# The Office 11/20 "Frame Toby" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 21, 2008, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-11-20-frame-toby/473788 "2008-11-21T04:41:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-11-20-frame-toby/473788/41 "2008-11-21T18:27:57Z")
I also don’t see why people are dissing this episode. I thought it was very funny, for many of the reasons already mentioned. For some reason, it just never stops cracking me up how much Michael hates Toby. It’s so over the top, but somehow fits into his character perfectly. And the scene with the taunting-to-violence was brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-11-20-frame-toby/473788/42 "2008-11-21T18:37:11Z")
> [@Constant\_Reader](#): > > This has been bothering me - What was Pam going to cook in the microwave? It looked like she opened a yogurt container and poured chicken broth out of it into a plastic bowl. Does chicken broth come in yogurt container-like things? ---
**Author:** ![amaguri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@amaguri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amaguri)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-11-20-frame-toby/473788/43 "2008-11-21T18:48:22Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > This was pretty much a crapfest. My attention wandered and I kept looking at the clock to see how much more I’d have to endure. … really? maybe it wasn’t the best episode ever, but since when has watching a 30-minute sitcom turned into a prison sentence? if you don’t find it funny, turn the channel, or even better, turn the tv off. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-11-20-frame-toby/473788/44 "2008-11-21T18:49:59Z")
I was surprised- and a little pleased- to see Toby actually showing some emotion when the police were going through his desk. He sort of stood up to them, to the extent he was able as he was detained against the file cabinets, objecting loudly, reciting his rights, and giving the cops the business. Yet with Michael, he just stands ther like a helpless milquetoast. Any HR rep worth their salt would immediately report Michael and would be instrumental in a serious reprimand, if not his firing. Overall, the ep was weak. Michael’s reaction to having Toby there was along the lines of a poorly written sitcom, not the quasi-reality-documentary level of natural reaction this show is ostensibly about. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-11-20-frame-toby/473788/45 "2008-11-21T19:50:17Z")
**Lamia** and **h. sapiens** , thanks. I’m still puzzled about what they were loading onto the truck but in the grand scheme of things, it’s not important. I’ve heard people say the same thing where I work, about the dirty microwave: “It probably took more time to write that note than it would to clean the microwave.” I’m with Pam. I don’t like cleaning up other people’s messes. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-11-20-frame-toby/473788/46 "2008-11-21T20:04:22Z")
> [@Gus\_Gusterson](#): > > Plus, he lives in Scranton. A modest house that needs a lot of work and is in what didn’t sound like the best neighborhood (Creed lives there) probably doesn’t cost a fortune. I just assumed Jim was lying about where his house was. I would, if I worked with that bunch. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-11-20-frame-toby/473788/47 "2008-11-21T20:08:32Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > For some reason, it just never stops cracking me up how much Michael hates Toby. It’s so over the top, but somehow fits into his character perfectly. And the scene with the taunting-to-violence was brilliant. Ryan and Kelly taunting Toby to hit Michael was hilareous “You should have hit him. He was askin’ for it. Once in a lifetime opportunity.” ---
**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 21, 2008, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-11-20-frame-toby/473788/48 "2008-11-21T20:12:01Z")
Speaking of Creed. Didn’t he once say that he lived right there in the office building? Did he get a real place now? Come to think of it, I guess he didn’t really say he had a place, only that he “lives by the quarry.” That could mean a lot of things. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-11-20-frame-toby/473788/49 "2008-11-21T20:14:46Z")
Yeah what happened with the “drug deal”. The guy told Michael to give him $500 and then they were like “ok! quick! walk away!” I assumed either they gave Michael the salad in a bag or made him panic and scurry off so by the time he realized he got nothing in return, they would be gone. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-11-20-frame-toby/473788/50 "2008-11-21T20:19:05Z")
> [@amaguri](#): > > … really? maybe it wasn’t the best episode ever, but since when has watching a 30-minute sitcom turned into a prison sentence? if you don’t find it funny, turn the channel, or even better, turn the tv off. Yeah, I can’t really complain about a weekly 20 minute show wasting my time. It’s worth my 20 minutes when I tivo it. Not like the weekly SNL 90 minute crapfest some people endure. ---
**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 21, 2008, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-11-20-frame-toby/473788/51 "2008-11-21T20:19:19Z")
They slipped him the sald in a rolled up bag and told him to scram before he could get a chance to get a good look at it. Let that be a lesson. Always inspect the bag before you hand over the cash, especially if you don’t know the dealer. ---
**Author:** ![Pashnish\_Ewing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8797f3/32.png) [@Pashnish\_Ewing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pashnish_Ewing)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-11-20-frame-toby/473788/52 "2008-11-21T20:25:36Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Ryan and Kelly taunting Toby to hit Michael was hilareous > > “You should have hit him. He was askin’ for it. Once in a lifetime opportunity.” And Michael being bummed out when Ryan joined the chorus (started by Michael). And I totally got the Jim inching away thing. It wasn’t just that Pam was going on and on, it was the whole “why aren’t you as outraged about this as I am” thing that every woman I have ever dated has put me through in some way or another. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-11-20-frame-toby/473788/53 "2008-11-21T21:05:33Z")
> [@Pashnish\_Ewing](#): > > And Michael being bummed out when Ryan joined the chorus (started by Michael). And I totally got the Jim inching away thing. It wasn’t just that Pam was going on and on, it was the whole “why aren’t you as outraged about this as I am” thing that every woman I have ever dated has put me through in some way or another. I like the way Pam put it, though - “Why aren’t you as outraged or interested in this as I am?”, showing some level of self-awareness. ---
**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 21, 2008, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-11-20-frame-toby/473788/54 "2008-11-21T21:07:22Z")
> [@amaguri](#): > > … really? maybe it wasn’t the best episode ever, but since when has watching a 30-minute sitcom turned into a prison sentence? if you don’t find it funny, turn the channel, or even better, turn the tv off. Thank you for your wise counsel. Now go mind your own damn business. ---
**Author:** ![St.Urho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@St.Urho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St.Urho)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-11-20-frame-toby/473788/55 "2008-11-21T21:44:46Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > **Lamia** and **h. sapiens** , thanks. I’m still puzzled about what they were loading onto the truck but in the grand scheme of things, it’s not important. I just rewatched this, online. Here’s how the initial exchange went: Michael: So, I guess you know why I’m here. I need to purchase something. Guy on truck: A fridge? The boxes are all labeled refrigerator, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Constant\_Reader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8edcca/32.png) [@Constant\_Reader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Constant_Reader)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-11-20-frame-toby/473788/56 "2008-11-21T21:45:13Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > It looked like she opened a yogurt container and poured chicken broth out of it into a plastic bowl. Does chicken broth come in yogurt container-like things? That’s exactly what I thought too, which of course confused me. Poor Toby. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-11-20-frame-toby/473788/57 "2008-11-21T21:51:41Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Yeah what happened with the “drug deal”. The guy told Michael to give him $500 and then they were like “ok! quick! walk away!” I assumed either they gave Michael the salad in a bag or made him panic and scurry off so by the time he realized he got nothing in return, they would be gone. Did some stations not show the guy giving Michael the baggie? This is the second or third post implying such. The Vance Refrigeration guy gave Michael the baggie full of salad. Joe ---
**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 21, 2008, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-11-20-frame-toby/473788/58 "2008-11-21T22:36:44Z")
The handing over of the bag was pretty subtle and obsured. You couldn’t actually see the bag, you just saw one of the VR guys putting something in Michael’s jacket pocket. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-11-20-frame-toby/473788/59 "2008-11-21T22:39:37Z")
> [@Lamia](#): > > They were Vance Refrigeration employees, and work in the same building. Whether the Vance loading dock would count as “company property” would I guess depend on who actually owns the building. Doesn’t Billy Merchant, the guy in a wheelchair, own the building? I hope he shows up this season, like in Fun Run and Casino Night. It’s a nice nod to fans. Devon’s in New York, so I don’t know if he’ll ever stop by again. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-11-20-frame-toby/473788/60 "2008-11-21T23:06:18Z")
> [@MyFootsZZZ](#): > > Doesn’t Billy Merchant, the guy in a wheelchair, own the building? He’s the property manager. Presumably, the Scranton Office Park is owned by a large real estate holding company, like many commercial properties. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-11-20-frame-toby/473788.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-11-20-frame-toby/473788.md?page=4)