# Office 11/9 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 10, 2006, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/office-11-9/379805 "2006-11-10T02:02:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![brewha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@brewha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brewha)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/office-11-9/379805/21 "2006-11-10T16:02:48Z")
I’m trying to figure out how they will keep Michael on the show if he gets fired. That can’t get rid of them, can they? I’m also a big fan of Ed Helms, I hope he stays on as well. I wish they would do more with Chip Esten, he was hilarious on Who’s Line (the American version). ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/office-11-9/379805/22 "2006-11-10T16:21:24Z")
[QUOTE=middleman] I agree with **Red Barchetta** that I am kind of rooting for Quincy Jones’s daughter. [/QUOTE] That’s who that is? Yeah, I can see the resemblance, now that you mention it. Just happened to catch her on a Chapelle episode recently too, the pre-sex contract. Loved the preview of next week’s show where Michael says to her “Wow, you’re kinda exotic looking. Was your Dad a G.I.?” Bwhaaaa… too much! ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/office-11-9/379805/23 "2006-11-10T16:31:01Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] I loved Jim sending Dwight faxes from himself in the future. [/QUOTE] It’s a shame that the “future faxes” bit was just a throw-away. If Jim had found out about the office shutdown before Michael announced it, he could’ve totalled effed with Dwight’s head. Well, more than he already is. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/office-11-9/379805/24 "2006-11-10T16:34:33Z")
“Say what you will about Michael Scott, but I can’t imagine him ever doing something like that.” I love Michael but he’s no manager and I don’t think he’s happy as one. Would somebody (Jan) PLEASE toss him back out on the road so he can do what he was born to do? And will D-M still sell the warehouse to Vance? By the way, I missed the first two seasons. What is Toby’s job and how does he rate being told the office is closing before the branch manager? ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/office-11-9/379805/25 "2006-11-10T16:36:36Z")
Head of human resources. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/office-11-9/379805/26 "2006-11-10T16:40:00Z")
[QUOTE=brewha] I’m trying to figure out how they will keep Michael on the show if he gets fired. That can’t get rid of them, can they? [/QUOTE] Well, with Josh bailing to Staples, I’m assuming Michael is no longer fired, and will be heading the NE division now (and the prospect of Jim supervising Dwight is irresistable). And I think I’m rooting for HQJD too (can never remember her name). ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/office-11-9/379805/27 "2006-11-10T16:43:08Z")
[QUOTE=dropzone] By the way, I missed the first two seasons. What is Toby’s job and how does he rate being told the office is closing before the branch manager? [/QUOTE] Toby is the Human Resources guy. Michael resents him because he answers directly to corporate and not to him. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/office-11-9/379805/28 "2006-11-10T16:50:58Z")
[QUOTE=brewha] I’m trying to figure out how they will keep Michael on the show if he gets fired. That can’t get rid of them, can they? I’m also a big fan of Ed Helms, I hope he stays on as well. I wish they would do more with Chip Esten, he was hilarious on Who’s Line (the American version). [/QUOTE] The Brit version had a follow-on movie wherein the Michael character, desperately unemployed and doing embarrassing gigs to make ends meet, keeps popping into the office to talk about old times, even though the staff hates him. They could do some variation on that theme, I suppose, particularly if Steve Carrell decides to leave the series. I don’t see this series going for much longer without the writing becoming tiresome. The plot just can’t be sustained beyond another season or so, and I would suspect that Ricky Gervais would want the plug pulled before they ruin his baby. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/office-11-9/379805/29 "2006-11-10T17:28:15Z")
[QUOTE=Menocchio] Toby is the Human Resources guy. Michael resents him because he answers directly to corporate and not to him. [/QUOTE] Mighty small office to need a fulltime HR guy. Even with the warehouse. What? It’s not a real office and a real company? Are you sure, because I know all those people. ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/office-11-9/379805/30 "2006-11-10T17:48:52Z")
Toby’s got a full-time job just dealing with Dwights complaints. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Shroud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/439d5e/32.png) [@The\_Shroud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Shroud)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/office-11-9/379805/31 "2006-11-10T18:19:28Z")
Be sure to check out the online “Producer’s Cut” on [NBC.com](http://NBC.com). Quite a few extra scenes, a few alternate talking head segments, funny subplots with Meredith and Creed (there’s a reason he’s buying the shots!) and a little more Pam character development. On the home page, click Video, then load Video Player, then The Office, then Episodes. IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/office-11-9/379805/32 "2006-11-10T18:26:05Z")
[QUOTE=Chefguy] The Brit version had a follow-on movie wherein the Michael character, desperately unemployed and doing embarrassing gigs to make ends meet, keeps popping into the office to talk about old times, even though the staff hates him. They could do some variation on that theme, I suppose, particularly if Steve Carrell decides to leave the series. [/QUOTE] Do you think Michael is as hated in his office as David Brent was? I don’t think so. There seems to be some actual affection between Michael and the workers, whereas I truly think everyone loathed David Brent, as did I. Michael is just a sad, silly man. So I don’t know if Michael coming back around an annoying everyone would work as well as it did with David, but we’ll see if they even go that route. ---
**Author:** ![brewha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@brewha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brewha)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/office-11-9/379805/33 "2006-11-10T18:27:20Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I don’t see this series going for much longer without the writing becoming tiresome. The plot just can’t be sustained beyond another season or so, and I would suspect that Ricky Gervais would want the plug pulled before they ruin his baby. That is exactly what I fear. The writing is brilliant, I don’t know how they can keep it up. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/office-11-9/379805/34 "2006-11-10T18:54:23Z")
[QUOTE=Rubystreak] Do you think Michael is as hated in his office as David Brent was? I don’t think so. There seems to be some actual affection between Michael and the workers, whereas I truly think everyone loathed David Brent, as did I. Michael is just a sad, silly man. So I don’t know if Michael coming back around an annoying everyone would work as well as it did with David, but we’ll see if they even go that route. [/QUOTE] And that’s why I prefer the American Office to the British Office. The British boss was just so unbelievably thick- it’s like he wasn’t human. Someone like that would’ve been smothered in their sleep years ago. Michael, at least, seems more human. Every now and then they show us that, yes, he is in fact competent. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/office-11-9/379805/35 "2006-11-10T19:13:24Z")
One of the few flaws of the show is that all the employees seem incredibly put off by Michael’s shenanigans. Would employee WOULDN’T like a boss who was friendly, didn’t push them very hard and occasionally had field trips to karate matches? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/office-11-9/379805/36 "2006-11-10T19:20:21Z")
David Brent was fundamentally egotistical, Michael Scott is not. Michael is a much more sympathetic character and (unlike Brent) we occassionally see that he has some talent and competence underneath all his hapless attempts to be liked. ---
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/office-11-9/379805/37 "2006-11-10T19:24:00Z")
[QUOTE=middleman] Don’t Know What You Got…Till It’s Gone? It is a classic hair metal anthem. [/quote] What was particularly good about that bit was, “That song says it so much better than I could… say it… with words…” He was even having trouble figuring out how to phrase that. > [@](#): > > The line where he asks if he is a relocate or a severance was nice acting. Loved the response to it also. Something like, “Well, the personnel decisions are still being made… But you’re a severance person…” Guess they decided on him pretty quick. ---
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/office-11-9/379805/38 "2006-11-10T19:28:13Z")
Oh, and I don’t remember the name of the guy who’s in the office with Jim and the new chick, but that was a nice bit with him, also. After having gloated to Jim about the Scranton branch being shut down – when we saw him later (after the news of their branch getting absorbed instead). His little tantrum seen through a window, then suddenly calm when Josh came in. “Oh, yeah… good luck to you too, man.” Nice. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/office-11-9/379805/39 "2006-11-10T19:32:08Z")
[QUOTE=The Shroud] Be sure to check out the online “Producer’s Cut” on [NBC.com](http://NBC.com). Quite a few extra scenes, a few alternate talking head segments, funny subplots with Meredith and Creed (there’s a reason he’s buying the shots!) and a little more Pam character development. On the home page, click Video, then load Video Player, then The Office, then Episodes. IIRC. [/QUOTE] I don’t understand why they didn’t cut some of the CFO’s house footage and put in some of the Creed footage, which was hysterical. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/office-11-9/379805/40 "2006-11-10T19:33:14Z")
[QUOTE=Rubystreak] Do you think Michael is as hated in his office as David Brent was? I don’t think so. There seems to be some actual affection between Michael and the workers, whereas I truly think everyone loathed David Brent, as did I. Michael is just a sad, silly man. So I don’t know if Michael coming back around an annoying everyone would work as well as it did with David, but we’ll see if they even go that route. [/QUOTE] Agreed. I would bet on some variation on the theme, however. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/office-11-9/379805.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/office-11-9/379805.md?page=3)