"The Office": "Kevin's Loan" webisodes are a tasty treat

NBC.com has just the thing to help us (in L.A.) through a heat wave: A batch of "Office" webisodes revolving around ice cream and Kevin's efforts to launch a business dubbed "Malone's Cones."

At least that's what he's telling people he intends to do. Funny and (by definition) breezy, the "Kevin's Loan" webisodes are nice fix for "Office" lovers at the midway point in our summertime wait for fresh segs this fall. It doesn't hurt that it amounts to a mini-showcase for fan-fave supporting characters like Brian Baumgartner's Kevin (pictured left), Craig Robinson's Darryl and Oscar Nunez's Oscar.

There were no credits on the screener I just watched but it's clear these bits were penned and helmed by CPAs (Certified People Approved by "Office" guru Greg Daniels). At least this time around "Office" staffers won't be toiling for free on these webisodes. The mandate to do just that two years ago on the first batch of web originals that "Office" team delivered ("The Accountants") was a big bone of contention for the show's staff before and during the WGA strike, but now this work is covered by the WGA's hard-fought new media provisions in its contract running through 2011 pact.

"You are a really weird dude, Oscar," Kevin insists (like he should talk) after Oscar calls him on his Malone's Cones ruse.

The "Kevin's Loan" webisodes bow July 10 at 3 p.m. ET on "The Office" home page on NBC.com.