Pocono News Section

More "Office" Fun in Scranton

More "Office" Fun in Scranton - Saturday, July 19, 2008 at 6:57PM EST

Reported by: Jeff Chirico
Saturday, Jul 19, 2008 @ 06:57pm EST
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY- Scranton was the first city in the nation to sell the new board games based on the hit NBC show, The Office. It makes sense, since the fictitious Dunder Mifflin Paper Company is set in the Electric City. And we were there for all the hoopla - Office style!

From the Mall at Steamtown, dozens of “Dunderheads” darted through Scranton. Some were dressed like Office workers. Kelly, played by Mindy Kaling, was in Scranton for the race. The 2k Fun Run was a tip of the hat to last season's race for a rabies cure episode. “They said it was a 2k, felt like I was walking for days," said kaling.

The sprint kicks off the release of The Office DVD and trivia board games. Noah Barryman of Scranton said, "We got in line at 7:30, waited in line at the top there. We are Office dorks."

And they came from all over, from as far away as Santa Barbara, California and Greenville, South Carolina. One group said they were even from north of England! Many came hoping to win the title of Office trivia champ. The winner takes home a game. The game's creator says don't be intimidated. She designed it for everyone. Susan Adamo Baumbach of Pressman Toy said, “If I'm a die hard fan but a good friend watches, we can still play and the other person can easily win."

For Mindy, launching the game lets her visit the city she loves. “Coming to Scranton as a writer is the most amazing experience because you just cull material," she said.

All morning the fun's been nice and clean. But then came the beet eating contest in honor of Dwight Shrute's beet farm. It got messy quick!

Doug Currin and Kristi Capel of WBRE Eyewitness News served as judges. Some of the contestants would make Dwight proud. Others couldn't keep it down.

It didn't stop Mindy. But she admitted, "I wish we chose corn instead of beets."

Not exactly a tasteful way to celebrate - but since when was The Office tasteful?