Episode Title: "Gossip"

Synopsis: In the mockumentary's season 6 opener, the Dunder-Mifflin staffers share gossip about the summer interns; Michael, feeling left out of the fun chatter, desperately goes hunting for the next big rumor to spread; in other news, opposite-sex issues rattle Andy.

Discuss.

USA Today's mini-review:


If you have a DVR, save a place for an unusually funny outing of The Office (NBC, 9 ET/PT). After Michael makes a rumor-mongering mess, Jim and Pam save the day and, as they often do, the episode.



After The Hangover, I'm expecting big things for Ed Helms this season!

This episode is written and directed by Paul Lieberstein.

Ellie Kemper has been made a series regular.

Reviews have been strong. The show ended very strongly last year, and I'd love to see the momentum continue and grow.

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Is Ellie Kemper the new secretary? Cause that's great news. She was a ton of fun in the last few episodes.

Great premiere. Funny stuff for everyone, beginning with Meredith spraying her pits. The rumors all played off character showing that no show can make use of a large cast like The Office. I've had a big ol' man-crush on Ed Helms all summer from his turn in The Hangover and he didn't disappoint here, from jumping into the empty box to his conversation with Jim. Even Stanley's affair rang real.

Enjoyable premiere. I really hope they give Ed Helms a lot to do this year because this guy is a riot.

B+

The way they built up to Jim and Pam revealing the pregnancy was great -- Stanley's affair, the summer interns, and Andy's possibly homosexuality. Ed Helms was great, and I hope they explore that more, because it could make for some really great material ("Would you resist Brad Pitt?"). Glad to see Ellie Kemper upgraded to series regular; she fit into the ensemble wonderfully. Strong premiere all around, though I'm really looking forward to the big wedding episode that's coming up in three weeks time.

Episode Grade: B+

I wasn't as in love with this episode as everyone else seems to be. Granted, there were some great moments (Andy jumping from the roof into the box was hysterical. Speaking of Andy, this was Helms' best episode to date).

However, it's episodes like this that make me wonder how Michael is still employed. What he did to Stanley, and all the rumors he was spreading remind me that, at his core, he's a moron. In the real world, a guy like this would not be working at a major company.

Well written and directed season opener. Ed Helms was fantastic, and Steve Carell and Leslie David Baker provided strong work as well. There are probably some good deleted scenes with the interns.

Grade: A- (8.5/10)
MVPs: Helms, Carell, Baker
Possible Submissions: Helms, Direction (Lieberstein), Writing (Lieberstein)


Poor Ellie Kemper. Her first episode as a series regular and Angela Kinsey's name was in the credits twice, taking up her spot.

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This was a strong season opener, and Paul Lieberstein could have a solid writing contender with this episode. I liked the organic way that Pam's pregnancy came out from all of the rumors chaos, and there were some great one-liners thrown in there (the one with Kelly being anoxeric, Toby being a virgin, and Dwight with the manure). My favorite part of the episode was with Andy questioning whether he was gay or not, and I never thought I'd be saying that Ed Helms was my favorite aspect of an episode. I didn't like where they took Stanley with his affair. It was a tad darker than they usually go with things on this show, though I did like how Jim and Pam rallied to try to protect him there at the end. Stanley's confession to Michael in his car didn't ring quite as true as it should have either. But there's more I liked to the episode than didn't. I'll have to watch the ending again, b/c it seemed to fly by with a lot going on in it. The cold open between Michael, Dwight, and Andy was fun too.

Grade for "Gossip": B+

You know what helped this episode? Not going on location. Keep it in 'the office.'

For me the best episodes of The Office are those that when I come here, I don't even know where to start.

I thought the opening was amazing, but even better was the rest of this episode. I think it's possible that every single cast member had at least one amazing one liner to throw out.

"who's your OBGYN?"
"it's the inside of your vagina"
"you should've told me"
"a baby out of wedlock is still a bastard" "do you want me to say it again?"
"Michael...am I gay?"
"you like tea" "i bet you do"
"who's the father?"

I mean so many moments, the interns, Dwight's card, the affair, Stanley's confesion, Pam's look at the end when Jim put the picture on the desk, Michael's dissapointment about not knowing anything, Andy and Oscar with their "am I gay" moment, Andy's interview....

Seriously they continue to have some of the best season premiere's around...season after season they start off the season with a bang, this was no exception.

And I was surprised with the dye job on Porter/Preston Scavo either here at The Office or over at DH...

Angela's "A baby born out of wedlock is still a basterd" was hilarious.

I didn't realize this show returned last night until I saw the ratings. So glad it's back, and what a strong episode to kick off the season.

Grade: A-

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With the exception of Ed Helms & a few one liners, I thought it was pretty good but not great. I have to agree with the earilier comment that the Stanley thing was a tad darker than this show normally goes. And why would Stanley confess to Michael? He of all people knows that Michael can't keep a secret, so it doesn't make a lot of since to tell Michael the truth. I thought the Jim/Pam stuff was "sweet" but I would have liked more for/from them. Helms was easily the MVP for me though. The scene with him & Oscar was great stuff. I'd give the episode as a whole a B/B+

Pretty good episode overall and I am definitely excited that the show is back.

Really enjoyed the opening and all of the interactions involving the gossip.

There have been stronger episodes and season openings but this one was still a quality episode.

MVPs: Steve Carrel, Ed Helms, Leslie David Baker
Grade: A-/B+

This was a very funny season opener! Ed Helms had some good stuff tonight, as did John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer! I can't wait to see how their pregnancy/wedding storyline will play out! Steve Carell was very funny as well. Typical Michael Scott...

Grade: B+

I loved Ed Helms in this episode. What a great episode for him. Andy's "Am I gay?" conversation with Oscar was fantastic. And I laughed watching him jump from the roof into that refrigerator box.

Pretty fun episode. I liked Steve Carrell in it. I liked that everyone in the office got something to do.

I'd give it a strong B+, maybe an A-.

Fantastic episode. Already a contender for a series submission. Hilarious stuff. So many oneliners. Loved Creed's stuff.
And what a wonderful scene of Jim and Pam taking the bullet in order to cover for Stanley.
A-

Episode Title: "The Meeting"

Synopsis: It's an undercover mission at the office when Toby and Dwight lurk in the shadows to investigate a workers-compensation claim filed by warehouse denizen Darryl; Pam gets busy on a guest list for the wedding; Michael feels defensive following a request from Jim.

Discuss.

Directed by Randall Einhorn
Written by Aaron Shure

This episode I think will create some interesting things for Jim's character, going forward, especially with next week's episode being called "The Promotion."