The Office: Manager and Salesman
February 13, 2010 by Michael Pantozzi
Filed under Television
I was intrigued to learn that this episode was directed by (500) Days of Summer helmer Marc Webb, the man who has just been tapped to reboot the Spiderman movie franchise.
In fact, I now realize that roughly half the time I see the director credit at the beginning of each episode of this show, I’m intrigued, as it’s either one of the actors on the show (B.J. Novak, John Krasinski, Mindy Kaling), a recognizable bastion of TV comedy (Paul Feig, co-creator of Freaks & Geeks), or a recognizable bastion of comedic film (Harold Ramis). And always (as is the case with this episode), the director completely forgoes exercising any personal stylistic flair for the sake of preserving the show’s airtight visual/story patterns and rhythms.
Not that this is at all a bad thing. The Office is so specific in what makes it work that an “ain’t broke don’t fix” it approach can easily be understood to be the smartest possible.
Anyway, the A-premise of this episode is simple: Kathy Bates shows up yet again, to present Dunder Mifflin with its latest calling as a printer-sales organization, and discovers that Michael and Jim are co-managing the office. She determines immediately that only one man is required to do the job, and so for various reasons, Michael and Jim take turns pursuing, and then avoiding the position.
Meanwhile, Andy continues to be charmingly spineless in his efforts (or lack thereof) to court Erin. In order to not make his feelings toward her too obvious, he gives everyone in the office a Valentine’s Day card. The one Kelly receives is ridiculously strong (the one that, in Andy’s mind, would be intended for Erin), and she becomes smitten with him. Awkward hi-jinks ensues as always.
All in all, a particularly strong episode, I thought. Catch it if you missed it, for free, on NBC’s website if you want.
Season 6, Episode 16: Manager and Salesman (originally aired February 11, 2010)
For more on The Office, click here.
Thursdays, 9/8C on NBC
Photographs courtesy of NBC, Byron Cohen.
