Ep 27. Search Committee Part 2

The Office season 7 episode 27, "Search Committee Part 2" continues the search for a new manager at the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin. The episode picks up where "Search Committee Part 1" left off, with Jim and Dwight taking potential candidates on a tour of the office while trying to figure out who the best fit would be.

The first candidate is Fred Henry, a former Dunder Mifflin employee who left to start his own company. Fred presents a unique perspective, as someone who has both worked at the company and been successful outside of it. However, his eccentricity and sky-high confidence make Jim and Dwight hesitant.

Next up is Catherine Tate, a big-name British actress who surprises everyone by showing up for the interview. However, her lack of knowledge about Dunder Mifflin and her difficulty understanding American accents make her a less than ideal choice.

Robert California, who was introduced in "Search Committee Part 1," reappears in this episode and once again reiterates his belief that he's overqualified for the Scranton manager position. However, he manages to convince the search committee to let him interview other candidates to see if any of them are worthy of the job.

One of those candidates is Nellie Bertram, a former executive who has fallen on hard times and is desperate for a job. She impresses Robert with her confidence and assertiveness, but her past successes make Jim and Dwight skeptical about her ability to relate to the average employee.

Another candidate is Ray Romano, who appears in a brief cameo as himself. He's initially mistaken for a job seeker but declines the interview offer.

Finally, there's the mysterious David Brent, who was the original boss on the UK version of The Office. He shows up uninvited and tries to weasel his way into the Scranton manager job. However, his rude behavior and lack of understanding of American workplace culture make him a non-starter.

Throughout all of these interviews, the employees of Dunder Mifflin are shown in various states of distress and confusion. Andy, who had initially been considered for the job, is frustrated that he hasn't been asked back for a second interview. Pam is struggling to balance her work and personal life, as she's just returned from maternity leave and is worried about leaving her baby at home. And Erin is feeling desperate to get out of the receptionist job she hates and into a position with more responsibility.

In the end, the search committee is no closer to finding a new manager than they were at the beginning of the episode. However, the experience has brought them all closer together and given them a newfound respect for each other. They realize that they don't need someone from the outside to come in and fix their problems - they have each other.