# The Office "New Boss" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 20, 2009, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-new-boss/490110 "2009-03-20T01:59:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2009, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-new-boss/490110/61 "2009-03-21T06:04:34Z")
Good to see Micheal acting like an actual human for once. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2009, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-new-boss/490110/62 "2009-03-21T08:40:57Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > And, I have to agree, it sure as heck sounded like Michael said “I acquit.” Now it makes no sense in context, and might have just been Michael’s mangling of the English language, but, to me, it was clearly “acquit.” I just watched the last scene again, and it does sound a bit like “acquit”. But, it’s clearly meant to be “quit”, given Wallace’s reaction, and Michael’s subsequent line about how high he can fly. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2009, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-new-boss/490110/63 "2009-03-21T11:59:22Z")
He said “I, uh, quit.” ---
**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:** [March 21, 2009, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-new-boss/490110/64 "2009-03-21T13:43:08Z")
Right, he said “I quit”. Watch with ‘closed captioning’ turned on if you don’t believe. ---
**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:** [March 21, 2009, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-new-boss/490110/65 "2009-03-21T16:08:51Z")
I can’t believe there’s even a discussion about it. Of course he said “I quit.” “I acquit” would make absolutely no sense. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2009, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-new-boss/490110/66 "2009-03-21T16:47:48Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I can’t believe there’s even a discussion about it. Of course he said “I quit.” “I acquit” would make absolutely no sense. Since when does anything Michael have to say have to make sense? In fact, I said it made no sense up thread. It’s obvious he meant quit, but it’s definitely “acquit” to my ears. “I, uh, quit” makes the most sense in terms of what was actually said and the meaning. edit: I just thought of another reason. I was starting out to say “I accept” and elided into “I quit.” ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2009, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-new-boss/490110/67 "2009-03-21T16:56:14Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > edit: I just thought of another reason. I was starting out to say “I accept” and elided into “I quit.” That should be “he was starting out.” Whatever the case, there’s a clear extra syllable between “I” and “quit” in that scene. To me, the most convincing explanation is he was starting out to say “I accept” or something else (I can’t remember the exact dialogue before the line), and spur of the moment decided to quit or the line is “I, uh, quit.” ---
**Author:** ![kasuo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8c91f0/32.png) [@kasuo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kasuo)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2009, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-new-boss/490110/68 "2009-03-21T17:38:01Z")
I didn’t buy Angela being smitten with the new VP. Yeah, it provided some humor with her running out into the parking lot and talking trash about Kelly. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2009, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-new-boss/490110/69 "2009-03-21T18:54:54Z")
You know, I think when Kane dies he really says, “Row, Spud.” Maybe in his dying hallucination he’s being taken across the River Styx by Mr. Potatohead. ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2009, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-new-boss/490110/70 "2009-03-21T19:01:50Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > You know, I think when Kane dies he really says, “Row, Spud.” Maybe in his dying hallucination he’s being taken across the River Styx by Mr. Potatohead. lol ---
**Author:** ![Baraqiyal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@Baraqiyal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baraqiyal)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2009, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-new-boss/490110/71 "2009-03-21T19:05:39Z")
And his first words in the netherworld: “Domo arigato Mr. Potatohead”. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2009, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-new-boss/490110/72 "2009-03-21T21:07:11Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > You know, I think when Kane dies he really says, “Row, Spud.” Maybe in his dying hallucination he’s being taken across the River Styx by Mr. Potatohead. Having watched the episode after reading this discussion, I have to say it sounds like “I a…quit.” He was going in with “I accept”, even though David obviously didn’t get the actual point about why Michael was upset, and at the last moment ended up with “Quit”. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2009, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-new-boss/490110/73 "2009-03-21T21:45:35Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > …Last week’s “What am I supposed to do now?” was Wallace at the end of his rope, out of ideas regarding how to deal with this apparent idiot-savant man-child. Wallace is the C.F.O. of a failing company in difficult financial times. He doesn’t need to be Michael’s baby sitter for the rest of his life… Actually he does need to babysit Michael. For better or worse Scranton’s the only branch making making Dunder-Mifflin money. The one and only thing the shareholders will care about is profit. Michael could be leading his branch is Satanic orgies and all they’d still look the other way as long as he made enough money to cover the lawsuits. ---
**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:** [March 21, 2009, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-new-boss/490110/74 "2009-03-21T22:03:59Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Actually he does need to babysit Michael. For better or worse Scranton’s the only branch making making Dunder-Mifflin money. The one and only thing the shareholders will care about is profit. Michael could be leading his branch is Satanic orgies and all they’d still look the other way as long as he made enough money to cover the lawsuits. Wallace has already learned that it’s hopeless to try to replicate Michael’s success at other branches. Scranton is effectively an anomaly. While it’s good to have a profitable branch, a single profitable branch isn’t enough to keep the whole company afloat. And, as you suggest, Michael is a ticking time bomb for the lawsuit that brings everything down around their ears. ---
**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:** [March 21, 2009, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-new-boss/490110/75 "2009-03-21T22:04:58Z")
The OS had a title and brief summary of next week’s episode which may pertain to some of this discussion. I didn’t post the title or summary in the spoiler box, because I’m not sure if I would have had to make a whole new thread regarding next weeks show, (Serious question; would I? or could I have just use the spoil box)? Anyway. Not as spoilerific as what’s posted on the Official Site, but I would encourage those who really don’t care to check out what’s next before reading what’s in the box. Up to you. Hopefully people take a gander, because this bogus “I acquit” stuff is getting lame. I don’t even hear the “Ah” between the “I” and the “Quit”. So I’ll just say it supports, (but I guess not ‘confirms’) what the people who know that Mike said have been saying since it aired, “I quit”. This isn’t the only site that’s claiming he said this. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2009, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-new-boss/490110/76 "2009-03-21T22:22:29Z")
> [@MyFootsZZZ](#): > > The OS had a title and brief summary of next week’s episode which may pertain to some of this discussion. I didn’t post the title or summary in the spoiler box, because I’m not sure if I would have had to make a whole new thread regarding next weeks show, (Serious question; would I? or could I have just use the spoil box)? > > Anyway. Not as spoilerific as what’s posted on the Official Site, but I would encourage those who really don’t care to check out what’s next before reading what’s in the box. Up to you. > > Hopefully people take a gander, because this bogus “I acquit” stuff is getting lame. I don’t even hear the “Ah” between the “I” and the “Quit”. So I’ll just say it supports, (but I guess not ‘confirms’) what the people who know that Mike said have been saying since it aired, “I quit”. This isn’t the only site that’s claiming he said this. It’s clear to me that he quit. I’m not arguing that. I’m not sure anyone is. But I saw the episode once, (before reading this thread) and I was like WTF, did he say “I (schwa syllable) quit”? I rewound it and, sure enough, it sounded like “I a-quit,” which, like **Merjeek** I assume was because he started to say “I accept” and changed his mind mid-stream. It was weird enough for me to stop and rewind, and it’s not like I was on the lookout for some weird dialogue there. Going to this thread, I’m not the only one to hear it that way. There’s no argument over what the end result is. He quit. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2009, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-new-boss/490110/77 "2009-03-21T22:31:35Z")
Anyhow, [here’s the clip in question.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9PcZLy3JQ4) Whatever he actually says, it’s clear that he quits. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2009, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-new-boss/490110/78 "2009-03-21T22:48:28Z")
I don’t even hear a “uh.” More like a voiced non-syllable. And this has got to be the dumbest conversation I’ve ever been in. It’s even dumber than the big “puff of dust” kerfuffle after the WhiteSox/Angels game where Pierzynski took first after a “dropped” third strike. ---
**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:** [March 21, 2009, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-new-boss/490110/79 "2009-03-21T23:01:16Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > It’s clear to me that he quit. I’m not arguing that. I’m not sure anyone is. But I saw the episode once, (before reading this thread) and I was like WTF, did he say “I (schwa syllable) quit”? I rewound it and, sure enough, it sounded like “I a-quit,” which, like **Merjeek** I assume was because he started to say “I accept” and changed his mind mid-stream. It was weird enough for me to stop and rewind, and it’s not like I was on the lookout for some weird dialogue there. Going to this thread, I’m not the only one to hear it that way. There’s no argument over what the end result is. He quit. I could have been less a dick about it. I didn’t mean to single you out at all, I think I’m responding to this obsession by fans over nothing, (that’s not exclusive, and not really even disputed on SD). Anyway, it’s nice to know we’re all on the same page. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2009, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-new-boss/490110/80 "2009-03-21T23:50:00Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > I don’t even hear a “uh.” More like a voiced non-syllable. And this has got to be the dumbest conversation I’ve ever been in. It’s even dumber than the big “puff of dust” kerfuffle after the WhiteSox/Angels game where Pierzynski took first after a “dropped” third strike. We’re all on the same page as far as the meaning of the whatever it is Michael said at the end is, so let’s leave it at that. It’s of no consequence. I was merely agreeing to the posters earlier in the thread who thought they heard an extra syllable there, as I did, too. Didn’t want them to think they’re crazy or anything. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-new-boss/490110.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-new-boss/490110.md?page=5)