Mindy Kaling's Tour of Scranton

Office Tally posted this lovely slideshow (make sure your sound is on) and I was pleasantly surprised to see our honourary CAOA member, Anthony Farrell make an appearance at the 1:18 mark in the Poor Richard's photo. (Whoot!)

Jeannie Tate Show starring Rashida Jones

Found this on author Meg Cabot's blog and it's just hilarious.



"Pam's better. She could totally eff you up..."

An American Thanks – A non-Office Post.

On this day of Thanks (American style since Canada's was a month ago), I want to take this time to quickly say what I am thankful for:

My family (my mom, my dad, my sister and even my brother-in-law). (They have been my rock in this crazy world and who have help me do all the crazy things I have wanted to).

My friends both old and new (It has been an adventure this year as my old friends are still sticking around and my new friends I have met who remind me that I'm not the only one just like me!).

• My health (*knock on wood* no hospital visits this year).
  
• My TV boyfriends who help me pass the nights.
  
  
• The writers, cast, and crew of The Office, Family Guy, Heroes, Chuck, House, Bones, Pushing Daisies, CSI: NY, Private Practice, Grey's Anatomy, Ugly Betty, Numb3rs, October Road, The Tudors, Weeds, and all of the random shows that I come across and love. They have given me PB&J; Stewie; Save a Cheerleader, Save the World; The Pie Hole; Humor, Joy, and Edge of my seat screaming into the phone-- good times.
  
  
• And finally, I'm thankful for fate in my life because of all the things I've done, seen and people I have meet have been a work in progress.
  

*Side note: How can I not quickly say a special thanks to Christina (because she is my other half in the blog) for fixing my grammar, adding photos and being a great, amazing, crazy and true friend and most of all an Office fan who is just like me!

Have a great Thanksgiving… I'll be sleeping most of the day because I work retail. :-)

"Drug Testing" – American Perspective

As the holidays approach and no new episodes are set to air, I guess it is time to review/analyze/ramble my way through past episodes of The Office. I shall start with what is by far my favorite episode of The Office – "Drug Testing." I have to say that at ScranCon (thanks to Christina for that) I had a mini-heart attack when I meet Jen Celotta. What does one say to someone who writes your favorite episodes? "Uhm – nice to meet you"? I do have to say that I froze just a little when I meet her and if I could, I would go back and talk her ear off. So, this blog is dedicated to Jen Celotta and to all that I would say to her.

Ok! Where to start…? From the opening scene you knew something was going to be just a little bit different. Hello – Dwight in a Lackawanna County Volunteer Sheriff Deputy uniform. I can see Dwight finding the joint in the parking lot and going home to research everything there is to know about marijuana. He would then sit down in the kitchen with all his information and plot out just who would be the culprit. "I like the people I work with generally, with four expectations." Mmm… I just wonder who the four people are? The obvious would be Jim and Pam, but just who are the other - maybe Phyllis, maybe Toby (just because Michael has distain for him)?? Also for the first time on record, Dwight spends his time "goofing" off (did Dwight do any work at all?). How and why is it Dwight's responsibility to find the culprit? Maybe he has something to hide. (I find it funny that later on in "Dunder-Mufflin Infinity" we learn from the pizza guy that Dwight has weed growing on his farm. Does Dwight know this? Is there another side to Dwight that we don't know yet?).

The "B" story in this episode is a turning point for me in the Jim/Pam storyline for season 2. The Jinx has so much subtext to the underlying issue between Jim wanting to tell Pam just how he really feels. I say kudos to John and Jenna because there is so much told in their silence (I would love to get my hands on the shooting script of this episode). In his silence throughout the episode, I believe that Jim begins to realize that he has to do something-- anything-- in regards to Pam. With the final comment, Jim asks, "What is he getting out of that relationship?" Off camera, Jim went home and planned just what he was going to do. It was now or never and he picked Casino Night to lay it all on line. If the jinx had never happened, I think Jim wouldn't have had a catalyst to take a chance. He spent the whole day sitting back idealizing, unable to interject comments and think. Jim is in love with Pam. Head over heels he would do anything for this woman and maybe even walk away, in love. It is killing him each day to watch the days slowly come closer to Pam and Roy's wedding. He has to act and soon; before he never knows what might have been.

I heart Pam, in this episode (as always) for this is the start of Fancy New Beesly. Her first baby step to FNB is when she pulls a prank on Jim even though she thinks it backfires on her (fake crying). I believe that in the break room, as Pam is saying to Jim that he can tell her anything, that Pam 100% realizes that Jim has feelings for her. (Again kudos – the silence tells so much). She tries to laugh it off at first. However, I can even feel through the TV that her heart is starting to race. She knows, but she is not yet FNB so she doesn't know what to do besides buy Jim a coke to end the silence that is so deafening.

In addition, how can you not swoon with the two little words spoken between Jim and Pam: "Hi!" "Hey!" – Mrh!!!!

I want to say Thank You to Jen Celotta for writing such an amazing episode and the cast for acting out her words so beautifully.

"The Deposition"-- Canadian Perspective

This episode was written by Lester Lewis who recently returned to “the Office” as a writer. And what an amazing episode it was! Let me preface this recap by telling about my first “encounter” with Lester Lewis. At the Scranton Convention, I was sitting in the front row of the Writer’s Block and when the moderators opened the floor for questions, I immediately raised my hand. Much to my chagrin, the moderators chose to get questions from the back of the theatre, essentially ignoring me and my hand at the front. I kept it raised for the remainder of the show, until one of the moderators said that this would be their last question (from someone in the back, of course). Lester Lewis then proceeded to interrupt the moderator and told him that before they finished things up, he wanted me (yes, me!!) to get to ask my question as he’d been watching me with my hand up for the course of the show and it made him feel sorry for me. Well, thanks to Lester I got to ask a question! So I certainly have a soft spot for him.

But this episode-- Lester Lewis’ kindness aside-- was fabulous. The darkness of Michael’s battle with the deposition was perfectly contrasted with the hilarity of the battle between Kelly and Pam.

I think you have to be a special type of cruel if you didn’t feel some semblance of sympathy for Michael as he faced the rapid fire questioning from the two attorneys. My heart really went out to him, as his private journals were put on display for the executives of Dunder-Mifflin.

Interestingly enough, here in Canada court cases have one very distinct difference. The prosecution (or the Crown, in criminal cases) must relinquish all details of their case. They, by law, can not withhold any information from the defence attorney. Poor Michael (in Canada, that is) would have been shown in advance his performance reviews and would have been prepared for the back-handed slap that was the deposition. In Canada (as far as I’m aware, anyway), there would be no surprises… but then again, that doesn’t make for good television.

My love for David Wallace certainly grew, as the evidence pertaining to him demonstrated that he respected Michael enough to interview him for the corporate job even though he had no intention of promoting him. And the apology he gave Michael seemed sincere and made up (somewhat) for the lack of a (sincere) apology from Jan. Truly I believe that David Wallace is a good guy. It also helps that Andy Buckley has the Cinderella story to go along with his role.

Pam and her 12 year old Girlfriend

Yes, you read that right. I absolutely, positively thought Mindy Kaling owned every scene she was in with Jenna Fischer. Her smack talk (which is happening “right now”, natch) was brilliantly executed and I’m already trying to think up ways that I can employ them in my everyday existence.

• What has two skinny chicken legs and sucks at Ping Pong?
• You’re ugly and I know it for a fact ‘cause I’ve got the evidence and it's right there.
• Your boyfriend’s so weak, he needs steroids just to watch baseball.
• Jim couldn’t hit a ping pong if it was the size of a moon.
• Were Jim’s parents first cousins who were also bad at ping pong?

Mm-hm, *snap*. You go, girlfriend. And it was sweet hilarity that when Pam finally challenged Kelly to pong it out, they both sucked.

I was also pleasantly surprised to see Mose and Dwight battle it out in the Schrute barn. It came as no surprise to me to learn that Dwight was a ping pong fan. It fits perfectly in sync with his characterization. Although, if he has a list of ping pong players who are his heroes, where does Hiro from “Heroes” fit in?

"Survivor Man" – American Perspective

Greetings. Fellow office fans. Before, I begin my analysis of this lovely office episode. We here at Canadian-American Office Alliance would like to state that we are for the writers. We believe that the writers should be fairly compensated for their work whether it is on the TV or internet. Even though we are sad that next week's The Deposition might be last episode this season we hold strong that no matter how long it takes we as fans stand by the writers. For more information: United Hollywood or Office Tally

Survivor Man (written by Steve Carell)

This week's episode is part of the grander "Universal is Green" week which is an amazing idea with a common link to all episode. However, I felt that even though Steve did an amazing job writing overall, the whole story in the "Universal is Green" was weak. With the "A" story taking place in a forest, it was just about the only "Green" part to the episode. I think that there could have been so many funnier situations. (Who caught the shout out to Schrute Farms?) With Michael not invited to the wilderness retreat with Ryan and the other DM regional managers, left him feeling-- well, not a happy camper. I wonder what the motivation was for Ryan not to invite Michael, but Toby instead. Is it because he wanted to toy with Michael? Because really, that was pure genius. Knowing how much Michael dislikes Toby it was a bold move on Ryan's part. Feeling as if he needed to prove something, Michael heads out into the vast Scranton wilderness a la Survivorman. Well, not before asking Jim if he would join him on a "camping trip" which leads to Jim saying he would, but just so happens that he is busy as always. (This seems to be a running tag this whole season (loves it)…).

OMG! Dwight and the hidden weapons all over the office. (Mr. A. Knife! and the blow dart gun in the toilet!) I love that Dwight has already found his serial killer name "Overkill Killer" and that he will cut off your finger tips and remove your teeth just so you won't be identified. You also have to love that he knocks Michael over the head with his shoe. Michael spends his first few hours in the wilderness by cutting off his pant legs and then duct taping them back together a few hours later. He then makes himself a nice tent in his pants. *wink*! During this time unknown to Michael, Dwight has his watchful eye on him. This is the side of Dwight that we have missed so much. We see again just how much Dwight wants to protect/be Michael. I love the nice touch of seeing the cameraman's hand when Dwight finds the eggs. (Wouldn't it be a little late for bird eggs in the Pennsylvania wilderness)? Dwight then saves the day when he sees Michael trying to eat mushrooms – I kinda hoped that they were of the magic kind to add to the mixture (However, not very PC… but it would be humorous). Michael survived - for all of 6 or so hours.

Tsk.Tsk. Jim Halpert. You tried to combine the birthday parties and it back-fires in your face. The icing on that cake is that Phyllis called you Michael. Yea, we will not forget that either. The last time we saw Jim in charge was "Office Olympics" in which he won over the office with his antics and humor. This is not the case the second time around. Not wanting to deal with the birthdays and surprisingly wants to get work done. Jim devises the grand plan of "combining" all birthdays into one as a way to be productive. (Not only does Jim think it is a good idea… he thinks it is a great idea… Mrh! The look on Pam's face as she turns and leaves Jim's desk). Who else noticed that Pam was listening in on the conversation between Oscar and Jim? (See the comment at end about my love for Pam). Now how can you not love the birthday montage? Michael surprising Kelly, Oscar and Phyllis. (There are two jokes that Michael does when it is your birthday: 1) about how old you are and 2) something inappropriate). We learn that Michael only sings the high notes in Happy Birthday. Jim wanting to get away even goes so far as to take over Michael's office for some peace and quiet. (Oh the irony in that…). In the end, we see that just maybe Jim isn't management material. Yes, it is the next logical step, but our Jim still has some growing up to do.

The end tag of this episode was amazing! The realization that Michael did make the same mistake, oh so many years ago, and that just maybe Dunder-Mifflin wasn't Michael's life long goal caused Jim to quickly evaluate his choices. This has been a running theme this whole season. That disappointment, the embarrassment, the realization that he totally "pulled a Michael" is causing Jim to evaluate just what exactly he is doing at Dunder-Mifflin.

Pam! Pam how I love thee. I love that you stand by your man even when you know he is going to fail. I love that you maybe feel a little turned on by the "power" that Jim presents. I love that you in your little ways turn the table of our dear love and pull the greatest prank that I've seen in a long time – Getting Jim to say "Conference Room – 5 minutes"! I love just about everything you choose to be.

Overall, even though it was what I thought to be a weak "Green" story it was amazingly written (well done, Mr. Carell. Well done!) and acted (Mrh! To JKras and the look of horror.)!

"Diwali"- Canadian Perspective

Happy Diwali!

As fireworks pop in the distance, I figured that this was the perfect opportunity to revisit a season 3 favourite: Diwali. Yes, folks. It’s that time of the year again. So put on your saris, it’s time to celebrate Diwali (the Indian Halloween).

In my little neck of the woods, there is a huge Indian population. So come November, Diwali is as popular as Christmas. In the mall you are likely to see a woman in a sari or a man in a kurta as frequently as you would see someone in jeans and a t-shirt. On numerous occasions I’ve heard Indian music blasting from a passing car. Local restaurants advertise specials, halls are booked out for parties and nan is half price.

Yes, folks: it’s super… it’s fun… it’s great! It’s Diwali!

In this episode, celebrations aside, we got to see Pam begin to take steps in communicating with Jim. Her text message drove Jam fans batty, as speculation still runs rampant as to what she wrote. And most importantly, did Jim even collect the message? And if he did, did he bother to return it? That vibrating phone on Drunken!Jim’s desk was such a tease especially after having suffered through episodes where the last contact made had been a Casino Night flashback in Gay Witch Hunt. Those were painful times, my friends.

In the dreaded Stamford office we watched as Jim attempted to fit in with Connecticut lifestyle. He rode his bike into work to emulate Josh (only to end up really gross and sweaty looking) and joined Andy in his Order Form Drinking Consolidations game. I have to admit that one of the funniest moments for me was Jim drunk!biking and subsequently falling into the nearby bushes. Obviously it made the perfect opportunity for Karen to drive up and offer to help out. Somehow-- magically, I guess-- she managed to fit Jim’s bike into the trunk. Now, I drive a similarly sized vehicle and in order for my bike to fit, I have to push down the backseats and take off the front wheel. I jealously watched Karen just seamlessly pop Jim’s bike into her truck and immediately wished that I could do the same. Mind you, I also wish that Jim was lying virtually comatose in my backseat, but wishes are wishes for a reason, right?

I obviously can’t go without mentioning the end sequence with Michael. The Diwali/ Hanukah song was awesome and I wonder if it was something created on the fly by Steve Carrell. In my dreams, Diwali parties everywhere would play that song to cap off their celebrations. As a whole, I like to think that the party was where Pam began to recognize that she could continue without Jim. That even though he hadn’t returned her message, and even though she thought that “something” would happen, everything was going to be okay. She could still have fun, she could still enjoy herself and she could still mock Michael in all his shoeless glory.

So, it is with that, that I wish you all a happy, happy Diwali.

An Introduction and Analysis of Karen

Greetings. I am the American to this Canadian's craziness. I just want to say, maybe as warning, that I am not the world best writer/blogger/storyteller. I am going to try my best to make sure that things make sense and that my grammar and punctuation are top notch. With that said, again Greetings. Welcome to the Canadian-American Office Alliance. This endeavor was dreamt up while the two of us where waiting in line for the Writer's Block at the Office Convention in Scranton. We, I guess I can speak for we, are fanatic fans of The Office. One being Canadian and the other American. I guess our mission statement is "To provide an analysis, insights, and ramblings of the television show The Office from both a prospective of a Canadian and an American". (OMG! I totally just wrote a mission statement for our blog!) FYI: I should also put it out there that I am a huge PB&J fan!! HUGE!

Now that the introduction is out of the way...On to the true meaning of this post:

As Christina as oh so lovingly posted in "Who's from Scranton?", my analysis will be over Karen. Why did she move to Scranton and would she have fit in? I should state that this analysis... er statement, comes from a question that the creator Greg Daniels asked: "What do you think of Scranton"? I took this question as more of who do you think would actually be from Scranton.

Karen. When she was first introduced, she was seen as just Jim's co-worker. She was supposed to be someone who would bide his time until Jim returned to Scranton and hopefully into the arms of dear Pam. However, Karen has a character flaw and it comes from the fact that the writers did a poor job when it came to understanding just who Karen was. Karen in the end was never was meant to stay. When it came time to shut down the Stamford branch, it was unclear who was going to stay with Dunder-Mifflin. It was eluded to that Karen just maybe has feelings for Jim and that maybe she would move hundreds of miles away for a man she had only meet 6 months earlier. By the time "The Merger" aired, Karen is settling in at the Scranton Days Inn mindless working at the Scranton branch. This becomes the start of a stretch for me. (I moved a thousand miles away for school, but not before I came to visit a few times.) It is unclear whether Karen had ever been to Scranton or even heard of it. Why would Karen move hundreds of miles away to Scranton without a reason. During this big move, Karen and Jim started dating. Now, is this because Jim really liked Karen or was it because this woman just moved to a new city and he felt that it was something he should try to help him cope with seeing Pam on a regular basis? I have to say personally I see it as the latter. Since the writers did properly give Karen a back story and a reason for wanting her to stay for me Karen is just as filler to Jim. (She is simply a plot device to help push Pam in the right direction...)

After visiting Scranton, I truly tried to imagine Karen (and the others) walking down Adams Ave. or any other Scranton street. Scranton is a beautiful town. However, even though the population is around 75,000 people, I felt that it would be a hard transition for Karen from Stamford life. Scranton has nothing. I mean the nearest Wal-Mart is well... I don't know since I could never find it. I find it hard to believe that she moved because it was in her best interest (i.e., a great and wonderful job). I believe that Karen moved to Scranton solely for Jim. Karen is a "New Yorker" (or a city girl) at heart. The fast cars, the freedom, the lights… I don't see Karen wondering around the streets of Scranton wanting to have a beer at Molly Brannigans or The Bog. It is too "small town" for our uptown girl. When Jim and Karen go for the interview in New York, Karen sees herself living in New York either working at Corporate or being with Jim. I do not think Karen ever saw herself staying in Scranton in the long term. She had only been in Scranton for a few months and she already wanted out. I often wonder what would have happened if Jim never went back to ask Pam out on their oh so important "It's a Date!" date. Would Karen and Jim survived much long after Pam's confession? I think if Karen were real (What you saying she isn't?!)... Karen would have left at some point. She would have found a way to get out Scranton (i.e., different branch, new job) and in the end, Jim won't leave... leave Karen just at the same place she is today.

However, I do need to say that I do have a new soft spot for Karen after visiting Scranton. She did take a risk that most people only dream of. She did not know what was going to happen when she moved to Scranton. She did try to make it work. I see now why she had those 5 nights of long talks with Jim. If it did not work out with Jim, her move would have been in vain. I believed that when she was falling in love with Jim, Jim was falling deeper in love with Pam. In the end, was it her naivety that was her downfall or was Jim's fault for leading her on when he still has feelings for Pam? As we all waited with baited breath for the return of Karen, I wondered just what happened to someone who had moved for all the wrong reasons. I guess in the end you become a little bitter, a little scorned and maybe just a little bit all right.

"Branch Wars"-- Canadian Perspective

This episode has been a hotly debated one. There are two schools of thought for this one: people who hate it and people who love it. Was the storyline of Jim/Dwight/Michael (or should I say Madge/Joe/Kent) heading to Utica too sitcomy? Is Pam really a bitch? Personally, I loved the episode... although I did see the first act in Scranton... I thought some of the scenes were just classically awesome and absolutely hilarious.

Finer Things Club: The Gayest Thing About Me

To start this week's analysis let's begin with the gayest thing about Oscar: the Finer Things Club (FTC). Pam, Toby and Oscar start up what is believed to be the gayest (and most exclusive) club to hit Dunder-Mifflin. Intended as a culture club, Pam et al share opinions on books and paintings and other "finer things" (like Jim Halpert? *cough* Just me?)

Side note: NBC.com is asking viewer to create their own finer things club and send in photos. I challenge people to start a Jim Halpert Appreciation Society (JHAS) and send those photos in (heh.)

Okay, back on track. How on earth Toby got caught in the melee, I'll never understand. I suspect he just wanted to be near Pam in his increasing attempts to break them up, but that is certainly not the issue in this episode. Posters across the internet are fuming at Pam's blatant exclusivity. Were the members of FTC rude in excluding the office-ites from their functions? Probably. Truth be told, I didn't really understand why Andy couldn't belong or why they were so indignant to Phyllis and Kevin who had every right to use the staff break room. That being said though, I loved the denial of Jim into the club. Obviously he would monopolize the conversation with inappropriate jokes; it's what makes Jim, Jim.

However in the end Pam managed to convince the FTC to allow him into the club. And his cute Irish accent in addition to Pam's babushka was a great way to end the episode. (I choose to completely ignore the fact that Jim abused his allowance into the club by not reading Angela's Ashes)

I loved the FTC, but I doubt we'll see its return in future episodes. I can see it moving locations to Oscar's place, but I think its occurrence was simply the product of "Branch Wars" only. That being said, is it just me or is there a fight brewing between Jim and Pam... when it will happen, I have no idea. But Jim's crestfallen looks are starting to get a little more common. Don't get me wrong, I don't think Jim and Pam will break up EVER (please! please! please!) but they are certainly headed toward a fight. Especially with Pam's lack of jealousy (good on ya, girl), increasing independence and artist drive.

P.S. Did anyone else think that Pam's analysis of Room with a View, where she said that the main character was forced to choose between passion and convention was a mirror of her own history and choosing between Jim (passion) or Roy (convention)?

Utica: Our Branch Sucks and We Need to do Something About It.

As the resident Canadian here, I need to take this opportunity to say: Where the heck is Utica? I realize it's in New York, but where exactly?

Michael, in an attempt to "save" Stanley, he tried to give up Toby. I just about died laughing when Michael realized that he couldn't do that to Karen. "Toby is the worst," he'd spat out. Believing that they were headed to corporate to save Staples (a part of the storyline I'm not 100% clear on)-- seeing Jim's face drop at the realization that he was going to see Karen sent my Jam heart a-beatin'. It was clear to me that Jim feared Pam's jealousy over going to Utica, seeing Karen and not having told her about it. He immediately dials his cell. Was he calling Karen (as Dwight believed) or Pam?


While I'm asking questions, why did Jim go along with Michael's scheme? Some have suggested that he wanted to protect Michael from getting into trouble, but I'm of the mindset that he was attracted to Michael's labelling of the "panty raid" as the "best prank ever." Jim was never wont to turn down a prank, much less the best prank ever.

Once caught, Karen's bitterness and Jim's foot-in-mouth disease were on full display. I thought JKras played a befuddled Jim with glorious hilarity. As Madge, Joe and Kent sat crammed on a couch as Principal Karen scolded them, I couldn't help but wonder if Michael's "Kent" shirt was a shout out to series executive producer Kent Zbornak. I also hadn't noticed the difference in Jim's "woman's" uniform until Karen pointed it out (love ya, Madge! Stay classy!)






As I said earlier, I loved the episode. Sure the mustaches were over the top, but it is Michael after all..... and we did save the middle aged Black man with sass, eh?

Who's from Scranton?

On our way home from the Office Convention 2007 (whoot!) Sandy and I got into a discussion about which character we felt was truly from the Scranton region. Who best seemed to represent the area that had been so kind and generous to us over the course of those 3 convention days?

So we looked at each character and decided who best fit into the Scranton area.

Pam & Roy: Yes. Based on their characterisation, I would say that these two are the epitome of the local high school sweethearts (well, obviously-- and thankfully-- not anymore) Roy would have likely played on the local football team. We could almost envision Pam bundled in her turtleneck and jeans watching from the bleachers.

Angela: Would she be frequenting the local Masonic Temple? Or the hundreds of Catholic Churches in the area? Hard to say. But entirely possible. Her hard-tacked Christian attitudes and an ability to dislike everyone and everything makes her less and less likely to be a local. (Wouldn't she find the numorous local bars tasteless? Or the mall sinfull?) While there, we ran into only the most awesome and friendly people-- surely Angela can't possibly be from Scranton! But maybe Angela is just a one-off. That being said, she could totally find those head-to-toe outfits at Boscov's.

Dwight: Oh, heck yah. In fact I'm pretty sure we saw a guy that would be the local "Dwight" doing security at McDonald's at 1am.

Michael: Sandy commented that he was the one guy who she thought didn't seem to be from Scranton. Why? Because she thought he would totally have friends there! And I think I agree. As much of a loser as he appears to be on the show... we're certain that someone in that town would be his BFF.

Jan: Ahh, Jan. Obviously a New Yorker. But her porche? Would stick out like a sore thumb among the American-made cars. Ditto her juicy-couture yoga outfit.

Phyllis: Her sweetness and fondness for Sue Grafton makes her a shoe-in for a valid local. We definitely could see her waiting in line at Steamtown for the mystery author's autograph.

Stanley & Darryl: We saw only 2 Black men at the Cocktails night. One was an Office writer (from Canada!) and the other was dressed as Darryl. Besides that though, we could see them fitting in in the hum-drum way of life that exists in Scranton. I could see Darryl playing on the same football team as Roy, mack'in on the cheerleaders.

Oscar: I think being an openly gay man in Scranton would not be easy. I could, in fact, see him moving away to NYC if he was outted to his office.

Kevin: Oh, yes. Absolutely, yes. We could definitely see him hanging around Poor Richard's after his bowling league finished playing having a few pints with the manager.

Creed: We didn't meet any crazy old men... but I'm sure they exist in every town. Besides wasn't Creed raised in China or something? (And I have my own theories about his connections to Canada)

Andy: Andy, Andy, Andy. Andy from Cornell. Andy who worked in the plush Stamford office with Josh. Since Andy always thinks one step ahead (like a carpenter who makes stairs), and likes to people mimic... fitting into Scranton should be easy! If it wasn't for Andy's desire to want to be liked and to fit in, I would have a hard time believing he could survive in Scranton. But... Andy, being Andy makes it all the more easier for him to fit in.

Kelly: At the Writer's Q&A, Mindy said she could see Kelly going crazy at Boscov's ... but I think she would want more. I could see her trying to move to NYC and then failing when she realized that the rent was dipping into her shopping budget. Scranton local? Nahh...

...which brings us to Jim.

We had the hardest time deciding if Jim would fit into Scranton. But he is friendly, funny and outgoing... all the qualities we saw in the locals we talked to (Frankie from Frank's Funeral Home, Holy Cross girl...) So we had to rank our imaginary boyfriend as a real and true Scrantonite.


(As you can tell I left out Karen. Heather has a fabulous analysis about Karen, so I'll let her write about that...)

Eh?!