Can’t Get Enough Office? Buy Dunder Mifflin.

We’re surprised this hasn’t already happened on some fan website somewhere. Or maybe it has. But now it’s official: the fictional paper brand, Dunder Mifflin, portrayed in The Office, is coming to the real world. In a deal between Quill.com (owned by Staples) and NBC Universal, cartons of Dunder Mifflin-branded paper can be yours.

NBC made a two-year licensing deal with the office supply company that will get it six percent of the profits from the sale of the paper. And it might actually be a practical financial purchase. According to the AP: Each box of 20-pound Dunder Mifflin paper — that’s 5,000 sheets — will set you back $34.99, compared to $39.90 for the next cheapest brand of similar weight and color copy paper.”

Economics aside, we love it for its appeal to rabid fans of The Office.  Not that there are any of those around here …

‘The Office’ Star Ricky Gervais to Host Golden Globes

British comic Ricky Gervais, creator and star of the original version of The Office, has been tapped to host the next Golden Globe Awards on January 17. Gervais, who recently starred in the film comedy The Invention of Lying, said hosting awards shows is a “thankless task.”

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“What’s the best that could happen?” Gervais said about award show hosting gigs. “You’re funny? You should be. The worst that can happen is they say: Worst host ever!” Gervais was persuaded against his better judgment to sign on as Golden Globes host anyway.

“Not only is this the biggest Hollywood celebration of the industry which includes both film and TV, but also an environment where I feel I can get free reign as a host. I have resisted many other offers like this, but there are just some things you don’t turn down,” Gervais said.

Well, the Academy Awards certainly pumped up the volume and improved their ratings last time around by bringing in Aussie Hugh Jackman as host. Maybe bringing in a Brit will help the Golden Globes crawl out of its dark hole as well. Sorry American comedians – just like a lot of us normal folks out there – you’ve been outsourced.

The 67th annual Golden Globe Awards will air January 17, 2010.

Steve Carell Is Now Your Friendly Neighborhood Grocer

Somebody should tell Steve Carell that when they said they were doing an Office spin-off, it didn’t mean he should actually go get another manager job somewhere else! Quirky Steve has decided he’ll prepare for the coming Great Depression 2.0 by buying a little general store. It’ll be like the good old days in the ’30’s!

Steve just bought a little Mom and Pop store in Massachusetts- the Marshfield Hills General Store. Steve’s a part-time resident of the town, which is 25 miles south of Boston. He put his sister-in-law Tish Vivado in charge, but said customers should not be surprised to see him working there on occasion. Steve told the Boston Globe:

“I will be manning the cash register, and stocking the shelves as time permits! He said the purchase was more of an “emotional investment than a business one” and an opportunity to preserve a piece of Americana.

Previous owner Sherry Bechtold said she and her husband Bob sold the 155-year-old building and business to Carell after being convinced he wanted it “for the right reasons.” She said she wanted to make sure the new owner retained the store’s character. We’ll see what kind of character Steve comes up with as the managing grocer of a general store! Hopefully he won’t rename it “Dumbo-Meddlin.”

Contest Giveaway: NBC “The Office” DVD Board Game

“The Office” returns in its fifth season Thursday, September 25th at 9pm on NBC.

To celebrate Dunder Mifflin’s continued success NBC has sent over a very awesome board game for me to give away. I’ve also got a stack of very cool Heroes stuff including “9th Wonders” comic books and trading cards that I’ll giveaway for runner-up prizes. Lots of cool NBC show prizes to win.

NBC “The Office” DVD Board Game – Giveaway Details
1. Subscribe to Snark Food’s daily email newsletter. Click here to subscribe. (note: you will be required to activate the email subscription) If you’re already subscribed you just have to send in the email to enter.

2. Send me an e-mail at contests@snarkfood.com with your name and mailing address. Please include “The Office” in the subject of your email.

I’ll draw winners for the game on Saturday, September 13, 2008 and if selected you’ll be notified by email. I will check the winner’s email address against the newsletter subscriptions, and those who don’t have an active subscription will be disqualified. You are not obligated to remain a subscriber and can unsubscribe after the contest is over. Enter now!

Restrictions: Must be a U.S. resident and 18 years or older. One entry per person & per email address (one person can’t enter through multiple email addresses, nor can multiple people enter through one email address).

Visit the NBC Store for more details the game itself.