The TV Zone

Now, to plunge into the debate that is sure to engage the faithful fans of TV's greatest comedy, "The Office:" To product place or not to product place?

On Thursday's hour-long Christmas edition, there are no less than two major product shills - the first for Sandals Resorts and the second for Benihana. The always-reliable/astute media columnist for the Chicago Tribune, Phil Rosenthal, has already thrown a bright light on Thursday's double-pump (and anyone who actually reads this blog entry might want to check it out, via the always reliable/astute tvtattle.com.)

Let me announce upfront, right now, at this minute - "A Benihana Christmas" is a TV classic for the ages. This is one of the best, funniest, sharpest, saddest "Office" episodes in the show's history - a masterpiece. To boil a relatively complex plot down to a couple lines, Michael gets dumped by the girlfriend he planned to take to (guesses?) Sandals, and is left holding a pair of tickets. Meanwhile, an office rivalry erupts between Pam/Karen (allies for this episode) and Angela over a Christmas party, with both factions mounting their own festivities. How does Benihana fit into this? Michael, Jim, Dwight and Andy head to a B's where they get tanked and where Michael/Andy pick up a pair of waitresses.

So good or bad? On principle, I have nothing against this double-shill and if this buys "Office" - which has made a lucrative habit of the practice - a few more seasons because of it, then God speed. Meanwhile, anyone who lives/has lived in a place like Scranton - not terribly unlike thousands of other towns and cities across America, by the by - well knows that chains have sprouted everywhere; from Walmart to Staple's, they are a deep and abiding part of our cultural landscape and sometimes - OK - an annoying and obtrusive blight on it as well. Nonetheless, they are here, and part of our lives, and for a show like "Office" - glorious and enduring pop art in my book - to ignore them would be both dishonest and absurd.

But here's my only gripe, and it's not an entirely insignificant one (even though Benihana's figures in a hilarious plot twist with the two aforementioned waitresses): There is no Benihana's in Scranton! The closest one is in Harrisburg, about a hundred miles south on 81. Fans have come to expect a certain veracity from "Office" - they revel in its details, and minutiae and verite and double/triple entendres that can be picked up on only the second (or third) viewing. In other words, "Office" got a key detail wrong.

It's OK: I've forgiven the show and after you see this episode, so too shall you.