Pilot (The Office)

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"Pilot"
The Office episode
The first scene, in which salesman Jim Halpert (John Krasinski) and manager Michael Scott (Steve Carell) talk over the former's financial quarterlies
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 1
Directed byKen Kwapis
Teleplay by
Cinematography byPeter Smokler
Editing byKathryn Himoff
Production code1001[1]
Original air dateMarch 24, 2005 (2005-03-24)
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
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The Office (American season 1)
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"Pilot" (alternatively titled "The Office: An American Workplace") is the first episode of the

first episode of the British version written by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. "Pilot" was directed by Ken Kwapis
.

In this episode, a documentary crew arrives at the Scranton, Pennsylvania offices of Dunder Mifflin to observe the employees and learn about modern management. Manager Michael Scott (Steve Carell) tries to paint a happy picture in the face of potential downsizing from corporate. The office also gets new employee Ryan Howard (B. J. Novak) as a temporary worker, while Jim Halpert (John Krasinski) pranks antagonist Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson).

"Pilot" debuted The Office as a

Nielsen ratings
among people aged 18–49, and garnering 11.2 million viewers overall, the episode received mixed reviews, with many critics criticizing it as a complete copy of the original.

Plot

The episode introduces

Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin, a distribution company dealing in paper products that is currently under threat of facing downsizing. The news is delivered to him by the Vice President of Northeast Sales, Jan Levinson-Gould (Melora Hardin
), who, along with the other employees, can barely tolerate Michael's foolish antics.

Also introduced are a few of the other workers in the office, including Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson), a socially awkward salesman and part-time, volunteer sheriff's deputy; Jim Halpert (John Krasinski), another salesman who enjoys playing pranks on Dwight; Pam Beesly (Jenna Fischer), the receptionist on whom Jim harbors an obvious crush; and Ryan Howard (B. J. Novak), a temporary worker.

Production

"Pilot" was based on the original first episode of the British version of The Office, created by Ricky Gervais (pictured) and Stephen Merchant.

The episode debuted the series as a

laugh tracks in the "Pilot", wanting its "deadpan" and "absurd" humor to fully come across.[7] Production for this episode took place on February 18, 2004.[8]

Casting

NBC programmer

sycophant Dwight Schrute, watched every episode of the series before he auditioned. Wilson had originally auditioned for Michael, a performance he described as a "terrible Ricky Gervais impersonation"; however, the casting directors liked his audition as Dwight much more and hired him for the role.[12]

John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer were virtual unknowns before being cast in their respective roles as Jim and Pam, the central love interests. Krasinski had attended school with, and was a friend of B. J. Novak. Krasinski recalled accidentally insulting Greg Daniels while waiting to audition for the series, telling him, "I hope [the show's developers] don't screw this up." Daniels then introduced himself and told Krasinski who he was.[13] Fischer prepared for her audition by looking as boring as possible, creating the original Pam hairstyle.[14] In an interview on NPR's Fresh Air, Fischer recalled the last stages of the audition process for Pam and Jim, with the producers partnering the different potential Pams and Jims (four of each) together to gauge their chemistry. When Fischer finished her scene with Krasinski, he told her that she was his favorite Pam, to which she reciprocated that he was her favorite Jim.[15] Many actors originally filmed as extras in this episode would go on to become supporting cast members in later episodes, and the two women wearing blue sweaters towards the back of the room at the staff meeting scene were actual accountants that worked on the production staff.[5]

Reception

Ratings

"Pilot" premiered on NBC on March 24, 2005.

fifth season episode "Stress Relief," which attracted 22.9 million viewers.[20]

Reviews

"Pilot" received mixed reviews after its premiere.

The New York Daily News said the show was "neither daring nor funny", adding that "NBC's version is so diluted there's little left but muddy water".[23]

Erik Adams of The A.V. Club gave the episode a C+ and felt that it was a lackluster copy of the original. He noted that "the fatal flaw of this episode—though it could've been a proviso in the licensing agreement signed by Gervais and Merchant—involves dropping reminders of the U.K. Office's pilot left and right", and that "this episode pales in comparison" to the original British version. However, Adams complimented the character of Pam, noting that "she's also the embodiment of a certain grounded, de-glamorized look and tone these early episodes sold well—before subsequent seasons dropped them along with the most obvious concessions to the 'workplace documentary' conceit."[24]

Although many perceived the first episode to have been a failure, some outlets praised the new show. While berating the show for coming across "slowly and painfully", the Boston Globe said that "it is funny".

the American remake of the Britcom Coupling, NBC makes a pretty good effort in its version of The Office in duplicating the original's ethos while injecting it with an American sensibility."[26]

References

  1. ^ "Shows A–Z – Office, The on NBC". The Futon Critic. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  2. ^ a b "In Conversation: Greg Daniels, Executive Producer/Showrunner of The Office (U.S.)". HeyWriterBoy. June 20, 2007. Archived from the original on January 7, 2014. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
  3. ^ "NBC Opens 'Office' in America". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. March 20, 2005. Archived from the original on February 17, 2013. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
  4. ^ Goodman, Tim (March 24, 2005). "Miracle time—Americanized 'Office' is Good". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on May 25, 2011. Retrieved February 22, 2008.
  5. ^
    Universal
    .
  6. Universal
    .
  7. ^ Stanley, Alessandra (March 24, 2005). "An American-Style 'Office' With a Boss From Heck Archived December 3, 2020, at the Wayback Machine". The New York Times. Retrieved February 22, 2008
  8. ^ Making of The Office: The Pilot | A Peacock Extra, retrieved August 7, 2021
  9. ^ Carter, Bill (September 17, 2006). "The Whole World Is Watching, and Ben Silverman Is Watching Back Archived January 18, 2018, at the Wayback Machine". The New York Times. Retrieved on April 12, 2008.
  10. ^ Susman, Gary (January 29, 2004). "Daily Show's Carell May Star in Office Remake Archived February 2, 2011, at the Wayback Machine". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on April 12, 2008.
  11. Universal
    .
  12. Universal
    .
  13. Universal
  14. TVGuide
    . Retrieved on April 12, 2008.
  15. ^ "Jenna Fischer, Keeping It Real at 'The Office'". NPR. Archived from the original on September 15, 2008. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  16. ^ Gallucci, Nicole (March 23, 2020). "'The Office' cast members share their favorite cold opens for 15th anniversary". Mashable. Archived from the original on March 24, 2020. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  17. ^ a b "The Office Nielsen Ratings - March 25, 2005 press release". OfficeTally. October 10, 2008. Archived from the original on August 5, 2020. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  18. ^ VanDerWerff, Emily (July 22, 2020). "The enduring appeal of The Office in a crumbling world". Vox. Archived from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  19. ^ Wilkes, Neil (March 26, 2005). American 'Office' an early ratings hit Archived April 11, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Digital Spy. Retrieved February 28, 2008.
  20. ^ Gorman, Bill (February 2, 2009). "Updated: The Office Draws 22.905 Million Viewers Following the Super Bowl". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 26, 2010. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
  21. ^ "Office Remake Has its US TV Debut Archived February 11, 2006, at the Wayback Machine". BBC News. March 24, 2005. Retrieved February 23, 2008.
  22. The Deseret Morning News
    . Retrieved February 23, 2008.
  23. ^ Gibson, Owen (March 23, 2005). "US Version of Office Gets Cool Reception Archived March 5, 2016, at the Wayback Machine". The Guardian. Retrieved February 23, 2008.
  24. ^ Adams, Erik (June 4, 2013). "'Pilot'/'Diversity Day' | The Office (Classic TV) | TV Club". The A.V. Club. The Onion. Archived from the original on June 8, 2013. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
  25. ^ Matthew, Gilbert (March 24, 2005). "It's Not as Warped as the Original, But 'The Office' is Painfully Funny Archived February 23, 2009, at the Wayback Machine". The Boston Globe. Retrieved February 23, 2008.
  26. ^ Owen, Rob (March 23, 2005). "TV Reviews: American 'Office' Works For and Gets the Laughs". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved February 23, 2008.

External links

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