‘The Office’ does ‘weight loss’

“Here’s what I used to look like,” boasts Stanley, pointing to a 1970’s period photo from his racist Black Panther days. “Look at those biceps. We were fighting the power and eating whatever we wanted.”

Now he’s a cuddly African-American Catholic, who sends his daughter to private school.

More new age gags:

We also catch up with manager Michael’s former girlfriend and superior, Jan.

The clinically insane professional, who found a physically superior sperm-donor, is now bragging about her new candle company, Serenity. (And flaunting her pregnant celery stick frame.)

“Serenity by Jan is kicking ass and taking names,” she brags. “You remember last week when that girl went missing, guess whose candles they used for the vigil?”

Meanwhile, the two irritably indecisive lovebirds, Jim and Pam are trying to find more time for each other, as their relationship schedule continues to clash.

It isn’t easy. After travelling to his girlfriend’s wavy-gravy art school, in New York, Jim finds himself alone in a student lounge. “Some girl came into Pam’s room crying about her roommate stealing her soy milk. So I’m here waiting it out.”

And there’s also drama when Pam finds herself in the wrong class (“Expressive Typography in New Media”). Is she assertive enough to leave when her professor tells her to stay?

More exercise debates:

Also, when Dwight, creates a ruse in order to force his fatter colleague to exercise more, tensions boil over.

“You drove me to an abandoned warehouse five miles away and pushed me out of the car,” exclaims a shocked Phyllis.

“And you burned over a thousand calories walking home, and this branch got a little closer to winning the contest," replies the population-control freak.

Later Kelly passes out and the corporation holds a “Body Image Celebration” meeting to avoid legal issues.

More controversy:

The Office continues to offend as always. Past and soon-to-be-screened episodes poke fun at: precious urban whites, affirmative action nuts, lackadaisical homosexuals, slutty single mothers, global warmers, Michael Moore’s ethics, Obama-first mania, Hillary Clinton’s manly pantsuits, children’s television, picky vegetarians, Hollywood’s showy adopt-a-third-world-baby moms, black-on-black violence, and so on. By episode three (“Baby shower”), Stanley confesses:

I do not like pregnant women in my workspace. They’re always complaining. I have varicose veins, too. I have swollen ankles. I’m constantly hungry. Do you think my nipples don’t get sore, too? Do you think I don’t need to know the fastest way to the hospital?

While Australia’s Kath and Kim, safely sneers at the suburbs and John Howard, The Office takes real chances.