The Finer Things, Indeed
It just keeps getting better. Last night's episode of The Office was Joss Whedon's second directorial foray on The Office, and it was almost as funny as his previous one (though topping Michael's awkward speech at Ryan's business school and Dwight chasing a bat through the office would be a feat unto itself). Stanley says he's going to take a job at the Utica branch, and Michael and Dwight carry out a cockamamie scheme to sabatoge the Utica branch to show them just how supercool they are. Karen returned as the regional manager of that branch, and by the end of the episode it was clear that the main criterion for becoming a regional manager is being slightly unstable.

Meanwhile, back at the office, we find out that Pam, Toby, and Oscar are all participants in the VERY EXCLUSIVE Finer Things club, where they read books, discuss paintings, and eat cucumber sandwiches in an attempt to escape the drudgery of life at Dunder-Mifflin. Michael and Dwight kidnap Jim and pull him into their scheme to go to Utica, and we see Jim angrier than ever (seriously, he was so angry I thought someone had done something to Krasinski to make him act like that). He's so ticked that Michael and Dwight have pulled him into their stupid prank, and clearly thinks he's above them, yet by the very end, when Pam allows him to join her club, we see that he's actually just a rung or two above them, and in the end is a bit of a doofus himself. (But a less terrorist-looking one.)

Fave moments:
Stanley's deadpan questioning of Michael's stupid Ferris Bueller dummy: "I don't understand why sleeping at your desk is better than you not being here."

Michael: "You cannot take the hilarious black guy from the office!"

Stanley saying "Money" over and over while Michael tries to talk to him.

Oscar: "Besides having sex with men, I would say the Finer Things club is the gayest thing about me." (I loved how soon they flash to Toby after he makes this comment... Toby is clearly only in the club because Pam is.)

Michael trying to get Karen to take Toby, and then acting like there's something disgusting in his mouth and blurting out: "I can't do it. Toby is the worst... that was a bluff."

Michael asking Karen to put her through to her best salesperson. Ha!

Michael's awkward discussion with Ben Nugent, the top salesman in Utica. "Aren't you the guy that hit the woman with the car?... Didn't everyone from Stamford quit immediately??"
Michael: "No, I fired them, and you're next." [pause] "So what do you say?"
Ben: "Seriously?!"

Toby standing in the doorway with his china mugs and bowtie, and Michael's response: "Oh... my... god. That's why people are leaving. I have no words."

"Utica! Utica! Utica!"

Jim's serious anger when they throw his cell out the window. Krasinski is really believable in this scene; I thought he was going to quit the show at one point. (I do love that they go back for his phone when he says it has pics of his brother's kid on it.)

The look on Jim's face when they have materials to build a bomb in the back of their car. "Are you kidding me? We've been driving around with this in the trunk the entire time?"

The mustaches.

The name tag on Jim's outfit that says "Madge."

The freakout in the car when they catch Dwight peeing in a can. "OH MY GOD!" Michael veering the car.
Jim: "Michael! Watch the road!"
Dwight: "Hey! You're making me spray!"
Michael: "How could you? That's disgusting, man!"
Dwight: "Ah! I think I cut my penis on the lid!"

Andy trying to get into the Finer Things club.
Andy: "The Finer Things club is the most exclusive club in this office. Naturally it's where I need to be. The party planning committee is my backup, and Kevin's band is my safety."

The fact that Dwight, Michael, and Jim sitting in the car in grey outfits with thick mustaches makes them look like a bunch of terrorists.

Dwight insisting he needs to put the chalk in the guy's eyes, and Jim saying "Nothing in the eyes!"

Jim putting his seat all the way back in the car.

Andy referring to Stanley as his Uncle Remus.

Dwight updating Jim way too much on the walkie. "We are climbing some stairs. I am breathing heavily."

Dwight: "I can see the security guard's eyes. I have to do something to his eyes!!"

"The eyes are the groin of the head."

The look on Jim's face as they dump the photocopier down the stairwell.

Jim trying to hide when Karen returns, and Michael urging him to make love to her. "Just climb on top of her and think about Stanley." HAHAHA!!!

Dwight keeping his mustache on after Michael and Jim take theirs off while Karen is interrogating them.

Michael and Dwight threatening to "burn Utica to the ground."

Michael giving Stanley the plastic USPS box that's not his property. "Fly away, sweet little bird. Fly away."

Michael's want ad: "Wanted. Middle aged black man with sass. Big butt. Bigger heart." HA!

Stanley: "How on earth did Michael call my bluff? Is he some kind of crazy genius?" Starts laughing. "I'm sorry, sometimes I say crazy things."

The outfits everyone is wearing during the Angela's Ashes discussion.

Jim: "I really liked it. It was a fun read."
Toby: "Fun? Really? What was fun about it, the death of the twins?"
Jim: "No... that wasn't fun."
Oscar: "Who's the main character?"
Jim: "Angela. Nope. The ashes."