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The Office Season 5 Episode 21

The Michael Scott Paper Company

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AIRED: Apr 09, 2009

8.4

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Episode Summary

EDIT

Michael hosts a pancake luncheon to promote his new company. Dwight and Andy find themselves in competition for a girl yet again, while Jim is confused when a "rundown" is requested by Charles.

FAN RECAP

Fan Episode Reviews (15)

The first day is always hard

8.5

By Lostindharma, Apr 13, 2013

When Michael starts his own company (his dream for two weeks) he reluctantly accepts his new office right below his old company. However this being Michael he takes it in stride and tries to make the best out of it. The place is small is limited but the laughs is not. Ryan and Pam have not had much interaction between each other before this time and in this case it was entertaining to see. Ryan's new look is great and I think it's funny that he doesn't seem to learn from his past mistakes. As expected things don't go smoothly and they get so bad that Pam tries to get back her old job. I don't blame Pam for trying to do this but I am happy she did make a big accomplishment at the end.

Back upstairs a new person has replaced Pam. Erin. It took a long time for me to form an opinion on her and I will tell you my opinion on her in a later review. She does seem very happy. I wonder if the other employees were like this when they first got hired. Also for some reason Dwight and Andy are friends again. Maybe it's because they realized Angela was using them but they are friends again. As always it's always great seeing those two together. Dwight and Andy alone are almost worth the rating I am giving this episode. However with Erin at the office they soon turn to friends/enemies. I love how they make it seem they are trying to help out the other when they trying to get Erin for themselves. Nice song with Andy signing with his guitar and Dwight with his Another nice highlight was Kelly standing outside of Charles's office and thinking Charles would want her by him saying Kelly. Even better when Jim said it wasn't Kelly's worse idea. My only complaint about this episode was there was no scene between Kelly and Ryan. Another highlight about this episode was Jim digging himself into a deeper hole by struggling by getting a rundown for Charles. If you watch the DVD, the deleted scenes are worth checking out. After some average episodes (by office standards) it was nice to see this one be a lot better.moreless
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7.5

By Canogaparkcindy, Jun 25, 2011

Was not as good as the last episode but still a really great episode in my opinion. The Michael Scott Paper Company arc is absolutely genius and like said before, it's what's helping this season greatly. In the end, I got a good feeling, which I haven't gotten since season 3.

I felt so accomplished for watching other people who accomplished something, it's kind of pathetic, but I felt really good when The Michael Scott Paper Company made their first sale, it gave hope for Michael Scott, I really enjoyed the interactions in the workspace that they have. Like Ryan & Pam fighting or hearing the toilet flush, hilarious.

I'm not sure what this show needs is new characters, Erin as the new receptionist is definitely different, I'm not sure if I like the character yet but Dwight & Andy bonding was entertaining. A good episode of The Office this week.moreless
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This episode felt like a spin off show inside an episode of the original show :(

6.0

By a4lyon, Jun 25, 2011

Bottom Line: Very Disappointing

It's hard to see where the writers are going with this show now, and I have to say that if we see many more episodes like this the show won't last much longer.

We see Michael and Pam brainstorming ideas for the Michael Scott Paper Company and to be honest it makes me feel really bad for them. Normally Michael's quirks and random humor add fun level of naïveté but not this time. Ryan is back and as bad as ever.

Back at Dunder Mifflin, Jim struggles with seemingly simple tasks which seemed oddly out of character for him. I have always viewed Jim as a very capable and competent person but this episode show him in a very different light. Dwight and Andy are now friends but with a new secretary in the mix I'm not sure how long that will last. As for everyone else their roles in this episode were seemingly unimportant. We still know very little about the new boss; now there is something the writers can explore.

Honestly after watching the episode I felt let down. I think that we have a long way to go in order to get back to the quality of writing and characters that we loved so much in the first few seasons.moreless
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First Day at the Michael Scott Paper Company

8.0

By mcwilly104, Jun 25, 2011

This show is making me really sad. There are always a few laugh out loud moments in every new episode, but the rest of the time, the plot is just bad. The show has gone so far off track lately, and I felt really bad for Michael, Ryan, and Pam because their jobs are so awful at the new paper company. The show, in my opinion has been a mess since season 4 started and I hope that the writers will find their footing again and get the show back to a respectable place. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Sometimes the new episodes of the office just aren't funny. They either focus on making the plots really awkward or too serious, and neither is what the show is all about. Also, when Jim and Pam finally got together, the cute and lovable aspect of the show was gone because none of the other romance were as endearing as Jim and Pam's. The producers and writers need to re-evaluate the show because I am really close to abandoning this show before it get's any worse, and that will be horrible because the office used be soo hilarious and cute, and it's just not.moreless
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U-G-L-Y

2.5

By CaptainFreedom3, Jun 25, 2011

"This episode don't got no alibi, it's ugly. Whoa, whoa, its ugly." Wow, how much lower can this show sink? Pathetic writing, pathetic acting, pathetic direction, and the list doesn't stop there. The Michael Scott Paper Company tries to steal an account which once belonged to Dunder Mifflin. Dwight, who has always been in love with Michael and worshiped him as some sort of deity, finally cuts those feelings off. Which we all know won't last, but, I'll be darned if the writers don't think anyone who watched this show has an IQ higher than 40. The whole Jim referencing himself in the third person was almost the worst acting in the history of this show. UGLY as sin, in every possible way.moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

EDIT

Steve Carell	Michael Scott
Rainn Wilson	Dwight Schrute
John Krasinski	Jim Halpert
Jenna Fischer	Pam Beesly
B.J. Novak	Ryan Howard
Leslie David Baker	Stanley Hudson

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

EDIT

Cindy Drummond	Ryan's Mom	Guest Star
Patrick LoSasso	Russell	Guest Star
Idris Elba	Charles Miner	Recurring Role
Ellie Kemper	Erin Hannon	Recurring Role

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Episode Photos

Leslie David Baker as Stanley Hudson, Cr...

© 2009 NBC Universal, Inc.
Kate Flannery as Meredith Palmer and Osc...

© 2009 NBC Universal, Inc.
Phyllis Smith as Phyllis Lapin and Jenna...

© 2009 NBC Universal, Inc.
Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute in The Of...

© 2009 NBC Universal, Inc.

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (0)
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QUOTES (5)
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- Dwight: Listen, when I saw you talking to Erin earlier, I noticed that your pupils dilated and your skin flushed, and I'm assuming a little bit of blood rushed into your penis.
  (Andy scoffs)
  Dwight: Well, a little bit of blood rushed into mine, too, so where does that leave us?
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- Pam: I don't want to look at your friend Jasmine's boobs all day.
  Ryan: You could be hot, too, if you made any effort at all.
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- (drives up to the camera, listening to Lada Gaga's "Just Dance")
  Michael: It's Britney, bitch. And I am back, in the form of a new company, the Michael Scott Paper Company.
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- Michael: Maybe the "Michael Scott Paper Company" was a huge mistake. I should leave. I should go and start my own paper company. That will show them.
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- Michael: Who'd have thought that the thing that would save this company would be work?
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NOTES (3)
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- The French episode title is "La nouvelle société de Michael", meaning "Michael's New Company". The Spanish title is "La empresa de papel de Michael Scott", an exact translation.
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- International Airdates: Latin America: November 9, 2009 on Canal FX
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- This episode had a special opening credit montage showing The Michael Scott Paper Company, rather than Dunder Mifflin.
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