The Office (U.S. TV series) season 2

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The Office Season 2
Country of origin Flag of the United States United States
Network NBC
Original run September 20, 2005 – May 11, 2006
No. of episodes 22
DVD release date September 12, 2006-Region 1
January 28, 2008-Region 2 (Widescreen Anamorphic boxed set)
Previous season 1
Next season 3

The second season of the American television comedy The Office premiered in the United States on NBC on September 20, 2005 and ended on May 11, 2006, consisting of twenty-two 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.

Season two of The Office aired on Tuesdays in the United States at 9:30 p.m from September 20, 2005 to December 6, 2005. The timeslot changed to Thursdays at 9:00 p.m. from January 5, 2006 to May 11, 2006. The season was released in a package which contained four DVDs, and was released in Region 1 on September 12, 2006.[1] The DVD was also released in Region 2 on January 28, 2008. It contained all 22 episodes, as well as commentaries from creators, writers, actors, and directors on some of the episodes, and it also contained deleted scenes from all of the episodes. It was released by Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

Contents

[edit] Production

The second 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[2] and Lester Lewis.[3] The show's writers include Daniels, Gervais, Merchant, Michael Schur,[4] 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.[5]

Season two featured episodes directed by eight different directors, each of whom aside from Bryan Gordon directed multiple episodes. The Office features both a "team of directors" as well as several freelance directors. Gordon, Ken Kwapis, Ken Whittingham, and Daniels had all previously directed episodes during season one, while Dennie Gordon, Paul Feig, Victor Nelli Jr., and Charles McDougall each made their directorial debut for the show. While The Office was mainly filmed on a studio set in Los Angeles, California, the city of Scranton, Pennsylvania, where the show is set, was also used for shots of the opening theme.[6]

[edit] Cast

Cast of The Office.
Cast of The Office.

The Office employs an ensemble cast. All of the main characters, and some minor ones, are based on characters from the British version of The Office. While these characters normally have the same attitudes and perceptions as their British counterparts, the roles have been redesigned to better fit the American show. The show is known for its 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.[7] Loosely based on David Brent, Gervais' character in the British version,[8] 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.[9] 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.[10] Pam, who is based on Dawn Tinsley, is shy, but is often a cohort with Jim in his pranks on Dwight.[11] B.J. Novak portrays Ryan Howard, who is a temporary worker.[12]

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

As the second season started, the success of Carell's hit summer movie The 40-Year-Old Virgin and online sales of episodes at iTunes helped the show to garner viewers.[13] The increase in viewership led NBC to move the series to the "Must See TV" Thursday night in January 2006, where ratings continued to grow. By the 2005–2006 season, it placed sixty-seventh (tied with 20/20). It averaged eight million viewers, and scored a 4.0/10 in the Nielsen ratings, meaning that on average four percent of households were tuned in at any given moment and ten percent of all televisions in use at the time were tuned into the program. The show received dramatic gains in viewers from the previous year, up forty percent in total viewers and up sixty percent in viewers ages 18–49.[14] The season featured the show's first forty minute long episode, the season finale "Casino Night". Josh Wolk, an Entertainment Weekly television critic, said that the show has "...perfecting workaday moments so hilariously and relatably awkward that it makes viewers both laugh and cringe...".[15]

[edit] Honors

The second season of The Office received three Primetime Emmy Awards nominations at the 58th Primetime Emmy Awards, and won the award for Outstanding Comedy Series. Other nominations included Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for Carell, for his portrayal of Michael Scott, and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for Michael Schur, for the episode "Christmas Party". Carell also received the Television Critic's Award for Best Individual Achievement in Comedy.[16]

[edit] Episodes

Episode number refers to the order in which each episode was released in relation to the entire series, 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
07 "The Dundies"  Greg Daniels Mindy Kaling September 20, 2005 203
Michael hosts "The Dundies" (a play on the name of Dunder Mifflin), the annual awards show in which he presents awards to members of the office. But the night doesn't turn out as he plans, and Michael ends up angering or humiliating the majority of the office members. At the end of the day, an intoxicated Pam fights with her boyfriend Roy, and then kisses Jim. 
08 "Sexual Harassment"  Ken Kwapis B.J. Novak September 27, 2005 202
Dunder Mifflin's CFO resigns due to a sexual harassment suit, leading the corporate headquarters to order Toby to conduct a review at the Scranton branch of the company's sexual harassment policies. The company also sends a lawyer to Scranton. Michael fears that this will stop his ability to keep an "easy-going office", but later realizes that the lawyer that was sent was to protect him. 
09 "Office Olympics"  Paul Feig Michael Schur October 4, 2005 204
Michael and Dwight leave to close a deal on Michael's new condominium. Although Dwight finds various problems in the condominium, Michael decides to buy it anyway. Meanwhile, back at the office, boredom leads to Pam and Jim inventing games. They discover that the other workers of the office have their own games to pass the time, leading to Pam and Jim to start "Games of the First Dunder-Mifflin Olympiad". Michael and Dwight's return stops the games, but Jim gives the gold medal to Michael, for closing the purchase of his condominium. 
10 "The Fire"  Ken Kwapis B.J. Novak October 11, 2005 201
A fire in the office leads the employees to evacuate the building. At the end of the day, Dwight enters the building to retrieve Michael's cell phone, only to return to announce that he discovered who caused the fire: Ryan. 
11 "Halloween"  Paul Feig Greg Daniels October 18, 2005 206
Downsizing leads corporate headquarters to order Michael to fire somebody by the end of October. Michael procrastinates until Halloween, when he still has not decided who to fire. When he decides to fire Creed, Creed manages to coerce Michael to fire Devon. 
12 "The Fight"  Ken Kwapis Gene Stupnitsky and Lee Eisenberg November 1, 2005 207
Michael and Dwight decide to have a karate fight at a local dojo. Although neither show proficiency in the martial arts, Michael finally emerges victorious. The two are cold to each other throughout the day, until as a show of good faith, Michael promotes Dwight from Assistant to the Regional Manager to Assistant Regional Manager. 
13 "The Client"  Greg Daniels Paul Lieberstein November 8, 2005 205
Jan and Michael meet an important client, but Michael angers Jan with his antics and refusal to talk business. But later in the day, it pays off, as Michael and the client create a bond, and Michael closes the important deal. Back at the office, the employees find a screenplay written by Michael, which puts Dwight in an unflattering light. 
14 "Performance Review"  Paul Feig Larry Wilmore November 15, 2005 209
Michael conferences with each of the employees of the office during their annual performance reviews, while he worries about his own upcoming performance review with Jan. Michael takes suggestions from the employee suggestion box on ways to better himself, and puts them into use, but the attempt ends in disaster. 
15 "E-mail Surveillance"  Paul Feig Jennifer Celotta November 22, 2005 208
Jim becomes nervous when Michael informs the employees of the office that he now has the ability to read their e-mail. Jim worries that Michael will discover he isn't invited to Jim's party. Meanwhile, Pam begins to notice Dwight and Angela engaging in odd interactions, and begins to suspect that they are in a relationship together, but quickly dismisses the idea. Later, Michael crashes Jim's party, much to the dismay of all of the guests. 
16 "Christmas Party"  Charles McDougall Michael Schur December 6, 2005 210
The office Christmas party turns into a disaster when Michael, unhappy with the handmade gift that he received from Phyllis, decides to give all of the employees the ability to "steal" each other's gifts. While Michael attempts to procure a better gift, the rest of the members of the office all attempt to win the iPod that Michael originally bought for Ryan. 
17 "Booze Cruise"  Ken Kwapis Greg Daniels January 5, 2006 213
Michael rents a boat for the annual Dunder Mifflin Scranton motivational cruise. But the group's fun turns sour, as a drunken Roy publiclysets a wedding date without consulting Pam. Jim realizes that he is truly still in love with Pam, and breaks up with his date Katy. Later, Jim reveals to Michael that he is in love with Pam, who in a moment of oddity, actually provides comfort to Jim. 
18 "The Injury"  Bryan Gordon Mindy Kaling January 12, 2006 211
When Michael burns his foot while at his own home, he requests that one of the employees of the office come to his house to pick him up. Dwight volunteers, but crashes his car before he is even able to get out of the Dunder Mifflin Scranton parking lot. Dwight suffers a concussion, but it brings out a good-natured Dwight, who is kind and helpful to the other members of the office. At the end of the episode, Jim drives both Michael and Dwight to the hospital, where they are both helped with their respective injuries. 
19 "The Secret"  Dennie Gordon Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky January 19, 2006 214
Jim, worried that Michael will reveal the secret that Jim told him in "Booze Cruise" of his love for Pam, lets Michael believe that they are best friends. But his efforts fail, as Michael reveals to the entire office staff that Jim is in love with Pam. Jim plays it off as he was in love with Pam, but is no longer. Pam, though, doesn't believe Jim. Meanwhile, Dwight uncovers evidence that confirms Oscar's homosexuality, but fails to recognize it. 
20 "The Carpet"  Victor Nelli Jr. Paul Lieberstein January 26, 2006 212
When Michael realizes someone has defecated in his office, he moves out to Jim's desk. Jim, though, is forced to move into the annex, where Kelly works. Michael later becomes convinced that the perpetrator's actions were due in part to either a "hate crime" or "terrorism", and Michael becomes angry, suspecting that it was his employees that perpetrated the crime. But when he later realizes that it was his "best friend" Todd Packer who did it, he instantly finds the humor in the action. 
21 "Boys and Girls"  Dennie Gordon B.J. Novak February 2, 2006 215
When Jan comes to Dunder Mifflin Scranton to lead a seminar that is exclusive to the females in the office, Michael becomes upset for being left out. To try to remedy it, he decides to host his on seminar that is exclusive to the men in the office. Michael's seminar fails, and he ends up nearly destroying the warehouse in the process. Later, after Jan recommends to Pam that she should enter a graphic design course, Roy demands that she doesn't. When Jim mentions something about it, Pam becomes angry with him. 
22 "Valentine's Day"  Greg Daniels Michael Schur February 9, 2006 217
Michael leaves for New York City for a Valentine's Day meeting between the local branch managers and Dunder Mifflin's new Chief Financial Officer. But during the meeting, Michael accidentally lets slip that he and Jan are in a relationship, much to the new CFO's disapproval. Back at the office, Valentine's Day festivities are in full swing, with Phyllis' boyfriend sending her multiple gifts, and Dwight and Angela secretly exchanging gifts. In New York, Michael is able to save both Jan's and his jobs, when he tells the CFO that what he said was just really a joke. 
23 "Dwight's Speech"  Charles McDougall Paul Lieberstein March 2, 2006 216
Dwight wins the award for Northeast Pennsylvania Salesman of the Year, giving him both a lucrative prize as well as the honor of speaking at a local salesman's convention. Dwight becomes nervous, and Jim, seeing this, gives him "help" by giving him lines from speeches by figures such as Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini. At the convention, Dwight becomes nervous, but finally goes to the stand and gives a rousing speech. 
24 "Take Your Daughter to Work Day"  Victor Nelli Jr. Mindy Kaling March 16, 2006 218
Members of the office bring in their daughters (and in one case, a son) on the annual "Take Your Daughter to Work Day". Michael, though originally upset that the day would force him to tone down his jokes, finds enjoyment in talking with the children, especially Toby's daughter Sasha. Meanwhile, Stanley's daughter Melissa develops a crush on Ryan, leading Stanley to reprimand Ryan for it. 
25 "Michael's Birthday"  Ken Whittingham Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky March 30, 2006 219
Michael is excited over birthday celebrations, but the majority of the office is instead focused on Kevin, who is nervously awaiting the results from a skin cancer screening. Jim and Pam leave to try to purchase items to comfort Kevin, and later in the day, the entire staff leaves for a day at the ice rink. Michael entertains a woman and her kids, and Kevin is later relieved to discover that he is negative for skin cancer. 
26 "Drug Testing"  Greg Daniels Jennifer Celotta April 27, 2006 222
Dwight discovers pieces of a joint in the parking lot outside of Dunder Mifflin Scranton, and instantly begins an investigation to find the owner of it. Michael, worried that the drug, could have possibly been his, spends the day pressuring Dwight for a cup of clean urine to pass the drug test with. But after no avail, Dwight resigns his commission as a volunteer sheriff. To try to stop Dwight's depression, Michael assigns Dwight the title of "Honorary Security Adviser". 
27 "Conflict Resolution"  Charles McDougall Greg Daniels May 4, 2006 220
Oscar and Angela's argument leads Toby to try to resolve their dispute. Michael, believing he can solve the problems better than Toby, takes over the case and mediates a solution between the two parties. Michael then takes all of the cases from Toby to solve them, but instead of solving them privately, he reads the complaints out to the entire office. Dwight's many complaints are then revealed by Michael to Jim. 
28 "Casino Night†"  Ken Kwapis Steve Carell May 11, 2006 221
Michael organizes a casino night for the office, but inadvertently brings two dates, his boss Jan, and Carol. Meanwhile, Jim and Pam meet, and Jim informs her that he is leaving to Stamford, Connecticut. Jim reveals that he is in love with her, and they share a kiss, but Pam reminds him that she is with Roy, and that she could never be with him. 

[edit] Notes

  • † Denotes a forty minute episode (normal episodes are twenty to twenty-one minutes).

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ The Office Season 2 DVD to be Released September 12th 7/19/06. Sir Links Alot. Retrieved on 2008-04-13.
  2. ^ Bashir, Martin and Morris, Dan. Veteran TV Writer Moves in Front of the Camera ABC News, retrieved April 13, 2008
  3. ^ Lester Lewis Yahoo! TV, retrieved April 13, 2008
  4. ^ Paumgarten, Nick. Fender Bender The New Yorker, retrieved April 13, 2008
  5. ^ Creer, Jen. Will writer/actors from The Office strike?. Tvsquad.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-13.
  6. ^ Marchese, John. Scranton Embraces the ‘Office’ Infamy The New York Times, retrieved April 16, 2008
  7. ^ Taking 'Office' lessons from the world's greatest (inept) boss USA Today, retrieved April 13, 2008
  8. ^ Jolly Good Show Or Was It?; On TV, Attitude Is More Important Than the Way the Vowels Sound The New York Times, retrieved April 13, 2008
  9. ^ The Man Behind 'The Office's' Favorite Suck-Up, Dwight Schrute ABC News, retrieved April 13, 2008
  10. ^ Office' Transfers to a New Cubicle The New York Times, retrieved April 13, 2008
  11. ^ An American-Style 'Office' With a Boss From Heck The New York Times, retrieved April 13, 2008
  12. ^ Hawaii, The Office & Lost in Space Castings Variety, retrieved April 13, 2008
  13. ^ Ryan, Maureen. "'Office' promotions pay off in a big way", Chicago Tribune, 2006-02-23. Retrieved on 2008-03-20. "'Because of the relationship we have with [the feature-film division of NBC Universal], within the company we knew that Steve had been identified as a big star and we'd be crazy to let him go,' said Angela Bromstad, president of NBC Universal Television Studio, the production company behind 'The Office.' Hence the second-season pickup of the show.'" 
  14. ^ 2005–06 primetime wrap., hollywoodreporter.com, 2006-05-26. Retrieved on 2008-04-12.
  15. ^ Take This Job and Love ItEntertainment Weekly, retrieved April 14, 2008
  16. ^ Steve Carell wins TV Critic's AwardJam Showbiz, retrieved April 14, 2008

[edit] External links

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The Office (U.S. TV series)
Episodes
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