“Sabre” ~ Robert’s Recap
“Robert’s Recap” has a nice alliterative “ring” to it, don’t you think? Also, I figured it sounded really good, almost a rhyming phrase, as “Sabre” ~ Robert’s Recap… until I found out the name was pronounced “SAY-br,” not “SAH-brah.” That kind of threw me off my game for a little while. But as a professional recapper with a responsibility to our LITO constituents, I decided to get right back up on the horse and ride this recap home. 
The cold opening made me laugh in ways that only The Office seems to be able to do; between the nonsensical chant “I’ve got a big box,” and Michael clumsily stomping on the big box to open it, and then sealing the big box back up with his phone inside… the written script for this scene must read so… so unfunny. For me, that’s a huge part of the magic of the show. And then there is the hilarious sight gag of “Scissor me.” My wife is a second grade teacher, and I hope she doesn’t follow through today if her students start shouting “Scissor ME!”
Dunder-Mifflin has been bought out by Sabre, and the gang’s euphoria of not losing their jobs has worn off, and has been replaced by the uneasy feeling that things are gonna be changing. And I don’t think most of the Dunder-Mifflin Scranton crew take too kindly to change. Guys like Kevin Malone have their “comfort zone,” and anything new is unsettling. So we get to see Michael, in a series of taking heads, dealing not-very-well-at-all outside of his comfort zone. “Gabe” made a good impression as a company man, there to “ease” the transition, but also to force the transition, if it isn’t moving “easily.”
I thought the Sabre/Christian Slater puff piece was perfect. I recently had to sit through a similar video on my job, which was put out to justify our new corporate logo, which looks a lot like the old logo, and cost a ton of money. There is something eerie about all the happy people interacting in the background as the professional voice drones on, engaging in vague inanities such as this brilliant line: “Did you ever taste a rainbow?” “Jo Bennett’s” first appearance on the video was a nice touch, too. She came across as imposing and unreachable, and I’m pretty sure she will be that way in person, too. Her video “confrontation” with Michael was nicely done. I loved the way her image firmly ordered her underling to “turn me around.”
The episode then split into three uncomfortable situations, and interweaved them so that one squirm segued seamlessly into the next. Pam and Jim’s visit to the pre-school was hilariously off-kilter. Was it just me, or was that guy perfectly cast as the head of a pre-school? We also see Andy and Erin’s maddeningly coy “mating dance,” which really utilized Ed Helm’s unique talents. (He has now graduated to the opening credits!) And then, we got a glimpse into the life of a former CFO, as Michael paid a visit to the home of a directionless David Wallace. The kid pounding on the drums was a great metaphor for the chaotic noise that must exist in David’s now unpre-occupied mind. He’s a mover and shaker who’s no longer “moving and shaking,” and it isn’t pretty. As an aside, I about fell off the couch laughing at the “marshmallow fluff” lunch. When I was about the age of the little drummer boy, I got sick on a “Fluffer-Nutter” sandwich at home. I mean, my gastric distress is legendary among witnesses there that eventful day; I blew chunks everywhere. So you can see why this qualifies as an “inside joke” to me. But I digest, uh… I mean digress. Back to the recap! David Wallace’s “concept” for a new business venture is so stupid, I shudder to imagine his suffering wife’s reaction to it, as she tries to protect his fragile ego. When Michael Scott sees the folly of your idea… by golly, that’s a big folly!
The episode ends back at the office, as Michael reluctantly accepts the situation. This sets the stage for next week’s personal appearance by Jo Bennett, who I suspect will make an entrance with much more bluster than her assistant. I can’t wait! The burning question I’m left with is this: I really liked the episode, but I don’t know how much credit to give John Krasinski. The writers wrote the dialog, and the actors went through the motions… what does the director bring to the party? What did JKras do to put his signature on this piece? Was there a camera angle that seemed different? I hope LITO readers can shed some light on this mystery to me.
~Robert (almost rhymes with Sabre, if you pronounce it incorrectly) 
February 7th, 2010 21:48
Great recap, as usual, Bob!It was cool to see that Ed Helms is now a featured player on the show. The question I have is… what happened to the new title sequence they used last year (appropriately) for the Super Bowl episode? Why make a new one and use it only once? I don’t get that.
But, back to the episode, I too got a kick out of Bennett telling Gabe to “turn me around”. What also was evident was how much he was afraid of her; she obviously is a tough cookie. Next week will be a cringe spectacular no doubt. But the three consecutive cringe moments in this one were
rough, like you said. Very good stuff.
As far as the direction goes, I think JKras did a good job. In an instance like this, maybe we should think more abut what looked wrong to us. And nothing looked wrong. He told a story that was easy to follow and wasn’t confusing. Good job!
Another quality recap, Bob! Uh oh… I’m due up this week. Yikes.
February 8th, 2010 10:29
Nice recap Robert. I always enjoy your insights. Except I think I will put your fluffernutter sandwich story in the TMI catagory. I’d rather not have the image of a little drummer boy Bob blowing chunks in my head.
I thought JKras did a good job directing. I think that in order to put out a good show, all roles need to be done properly and this was a good show. I wonder how long Gabe is going to be hanging out in the Scranton branch. I kind of liked him.
I think the Day Care Director was a regular in Mad About You. I definitely recognize him from somewhere. He sure is a good sport to agree to being filmed in that position; even if he was only acting.
February 8th, 2010 11:03
Thanks for the nice comments, guys!
KG, I predict you’ll have a really good episode to recap this week.
I also thought the “Fluffernutter” image might belong in the TMI category, but my sister was THERE during that regrettable childhood incident, and she’s a semi-regular LITO reader. I was hoping she’d give us an eyewitness account.
Suri, let’s HOPE the day care center director was only “acting” when he was filmed in the bathroom. I imagine that Robert DeNiro, in his prime, would have insisted on “realism” for that scene.
Does anybody else recall last year on “30 Rock,” when the bathroom door blew open on Tina Fey in front of her new boyfriend, who gasped in horror? Tina, sitting there, meekly said “Too Soon?”
February 8th, 2010 14:59
Yeah, that was a very funny scene, Bob. You definitely have to lead up to something like that… lol…
February 9th, 2010 07:06
Great recap Bob! You touched on my exact thoughts about Jo Bennet. Loved her intro. She’s going to be quite the character on the show. I love Kathy Bates, but wasn’t sure what to think of her joining the show. But now? I am very excited to see her in Scranton with her “cute little accent”. lol I loved seeing her face when Michael through that out. The look on her face was priceless. It was like, “alright moron, I’ve got your number now!” But what came out of her mouth was pure sweetness, “Why thank you, I’ve been working on it since I was a girl”. Love it!
I remember that 30 Rock ep. with Tina Fey on the john. Great scene! I do remember seeing our preschool director somewhere Suri, just not sure where. Could it have been “Mad About You”? Jeez, that shows been off the air for a while but maybe…? Anyone else remember where we’ve seen that director?
Not sure what JKras brought to the table as director, but I agree with Kev that nothing was “wrong”. And if JKras directing was wrong than I don’t want to be right?!
Alright, so maybe that pun was a bit of a stretch!
February 9th, 2010 11:38
“And if JKras directing was wrong than I don’t want to be right.”
That’s priceless! That is EXACTLY like something from the mind of Michael Scott, and I mean that in the best possible way.