The Merger (The Office episode)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| The Office episode |
| "The Merger" | |
 Jim and Pam see each other for the first time in months during "The Merger". |
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| Episode No. | 36 |
| Prod. Code | 308 |
| Airdate | November 16, 2006 |
| Writer(s) | Brent Forrester |
| Director | Ken Whittingham |
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The Office Season 3 |
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| List of all The Office episodes... | |
"The Merger" is the eighth episode of the third season of The Office (U.S. version). It aired on November 16, 2006, as a special 40-minute episode.
[edit] Synopsis
Pam congratulates Toby on a road race but Dwight questions the merit of the accomplishment and says he could finish a mile faster on a skateboard. He brags that he outran a black pepper snake just last week and reveals in an interview that his speed falls between that of "a snake and a mongoose ... and a panther." Outside, Dwight stretches as he plans to run around the building in his suit and dress shoes. Pam purportedly times him, but admits her "timer" is a digital thermometer, and excuses herself back inside.
In Stamford, the office is being packed up in anticipation of the move to Scranton. Jim high-fives Karen and briefly wears a paper hat reading "Stamford R.I.P." made by Andy, and a stack of the hats are seen in a recycling bin. Andy questions Jim about his new supervisor, Michael Scott, but Jim plays it close to the chest. Andy threatens to crush Jim if he gets in his way and rolls away a PC from Josh Porter's office.
Pam returns with two paper grocery bags full of supplies to which Michael instructs her to arrange the conference room "as though you are trying to impress an older man way out of your league." In an interview she professes excitement over the merger of Stamford employes into the Scranton branch, including the return of her old friend (Jim). Kevin is given the job to shred the company documents from Stamford, which he relishes in doing. As he demonstrates the power of his shredder from Staples, Kevin gets carried away and accidentally shreds his credit card. Immediately following this scene, an advertisement for the exact shredder is shown. As Michael is putting nameplates on the desks for the new people, Dwight suggests that they fire Tony Gardner to consolidate power. In an interview, Dwight says that he would have been good as the Japanese soldier who chose which prisoner to execute once a new batch of prisoners arrived.
In a parking lot interview next to his Nissan Xterra, Andy proclaims he'll be the No. 2 man in Scranton in six weeks time through "name repetition, personality mirroring and never breaking off a handshake". Indeed, he echoes Michael's "Aloha" greeting and refers to his "nifty gifty" bag, which contains mostly pencils and coupons to local Scranton "hot spots". Meanwhile, Dwight instructs Jim not to mess with him, as he is six months older and smarter. Jim gapes at Dwight's forehead, freaking him out.
Dwight introduces himself to Andy and each man believes the other shall report to him in the office hierarchy. Andy mentions his title contains the word 'director' which outranks a 'manager' on a film set and question Dwight if he knows about film. Dwight states he knows everything about film since he has seen over 240 films.
An elated Kelly hugs Jim and informs him there is a lot she must catch him up on, and proceeds to tell him about the babies Tom Cruise & Katie Holmes and Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie had. Jim then asks Kelly what's new with her and she replies, "I just told you."
Michael plans an orientation in the "banquet room", but stops Meredith from drinking champagne, and beseeches Kelly not to eat the snacks, telling her to treat it like beef. When informed she eats beef, he says to treat it like poisoned beef, because the snacks are for guests. In a familiar manner, Karen gives Jim a stick of gum and Pam notices. Michael plays a videotape he has created called "Lazy Scranton" featuring himself and Dwight rhyming over the music of Saturday Night Live's "Lazy Sunday". Jim says the video treat reminds him of his orientation film: "The Scranton Witch Project." The viewer is shown a brief clip of that film, which features Michael illuminated by a flashlight saying he "gets so scared when people don't label their personal food." While it is clear that everyone is bored, Michael says that he thought the video would be an "A" or an "A+"; then, he remembered that there is an "A++".
In the coffee room, Pam notes that Jim has purchased a bottle of water from the vending machine instead of grape soda that he used to frequently purchase while at Scranton. Jim simply replies "I'm evolving, Pam." which to note, his sleeves are buttoned up. Pam then questions when Jim is going to tell her everything and if he is interested to go for a coffee after work. Jim replies not tonight since he is still settling in and then Michael walks in the room, making things more awkward.
In a series of vignettes, Stamford transplants are distracted by their new Scranton coworkers: Ryan by Hannah's open use of a breast pump; Karen by Phyllis's perfume from metropolitan Orlando; Martin by Creed's feet-up, boisterous phone conversation. In an interview, Stanley questions the audacity of "these new people" and mentions he's silently sat downwind from Phyllis's stinky perfume for years.
The integration portion of Michael's orientation finds four new employees sitting in chair on the banquet room table. The boss and Dwight try to force hefty, skeptical Tony up on the table, and he quits instead. Jan later calls Michael and yells at him for firing Tony when he tried to quit (an impulsive decision Michael made after feeling insulted by Tony's attempt). She complains that because Michael fired Tony rather than letting him quit like he wanted to, Dunder Mifflin has to pay him severance. Michael initially uses Dwight as a scapegoat by saying "Bad advice from my number two." of which Jan corrects him and says Jim is actually going to be the number two. This is eventually brought into a meeting between Michael, Dwight, Jim and Andy and culminates in yet another battle between Dwight and Andy for Michael's respect.
After Tony leaves the room, Hannah walks out, agreeing Michael is unprofessional. A short while later, Michael runs to the conference room and tells everyone to go down to the parking lot because someone has let the air out of all their tires. The employees rush down to see what is going on and Michael blames Bob Vance Refrigeration employees. Martin notes Michael's tires remain fully inflated, but Michael says he was left an evil note under his windshield wipers reading, “You guys suck! You can never pull together as one and revenge us. That is why you suck!” Michael suggests stealing all of the refrigerators from Bob Vance in retribution. Everyone shakes their heads in disbelief at what Michael has done. Once again, Pam noticed Karen causally touching Jim's back with her hand as they walk away. Later, all the employees are shown talking to each other and getting along due to a common interest: Michael as an unprofessional boss. Michael watches from his office and comments how a common enemy has brought the Stamford and Scranton employees together (all of which is now the result of his, uncharacteristically clever, plan).
Jim sits in his Toyota Corolla and receives a call from Karen to meet up. He quickly ends the conversation as he sees Pam and runs over to say the day had been awkward and that he feels he should tell her he is seeing someone. She denies awkwardness and states that they'll always be friends.
Kevin uses the shredder to make a salad. Dwight and Andy trade numerous barbs on a downward elevator ride. Andy disses Dwight's Trans Am, which is defended as classic American muscle. Andy praises his luxurious, rugged, Japanese Xterra, but Dwight says the vehicle's name isn't even a word and makes little sense.
[edit] Trivia
- The Daily Show correspondents Ed Helms and Steve Carell reunite in this episode, a first for alums of that program, although Helms and Rob Corddry guest-starred separately on Arrested Development. Incidentally, Helms took over many of Carell's segments on the Daily Show after Carell left.
- This episode references Saturday Night Live twice: Michael's orientation film parodies "Lazy Sunday" and Michael and Andy perform Haddaway's "What Is Love" and other elements of A Night at the Roxbury.
- Kelly Kapoor describes the plot of Lazy Sunday in the pretzel line in Initiation.
- Jim remarks that the orientation film he watched on his first day was a parody of The Blair Witch Project.
- Michael misattributes the question "Can't we all just get along?" to "the Reverend King" when it was actually stated by Rodney King.
- Andy inhabits Oscar's desk, as the character is purportedly taking a three-month company-sponsored vacation with his roommate, Gil. Actor Oscar Nunez is currently filming a pilot for Comedy Central.
- Staples paid to place a red-and-white-logo shredder in the episode, with scenes of Kevin using and praising it before accidentally shredding his own credit card with it. A web page on Staples website was set up to denote the appearance of the shredder on the show as well as a cast autographed unit is to be auctioned on eBay with proceeds benefiting Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Staples is written as the main competitor of Dunder-Mifflin on the show and has been previously mentioned numerous times including in "The Convention" and "Branch Closing". The real units have the logo stamped on outer metal shell of the shredder only with no color.
- Hooters received yet another mention in "The Secret".
- The version of this episode available for purchase on iTunes is missing both scenes featuring Kevin and his paper shredder, most likely because the Staples product placement agreement may not have included distributable episodes.
