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The Office Season 4 Episode 5

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8.7

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EPISODE REVIEWS
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Episode Summary

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AIRED: 10/25/07

Dunder Mifflin decides to produce an ad, but things go awry when Michael hijacks the production. Dwight is busy exploring Second Life, an online website.

Fan Episode Reviews (16)

Michael makes an ad

9.5

By Lostindharma, Dec 21, 2012

This episode was back to the normal time but that doesn't mean there is half the laughs. This almost had as much laughs as the previous one hour episodes. The people from corporate decide to purchase some air time in each branch's local market to promote the new website. Michael thinks that this is more then what it is and tries to railroad the ad agency guys. It's always funny how people who haven't met Michael react to them. Michael convinces Ryan and David that he should to the ad himself or have the guys from the ad agency come back at his penny. Michael with his money problems must have a lot of confidence in this. I wish I would've seen Ryan and David reactions when Michael told them what happened.

When Michael gets the yes from corporate his imagination really runs wild. It's funny how Michael tries to control everyone with the project. I also would've loved to see the mix Michael made for Darryl. That is my only other complaint if you can call is that about this episode. Pam really throws herself into this project even though in Jim's words that no one will really see. It was a very funny scene when Pam was talking to the camera about what she should do about staying at the office or risk death. You also see how hard Michael wants this project to be good. It was also funny seeing Dwight asleep at the door of Michael's office. The final video Michael made was well I will get to that.

With the breakup of Angela and Dwight final he throws himself into a Second Life video game. I liked that Dwight's character was the same as him but he could fly. Jim's comment on Dwight's game was pretty funny. (Oh they are losers) In fact Dwight gets so into this game that he makes a second game. Jim tries to follow up with a character of his own. It was an interesting take. It's something I appreciate more with what happened in season 9. Andy tries to get Dwight to help him in his realtionship with Angela. I enjoy how Dwight tries to help but not actually helps Andy. You see the happiness in his eyes when Andy says that Angela was saying to him when they were making out. It shows that there is some hope.

The final video was actually good. I think it's from his movie and from the other videos he made. I think it was better then the Dunder Mifflin one. It was sweet of Jim to have the bar play his video. The logo that Pam made was good too. This was the first time you see Jim get jealous when the guy in the bar asks Pam about motorcycles. Also if you watch this on DVD, check out the deleted scenes. If you think this episode is the funniest it's only will get better.moreless
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this episode was good, not the best but good

8.3

By mellemiumb, Jun 24, 2011

The episode starts out with Michael brainstorming with the rest of the office on creative ideas for a Dunder Mifflin ad. Andy struggles to remember what product is being advertised in the slogan "Break me off a piece of that..." and comes up with strange answers like applesauce. Andy trying to remember the product is an ongoing struggle for him throughout the episode.

Michael meets with a creative team for the ad. Michael shares with him his creative ideas for the ad, but the pros seem unimpressed. They show him the ad they did for another branch. Michael thinks their ad is stupid and insults them. They explain that the Scranton branch has to have the same commercial as all of the other branches, the only difference being that the last five seconds will be a scene where the Scranton branch is shown. Michael is upset by this and calls Ryan. Ryan is irratated that Michael is calling him about small problems. Michael says that Ryan doesn't like it when he calls him about big problems, so he should make up his mind. Ryan tells him that the professionals are creative and Michael isn't.moreless
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6.5

By Canogaparkcindy, Jun 24, 2011

"Break me a piece of that applesauce!"

That is what became the running gag of this episode, trying to see what that line ends with, which wasn't the best running gag, but still got a few laughs from me. Lets face it, this season has had it's major pitfalls and hardly any positives, but this episode was actually funny. I found myself laughing at some of the remarks made in this episode, and we got some things that were quite eventful.

Mostly about relationships, but still. Even though I got a few kicks out of this episode, it definitely still isn't the same quality as the first three seasons. Basically, this show is going downhill. I've said it once, and I'll say it again. This show is going downhill. This episode did have it's plus sides though, tracking Dwight on "My Second Life." The well put together ad at the end, Pam "clearing" the phone lines for Michael. Phyllis crying, Michael not caring. Some good things, not the same quality.moreless
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This episode isn't that eventful or funny

8.1

By OTHfan323, Sep 20, 2010

I wasn't a big fan of this episode. I just didn't find the making of the commercial that funny or entertaining. I really liked how there commercial turned out. I liked how Dwight was playing his second life game out of depression though. It was funny how it looked just like him but could fly. I also liked the way we found out that Angela was still thinking of him. I didn't really think the break me off a piece of that..., was that funny. This episode went by way to quickly, and it felt like there wasn't time for much to happen. I miss them being a hour long.moreless
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This episode was so funny!

9.8

By supernatural14, Jun 28, 2008

Although informed that he and his employees can only be in the Dunder Mifflin Infinity commercial for a few seconds, Michael decides to use the staff of Dunder Mifflin Scranton in a commercial produced by himself, only to have it rebuffed by the corporate office. Meanwhile, the progression of Andy and Angela's relationship forces Dwight to sink into a depression, where he attempts to remove himself from his life by playing Second Life. That evening, Jim plays the rejected version of the staff's commercial, where it is well received by both the employees as well as other bar patrons. I think that their ad was way better than the big ad.moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

EDIT

Steve Carell	Michael Scott
Rainn Wilson	Dwight Schrute
Jenna Fischer	Pam Beesley
B.J. Novak	Ryan Howard
Ed Helms	Andy Bernard
Leslie David Baker	Stanley Hudson

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Kyle Bornheimer	Ad Consultant	Guest Star
Tim Kang	Koh	Guest Star
Virginia Newcomb	Secretary	Guest Star
Andy Buckley	David Wallace	Recurring Role

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (1)
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- When Michael is talking on the phone to corporate, the date on his telephone is 10-3-2007, assumingly the production date of this episode.
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QUOTES (5)
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- Meredith: I'm excited about doing the ad, but I'm not really used to doing videos with so many people around.
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- Jim: When I tell people I work for Dunder Mifflin, they think I sell mufflers, or muffins, or mittens, and frankly it all sounds better than paper so I let it slide.
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- Michael: (To camera) Alright, let me ask you this: how many of you think this is creative? When I was five, I imagined there was such a thing as a unicorn. And this is before I had even heard of one, or seen one. I just drew a picture of a horse that could fly over rainbows, and a huge spike on his head. I was five... FIVE years old. Couldn't even talk yet.
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- Jim: You playing that game again?
  Dwight: Second Life is not a game. It is a multi-user, virtual environment. It doesn't have points or scores. It doesn't have winners or losers.
  Jim: Oh, it has losers.
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- Oscar: When I was younger, I always wanted to be an actor in commercials. Then I realized I had a brain.
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NOTES (5)
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- The French episode title is "La Pub interne", meaning "In-House Ad". The Spanish title is "Publicidad regional", an exact translation.
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- Jason Reitman also directed the movies Bonzai Shadowhands and Juno, both of which Rainn Wilson appeared in.
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- This episode was part of the show's Emmy Awards 'For Your Consideration' DVD for this season, and Ben Patrick, C.A.S., John W. Cook II, and Peter J. Nusbaum received Emmy nominations for Outstanding Sound Mixing for this episode.
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- Music: theme song from Chariots of Fire; Dunder Mifflin ad music, composed by Craig Robinson and performed by his character, Darryl
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- B.J. Novak was nominated for a WGA Award in the Episodic Comedy category for his work on this episode.
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ALLUSIONS (1)
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- The ad Andy is referring to in the cold open, and spends the rest of the episode trying to figure out, is an advertisement for the Kit-Kat bar.
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