We’ll start off with the most obvious local reference here: Police on the show were baffled because they found a body with no head, hands or feet. How could they identify this body? Luckily, there was an intramedullary rod surgically implanted in one of the victim’s arms, and this steel rod had an ID # from an orthopedist at a hospital from… ta da!… Scranton, Pa! Finally, the break they needed that would lead to the killer! Oh, uh… excuse me, that was from last week’s “Law And Order; Criminal Intent.” Totally different “Body Language” all together there… OK, back to “The Office.” 
Actually, “Law And Order; Criminal Intent” is not a bad place to start, because somebody is gonna have to step in to catch the “Scranton Strangler.” It’s too bad every citizen of northeastern Pa is not as vigilant as Dwight Schrute, who wears his cell phone on his belt, for easy access just in case he encounters the “Scranton Strangler.” This has become a recurring bit on the show, and it will continue to be funny, unless of course it inspires some lonely lunatic Scrantonian to become a “copycat killer.” Then, in the best tradition of “The Office,” it will just become “cringe-worthy.”
There were a couple of honest-to-goodness local references in this episode. Above the refrigerator in the breakroom, I noticed “Utz Pretzel Rods,” and “Utz Potato Chips.” That’s a snack company located in Hanover, Pa. Utz… is that a great name or whatz? Another precious moment takes place after Donna leaves, and a dazed and confused Michael sits in a chair and begins leafing through a copy of the Scranton Times newspaper. There’s probably another local reference mumbled by Kelly Kapur, but I can’t understand it. Kelly and Ryan are at the computer, and she is plotting revenge on some girl who was rude to her at the mall. (either Steamtown or the Viewmont Mall, Route 6, Dickson City) Anyway, Kelly is attempting to spread gossip about this girl on a Facebook page for some high school. It sounds like Kelly is saying “Hawk-eye-ter High.” That must be some local reference, but I don’t recognize the name. Maybe some LITO-ite can help me out here. Maybe a student or graduate of “Hawk-eye-ter High.” That would be nice. 
In real life, Scranton has been selected as the site of a leadership conference, based in large part by the connection to “The Office.” Andy Buckley, who plays “David Wallace” on the show, is the featured speaker at this conference, which will take place at the Scranton Hilton. Oddly enough, I work for the Hilton Corporation, too. So, that’s kind of a “win-win-win,” isn’t it? I know that doesn’t make any sense, but I like saying it.
Finally, as I was writing this, I mentioned that the “Scranton Strangler” is now a recurring bit on the show. That got me to thinking about the other recurring bit on the show… Hidetoshi Hasagawa, the mysterious Japanese heart surgeon with the “steady hands,” who works in the warehouse. Now, THAT got me to thinking about this: Wouldn’t it be funny if the mysterious new guy with the “steady hands” turned out to be the “Scranton Strangler?” It sure would make for a startling revelation in the season finale, that the killer was working in the warehouse all along. Please don’t consider this a “spoiler” of any kind, because I didn’t read this anywhere. It’s just my own hunch, and I have a sterling track record of always being wrong about these things. So you can just forget I said it. I’m sorry I even brought it up. Brought what up, right? 
~ Bob
They don’t mention the mall, but it seems like they usually go to the Steamtown Mall instead of the Viewmont, the Steamtown is right down in Scranton, the Viewmont is in Dickson City (used to work two blocks away =) ). She doesn’t mention the High School either, she says she’s pretending to be a “Hot guy” at her high school.
Tish, thanks so much for clearing that up! I thought Kelly said something like “Hawk-eye-ter High School; It was probably “Hot guy at her high school.” Now it makes SENSE, at least as much sense as we could ever expect from Kelly Kapur!
If you catch anything about Scranton that I’ve missed, please let us here at LITO know about it. I used to work right near the Viewmont Mall, too.
Hidetoshi Hasagawa as the Scranton Strangler?! It’s brilliant, I LOVE it! Oohh, I hope you’re right on this one Bob! How perfect. Didn’t they mention he either attacked or killed his boss and we were all complaining that that bit didn’t really fit in the episode. Maybe it didn’t fit because it was a prelude to another plot line!!!
We get Utz products here at the Jersey Shore as well. Their chips are yummy! Do you get any Utz out west?
Thanks, Donna! I’m glad to hear somebody else is on board with my “Scranton Strangler” theory. It makes sense, doesn’t it? Imagine the looks on everybody’s faces as the killer is arrested at the Dunder-Mifflin warehouse! The cops will arrive right AFTER Michael Scott says “I really like that new guy downstairs… he’s trustworthy!”
I had never heard of Utz snacks until I spotted them above the Office break room refrigerator. The next time I’m in town, I’ll have to get a bag of Utz, washed down with a cold Yuengling!
That’s hilarious, Bob! After they first mentioned the Scranton Strangler I was going to write a Cold Opening that featured Dwight trying to convince Jim that CREED was the Scranton Strangler. I kinda had it half worked out and then got busy with other things and never got back to it. It ended with Creed suggesting to the camera that maybe Dwight was the Scranton Strangler. But that was back before it became a running gag and, in turn, a potential undercover story arc. They are definitely going somewhere with this. Your idea is stellar. That would be hilarious. If Michael finds out by accident that Hide is the Strangler, or goofs it up and suspects that he is and turns him in and it turns out incorrect, it would just be a very funny bit either way. But there has to be a payoff for it and I think you are on to something. Are our lovely Office ladies in danger??? Oh boy!
yum yum yuengling! my first beer! There aren’t any Utz chips here in Southern IL, but I wish there were, they are so good! I’m new to this site, so I’m not sure if you’ve mentioned it before, Bob, but they have Gertrude Hawk chocolate bars in the vending machines! soooo good! A must try if you’re ever around NEPA! I can’t think of any other things off the top of my head, except for obvious things like Coopers, etc. love the site, though! keep up the good work!
Just going to point out a Spanish thing here…..Michael called Jim “Hi-me” or Jaime…..not James. James in Spanish is Santiago or Diego depending on the country of origin.
Utz are SOOOOO good….although I much prefer Middleswarth, which is the NEPA BBQ chips that are to DIE for.
One thing that I want to point out is that Kelly says she keeps getting pulled over for “texting” while driving. While VERY dangerous, this is only a recent movement in PA, and it started in Allentown. As of yet, it is NOT illegal to text and drive in Scranton, but will be soon enough…if Allentown pushes through, that is.
I did some of my OWN investigative work on this next one. In the scene where Michael, Jim, Pam, Kevin, and Andy are debating whether or not she likes him, there is a “no smoking” sign on the cabinet. It references Sec. 6404.5. This, my friends, is a CALIFORNIA law…..not a PA law.
http://law.onecle.com/california/labor/6404.5.html
I noticed that the bottled water in the office is “Poland Spring.” Interesting fact….it is bottled in Stroudsburg…..actually, that is not interesting…it is downright scary.