Water Cooler Jokes

Last night's episode of The Office was incredible. After several months without my Thursday night fix, this episode couldn't have come any sooner. Sure, it was as absurd and awkward and over-the-top as ever (perhaps even more so than the rabies debacle at the beginning of the season), but the emotional subtleties and story-lines are growing exponentionally.

The aggravatingly slow evolution of Jim and Pam throughout the first three seasons kept an otherwise threadbare series from fading into a canceled cult phenomenon (i.e. Arrested Development, Freaks and Geeks). Yes, Dwight's timing and one-liners are reason enough for many to tune in week after week, but the rest of us want more. And so came the rise of Andy Bernard.


As is most evident in "The Finer Things Club," Andy's character is laden with intense vulnerability, insecurity, and a desperate need to be liked. His cocky demeanor is so visibly transparent and his desperation evokes more sympathy than any deadpan Pam (deadPam?) stare ever could. He also had me in stitches with last night's instantaneous response to Michael's investment pitch: "Thought about it. I'm in."

The seriousness and dedication to which Steve Carrell devotes his portrayal of Michael is often missed. Every nuance of his performance is so carefully calculated to underscore Michael's ignorance and immaturity - emotionally, professionally, and socially. And in spite of his endless tupidity, Michael's good heart and noble intentions are gut-wrenching in the wake of Jan's wrath (particularly during the brilliant scenes of her deposition).

Here is a clip from last night's gold mind.