Fun Run
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| The Office episode |
| "Fun Run" | |
 Michael presents the check to Elizabeth the Stripper before the "Fun Run". |
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| Episode No. | 52 |
| Prod. Code | 4002 |
| Airdate | September 27, 2007 |
| Writer(s) | Greg Daniels |
| Director | Greg Daniels |
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The Office Season 4 |
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| List of all The Office episodes... | |
"Fun Run" is the first episode of the fourth season of The Office (U.S. version). It originally aired on September 27, 2007. It was written and directed by Greg Daniels. It is the first of four consecutive hour-long episodes.
Contents |
[edit] Synopsis
As with all of the "one-hour" episodes this season, "Fun Run" was produced in two parts which were initially aired together.
[edit] Part One
Over the summer, Jan has moved in with Michael, and Jim broke up with Karen (who left Dunder Mifflin Scranton). Jim and Pam confirm that they see each other socially but only as friends. Kevin, on the other hand, is convinced that they are secretly dating but his sleuthing uncovers no hard evidence.
As he arrives at work, Michael accidentally hits Meredith with his car, sending her to the hospital for a fractured pelvis. Forced to join a group visit to Meredith in the hospital, Angela leaves Dwight complicated instructions on the care of her ailing cat Sprinkles. During the hospital visit, Michael fails to obtain forgiveness from Meredith. When Angela returns to the office, Dwight informs her that her cat is dead.
The combination of Meredith's accident, Sprinkles' death, and a virus on Pam's computer convinces Michael that the office is cursed. Dwight discovers that Meredith has had a precautionary rabies shot due to several animal bites. Michael immediately takes credit for saving Meredith's life by sending her to the hospital and declares the curse over.
The documentary crew catches Pam picking up Jim in her car. They kiss and drive away.
[edit] Part Two
When faced with the footage of them kissing, Jim and Pam admit to the documentary crew that they are secretly dating. Pam, beaming, tells the camera that their romance "is going really great."
Still guilty about hurting Meredith, Michael organizes a charity 5K fun run to raise awareness of the dangers of rabies. Over half of the money raised is spent on the check presentation ceremony.
Few take the fun run seriously. In particular, Jim and Pam walk the race and stop at an estate sale and buy a lamp.
Dwight explains to Angela that he killed her cat because it was suffering, and that this is normal on the farm. Angela is furious, because being euthanized prevents Sprinkles from being in "cat heaven".
Toby wins the race, but his joy is short-lived because the course is not circular, leaving everyone far from the office. Michael becomes ill, having "carbo-loaded" and abstained from water. Pam and Jim talk him across the finish line, where he receives as a trophy the lamp Pam purchased at the estate sale.
In the hospital for dehydration, Michael is visited by Meredith. In recognition of his efforts, she forgives Michael.
[edit] Reception
"Fun Run" received a 5.4 Nielsen Rating and a 9% Share. The episode was watched by 9.67 million viewers and achieved a 5.1/12 in the key adults 18–49 demographic.[1]
[edit] Deleted Scenes
- Michael looks for a scapegoat and implies that Meredith was drunk and that she hit him.
- The employees recall memories they have of Meredith.
- Michael tries to find why the office is cursed.
- Michael's pediatrician pays him a visit in the hospital.
- Creed swipes all of Meredith's painkillers.
[edit] Notes
- Michael uses Mr. Burns' catchphrase "Excellent" in this episode. Greg Daniels was a writer for The Simpsons from 1993 to 1996.
- For the first time Pam wears her hair in the loose, wavy style she has maintained for Season 4.
- Stanley, Creed, and Oscar take a McCarthy Flowered Cab to the finish line rather than actually run. McCarthy Flowered Cabs are a Scranton staple, and the cab used in this episode is decorated exactly like the ones in Scranton--even using their real phone number, 344-5000.
- Pam states that she will be going to the "flea market at the drive-in" over the weekend. She is referring to the Circle Drive-In in Dickson City which holds a flea market every weekend.
- Meredith would probably have been taken to Community Medical Center which is a regional trauma hospital in Scranton. Other options would be Moses Taylor Hospital and Mercy Hospital. Contrary to what Andy noticed when he looked out the window, none of these are near a cemetery.
- According to the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System there were 504 animals in Pennsylvania that tested positive for rabies in 2006, of which only 41 were bats. The last recorded case of a death from rabies in Pennsylvania was in 1984, in Lycoming County, which is about one and a half hours from Scranton. Meredith reports in her medical history that in the past few months she's been bitten by a bat, a rat, and a raccoon (all separate occasions). She received a tetanus shot for the bat bite, and it would have been very unusual for her to not have received the series of rabies shots as well. The raccoon bite would have been significantly the most dangerous.
- Before the race, Michael eats Fettucini Alfredo from Giovanni's, which is a real restaurant in Scranton.
- Numerous characters eat products by Wegmans, a regional grocery chain with a store near Scranton. In the opening scene, Michael eats Wegmans cereal with organic soy milk. In the break room, some of the office members drink WPOP (Wegmans pop), and there is a box of Wegmans cereal in the kitchen.
- Pam eats Utz potato chips, which are made in Hanover, Pennsylvania and available only on the East Coast.
- The episode was aired on September 27, the day before World Rabies Day, a day dedicated to global rabies awareness.
[edit] Changes and references to previous episodes
- With this episode, Craig Robinson and Creed Bratton, who play Darryl Philbin and Creed Bratton respectively, receive star billings.
- Creed claims to be 81 ("82 in November") years old, although he may be lying in an attempt to be the only Fun Run participant in the 75-and-older category (believing there to be a cash award for the winner). He also exhibits an extensive knowledge of potentially addictive pain medicines.
- Kevin mentions Michael not running for Kevin when he was suspected of having skin cancer, referencing events in "Michael's Birthday".
- The "nurse" that Jim suggested Michael to hire for the check presentation (remainder of the donation, minus cost of the big check and the nurse’s appearance) turns out to be Elizabeth, the stripper from "Ben Franklin".
- The bat incident which leads to Meredith's rabies treatment occurred in "Business School".
- This is the first time in which the characters (Jim and Pam, specifically) actually view the footage from the camera crew.
- Andy becomes the sole remaining employee originally from the Stamford branch.
[edit] The Runners
| Runner Number | Person |
|---|---|
| 1 | Michael |
| 2 | Dwight |
| 3 | Andy |
| 4 | Creed |
| 5 | Toby (winner) |
| 6 | Pam |
| 7 | Darryl |
| 8 | Phyllis |
| 9 | Bob Vance |
| 10 | Oscar |
| 12 | Angela |
| 13 | Stanley |
| 14 | Kevin |
| 15 | Jim |
| 16 | Billy Merchant |
| 19 | Unknown Woman |
| 20 | Unknown Woman |
| 21 | Dark-Haired Man; possibly Kelly's neighbor Alan |
| 23 | Unknown Woman |
| 24 | Unnamed Warehouse Worker |
| 25 | Lester |
[edit] References
- ^ Broadcast TV Ratings for Thursday, September 27, 2007. Your Entertainment Now. Retrieved on 2007-09-28.
[edit] External links
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