Ryan's 'Office' Return

Another hour-long "Office." Anyone else think that the show works so much better in a half-hour format? (More compact plot line? More clever rapid fire jokes?)

Ryan is back, sporting a creepy 7 o'clock shadow and an off-putting cocky attitude. Did he really think he had a shot with Pam?

Ryan wants to usher Dunder Mifflin into the digital age which is so not going to happen.

According to Ryan, old is bad -- he wants the company to be "younger, faster and more efficient." A threatened Michael accuses him of ageism (a brand new word for him) and brings 87-year-old company founder Bob Dunder to the office to prove that old people are still relevant. It doesn't go well (yawns all around by staff members) and poor Pam has to figure out a way to get the slightly befuddled gentleman a ride home.

As much as we hate Ryan now, he does have a point about the office not keeping up with modern times. Dunder Mifflin should have a working web site at this point, don't ya think? (For now, as Jim demonstrated, when you click on the company web site it only tells you it will be up and running by "Christmas of 2002").

Then again, technology can be a dangerous thing, especially in the hands of Michael who almost drowns himself and Dwight by trusting a GPS system on his rental car (funniest gig of the hour).

Relationship update: Dwight and Angela are kaput despite his efforts to woo her with cauliflower and noodles. I guess Dwight murdering Angela's cat was just too much for her poor sensitive soul to handle.

Pam and Jim are holding steady with way too much syrupy sweetness. I can't wait for sweeps when their relationship is bound to be screwed up.

-- John Maynard

Maura McCarthy  |  October 5, 2007; 8:25 AM ET The Office
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Comments

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funniest line: where are the turtles? hand over the turtles!

Posted by: SSMD | October 5, 2007 10:18 AM

Funniest "talking head" shot: Kelly shaking her head "no" vigorously after we've seen her telling Ryan that she is pregnant.

Posted by: CallMeSkeptical | October 5, 2007 2:02 PM

Here's to hoping they stand pat for a while on the Pam and Jim thing. Too many shows have been ruined by the "on again, off again, will they or won't they?" plot line.

Posted by: TL | October 5, 2007 2:19 PM

I want to see Toby get more of an active role.

Posted by: BDWESQTM | October 5, 2007 3:00 PM

The hour long episode format is enticing but untenable. Its ruining the show for me, because the writers are having trouble making it funny for the whole hour, and thus we end up realizing that some of the gags are just completely ridiculous. Even Michael wouldn't drive the car directly into a lake.

Posted by: Kyle | October 5, 2007 5:02 PM

Dont even go there! I love Pam and Jim and no, it aint too syrupy for me! In fact, I think they need more screen time...I did miss Jim last night.He was barely there! Now I'm nervous about whether they'll end Jim and Pam...thats the best part! They belong together!:D

and I do love the hour long format...the more office,the better...and yes, driving the car into the lake was genius:D

*sigh*...yes Im an Office junkie..

Posted by: Aarti | October 5, 2007 5:52 PM

I heartily agree that the hour-long format should be used sparingly, if at all. The "30 Rock" episode that preceded "The Office" was sharper and funnier.
The show needs to avoid putting the Jim & Pam relationship through too many changes. It could get like Sam and Diane on "Cheers" -- they get together, they break up, they back together, they break up again. After two or three flip flops, it's played out.

Posted by: Moe Town | October 8, 2007 4:58 PM

Can I just give kudos to Creed? He never gets a serious story line but he's hysterical in EVERY scene he has with EVERY line he gives.

Posted by: Liz D | October 9, 2007 4:48 PM

To Liz D:

Creed IS great. Love the punk rock haircut last week. Will keep a more keen eye on Creed this coming week.

-John Maynard

Posted by: John Maynard | October 9, 2007 5:55 PM

Creed rocks!! His new hair color was another classic Creed moment.

Posted by: Frank | October 10, 2007 1:48 PM

you noticed when someone asked, "what happened to all the printer ink." the camera panned to Creed. i never laughed so hard.

Posted by: B. | October 12, 2007 10:02 PM

I want Angela to go back to Dwight......

I HATE ANDY

Posted by: Anna | November 30, 2007 7:05 PM

I want you to let Angela to HAve Dwights baby...................


P.S. Please

Posted by: Hans | November 30, 2007 7:07 PM

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