<P> "Dinner Party" brought in an average of 9.2 million American viewers, which was the highest total audience since the fourth season premiere episode "Fun Run". This episode achieved a 4.8 / 12 percent rating in the key 18--49 demographic, meaning that 4.8 percent of 18 - to 49 - year - olds were tuned in at any given moment and twelve percent of all 18 - to 49 - year - olds watching television at the time were tuned in . The episode ranked in eighth place, in the 18--49 demographic, among all programs on television, which aired during the week of this episodes original broadcast . </P> <P> The episode has been met with critical acclaim since it has aired and is considered one of the best episodes of The Office by many critics . Travis Fickett of IGN wrote that "this is one of those great episodes of The Office that is hysterical and difficult to watch at the same time ." He noted that this was largely due to the fact that "it's not because of something Michael is doing that makes you wince . It's because of what's happening to him ." He ultimately gave the episode an 8.9 / 10, denoting a "great" episode . Jay Black of AOL's TV Squad said that "(he) was happy The Office was back" but "the only thing (he) worried about was whether it'd still be good" after the writers strike . However, he noted that his fears were put to rest and that "Dinner Party" was "a Barry Bond's - style (sic) chemically enhanced mega-home - run ." M. Giant of Television Without Pity graded this episode with an "A ." Aubry D'Arminio of Entertainment Weekly said that her favorite moment of the episode "was when Jan popped on that song by her former assistant, Hunter ." </P> <P> Jack Rodgers of TV Guide wrote that it is "a hilarious, brutally awkward look at the relationship (and apartment) from hell, a train wreck that you just can't keep from staring at ." He also noted that it is "a study of four couples: one hideously dysfunctional (Michael and Jan), one loving (Jim and Pam), one mismatched (Angela and Andy), and one, ahem, "purely carnal" (Dwight and babysitter)." The A.V. Club reviewer Nathan Rabin praised the episode for its "sheer squirm - inducing awkwardness". He ultimately gave the episode an "A". Former United States Republican presidential nominee John McCain, a fan of the series, told writer B.J. Novak that his favorite scene from the show is in this episode when Michael is giving his guests a tour of his condo, and a tripod can be seen set up by his bed . </P> <P> Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky's writing for this episode was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards in 2008 . Paul Feig won the 2008 Directors Guild of America award for Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series for this episode . </P>

Who played jan's assistant on the office