Rich Howells

Jenna Fischer’s Pam from ‘The Office’ is finally unbanned from fictional Scranton Chili’s

Jenna Fischer’s Pam from ‘The Office’ is finally unbanned from fictional Scranton Chili’s
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It appears that Pam Beesly can once again “feel God in this Chili’s tonight.”

Actress Jenna Fischer, who played the Dunder Mifflin receptionist and later administrator in almost every episode of the hit NBC sitcom “The Office,” jokingly tweeted a photo of herself on Monday standing in front of a Chili’s Grill & Bar, asking, “Should I try to go in?” Referring to “The Dundies,” the first episode of Season 2 in 2005, Pam was kicked out of the chain restaurant for sneaking drinks off other people’s tables and getting drunk; a manager even Xeroxed her driver’s license so that she could never return.

Chili’s got the joke and responded in kind a few hours later:

The company took it one step further yesterday with an official press release that lifted the “permanent ban” on the fictional character:

Effective immediately, Chili’s Grill & Bar has removed the longstanding ban on a Scranton, Pennsylvania woman who allegedly caused a disturbance during a company awards party held at a Chili’s near the Pennsylvania town of Scranton.

The woman, Pam Beesly Halpert, received a prestigious award for having the whitest sneakers in the company.

After thanking her shoes and coworkers, the woman declared, “I feel God in this Chili’s tonight.”

“After reviewing the good conduct of Pam, I have decided to lift the now 11-year ban,” said Kelli Valade, President of Chili’s. “Pam is an inspiration to many and we welcome her with open arms.”

“Pam” was delighted:

Residents of Scranton know that there isn’t actually a Chili’s there; the closest location is at the Wyoming Valley Mall in Wilkes-Barre. Still, it’s pretty funny for longtime fans of the series, who remember Pam drunkenly kissing Jim Halpert during Michael Scott’s annual “Dundies” award ceremony and hinting at their blossoming romance to come.