The Office - 2/1/2007 "Ben Franklin"

[greystreet629]

I didn't see an official thread for this episode yet. What did you all think?

I loved it (I usually do). I found it so hard to watch how awkward it is for Pam right now.

-Anthony

[Shaunnick]

That is not the real Ben Franklin. I am 99% sure.

[quango]

That Jim's a sly one, replacing the male stripper (which he doesn't want anywhere near Pam or Karen--for good reason, given Karen's expressions when "Franklin" showed) with a Ben Franklin impersonator--who still hits on Pam!

Roy's speech about how much better Pam's art was than strippers was hilarious--exactly the sort of dopey thing someone trying his damnedest not to make a fool of himself on camera might say.

[mattpol]

I thought this was a really weak ep. Def not up to par.

[greystreet629]

I thought this was a really weak ep. Def not up to par.

I do agree that it wasn't the funniest episode, although it had its moments.

I, for one, found Ben Franklin to be very funny :)

-Anthony

[NatasNJ]

That Jim's a sly one, replacing the male stripper (which he doesn't want anywhere near Pam or Karen--for good reason, given Karen's expressions when "Franklin" showed) with a Ben Franklin impersonator--who still hits on Pam!

Roy's speech about how much better Pam's art was than strippers was hilarious--exactly the sort of dopey thing someone trying his damnedest not to make a fool of himself on camera might say.

for good reason? Do you think Pam or Karen are the type to date a male stripper? I don't...

[rifleman69]

Roy's speech about how much better Pam's art was than strippers was hilarious--exactly the sort of dopey thing someone trying his damnedest not to make a fool of himself on camera might say.


Anyone watching the show for awhile would recognize where the art comment came from.




"Are you near-sided or far-sided?"
"Both, that's why I invented bi-focals!"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

[appleye1]

for good reason? Do you think Pam or Karen are the type to date a male stripper? I don't...Depends on your definition of "date" I think!
:p

[JETarpon]

Dwight wants some man-meat!

The scene at the adult toy/video store with all the items on the shelves pixelated was hilarious.

"I don't care what Jim says. That is NOT the real Ben Franklin. I am 99% sure."

[Donbadabon]

"Guys Afternoon In".

"Who wants some man-meat"?

Are you near-sighted or far-sighted?
Both. That is why I created the bifocal.
Argggghhhh!

[Sacrilegium]

I had an epiph...er...ry.

[newsposter]

BF was difficult to watch.

I'm surprised mike didnt invite jan to the party on the girls side?

[Jesda]

for good reason? Do you think Pam or Karen are the type to date a male stripper? I don't...

The concern is less about dating a stripper and more about touching another man's penis.

[danplaysbass]

IS that the same George Forman grill that you burned you're foot on? No...errr....ok, yes.

[Skittles]

I thought this was a really weak ep. Def not up to par.I definitely agree. I had a few chuckle moments (especially Michael trying to take the bra off of half-naked Dwight!) and the Ben Franklin stuff was enjoyable... but as a whole, the episode just felt like it was cobbled together. It was awkward, but not funny awkward, like Gay Witch Hunt was.

I do wonder, though, if this episode might have been aired out of order? Because it feels like it would have fit better two or three episodes ago.

Oscar was still out of the office. He was nowhere to be seen, and Stripper was at his empty desk to take calls.

Karen was pretty ticked in the most recent episode, when Jim admitted he still had feelings for Pam... she walked out on him when he told her... and it seems like they made up way too quickly. In fact, it kind of felt like the episode would have been better placed if it were aired right after the episode where Karen/Jim were in the coffee shop, and Jim admitted to Karen that he 'used to' have a crush on Pam.

Oh well. I'll take a half-good Office over most other shows on TV.

And did anyone else feel like Packer's cameo was totally wasted? When he showed up early in the episode, I was hopeful it would lead to some awesome Packer shenanigans and dialogue... and instead, he just breezes in and out of the episode.

[TiVo'Brien]

Where'd Andy go?

[Skittles]

Where'd Andy go?Wow... I hadn't even thought about it until you mentioned it, but yeah... he was nowhere to be seen last night.

[kaszeta]

Where'd Andy go?

He's off at management training. Anger management, that is.

[Lee L]

IS that the same George Forman grill that you burned you're foot on? No...errr....ok, yes.


"But I cleaned all the foot off it" :D

Dwigt saying he wanted Michael's man meat was killing me.



Skittles. I was thinking something was a little off as well and I think you hit the nail on the head with your comments. You are one smart dude. ;)

[arcadefreaque]

Where'd Andy go?
I'd assumed Andy was still in (anger) Management training.

[Cearbhaill]

I laughed maybe twice- IMO a very lame episode.
The pacing, or direction, or something was just off. I can't think of any episode I've enjoyed less.

[analog4]

"And #8 - how to take off a womans bra. Pam here will help us demonstrate..."

"What - wait, no - Michael"

[chavez]

"I'm going to teach him the dealio... The dealio of life."

"Do you use tide? Do you use tide?"

[Meathead]

I thought it was a weak episode as well, but it still had its "hit pause for laughter" moments

The one thing I cannot get over though is the stripper & how all the guys seemed to be repulsed by the concept. I admit it would be awkward to have a stripper at work, but all the guys were acting like this chick had the plague. I know the show is meant to be awkwardly funny, but that was insane. Also, the fact that neither Dwight or Jim have ever even seen a stripper seemed insane (ok, maybe not for Dwight).

My pause for laughter moments...

Adult store with everything blurred out
G.A.I. party
Man meat
Dwight quizzing Ben Franklin

[mask2343]

"Didn't Ben Franklin have Syphyllis?"

[gchance]

My pause for laughter moments...

Adult store with everything blurred out
G.A.I. party
Man meat
Dwight quizzing Ben Franklin


Add to this Meredith's reaction to Angela not wanting the stripper. That little bit doesn't seem to get old with me. :P

Greg

[jsmeeker]

I thought it was pretty funny. It may not have advanced any storylines, but there were some good moments. The way Kevin was looking at the stripper when she was sitting at the desk next to his had me on the floor laughing my a** off. Kevin is awesome!!

[Jericho Dog]

I thought it was pretty funny. It may not have advanced any storylines, but there were some good moments. The way Kevin was looking at the stripper when she was sitting at the desk next to his had me on the floor laughing my a** off. Kevin is awesome!!Yeah, that was great.
He was *just* about to say something and then stopped. I had to watch it again.

And don't forget....
"Secrets, secrets, they're no fun. Secrets, secrets, hurt everyone."

or something like that......
:cool:

[scsiguy72]

Not the best, but the office always delivers.

Where's Toby? I haven't seen him in weeks.

[Cearbhaill]

Toby is in a deleted scene over at NBC.com

[markymark_ctown]

Pack-man! :)

[waldingrl]

"Didn't Ben Franklin have Syphyllis?"

Yes...but I don't.

Pam was great as usual in this episode. I want to see her start dating Ryan's friends. :)

[Figaro]

"Wow you are really a sleeze bag Ben Franklin!"

[johnperkins21]

Wasn't the best episode, but it had some good moments. Overall I was disappointed by the night with MNIE and The Office coming back after some really fantastic episodes to these that were just not up to par. They can't all be the best moments of TV, so we'll let it slide.

I thought Meredith's outburst was great.

[5thcrewman]

"Shut up Angela!!"

[DevdogAZ]

I almost fell on the floor at Merideth's outburst.

However, I didn't buy the Todd Packer thing at all. There's no chance that he wouldn't do everything humanly possible to re-arrange his schedule so he could be there for the bachelor party. That's just not like Packer at all to say, "Sorry, can't be there, schedule's full."

[Jesda]

Toby was deleted.

[cwoody222]

"Shut up Angela!!"

That was the best line of the entire show! Great delivery!

[Jupiterhead]

Either this chick's a dude or Halpert has been scared straight!!

[jsmeeker]

Yes...but I don't.

Pam was great as usual in this episode. I want to see her start dating Ryan's friends. :)


I always like how Pam engages the various "characters" in conversation. I remember how she was doing it with "Prison Mike".

[GDG76]

"Even if he is a murderer?

"He's not a murderer, Dwight."

"Maybe that's how you died"

I still thought this was a good episode. Loved Dwight's quizzing of Ben Franklin and Michael asking him if he was wearing a thong...

[sonnik]

I liked "Shut Up Angela" as mentioned... speaking of Meredith, I like how the director worked in a scene of her gulping up some champagne (or something alcoholic) in the background when they were in the meeting room.

I also liked the scene where Kelly, Ryan, Jim, and Pam were in the break room. I've always viewed Ryan as a bit of an outcast, so it was a cool scene to see "The Cool Kids" of the office interact together like this. Ryan with his "...don't even start" line was pretty cool.

...plus who knows who we'll meet from Ryan's business school.

[Bierboy]

"Shut up Angela!!"Man, I just fell off the couch with that one. :up:

[greystreet629]

Oh, I forgot this one too . . . I loved Angela's reaction to when Pam told her that it was champagne that she was drinking, not sparkling cider! I don't think she spit it out, but she wanted to.

-Anthony

[jfjellstad]

So, where was Andy? Did he quit/leave?

[jsmeeker]

So, where was Andy? Did he quit/leave?


already explained.


he's in [anger] management training.

:)

[PJO1966]

Oh, I forgot this one too . . . I loved Angela's reaction to when Pam told her that it was champagne that she was drinking, not sparkling cider! I don't think she spit it out, but she wanted to.

-Anthony

She did slowly spit it out back into the glass.

[greystreet629]

She did slowly spit it out back into the glass.

Oh, okay. I've only watched the episode once so far, so I'm sure I missed a lot. :)

-Anthony

[Bierboy]

Oh, I forgot this one too . . . I loved Angela's reaction to when Pam told her that it was champagne that she was drinking, not sparkling cider! I don't think she spit it out, but she wanted to.

-AnthonyAh, but she DID spit it out if you look closely. My wife noticed when I didn't so I replayed it, and, sure enough, she spit it back into the glass.

Oops...crap...didn't type fast enough. PJO1966 beat me to it! :)

[numb and number]

Michael: So, you don't want to end our relationship?

Jan: I'm closer to firing you.

[ThreeSoFar'sBro]

Michael: So, you don't want to end our relationship?

Jan: I'm closer to firing you.
Michael: That's so sweet.

Stripper to Michael: Secret secrets are no fun, secret secrets hurt someone.

[MisterBubble]

The one thing I cannot get over though is the stripper & how all the guys seemed to be repulsed by the concept. I admit it would be awkward to have a stripper at work, but all the guys were acting like this chick had the plague. I know the show is meant to be awkwardly funny, but that was insane. Also, the fact that neither Dwight or Jim have ever even seen a stripper seemed insane (ok, maybe not for Dwight).

I think that due to the documentary aspect of the show, the guys reaction to the stripper (except for Michael, until he too realized Jan might see this) was because they feared their significant others would eventually see the film and be pissed. Sort of like how someone mentioned earlier where Roy was saying all that stuff about Pam's art being sexier than a stripper. (and I have watched since ep 1 and know WHY he would say that but it STILL seemed mostly like an act for the camera to gain good points with Pam)

I kind of thought it was a bit weaker than usual too - but still funnier than anything else I saw this week! I think Dwight and Ben Franklin should get a spin-off where they become roommates. (with Mose too, of course)

[stevemcl]

What was Michael's ringtone on his cell?

[MisterBubble]

What was Michael's ringtone on his cell?

"My Humps" by the Black Eyed Peas

we heard it in another episode earlier this season... The Convention one, I think? Hilarious!!!

[quango]

The closed captioning said it was "Ridin'" by Chamillionaire - but the audio was actually the "My Humps" ringtone we heard previously.

[drew2k]

"How does a man like Ben Franklin get to be president?"

[jradford]

Michael: So, you don't want to end our relationship?

Jan: I'm closer to firing you.
That was my favorite line of the episode, followed, as pointed out above, by "that's so sweet."

Spoiler regarding member of the cast:

I dont' think this has been mentioned: Ed Helms role has gone from "recurring" to "regular." link (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070201/tv_nm/helms_dc)

[Anubys]

I like how Pam's ex always has red eyes like he's just done crying...

[greystreet629]

Spoiler regarding member of the cast:

I dont' think this has been mentioned: Ed Helms role has gone from "recurring" to "regular." link (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070201/tv_nm/helms_dc)


I'm not sure yet if I'm happy or sad about this. I think it varies from week to week.

-Anthony

[busyba]

Toby was deleted.
Actually, he was redacted. :D

[trainman]

The closed captioning said it was "Ridin'" by Chamillionaire - but the audio was actually the "My Humps" ringtone we heard previously.

Sounds like they wanted to use "Ridin'," but ended up not being able to get the rights (at the price they wanted).

Or else the closed-captioner couldn't tell one from the other. :D

[DevdogAZ]

Stripper to Michael: Secret secrets are no fun, secret secrets hurt someone.
I loved that Michael totally misinterpreted this advice. (or maybe I'm misinterpreting it). I thought she basically said to keep it secret, and instead he told Jan which caused her to get mad.

[stalemate]

I thought she said "sacred secrets" :confused:

[bluenoise]

I thought she said "sacred secrets" :confused:

Me too, but I couldn't find a transcript of the show in a quick Google search.

[greystreet629]

I loved that Michael totally misinterpreted this advice. (or maybe I'm misinterpreting it). I thought she basically said to keep it secret, and instead he told Jan which caused her to get mad.

Hmm, I didn't think of it like that. I took her advice the same way Michael did. Sorta the opposite of what Ben Franklin said. i can see your point too, though.

-Anthony

[ThreeSoFar'sBro]

I thought she said "sacred secrets" :confused:
I just replayed with CC on, she definitely said "Secret secrets..."

[Shaunnick]

Am I the only one who thought Angela spitting out the champagne was a not so subtle hint of her present "condition." I thought it was akin to when on Friends Rachel spit her own champagne out so as not to hurt her unborn child.

[pdhenry]

Angela wouldn't drink, period. Especially in the workplace.

[JLucPicard]

Am I the only one who thought Angela spitting out the champagne was a not so subtle hint of her present "condition." I thought it was akin to when on Friends Rachel spit her own champagne out so as not to hurt her unborn child.
I agree with pdhenry. One of the things she would be even less inclined to than drinking is pre-marital sex. Dwigt is definitely NOT getting any.

She was just expelling the champagne because she is a tea-totaller.

[arcadefreaque]

I agree with pdhenry. One of the things she would be even less inclined to than drinking is pre-marital sex. Dwigt is definitely NOT getting any.
That's weird.. I sorta recall a different connotation given during that sales convention :rolleyes:

[greystreet629]

Angela wouldn't drink, period. Especially in the workplace.

If you remember from the e-mail surveillance episode, at Jim's party she says in the background that drinking wine isn't too bad, since Jesus did it.

She could be pregnant, since she revealed in an episode that she isn't taking any medicine, and Dwight says something like "You're not on . . . anything?" and she shakes her head, and he smiles.

I dunnnnno, very interesting idea :)

How about a picture of the baby to be (see attachment)


-Anthony

[Jesda]

Oh, Dwight's getting some. Lots of it.

Remember, she has his house key.

[JLucPicard]

I agree with pdhenry. One of the things she would be even less inclined to than drinking is pre-marital sex. Dwigt is definitely NOT getting any.

She was just expelling the champagne because she is a tea-totaller.
I stand corrected - I completely forgot about that scene in the Convention episode.

Though I still believe she didn't spit out the champagne because she is pregnant - though I certainly could be wrong! :)

[The Flush]

I agree with pdhenry. One of the things she would be even less inclined to than drinking is pre-marital sex. Dwigt is definitely NOT getting any.

She was just expelling the champagne because she is a tea-totaller.

Dwigt also got some at Jim's party.

[Fahtrim]

That's weird.. I sorta recall a different connotation given during that sales convention :rolleyes:
ditto

[Donbadabon]

Stripper to Michael: Secret secrets are no fun, secret secrets hurt someone.

No one mentioned this yet, but I think the stripper said that because she was listening to an MP3 of the song. It is called 'No Secrets' by the group "No Secrets".

Secrets (secrets) are no fun
Secrets (secrets) hurt someone
Let me tell you how it all began
A little secret got out of hand

[jradford]

No one mentioned this yet, but I think the stripper said that because she was listening to an MP3 of the song. It is called 'No Secrets' by the group "No Secrets".

Secrets (secrets) are no fun
Secrets (secrets) hurt someone
Let me tell you how it all began
A little secret got out of hand
That's great. Definitely didn't catch that. :up:

[busyba]

That's weird.. I sorta recall a different connotation given during that sales convention :rolleyes:
My guess is that Angela's still a virgin and she and Dwight are just doing "everything butt". [sic] :D

[JYoung]

"My Humps" by the Black Eyed Peas

we heard it in another episode earlier this season... The Convention one, I think? Hilarious!!!


We heard it last in "Branch Closing".

[Figaro]

My guess is that Angela's still a virgin and she and Dwight are just doing "everything butt". [sic] :D
buttsecks?

[johnperkins21]

My guess is that Angela's still a virgin and she and Dwight are just doing "everything butt". [sic] :D

I believe that sort of thing is a sin, whereas premarital sex is simply looked down upon. I wouldn't exactly know given my proclivity towards Atheism, but that's how I remember it being taught in Sunday School. :D

[greystreet629]

I was discussing the episode with a friend of mine last night, and he felt that the scene with Pam discussing sleep was her not-so-subtle way of telling Jim that he should sleep more and talk to Karen less. Does anyone else see that? I can't believe that Pam would do something like that, but maybe I'm just naive.

-Anthony

[gchance]

I believe that sort of thing is a sin, whereas premarital sex is simply looked down upon. I wouldn't exactly know given my proclivity towards Atheism, but that's how I remember it being taught in Sunday School. :D

Dude, what Sunday School did you go to that teaches that?

Greg

[drew2k]

Dude, what Sunday School did you go to that teaches that?

GregA very generous, charitable, and forgiving one apparently!

[TAsunder]

I was discussing the episode with a friend of mine last night, and he felt that the scene with Pam discussing sleep was her not-so-subtle way of telling Jim that he should sleep more and talk to Karen less. Does anyone else see that? I can't believe that Pam would do something like that, but maybe I'm just naive.

-Anthony

I took it as pam insinuating that he should stop copulating with karen until the wee hours of the night.

[Anubys]

I took it as pam insinuating that he should stop copulating with karen until the wee hours of the night.

I kind of agree...I took as a subtle dig about the relationship...as in "gee, you guys are not getting along and it's affecting your health"...

[Shaunnick]

If you remember from the e-mail surveillance episode, at Jim's party she says in the background that drinking wine isn't too bad, since Jesus did it.

She could be pregnant, since she revealed in an episode that she isn't taking any medicine, and Dwight says something like "You're not on . . . anything?" and she shakes her head, and he smiles.

I dunnnnno, very interesting idea :)

How about a picture of the baby to be (see attachment)


-Anthony


Anyone else think the baby in that picture looks like Jack Bauer's now deceased brother Graem?