I saw Michael wielding his power in smaller, more petulant ways in the office such as demanding mint chocolate chip ice cream, getting 8 feet of bologna ketchup and tomato sub because he likes it, pouting when Kevin is going through his skin cancer scare because it is on his birthday, and calling off the sales contest…

That is quite the trifecta, @avclub-d542a3419c3ad57206a96bcc86155ebc:disqus .  I definitely agree a C+ is way too low for basketball, it is one of my favorite episodes.  There is so much good stuff in it; the physical comedy of Stanley and Michael failing miserably at basketball, Jim and Roy clashing on the court,…

I vouched for you, in front of Todd Packer!

"Still…"

I thought in seasons 5-8 Dwight wasn't the only character to suffer.  Several characters became much less likable and either caricatures or just plain unpleasant and much less sympathetic as people.  Ryan, Kelly, Dwight, and Kevin suffered the most, in my opinion.  Kevin became a ridiculous cartoon-like buffoon, much…

Absolutely, though pretty much anything Roger Sterling says is gold.  I'm especially partial to when he chastises Pete. 

@avclub-ca8e4b363f85fdb30c00a0ad943cf6f4:disqus Not to mention Esther, quite a leap from having Toby explain female anatomy to reeling in women. 

All of the shenanigans with Dwight in this episode make me laugh even harder at the episode when Dwight goes to Toby and asks about the vagina.  Toby talking to the camera "I'm just sad that the public school system failed him so badly…"  This Dwight was much better than seasons 6-8 Dwight, when he became absolutely…

Fast forward to "Goodbye Michael" when Pam asks what kind of ice cream he wants and assumes mint chocolate chip, then Michael surprises her by telling her to get something everyone will enjoy like vanilla. 

Yeah his face was noticeably pudgier too, but what got me was his hair.  I don't know if Steve's hair was thin like that in real life or if they made it look that way for the show, but it always amused me how all of the sudden his hair was thicker and he got in shape.

Michael ignoring Dwight banging on the glass and walking into his office in disgust, then Jim tossing the ice cream sandwich into the workspace window was also hilarious, I really liked this episode and thought it was the beginning of the show really finding its footing.  

Tubby and balding Michael Scott still looks ridiculous in these early episodes, it is funny to see how quickly his appearance changed from those first few episodes.

Indeed it does

"Careful J.R."  I love Bill's enthusiasm for Dallas, a show I also watched as a youth, though younger than when Bill was watching it.  He not only ignores a party around him and sits glued to the t.v. watching it, but also SPOILER eventually bonds with Biff/Fredricks over it.  Bill is probably my favorite character on…

Come on @avclub-9221f4b3f08ab07627e6bfca66e1bd67:disqus , you're better than that!  Hop to it, the show gets better as it goes along, in my opinion. 

Harris, the sage nerd, is my favorite ancillary character on this show.  I love his interaction with Daniel on the finale, asking in a genuinely curious manner, whether Daniel was going to beat him up and then telling Daniel he should play D&D with them.  Harris has an incredible amount of self confidence for a geek,…

As a character she was quite interesting and well written, but every time she was in a scene I just radiated loathing for her.  I therefore saw the value of her character, so I probably shouldn't have said worst character and should have instead said most hated or something along those lines. 

I agree, I think it is really good in some places but I have no desire to ever watch it again.  It is definitely darker, and Dawn is no match for Pam so maybe that is why I don't wish to revisit it.  Ricky Gervais makes the show for me, he is terrific in that role. 

Me love you long tim

@avclub-61938d93498e7f0ed5e6527b1cee656a:disqus I forget it, brother!