Nayeli E. Rodriguez

With the writer’s strike still raging and new installments of “The Office” on hold, now’s the perfect time to reflect upon all the good times we’ve shared over the past four years with the faithful staff at Dunder-Mifflin. Rather than giving in to the urge to weep, just look on the bright side: Jim and Pam are finally together (which is all that really matters) and hopefully, a settlement will come soon.

1) Meredith’s Birthday (Season 1, Episode 4)

Amidst downsizing rumors, Dwight reaches out to nemesis Jim, and the two form an unlikely “alliance”—which ends when Jim tapes Dwight inside a box. Michael tries (and fails) to boost morale with an ill-timed birthday party and painfully inappropriate jokes about layoffs, old age, and Meredith’s hysterectomy.

Best Line: Angela, “I think green is kind of whorish.”



2) Christmas Party (Season 3, Episode 10)

The forces of good and evil (Pam and Karen) unite in opposition against an even greater evil (Angela). Michael’s political incorrectness achieves a new level of hilarity when he tags his Asian date with a marker in order to tell her apart from her equally Asian friend.

Best Line: Michael, “C’mon, we’re going to Asian Hooters.”



3) The Fiesta (Season 3, Episode 13)

Oscar is welcomed back to work after a three-month paid vacation he received after Michael unwittingly “outed” him. A Mexican-themed party given in Oscar’s honor becomes a homecoming for Dwight when Michael rescues him from the ultimate punishment: banishment to Staples.

Best Line: Jim, “I miss Dwight. Congratulations, universe, you win.”



4) Phyllis’s wedding shower (Season 3, Episode 14)

In the interests of equality, Michael invites both male and female strippers to Phyllis’s pre-wedding festivities. Unfortunately, the male stripper turns out to be a Benjamin Franklin impersonator, who later hits on Pam.

Best Line: Pam, “Ben Franklin, do you wear boxers, briefs, or pantaloons?”



5) Launch Party (Season Episode)

Dwight’s battle against Dunder-Mifflin’s newly-launched website reaches epic proportions. Then, Jim and Pam team up to ceonvince him that the website has come alive in a conspiracy to destroy him. When Michael receives a chatroom invitation in lieu of being invited to the website’s V.I.P. launch party in New York, he and Dwight embark on a mission to put temp-turned-corporate manager Ryan in his place.

Best Line: Andy, “They say you should never mix business with pleasure. So then explain to me how a putt-putt golf company operates.”

—Nayeli E. Rodriguez is a sophomore in Currier House and the incoming Features editor. She aspires to a career as a drunk dialer.