to get the hint – Jim Halpert is not management material. Despite his good intentions he just can’t seem to get it right when he’s left in charge. Whether it’s an ill fated attempt to consolidate office birthdays, or locking his fellow employees inside a building (which most already consider hell) Jim ‘good ideas’ always seem to backfire. No one really seems to be bothered by Jim’s slackertude until it affects them, but when it does the DMers are pretty quick to turn on ‘management’ (and management’s girlfriend). Jim has the good sense and self awareness to not turn into Michael Scott, but we’ve seen a few times this season that the two guys are a little more alike than Jim would like to admit. (For more on this I direct you to my self indulgent post titled ‘The Transformation of Jim Halpert‘).
Goodbye, Toby…
Toby (or should we call him Uncle Bad Touch) is moving to Costa Rica. But really, when the head of HR inappropriately touches a co-worker right in front of the office staff, which happens to include her boyfriend, what else is there to do besides run, hop a fence and move to Costa Rica? Despite his creepiness this season, I love Toby. I’m going to be so sad to see him leave. And I do think he’s leaving (perhaps to spearhead the new OFFICE spin-off? Hmm). Maybe Toby just said he was leaving in a moment of humiliation, but if (*spoiler alert*…the (supposed to be top secret but someone on NBC.com messed up and revealed it) episode title for the season finale is any indication, we might just be saying so long, farewell to Mr. Flenderson in a few short weeks. And in turn saying goodbye to one of the best relationships on the show – that of Michael and Toby.
Oh, by the way, how do you know whether or not you think about your favorite show too much? Here’s a hint: when a character announces he’s moving out of the country and your very first thought is about what will happen with said character’s fictional 5 year old daughter, you might be a little too obsessive. Yup, Toby is moving to Costa Rica and I’m worrying about how that will impact his relationship with Sasha. Hey, I never said I had a healthy relationship with this show.
Favorite Moment & Quotes…
- Ryan calling out Jim on talking to David Wallace about DMI behind Ryan’s back. It was so uncomfortable – just how I like my OFFICE. “Watch your back, Jim. I’m just kidding.”…or not.
- B.J. almost breaking when Steve said “TDB”. Classic. You never see B.J. break.
- Ryan: Do you have a question, Kelly?
Kelly: Yeah, I have a lot of questions. Number one: How dare you?
- As someone whose whole career has been spent in the interactive space I love all the buzz words Ryan uses to mask his incompetence. Way to fake it, Half-Beared. ‘Web 2.o’, ‘social networking’, keep it coming Ryan. And if you need a few more try “out of the box” and “low hanging fruit”
- Michael: I am going to go get laid.
Dwight: …with sex!
- Michael: This place is packed with beautiful babies. ‘Swingers’. Classic. Jon Favreau – the tall guy from ‘Dodgeball.’
- Dwight: The women look like white slaves.
- Dwight (to Troy): You resemble a Tolkien character.
Ryan: He basically is man. He’s a regular banking wizard.
Dwight: No, no, no, not a wizard – a hobbit.
(Later)
Dwight: Do you have powers?
Dwight: Do you live in a tree?
- Jim stumbling oh so awkwardly through his conversation with “Afri…African American”
EddyElliotEvanHank, and then stumbling over his assumption that the cleaning staff didn’t speak English. THE OFFICE writers don’t back away from anything. I love them.
- Pam smashing the football into Meredith’s face (now she’ll never be a teen model)
- Girl: What do you do?
Michael: I’m a bank teller. (TH) Ryan told me to always tell women you work in finance.
- Basically every moment of the night during which Dwight was not eating peanut butter off of Michael’s head rocked. Dwight Schrute was on his game last night. Who knew he had such a way with the ladies. Dwight K. Schrute – stud!! I wonder if he found it any different to make out with a tall blonde rather than an itty bitty blonde.
- The whole office simultaneously reeling from the camera phone shot of Dwight making out with said tall blonde.
- Michael calling his mother for advice from the bar. We need to meet Michael’s mother. Who could be so damaged that she raised Michael Scott?
- Michael: Ryan we are going to take your clothes off.
- Michael’s rant on THE WIRE was fantastic. Perfect Michael Scott. Watching a show because he thinks it’s the ‘cool’ thing to do, despite not understanding a word of it.
- Hank: Son of a bitch
As you might be able to tell from the length of this post, I was a BIG fan of last night’s episode. Only three episodes left until the summer hiatus. Life just doesn’t seem fair sometimes.
Sooo…what did YOU think of last night’s episode? Love it or hate it? Favorite moments?
Stay real, Scranton. PEACE.
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sorry kath. looks like i’m the first to post and i’m the negative nellie… did NOT like this eppy. currently, ranks at the bottom of the eppy lists for me.
yes, i had the jaw hit the floor moment when toby was innappropriate move (and was simultaneously ticked at jim for not doing anything instantly!!!!!!) — but it wasn’t enough to save this one for me.
-disappointed in seattle
The Office is my favorite show, I but I was really, really, disappointed with this episode. I thought I just needed to watch it again, but a second viewing didn’t help. I didn’t laugh once.
Something was just off. Ryan being strung out (which upset me because drug abuse isn’t something to joke about!), Toby being a major creeper, and Jim becoming Michael (the cleaning people speak Spanish…really?), none of it worked for me.
The office has been back for three weeks, but its never really come back for me. What happened to my show?!
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I agree, Kath, this was an amazing episode. I definitely have to watch it again to catch everything, but I thought Mindy did an amazing job with it. I think my favorite line was when Michael said “I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but I think I want her to meet my mom.” Carell’s delivery was so hilarious and sad at the same time. And the idea that Ryan actually thought of including a social networking function for a website that sells paper, and that it was infiltrated by sexual predators? Awesome.
I think I was watching a different episode than Lara and Tara. I’m with you Kath. I thought the episode was bloody brilliant. From beginning to end I thought it was hysterical. It was over the top but this show always is.
I’m surprised to hear a fan calling out The Office for joking about drug abuse. Of all the topics on The Office you are worried about poor representation of drug abuse?
I think people don’t see enough Jim and Pam and they automatically disregard it as a bad episode. I’m going to go back and watch it for the third time.
Great recap GMMR. I hope Toby doesn’t leave but i think he will too.
NO!!! Toby CAN’T leave the show! He’s one of my favorites. Are we EVER going to find out why Michael hates him so much? I thought this was a great Dwight episode. Anybody else disappointed we didn’t get to see any of Michael’s dancing in this one? I thought that would be a given since they were going clubbing.
i’m in the camp that actually didn’t love this episode…that’s kind of an understatement actually… it makes me upset to even type this because i don’t remember the last time i was this unsure about an episode before…and i’ve watched it a few times. i did laugh out loud a lot (loved dwight’s thing with ryan’s friend), but as a whole, i just didn’t know what to think about it. i get that there were a lot of things going on & hopefully a lot of storylines set up, but eh, i don’t know. i’m not a fan of jim’s michaelisms… it didn’t seem like jim at all to flounder so horribly on the phone to hank. i just hope there are reasons why so many things happened…i’m trusting the writers that this is all going somewhere great :o)
Comedy is a subjective thing. I’m sure there are others who didn’t like it either. It’s all good.
As for the Jim/Toby thing, I was ok with Jim not saying anything. Was he supposed to yell at Toby? Fight with him? I think that Jim knows that Pam can handle herself. And don’t forget that Jim and Toby are friends. Then again, I don’t think Toby meant to touch Pam like that. It was a slip. He’s crushed on her for a while now and he was feeling really comfortable with her that night. He’s so lonely he just wanted the connection. When he realized what he was doing…well you saw his reaction.
🙂
I LOVED THIS EPISODE!! It was my favorite of the whole season. What did I miss? Why does everyone hate it?
I am a big fan of The Wire so I found Michael’s speech at the end really funny.
I hope Toby doesn’t leave.
Why are you putting spoilers (Goodbye Toby) in the episode recap?
Hmmm…..I am rather neutral with this episode. The peanut butter head massage was funny! TOby being Uncle Bad Touch was funny! Lots of good moments, but definitely not one of their best.
Hoping for great things for the last 3 three before a LONG summer of no Office 🙁
I will add though, the last 2 new episodes I really did like!
Acsenray, why is (Goodbye Toby) a spoiler? I don’t think anything that happened in last night’s episode is a spoiler.
Great recap GMMR. I think you got all my favorite moments. I felt so bad for Ryan’s Hobbit friend. I didn’t feel bad for the character but for the actor. I always feel weird when someone’s physical being is attacked. The same with Phyllis.
Yeah, I really wasn’t feeling this episode. I think it was more of a plot developement epidsode more than anything.
I liked the episode pretty much. Not my favorite, but I thought there were a lot of funny parts:
My favorite:
CREED was right! It was Creed, of all people, who knew the security guard’s name was Hank!
Also, I loved Andy literally taking a vote as to whether he and Angela were a better couple after Jim & Pam’s slip ups.
Classic.
Did anyone notice Angela’s reaction when receiving the picture of Dwight making out with Amazonian? Obviously, the majority of the office was disgusted – but I didn’t look specifically at Angela. Hmm…going to have to re-watch.
jim didn/t say anything to toby because he was stunned like the rest of the office. when your stunned its hard to get any words to come out of your mouth.
I love the creepy funny ones. Because the more you watch them, the funnier they get.
My favorite moment:
Andy “Who thinks me and Angela are a better couple than Jim and Pam?”
(hands go up)
Pam: “Phyllis!”
Sam- I’m not worried drug use being poorly represented, I’m upset because drug use is NOT a joking matter. Lots of things on the office are touchy and political incorrect, but abusing drugs can literally end your life. Its not on the same level as a cringe worthy moment….
***spoiler alert***
Becky- there’s a spoiler in the recap, its the (possible) episode title for the season finale as seen on another tv site!
One of my favorite parts that no one has mentioned is when they get to the club and Ryan seems genuinely excited to see them and Michael says “Ryan – it’s Michael and Dwight”. Kind of like – why are you happy to see US? Perhaps with anyone else I wouldn’t find it as funny, but Steve Carrell delivers those lines so perfectly!
Becky, I’m not talking about what happened in the episode. I’m talking about this part of the recap —
“but if the (supposed to be top secret but someone on NBC.com messed up and revealed it) episode title for the season finale is any indication, we might just be saying so long, farewell to Mr. Flenderson in a few short weeks.”
This is a spoiler for me. I didn’t know anything about the season finale episode title or NBC.com’s “mess up” and “reveal.” It’s one thing to speculate about whether Toby is serious about leaving. It’s another thing to use outside information like this.
B.J. almost breaking when Steve said “TDB”. Classic. You never see B.J. break
Yes! I caught that and I rewound it a few times. Hysterical.
I liked the episode, but I have seen a lot of hate online for it. I agree it had some weak points, but overall it was funny and I liked it. I mean you knew Ryan was heading for a downfall annd I have been creeped out by Toby for some time. I’m not sure I like where they are taking Jim, but I’m willing to ride it out and see where it goes. Oh how I hope the camera crew is still in Ryan’s apartment in the morning!
Poor Ryan seems to have work problems, drug problems and girl problems AND issues with his height! Michael mentioned it in the conference room scene – if my employer ever pulled a stunt like having me fake sales, I’d quit – and then he goes and picks THE shortest guy in New York to be best friends with. No wonder he’s telling Jim to watch his back; dude has a foot on him! I’m one that is really loving this season…keep it up!
Well “The Office” has never backed down from anything before, and drug use is apparently no different. While I found it to be odd and I’m curious to see how they will deal with it within the confines of a very unique comedy, I was not surprised to see it. Because of the weirdness factor, this episode was not my favorite, but there were some hilarious lines delivered by carell and kaling that make me want to watch it again asap!
Beeslys ‘Night Out’ Remember When…
Remember When…
Michael got gum in his hair and Dwight is there to save the day! Michael enjoying the peanut butter head massage was hilarious!
Michael hugs Ryan for tooooo long and is begging for a date. Micheal is really seeming needy these days! It’s not the hornyness it’s the loneliness. LMAO. He has ‘getting laid’ on the brain!
Who knew that DWIGHT would be making out with a tall blonde?? DWIGHT IS THE MAN!
Michael SUPRISES Ryan in NY with Dwight by his side. ALSO THREE IS UNLUCKY – lol. It’s a no go for Andy – who refers to Angela as his ball and chain – my word that relationship is really nuts…. and when did it become a relationship – I feel like that happened fast and a bit out of character for Angela. But she hasnt talked to her sister in 16 years or so over and arguement she doesnt remember so she may just really be taking this that far over the Sprinkles incident or she may actually like Andy? Who knows?
WHO TIPS THEIR SECURITY GUARD?
Andy (out of nowhere): “By a show of hands who thinks we’re a better couple than Jim & Pam”
Michael has thought about getting a back tattoo – BACK TO THE FUTURE!
Michael: “This place is like a sexy preschool”
Dwight asks how all the basketball player women “found each other” and then calls them Amazons. Dwight is a PIMP tonight – lol and makes out with the tall blonde. ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR DWIGHT!
How about Pam throwing the football RIGHT AT MERIDETHS HEAD! Lmao that was hilarious – I couldnt breath for a second – lol.
*note – If you are going to tell someone you work in finance DONT SAY BANK TELLER
ONE OF THE BEST LINES OF THE NIGHT….
Ryan to Michael: “Hey man, do you ever think there is going to be a massive nuclear holocaust and after all the major nations are destroyed there will just be the tribes and the jungles that rise up and survive and jungle warfare is just going to rule the world?”
Michael: “Maybe”
OMG – TOBY! Hopefully Toby wont be in hiding for too long. We would greatly miss him!!!
Jim: “Cleaning people…Oscar!”
Michael: “Ryan, ryan .. we’re going to take your clothes off”
Like a famous person once said Boys On The Side….but I disagree – I say Lets Hear It For The Boys.
(My Dislikes of the Episode)
I HATE THAT RYAN IS A coke HEAD!! I was really disappointed about that – it just doesnst work. Ryan hugging Michael was just weird. (Ryan its us – Michael and Dwight – that was funny)
I also didnt like that Michael asked Jim who he was dating and when Jim answers he says “is that still going on”. I just dont like the passivness when we’ve waited for Pam & Jim to date for so long and we’ve only had since Fun Run – first episode of Season 4 to enjoy it it seems.
Kath, what’s the season finale’s episode name? I can’t find it on nbc.com and it’s driving me crazy!
Am I the only one who thinks that Michael’s mom is somewhat similar to the character played by Mo Collins, Stewart’s mom? Whenever I think of Michael’s mom, she is the person that pops into my head. Very controlling but loving, over protective and over bearing. I have hoped from the moment I saw The Injury that we would get to meet her soon!
I am not always a fan of the darker eps but I thoroughly enjoyed this one (and on only one viewing so far.)
As an aside, I was reminded by the mods over at the Office message board on NBC that the site was in fact attacked by trolls posting really explicit pornography in a 48-hour period back in July. So the reference to the ‘social networking’ site being infiltrated by sexual predators was a shout out and not far from the truth.
As I said last night, this episode was crazy! But I agree with you, Kath that it was hilarious – even more so on second viewing. I’m a little surprised that so many people were disappointed with it or thought it felt off, but to each their own. I think Mindy Kaling writes such hilarious episodes of the show and this was definitely one of them. I haven’t liked Ryan much either, but I am worried about him (and that is my sign of how I think about this show too much!).
Also, I hate the thought of Toby leaving – I think Michael needs to have an adversary like that (even if there is no real basis for it!).
I’m on the fence with this episode, but I’ll have to watch it again to have a formed opinion about it.
I did love the fact that Creed knew the security guard’s name and Jim said he was wrong. I love little things like that about the office. Creed knows it all!
I hope Toby doesn’t leave for too long… Maybe Paul just wants to focus on writing right now or something.
One of my favorite episodes! I don’t know what everyone else is talking about?? I’ve watched it 3 times and it keeps getting funnier and funnier. I’ve loved all 3 post-strike episodes thus far!!
I usually like darker Office eps but this one? Not so much. I much prefer Money and Dinner Party over this one. I feel like everything was just so over the top. I feel like the Jim storyline was a rehasing of Survivor Man that didn’t need to happen. I wish they had done something a little different.
Everyone being locked out was contrived. They could have called Bob Vance, Vance Refridgeration (Phyllis’ husband who undoubtedly had to have been wondering where she was), the fire department, a LOCKSMITH, etc.
But as for Ryan’s drug addiction – I think this is a brave story that has been foreshadowed, well, not only all season long but in other episodes in other seasons as well. Anyone who has ever known a cokehead would recognize the symptoms. (In this episode and in others) – his pressured speech, his mood-swings, his hyperactivity, his sniffling/rubbing his nose, his constant bathroom breaks. I think this was the best storyline about last night. I didn’t have a problem with Dwight/Michael/Ryan, my problem was everything in Scranton and how unbelieveably contrived that whole storyline was.
This wasn’t my favorite episode of the season, but it wasn’t my least favorite either. Dwight and Michael were hilarious in NY with Ryan. I think everyone should go easier on Jim. His plan had good intentions and it’s not really his fault the security guard was so angry. I am very excited for next weeks episode to see what plays out with Ryan’s drug addiction and Toby’s plan to move to Costa Rica.
Loved this episode, especially Toby’s race to the fence and Ryan’s random ramblings on nuclear holocaust and jungle. I’m not sure why drug problems should be off-limits – alcohol abuse can kill but no one I’ve heard has complained about the jokes concerning Meredith’s drinking habits. Just because Ryan’s drug trip was used for laughs doesn’t mean the show took it too lightly.
I was completely okay with Jim not confronting Toby. His weirded out reaction was enough. One of the reasons we like Jim is that he isn’t Roy. Roy would have ended Toby.
I’m thrilled that Jim isn’t that great of a manager. He shouldn’t be management material. Jim doesn’t want to stay at Dunder Mifflin for the rest of his life. He is stuck and now that he’s with Pam and she is making big life transformations, he will too.
I also liked the Ryan cokehead story line. The Office writers don’t usually just throw random things in. I’m sure they are going somewhere with it. I think that if viewers give it time it will develop into something great.
I’m on the fence with this episode. I laughed really hard when the picture message got sent of Dwight making out with that women. And Kelly’s line with Ryan, and the hobbit jokes!
But the whole coke head Ryan thing threw me off. I had to read other message boards and watch the episode three more times to get it.
Also the whole Toby thing was weird.
I just didn’t get it. I’m especially dieing for next weeks episode so it can shed some light.
I find it amusing that both Jan and Ryan have self destructed while in the corporate position. What is it about that job that leads them to go into downward spirals?
I think that Jim is certainly Management material. By saying that he is not, you’re effectively telling us that everyone in that office is normal, except for Michael. The truth is that Michael is “able” to be the Manager of these people, because they are just as strange, unpredictable, and quirky as him. Ok, not just as much (but come on you cannot say: Dwight. Andy. Angela. Stanley. Kevin. etc, and say they’re normal).
Nobody who isn’t like them would ever be able to manage them, so I’m happy to see Jim lose this one.
We have to remember, he was doing really well in Stamford. (with normal(ish) people).
But assuming the cleaners can’t speak english is a different matter, and frankly, a mistake on the part of the writers.
I agree with Zenah – Jim’s assuming the cleaners can’t speak English seemed out of character. Not knowing Hank’s name and not collecting the money for the Christmas bonus likewise. I *did* like to see Jim struggling with all of the other office workers though. And let’s be fair to him: he *did* save them coming in on Saturday. I did find it a bit odd, though, that Bob Vance left without Phyllis and then didn’t make an appearance to look for her – seems odd. Likewise for others’ partners – and what about Meredith’s kid? I’m afraid that, although getting locked in was funny, it wasn’t that believable for me. Perhaps if the front door had been locked rather than the gate I’d have been more likely to buy it.