New 'Office' Webisodes Premiering This Week

The new "webisodes" of The Office premiere this Thursday, November 20th, on NBC.com.

I was fortunate enough to view an advanced copy of the new webisodes. It's essentially one show, called "The Outburst," broken up into four two-and-half minute installments (altogether, "The Outburst" runs about 11 minutes). The staff at Dunder-Mifflin hear Oscar the accountant freaking out at someone over the phone, then spend the rest of the work day trying to find out what he was so upset about.

Though the show's major players (Michael, Jim, Pam and Dwight) don't make an appearance, just about every other cast member is accounted for (save for B.J. Novak's Ryan and Leslie Baumgarter's Stanley). There's nothing particularly must-see about "The Outburst," but for an obsessive fan of The Office like myself it's always good to see these characters doing pretty much anything. My favorite moment in any of the four installments is quick and subtle, so be sure you don't miss it: at some point, it's revealed that Phyllis' husband, Bob Vance (of Vance Refrigeration), has been brought up on charges before -- though apparently none of the witnesses showed up to court. I love the show for providing little throwaway details like that, which give even tertiary characters a history and a life outside the office. Plus, it makes me rethink just about everything we've heard Bob Vance (of Vance Refrigeration) say.

Ultimately, "The Outburst" doesn't amount to much; I'd compare it to the deleted scenes on the series DVDs. The payoff is pretty predictable, but there are a handful of funny moments (the fact that Ed Helms' Andy Bernard is a participant at all means it's worth watching). It's not mandatory viewing, but it is a nice way to tide yourself over until the next new Office episode.

I don't know what I'm going to do if that show ever goes off the air.