The Office Recap 3/11, "St. Patrick's Day"

On ‘The Office’, Jim returns from paternity leave, and the office is decorated for St. Patty’s Day. Everyone is excited.

It’s Meredith’s favorite holiday (she loves to drink) and Kevin and Oscar dress up for the occasion as well. Michael shows his love for the holiday and says, “It’s the closest the Irish will ever come to Christmas.”

With Jim away, Dwight has turned their desks into a workstation called “mega desk” which Jim foils. But Dwight is determined to get it back; using “strategy” and making Jim feel like he’s missing out on his baby.

Kathy Bates is back as Sabre head Jo Bennet and she says it’s her last day in Scranton. Michael has found his way on her good side, which he is excited about.

Andy tells the camera that he and Erin are preparing for their first date later that night. Andy wants it to be perfect, only problem? Erin is sick, so Jo sends her home. Andy is worried, but he figures out a plan.

Later, Jo has a ‘town hall’ style meeting asking for suggestions, and when Darryl offers a great one about shipping printers, she offers him his own office upstairs. This shocks Michael to the delight of Darryl.

As the day wears on, Jo gets annoyed with Michael after he takes her offer to “come visit in Florida” too literally. He tries to get back on her good side, offering to take her for lunch, which for the time being doesn’t work.

Andy decides to fake sick, and in hopes of preventing an outbreak, she sends him home. Andy decides to see Erin, sick or not.

When the clock hits five and it’s time to go home, Jo convinces Michael he didn’t do much work today so maybe he should stay a bit late. In turn everyone stays late. This is to the dismay of Todd Packer, Michael’s salesman buddy, who is already at the bar celebrating the holiday.

Andy surprises Erin, who is in her “jimmies” and they have their date anyway. But Erin has a foster brother she lives with, and his presence makes things very awkward. As does the ‘touchy feely’ nature of the two foster siblings.

Dwight tries to get out of work early, but Jim foils his plan, and in turn he himself gets out early. Darryl’s warehouse buddies come to his office to “break him out”, but he likes it upstairs, so he stays for now.

Michael finally decides he can’t take it anymore, and asks Jo to let everyone go. After a short conversation Michael gets himself back on Jo’s good side and gets everyone out to the bar finally to celebrate.

As Andy leaves Erin’s he chickens out of kissing her due to her foster brother, but he gets very excited when Erin leaves him with a nice kiss on the cheek.

The episode ends with everyone out at the bar celebrating. Meredith, Michael and everyone are dancing having a great time, finally clocking out of Dunder Mifflin at around 9 o’clock.

The next episode, “New Leads”, will air on March 18, 2010. When the sales staff let’s Sabre’s new “sales is king” policy get to their heads, Michael hides their new, prized leads.