Ebert Did It Better: Gasbag Reviews

• The Writer – Daniel Chun
• Director – Greg Daniels
• A brief synopsis – The branch is in an uproar when Dunder Mifflin declares bankruptcy.  Michael provides a necessary distraction.  Andy picks this confusing time to ask Erin out.
• The best line –
  Andy:
  Just thinking about Weekend at Bernie’s. It’s funny, the guy’s dead the whole time.
  Erin: I haven’t seen it.
  Andy: Speaking of weekends, you excited about our date this weekend?
  Erin: [accent] Of course, Nathaniel.
  Andy: Yeah, OK.
  Erin: [accent] Where are you taking me?
  Andy: [accent] Well, finest steakhouse in all Savannah.
  Erin: [accent] Savannah? That’s a far way from Scranton.
  Andy: Did you mean a real date?
  Erin: No. [laughs] Did you?
  Andy: Totally… not. [Erin gets up and walks away]
  Erin:
  I thought it was for real. So I was excited, but it was just, it was part of the game.
• The best moment – Michael shows there is a method to his refusal to live in reality, at least on this day.
• The best storyline – Andy and Erin.  Will they ever go out?
• Notable guest appearance – n/a
• Would Michael have been reprimanded? – Really no point in it, now, really?
• Grade – A

A great example of the power of this show.  Downsizing and poorly run companies are a fact of life.  The Office allows us to embrace it and ignore it at the same time.  Andy and Erin’s clumsy dance is beautiful.