The Office: Season 6 Episode 15: Manager and Salesman – TV Review
By brianmcconnell
“The Office” further explores the Sabre storyline with a visit by the new company’s CEO, played by Kathy Bates. Helping to balance the new storyline with classic “Office” antics: hilarious tension between Jim and Michael explodes as both must vie for the singular office manager position.
The Players:
- Director: Mindy Kaling
- Writer: Marc Webb
- Cast: Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, B.J. Novak, Ed Helms, Melora Hardin, David Denman, Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Creed Bratton, Kate Flannery, Mindy Kaling, Ellie Kemper, Angela Kinsey, Paul Lieberstein, Oscar Nuñez, Craig Robinson, Phyllis Smith, Kathy Bates.
The Shows Plot:
“The Office” is a mockumentary following the mundane, yet hilarious, lives of employees of the paper company, Dunder-Mifflin, in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Title of this Week’s Episode: “Manager and Salesman” Season 6: Episode 15
The office is eager to welcome Sabre CEO Jo Bennett to Scranton, and are dazzled by her Southern ways. But when Jo finds out there are two branch managers, she says either Michael or Jim must go back to being a salesman. Meanwhile, Andy’s Valentine’s Day plan backfires.
The Good:
- Kelly: One of the funniest, most underused characters in “The Office” ensemble, Kelly (Mindy Kaling) finally gets some decent air time when she mistakenly receives a Valentine ’s Day card meant for Erin (Ellie Kemper) from Andy.
- The Mysterious Smell (aka Phyllis): Michael finally realizes he’s made a huge mistake by stepping down to the salesman position when faced with the “sulfurous” smell surrounding his desk: a disgustingly funny side effect of Phyllis’ allergy medication. The Kleenex stuffed up Andy’s nose at the end of this bit made it one very memorable, bust-a-gut, “Office” moment.
- Dwight and Ryan’s Cohorts: These two frenemies make the unlikeliest allies when they ban together to overthrow Jim from his managerial position. Their Tolkien banter is enough to make this pair one the writers should definitely visit again.
The Bad:
- Kathy Bates. Last week we complained about Kathy Bates’ character not really fitting in with the cast. This week it seemed as though her character could have been more developed, far zanier and… simply funnier. Kathy Bates is a great actress and she’s proven she can do crazy perfectly, the writers should use her talents and not muddle them with half-wit lines and scenes.
Overall:
Director Mindy Kaling and writer Marc Webb are certainly a talented team and this week they delivered a hysterical Valentine’s-themed episode. After a terrible episode last week and a funny-enough clip episode before that, it seems like “The Office” has finally regained it’s footing as a show deserving a spot between the lovable sophomore “Parks and Recreation” and the powerhouse of comedy known as “30 Rock.” While the three main storylines stuffed into this half-hour comedy were well thought out and delivered laugh after laugh, Kathy Bates still has yet to find her rhythm amongst the cast. Hopefully her character quickly progresses and creates some laughs of her own. Otherwise, when the time comes, I will not be sad to see her go.
Rating: 8/10
“The Office” airs Thursdays at 9pm on NBC
What did you think of last night’s episode?
