Recurring actors Creed Bratton, Ed Helms, Rashida Jones, Craig Robinson, and David Koechner appeared as guest stars in "Back from Vacation". "Back from Vacation" was directed by Julian Farino, who later was responsible for directing " The Deposition", a fourth season episode that featured some of the ramifications of Michael's circulated picture. She has some bad psychiatrist giving her bad advice." He praised the benefits of a "good writers room," in which "scenes go to this place you never could have gone to alone." Sitting on a panel of television writers at Northwestern University, Spitzer briefly described her reasoning, "Jan’s nuts. They decided that Jan would give a "psychobabble" response to Michael.
Spitzer was unsure how to craft the scene, and eventually requested advice from the other series' writers. Spitzer found Jan's final scene with Michael – in which he expects she will yell at him for their circulated picture but instead informs him they are staying together – especially tricky to write. The episode was his first script for the series. "Back from Vacation" was written by Justin Spitzer, a staff writer who joined The Office in its third season. Michael is terrified that Jan is there to confront him over the widely spread photo, but she appears to be unaware of it, instead confessing her attraction to him against all reason and kissing him. He awkwardly attempts to console her, although he misunderstands: "So, you're PMSing pretty bad, huh?"ĭuring the luau/inventory, Jan arrives at the office to speak with Michael in private. Pam tells the documentary crew that she was glad to help Jim, but is then shown later to be crying in private, secretly in love with him and heartbroken over the fact that he is with Karen instead. Pam convinces Jim that he is being unreasonable, and Jim accepts her advice and apologizes to Karen. Karen Filippelli ( Rashida Jones) has been upset with Jim Halpert ( John Krasinski) because he expressed objections to the prospect of Karen moving into an apartment two blocks from his own. Michael enlists Dwight Schrute's ( Rainn Wilson) assistance in preventing its spread, but these efforts are largely ineffective. The photo is quickly forwarded throughout the office and beyond. Michael attempts to send another vacation photograph to Todd Packer ( David Koechner) as proof of the trip, but mistakenly chooses "Packaging" instead of "Packer" from the address menu, sending the photograph to the entire shipping warehouse, including Darryl Philbin ( Craig Robinson), the warehouse supervisor. When Pam Beesly ( Jenna Fischer) notices Jan Levinson ( Melora Hardin) in the margins of a photo from Michael's vacation, he admits to the documentary crew that he and Jan went to Jamaica together. Michael Scott ( Steve Carell) returns from his Jamaican vacation rejuvenated, and directs the Party Planning Committee to throw a luau-themed party in the warehouse to accompany the annual inventory. "Back from Vacation" received generally positive reviews from critics, with Carell's performance receiving positive attention in particular. Among the 18–49 demographic, it earned a 4.3/11 ratings share and helped NBC finish in first place for the night. Meanwhile, Karen Filippelli ( Rashida Jones) and Jim Halpert ( John Krasinski) have an argument over Karen's living situation, leading to Pam Beesly ( Jenna Fischer) offering him advice.Īccording to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was watched by an estimated 8.80 million viewers. It is revealed that he went to Jamaica with Jan Levinson ( Melora Hardin) when a racy photograph of him and Jan is circulated.
In this episode, Michael Scott ( Steve Carell) returns from his vacation in Jamaica and has a luau in the warehouse to celebrate.
The series depicts the everyday lives of office employees in the Scranton, Pennsylvania, branch of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company.
Julian Farino served as the episode director.
"Back from Vacation" was the first script written by Justin Spitzer for the series. It first aired on January 4, 2007, on NBC, and was the first episode to air after the December holiday hiatus. " Back from Vacation" is the twelfth episode of the third season of the American comedy television series The Office, and the show's 40th episode overall. 12th episode of the third season of The Office " Back from Vacation"