We get an hour-long episode of “The Office” tonight, the first new installment since May 15, but nothing next Thursday, thanks to the coming vice-presidential (or possibly presidential) debate.
NBC says:
WEIGHT LOSS (Sept. 25)
For the first time, we see what happens over eight weeks of the summer, as a Dunder Mifflin weight loss initiative causes the branch to diet and become obsessed with their weight. Michael (Steve Carell) pursues a friendship with his new HR rep, Holly (Oscar nominee, Amy Ryan). Jim (John Krasinski) misses Pam (Jenna Fischer) who attends art school in New York. Dwight (Rainn Wilson), Andy (Ed Helms) and Angela (Angela Kinsey) attend to unfinished business. B.J. Novak, Kate Flannery, Mindy Kaling, Oscar Nunez, Brian Baumgartner, Leslie David Baker, Phyllis Smith, Creed Bratton and Craig Robinson also star.
BUSINESS ETHICS (Oct. 9)
Following Ryan’s (B.J. Novak) recent scandal at corporate, Holly (guest star Amy Ryan) must hold a business ethics seminar. The meeting gets out of control when Michael (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) lets everyone speak freely about their unethical behavior at work. Meanwhile, Jim (John Krasinski) makes Dwight (Rainn Wilson) comply with the company’s “time theft” policy. Jenna Fischer, Ed Helms, Leslie David Baker, Kate Flannery, Mindy Kaling, Angela Kinsey, Phyllis Smith, Oscar Nunez and Creed Bratton also star.
BABY SHOWER (Oct. 16)
Michael (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) practices for the birth of Jan’s (Melora Hardin) baby by having Dwight (Rainn Wilson) go over possible birthing scenarios. Meanwhile, Michael tells Holly (guest star Amy Ryan) that he will pretend to dislike her for Jan’s benefit. John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, B.J. Novak, Ed Helms, Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, Mindy Kaling, Angela Kinsey, Oscar Nunez, Creed Bratton and Craig Robinson also star.
What NBC is not telling you:
* Gene Stupinsky and Lee Eisenberg (“Dinner Party”), hard at work on “Ghostbusters III,” wrote tonight’s episode, which was almost called “Summer.”
* Jim may propose to Pam in a downpour.
* Pam will continue to study and dwell in New York well into the season, while continuing a long-distance relationship with Jim. The show will follow her much as it did Jim when he was in Stanford.
* And, as Jim did, Pam will get her own supporting cast. Rich Sommer, who plays Harry Crane on “Mad Men,” and John Cabrera, who played Elliott on “Studio 60,” will play elements of her new New York life.
* Despite the season-ending make-out session, Angela and Andy remain engaged.
* Dwight may apply to Cornell to win back Angela.
* Holly will learn that Kevin isn’t special.
* Amy Ryan appears in six episodes total.
* Toby will suffer more misfortune, and return.
* Ryan may not be long for prison.
* The Dunder-Mifflin branch in Nashua, N.H., targets Kevin as a weak link in a company-wide weight-loss contest. (Winning branch gets three extra vacation days.)
* Viewers will finally get to meet Dunder Mifflin’s human resources head.
* Alcoholic Meredith, not sociopathic Creed, is said to emerge as Amy’s focus in the ethics episode.
* Michael may pretend to be engaged to Holly.
* British “Office” co-creator Stephen Merchant is directing a big upcoming Halloween episode.
* Jason Reitman (“Juno”) will direct another episode this season.
