Tonight, after a much-anticipated and overly-delayed return, I was excited and overjoyed to finally watch what I can easily say was once of the most uncomfortable 30 minutes of television I’ve seen in a long, long time. I’m of course talking about The Office. Few things can make me squirm in my seat, laugh out loud to myself, and feel an overwhelming sense of embarrassment at the situations that unfold before me quite like Michael, Jim, Pam, Dwight and the rest of the Dunder Mifflin crew.

Honestly, not many shows can have the effect on people that this one is somehow able to deliver episode to episode. As we held our weekly Office-watching sessions, it wasn’t a rare sight to see my friends hiding their faces behind their hands or shirts as Michael Scott (perfectly portrayed by Steve Carell) made a complete and utter fool of himself to his paper-pushing minions. It’s strange to actually feel ashamed to be watching something on TV… it’s not real. I know that. It simply doesn’t matter. It’s the same feeling you get when a co-worker or friend makes a total ass of himself in public and you can’t help but to avert your eyes… throwing quick glances to others in the area to see if they feel the same way. And often, they do. I think this may be the main draw of “The Office”.

Tonight’s episode, aptly named “The Dinner Party”, was one of the best installments of the series by far. Some may think I’m exaggerating or getting overly excited at the simple prospect of a new episode thus building it up to be more than it’s worth. No. I’m not. With an abundance of gags, memorable lines, and unforgettable, incredibly awkward, scenes, I have to say this is a true return to form for the show, which in my opinion was getting a little too serious there before the hiatus.

So sit back, keep that eye-covering blanket in reach, and get ready to laugh our ass off. The Office is back.