# The Office: 7.11/12 "Classy Christmas" (open spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 10, 2010, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-7-11-12-classy-christmas-open-spoilers/563607 "2010-12-10T01:20:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-7-11-12-classy-christmas-open-spoilers/563607/21 "2010-12-10T19:40:24Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > I had the impression that he’s actually wrong about this one. Nah, did you catch the Senator checking out Ryan’s ass as he walked out of the conference room? > [@LionelHutz405](#): > > Pam’s reaction to her gift seemed like a paid placement to me. I felt like I was watching a jewelery commercial. I thought her reaction was less about how much she loved getting jewelry and more about her feeling shitty for doing a “homemade” gift that everyone seemed to think was a horrible idea (Phyllis’ assumption that Pam and Jim were havnig financial problems was hilarious… as was her assuming that Pam was asking for money.) > [@LionelHutz405](#): > > I’m thinking Oscar is going to steal Angela’s boyfriend. Wouldn’t that be rich? > Angela is the perfect fake girlfriend for a gay guy. He can probably go fifty dates without even getting a kiss. I think you could be on to something. But whatever happened to Gus? Did he and Oscar split up at some point that I’m not remembering? > [@MaxTheVool](#): > > I didn’t get the slightest hint that Jim was anything but totally blown away by Pam’s present, nor would it be in character for him, imho. Agreed. And honestly, it was the perfect gift for Jim. I know I’d be blown away if I got something like that. > [@MaxTheVool](#): > > There was a joke about iCarly that I totally didn’t get, having no idea what iCarly is. Can anyone explain it? I laughed out loud at that bit… The joke is just that Darryl has any kind of opinion on a kids show at all. As a parent I found that very relatable. > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I really only liked the Jim/Dwight snowball storyline from this episode. I agree with **Smeghead** where Dwight had a legitimate gripe this time. Jim just walking into the office and plastering Dwight with a snowball in the face was out of line, and not funny, and not even a prank. Just stupid physical aggression with no point (an actual HR issue in a RL office). Dwight was right to be pissed, and it was nice to see Jim get humbled for once. He should have known anyway that trying to engage Dwight in a straight up phyical conflict was a bad idea. Dwight kicked his ass. It wasn’t a snowball, it was a dusting. I agree that Jim was WAY over the line there and I absolutely loved seeing the tables turned on him by Dwight. At first I had a problem w/ how many snowmen Dwight was able to build - as that takes a LOT of open snow to roll up that many large snow balls… but then I remembered that Dwight owns a beet farm and has an assistant. > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I’m getting a little tired of the plotlines involving some kind of bogus suggestion of potential conflict or tension between Jim and Pam, only to resolve itself in perfect joy and bliss. Will he like her homemade gift? Oh,look. he loves it so much he can’t speak. Give us a break with the Jam perfection already. It’s not realistic, and it just comes off as smug. They shouldn’t be afraid to find some actual warts in that marriage, some kind of real conflict or tension. Something they actually have to work through. Agreed… I think this show could lose both Jim and Pam (in addition to Michael) and be greatly improved. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-7-11-12-classy-christmas-open-spoilers/563607/22 "2010-12-10T19:44:21Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > Nah, did you catch the Senator checking out Ryan’s ass as he walked out of the conference room? Ah, thanks! In fact, I did not catch that, even though I felt like there was a “beat” there that I was missing. (After the line “I’ll stick with my mojito,” right?) I don’t get all the approval for Dwight turning the tables on Jim. Sure, Jim started it, but Dwight _drew blood_–and wasn’t even content to leave it at that! That was not just out of line, it was off the charts. ---
**Author:** ![LionelHutz405](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lionelhutz405/32/536_2.png) [@LionelHutz405](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LionelHutz405)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-7-11-12-classy-christmas-open-spoilers/563607/23 "2010-12-10T20:17:54Z")
Here is the snowball scene: [http://videos.wittysparks.com/id/72057662718792216](http://videos.wittysparks.com/id/72057662718792216) I have to admit, if someone in my office smacked me that hard in the face with a snowball, I would respond pretty over the top too. Jim got what he deserved. I think in RL most people would respond with violence to that. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-7-11-12-classy-christmas-open-spoilers/563607/24 "2010-12-10T21:42:56Z")
> [@LionelHutz405](#): > > Here is the snowball scene: > [http://videos.wittysparks.com/id/72057662718792216](http://videos.wittysparks.com/id/72057662718792216) Weird, that mirrored the entire sequence…I’m guessing to avoid automatic copyright detection. /tangent ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-7-11-12-classy-christmas-open-spoilers/563607/25 "2010-12-10T22:19:36Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > How about Oscar immediately twigging that Angela’s date was gay. He said it so matter of factly. Does he actually know something or is he just really confident about his gaydar? I had the impression that Oscar had previously met or seen him somewhere before, and knew he was gay. Seemed there was a slight hesitation by the state senator when introduced to Oscar, as if he knew he knew. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-7-11-12-classy-christmas-open-spoilers/563607/26 "2010-12-10T22:26:26Z")
> [@Mach Tuck](#): > > I had the impression that Oscar had previously met or seen him somewhere before, and knew he was gay. Seemed there was a slight hesitation by the state senator when introduced to Oscar, as if he knew he knew. I didn’t get that at all. I just thought to Oscar he was so obviously gay that it wasn’t even a big gossipy issue to him. Loved Stanley’s irritation at never being called for jury duty. A/C, get to sit in judgement of other people, free lunch, they pay you… Question: I wonder if somehow the Scranton Strangler is going to factor in to Michael leaving? Not that he _is_ the strangler, but maybe he has to go into Witness Protection or something? They’ve spent too much time on that to not have it pay off somehow… ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-7-11-12-classy-christmas-open-spoilers/563607/27 "2010-12-10T23:32:26Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > I laughed out loud at that bit… The joke is just that Darryl has any kind of opinion on a kids show at all. As a parent I found that very relatable. I don’t know - it seemed oddly specific for just that joke. He commented on the way a particular character spoke. I assumed that he (the actor) also plays or voices that character on the other show, but that’s just a guess. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-7-11-12-classy-christmas-open-spoilers/563607/28 "2010-12-10T23:44:24Z")
Michael’s immaturity is tiresome as usual, but seeing Dwight go all Patton on Jim and really grind him down felt damn good and entirely well deserved. I had the same reaction when Frank Burns got in the very very extremely rare shot at Hawkeye. And who the hell launches a snowball with a lacrosse stick, indoors? That’s getting into _Jackass_ territory. And Ambiguously Evil Dad is now Ambiguously Gay (State) Senator? Okay… ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-7-11-12-classy-christmas-open-spoilers/563607/29 "2010-12-11T01:45:58Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > I don’t know - it seemed oddly specific for just that joke. He commented on the way a particular character spoke. I assumed that he (the actor) also plays or voices that character on the other show, but that’s just a guess. The quote was: > [@](#): > > “iCarly…you know what’s funny on that show? The friend with the video camera? He’s got a nice way of talking.” Pretty sure it’s just a joke (though not much of one) about a parent being exposed to a kids show so much that you develop opinions about it, and a way to illustrate Darryl’s relationship with his daughter as a single dad for the audience. The[Onion AV Club](http://www.avclub.com/articles/classy-christmas,48746/) has this to say about the bit: > [@](#): > > Like Michael, he idealizes the past by remembering a joyous Christmas of iCarly and shopping sprees, whereas his daughter remembers sitting around watching TV and having to buy her own presents. Ok, I’ve just devoted WAY too much time to a throw away line on a sitcom. Time to do something more productive. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![zagloba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/977dab/32.png) [@zagloba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zagloba)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-7-11-12-classy-christmas-open-spoilers/563607/30 "2010-12-11T04:22:36Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > I don’t know - it seemed oddly specific for just that joke. He commented on the way a particular character spoke. I assumed that he (the actor) also plays or voices that character on the other show, but that’s just a guess. That’s what I thought, too, but not according to IMDB ---
**Author:** ![Baine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Baine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baine)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-7-11-12-classy-christmas-open-spoilers/563607/31 "2010-12-11T04:37:28Z")
I’m not familiar with iCarly, but I had interpreted the comment about the friend with the video camera to be a joke about how the unseen cameraman on the Office never speaks. ---
**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:** [December 11, 2010, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-7-11-12-classy-christmas-open-spoilers/563607/32 "2010-12-11T05:34:30Z")
My kids watch _iCarly_, so I know what character they’re talking about. The show is about two teenage girls who host a web show. The video is done by a kid named Freddie who lives across the hall from Carly. He’s like 16 years old. His manner of speech sounds completely ordinary to me. Nothing unusual or funny or noteworthy about it. He’s a pretty bland character, actually. Whatever was supposed to be fnny about that line didn’t really have anything to do with the character he was talking about. I guess it was just that Darryl had paid enough attention to a kid’s show to form an opinion about a character. ---
**Author:** ![HenryGale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b782af/32.png) [@HenryGale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HenryGale)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-7-11-12-classy-christmas-open-spoilers/563607/33 "2010-12-11T16:29:51Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > I don’t get all the approval for Dwight turning the tables on Jim. Sure, Jim started it, but Dwight _drew blood_–and wasn’t even content to leave it at that! That was not just out of line, it was off the charts. I originally missed your comment, **Biffy** , and I was about to post something to the same effect. Okay, Jim broke a window, which could have serious repercussions in real life, but he is sitting _visibly bloodied_ _ **in front of the HR rep** _ and nobody says anything to Dwight beyond the general “you guys have to knock this off?” The whole thing was really uncomfortable. Seeing Jim beaten, bloody, and afraid another beating was coming wasn’t a shining one-upmanship for Dwight, it made him look like a psychopath. It made me expect something more terrible was coming, ie, Pam’s comic getting destroyed in another beatdown. I’m hoping this storyline will be resolved in a more satisfying way later. Jim’s owed Dwight some respect for a while, but this isn’t the way for him to get it. ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-7-11-12-classy-christmas-open-spoilers/563607/34 "2010-12-11T16:35:00Z")
the excessive blood did tarnish what was otherwise a hilarious and long-overdue come-uppance for Jim. ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-7-11-12-classy-christmas-open-spoilers/563607/35 "2010-12-11T18:33:52Z")
> [@Baine](#): > > I’m not familiar with iCarly, but I had interpreted the comment about the friend with the video camera to be a joke about how the unseen cameraman on the Office never speaks. This. The cameraman hardly ever interacts with the Office characters, though there are a few instances where the camera will look at something in a sort of deliberate manner to get one of the characters to look in that direction. Particularly I remember when Pam saw Angela buy two candybars. Later the camera caught Dwight eating one, looked at Pam and sort of “gestured” in Dwight’s direction to get Pam to look that way. And of course the characters ask the cameraman questions on occasion (Pam asked if Jim was going to propose at Toby’s going-away party, for example). But I don’t think the interaction has ever gone beyond that. Having never seen iCarly, I assumed the cameraman on that show talks and figured Darryl was making the joke **Baine** pointed out. [After looking it up](http://www.nick.com/videos/clip/ispace-out-full-episode.html), I sort of regret thinking about it this much. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-7-11-12-classy-christmas-open-spoilers/563607/36 "2010-12-11T19:35:32Z")
Yeah, I feel like I should apologize to everyone in the thread for suggesting that the joke was deeper than it was. I owe you all a bunch of brain time. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-7-11-12-classy-christmas-open-spoilers/563607/37 "2010-12-11T22:01:46Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I’m getting a little tired of the plotlines involving some kind of bogus suggestion of potential conflict or tension between Jim and Pam, only to resolve itself in perfect joy and bliss. Will he like her homemade gift? Oh,look. he loves it so much he can’t speak. Give us a break with the Jam perfection already. It’s not realistic, and it just comes off as smug. They shouldn’t be afraid to find some actual warts in that marriage, some kind of real conflict or tension. Something they actually have to work through. > " Right, and if they every did have a storyline with genuine dramatic tension between them instead of cute little problems that are easily resolved, I’m sure there’d be plenty of bitching about how The Office is turning into the “Jam Show” and we all tune in to see the wacky misadventures of Michael Scott et al, not a serious relationship drama. They’re two easy-going, laid-back newlyweds who apparently had a good year and a great baby. Their “perfection” is probably more realistic at this point than 90% of the other things that go on in the show. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-7-11-12-classy-christmas-open-spoilers/563607/38 "2010-12-11T23:00:49Z")
Best throwaway line: Gabe: Yes, Erin and I are still together…why do you keep asking me that? > [@HenryGale](#): > > I originally missed your comment, **Biffy** , and I was about to post something to the same effect. Okay, Jim broke a window, which could have serious repercussions in real life, but he is sitting _visibly bloodied_ _ **in front of the HR rep** _ and nobody says anything to Dwight beyond the general “you guys have to knock this off?” > > The whole thing was really uncomfortable. Seeing Jim beaten, bloody, and afraid another beating was coming wasn’t a shining one-upmanship for Dwight, it made him look like a psychopath. It made me expect something more terrible was coming, ie, Pam’s comic getting destroyed in another beatdown. > > I’m hoping this storyline will be resolved in a more satisfying way later. Jim’s owed Dwight some respect for a while, but this isn’t the way for him to get it. I agree. It makes Dwight look like a dangerous psychotic instead of a slightly clueless dork. Really it started with Dwight’s over the top reaction to Jim’s innocuous comment about the first snowfall. Why was he being such an asshole? And then Jim overreacts but instead of his usual amusing, clever pranks, he just assaults Dwight with a snowball. And why was Dwight able to beat Jim so easily? Usually Dwight is the one fooled by clever tricks because his are so stupid and obvious. Remember his “fight” with Andy where Andy pinned him with his Prius? The whole exchange was just out of character and uncomfortible. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2010, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-7-11-12-classy-christmas-open-spoilers/563607/39 "2010-12-12T01:00:39Z")
Also, am I the only one sharing Erin’s dislike of Holly? ---
**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:** [December 12, 2010, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-7-11-12-classy-christmas-open-spoilers/563607/40 "2010-12-12T02:02:42Z")
I don’t see any reason to dislike Holly. Anyway, I don’t think Erin dislikes her as such. She just finds Holly unattractive. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-7-11-12-classy-christmas-open-spoilers/563607.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-7-11-12-classy-christmas-open-spoilers/563607.md?page=3)