Season 4 Episode 3: Launch Party Uber Summary

So here’s the Office Season 4 episode 3 lowdown:

The episode opens in the Conference Room, where Michael is brainstorming about improving quarterly reports (including adding a race car to it when it’s positive) while the rest of the office decides to watch the little dvd logo that acts as a screen saver bouncing around the screen. Jim elaborates by saying that they are all hoping to see it go right into the corner…Pam says she saw it once, when she was alone, riiight. Finally it happens! Standing O for the logo…although Michael is content to believe that it’s all for him.

Meredith comes back and she is really glad Jim visited her in the hospital…the fact that everyone else also went isn’t really important. She wants Jim to sign her cast…her cast is, umm, on her pelvis. He signs (for those who care, he clearly signs his real name, John Krasinski as evidenced by the dotting of the i’s). Meredith says she’s going to read it at home ;).

So today is the day of the great Dunder Mifflin Launch Party and Michael is headed to the great NYC for an all “VIP” party complete with sushi and important people. He also informs them that when the website goes up, it will inevitably become the #1 paper salesman in the company. This causes Dwight much ire. Not only has he lost his lady love (and apparently his razor) but also his pride in his salesman abilities. So, just like Dwight would, he decides to compete, not just for the title of #1 salesman, but to impress Angela. Andy decides to cheer him on, of course by exclaiming sales with a blow horn.

Not only is there a launch party in NYC, but each branch will be planning their own satellite party, which will be webcasted live. Angela has been planning for weeks and unfortunately, has become even more grumpy and anal thanks to the death of her cat and the break up of Dwangela. Phyllis, resourceful as ever, has decided to Google “dealing with difficult people” and has a bunch of ways to cope (unfortunately none are very effective, especially when Phyllis creates a banner for a Lunch Party)

Dwight is going head to head with the machine and, of course, Pam and Jim decide to have a little fun with him. They decide to convince Dwight that the computers have become self-aware and that the computer is now able to communicate with Dwight via instant messaging. The machine vows to take Dwight down. Kelly isn’t helping. She likes putting the little paper icon into the little shopping cart icon and has Darryl deliver some paper. Dwight is outraged, but smooth talker Darryl comes to Kelly’s rescue: “You still miss Ryan” “Not so much” “mm”…interesting.

Back to Michael. Jan does not want to go to a party for a company that let her go and leaves Michael dateless and searching for a new victim, umm, no, victim is accurate. Into the kitchen with Jim and Pam and Michael awkwardly asks them if they’re busy tonight…in their “secret language” Pam and Jim agree. But unfortunately, Michael neglected to mention that only one of them can go. After a gripping round of “Not it” (which ended in a tie and Pam’s declaration that the girlfriend gets the tie) Jim is going.

Michael calls shotgun (obviously he’s still burning from the last two weeks of car mishaps) and Jim and he are off to NYC, with a copy of Green Eggs and Ham for Ryan in tow (they were out of Oh The Places You Will Go). Halfway to the city, Michael declares that the party takes place at the exclusive “Chat Room” and that you require a password to get in. Jim clues in and verifies that it is in fact a web party (the address starts with www). They turn around after a dejected Michael lets Ryan know how he feels (like throwing up).

Back at the branch, Dwight has won!! Yet Angela is unimpressed. Pam, feeling sorry for the guy, messages him (as the computer of course) and lets him know that, yes, he is the superior being.

Andy has now decided to narrow in on Angela, apparently her attitude change has aroused him and he like-y. He’s going for it…

Michael returns (much to the confusion of his workers) and lets the branch know that their satellite party is going to be off the hook…and no it’s not going to be that party that Angela’s been planning for 3 weeks, “this is going to be good”. He demands, among other things, an ice sculpture and a famous person. He wants to blow away the New Yorkers…with the presence of Al Roker apparently (nice little nod to the fact that the Roker will be broadcasting live from the Office Convention in Scranton next week).

Angela is in a crisis…the party she’s been planning is scrapped. Andy to the rescue…hey Angela, you looking for date? Rebuffed, Andy will try again later.

Phyllis and the 20 Post-It Notes Angela has sent her enter the conference room Phyllis has had enough. She crumples those suckers up and throws them in Angela’s face (“That shut her up”).

Michael has ordered Alfredo’s pizza for the party…wait…Pizza by Alfredo or pizza from Alfredo’s Pizza Café? Nooo it’s Pizza by Alfredo, which Kevin describes as eating a hot circle of garbage…yum!

Well the pizza boy has come, yet he will not honour Michael’s coupon (the 50% off only applies to purchases of 2 pizzas). Well, Michael is not paying…the solution: lock the kid in the conference room until he accepts the half payment (and half tip). Michael then proceeds to call in a ransom to Alfredo’s, not only does he want half off, he wants a few free pizzas, it’s a no go. Obviously Alfredo’s does not negotiate with terrorists.

Resigned to the fact that Michael has now committed a felony the party goes on, thanks in part to the ice sculpture Andy managed to get, umm, steal (he must really want to get into Angela’s pants). Pam and Jim in the meantime escape to the rooftop to reminisce about when they first fell for each other (Pam led Jim to his desk on the first day and told him to remember this moment as the last moment before he met Dwight, Jim told Pam that her mixed berries yogurt had expired).

The party is in full swing and it’s time for Michael to introduce himself to the other branches through a webcast. He tells Ryan that Dwight beat the website in sales and that Ryan is an a-hole. Kelly then proceeds to smush some pizza onto Ryan’s webcast face.

After much debate and pleading by the rest of the workers, Michael decides to pay off the pizza boy, well he makes Dwight pay him off.

Andy decides that the way to win over Angela is to serenade her with some Abba…Take a Chance on Me…with some phone in back-up…What do you say Angela…Umm I need to go clean up…but she did have a little smile…and Dwight is even more depressed now.

Michael has been hurt by Ryan and the only thing that will cure it is the fulfillment of his desire for some New York style sushi…in New York…at the party he wasn’t really invited to of course. Dwight comes along and gets thrown out along with Michael. Sitting on the hood of their car, Michael is recognized by a Dunder Mifflinite who did get to attend the party. He loves Michael and is kind of glad Ryan’s plan went off with a few hitches…more mockery of Ryan ensues.

And the perfect ending: douche-y Ryan winking at the webcam. (Okay so that was partly opinion but he is a douche)

Phew..the end