“Ben Franklin”
Season 3 Episode 14
I never thought I’d say this, but the visit from Todd Packer was the best part of the episode for me. He was fun and had so much personality. “Either this chick is a dude or Halpert got scared straight.” Maybe Prison Mike scared him straight.
Michael makes a great video for his “future son” in case Michael dies. He “teaches” him how to jump start a car and also to take a bra off a “woman.”
In preparation for the Vance wedding, Michael decided to have two parties with the staff. The men met in the warehouse for a “bachelor party” with a dancer and man meat. Dwight was in charge of ordering the entertainment. He preferred, “ruddy cheeks, thick calves, no tats, no moles” and a redhead brunette blonde.
Michael grilled the steaks on his George Foreman grill. But don’t worry, he got “all the foot off.”
Michael also goes to a adult store to pick out decoration. The store must have been “Le Sex Shoppe” that I blogged about earlier. Michael just giggled the whole time.
The women met in the conference room with an entertainer. Jim was in charge of selecting that entertainer and it ended up being a Ben Franklin impersonator. He started off giving a bit of a history lesson, but when the women of The Office decided to have some fun teasing, he sort of let it go. He eventually hit on Pam.
Jim and Karen have had “talks” for five nights straight about their relationship. They’ve come to terms about the whole “Pam thing” and Karen is understanding about it.
This episode made it a point to show Pam feeling very awkward with the Jim/Karen thing. When Pam asks Jim what is wrong, he replies that he has had late nights with Karen. Pam, a bit confused on what to say goes on about getting sleep and how it can help. Later, Karen lets Pam know that she knows of the kiss and that she understands and is cool with it. Pam again acts strange and isn’t sure how to respond.
I understand what the writers were trying to do with this, but it just didn’t work for me. It’s obvious that this was the episode that Jenna was referring to when she said she had a cold. Her voice was different and, bordering on sacrilege, I’d have to say that the acting wasn’t top-notch. It didn’t seem believable to me.
On another note, Michael finds himself feeling very guilty when the dancer is doing his thing on his lap. He starts to feel ashamed and calls Jan to confess.
How cool was it to hear Jan talk to Michael in a kind and understanding way? I like to hear that. And it seems like she is realizing that Michael has a heart of gold, but sometimes his ignorance will get him into trouble.
A couple minor character things.
Roy mentioned that he’d rather look at Pam’s artwork because he thinks it is sexier than a stripper. Do you think someone is hoping that the “documentary crew” will pass that message along to Pam?
And does anyone else notice that whenever there is something going on in the office, Kevin is standing up in the background. You can just tell that he hates being left out and finds any excuse to leave his work.
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February 1st, 2007 19:27
“Are you nearsighted or farsighted?”
“Both. That’s why I invented the bifocal.”
“AGHHHHH!!!”
Oh Dwight.
Oh Dwight, Dwight, Dwight.
February 1st, 2007 19:33
darn, I missed the first 12 minutes of the show. crap
February 1st, 2007 19:42
They just LOVE torturing us don’t they?
February 1st, 2007 20:05
The porn shop scene was hilarious…. classic!!
Pam was very weird…. uncomfortable almost.
Ben Franklin was a dirty, dirty man.
Dwight ordering the stripper was one to remember.
I say this every time… but that was a great show!
February 1st, 2007 20:08
Anybody notice that Andy wasn’t around?
February 1st, 2007 20:08
Not my favorite episoide, but still funny none the less. “Im closer to firing you.”
February 1st, 2007 20:22
What a letdown. I didn’t laugh once, not even a chuckle.
February 1st, 2007 20:28
I actually thought this episode was great! “I’ve gotten really good at reading the back of Jim’s neck.” But yeah, Pam was definitely weird — especially the comment at the end about wanting to be set up. I wish she was brave enough to talk to Jim because he’s not getting the hint
February 1st, 2007 20:35
AMAZING EPISODE!
“Didn’t Ben Franklin have syphilis?”
February 1st, 2007 20:50
I dunno, this episode really didn’t do much for me. There were a few good moments, but the past few episodes have been MUCH better both plotwise and comedically for me.
February 1st, 2007 21:33
Andy wasn’t around because he went to a anger managment center. This was shown at the end of the director’s cut of last week’s episode, but not on TV.
February 1st, 2007 22:01
I thought tonight’s episode was funny but I also felt that it was all over the place. Scenes were passing far too qucikly and many few points were made. I mean obviously Pam is bitter towards Jim and Karen right now but until she is aggravated enough to speak up about it to Jim or to challenge Karen for him nothing is going to come of it.
Here’s hoping that something “Jam-a-riffic” occurs during Phylis’ wedding or during any events prior to.
February 1st, 2007 22:15
i liked this episode, admittingly (sp?) it was a filler episode but it made me laugh. jim irritated me more than pam’s weirdness. i can actually understand where pam was coming from in her awkwardness. my interpretation is that she’s realizing jim and karen are a couple and that she needs to move on.
February 1st, 2007 22:57
I also install wooden teeth.
February 1st, 2007 23:14
Andy wasn’t in the episode because he is in Anger Management Training…which is still management training.
I liked this one. Pam was very strange, though.
February 1st, 2007 23:17
Andy is in management training - anger management training. It was at the very end of the “producer’s cut” that was on NBC.com but it should have been included in the televised version as well. I guess he’ll be out for an episode or two.
February 2nd, 2007 06:05
Poor Pam–she’s gonna have to speak up. Although I got the feeling that Jim wasn’t as thrilled with all the late night conversations as Karen.
I felt like Roy’s scene about Pam’s art was a little tacked-on. Maybe there are some deleted scenes that help this make more sense.
I need to watch again–hubby was on the phone during the whole episode so I had all that background noise. Guess I need to institute a strict no-talking–even if it’s to your mother–policy!
February 2nd, 2007 06:50
Just watched the episode, in “time shifting,” so to speak.
Only one thing… “Prima nocta”? Seriously? Someone didn’t do their Latin homework
February 2nd, 2007 07:51
Best ending ever.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPcbbW10T18
February 2nd, 2007 07:52
Packer rules. And Gerald Tibbins ain’t do bad either. Hilarious.
http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/naked_trucker/cast/tbones.jhtml
February 2nd, 2007 08:11
I’ve read that alot of people were disappointed but I thought it was really funny. I thought Jenna sounded like she had cold and looked kinda tired. I thought Michael was awkwardly great trying to host a bachelor party without really knowing how. “Anyone want any man meat?” “ME! I WANT SOME MAN MEAT!”
Do you think Roy is really a nice guy now? Changed because he loves her or just saying the right things hoping she’ll go back? Its sad to see him miss her. She never really talks about him.
February 2nd, 2007 08:19
Anyone who didn’t think this episode was hilarious is crazy! Between Michael’s home video and sex shop scene…I couldn’t stop laughing! I loved it.
February 2nd, 2007 09:02
I liked everything about this episode EXCEPT the ending…I have no clue why Pam ruined the road back to Jim with her comment to Ryan about getting set up with his business class friends. She wimped out and is not willing to fight for Jim. I am getting pretty sick and tired of their back and forth.
February 2nd, 2007 09:04
There were a few funny moments but I felt very unsatisfied when it ended. My first time being disappointed by an episode.
February 2nd, 2007 09:25
Meredith’s outburst was awesome.
February 2nd, 2007 10:54
A few people have said they think Pam is trying to move on and/or realizing that Jim and Karen are a couple. I actually disagree. I think based on Jim’s response earlier in the episode, she knows things are rocky between he and Karen, and she is awkwardly trying to take advantage of this fact.
“(Sigh) I need a boyfriend…”
This and the remark to Ryan about him hooking her up were on purpose. Pam is trying to remind Jim that she is totally single, but won’t be for long so he better hurry up and make some kind of move. She doesn’t have the guts to do it herself, and she doesn’t want to be the one to hurt Karen.
February 2nd, 2007 11:31
I think you are right on, Janie.
February 2nd, 2007 11:31
Oh, and thanks for the great recap, Brian!
February 2nd, 2007 12:19
Thanks for doing the recap Brian! It probably takes a long time but I missed this episode so now I feel like I watched it. Thank you for all your hard work!
February 2nd, 2007 13:51
I read this in another Office forum, but thought it was right on…
This episode was about disguises…whether literally Ben Franklin, or people acting in ways they don’t really feel or saying things they don’t really mean.
February 2nd, 2007 19:45
I love that smile Jim gave to Karen. It reminded me of the smile Pam gave to Jim in the Convict.
February 2nd, 2007 22:32
why is there a megaphone…inside a glass baking dish…behind michael in his closing monologue?
February 4th, 2007 00:37
Janie, I think your analysis is right on — I got the feeling too that Pam is trying the ol’ jealosy trick with Jim.
February 4th, 2007 15:50
HAaahah, the dance… i love the dance that Todd Packer does. The little Jim butt dance, it made me laugh just seeing the picture.
And about the Roy “confession”, I love it when the writers remind us that this is a documentary, to which some characters obviously want to take advantage of. I wonder if Roy’s seen the footage at all of Casino Night? Maybe he’s trying to be more like someone he saw flirting with his fiancee?
February 6th, 2007 09:12
OK, SO ANDYS AWAY FOR ANGER MANAGEMENT BUT WHERE WAS OSCAR, HE JUST GOT BACK AND I DIDN’T TOBY EITHER….