Ed Helms’ Andy Bernard has proven to be the perfect replacement for Michael Scott as “The Office” ringleader, and tonight’s new episode, in which we meet the rest of the Bernards, is going to make you love, and understand, Andy even more.
In yet another effort to impress his new boss Robert (James Spader), Andy decides to throw a garden party at Dwight’s beet farm. Dwight decides to play the perfect host, which leads to an endless string of giggles, including the outing of Stanley’s love life and the mistaken identity of Jim and Pam’s oldest child (yes, we finally get to see the now toddler-aged CeCe).
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But the show, and the episode, is stolen by guest stars Josh Groban — yep, pop star Josh Groban — Stephen Collins and Dee Wallace as Andy’s brother, dad and mom.
Their attitudes towards and expectations of Andy explain so much about why the Cornell grad is so desperate to be liked, and it’s all the funnier because Groban brings some genuine comedy skills with his performance.
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Wallace and Collins are great, too, and with his turn as Papa Bernard, Collins has now fathered TV children ranging from the Camden clan of “7th Heaven” and Addison on “Private Practice” to Dennis and Sweet Dee on “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” and Andy Bernard.
Playing paterfamilias to that eclectic a bunch should earn him some sort of special recognition in TV land.
“The Office” airs Thursday at 9 p.m. on NBC.
