The Office Recap 2/4, "Sabre"

Check out the full recap with some added video over at the blog, Have U Heard.

"Sabre" is the fifteenth episode of “The Office” this season, and also the first ‘real’ episode of 2010 after “The Banker” clip show from two weeks ago. It was written by Jennifer Celotta, who previously written "The Promotion," "Company Picnic," and "The Duel" and was directed by John Krasinski who made his television directorial debut with the episode.

The cold open showed Michael and the office receive a gift from their new owner. A shiny new printer, fax machine and scanner, which he hands out to everyone. He also pronounces the new company that own Dunder Mifflin as Sab-re (Sab-Ray) and not Sabre. He begins to have fun with the new scanner until someone realizes the box “is for someone named Gabe.”

Quickly they manage to try to put everything back how it was, eventually taping the cardboard box back together. They finally finish, and then all of a sudden a phone rings from inside the box. As Michael tries to cut it open again, we come to the opening credits.

The new dude, Gabe, is a “Coordinating Director” from Sabre, and when he arrives, Dwight greets him with a large tray of “Scranton hotdogs.” Andy and Erin also wrote a song commemorating his arrival, which is to the tune of “Party in the U.S.A.” by Miley Cyrus. Unfortunately they had listened to Michael and thought the company was pronounced Sab-rey, making the song sound a bit off.

At the same time, Jim and Pam are preparing to go for an interview to see if they can get their as of yet unborn child into a top of the line day care center. It’s the least interesting part of the episode because it’s not in the office, but you just got to love Jim and Pam.

Back at the Office Gabe shows off a video to everyone. It shows Christian Slater (yes, as himself) touring Sabre’s main office, saying how great it is to work for them. “The Office” does guest stars like no other show on TV. It’s hilarious.

Michael is slow to grasp the changes that Gabe is trying to implement, including having to watch ‘Nick’ the new IT guy, block ‘time wasting’ sites like Twitter and YouTube. Eventually Michael goes to Gabe and asks him if all the changes are necessary, to which he says, “Let me see what I can do.” Gabe speaks to Joy Bennett (Kathy Bates) over an iChat, which Michael gets caught eavesdropping on. In a not so nice way, Bennett tells Michael that he has until the end of the day to accept the changes.

Andy and Erin are flirting hardcore now, ever since the romantic gift Andy got her for Christmas. Both are super eager to go out with the other one. Only problem? Andy thinks Erin will ask him out. Erin thinks Andy will ask her out. And round and round we go.

Jim and Pam get to the day care center and are very impressed. Then Jim walks in on a guy in the child size bathroom. The guy turns out to be whom they are interviewing with. Jim acts extremely awkward in the interview, prompting Pam to ask the man if the reason the interview isn’t going so well is because he walked in on him. Pam says they are really nice people. The man says no, and says that maybe the interview isn’t going well because they aren’t as great as they say they are.

Michael decides the only way to stop the problems at Dunder Mifflin is to go see former boss David Wallace, who now spends his days inside with his son, who plays the drums way too loud. They go outside into the Jacuzzi and Michael asks him for help. Instead David tries to get him to invest in ‘Suck It’, and new invention that will help kids pick up their toys. Michael isn’t impressed, and leaves Wallace’s house damp and without an idea of what to do.

Andy and Erin still can’t find a way to go out, and Michael decides the best thing to do is accept the changes. He shows up to the office with orange juice (because Sabre is from Florida), and proposes a toast in only the way Michael Gary Scott can. He says, “I have a very good feeling about this.”

The closing scene was a hilarious moment between David Wallace and his son, who rock out in a duet and sing a theme song for ‘Suck It’.

Another great episode for “The Office” and an awesome television-directing debut for Krasinski. Next week brings Kathy Bates to Scranton in, "Manager and Salesman". The office is eager to welcome Sabre CEO Jo Bennett to Scranton, and are dazzled by her Southern ways. When Jo finds out there are two branch managers, she says either Michael or Jim must go back to being a salesman. Meanwhile, Andy's Valentine's Day plan backfires.

It was written by Mindy Kaling, who also wrote "Secret Santa," "Niagara," and "Golden Ticket" and was directed by Marc Webb, the helmer of “500 Days of Summer”. It will air February 11, 2010.