"Pilot" is the first episode of the first season of The Office. It was written by Greg Daniels, Ricky Gervais, and Stephen Merchant and directed by Ken Kwapis. It first aired on March 24, 2005.
Synopsis
A documentary crew gives a firsthand introduction to the staff of the Scranton branch of the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, managed by Michael Scott. Introduced in this episode include Jim Halpert and Dwight Schrute, who both work as sales representatives, Ryan Howard, the temp, Pam Beesly, the receptionist, and Jan Levinson-Gould, Michael's boss from corporate.
Michael's mug.
Jim tells Michael that he couldn't close a sales deal, so Michael calls the client and successfully concludes the sale, though he also accidentally insults the client. Michael tells the camera that he's been working at Dunder Mifflin for 12 years, four of which he's spent as Regional Manager. Michael then walks over to Pam's desk who gives Michael a fax from corporate, to which Michael jokes that the wastepaper basket is the special filing cabinet for things from corporate. He then crumbles the fax and throws it in the wastepaper basket. Michael tells the camera that people consider him the best boss because he is funny.
Dwight is shown unlocking his desk drawers and placing his phone receiver on his desk while humming a tune, while Jim daydreams. Jim is then interviewed and talks about what his job involves. Back to the office, Michael walks over to Jim and Dwight's desk and repeatedly shouts "Whassup?"
Jan Levinson-Gould then enters the office for a meeting. In an interview, Michael says he calls her Hilary Rodham Clinton, though not directly to her. Back to the office, Jan, Michael, and Pam are having a meeting in Michael's office. When Jan asks Michael if there was anything he wanted to add to the agenda, Michael tells her he didn't get one. Jan replies that she sent one earlier in the day. Michael asks Pam if they got an agenda, to which Pam says it was the one he threw in the garbage can. Jan then informs Michael that the board has determined that they can't justify having a Scranton branch and a Stamford branch. She says she told Josh in Stamford the same thing and that there may be downsizing in Michael's branch, to which Michael begins to panic at.
Dwight is then seen standing behind Jim's left side. He then taps his right shoulder, causing Jim to look on his right side, making Dwight laugh. Later in the meeting, Todd Packer calls Michael. Michael answers the phone, and Todd asks if "Godzillary" is coming to his office and says that he wants to ask her if the carpet matches the drapes, at which Michael hangs up on him with Jan displeased.
In the break room, Oscar Martinez, Phyllis Lapin, and Stanley Hudson are at a table talking about the possibility of downsizing. Angela Martin and Kevin Malone are shown also talking about the downsizing, with Angela saying she's going to be downsized, with Kevin agreeing with her. Jim is shown standing at Pam's desk, with Pam asking him if he's going to Angela's cat party, though Jim says he's not and that it's ridiculous.
The wall of pencils between Jim and Dwight's desks.
Ryan Howard then arrives from the temporary employee agency. Michael demonstrates to him his humour and imitates Moe of the Three Stooges and Adolf Hitler. Pam is interviewed and says she likes art. Meanwhile, as Jim is on the phone, Dwight uses a ruler and pushes Jim's overlapping papers onto his desk. Jim later places pencils between his desk and Dwight's, which Dwight smashes with his phone, to which Jim tells the camera he's not afraid of the downsizing issue. In an interview, Dwight says he has no problem with downsizing and that he's been recommending it since he first arrived at Dundler Mifflin.
To boost morale, Michael holds a meeting, with Dwight acting as Michael's assistant. Michael assures the office that they have nothing to worry about, though they still aren't pleased.
Dwight's stapler in Jell-O.
After the meeting, Michael introduces Ryan to Jim and Dwight. Dwight talks about his 1978 Nissan 280Z and opens his drawer to show Ryan some pictures though finds his stapler encased in Jell-O. Dwight wants Michael to punish him, though Jim, Ryan, and Michael make puns about the issue.
Jim later asks Pam if she wants to go out for a drink after work, though backs off when Pam's fiancé, Roy, arrives and wants her to go home with him. Michael tells Ryan his management style and plays a prank on Pam, pretending to fire her for stealing Post-it notes. When she breaks down crying, Michael reveals the firing as a prank, though Pam is not amused.
Michael's mug in Jell-O
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After everyone has gone home, Jim goes into Michael's office and places Michael's mug, encased in Jell-O, on his desk.
Trivia
- This episode was adapted from the first episode of the original British series, but "Americanized" by executive producer Greg Daniels. Most scenes are very similar to the British version, though some are very different.
- Most of this episode was filmed more than six months before the other episodes of the season.
- The scene where Jim tapes pencils to his desk and Dwight says they are a safety violation was originally filmed as the British version was, in which Tim stacks up cardboard boxes in front of Gareth so he can't see him. The scene was later reshot with pencils. However, later on in the episode, if you look closely in the background, you can see the boxes stacked up in front of Dwight.
- The two women in blue sweaters at the staff meeting were actual accountants that worked on the production.
- Michael asks Ryan if he likes The Jamie Kennedy Experiment and Punk'd, to which Ryan says he does. B.J. Novak, who plays Ryan, was a prankster on the second season of Punk'd.
- The work computers are all different than in the rest of the series. They have much fatter flat panel monitors and are running on Windows 98, whereas in later episodes they are running on Windows XP
- This episode marks the first mention of Josh Porter and the Stamford branch. Also mentioned is the possibility of a merge of the Scranton and Stamford branches, which later happens in the season 3 episode "The Merger".
- Michael identifies Dane Cook as one of his comedic influences. In real life, Steve Carell will co-star with Cook in the romantic comedy Dan in Real Life as Cook's brother. Both Carell and Cook are from Massachusetts.
Deleted scenes
The Season One DVD contains a number of deleted scenes from this episode. Notable cut scenes include:
- An interview with Dwight describing his family background. This would later be used in the season 2 episode "Drug Testing".
- An alternate take of Michael introducing Pam, where he tells a joke about every guy in the office "spraying on Pam." Pam is horrified.
- An alternate take of Jim's first interview where he sarcastically describes the importance of his work.
- Another interview with Dwight explaining how his human touch affects sales figures.
- An alternate take of Michael welcoming Ryan to the office.
- Michael introduces Ryan to other office employees.
- As she's eating lunch, Pam endures Michael telling her about discovering a lump and thinking he has testicular cancer.
- A series of interviews from the accounting department, introducing them and sharing their thoughts on downsizing.
- A series of brief interviews with Michael trying to figure out how he can deceive the employees about the downsizing news.
- After being intimidated by the boom mic in an interview, Dwight goes into great detail about his self-defence experience.
Cast
Main Cast
- Steve Carell as Michael Scott
- John Krasinski as Jim Halpert
- Jenna Fischer as Pam Beesly
- Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute
- B.J. Novak as Ryan Howard
Supporting Cast
- Leslie David Baker as Stanley Hudson
- Brian Baumgartner as Kevin Malone
- Creed Bratton (actor) as Creed Bratton (uncredited)
- David Denman as Roy Anderson
- Melora Hardin as Jan Levinson-Gould
- Angela Kinsey as Angela Martin
- Oscar Nunez as Oscar Martinez
- Phyllis Smith as Phyllis Lapin
Guest Cast
- Randall Barnwell as Madsen (uncredited)
- Henriette Mantel as Female Employee
- Mike McCaul as Male Employee
External links
- "Pilot" at NBC.com