The Job (The Office)

"The Job" is the third season finale of the U.S. version of The Office, and the show's 52nd and 53rd episode overall. It aired in the United States on April 19, 2007 on NBC.^[1] It is the season's second hour-long episode. It was written by Paul Lieberstein & Michael Schur and directed by Ken Kwapis.

In this episode, Michael prepares for his interview for the corporate job and names Dwight as his successor, whose managing methods are unpopular. Jan arrives at the office to see Michael and everyone is shocked when it appears she has gotten a breast augmentation. Jim and Karen also interview for the corporate position, and Pam deals with the consequences of her earlier outburst.

Plot

Confident that he will get the corporate job, Michael (Steve Carell) sells his condo at a loss on eBay and names Dwight (Rainn Wilson) his successor as Regional Manager. Pam (Jenna Fischer) cheerfully withstands her colleagues' teasing over her speech from "Beach Games," and tells Karen (Rashida Jones) that she is not sorry about what she said but regrets putting Karen in an awkward position. Karen tells the camera that Pam is "kind of a bitch."

Before the end of the day, Kevin (Brian Baumgartner) asks Jim (John Krasinski) who he finds more attractive between Karen and Pam. Though Jim initially refuses to answer, he becomes intrigued when Kevin starts to compare the two women. He tells Kevin to keep thinking about it in a joking way, but appears to be very interested in the results.

Jan (Melora Hardin) arrives at the office to win Michael back. In a panic, Michael consults the women of the office. Pam tells him to be strong and to not get back together with her. Michael attempts to reject Jan, but reverses himself immediately when he sees that she had a breast augmentation. Jim and Karen drive to New York City together and spend the night before their interviews. Karen tells Jim that if either of them gets the job, both should move to New York. She promises to do so, but is met with awkward silence when she asks Jim to reciprocate.

Dwight begins his new regime, assigning Andy (Ed Helms) the role of his No. 2 and asking Pam to be his secret "Assistant to the Regional Manager." Dwight's new motivational style is not popular. He and Andy repaint the walls of Dwight's new office black in order to instill fear.

During his interview at Corporate, Michael learns from CFO David Wallace (Andy Buckley) that he is interviewing for the job currently held by Jan, who will be fired. Michael goes to Jan's office after his interview is over and quickly bumbles into revealing her impending termination. Jan storms into Wallace's office, interrupting Karen's interview, and refuses to leave. After Jan is escorted out by security, Michael learns that he will not be getting the position. On the drive home, Jan tells Michael that she will make their relationship her "full-time job." Michael is visibly uncomfortable.

Jim's interview with David goes very well until he discovers an encouraging note from Pam along with a yogurt lid medal (reminiscent of the original series finale). Jim recalls a conversation with Pam after her confession on the beach. He discreetly admits that he left Scranton because of her rejection and that he feels that he has "never really come back," meaning that he has been actively fighting his feelings for her. Pam tells him that she wishes that he would come back.

Just as Pam is telling the cameras that she does not think that it would work out between her and Jim, he bursts into the room (having driven back by himself) and asks her out to dinner. Stunned, she says yes, and Jim says, "Alright. Then, it's a date." After Jim exits the room, Pam becomes visibly excited and forgets what she was talking about.

David Wallace offers the job to Ryan (B. J. Novak), who accepts and immediately breaks up with Kelly (Mindy Kaling): "You and I are done."

Reception

The episode first aired in the U.S. on May 17, 2007, attracting 7.88 million viewers.^[2] It ranked third in its timeslot (behind a CBS tribute to the retiring Bob Barker and the first season finale of Ugly Betty)^[3] and 37th in Nielsen's prime-time television rankings for the week.^[2]

References

External links

• "The Job" at NBC.com
• "The Job" at the Internet Movie Database
• "The Job" at TV.com