The Best Episodes of Season Four of the Office in 2008: Dinner Party, Did I Stutter, and Night Out

The Office, the American version, is the best show ever! Even though it started off as a rip-off of the British sitcom of the same name, the character development in the show is so strong that the show soon gained a life of its own. After a lengthy writer's strike, during which reality television dominated the airways, The Office was back with Season Four. Here is my overview of the best episodes of season four, 2008. These are the best office episodes of 2008, hands down, but if you'd like to beg to differ, I'd love to discuss the show further with you!

Dinner Party

Episode 60

(9^th episode of Season 4 of The Office)

First aired - April 10, 2008

Never believe that Michael Scott isn't a clever guy: after scheduling a friday night evening at work, and then pretending to argue with corporate to get his employees the night off, Michael manages to coerce Pam and Jim into a dinner party at his house. Unable to talk their way out of it, Jim and Pam agree. Also invited are Andy and Angela. Dwight wants to come, but Michael says it's for couples only.

On a tour of the condo, Jan's clearly taken over: not only does she have her own office (which Michael murmurs is unused), she has a room dedicated to her candle-making business. Michael's bed is a small bench in the master bedroom, since Jan has "space issues." His pride and joy is a small plasma screen TV that he has to stand to watch.

Pam is distressed that the roast has three hours until it's finished, meaning a very long evening, and Jim invents a disaster in order to for them to escape, but it doesn't work. Dwight shows up with some old lady and his own wineglasses (since Michael had told him they didn't have enough.).

The awkwardness of this episode is palpable and it's just wonderful the way the dynamics work. It's no surprise that the party ends in disaster!

Did I Stutter?

Episode 63

(12^th episode of Season Four of The Office)

First aired - May 1, 2008

Woah, things get tense when Stanley snaps at Michael during a meeting. Toby wants Michael to discipline Stanley, but Michael claims Stanley was only joking. His recourse is to stage a pretend firing of Stanley, which doesn't end well.

Meanwhile, Pam forgot her contact solution, so she's wearing glasses all day. Michael tells her women are supposed to look hotter, and that she's going the opposite direction, but Kevin is so turned on by her look that he keeps asking her to speak "librarian" to him.

Ryan gives Jim an "official warning" about his job performance, which Jim suspects is due to his recent discussion with Ryan's boss, David Wallace, concerning the website. Dwight convinces Andy to sell him his car, for use as a farm tractor, then turns around and resells the vehicle for a much higher price.

Night Out

Episode 62

(11^th episode of Season Four of The Office)

First aired April 24, 2008

Ryan shows up in Scranton to debut the new version of Dunder Mifflin Infinity, which is now, he says, sexual predator free. He tells Michael of the women he meets in New York clubs, which convinces Michael to head to New York, Dwight in tow. When they find Ryan, he is high on something and partying with his short friend, who Dwight assumes is a hobbit. Dwight wins the love of a women's basketball team, who he thinks are amazons, and scores them entrance to a hot NY club. When Ryan goes to the restroom, Dwight asks his friend, "Do you have special powers?" After Ryan gets attacked by a group of woman, his friend tells Michael and Dwight not to take him to the hospital then runs away. Dwight and Michael spend the night at Ryan's apartment.

Meanwhile, in Scranton, trying to avoid a Saturday workday, Jim suggests that everyone stay late while Michael is not there to finish early. Unfortunately, no one tells the security guard and when they try to leave, they are locked in. No one can remember the guard's name either. After Toby grabs Pam's knee, to her dismay, he suddenly announces that he is moving to Costa Rica, climbs over the fences, and runs away. The employees are trapped until the cleaning people show up.