The Office: Weight Loss

Season 5, Episode 1. Original airdate: 9/25/08
The hour-long season premiere showed the Dunder-Mifflin Scranton gang trying to lose more weight than any other branch during the summer to get an extra 5 days of vacation. See it here or here.
Click below for the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

GOOD: As Dwight, Rainn Wilson was on fire during the episode, picking on the most overweight employees: Kevin, Phyllis, and Stanley – even forcing Phyllis into miles of walking. He also provided the best line delivery of the night (after Michael describes how handsome Scranton guys are to the newest employee Amy Ryan). “Not that guy who murdered his mother – not so handsome . . . also Kevin.” Loved the heads up he gives the camera when he gets caught shagging Angela.

Phyllis gets the best, most shocking line of the night: “I wonder what people like best about me . . . probably my jugs.”

Jim fared surprisingly well, mocking himself by admitting (after Pam goes to New York for art school) he will secretly admire the new receptionist and then suddenly declare his love. Jim and Pam’s relationship continues to surprise. I know I expected her to find a kindred spirit in New York. Nice work, writers.

Mindy, Kevin, Creed, and Oscar were all excellent with their small contributions. Loved the Toby coda.

BAD: Stanley still annoys – the “Black Power” thing didn’t work. Andy is excruciating to watch when he’s around Angela. And Angela’s bitchiness grew old many episodes ago. Although, her answering the question, “How do you sleep at night?” was done well.

UGLY: The episode was very strong until Michael Klump showed up. Michael acting like an ass is one of the show’s signature events, but that doesn’t make it good – or funny. Michael tearing up the Counting Crows tickets was ridiculous. And that punk Ryan writing Jim’s name down was as prissy as it gets.

Overall: B

Next Office episode: Business Ethics on October 9.
30 Rock’s premiere is on October 30.