Even though the Scranton and the Stamford branch have merged, this TV Addict still feels as though THE OFFICE is divided into two separate factions. In the case of last night’s Christmas episode, entitled “A Benihana Christmas”, we had the obligatory ‘Michael Scott’ story as well as the far funnier storyline about the rival office parties.
This being Christmas, I’ll start with the naughty. The ‘Michael Scott’ story just wasn’t that funny. How many more times can we watch Michael completely humiliate himself in front of his co-workers? Sure the thirty second iTunes clip playing over and over was really funny (“I don’t have to buy it, I just want a taste. I just want a little.. a little taste.”), as well as the fact Michael seems to think ‘Sandals’ is an actual city in Jamaica, but Photoshopping yourself into your girlfriends previous family photos, as Carol herself put it, “so weird”
Moving on to the nice, “A Benihana Christmas” really should have been renamed “A Pam Christmas” — as Ms. Beesly completely stole the show. Her teaming up with Karen to squash Angela’s ‘Nutcracker Christmas’ was adorable. Her Christmas gift to Jim, brilliant as usual. And the fact she gave her Dunder Mifflin bathrobe to Toby, I think a tear may have run down my cheek.
Overall, phenomenal episode as usual. But this TV Addict’s OFFICE related wish for the holiday season is to tone down the stupidity of Michael and Dwight. Yes it’s TV, but people should not be that clueless. 