Happy Holidays From Everyone at ScrantonBranchOffice!

We'll Be Back in 2009!

New Kate MySpace Blog!

Check out Kate Flannery's comedy duo, The Lampshades, at the San Francisco Sketch Fest!

Kate's new MySpace blog gives all the details, and some new dates to see her in an Improv show with Oscar Nunez!

Thanks, Katie, for the info!

Amy Again

Amy Ryan, our very own Holly, makes another Best Of List. This time, it is for The Best TV Casting Decisions of 2008 from Television Without Pity.

Who else made the list? Who is on the WORST Casting List? To find out, go here...

Happy Holidays From Bob Vance!!

Our friend, Bobby Ray Shafer (Bob Vance - Vance Refrigeration), sent in this link for a Christmas gift to the fans! Enjoy!

"Leslie Baker (Stanley Hudson) gives Bobby Ray Shafer (Bob Vance, Vance Refrigeration) a tour of the The Office Cast & Crew Christmas Tree, 2008."

Overtime Work

Are Rainn Wilson and Jenna Fischer moonlighting? Seems so.

The pair have their little fingers in a number of projects outside the Office. Rainn is workning on "Hump Tulips" with Zack Braff's brother Adam, and Jenna is Executive Producer on an as-yet-untitled hour-long private eye dramedy.

Jeeze, guys! Take a break why don't ya?

To read the Variety article, go here...

Jenna has the Perfect Gift for You!

Still searching for the perfect holiday gift?

Jenna Fischer has compiled her "Favorite Things List 2008" to give you some suggestions! See it on her MySpace blog here...

As always, thanks to Katie for the info!

SAG Award Nominations

The nominees for the Screen Actors Guild Awards are up, and The Office garnered two:


Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
a. 30 ROCK (NBC)
b. DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC)
c. ENTOURAGE (HBO)
d. THE OFFICE (NBC)
e. WEEDS (Showtime)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
a. ALEC BALDWIN - Jack Donaghy 30 ROCK (NBC)
b. STEVE CARELL - Michael Scott THE OFFICE (NBC)
c. DAVID DUCHOVNY - Hank Moody CALIFORNICATION (Showtime)
d. JEREMY PIVEN - Ari Gold ENTOURAGE (HBO)
e. TONY SHALHOUB - Adrian Monk MONK ( USA )

To read the entire television nomination list, visit our SAG Post over at TheTwoCents!

Amy is on Top

USA Today's Pop Candy's top 100 people of 2008 has claimed another Dunder Mifflin Employee.

Amy Ryan breaks the top 25!

To see the list as it unfolds, go here...

Happy Holidays From Madge!

(Thanks to Karly Rothenberg for sending this in to the fans!)

Meredith's Blog

Sex and the Electric City has been updated!
Well, Christmas is here again. Not my favorite holiday, but it has its good side: the church 'round the corner drops off food at my door, I like singin’ my dirty rendition of Santa Baby, and I get paid time off.

Read all of her thoughts on Christmas over here at NBC.com!

First Jack Black, Now This!

It's official: Jessica Alba will join Jack Black as a guest star on the Super Bowl episode of The Office. For proof, go here...

In one plot of the special post Super Bowl episode of The Office,... (click HERE if you want to know).

The special hour-long episode titled "Stress Relief" will premiere immediately following "Super Bowl XLIII," Sunday, February 1 (10:30-11:30 p.m. ET; simultaneously to all time zones) on NBC. Season five of the Emmy-Award winning series will continue airing in its regular time slot; Thursdays (9-9:30 p.m. ET/PT) on NBC.

Ed Helms is Officially Cool

USA Today's Pop Candy's top 100 people of 2008 includes everyone's favorite Cornell alum.

20 names will be revealed each day this week... what other Office employees will make the cut? Last year's list included the likes of Jenna Fischer, Aniz Ansari, and one-time Office director Joss Whedon.

To see the list as it unfolds, go here...

Cool Guy Paul Pays it Forward

Cool Guy Paul has a MySpace page.... so go friend him right now!

And also, he has posted a new MySpace blog all about paying things forward and a very charity and a very special dog named Dunder. To read the entire story, go here...

Way to go, Cool Guy Paul!

17 Best Pranks

Entertainment Weekly loves their gallery lists. The latest incarnation? A gallery list of the top 17 Jim pranks. Why 17? Who knows.

To see the entire gallery, go here...

09 to Watch in 09

Aziz Ansari, who will star alongside Amy Poehler in The Office non-spinoff, has been named to Entertain Weekly's list of nine starts to watch in 2009.

To see the entire list, go here...

Happy Holidays From Staple's Own Paris!

(Thanks to Yvette-Nicole Brown for sending this in for the fans!)

Jenna and the SPCA-LA

We knew Pam was artsy, but Jenna Fischer has some things in common with her character! Jenna has dedicated her time and creative talents to helping out the SPCA-LA - the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles.

A few celebrities, including Jenna, have painted pet dishes and donated them for auction to support this great cause. Place a bid for the signed Jenna Fischer original here...

To read the rest of Jenna's MySpace blog about the whole thing, go here

And to read another article about the fundraiser itself, go here...

Thanks, Katie, for the info!

[photo: eBay.com]

Happy Holidays From Cool Guy Paul

(Thanks to Paul Faust for sending this in for the fans!)

AFI Honors The Office

The American Film Institute has named the 10 Outstanding Television Programs of 2008, and The Office has made the list!

The AFI Awards selections were made by a 13-person jury composed of scholars, industry professionals, critics and AFI trustees.

For a complete list of the honorees, and a list of the 10 Outstanding Films of 2008, go here...

Jack Black To Guest Star

Jack Black is going to be on The Office! He will guest star on the hour-long post-Superbowl episode on February 1st.

NBC's Official Release: "Multitalented actor Jack Black ("Kung Fu Panda," "Tropic Thunder,") is set to guest-star in the upcoming post Super Bowl episode of "The Office." The announcement was made by Angela Bromstad, President, Primetime Entertainment, NBC and Universal Media Studios.

In one plot of the special post Super Bowl episode of "The Office,"... (click HERE if you want to know).

The special hour-long episode titled "Stress Relief" will premiere immediately following "Super Bowl XLIII," Sunday, February 1 (10:30-11:30 p.m. ET; simultaneously to all time zones) on NBC. Season five of the Emmy-Award winning series will continue airing in its regular time slot; Thursdays (9-9:30 p.m. ET/PT) on NBC."

More details of his role on the show are hush-hush at this point, so we don't know what he'll be doing. Feel free to speculate in the comments!

First reported on EW.com HERE.

[photo: EW.com]

Moroccan Christmas - Deleted Scene #2

Happy Holidays From W.B. Jones

(Thanks to Barry Sigismondi for this message to the fans!)

Princess Unicorn Shirts!

Her horn can pierce the sky!

Get your Princess Unicorn doll shirt today before they're all gone! You'll be a hit with your little girl if she unwraps a Princess Unicorn t-shirt on Christmas day. Maybe then she'll forget about that dang pony she asks for every single year.

Get yours HERE!

Happy Holidays from Scranton Area Chili's Manager

(Thanks to Christopher T. Wood for sending this in to SBO!)

Season 5 - Episode 10 - Moroccan Christmas

It's time for the annual "The Office" Christmas Episode!

Original Air Date: Dec 11, 2008
Writer: Justin Spitzer
Director: Paul Feig

A CHRISTMAS PARTY IN MOROCCO -- Phyllis' (Phyllis Smith) Moroccan-themed holiday party goes up in flames when Meredith's (Kate Flannery) hair catches on fire and Michael (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) is forced to deal with the accident. Meanwhile, Dwight (Rainn Wilson) corners the market on the hottest toy of the Christmas season.

Moroccan Christmas News Items:
Preview Video, Princess Unicorn, Two-Minute Replay, Jim's Blackbelt Video, NBC Photo Album, Watch Entire Episode Online

Deleted Scenes: 1, 2

SBO Exclusives: TwoCents Recap & Review, Fan-Site Conference Room

Exclusive Office Christmas Cards From: WB Jones (Barry Sigismondi), Chili's Manager (Christopher T Wood)

The Office Conference Room – "Moroccan Christmas"

Welcome back to The Office Conference Room, a forum for some of your favorite Office Fan Sites to submit their TwoCents in the days immediately following a new Office episode.

In addition, YOU, the fans, can join in on the fun! ScrantonBranchOffice has a discussion going about the most recent episode, Moroccan Christmas, where you can give your very own TwoCents about the episode! To visit that forum, click HERE.

On to the Conference Room... and "have yourself a merry little Moroccan Christmas!"

[Last Updated: 12/12/08 at 3:00 PM]

TheTwoCents.com: Rachel
Favorite Moment: Dwight's wrapped desk in the cold open and Michael throwing a pen at Toby's head.
Favorite Quote: "Really Andy? It Christmas and your singing about nudity and France?" -Angela
Overall Episode Grade: B

Nette's Layouts: Nette
Favorite Moment: My favorite moment has to be when Michael was dragging Meredith in to the hospital! lol
Favorite Quote: "In the Schrute family we believe in a five-fingered intervention. Awareness. Education. Control. Acceptance. And punching." -Dwight
Overall Episode Grade: A

MTT: Jenny
Favorite Moment: Jim's prank on Dwight. I so miss seeing Jim's great pranks!
Favorite Quote: "I caught Angela having sex with Dwight." -Phyllis
Overall Episode Grade: B+

Fancy New Beesly: Laura Ann
Favorite Moment: Meredith's hair catching fire & Dwight blowing it out with the fire extinguisher.
Favorite Quote: "Are you taking requests? Please stop." -Jim
Overall Episode Grade: C-

Melorafan.com: Erin
Favorite Moment: The cold open (Dwight's "desk" is wrapped)
Favorite Quote: "In the Schrute family, we believe in a five fingered intervention. Awareness, education, control, acceptance, and punching."
Overall Episode Grade: A-

Webisodes - The Outburts - Behind The Scenes Photo Album

NBC has posted some fun behind the scenes photos from the most recent sent of webisodes. Click HERE to go check them all out.

Moroccan Christmas - Watch Online Here

Moroccan Christmas - Photo Album

NBC has posted a bunch of fun photos from last night's episode. Click HERE to see it.

Moroccan Christmas - Deleted Scene #1

Moroccan Christmas Video Highlight - Jim Has a Blackbelt in Wrapping

Moroccan Christmas - Two-Minute Replay

Moroccan Christmas - Recap & Review

The Office
"Moroccan Christmas"

Original Air Date: 11 Dec 2008

Shannon - Two Cents Staff Writer
shannon@thetwocentscorp.com

This year’s Christmas party is a bust, of course. Phyllis oversteps her boundaries with Angela, Meredith gets drunk and sets her hair on fire, and Dwight corners the market on this year’s hottest toy. Just another Christmas at the office!

Continue Reading...

Princess Unicorn!

They have a site for Serenity By Jan why not for Princess Unicorn?

Click HERE to learn everything you wanted to know about Princess Unicorn - and probably a lot more than you wanted to.

It also gives you the tools to YOUnicorn yourself!

Special Broadway Prices for Melora Fans!

Want to be in the audience for Melora Hardin's "Talkback Tuesday" performance of Chicago on January 6th? Well, have we got some ticket deals for you!

For ticket discounts only available to fans of Melora, visit BroadwayOffers.com and enter the code: CHWNT94

To lean more about "Talkback Tuesday," visit our post here...

See you on the Great White Way!

Thank you Erin (Melorafan.com), for the info!

New Kate MySpace Blog!

Kate Flannery is very excited about the recently announced Golden Globe nominations for the Office!

Her new MySpace blog also says that she needs your help! She needs fan comments on her TVguide blog to be able to keep writing it! So go and comment! Now!

Read the full MySpace blog from Scranton's resident redhead here...

Thanks for the info Katie!

Webisodes - The Outburst - Episode #4

Golden Globe Nominations

It's award season folks. As announced by Rainn Wilson and a few other celebs, the 66th annual Golden Globe award nominations include some Office love.

Nominees for best comedy series are "30 Rock," "Californication," "Entourage," "The Office" and "Weeds."

Nominees for best performance by an actor in a television series - comedy or musical are Alec Baldwin (30 Rock), Steve Carell (The Office), Kevin Connolly (Entourage), David Duchovny (Californication), and Tony Shalhoub (Monk).

Office alum getting some GG Love: The nominees for best supporting actress are Amy Adams ("Doubt"), Penelope Cruz ("Vicky Christina Barcelona"), Viola Davis ("Doubt"), Marisa Tomei ("The Wrestler") and Kate Winslet ("The Reader").

Question for Rainn, Anyone?

Got a question for Rainn Wilson?

Well, Extra will be sitting down with him (along with Brooke Shields, Terrence Howard, and Elizabeth Banks) after they announce the 2009 Golden Globe nominations tomorrow morning...

...and they will be taking YOUR questions!

For more information and to submit your question, go here...

[photo: extratv.warnerbros.com]

The Surplus - Deleted Scene #3

The lovely Angela Kinsey has posted a new blog on her MySpace page with some fun, behind-the-scenes happenings!

Check out her random list of tidbits from on-set here...

Thanks for the info, Katie! You're the best!

Another Post, Another Nomination...

The Producers Guild of America announced its 2009 nominees, including the Office for Best Comedy Series

The PGA awards will be presented Jan. 24 at the Hollywood Palladium. For more information, visit the Variety press release here...

Ed Helms, Zombie

Seriously, Ed Helms IS everywhere!

Meet Glen, one of the walking dead living among us. But really, he's just a regular guy trying to fit in... cut him some slack, OK?

Zombie-American Chapter One by Ed Helms

Be sure to check out Chapters 2 and 3 and funnyordie.com!

Talkback Tuesdays - Send in your Questions!

"The Broadway company of CHICAGO is pleased to announce details for the January installment of 'Talkback Tuesdays,' the new monthly series offering a post-show discussion and audience Q&A session with members of the cast."

Melora Hardin will be in the hot seat on January 6th. For more information, visit broadwayworld.com or go here...

But the really good news? Erin over at Melorafan.com will be in the audience that night and wants YOUR questions! Here's what she has to say:

"If you have a question about Melora that revolves around the show, send that baby in. Send it to erin@melorafan.com. I will pick one question. Just one. And ask it as a member of the audience (If they pick me. But....I have a feeling they will definitely pick me. Just a hunch). Include your name and where you are located, too. So I can say it with the question."

Thank you Erin!

Hearty Bowl Contest

"There she is. Jan Levenson. First thing in the morning. Love to start my morning with a hearty bowl of Jan."

From the lovely people over at Melorafan.com comes the Hearty Bowl Contest. Create a Jan-centric item, take a picture of it, and email it on to heartybowl@melorafan.com. Plain and simple.

For the complete rules and a look at the prizes, go here...

Thanks, Erin, for the heads up!

[photo: Variety.com]

WGA Nominations

Congratulations Office Writers! The Office has received a Writers Guild of America (WGA) nomination for Best Comedy Series.

Winners will be honored at the 2009 Writers Guild Awards on February 7th in both New York and Los Angeles.

For more information go here...

Ed is Everywhere.

Is Ed Helms in EVERY web-based program? We think so. Exhibit A: Children's Hospital, a web series that "follows the lives, loves, and laughs of a hospital staff."

A very dysfunctions hospital staff, we might add.

To watch Ed in this creepy, creepy show, visit the Children's Hospital.

Kate does "Something"

To show her support for the Protect Seals Campaign, Kate Flannery (and several other stars including the New Kids on the Block) teamed up with the Humane Society of the United States to create the following video.

For more information, visit www.DoSomething.org.

Get you morning cup of Rainn

Rainn Wilson (along with Brooke Shields, Elizabeth Banks, and Terrence Howard) will be up bright and early tomorrow to announce the nominations for the 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards live from the Beverly Hilton.

To get your Rainn fix, and for more information, visit www.goldenglobes.org.

"The Office" Getting Some Ratings!

In adults 18-34, "The Office" ranked #3 among all primetime programs this week, behind only "Grey's Anatomy" and "Desperate Housewives." Season-to-date, "The Office" is the #2 primetime program in adults 18-34, behind only "Grey's Anatomy." Also ranking among the top 20 programs for the week of December 1-7 in adults 18-34 were "NBC Sunday Night Football" (#6), "30 Rock" (#9), "Heroes" (#11) and "The Biggest Loser" and "Law & Order; SVU" (#19, tied). (Note: weekly program rankings exclude football overruns, post-game and pre-game telecasts).

On Thursday, "The Office" ranked #1 in its tough time period in key male demographics and #2 in adults 18-34 and other measures. In adults 18-49, "The Office" pulled within one tenth of a rating point of "CSI" in the race for #2 and finished within two shares of slot leader "Grey's Anatomy."

Moroccan Christmas Preview

The Surplus - Deleted Scene #2

Melora Gift Ideas!

Don't know what to get your local fan of Melora Hardin? Well, the lovely people over at Melorafan.com have come up with a great list of all things Melora... from tickets to see her in the Broadway production of Chicago to candles from Serenity by Jan.

To see the complete list, go here...

A special thanks to Erin, proprietor of Melorafan.com, for the heads-up!

[photo courtesy of Melorafan.com]

The Surplus - Deleted Scene #1

Season 5 - Episode 9 - The Surplus

On December 4, 2008 we will see what the staff of Dunder Mifflin Scranton will do with The Surplus.

Original Air Date: 12/4/08
Writer: Gene Stupinsky & Lee Eisenberg
Director: Paul Feig

SURPLUS SPENDING AT THE OFFICE--Oscar (Oscar Nunez) informs Michael (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) that the office must spend a $4300 surplus or lose it in next year's budget. When Michael opens up the floor for suggestions, factions break out and officemates square off against one another in order to get what they want. Meanwhile, Dwight (Rainn Wilson) takes Angela (Angela Kinsey) and Andy (Ed Helms) to Schrute Farms to work on their wedding plans.

Get the discussion going HERE.

"The Surplus" News Items:
Andy's Video Tour of Schrute Farms, The Surplus Photo Album, Two-Minute Replay, Watch Online, Video Highlight

SBO Exclusives: SBO Recap & Review, Fan-site Conference Room

Deleted Scenes: 1, 2, 3

"Prop 8 - The Musical"

See what Dunderheads you can spot in this star-studded musical protest of Prop 8!

See more videos at Funny or Die

The Office Conference Room – "The Surplus"

Welcome back to The Office Conference Room, a forum for some of your favorite Office Fan Sites to submit their TwoCents in the days immediately following a new Office episode.

In addition, YOU, the fans, can join in on the fun! Right here on ScrantonBranchOffice, we have a discussion going about the most recent episode, The Surplus, where you can give your very own TwoCents about the episode! To visit that forum, click HERE.

On to the Conference Room... in episode nine of Season 5, will Michael keep The Surplus?

[Last Updated: 12/07/08 at 10:59 AM]

TheTwoCents.com: Rachel
Favorite Quote: "You are the silent killer. Go back to the annex" -Michael to Toby
Favorite Moment: Ah, there were so many... this was a tight episode! How about Andy stepping in the random pile of dung inside the house? Or Michael almost dropping the F bomb? Or vindictive Pam? Like I said, too many to choose.
Overall Episode Grade: A+

Flonkerton: Lauren
Favorite Quote: Pam (to Michael): "There's that ass! [Michael shakes his booty] Aw, don't take it away!"
Favorite Moment: Andy stepping in a cowpie . . . INSIDE the house.
Overall Episode Grade: A

Nettes Layouts: Nette
Favorite Quote: "Well, I swallowed all your ideas. I'm going to digest them and see what comes out the other end." -Michael Scott
Favorite Moment: My favorite moment was when Dwight and Angela were getting "married".
Overall Episode Grade: B

Fancy New Beesly: Laura Ann
Favorite Quote: "You are the silent killer."-Michael
Favorite Moment: When Pam got really close to Jim's face telling him that he was treading on dangerous ground.
Overall Episode Grade: C

Life in the Office: Donna
Favorite Quote: "Manure covers up the smell of the slaughterhouse." -Dwight
Favorite Moment: The Dwight/Angela wedding fiasco
Overall Episode Grade: A-

The Surplus Video Highlight - Chair Vs Copier

Watch "The Surplus" Online Here

The Surplus - Two-Minute Replay

Sex and the Electric City!

That's right folks, Meredith has a brand new post!

Men are like fine bottles of PBR, you can still enjoy 'em when they age, but after a while they start to smell and taste a little skunky.

Be sure to read the new entry over at NBC.com!

Schrute Space!

Dwight has a brand new blog post!

I have the rare ability to detect spies using a finely honed sense of paranoia. This gift never fails me, as demonstrated a couple weeks ago when Mose and I came across some spy equipment.

Check it out here, at NBC.com!

The Surplus - Recap & Review

The Office
"The Surplus"

Original Air Date: 4 Dec 2008

Shannon - Two Cents Staff Writer
shannon@thetwocentscorp.com


Oscar tells Michael there’s a $4300 surplus in the office budget that has to be used before the end of the year or they’ll lose it. Michael needs him to break it down into lemonade stand terms, of course. Oscar suggests that they use the money to buy a new copier for the office, but when Michael suggests that to the rest of the crew, Pam says she wants new chairs. Jim and Pam have their first public fight when Jim votes for the copier. Pam passively aggressively threatens Jim to reconsider changing his vote from new copier to new chairs. Looks like a little hubba-hubba to me, wink, wink, nudge, nudge.

Continue Reading...

[photo: NBC.com]

"The Surplus" Photo Album

NBC has put up a photo album from "The Surplus" episode. Enjoy it by clicking HERE.