If there was a scale for comedy awkwardness, then David Brent's motivational speech in the original, British version of The Office would probably hit number 10.
Michael Scott's visit to a Scranton high school, where he's about to shatter the dreams of a bunch of fresh-faced high school students, only goes to about 9, but that's because it doesn't last as long.
As Pam rightly points out, Michael's empty, decade-old promise to pay for these kids' college tuition was the worst thing he's ever done. (But wouldn't someone at the school have wondered how Michael was going to pull this off, and maybe pressed him for more details?) And even though Stanley thought it was funny (and Stanley's reaction actually was kind of funny), it didn't make for an amusing episode.
Nor did Dwight's Uriah Heep act with Jim. He's never been this flat-out malevolent before, and it's really off-putting. (To be fair, his Kevin and Stanley impersonations were pretty good. His Toby needed work.)
So in the end, this episode's only real saving graces were the opening scene (in which we got to see Michael actually act like an adult for about 30 seconds, until he recognizes a kindred spirit in Andy) and the closing scene between Michael and Erin, who finally proves her worth in his eyes mainly by telling him what he wants to hear.
Tom Coombe
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