photo: nbc
Garden Party
Original Air Date: Oct 13, 2011
Shannon – Associate Editor
shannon@thetwocentscorp.com
DM started a new ad campaign so there are billboards with Andy’s face on it all over the city. Someone defaced all of them especially the ones that had Dwight on them too. Let’s say the defacings were not safe for work. Hee.
Andy is throwing a garden party at Schrute Farms to impress Robert California. The dress is Connecticut Casual, whatever that means. Dwight wants to break into the event hosting business so he bought a book about throwing a garden party written by James Trickington on eBay for $2. Jim is disappointed by how poorly his book is doing. He’s only sold one copy.
Actually, the party is to impress Andy’s parents who threw a garden party for Andy’s younger brother’s promotion last week. Andy’s parents are, so far, unimpressed. Also, Andy’s brother, Walter Jr. (Josh Groban) shows up uninvited, effectively stealing Andy’s thunder.
The whole party is super awkward especially the toasting portion of the evening. Earlier in the day, Pam revealed to Angela accidentally that they’re naming their baby Philip. Angela is miffed because that’s the name they’ve chosen for their baby. In order to one up Pam, Angela proposes a toast to her baby Philip (named after her favorite cat). This will not stand so Pam proposes a toast to her Philip, named after her grandpa. Angela accuses Pam of always trying to be like her. Everyone wants to toast R. Cali, especially Gabe as he’s the biggest suck up in the world. Andy breaks out his guitar and calls his dad up to do a duet. Andy starts to play “More Than Words” by Extreme which is like the worst father son duet song ever. Andy can’t get the harmony right so Dad calls up Andy’s brother. Poor Andy.
Andy is talking with Ceci in the house when his dad comes in and runs him down for being a manager at a rinky dink paper company. Everyone hears it over the baby monitor. Thankfully, Andy’s family leaves and Daryl fires up the bbq grill. Oscar tosses the Nard Dog a can of soda.
I do love it when Jim messes with Dwight. I have to wonder how long it took to write that whole book. I feel so sorry for Andy. His dad is a real jerk but it was nice his friends were able to make up for that at the end. What’s your take on the episode? Liked it? Leave a comment!
TheTwoCents 
I gotta say that I’m a bit disappointed in the writers. Instead of going a true different direction after Michael, they put someone else in charge that is desperate to be loved and everyone’s best friend. Sure, he sings instead of improv. But it’s the same formula.
1. Have boss set up a situation that will make people like him.
2. Have event blow up in boss’ face.
3. Have the gang of the Office show they love boss at the end anyway.
I feel like it would be the same writing whether it’s Michael or Andy. Am I way off in this?
No, I think you nailed it. They really could have taken the show in a new direction but they didn’t. Now I just feel like we’re left waiting around for them to put the show out of its misery.
That Jim wrote an entire book and got it published and made it available for sale online so that Dwight could happen upon it just in time for the garden party that Andy happened to decide to have on short notice makes no sense. It’s funny, but makes no sense.