A few weeks ago, I read that an upcoming “Office” episode was titled “Jury Duty.” I immediately (mistakenly) assumed it was going to involve the “Scranton Strangler” case. And that, of course, would bode well for the prospects of “Scrantonicity.” I’ve gotten a kick out of the ongoing “Scranton Strangler” bit, but it appears that the show is shying away from it now, probably because of the unsavory possibilities of real-life “copycat” crimes. All it would take would be one real strangler to cite “The Office” as an evil influence, a “voice” in their head … 
!!! Well, I’m sure that thought strikes terror in the hearts of the NBC suits and the legal eagles. Anyway, the “Scranton Strangler” was peripherally mentioned in this episode, so that was good. But was I able to scrape together enough to fluff up a “Scrantonicity” for “Jury Duty?” Well, let’s get to the verdict… Read on »
Archive for the ‘Scrantonicity’ Category
So, from a “Scrantonicity-istic” standpoint, I was quite anxious about this episode, “Pool Party;” Could we expect a big splash, or would they go off the deep end? Would the writers just tread water? Float some new ideas? Would they sink or swim? Well, it’s time to dive right in… Read on »
Way, way back in 2011, I read a synopsis of the upcoming Office episode “Trivia.” It described a trivia contest taking place in a bar, involving the whole Dunder-Mifflin gang. I remember thinking to myself “Well, this will be a slam-dunk Scrantonicity.” 
They almost always use a real Scranton bar, like Poor Richard’s or Farley’s or Tink’s. Even though they film in California, the top-drawer prop department has always liberally peppered the set with local items plucked from the enormous “Scranton prop-drop-box.” Well… that went by the wayside, once they established the astounding premise that the whole office crew would be traveling in a car caravan on the two-and-a-half hour sojourn to faraway Philadelphia… in the middle of wintery January… to drink in a bar, and then drive all the way home on the dark and ominous turnpike… To quote Toby, warning Michael Scott about the dangers of having Boy Scouts attend “Casino Night:” Is that enough? Should I keep going? Read on »
So, by now everybody knows that my “Christmas Wish” for this episode was for some nice, easy pickin’s of Scranton references; low-hanging fruit, like a local name-drop, or something that I wouldn’t need a fine-tooth comb to find. Well, as far as my wish goes, just about all I got in my Christmas stocking was a lump of coal! But then again, I reasoned, the Scranton area is famous for its coal, so that in and of itself is a good local reference! See what I can come up with when I’m desperate? 
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Every new Office episode offers the frightening possibility of a paucity of Scrantonicity; a scarcity of sightings that will render this column moot. One day I just might have to throw in the towel, and sadly say “Nothing to see here… move along.” I actually thought it was a bad sign that the title was “Mrs. California.” I would have felt better if it was called “Mrs. Pennsylvania.” But no matter; thanks to the enthusiastic prop department, there was just enough new stuff to keep me going; so once again, here I go… Read on »
Anytime the Dunder-Mifflin gang takes an out-of-town field trip, it presents a special challenge for “Scrantonicity.” This episode was looming as the next biggest challenge after “Niagara Falls,” from way back in 2009. And to make matters worse, even though I grew up in northeastern Pa, and I was kinda-sorta somewhat of a Civil War buff as a kid, I never visited Gettysburg. It never even occurred to me to want to travel three hours to south central Pennsylvania. In fact, the only battlefield I have ever visited was the Little Bighorn National Monument in Montana, the site of Custer’s Last Stand. That was very educational and thought-provoking; and also very haunting and evocative, as a lot of heavy history had gone down on that hallowed ground. I had these deep thoughts as we were standing there on the lonely prairie with the eerie wind moaning and the tall grass hypnotically undulating; honestly though, the main reason we stopped there was because the visitor center had a bathroom, and you tend to pay attention to stuff like that on those long drives through the sparsely populated western states, when you’re drinking a lot of coffee from a thermos. 
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When I started to slap this “Scrantonicity” together, it occurred to me that I, uh… “borrowed” the name “Scrantonicity” from Kevin Malone’s band way back from Season Two. What the heck, I figured, it was a great name and the show didn’t seem to have any more use for it. Why not revive the name for a column about Scranton? So I did, and now we find out that Kevin Malone has moved on to a new musical project, “Kevin And The Zits.” Now, there’s a name that’s reasonably safe from ever being “borrowed,” by anyone… for anything. “Scrantonicity” may have gotten swiped… but the name “Zits” will remain unblemished. Read on »
One of these days there is going to be an Office episode with absolutely no Scranton references. There won’t be a single product placement that hasn’t already been pointed out, nor a local name-drop, nor an outdoor scene to be dissected for its correctness… and therefore there will be no “Scrantonicity.” I know that episode is a-comin’ eventually, and I had this feeling that it just might be “Doomsday.” That title was just too prophetic to be ignored. “Doomsday” would be that day… except… that it isn’t. “Scrantonicity” scrapes by once again! Read on »
To quote the creepy Robert California: “Fear plays an interesting role in our lives.” For instance, I’m afraid that any given episode of “The Office,” no matter how good it is, will have absolutely no Scranton references. That will leave me with not a shred of material for “Scrantonicity,” and I’ll just have to give up and not write anything. (Did I hear somebody just say that’s not such a bad idea?) Well, anyway… as usual, I found just enough obscure stuff to cobble something together… so there was no reason for me to be “Spooked…” yet. Next week… who knows? (Imagine eerie Halloween-y music playing here.) Read on »
Anytime an Office episode is primarily set outdoors, I feel an overbearing sense of dread. The show has occasionally used stock news footage of northeastern Pennsylvania, but mostly they just try to fake it with judicious camera angles and editing room special effects. Sometimes they go all out to get it right, like spending a fortune to “recreate” Jim’s truck stop proposal to Pam in Season Five’s “Weight Loss.” Other times, they attempt (and spectacularly fail) to substitute southern California for the Pennsylvania wilderness, like in Season Four’s “Survivor Man.” So how did they do with “Garden Party?” Well, the Schrute Farm didn’t come off too badly; Instead of an overbearing sense of dread, I was left with a quite underbearing sense. It could have been worse. Read on »