Mafia (The Office)

Synopsis

Michael Scott meets with insurance salesman Angelo Grotti and is later convinced by Dwight Schrute and Andy Bernard that Grotti is part of the Mafia, partly because his surname sounds like John Gotti. Oscar Martinez tries to convince them otherwise but fails, noting that with Jim and Pam Halpert on their honeymoon in Puerto Rico and Toby Flenderson "checked out", the "coalition for reason" is weak. Oscar calls the couple, but Pam reminds him they are on their honeymoon and should not be bothered unless it is a dire emergency.

Michael calls a lunch meeting with Grotti, accompanied by Dwight and Andy, who suggests a public place where Grotti cannot become violent. Andy disguises as a mechanic and brings a tire iron, but is forced to try fixing a woman's car and breaks it further. Michael interprets Grotti's insurance pitches as veiled threats and signs a deal he cannot afford. He calls Jim for help; Jim pranks him briefly then tells him not to call on his honeymoon again.

Michael consults Oscar, who advises him to cancel the insurance, but Michael is too intimidated. Dwight and Andy, seeing Michael despondent, tell him Grotti was only pretending to be in the Mafia. Enraged, Michael calls Grotti, cancels the deal, and is too elated by his accomplishment to be angry at Dwight and Andy for lying.

Production

Brent Forrester wrote this episode, marking his first script of the season and his seventh overall for the series. Directing duties fell to David Rogers, his first time directing that season and his second for the show. The plot was first shared by executive producer Paul Lieberstein during a Television Critics Association press tour. Mike Starr appears as Grotti, an insurance salesman.

Reception

When "Mafia" aired in the U.S., 8.03 million people tuned in, earning a 4.1 rating and a 10 share in the 18–49 demographic. It placed second in its time slot behind Grey's Anatomy, dropping seven-tenths from the prior episode "Niagara." Dan Phillips of IGN scored it an 8.8, calling it "great" and not one of the series' best but still highly enjoyable, noting he was giggling nonstop once Dwight and Andy pushed Michael to confront a pushy salesman. Leonard Pierce of The A.V. Club gave it a B, describing it as strong but non-essential, proving the show works without Jim and Pam. Joel Keller panned the main plot as one of the worst in years. OfficeTally ranks it 23rd among Season 6 episodes.