THE OFFICE Throws a Baby Shower
October 17, 2008 by Kath Skerry
I’m not a fan of baby showers. Never have been. I’m all for celebrating the mother to be and giving her the gifts that will be helpful to her as she brings the new baby into the world. But the shower part? Yeah, not a fan. Ask any woman and she’ll tell you the same thing. We hate them. So you can imagine just how annoyed I was to have to attend the baby shower for a woman who I don’t even like. Painful. Just painful.
Sometimes I feel bad for THE OFFICE. I put so much pressure on the show that when it doesn’t live up to my very high expectations, I get all grumpy and pissy about it. Such was the case last night with “Baby Shower”. Before you think I’ve gone completely mad, let me jump right in and say that there were some fantastic emotional arcs last night and enough one liners to have me laughing for days. As a whole, the episode wasn’t my favorite. But based on the emails I’ve already received this morning, I might be in the minority here.
How about I hurry through the stuff that didn’t work for me and get to the funny – because it’s Friday and don’t we all need a little funny?
Birthing a Watermelon…
There are some people that find great humor in the over the top antics of Dwight Schrute and Michael Scott. I am not one of them. I prefer these characters, and well actually all the characters on THE OFFICE, when they are a bit more understated. That being said, I didn’t really find great joy in last night’s cold open featuring Dwight in the various stages of birthing a watermelon. Or Dwight destroying at $1,200 baby stroller that didn’t belong to him. I had friends IM and text me during the show saying they were falling off their chair they found it so funny. Clearly comedy is subjective.
Jan and Assturd…
I’m so over Jan Levinson. Have been for quite some time now, but last night sealed the deal for me. She is a mean, spiteful, narcissistic women who sucks the joy out of every episode for me. There I said it. I can take the hate mail from Jan fans, but I had to put it out there. I couldn’t believe that she would be so callous as to not tell Michael that she had the baby after all he has done for her. Ok, maybe I can see her not wanting Michael in the delivery room, but he should have been one of her first calls, no? My seething started with Jan’s entrance and didn’t let up until she got in her car and drove away.
Even during what was supposed to be Jan’s funny/uncomfortably scenes with her signing to the baby, I found myself reaching for the remote to change the channel. I didn’t go as far as to actually turn the channel. I mean this is THE OFFICE, and I need to show some respect…but I wanted to. Jan is just wretched and the way she treats Michael makes my heart hurt. I know I won’t be that lucky, but I’m fine with never seeing Jan and Assturd again. And come on…who names their kid Astrid in 2008 (no offense to the Astrid’s out there…no one is naming their kids Kathie either). And don’t even get me started on how she told Michael not to date Holly. The nerve! Luckily Michael got a set and ignored her…but more on that later.
As Jan was such a big part of the episode, I think she is the reason for me feeling down on it as a whole. But as I said, there was some funny, so let’s talk funny. Wait, let’s start with the sweet and then the funny.
So You Had a Bad Day…
I’m not worried about Jim and Pam. I don’t think the writers are going to bring them this far and then have Pam call off another wedding. I truly don’t. The writers have always portrayed Jim and Pam’s relationship in a very realistic way, and we saw them doing just that with their scenes last night. Those of us who have been in a long distance relationship know that there are some days where the distance just takes its toll. They had an off day. But I guarantee that any doubt or worries either of them had were erased when they got those voicemails. Even hours apart and off their game, they are still on the same page, and that matters more than some wonky phone calls. I thought the scene was sweet and heartwarming and almost (almost) made up for some of the non-funny. But if I’m being honest, the words of Karen Filipelli did echo in my ear for a brief minute during Jim and Pam’s first phone call last night: “Pam…is kind of a bitch.” But I’m over it.
Michael & Holly: 2getha + 4eva = 6cess…
Also killing me with the sweet and the tender were Michael and Holly. I’d take a full season full of Dwight shoving watermelons out of his non-existent vajay-jay if it meant we could keep Amy Ryan around and Michael and Holly together. I loved that no matter what he did, or how he treated her, Jan could see right through Michael and see that he has feelings for Holly. And the hug they shared at the end? Holly Flax wasn’t the only one with tears in her eyes. Holly makes Michael normal in as much as Michael Scott can ever be normal. That moment was so special and wonderful that I felt truly horrible for being down on some of the ep as a whole.
As I said, I didn’t think the episode was all that funny, but there were a few moments and quotes that had be chuckling. I mean I’m not without any humor.
“She’s nature’s bounty”…
The one scene that had me actually laughing out loud for all the world (or at least the people of Newton, MA) to hear. Angela and Andy dressing Astrid up like one of those little Anne Geddes babies. Ha ha ha! That was such an awesome visual. Whoever through that one up on the writers’ room board gets a high five from me.
Michael Scott, well ok Steve Carell, holding all those babies was adorable and funny. And was that an appearance from Regis’s grandson? Mose Jr? One of those blonde women looked a lot like J.J. Philbin – wife of Michael Schur.
Notable Quotables…
- This baby will be related to Michael through…delusion
- I didn’t feel much when I held Astrid, but I got a good feeling from Holly
- Where’s my golden shower
- She is in the terminal stages of her pregnancy
- I usually love babies, but when I held Astrid, I just felt … shortchanged
- If a baby were president, there would be no taxes, there would be no war
So bring it. Tell me I’m delusional. Tell me I wouldn’t know a funny episode of THE OFFICE if it bit me like a bat in the women’s bathroom. Or maybe you’ll tell me that despite your unwavering love of the show, you recognize that it was a decent episode in terms of storytelling but it maybe wasn’t the funniest episodes to date.
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I wasn’t as hard on the episode as you, but I see your point. It was very difficult to see Michael so crushed and being treated so badly by Jan. But they did that on purpose – to make us hate Jan. Because how can anyone not despise Jan after this episode? (I love Melora, but Jan has got to go.) I was so sad for Michael, it was heart wrenching. Do we know how many Melora is signed on for?
It was nice that the writers had the Michael and Holly hug/date invite in this episode – because if that didn’t happen this week, I would have been pretty bumed after such an emotional episode. Michael was so sweet (and with the other babies!!), and seeing him with Holly is great…we just all know it’s short lived, which makes it bittersweet.
I was totally fine with the JAM stuff – they are in synch, as proven by the voice mails, so they’ll be ok. I thought it was possible that was JJ as well…and was wondering if Angela’s baby would make an appearance? It was a hard episode to watch, but I think it was b/c of the Michael/Jan stuff, not because it wasn’t funny.
GMMR — I totally agree with you about Jan. I’ve honestly never liked her and I was dreading tonight’s episode, mostly due to her impending presence. She was bad enough before she got on board the mental instability train. Now she’s completely unbearable to me. I hate, hate, hate how she is with Michael. The other reason I was dreading the episode is because of the previews I’d seen of Dwight & the watermelon. I with you on this too — I hate this type of over the top stuff, and I feel it is beneath The Office. I was so glad that it was limited to the cold open.
There were some funny moments (Angela’s Anne Geddes moments, Creed and his feet, and the baby pictures for starters) but overall, this was my least favorite episode so far this season. Although I did get a kick out of Dwight testing the $1200 stroller. I only wish we’d seen Jan’s reaction.
I’m not worried about Jim and Pam either. The voicemail scene at the end was one of their sweeter moments, and very reminiscent of the closing scene of The Carpet which is one of my all time favorites. Like you said, it just showed how in synch they are, even though they are apart right now, and had a fairly frustrating day. Although I do agree with Jim, Pam’s story was pretty lame.
I dunno, I thought this episode was pretty damn hilarious. I was dying laughing when Dwight birthed the watermelon, and put butter on it because babies are slippery. Jan is a horrible, mean-spirited psycho, but I didn’t really mind her antics so much last night because I think it was the final push that Michael needed to stop letting her control him….. again.
And I can understand why you’re so mad at Jan, but on the other hand, let’s remember that Michael is not always very sensitive and thoughtful, and often can be very shallow and selfish. Remember how he wouldn’t help Andy and Kevin with the parking last year because he didn’t care? Remember how mean and rude he was to Pam’s landlord on the blind date? And of course, remember how he was telling Holly that pregnant Jan is all fat and ugly? Yeah, after that speech, I didn’t feel so bad for him when Jan walked in with the baby.
As for JAM, I thought the phone messages at the end were awesome, because it perfectly showed that even when they have an off day, they are still totally in sync. Love. Them.
Are there any Jan fans out there?
I’m over Jan. To be honest, I’ve never been a big Jan fan. Once they turned her into the mega crazy bitch from hell, I figured I’d never be a fan. I agree, if we never see Jan and Assturd again that will be fine by me.
I liked the episode. Didn’t love it. The whole cold open was a little over the top for me as well. I pretty much had a scrunched up disgusted face through the whole thing.
I’m not really digging the Pam away from Scranton storyline. Art school can end anytime now. The end was so bittersweet. They had an off day, but they both recall the same story. I’m in no way worried about J/P, I just like it more when they are in the same place.
I love Michael and Holly. Amy Ryan please stick around! I know you are an Oscar nominated actress, but from now on, you’ll always be Holly Flax to me.
GMMR – I agree with every single word you wrote about last night’s episode. And I’m not worried about JAM, either. What’s happening to them right now is exactly what would happen to a couple that is used to seeing each other every day. I really hope that Pam comes back to Dunder Mifflin soon, although I’m not optimistic about that. Just like when Jim was in Stamford, the balance of the office is really off for me. Although, I think last week’s episode actually did a much better job of keeping that ‘balance’ and we never even saw Pam at all. Just my humble opinion…
I hate to disagree with you on my very first post to your great blog! However, I kinda of do. I don’t think you’re wrong to think that Jan Levinson is an uncomfortable character – but I do think you’re wrong to believe this makes the show less enjoyable. To me her callousness and the fact that she does indeed “suck all the joy” out of the episodes she’s in hearkens back to the early days of the Office when it was closer to its roots.
The British/Gervais version was sometimes VERY uncomfortable and unfunny – and yet we kept wanting to watch, like the proverbial car accident. And the first couple of seasons of the US version had that same feel to them (remember when Michael “jokingly” fired Pam, then watched with horror as she cried real, unfunny tears?). Jan Levinson keeps that spirit alive – you’re never sure when it’s going to veer from a standard “laugh-out-loud” sitcom to something disturbingly close to real life.
I love when I read your posts and see you writing the exact same things I was thinking when watching a show. I’m right there with you, Kath.
Hi, GMMR. While I agree with you that Jan is awful, I loved this episode. I wasn’t too excited about Business Ethics last week, but I thought this was hilarious, and all the dramatic arcs were spot on. Jan is a terrible person and absolutely doesn’t deserve Michael’s support, but I like when the story brings us around to really feeling something for Michael as opposed to just pitying him for his stupidity, and Jan’s presence allows that. In general, I thought all the characters were on in terms of being totally weird and obnoxious, and poor Jim had to suffer in disbelief without his partner in crime.
Also, I’m not sure if Dwight destroyed the stroller. He may have confirmed its indestructibility. And as for the cold open… what I think really kept it grounded were the shots of everyone outside Michael’s office staring on in horror/disgust.
Man, I love this show.
I agree with you about the whole Jan thing. I wouldn’t care if she wasn’t in anymore episodes. I love Michael and Holly together. She really balances him out. Overall I thought this episode was ok. It did have its funny moments.
I still love Jan. I was a huge fan of Jan during seasons two and three, when she was still sane. I wish we could go back to that Jan, but I don’t suppose that will ever happen. I thought we saw the old Jan, though, in the moment yesterday when Holly was babbling nonsense and she looked at the camera.
When it comes to the insane Jan, though, I still enjoy the character, even though I am sure I would not want to know her. The singing was absolutely killing me. The reactions to her are fun to watch.
I watch the show with my fiance, and every time he starts to comment about feeling sorry for Michael, I remind him of all the terribly mean things Michael has done and said. Sometimes you can forget what a jerk he is, because Steve Carrell is so very likeable, and because they do allow Michael those moments of kindness, etc. (in sharp contrast to David Brent), but I don’t personally sympathize with Michael. If Holly is really as sweet as she seems, Michael does not deserve her and will undoubtedly disappoint and hurt her. That’s who he is. So I really don’t feel too bad for him with respect to Jan’s treatment of him.
I am not sure what the long term plan is for Jan, but I don’t think we’ve seen the last of her. And I look forward to the next time she appears. I realize I’m in the minority here. I’m hoping that motherhood brings a little more sanity to her and we see someone a bit more balanced in the future. We’ll see.
I don’t think anyone has mentioned the part with Stanley comparing himself to a pregnant woman. That probably got the biggest laughs out of me.
I also do not like Jan. I don’t think the dislike was so bad, until we saw the potential and chemistry with Holly. I almost cried during the hug and then the messages between Jim and Pam.
The only part of the episode I didn’t like was Jan’s singing, which I thought went on too long but was probably the point. I loved when she made Michael pick up the baby in the carseat though. Dwight’s antics with the stroller weren’t that funny to me but definitely seemed in character, and Jan deserved whatever destruction the stroller received. Poor Astrid.
The more I think about, the more I think I liked the episode. Definitely need to watch it again. The Office is one of few shows that you just always need to watch more than once.
I agree with everything you said! As a whole the episode was a little over the top for me. The birthing of the watermelon, the stroller antics and the singing were just too much for me. I actually did fast foward through some of Jan’s singing. I am SO over Jan.
The last two scenes did almost make it up for me though. Michael and Holly hugging was just fantastic! Also it’s nice to see how on the same page Jim and Pam still are. I’m not worried about them either.
Oh and I also love Michael hugging all of the babies! Very sweet.
Overall a meh episode for me.
I really liked this ep. I thought the cold open was over the top in a great way-really had me cracking up. Jan was awful, but that was the point-so we hate her and root for Holly. It made the Michael/Holly hug that much more moving. Jim/Pams offness was a nice realistic portrayal of a l.d. relationship. Dwight and the stroller was great, because you knew in the end it would really stick it to Jan.
All in all, really good. Left me satisfied and smiling.
Generally I totally agree with GMMR on her comments about an Office episode, but I have to say that I personally really liked last nite’s ep. I did find the cold open to be incredibly hilarious – yes a bit over the top, but so funny. Yes, the rest of the episode wasn’t so much laugh out loud funny, but I really enjoyed it.
I do agree 100% with GMMR, though, in that I’m over Jan as well. I’ve always liked Melora as part of the cast, but I could definitely do without Jan ever showing up again. I also despised that she would ask Michael not to date Holly but loved that he hugged her and asked her out anyway. And they have to find a way to get Amy Ryan to come back to the show – she and Michael are just too good together!
I also am not worried about JAM – I think that the tag scene with them showed that even when they’re having an off day, they are still have the same thoughts for one another. It was bittersweet but definitely shows them having a good and real (at least for TV) relationship.
I am a JAM fan! I love them together. I love their chemistry, the way they interact, how they’ve teamed up on pranks and how they can still be very sweet to their frenemies when they need to be. I’m not a fan of the art school story line, though, and for whatever reason Pam has gotten kind of…mean and bossy. I didn’t like how she was upset at Jim before the proposal. I didn’t like how rude she was over the phone. I need to start seeing more scenes where they are really into each other. While both in Scranton, they had a way of making the whole world disappear with a glance and we got to have a peek into that world. I think that’s what I’m missing. The phone calls at the end were very sweet and made up for the fact that she could’ve walked out of the laundry mat for 2 minutes.
Loved the Michael/Holly hug. I cried!
Creed was the best last night!! So good…
Time for Jan to go…
Ever since Dinner Party I have been over Jan. The episode was awesome but the character was ruined by the over-the-top antics. I love the show because at first it was so much like working in a real office (I was a data entry clerk for 10 months, also a receptionist for a few years… offices have the same quirks everywhere you go). But now that we’re in the fifth season some of the reality is slipping away and the antics are taking over… wait a minute, what am I saying….? I love the show, but I really want the uncomfortable silences of the British version brought back to our show.
Did you hear my laughter from Waltham over the Anne Geddes photoshoot? I hope they put a little veggie garden baby picture on Angela’s desk. Dwight breaking Jan’s stroller was more infuriating than funny, which pretty much put a damper on the whole episode.
I actually adored this episode. Last season was such a downer for me overall that I’ve been happy to see The Office return to form this season. While I’m not digging the Pam’s-away-at-art-school storyline, I trust we’ll be rewarded with good stuff when she returns. I’m not worried, I just miss seeing Jenna onscreen, interacting with everyone.
And I think it’s important, though painful, for Michael to finally (FINALLY!) see what a bitch Jan is and free himself from her slimy tentacles (or no-longer-shrunken-chesticles?). Some people need to be worked over time and again by “love” before they can stand up for themselves. I was overwhelmed by Michael’s silent walk up to Holly and thought he was going to kiss her a la Jim/Pam in Casino Night. The way he hugged her was actually much sweeter, and dare I say, sexier? (You women out there know how awesome it is to have a man’s hands on the small of your back…). I actually got–for the first time–how and why a woman could be attracted to Michael Scott! And Amy Ryan is just sublime.
I thought the Anne Geddes bit was incredible. We had to pause the DVR because my husband almost fell of the couch laughing. And I loved the over-the-top cold open. The stroller stuff was a bit much, but not enough to drag down my feelings for this episode. It’s the first episode I’ve rewatched immediately in a long, long, long time.
I’m liking the new writers and thought it was a great mix of funny and poignant. Maybe it’s because real life sucks so much right now that I’m finding renewed joy in my favorite show: desperate times create desperate viewers?
My heart hurts to watch Amy Ryan and think of her leaving! She did 20 episodes of The Wire, can’t she hang around the Office a little while longer? Like 3 more years?
I saw that she was in Dan In Real Life. Maybe Steve Carell suggested to cast her as Holly (he is that smart, after all!)
Loved Jan’s singing. She really went for it. I wanted Pam to be able to hear Jim’s story about Jan, ’cause it was too funny. I think Pam just has put the office out of her mind and is totally into her new world. It’s going to be really hard for her to come back. How can she stay as a receptionist after that? She will obviously hear about other classes, etc. that she can take to start an art career. I can’t see a spin-off NOT involving Jim and Pam for some reason. I think Michael and Holly make a good enough couple to sustain the Office in the romance department. Then all the JAM fans can have a full show of just them. OK, snap me out of my hypnotic state, quick! I know it won’t happen, but I would like it to. Especially if the show followed the Office. They could even throw in Karen Filipelli and I’d still watch.
I didn’t love the fake birthing scenario, but did like the idea of marking the baby (“Michael wasn’t there to mark it, so it could be anyone’s baby”) and I laughed very hard at the stroller stuff. Maybe I’m just a sicko for thinking that bouncing a baby in a stroller off a fence is funny.
If you’re in the minority, i guess i am too. I wasn’t a huge fan of last night’s episode either. It just wasn’t that funny to me–though, yes, it did have some good moments. Overall, the episode was just kind of ok, i guess.
Office episodes i really didn’t like after one viewing usually get better the second time around, but Baby Shower right now after one viewing is in my bottom 10 of all time.
Like gmmr, i’m not a huge fan of the over the top Dwight/Michael humor (Mike driving his car into a lake for example) and prefer the subtle humor, but i found the watermelon birth hilarious. One of the bright spots if you ask me.
Jan is done. She used to be a good character, but she’s just too over the top now. He loooooong singing scene was dreadful. It wasn’t even uncomfortable funny. It was just boring. Hopefully this episode began the process of phasing her out nearly completely.
Overall the episode was too heavy on drama. Michael, Holly, Jan conflict and Michael + Holly hugs and crying. The tension between Jim and Pam. Jan using and abusing Michael. 1 of those things happening in an episode is great, but all three is a little too much. Its a long season, drag this stuff out.
Finally Pam still in NYC. You would think the writers would have learned from early season 3 that taking one of the 4 main characters out of the Scranton just doesn’t work, but they haven’t. Just bring her home already.
Don’t know if anyone mentioned this…but the little girl on “Dexter” is also named Astrid. Perhaps it’s making a come back? Otherwise I loved this episode. I compare it to all the episodes of season 4 I didn’t like, and this one is a winner. The Office has always had a great way of creating tension between Jim and Pam and then relieving it towards the end. I’m glad that tension is back! I miss seeing more of Pam, but I really like how they are treating that storyline.
I am totally with you, Kath! I had the exact same sentiments about the episode as you did. The only thing I laughed at was the “Nature’s bounty” thing. Everything else just got a “meh” reaction from me. After seeing some of the deleted scenes, you can see that the writing was originally more well-rounded and had more funny stuff in it, but after editing that it definitely fell more in the unnecessarily awkward. The JAM stuff was awesome, though. It really reminded me of their conversation in “Initiation.”
I totally agree about not caring if I ever see Jan again, and expressed that to my co-workers when we were rehashing the episode. She’s just not funny anymore. Michael Scott may be boorish and an ass sometimes, but I have never felt like he wasn’t 100% genuine. That’s why he works as a character. We wouldn’t tune in every week if we thought he was being an ass on purpose. Jan, on the other hand, possesses much more self-awareness and is just a straight-up bitch. I just don’t see how they can possibly bring Jan and Michael back together in the long-run. I am throwing myself fully into the Michael and Holly camp and am never looking back.
I am totally with you, Kath! I had the exact same sentiments about the episode as you did. The only thing I laughed at was the “Nature’s bounty” thing. Everything else just got a “meh” reaction from me. After seeing some of the deleted scenes, you can see that the writing was originally more well-rounded and had more funny stuff in it, but after editing it definitely fell more in the unnecessarily awkward. The JAM stuff was awesome, though. It really reminded me of their conversation in “Initiation.”
I totally agree about not caring if I ever see Jan again, and expressed that to my co-workers when we were rehashing the episode. She’s just not funny anymore. Michael Scott may be boorish and an ass sometimes, but I have never felt like he wasn’t 100% genuine. That’s why he works as a character. We wouldn’t tune in every week if we thought he was being an ass on purpose. Jan, on the other hand, possesses much more self-awareness and is just a straight-up bitch. I just don’t see how they can possibly bring Jan and Michael back together in the long-run. I am throwing myself fully into the Michael and Holly camp and am never looking back.
I agree, GMMR. I have watched it a couple of times to make sure my mind didn’t change but while there were funny lines, overall it did not work for me. Jan is like Roy for me at this point. Enough already. There is nothing more for her to do. Although the deleted scene with her breastfeeding was pretty funny. Also, I am tired of reading how all anyone wants is Jim/Pam but then we were subjected to 2 Michael relationships during this show. And as already mentioned, BRING PAM BACK!!
Never mind. The girl’s name on Dexter is Astor. But Astor and Astrid are in the same family.
I so agree with you on the Jan things. So nice to see Michael grow a pair.
I must say, though, that as a woman, I like baby showers. And as mother of 3 who never received any baby shower at all from anyone; I felt left out and that I missed something special. So, you don’t speak for all women or mothers. We don’t all hate them.
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