The Office (U.S. TV series) season 1

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Office Season 1

Tagline: An NBC comedy not for everyone. Just anyone that works.
Country of origin Flag of the United States United States
Network NBC
Original run March 24, 2005 – April 26, 2005
No. of episodes 6
DVD release date August 16, 2005-Region 1
April 10, 2006-Region 2 (Widescreen Anamorphic boxed set)
Next season 2

The first season of the American television comedy The Office premiered in the United States on NBC on March 24, 2005, concluded on April 26, 2005, and consists of six episodes. The Office is an American adaptation of the British TV series of the same name, and is presented in a mockumentary format, portraying the daily lives of office employees in the Scranton, Pennsylvania branch of the fictitious Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. The first season debuted as a midseason replacement which took the timeslot of Committed,[1] and thus had fewer episodes than its subsequent seasons.[2]

Season one of The Office aired on Tuesdays in the United States at 9:30 p.m. The season was released in a package which contained one DVD, and was released on August 16, 2005.[3] The DVD contained all six episodes, as well as commentaries from creators, writers, actors, and directors on most of the episodes, as well as deleted scenes from all of the episodes. The DVD was released by Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

Contents

[edit] Production

The first season of the show was produced by Reveille Productions and Deedle-Dee Productions, both in association with NBC Universal Television Studios. The show is based upon the British series created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, who are executive producers on the show, and it is produced by Greg Daniels, also an executive producer, along with consulting producers Larry Wilmore[4] and Lester Lewis.[5] The show's writers include Daniels, Gervais, Merchant, Michael Schur,[6] Jason Kessler, Lee Eisenberg, Gene Stupnitsky, Jennifer Celotta, Brent Forrester, and Justin Spitzer. Steve Carell, Mindy Kaling, Paul Lieberstein, and B.J. Novak double as writers as well as actors in the show, and between them, wrote three episodes on the season. The first episode, "Pilot", was written by Daniels, but the majority of the episode was adapted from "Episode One" of the British series, with many scenes being transferred almost verbatim.

Season one featured episodes directed by five different directors. The Office features both a "team of directors" as well as several directors who are freelanced. Ken Kwapis, directed the first two episodes "Pilot" and "Diversity Day", and would go on to direct another seven episodes as of season four. Ken Whittingham, who directed "Health Care" would go on to direct another five episodes as of season four. Daniels both produced and directed the episode "Basketball".

The Office was almost entirely filmed in an actual office building in Los Angeles, California for its first season. Aside from Los Angeles, the city of Scranton, Pennsylvania, where the show is set, was also used for shots for the opening theme.[7]

[edit] Cast

The Office cast during the first season.
The Office cast during the first season.

Many characters portrayed by The Office cast are based on the British version of the show. While these characters normally have the same attitude and perceptions as their British counterparts, the roles have been redesigned to better fit the American show. The show is known for its generally large cast size, many of whom are known particularly for their improvisational work. Steve Carell stars as Michael Scott, Regional Manager of the Dunder Mifflin Scranton Branch.[8] Loosely based on David Brent, Gervais' character in the British version,[9] Scott is a dim-witted and lonely man, who attempts to win friends as the office comedian, usually making himself look bad in the process. Rainn Wilson portrays Dwight Schrute, who, based upon Gareth Keenan, is the Assistant to the Regional Manager, although the character frequently fails to include "to the" in his title.[10] John Krasinski portrays Jim Halpert, a sales representative and prankster, who is based upon Tim Canterbury, and is in love with Pam Beesly, the receptionist.[11] Pam, who is based on Dawn Tinsley, is shy, but is often a cohort with Jim in his pranks on Dwight.[12] B.J. Novak portrays Ryan Howard, who is a temporary worker.[13]

The show includes many minor characters playing roles of office workers, working in various positions around the office. Angela Martin, Oscar Martinez, and Kevin Malone are the office's accountants, and are portrayed by Angela Kinsey, Oscar Nuñez, and Brian Baumgartner, respectively. Schrute, Halpert, Phyllis Lapin (portrayed by Phyllis Smith), and Stanley Hudson (portrayed by Leslie David Baker), compose the sales division of Dunder Mifflin Scranton. Kate Flannery portrays Meredith Palmer, the promiscuous Supplier Relations Representative, writer-actress Mindy Kaling portrays Kelly Kapoor, the pop culture-obsessed Customer Service Representative, writer-actor Paul Lieberstein portrays Toby Flenderson, the sad-eyed Human Resources Representative, and Creed Bratton plays a fictionalized version of himself as the office's Quality Assurance Officer. Other characters include Roy Anderson, Pam's fiance played by David Denman, Warehouse Supervisor Darryl Philbin, played by Craig Robinson, and Jan Levinson, Michael's main love interest, who is portrayed by Melora Hardin.

[edit] Reception

The first season of The Office received mixed reviews among both viewers and critics.[14] After the initial episodes, critics thought The Office would be another failed remake of a British comedy, much like how the American version of Coupling was in relation to the original British series.[15] The Deseret Morning News believed The Office was a failed remake, and said "Maybe, after The Office dies a quick death on NBC, the network will decide that trying to Americanize British TV comedies isn't such a great idea."[16]

Despite these criticisms, a few thought the show achieved success in its first season. Time magazine wrote that "It's ironic that NBC's most original sitcom in years is a remake, but who cares? The Office is a daring, unflinching take on very American workplace tensions."[14] Boston.com felt that the first season of The Office was good, and the differences between the characters of the American and the original series added to the popularity of the series.[17] Rob Owen of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette felt that The Office succeeded in its first season, and that although NBC had failed in the past with television shows such as Coupling, it had found achievement with The Office.[18]

[edit] Ratings

The first episode of The Office scored well in ratings, gaining over eleven million viewers in the 18–49 demographic, as well as ranking third for number of viewers on its night.[19] But the episode aired on a Thursday evening, and between the change from the first episode and the second episode, The Office moved to its regular time slot on Tuesday evenings. The Office tumbled in the ratings, averaging under 5.9 million viewers, just over half that of the previous episode.[20] The first season finale "Hot Girl" received the lowest rating in the show's history, earning just a 2.2 rating with a 10 share.[21] The Office averaged 5.4 million viewers for its entire season, ranking it #102 for the 2004–2005 U.S. television season.[22]

[edit] Episodes

Episode number refers to the order in which each episode was released, while production code refers to the order in which each episode was filmed.

# Title Director(s) Writer(s) Original U.S. air date Production code
01 "Pilot"  Ken Kwapis Greg Daniels, adapted from UK script by Ricky Gervais, and Stephen Merchant March 24, 2005 100
A documentary crew arrives at the Scranton, Pennsylvania offices of Dunder Mifflin to observe the employees and learn about modern management. Manager Michael Scott tries to paint a happy picture in the face of potential downsizing from corporate. The office gets a new employee in temporary worker Ryan. Jim's pranks antagonize Dwight. 
02 "Diversity Day"  Ken Kwapis B.J. Novak March 29, 2005 101
A consultant (Larry Wilmore) arrives to teach the staff about tolerance and diversity after a racially discriminative impersonation by Michael. Michael insists on imparting his own knowledge, aggravating both the consultant and the entire office staff. Michael creates his own diversity seminar, while Jim struggles to keep hold of a lucrative contract extension. 
03 "Health Care"  Ken Whittingham Paul Lieberstein April 5, 2005 105
Michael puts Dwight in charge of choosing the company's new health care plan in an effort to save money to prevent downsizing. Dwight's chosen plan slashes benefits, much to the chagrin of the other employees. In an attempt to appease them, Michael promises the entire office a surprise, and then spends the rest of the day scrambling in an attempt to come through with his promise. 
04 "The Alliance"  Bryan Gordon Michael Schur April 12, 2005 103
As downsizing rumors swirl, a paranoid Dwight forms a Survivor-esque alliance against the other employees with Jim. Michael arranges a morale-boosting birthday party for Meredith, although her birthday is more than a month away. 
05 "Basketball"  Greg Daniels Greg Daniels April 19, 2005 104
Michael and the office staff take on the workers in the warehouse in a basketball game. Through racist and sexist ideals, Michael chooses many of the lesser skilled office workers over their more athletic peers. After the game ends, Michael attempts to force the warehouse workers to work on the next weekend, angering them. 
06 "Hot Girl"  Amy Heckerling Mindy Kaling April 26, 2005 102
When an attractive purse saleswoman named Katy (played by Amy Adams) comes to the office, Michael and Dwight openly vie for her attention. Meanwhile, the corporate office allocates $1000 for a prize for the top office salesman, but Michael spends the money on an espresso machine to try to impress Katy. 

[edit] References

  1. ^ 'Office,' 'Jury' Report for NBC Duty in March Zap2It, retrieved March 13, 2008
  2. ^ NBC to run six episodes of The Office Ananova, retrieved March 13, 2008
  3. ^ The Office DVD Release August 16th 8/3/05 SirLinksAlot, retrieved March 10, 2008
  4. ^ Veteran TV Writer Moves in Front of the Camera ABC News, retrieved March 7, 2008
  5. ^ Lester Lewis Yahoo! TV, retrieved March 7, 2008
  6. ^ Fender Bender The New Yorker, retrieved March 7, 2008
  7. ^ Scranton Embraces the ‘Office’ Infamy The New York Times, retrieved March 7, 2008
  8. ^ Taking 'Office' lessons from the world's greatest (inept) boss USA Today, retrieved March 7, 2008
  9. ^ Jolly Good Show Or Was It?; On TV, Attitude Is More Important Than the Way the Vowels Sound The New York Times, retrieved March 7, 2008
  10. ^ The Man Behind 'The Office's' Favorite Suck-Up, Dwight Schrute ABC News, retrieved March 7, 2008
  11. ^ Office' Transfers to a New Cubicle The New York Times, retrieved March 7, 2008
  12. ^ An American-Style 'Office' With a Boss From Heck The New York Times, retrieved March 7, 2008
  13. ^ Hawaii, The Office & Lost in Space Castings Variety, retrieved March 7, 2008
  14. ^ a b Office remake has its US TV debut BBC News, retrieved March 9, 2008
  15. ^ Office Humor and a Joyless "Stick" The Washington Post, retrieved March 9, 2008
  16. ^ NBC is off target with The Office The Deseret Morning News, retrieved March 9, 2008
  17. ^ It's not as warped as the original, but 'The Office' is painfully funny Boston.com, retrieved March 9, 2008
  18. ^ TV Reviews: American 'Office' works for and gets the laughs Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, retrieved March 9, 2008
  19. ^ American 'Office' an early ratings hit Digital Spy, retrieved March 9, 2008
  20. ^ Stunning tumble for NBC's 'The Office' Media Life magazine, retrieved March 9, 2008
  21. ^ Lower the lights for NBC's 'The Office' Media Life magazine, April 27, 2005, retrieved March 28, 2008
  22. ^ Final audience and ratings figures for 2004-05 Hollywood Reporter, retrieved March 28, 2008

[edit] See Also

[edit] External links

v • d • e
The Office (U.S. TV series)
Episodes
Crew
Cast
Characters
Writers
Elements