Scrantonicity… “Shareholders Meeting”
There was a tense moment in “Shareholders Meeting,” when Jim Halpert confronted Phyllis about taking a long lunch. Phyllis sheepishly admitted that Bob Vance took her to “Capella’s” Restaurant, and they had a few drinks. According to my Google search, the closest “Capella’s” is a pizzeria in Hanover, Pennsylvania, which is, oh… about 150 miles southwest of Scranton. Capella’s is only a few miles from the Maryland border. No wonder Phyllis was gone so long for lunch! And don’t get me started about the message that sends about Bob Vance’s irresponsible drunken drive back up I-81!!!
“Capella’s” now joins “Boticelli’s” and “Paparazzo’s” as recent non-existent Italian restaurants in Scranton. It wasn’t that long ago that “The Office” took great pride in naming real local establishments on the show. What happened to the NBC people in charge of authenticity? …ahem… Well, I have a theory. Those NBC people have moved. They’ve been relocated to Pawnee, Indiana to work with Greg Daniels on another project!
Which leads me to another disturbing trend on “The Office:” The show is supposed to be taking place in “real time,” and they used to make an effort to disguise Southern California’s weather and background to somewhat resemble Scranton, Pa. But the scenes in the parking lot, and on the limo drive to “New York” showed all the foliage in full late summer bloom, gaily lit with bright sunshine. Not exactly the northeastern Pennsylvania Novembers that I remember! And I didn’t notice this, but some sharp-eyed viewer on the internet detected the gang in the limo eating fast food from “In-N-Out” burgers, a chain that is found only on the west coast. Would it have killed them to have the limo make a pit stop at “Hot Dog Johnny’s” in Buttzville, New Jersey? Imagine the fun our intrepid but immature heroes could have had with that material!
OK, the show did mention Dunder-Mifflin’s new paper recycling plant in Milford, Pennsylvania. And there is cause for hope, because the “new-kid-on-the-block” Office writer is Danny Chun. He wrote the episode “Murder,” and he grew up in Stroudsburg, Pa. Danny professes to love the local flavor, and he vows to continue it. I hope that’s the case, because without any Scranton references to point out… I’ll be out of a job! Hmm… of course, what am I thinking… it’s not like I get paid to do this… 
~ Bob
November 23rd, 2009 13:13
I, by no means, think that these writers are stupid. I also think that they are intentionally using those names. Call me a conspiracy theorist but I think that there is a joke in those names somewhere. I can’t figure it out, but I believe it.
November 23rd, 2009 14:35
Dave, here’s a business opportunity knocking for you: buy a failing restaurant in Scranton, and quickly re-name it “Capella’s,” “Boticelli’s,” or “Paparazzo’s.” Then advertise the dump as the “real deal, as mentioned on The Office.” You’ll make a fortune fleecing the tourists!
Ryan Howard would like this idea. Creed would be the new restaurant’s maitre-d’.
November 24th, 2009 05:26
Sure…..do you have some VC to through my way?
November 24th, 2009 08:18
***VC to THROW my way?
November 24th, 2009 10:02
Dave, I’ll THROW some VC THROUGH to you!
I’ve been reading other comments on the internet about how “The Office” didn’t make much of an effort to “fake” New York City, either. What were the blatant “give-aways” that it was filmed in LA? Did the famed “Hollywood” sign appear on the hills in the background?
November 25th, 2009 07:49
Well, if it truly was in NYC, they got out of the Limo and there were trees in the background. Um….not in Manhattan. Also, if this is “real time” then they would have been wearing coats. Nothing is worse than the November winds whipping through downtown NYC. Lastly, at the hotel, when they are running back to the Limo….their Limo is in a long line of cars are a hotel. Not in Manhattan. There might be a “cabbie” line or something down the road, but NOT a line of 8 limos. Those would be around the block…..Maybe on Long Island??
November 25th, 2009 09:47
What bothers me is that in the past “The Office” HAS filmed in NYC. “Valentine’s Day” was such a HOOT as Michael walked the streets of Manhattan, passing by “Sbarro’s,” his favorite authentic New York pizza!
What is going on now? Is the show getting “lazy?” Or are budget cuts forcing them to improvise? They could have AT LEAST used some leftover NYC location footage interspersed with the SoCal sunshine!
November 26th, 2009 14:24
Maybe it’s because I’m not from NYC, but why is this such a big deal? What’s the point about complaining about location mistakes? It happens in tv and film all the time. It doesn’t mean anyone is lazy, it’s just a mistake. Get over it. Sorry if I’m coming off like an ass, but it’s frustrating when people complain about the little things. At least the show is still good and that’s all that’s really wrong with it.
November 26th, 2009 19:06
I’m sorry that you find this “frustrating,” Brody. The tone of “Scrantonicity” is meant to be facetious and irreverent, and I guess not everybody “gets” that. You’re right, in the “big picture,” these location flubs are NOT “make-or-break” factors in the overall enjoyment of the show. It IS an aspect of “The Office” that the creative team SOMETIMES values and SOMETIMES doesn’t; And I find that interesting and fun to kick around. Some people don’t.
Anyway, thanks for reading and commenting, Brody.
December 3rd, 2009 20:04
Just wanted to let you know, Hanover Pa is about 20 minutes from scranton.
December 4th, 2009 14:18
TIM, according to the Google map I’m looking at, Hanover is more than 20 minutes south of Harrisburg, which is at least 1 and a half hours south of Scranton. And Wikipedia, the best thing ever, says that Hanover (the “Snack Food Capital” of the world) is only 5 miles north of the Mason-Dixon Line. That’s a LONG way to drive for lunch!
December 9th, 2009 12:11
Hanover is near the MD border, Hanover Township is right outside Scranton/Wilkes Barre
Maybe the writers got confused with this
December 9th, 2009 23:15
Thanks for clearing that up, Chris! I Google-mapped Hanover TOWNSHIP, and sure enough there it is, halfway between Wilkes-Barre and Nanticoke. Even though I grew up in Scranton, my knowledge of the area got kind of “sketchy” once I got past Wilkes-Barre. I guess I was kind of a “homebody.”
May 5th, 2010 20:11
I wish they’d use real names also, but perhaps they’re worried about plugging a real eatery for some reason? Maybe they don’t want to show too much favor and risk some type of backlash from people who are really particular about which Italian place is the best?