Product Recall

Season 3, Episode 21, Aired
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Episode Summary

It's crisis time at Dunder Mifflin after a large quantity of paper is accidentally shipped out with an obscene watermark. Michael attempts to explain the situation to the media while Jim and Andy try to calm down the high school principal who has sent out prom invites on the affected stationary.moreless
8.8
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EPISODE RATING: Great
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Fan Episode Reviews (20)

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  • 321

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By Canogaparkcindy, Oct 06, 2010 Report Abuse
    A really amazing memorable episode of The Office this week, I laughed all the way through, not a dull moment. A great bounce back from last week's weak offering, but this episode was absolutely fantastic.

    All of the interactions between the characters were flawless form the cold opening to the very end, you will laugh all the way through, I guarantee it. From Kelly training Angela and Angela having to take aspirin before Kelly starts training her to Andy finding out his girlfriend is a high school student, this was a hilarious episode.

    The one who stole the show here wasn't Michael nor Jim, it was Creed. He was the funniest, him blaming the innocent person and then taking the money in the end, there's a lot of things we don't know about Creed, and I think it's better if he stays a question mark, that way he can make random comments like saying he was a homeless man.

    Jim dressing like Dwight and Dwight dressing like Jim was a classic scene that will be remembered by every Office fan. This is why Season 3 was the best season.moreless

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    0 0

  • Mrs. Allen: I'm calling the Better Business Bureau. Michael: Yeah? Well I'm calling the "Ungrateful Bee-otch Hotline"!

    10
    "Perfect"
    By jdmedina17, Aug 22, 2010 Report Abuse
    That line made the whole show, not to metion the intro and outro. Although I have to say that Jim's impression was a whole lot better than Dwight's. Anyway, that's exactly how Dwight would immitate anyone. Question: Is this the best episode of the third season so far?
    It depends but I really really enjoyed this one. It may be a mix of things that made it unique. For example Angela raging or Oscar and Kevin's celebration. Maybe it's the argument between Mrs. Allen and Michael. Yeah, I bet it was that and the classic: Well I'm calling the "ungreatful b-otch hotline" DAMNmoreless

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    1 1

  • BEST EPISODE EVER!!!!

    10
    "Perfect"
    By killermonkey49, Aug 22, 2010 Report Abuse
    Yea well FACT: the episode "product recall" is one of the best episodes so far.. i did feel really bad for andy even tho i normally hate him and find him to make my ears bleed when he talks but he was different in this episode.. thst was so funny how the lady at the press release was just like "no, but im telling u.. i will NOT accept ur apology." kreed taking the money in the end was funny but way too predictable.. i just realized that i dont think toby was in that episode once. . yea toby is hands down the best character.. so yea, FACT i will never stop watch michael scott and his silly telivision broadcasted antics..moreless

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    2 1

  • Bears. Beets. Battle Star Galactica.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By trishuhhh, Aug 22, 2010 Report Abuse
    This is quite possibly my favorite episode ever. This episode's cold open was priceless. It was the single best prank played on Dwight. Jim's impersonation was spot on. The short sleeve shirt, $4 glasses, and passion for bears and bobble-heads. "Identity Theft Is Not A Joke Jim, Millions Of Families Suffer Every Year."

    This episode "Product Recall" revolves around the recall of 500 boxes of paper with an obscene watermark on them. Creed "screwed the pooch" with his quality assurance. It was nice change having an episode where Creed plays more a major role. Creed Bratton's portrayal of a character named after him is in one word: hysterical. Usually him lurking in the corner is enough to get a laugh out of me, but this episode really allowed him to shine. "The only difference between me and a homeless man is this job." Classic Creed collects money for the girl he got fired... and kept it for himself. I wouldn't want it any other way. "I feel terrible, she got fired because of Dwight." Creed's role in this episode was only slightly more than his regular one or two comments but in my eyes, he stole the show. (hence this review is practically a sum up of all the events involving him)

    The only way to top this episode off. Rain Wilson's impression of Jim. Absolutely gut busting. *mumble* little comment.

    Overall The Office to me is all about the underlying comedy. You might not always laugh out loud but the subtle jokes are what this show is all about. This show always delivers and this episode was no exception.moreless

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    2 0

  • Best start/end sequence ever

    10
    "Perfect"
    By dandalfthegrey, Aug 22, 2010 Report Abuse
    My wife and I have watched this episode over 50 times just because of the beginning and the end. It was so funny it pushed us into writing this review.

    Seeing Jim imitate Dwight and seeing Dwight trying to imitate Jim is a perfect example of how this show has mastered the art of defining characters.

    In the starting sequence Jim refines his role as the office prankster with remarks on how he got the costume and props. Jim then grants a masterful imitation of Dwight by dressing up like him and bringing up subjects like bears, beets and battlestar galactica. At the end we also thought it was funny to see how Jim takes advantage of Dwight's indecent proposal to Karen by hopefully asking Karen: "Do you?" and being turned down by Karen.

    Dwight also refines his role as the office nerd/dork and funniest character on the show. He begins by acting grateful towards Jim at the starting sequence, taking the imitation as a form of flattery. At the end sequence we thought it was extremely funny when Dwight tried to imitate Jim. Dwight managed to dress like him successfully but when it came to imitating Jim's talking, walking and overall personality, Dwight fails miserably to the delight of us all.moreless

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    6 1
 

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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    • When Creed tells Dwight that the floor manager at the paper mill had an "emergency dentist appointment," Dwight looks at the camera and smiles. This is referring to the season 3 episode "The Coup" when Dwight told Michael he had an emergency dentist appointment when he met with Jan. Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • The French episode title is "Les excuses", meaning "Excuses". The Spanish title is "La retirada del producto", an exact translation. Edit
    • Music: Gwen Stefani's "Hollaback Girl" sung by Kelly; Dobie Gray's "Drift Away" sung by Andy; The Tokens' "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" sung by Jim and Andy Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Michael: Here's the thing, when a company screws up, best thing to do is call a press conference. Alert the media, and then you control the story. Wait for the them to find out, and the story controls you. That's what happened to O.J. Edit
    • Principal: The issue with the watermark is very serious. Jim: Absolutely. Principal: We teach our students that character counts. Jim: And you should. Andy: Ha! Ha ha. You don't teach it well enough. One of your students is a biiitch! Jim: Andy...is having a real rough day. Andy: I want to take out an ad in your yearbook. Full page, two words- Jim: -GOOD LUCK! Andy: That's not what I had in mind. Edit
    • (confessional) Creed: The only difference between me and a homeless man is this job. I will do whatever it takes to survive. Like I did, ...when I was a homeless man. Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Dwight mentions "entering the No Spin Zone," referring to what Bill O'Reilly alludes to often on his Fox News Channel program, The O'Reilly Factor. The No Spin Zone is his claim to report factual news, although he often has a conservative slant on the stories. Edit

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