I was born in Scranton at the Community Medical Center. Years later, my mother got a job there, working as the nightshift switchboard operator. So… I was, uh… hoping that Pam and Jim would choose that fine establishment as the place to bring Cecelia into the world. But they opted instead for the Moses Taylor Hospital, which is on Quincy Avenue, closer to the heart of downtown Scranton. The Community Medical Center would have been the better choice, as it is an easier drive from the mythical Dunder-Mifflin office. But I realize that’s just me talking, and it sounds a lot like the logic of the mythical Dwight Schrute. (more…)

Well, with Sabre barging in from that colorful, lawless swamp known as Florida, there hasn’t been a whole lot of “Scrantonicity” to celebrate lately. Furthermore, it’s a darn good thing that Kevin Greene already wrote his hilarious LITO piece “New York City-icity.” Because now Dunder-Mifflin does not even have a headquarters in the Big Apple, so we’ll no longer have to pretend that we don’t see the southern California palm trees behind the low-rise office buildings forming the, uh… “Manhattan skyline.” What we do have to look forward to is irate LITO readers from Florida, upset that Sabre’s home offices look “phony.” Some Floridian will probably write an angry article for LITO titled “Tallahassee-icity.” (more…)

Sabre is swooping into Scranton from Florida, and I’m anxious to see if the new owners will embrace the hometown flavor and traditions. I doubt it, but it would be nice if they sent Christian Slater into town. He could be filmed spouting the empty company blather as he strolled the Steamtown Mall, or dined at Cooper’s Seafood while wearing the famous paper lobster hat. Or, sitting on a barstool at Poor Richard’s. The local Scrantonians would love the celebrity sighting, and Michael Scott could have a hand in the creative editing. Yeah, “Christian Slater Shakes Up Lazy Scranton”… a Michael Scott joint. Let’s have Gabe present this idea to Jo Bennett! (more…)

Since “The Banker” was a “clip show,” I thought I would do something special here; Instead of writing any new observations, I would just do a “mash-up” of older Scrantonicities. Gather together a few of my too-few good observations, and link them with some new comments. But that just seemed, uh… “lazy.” So instead, to honor “The Banker,” I’ll call this column… “Lazy Scrantonicity.” (more…)

As “The Office” Season 6 progresses, the once-prolific local Scranton references keep dwindling down and downer. The show still features quality writing, but they seem to have gotten away from the charming “verisimilitude” of the past. (Thanks for the big word, loyal LITO-reader Dave!) Well, as far as the near-total lack of local Scranton references is concerned, and my response… I’m going to quote Andy here, as he discusses his ongoing pursuit of Erin: “I suppose a gentleman might… throw in the towel at this point. Guess what? Not gonna happen.” (more…)

Like most of Season Six, “Scott’s Tots” is pretty light on the Scranton references. But there was at least one, and it shows that somebody on the staff still cares about “fake authenticity.” Near the beginning of the episode, Stanley holds up a Scranton Times article about “Scott’s Tots.” The newspaper clipping uses the exact font, and has the same “feel” as the real local newspaper. The article was “written” by Randy Shermansky, a former Times reporter who has worked closely with the show. So, using his name in the byline is kind of an “inside” joke, something I love, and I would love to be a part of one someday. (more…)

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!!! (more…)

Trying to find Scranton references in this latest Office episode is like searching for clues in a murder mystery! The one obvious but oblique reference is the “Lackawanna Trolley Museum.” The actual name is the “Electric City Trolley Museum.” Before I even had a chance to research this, alert LITO reader Dave alerted me all about it! Thanks again, alert LITO reader Dave! (more…)

“The Office” double date in “Double Date” takes place at the upscale Scranton restaurant “Paparazzo’s.” This fine dining establishment would be the source of many fond memories for me, growing up in Scranton. This is where I would have gone before my senior prom, and where our wedding rehearsal dinner party would have been held, if indeed such a wonderful restaurant existed. Unfortunately, it does not. The Scranton area does have many nice Italian restaurants, so I suppose “The Office” should be given points for at least coming up with the name “Paparazzo’s,” which sounds like it ought to exist. If I owned an Italian restaurant in Scranton, and business was slow, I would quickly change the name, and slap a “Paparazzo’s” sign above the door. (more…)

While Michael Scott was falling into a koi pond, Pam and Andy were busy making cold sales calls at the “Wilkes-Barre Industrial Park.” Scranton and Wilkes-Barre are “twin cities” in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Their relationship is similar to other famous “twin cities,” like Minneapolis-St. Paul, San Francisco-Oakland, and Hooterville-Crabwell Corners. We who are from Scranton say “Scranton/Wilkes Barre.” Folks from Wilkes-Barre refer to “Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.” They pretend not to care that Scranton was picked as the home of the Dunder-Mifflin branch. (more…)