The Office (U.S. season 4)

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The Office Season 4
Country of origin Flag of the United States United States
Network NBC
Original run September 27, 2007 – May 15, 2008
No. of episodes 14
DVD release date September 2, 2008[1] USA (Widescreen Anamorphic boxed set)
Previous season 3
Next season 5

The fourth season of the American television comedy The Office premiered in the United States on NBC on September 27, 2007, and concluded on May 15, 2008. Consisting of fourteen episodes (five of them being one-hour long), the fourth season continued the American adaptation of the British TV series of the same name as a fake documentary portraying the daily lives of office employees in the Scranton, Pennsylvania branch of the fictitious Dunder Mifflin Paper Company.

At first, NBC ordered a full fourth season[2] consisting of 30 half-hour segments, 10 of which were combined to form five one-hour episodes (aired at the beginning of the season), creating 25 episodes overall. After eight episodes were filmed, production was suspended due to the 2007–2008 writers' strike, in which not only the writers but Carell refused to cross the picket line.[3] New post-strike episodes began airing April 10. The season ended six new episodes (one of them, the season finale, being a one-hour long episode), resulting in a shortened season of 14 total episodes.[4] The season finale aired May 15, 2008.

The fourth season of The Office aired on Thursdays at 9:00 PM (EDT). The season will be released on DVD in a box set on September 2, 2008.

Contents

[edit] Cast

The Office cast during the fourth season. Shown is the entire office staff excluding Andy Bernard.
The Office cast during the fourth season. Shown is the entire office staff excluding Andy Bernard.

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, with many of its actors and actresses known particularly for their improvisational work. Steve Carell stars as Michael Scott, Regional Manager of the Dunder Mifflin Scranton Branch. Loosely based on David Brent, Gervais' character in the British version, 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.[5] 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.[6] Pam, who is based on Dawn Tinsley, is shy, but in many cases a cohort with Jim in his pranks on Dwight.[7] B.J. Novak portrays Ryan Howard, who for the first two seasons is a temporary worker, but is promoted to sales representative.[8]

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, Stanley Hudson, portrayed by Leslie David Baker, and Andy Bernard, portrayed by Ed Helms 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 former 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] Episodes

"Series #" refers to the episode number in relation to the entire series. Production Code refers to the episode's individual code, with the 4 referring to the fourth season, and the two final numbers referring to the order each episode was filmed.

# Title Director(s) Writer(s) Original U.S. air date Production code
53 "Fun Run‡"  Greg Daniels Greg Daniels September 27, 2007 4002
After Michael hits Meredith with his car just outside the offices of Dunder Mifflin Scranton, it is discovered in the hospital that she was infected with rabies. Meanwhile, Angela asks her boyfriend Dwight to take care of her sick cat while she is gone, but Dwight mercy-kills the animal, leading to Dwight and Angela's breakup. Later, Jim, now broken up from Karen, and Pam, announce that they are dating to the camera crew. Feeling guilty from his accident with Meredith, Michael decides to host "Michael Scott’s Dunder Mifflin Scranton Meredith Palmer Memorial Celebrity Rabies Awareness Pro-Am Fun Run Race For The Cure", although his employees are less than enthused. The race is finally won by Toby, and a depressed Michael is forgiven by Meredith. 
54 "Dunder Mifflin Infinity‡"  Craig Zisk Michael Schur October 4, 2007 4004
Jim and Pam's relationship is revealed to the rest of the office after Toby files a PDA complaint. For the first time since his promotion, Ryan returns to the offices of Dunder Mifflin Scranton to introduce to the office "Dunder Mifflin Infinity", his plan to use technology to revitalize the company. Michael, believing personal interaction is more important than the ease of technology, leaves with Dwight to present gift baskets to former clients to try to win them back. After presenting the baskets with no luck, Michael, unable to properly use his car's GPS, crashes it into a lake. Back at the office, Kelly tries to force Ryan to get back together with her. 
55 "Launch Party‡"  Ken Whittingham Jennifer Celotta October 11, 2007 4005
As the new brainchild of Ryan, the new Dunder Mifflin Infinity website, is about to be released, the staff of Dunder Mifflin Scranton prepare to host a party as part of a company-wide video chat room. Dwight, wanting to prove to Angela that he can beat technology, tries to beat the new computer in number of sales, which he ultimately does. Later, at the party, Dwight and Michael take a hostage in the form of a pizza delivery boy, although they later release him. At the end of the chat room, Michael humiliates Ryan, in front of every branch of Dunder Mifflin. 
56 "Money‡"  Paul Lieberstein Paul Lieberstein October 18, 2007 4007
When Jan, now living with Michael in his condominium, forces costly changes in Michael's life, he begins to worry about his financial situation. To try to remedy the problem, Michael begins to leave work early so he can take a late night job working as a telemarketer until 1 A.M. When Ryan finds out, he forces Michael to quit, who then fears that there is no way in which he can support Jan and himself. When he tries to hop a train, Jan meets him and tells him that they can work together to find a way to live. Meanwhile, Dwight pines over Angela, who is later asked out by Andy. After a pep-talk by Jim, Dwight returns as his normal annoying self, much to Jim's pleasure. 
57 "Local Ad"  Jason Reitman B.J. Novak October 25, 2007 4009
Although informed that he and his employees can only be in the Dunder Mifflin Infinity commercial for a few seconds, Michael decides to use the staff of Dunder Mifflin Scranton in a commercial produced by himself, only to have it rebuffed by the corporate office. Meanwhile, the progression of Andy and Angela's relationship forces Dwight to sink into a depression, where he attempts to remove himself from his life by playing Second Life. That evening, Jim plays the rejected version of the staff's commercial, where it is well received by both the employees as well as other bar patrons. 
58 "Branch Wars"  Joss Whedon Mindy Kaling November 1, 2007 4010
Karen, now Regional Manager of Dunder Miffin Utica, attempts to lure Stanley away from Dunder Mifflin Scranton. To try to prank Karen for attempting this, Michael and Dwight trick Jim into accompanying them on a raid to Utica. But when they are discovered, Karen scolds them for trying, and is only further angered when Jim informs her that he and Pam are now dating. Back at Scranton, Michael bids Stanley goodbye, who then tells Michael he's decided to stay, revealing that he only said he'd leave to try to get a raise. 
59 "Survivor Man"  Paul Feig Steve Carell November 8, 2007 4011
When Michael isn't invited to a company wilderness retreat hosted by Ryan, he decides to prove that he has the ability to survive on his own. Dwight drops Michael in the middle of a forest, and although told to leave, stays to prevent Michael from injury. When Michael almost eats poisonous mushrooms, Dwight jumps out to save him just in time. Meanwhile, back at Dunder Mifflin Scranton, Jim, who was put in charge by Michael after he left, decides to hold a combined birthday party for three members of the staff who's birthdays fall in quick succession. The plan, though, is not well received by the staff, and Jim decides to go back to having individual birthdays just as Michael and Dwight come back. 
60 "The Deposition"  Julian Farino Lester Lewis November 15, 2007 4012
Michael is thrown in the middle of a deposition between Dunder Mifflin and his girlfriend Jan after Jan sues the company for wrongful termination. Although the case originally goes well for Jan, Michael's actions lead to Dunder Mifflin easily getting the upper hand. Meanwhile, back at Dunder Mifflin Scranton, a ping pong craze turns into a battle of the relationships. 
61 "Dinner Party"  Paul Feig Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky April 10, 2008 4013
Pam and Jim find they have run out of excuses and are forced to go to Jan and Michael's house for dinner. When Andy and Angela are also invited to dinner, Dwight's jealousy gets the best of him. 
62 "Chair Model"  Jeffrey Blitz B.J. Novak April 17, 2008 4014
Michael’s fascination with a woman modeling a chair in an office supply catalog makes him feel things he hasn’t felt in a while. With Michael distracted, Kevin and Andy team up to win back Dunder Mifflin’s stolen parking spaces, forcing them into a showdown with the bosses of the five businesses of the office park. 
63 "Night Out"  Ken Whittingham Mindy Kaling April 24, 2008 4015
Michael and Dwight decide to surprise Ryan in New York for a night of clubbing and meet his friends. Meanwhile, the Scranton branch is upset when they find out they have to come in on a Saturday for Ryan's website project. Jim's plan to save them has unexpected results. 
64 "Did I Stutter?"  Randall Einhorn Brent Forrester and Justin Spitzer May 1, 2008 4016
When Stanley snaps at Michael during a meeting, Michael tries to give Stanley an attitude adjustment. Dwight decides to buy Andy’s car. Meanwhile, Pam deals with an unexpected inconvenience after spending the night at Jim’s. 
65 "Job Fair"  Tucker Gates Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky May 8, 2008 4017
Jim hits the links with Andy and Kevin to try and land his biggest client ever. Meanwhile, Michael sets up a booth at a local high school's job fair, which happens to be at Pam’s alma mater, to find “the best and the brightest” for Dunder Mifflin’s summer internship. 
66 "Goodbye, Toby‡"  Paul Feig Paul Lieberstein and Jennifer Celotta May 15, 2008 4018
It’s Toby’s goodbye party at Dunder Mifflin and Michael demands a huge celebration that matches the joy in his heart. Angela, sick of Michael’s unreasonable last minute demands, refuses, and Michael turns to Phyllis to take over the party planning committee. Meanwhile, Dwight and Meredith haze the new HR woman, Holly (guest star Amy Ryan). 

[edit] Notes

  • ‡ denotes an hour long episode.

[edit] References

  1. ^ The Office Season 4 DVD releases on Sept. 2. Tv Shows on DVD. Retrieved on 2008-05-27.
  2. ^ NBC Universal (2007-01-17). "NBC renews hit series The Office, My Name is Earl, Heroes, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit for full season of episodes in 2007-'08". Press release. Retrieved on 2008-04-12.
  3. ^ Serpe, Gina. Strike Support: Office, Stars Call In Sick. E! News, 2007-11-07. Retrieved on 2008-04-12.
  4. ^ Carter, Bill."No Pause Button: TV Studios and Writers Play Catch-Up After Strike". The New York Times, 2008-02-13 Retrieved on 2008-04-12.
  5. ^ The Man Behind 'The Office's' Favorite Suck-Up, Dwight Schrute ABC News, retrieved January 27, 2008
  6. ^ Office' Transfers to a New Cubicle The New York Times, retrieved January 28, 2008
  7. ^ An American-Style 'Office' With a Boss From Heck The New York Times, retrieved January 28, 2008
  8. ^ Hawaii, The Office & Lost in Space Castings Variety, retrieved February 1, 2008

[edit] See Also

[edit] External links

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The Office (U.S. TV series)
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