Jim convinces Dwight that he needs someone to act as an Assistant to the Assistant to the Regional Manager; the two subsequently hold tryouts for the position. Pam worries that she's holding Jim back from being truly happy.
After daycare turns away her child, Angela is forced to bring Philip to work. Kevin is jealous of the attention the toddler gets. Dwight notices a number of Schrute traits in the boy.
Andy auditions for America's Next A Capella Sensation.
Tropes
- Bookend: The episode ends with the entire office crew at Poor Richard's Pub watching as the documentary they'd been filmed for for over nine years finally starts on TV, with the first scene being the first scene that we saw all the way back in "Pilot".Michael: All right Jim. Your quarterlies look very good. How are things at the library?
- The Cameo: Mark McGrath as the host of America's Next A Capella Sensation, with Santigold, Clay Aiken and Aaron Rodgers as the judges.
- Comically Missing the Point: Dwight installs a steam trap at the door to scare intruders. Creed intentionally gets the passwords wrong so he can use the steam to dry-clean his clothes for free..
- Competition Freak: The whole A.A.R.M. competition is just an elaborate Troll by Jim, who knows that, even as the administrator of a contest, Dwight's Munchkin instincts will kick in and he'll try to win.
- Continuity Nod: Dwight's devotion to Battlestar Galactica is reaffirmed when we see a model of the Galactica hanging in his office, and it leads to an epiphany regarding Phillip.Dwight: The way that boy looks at the Galactica is precisely the way I look at the Galactica. And he eats the same kind of paper I do. Hmmm.
- Creator Cameo: David Rogers, the director of the episode, is the voice of the documentary crew member who Jim asks for help.
- Didn't Think This Through: Darryl sneaks back into the office after having quietly left for his new job in Philadelphia in order to return a delivery truck. He ends up stumbling into the entire office crew when they're all in the warehouse.
- Andy waits for several hours in a long line to audition on America's Next A Capella Sensation, only for the producer to close the line because there's no room for any more auditions. Andy storms his way into the audition room anyway, but the judges refuse to grant him one. His humiliating tantrum over the ordeal makes it on air as a blooper and goes viral.
- Falling-in-Love Montage: When Pam expresses her doubt about her not being enough for Jim, he asks the documentary crew to help him by preparing a DVD showing their lives throughout the show and how they fell in love with each other.
- Inelegant Blubbering: Andy is reduced to this by the end of his audition.Santigold: Look, you gotta go! You can't just sit here and cry!Andy: Oh, I can SO just sit here and cry!
- Internal Reveal: Jim finally shows Pam the card that he had wrote for her but never gave in "Christmas Party". Literally an internal reveal in this case, because we still don't find out what it says.note
- Like an Old Married Couple: Oscar and Angela get along quite well, considering the circumstances. Of note, Oscar proves himself to be a very capable surrogate father for Phillip, assisting with dressing him, knowing his snack and toy preferences, and even has his mother watch Phillip so he and Angela can both attend the premiere of the documentary.
- Love Confession: Dwight confesses to Angela that he loves her, even if her son isn't his, and proposes. Angela says yes, and then reveals that she lied about Philip not being his son because she wanted Dwight to marry her for her.
- Nothing Is the Same Anymore: Stanley remarks that this will be the case as the documentary finally gets ready to air.
- Parental Substitute: It's implied that Kevin views Oscar and Angela as surrogate parents, since his reaction to Phillip is the exact same way a young child would jealously regard a new baby sibling, right down to stealing and hiding his toys.
- Paste Eater: After Angela brings Phillip into the office, the toddler tries to eat some Dunder Mifflin 24-weight letter bond paper. Dwight is impressed, since "That’s the most flavorful bond."
- Reality Show: America's Next A Capella Sensation is an obvious American Idol knockoff, though comments made by Andy and the presence of Clay Aiken as a judge reveal that American Idol still exists in the show's universe.
- The Reveal: Philip truly is Dwight's son.
- Shout-Out: After failing to impress the judges of America's Next A Capella Sensation with a rendition of "Far Above Cayuga's Waters" (the actual Cornell University anthem), Andy tries singing "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile" from Annie.
- Spy Speak: As a security measure, Dwight now has everyone exchange code phrases with Erin for access into the office. Unfortunately, he screws up when it's his turn.Erin: The tea in Nepal is very hot.Dwight: But the coffee in Peru is far hotter.Erin: Close.Dwight: This is Tuesday, right? The coffee in Paraguay is far hotter?Erin: Colder.Dwight: The coffee in Paraguay is colder?Erin: No, I meant you’re getting colder. The correct response is “The coffee in Peru is much hotter.”
- Vitriolic Best Buds: Jim and Dwight basically acknowledge that they have this relationship once and for all in this episode. When Dwight interrupts Jim's big moment with Pam to ask for his help, Jim just blows it off at first as typical Dwight Serious Business tomfoolery, but when he realizes that Dwight really is going through a big personal crisis and really needs help, he goes to talk with him, and gives him a serious piece of advice that really does him some good.
- Wacky Marriage Proposal: On the shoulder of a freeway, involving a bullhorn.note
- What the Hell, Hero?: Everyone admonishes Darryl for having left without saying goodbye.
- X Days Since: To assist with their plan to turn the Scranton branch into a "no-nonsense office", Dwight and Jim have an "X Days Since Our Last Nonsense" sign.
