Jim had the right idea. He just had to do it privately, and tell people there was no increase. And then just give it to the top performers. They're not going to tell.

Yah but the accountants would have still known. They even mentioned that in the episode itself.

Pretty weak episode IMO but I think it was one of those "push the story forward" episodes. Not sure what exactly they set up but I'm hoping there's something going on in their heads, because there was maybe 2 times I laughed in the entire episode.

I thought it was a solid episode and a set-up for future plot lines. I enjoyed Michael coping with having a co-boss/texting Wallace/pouting, Jim dealing with the idiocy of sharing decisions with Michael, and best of all, Oscar's analysis of how all great organizations have two leaders.

How could you not laugh when Michael said, "James...Jim...Jimothy...listen, Jimothy...no, that doesn't sound right...are you okay with Jim?"

Michael's explanation of how they got from toilet paper to a discussion of planets was funny too, I thought.

i thought thursday's episode was crappy.

MOAR CREED AND ANDY. LESS MICHAEL AND JIM

JESUS

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i thought thursday's episode was crappy.

MOAR CREED AND ANDY. LESS MICHAEL AND JIM

JESUS

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Creed had his usual lines this episode. He's a one-trick pony...usually only funny in addition to whatever other chaos is going on.

I do agree that more use of Andy is required.

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WHAT DO THE BEANS MEAN?!?!?

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Creed had his usual lines this episode. He's a one-trick pony...usually only funny in addition to whatever other chaos is going on.

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Yeah, Creed is phenomenal when he just makes one or two random appearances in an episode with comments that are generally totally unrelated to the main plot lines. Case in point, last night, when he was asking Meredith why they hadn't hooked up, and they had. I laughed out loud when they were all in the room together and someone said "Creed said it" and he took credit for it not having a clue what they were talking about.

Kevin frantically yelling, "WHAT DO THE BEANS MEAN?!?!" was great. When they knocked on Jim's office door, I was hoping it would be him saying it through the door.

HE HAS AN ALGORITHM!

this was another episode where it showed why Michael is really a better leader than we give him credit for, however the show sux last night.

[This message has been edited by piag94 (edited 10/2/2009 9:28a).]

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this was another episode where it showed why Michael is really a better leader than we give him credit for

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He's not a better leader...they just made someone else make a more retarded decision than he would.

Dwight Schrute: I deserved that promotion, not Jim. It makes me want to put him in a triangle chokehold, and force him down to the ground and just keep pressing and pressing [getting progressively louder] and then flip him over and put him in a hammerlock! And he's gasping! He's panicking. Every last breath! And the crowd is going crazy. And boom! I emerge victorious! [stands up] Ah-ha! Eighteen thousand dollars and a chance at the title! Whewhaa!

Erin: Jim wants you to keep it down.

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Dwight Schrute: I deserved that promotion, not Jim. It makes me want to put him in a triangle chokehold, and force him down to the ground and just keep pressing and pressing [getting progressively louder] and then flip him over and put him in a hammerlock! And he's gasping! He's panicking. Every last breath! And the crowd is going crazy. And boom! I emerge victorious! [stands up] Ah-ha! Eighteen thousand dollars and a chance at the title! Whewhaa!

Erin: Jim wants you to keep it down.

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That was great. And then Dwight trying to incite a revolution amongst the employees that failed miserably.

Seems like the episode didn't have any resolution to it...

Aside from Jim realizing that its hard to be friends with everyone when you are their boss.

I'll admit that I came into the show late. I have really only been watching it for the past couple of months on TBS and other syndications and this is the first season I have followed.

I have to say I really don't like Jim in the serious role. I just can't picture him there. I know Pam made a reference about his work ethic when he is passionate about something in the Olympics episode. However, it makes sense for Jim to get into running an office Olympics and do a good job, because he likes pramks and is always laid back and goofy. I can't see him getting passionate about being a manager at Dunder Mifflin.

Obviously this episode was for setting up future plots like everyone else has said, but next week is the wedding episode, so I wonder why they decided to make this episode for the plot line. They should of thrown in another funny episode before the wedding next week. I also hope they don't make Michael do ridiculously stupid stuff in this episode like he did in Phyllis'. The Pam/Jim relationship was one serious/realistic part in the show and I think the wedding should be too.

Just my 2 cents.

I had completely forgotten about Phylis's wedding episode. It was almost unwatchable. I cringed through the whole thing and actually had to pause it a few times to recompose.

And, from somebody who caught up with The Office last season, Michael is the exact same character he has been since the Pilot. You could shuffle episodes and plot lines from all the seasons and they wouldn't be out of place.

Haha did anyone notice Kevin wearing a hairpiece in the promo for next week?

was just about to post that! We had to rewind to see Kevin's new do!!!

I have a feeling that this season will be a lot like the Survivor Man episode from Season 4 where Michael leaves Jim in charge and he realizes that being a boss is much more difficult than it appears.

I agree with AggieSouth. I've skipped around watching re-runs and Michael seems the same to me throughout. He seems to have a few more redeeming qualities in recent episodes which shows character growth. Still a bumbling idiot for the most part but is completely bearable to me.

I agree that Michael has been the same basic character since the show began, but my problem with this episode was the it was out of character for Jim. Jim isn't supposed to care.

I disagree with the point that Jim is acting out of character. We've seen Jim and Pam make many of the moves over the past season that many young couples make. He bought the house. They are about to have a baby. Now suddenly, they are in a position where they need money.

So Jim is now forced to start caring. He needs more money, so he needs a promotion. Now he has to start acting more managerial, even though we know that doesn't fit him, because he needs to be able to support his new fam.

The signs that Jim has had some skills have been planted throughout the series. Though we don't see it in action often, he was doing well in Stamford, and seemed to be moving up with the manager there until he left and Jim was forced back to being #2 at Scranton. He's never cared enough to make it to the next level, but life changes have forced him to need to care about his job more than he wants.

Maybe the most boring Office ever!

Very disapointed so far, if things don't turn for me this will be the end I fear (at least for me). I hope they didn't hang a around one season too long.

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Maybe the most boring Office ever!

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Yes, it was pretty brutal.

More comedy please and less drama. tia

I liked the picture Michael drew of Toby

Agree with 20ag07. Jim has even stated that he needed to start focusing because it's not just about him anymore. When he was single, he didn't care that much, and being a career Dunder Mifflin employee was his nightmare. But, now he realizes that he has a wife and kid to support and while it's not his dream career, it's what he has to do to keep his other dreams.

I thought it was okay, no way the worst ever. Go back to season 2 & 3, there are some clunkers in there..

I hope they are setting up Dwight to go a bit crazy, he's really worked up over not getting this promotion, it could get really good.

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I am not tired of Michael at all. He and Andy are far and away my two favorite characters.

And I don't get people that complain about Jim/Pam. What do you want? You say they're boring. So do you want something crazy to happen to one of them? If that happened people would start using phrases involving sharks. I like Jim/Pam, because they bring a level of believability. EVERY character can't be ridiculous. You have to have a couple normal, sane people. That's what Jim and Pam are.

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totally agree with this.

the phrases that involve sharks are being withheld for this thursday at 830pm

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the phrases that involve sharks are being withheld for this thursday at 830pm

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Because coworkers never get married nor do they invite people from work to their wedding? That's so unrealistic that it is happening at my work this week.

I hope you people realize that the phrase "jumping the shark" has already jumped the shark.

But has saying that saying jumping the shark has jumped the shark also jumped the shark?

This thread has hopped the dolphin.

flapped a wing

Half the people that say jumping the shark really have no clue what it is to jump the shark.

"Jump the Shark": a defining moment that makes it clear a series will never be the same.

The actual marriage- no big deal. They have been happily together for several seasons now. It's the next natural step for them. If you want to say that the moment Jim and Pam officially got together, the show jumped the shark, you might have a case. However, that would also make you a person who was watching this show simply for the romantic comedy storyline, rather than the rest of the office-wide antics that have carried this show for several seasons after the romantic tension between Jim and Pam was cut.

This show will be no different with them married than it was the past 2 seasons.