“Baby Shower.”
Michael (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) practices for the birth of Jan’s (Melora Hardin) baby by having Dwight (Rainn Wilson) go over possible birthing scenarios. Meanwhile, Michael tells Holly (guest star Amy Ryan) that he will pretend to dislike her for Jan’s benefit.

Tonight’s baby shower was…surreal. The show opened with Michael practicing for the birth of Jan’s child, and that led to an incredibly weird set of moments with Dwight and Andy. Things quickly moved ahead with Michael getting ready for the baby shower, and telling Holly that he was going to pretend to be mean to her while Jan was around…because Jan was pregnant and fat.

Then Jan showed up.

And she’d already had the baby. That’s right – she had the baby and didn’t even call Michael. The baby shower that ensued afterward consisted of Jan singing a song about losing virginity to her new daughter, and then taking a nap. Michael held her daughter for the first time…and it all finally hit him.

Meanwhile, Dwight was taking Jan’s $1,200 stroller out for a series of endurance tests, and Jim and Pam were trying desperately to talk to each other on the phone…but it just wasn’t working out. The frustration of their separation was apparent, and I don’t think it’s leading down a good road.

After Michael held Jan’s daughter (who is named “Astrid”), he sought out Daryl for “baby daddy” help, but nothing good came of it. As Jan left the office, she told Michael not to date Holly, who he’d been insulting the entire episode. Michael stood there as she left…contemplating what he’d just gone through.

Then, in a wonderfully awkward moment, Michael walked up to Holly, and hugged her. The hug just continued…and continued…and continued…and Holly teared up. Michael looked at her and said “you wanna go out?” – and she said “yeah”.

It was a great moment – and was followed by another great moment where Pam and Jim called each other at the exact same time and left messages on each other’s voice mail. It was great – and really showed how they love each other. It really showed how the emotion of the characters drive the show.

All in all it was another really great episode, and it makes the fact that Holly is just a “guest star” all the more heartbreaking.