3.02: The Convention
Thursday, September 28th, 2006
Written by: Gene Stupnitsky and Lee Eisenberg
Summary (NBC): After meeting Jan in Philadelphia for the annual Northeastern Mid-Market Office Supply Convention, Michael enlists Dwight’s help in organizing a party in his room for fellow conventioneers. Meanwhile, Ryan and Kelly join friends out on a double date.
Tidbits
- NBC videos: Interview with Steve Carell and Rainn Wilson
Interview with Jerome Bettis and Rainn Wilson - Blogs: John the prop guy’s MySpace blog
- Here’s a link to ESPN’s coverage of the episode, with video.
- Read about an actual Hammermill employee’s experience at the shoot!
- Reviews: TV Guide | Entertainment Weekly
- Read more about HP’s product placement here.
- The music that is blasting from Michael’s room when Jim comes by is called “Girls Gone Wild” by the band Captain Ahab; check out their MySpace page here (warning: NSFW). Thanks, Matt, for the tip!
- Buy The Convention at the iTunes Store.
- Read James’ Northern Attack recap.
Favorite quotes
Michael: Did you see Oprah yesterday?
Pam: Maybe you should wait before you adopt … or not adopt.
Michael: Find out if there’s a cheaper … less expensive, baby out there.
Michael: You know what, Pam? If in ten years, I haven’t had a baby, and you haven’t had a baby …
Pam: No Michael.
Michael: Twenty years.
Pam: No Michael.
Michael: Thirty.
Pam (thinks for a moment): Sure.
Michael: It’s a deal.
Michael: Guess where I am going. I will give you a hint. It is a booze-fueled sex romp, where anything goes. You are correct, sir!
Michael: And Jim Halpert is going to be coming. Which will be fun. Poor, little guy, has been stuck working under Josh, the poor man’s Michael Scott. As he is known around my condo.
Dwight: Don’t be mad. It is a business trip.
Angela: But I don’t understand, it’s for managers.
Dwight: Monkey, I am an A-R-M, Assistant Regional Manager!
Angela: I know! I was just really hoping we could spend some time together. (Dwight is silent.) Are you still there?
Dwight: Yes, monkey …
Angela: Don’t “monkey” me! You can’t wait to get out of here, A-R-M!
Angela: In the Martin family, we like to say, “Looks like someone took the slow train from Philly.” That’s code for “check out the slut.” (Swats at a fly) Why are there flies in here?
Kelly: So what are you wearing.
Pam (pointing at what she is wearing): This.
Kelly (after a moment): You look so pretty.
Pam: I’m kind of nervous. I haven’t been on a first date in nine years. Probably shouldn’t broadcast that.
Kelly: Well remember, no matter how much you may want to, do not sleep with him on the first date. It gives him all the power.
Michael: Sleep with who? Whom, whom, whom …
Michael: Oh my god, I have a great idea. You know what should do? Be hilarious. Wear your wedding dress.
Michael: Word of advice, unbutton that top button. Let those things breathe.
Michael: Any message you want me to relay to Jim?
Pam: Um …
Michael: Um. Okay. Um.
Dwight: Um.
Michael: You got that?
Dwight: I got it.
Michael: Write it down.
Dwight and Michael (chanting in unison): Um, um, um, um …
Creed: There’s my girl … (approaches Angela) Noticed you handing out some shekels. How would one get on that train?
Creed: Andrea is the office bitch. You’ll get used to her. (Reaching out to shake Meredith’s hand) Creed.
Dwight: Can I have my neck pillow back?
Michael: There he is. Traitor. Traitor! Traitor!
Michael: The prod, the progidal, my son returns.
Michael: It’s like with firemen, you don’t leave your brothers behind. Even if you find out, that there is a better fire in Connecticut.
Jim: Really good to see you, man.
Michael: Yeah. Wow, I didn’t expect that.
Jim: You know, when I saw Dwight, I realized how stupid and petty all those pranks I pulled on him were. And then he spoke. I wonder how hard it would be to get a copy of his room key.
Kevin: So did you hear?
Toby: What?
Kevin: Pam’s back on the market again.
Toby: Really? She’s dating?
Kevin: If I weren’t engaged, I would so hit that.
Jim: Oh Dwight, I missed you so much.
Dwight (trying to pull away from Jim): You’re so immature!
Michael: The 800-pound gorilla in the room, Carol.
Jan: Step away from me, Michael.
Michael: Thank you for being so brave with all of this. Thank you.
Kelly: I don’t even know what they mean half the time.
Michael: Ain’t no party like a Scranton party cuz a Scranton party don’t stop!
Josh: A shot of Midori, perhaps.
Michael: I love inside jokes. I’d love to be a part of one someday.
Michael: Suh-WAG! Stuff We All Get.
Dwight: Why do they call him “The Bus”?
Michael: Because he’s afraid to fly.
Toby: I just completely forgot what I was going to say!
Jan: I can’t stay on top of you 24-7.
Phyllis: You should order the most expensive thing on the menu. So he knows you’re worth it.
Stanley: If you do that, you’re going to have to put out.
Phyllis: Well yeah, you’ll have to put out.
Angela: Is there a key for ‘Jane Doe’?
Michael: Jim, looks like you picked a bad time to defect, my friend!
Michael: Tell him I will give him general specifics tomorrow, okay?
Michael: Jim and I have different definitions of friendship. I think it’s talking and being friends, and Jim thinks it’s moving to Connecticut and being best friends with Josh. Well … phooey on that. I’m done. I’m not going to be speaking with him anymore.
Jan: Well, Michael, I underestimated you.
Michael: Yeah, well maybe next time, you will estimate me.
Jim: Oh my god! Dwight got a hooker! Oh my god, I gotta call … I gotta call somebody, I don’t know who to call … Dwight got a HOOKER!
Kelly: He loves ketchup.
Pam: More freedom fries!
Pam: I went on a date. It wasn’t a love connection. I think when I like someone again, I’ll just kinda know.
Michael: You like cosmos?
Jim: I transferred because of Pam.
Jim: Now we’re friends.
Michael: Best friends.
Michael: Some people need dozens of friends to say, “look at me, I’m popular.” But not me, I’m very picky, I need three, maybe two. When you meet that someone special, you just know. Because a real relationship can’t be forced. It should just come about effort-leh-lessly.
Michael: Woah, what are all those stains?
Dwight: Blood, urine, or semen.
Michael: Oh god, I hope it’s urine.
Ok this really is one of my favorite episodes. Maybe because I first saw it on TiVo without commericals. I think it flows much better that way and is a lot funnier. But Michael competing with Josh and being jealous over Jim is classic Michael Scott. Hilarious. And the actor who plays Pam’s date may be my favorite guest star in the entire series. The way he plays a full-of-himself loser is hilarious!
183 | BenA Thu. May. 24, 2007 at 9:46pmAlthough I initally didn’t like the convention it holds up extremely well when you watch it a few times. There are some really good moments in this episode although it does get off to a slow start.
182 | Agent Michael Scarn Wed. Jan. 3, 2007 at 3:37pmOkay, thsi episode was not quite as good as some of the others this season. I did like it when Jim found “Jane Doe”.
181 | that'swhatshesaid Thu. Dec. 21, 2006 at 10:31amWhat hotel were they at in real life?
180 | jon Fri. Nov. 10, 2006 at 7:21pmpretty good episode
179 | Damian Sat. Oct. 7, 2006 at 5:20pmChris, your theory on why Ryan is still at Dunder Mifflin is pretty accurate in terms of what a lot of college grads go through these days. Im going through the same exact thing. I would still like to see some follow up from Ryan. I’m sure they’ll do a talking head soon enough were he talks about it.
It could also be bills. The average person coming out of college these days come out so deep in debt, a lot of times you have to work a job you don’t necessarily like just to pay down a lot of your debt.
178 | Agent Michael Scarn Wed. Oct. 4, 2006 at 7:13amInsofar as why Ryan still works there…the working world is pretty hard to get around, these days. Ryan was probably like a lot of college grads and looked at a lot of different options instead of focusing on one thing. When one does that, they tend to not be able to get a job. Most employers want you to have wanted to do this job since you were five.
My guess, Dunder-Mifflin pays him enough for him to stay, but not enough for him to like it.
177 | chris Tue. Oct. 3, 2006 at 10:23pmSome more points….
Didn’t like the Pam/Toby thing. I guess this is a stab at adding some more depth to the Toby character. But to me it just came off kinda pathetic and creepy. Some characters are better off being kinda one-dimensional.
They need to do something with the Michael love triangle soon. I am so curious about how they are going to handle that.
Stop begging for Jim to come back to Scranton! As good as JAM has been for the show at times it also tends to take a lot of focus away from the rest of the characters. Which are all very funny! Be patient with JAM. They have to build up the tension again. If they were together right now that would suck.
I don’t think the merger is happening. I think some of Michael’s miraculous sales will help avoid the merger. Plus I have hard time seeing the writers going that way.
176 | Agent Michael Scarn Tue. Oct. 3, 2006 at 9:46pmI didn’t like this episode as much as the first one. It got off to a slow start and sort of dragged a little. However, it finished pretty well. Overall, I’d have to say this one of the least funny episodes I’ve seen.
But this show has gotten so good, that it can still be entertaining without actually being that funny. My favorite part was, “Yeah, well maybe next time, you will estimate me.” Just the way Steve Carell said that it was so funny.
A few things…
They have to explain the Ryan/Kelly thing more. They also have to explain why Ryan still works there. I really hope they dedicate an episode to this soon.
Also I guess they were totally serious about the Oscar on vacation thing. He really wasn’t in this episode.
Melora Hardin is very sexy BTW. She defines MILF.
175 | Agent Michael Scarn Tue. Oct. 3, 2006 at 9:08pmThis episode was by far better than Gay Witch hunt for sure.
Can’t wait for the next one!
P.S. - I miss Jim. It’s just not the same without him at Scraton because no one can pull all of those pranks on Dwight and Pam is lonely, but now they have a really awkward relationship which sucks. :(
174 | i.love.the.office Mon. Oct. 2, 2006 at 7:04pmIt first I didn’t like this episode as much as the 2nd season. Today on my 5th viewing it just clicked and I saw the light. This is why I love this show. It is such a deep well written show. I hope this show last a LONG time. I love Creed!!!
Think about “general specifics” for just a second.
173 | Dwigt Mon. Oct. 2, 2006 at 5:07pmThanks, OfficeAddict!
It’s nice to know that my ramblings occasionally make sense!
172 | The Anti-soccermom Mon. Oct. 2, 2006 at 6:19amI think Dwight’s written Scranton Office’s numbers, his room number on them. Probably so he can easily access them when talking to the vendors.
171 | chris Mon. Oct. 2, 2006 at 12:43amThis might have been my least favorite episode - my high point was Angela being mistaken for a hooker. Of all the things that Angela would want to be mistaken for, I think “hooker” would be dead last on her list.
170 | Libby Sun. Oct. 1, 2006 at 10:58amOn Dwight’s name tag it looks like the word manager is crossed out. The rest just looks like a bunch of numbers.
169 | Elisabeth Sat. Sep. 30, 2006 at 10:37pmCreed is the man!
168 | Talaneus Sat. Sep. 30, 2006 at 8:50pmHas anyone figured out why Dwight’s nametag was written with black marker instead of printed like everyone else? I couldn’t tell what was written on it.
167 | RC Sat. Sep. 30, 2006 at 6:09pmI’m really glad this episode was so great, because I was insanely disappointed with Gay Witch Hunt. Hope it just keeps getting better and better :)
166 | Sonnet Sat. Sep. 30, 2006 at 4:39pmI hope that the Jim and Pam rubbish is caput. Anyone remember how good Lois & Clark was before they hooked up and how odd/wierd it got after that? All the buildup and then the fizzle.
If Jim & Pam ever hook up beware the sharks!
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P.S. I love this show, I just don’t want it to focus on Jim and/or Pam. Keep all of the characters involved like last night and get the focus away from Jim and Pam.
Funny episode, much better than the season premier.
165 | Andrew Sat. Sep. 30, 2006 at 3:58pmWow, thanks for posting the link to that Captain Ahab myspace site. I am so amused by that.
Also, thanks as always for posting the quotes; your site is always a great place to reference when I need quotes from the show.
164 | GreenFish Sat. Sep. 30, 2006 at 2:42pm