photo: nbc
The Office
Scott’s Tots
Original Airdate: Dec 3, 2009
Shannon – Associate Editor
shannon@thetwocentscorp.com
Andy busts in Jim’s office and says everyone has a terminal case of the Mondays and that they need to have an Employee of The Month program to cure it. Apparently, it was Dwight’s idea so he can get Jim fired.
Dwight starts going around collecting money from the staff saying it was Jim’s idea to use it as a monetary reward for EoTM. Dwight rigs the program so that Jim gets EoTM and everyone wigs out. Pam suggests that everyone calm down and choose the next best performing employee, and it’s Pam of course. Everyone freaks and then a cake is delivered that has Jim’s face on it. Dwight impersonates various office staff, pretty convincingly, I might add, on the phone to David Wallace. David calls Jim and reams him. Dwight listens to the conversation on his hidden pen mike and is dismayed when David apologizes for being so mean.
Uh oh. Michael pledged 10 years ago to some third graders that he would pay their college tuition once they graduate high school. It’s time for him to pay up. Stanley yucks it up and Pam berates him. Michael wants Pam to go with him to tell the kids he can’t keep up his end of the bargain instead of Erin. The kids throw a big party and even chant his name. Yeah, there’s no way he’s going to be able to back out now. A chant of his name is a Michael Scott dream come true. Then there’s a rap and a dance and a break dancer. This is not going to end well. People get gushy and give testimonials and Michael cries. Erin totally sits there and claps and doesn’t encourage Michael to tell the truth.
The group encourages Michael to give a speech and he starts talking about doing stupid things and you think he’s going to ‘fess up and he does and everyone freaks out, naturally. Instead he offers them laptop batteries. Everyone freaks and he assures them that they’re lithium. Michael and Erin make a break for it when one of the kids stops him and wants to know what kind of person makes a promise like that and doesn’t keep it. Michael offers to buy the kid’s books at $1,000 per year.
Erin and Michael drive back to the office and Erin tries to make Michael feel better by telling him he made a difference because the graduation rate is up because of his promise.
Ryan tells Dwight he knows about Dwight’s diabolical plan because he left it in the copier tray and now Ryan wants in. The only funny part of the episode? Ryan holding up a stack of papers labeled “My Diabolical Plan, by Dwight Schrute”. Sad.
What a weak episode. I don’t want to say much that’s negative but really, this season’s not so great so far. I really hope things pick up soon. Leave your comments and let me know what you think.
TheTwoCents 
You know I love this show – but yikes. The cold open was very weak – baby talk? And isn’t this the exact same storyline as last week? Take Michael out of The Office to embarrass him and leave Jim in the office to get crapped on?
Lee and Gene usually do brilliant work – this one – not so much.
Only thing keeping it from a D rating was Dwight’s impressions of everyone.
This was a weak episode, but very consistent with this season. I agree with KP, Dwight’s impressions were funny. I also thought Stanley’s reaction and explanation for Scott’s Tots was funny. Definitely classic Stanley, which we haven’t seen in a long time.
I thought it was predictable that Jim would come out of this Dwight-attck unscathed. I’m not looking forward to seeing Ryan team-up with Dwight. I never cared much for Ryan’s character after he shed the “intern” label and he’s even more annoying now.
Another episode of me asking myself, “Why did I watch this? It would probably be funnier and more worth my time if I just wait until the morning to read the RR at TheTwoCents.com.”
Actually, I thought this episode was hilarious but painful to watch. I mean it was cringe worthy watching Michael come clean to “Scott’s Tots”. And Erin is so adorable! I love her!