The Office“Baby Shower”
Oringinal Air Date: October 16, 2008
PG Ignacio – Sr. Staff Writer
pg@thetwocentscorp.com
What is the best way to celebrate the upcoming birth of a new born baby? A baby shower, of course. Well, what is the best way to celebrate the upcoming birth of your ex-girlfriend’s baby, of which she was artificially inseminated? Normal people would say that you don’t do anything. Michael Scott on the other hand forces his office to throw a shower for Jan AND buy her gifts for the baby. The baby he thinks he is connected to and will help raise. He is such a thoughtful and giving person…and at the same time so very naïve and uneducated.
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Oringinal Air Date: October 16, 2008
PG Ignacio – Sr. Staff Writer
pg@thetwocentscorp.com
What is the best way to celebrate the upcoming birth of a new born baby? A baby shower, of course. Well, what is the best way to celebrate the upcoming birth of your ex-girlfriend’s baby, of which she was artificially inseminated? Normal people would say that you don’t do anything. Michael Scott on the other hand forces his office to throw a shower for Jan AND buy her gifts for the baby. The baby he thinks he is connected to and will help raise. He is such a thoughtful and giving person…and at the same time so very naïve and uneducated.
Preparations for the shower are just like any other party in the office. Michael bosses Phyllis around and Angela hates her ideas. Prior to the party, Michael prepares himself for the actual labor and delivery by having Dwight go through scenarios while carrying a watermelon under an apron. Eventually giving birth to it on Michael’s desk. Unfortunately we find Michael thinking it is necessary to inform Holly that he has to be mean to her in Jan’s presence.
The twist in the show happens when Jan shows up to the office not pregnant anymore. She already had the baby and Michael didn’t even know about it! The baby girl’s name is Astrid. Michael incorrectly calls her Astird (yes, pronounced Ass-terd). So, if Jan already has the baby, then she already has stuff for the baby. Good thing the office collected money for baby shower gifts. It all comes out even when Dwight decides to give the $1200 stroller Jan has through a rigorous set of tests. I won’t even go into how funny the scenes are – go to Hulu.com or NBC.com and watch the episode again. Needless to say, Dwight wins.
In this episode we see another glimpse of the normal, good natured side of Michael Scott. When he finally holds the baby he realizes he is in no way connected to this baby. Thank goodness he comes to his senses. Then, after being mean to Holly the entire episode he goes to her desk and give her long, warm embrace. This is after Jan has told Michael not to date Holly. He said I’m sorry without saying the words. This put Holly in tears. A great moment for Michael and Holly. Oh, did I forget to mention that Michael then asked Holly to "go out"? She teared up and said YES!
The side story going on features Jim and Pam attempting to communicate with each other via telephone. In one scene Pam is trying to describe something that happened when she was out with her college friends, but it is difficult for Jim to follow with all the names and the shower planning going on around him in the office. Later, Jim tries to tell Pam what is going on in the office, but she is not able to follow. Finally, in the last scene of the episode we find them not exactly connecting with each other yet again, but we see how much they really know each other. They call each other at the exact same time and get the others’ voicemail. They talk to each other’s voicemail as if they really are on the other line and from our view it almost seems as though they are talking to each other, because they know each other so well.
This was a very good episode. It could’ve been just a whole bunch of humor aimed at the baby and Michael’s ignorance, but it got spread out a little more. We saw a humorous exchange with Angela and Andy when he couldn’t pick her baby picture out. Also, Michael seeking advice from Daryl and he being very straight with him about not being a “baby daddy.” We saw the strange Jan come out when she began singing songs for the baby in front of everyone. “Son of Preacherman”? She’s such a weirdo. What really made this episode was writing in Michael’s hug with Holly and the voicemail conversation between Jim and Pam. It will be interesting to see how they further develop these storylines. So far I am very happy with this season and what the writers have done with the relationships in the show.
So, what did you think? Give us your TwoCents. Especially if you have ever thrown a baby shower for your ex-girlfriend who was artificially inseminated.
Dwight thrashing the baby stroller were the best comedic parts of the episode. Almost spit my drink out a few times.
ReplyDelete"This is what I call the bumper test". Awesome.