Sexual Harassment (The Office): Difference between revisions
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{{Trivia|date=July 2007}} |
{{Trivia|date=July 2007}} |
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:''For a list of songs featured in this episode, see [http://theoffice.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_songs_that_appear_in_episodes#Sexual_Harassment List of songs featured on The Office].'' |
:''For a list of songs featured in this episode, see [http://theoffice.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_songs_that_appear_in_episodes#Sexual_Harassment List of songs featured on The Office].'' |
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*Packer's guy winning the lottery joke was based on a similar joke told by [[Red Buttons]]. |
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*This episode aired with a warning that it contained adult content and subject matter, which is rare for a network comedy. Writer B.J. Novak explained that he had to fight [[NBC]] to get the word "boner" on the air because the replacement ("schwing") didn't have, according to Novak, "the same redemption for Michael at the end." The disclaimer was a compromise. A station in [[Kentucky]] nevertheless refused to air this episode.<ref>Chun, Wing. [http://web.archive.org/web/20060515033047/http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/story.cgi?show=56&story=8897 "The B.J. Novak Interview"] ''Televisionwithoutpity.com'' Page 8. Retrieved March 2, 2006.</ref> |
*This episode aired with a warning that it contained adult content and subject matter, which is rare for a network comedy. Writer B.J. Novak explained that he had to fight [[NBC]] to get the word "boner" on the air because the replacement ("schwing") didn't have, according to Novak, "the same redemption for Michael at the end." The disclaimer was a compromise. A station in [[Kentucky]] nevertheless refused to air this episode.<ref>Chun, Wing. [http://web.archive.org/web/20060515033047/http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/story.cgi?show=56&story=8897 "The B.J. Novak Interview"] ''Televisionwithoutpity.com'' Page 8. Retrieved March 2, 2006.</ref> |
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*Although he is mentioned (and heard on the phone) in previous episodes, this marks the first appearance of Michael's "best friend" [[Characters from The Office (US)#Todd_Packer|Todd Packer]]. |
*Although he is mentioned (and heard on the phone) in previous episodes, this marks the first appearance of Michael's "best friend" [[Characters from The Office (US)#Todd_Packer|Todd Packer]]. |
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Revision as of 15:33, 25 February 2008
Template:Office episode "Sexual Harassment" is the second episode of the second season of the television series The Office (U.S. version). It was written by B.J. Novak and directed by Ken Kwapis. It originally aired on September 27, 2005.
Synopsis
Michael's "best friend forever" Todd Packer offends the staff with crude gossip about an upper management scandal. Meanwhile, Pam waits with anticipation for her mother to arrive from out of town.
Toby informs Michael that their CFO resigned because of sexual harassment and that he will conduct a review of the company's sexual harassment policies. Michael's indignation that this will put a damper on his easygoing office environment rises to outrage when he learns that Corporate is sending down a lawyer to talk to him.
Michael and the warehouse staff mock the sexual harassment video, but the crude remarks come to a screeching halt when Jan and the lawyer arrive from Corporate. Michael angrily announces that he can no longer be friends with his staff and that he will never tell another joke again. Jim goads Michael into breaking his vow immediately. Michael's attitude suddenly changes when he realizes that he's not in trouble, that the lawyer's job is to protect him.
Pam's mother arrives and asks in whispers (shushed by an embarrassed Pam) which one is Jim. Michael stops Todd Packer when he tries to share another inappropriate joke and concludes with his misguided thoughts on sexual harassment.
Deleted scenes
The Season Two DVD contains a number of deleted scenes from this episode. Notable cut scenes include:
- Michael is baffled by a casual compliment from Pam.
- Dwight becomes obsessed with contaminated soda cans.
- Michael takes over Toby's sexual harassment training.
- In a talking head interview, Michael bad-mouths Toby.
- Pam apologizes to Jim for using the winking-face emoticon.
Notes
 | This article contains a list of miscellaneous information. (July 2007) |
- For a list of songs featured in this episode, see List of songs featured on The Office.
- Packer's guy winning the lottery joke was based on a similar joke told by Red Buttons.
- This episode aired with a warning that it contained adult content and subject matter, which is rare for a network comedy. Writer B.J. Novak explained that he had to fight NBC to get the word "boner" on the air because the replacement ("schwing") didn't have, according to Novak, "the same redemption for Michael at the end." The disclaimer was a compromise. A station in Kentucky nevertheless refused to air this episode.[1]
- Although he is mentioned (and heard on the phone) in previous episodes, this marks the first appearance of Michael's "best friend" Todd Packer.
- This episode introduces Michael's catchphrase "That's what she said," which writer B. J. Novak says was something he heard repeated in college. ("What has two thumbs and X? This guy." also comes from Novak's college days.)[2]
- This episode was inspired by the NBC sexual harassment seminar that the cast and crew had to attend before the series began.[3] Writer B.J. Novak took notes during the seminar and incorporated them into the episode. The borrowing came full circle when NBC inserted clips from this episode into their training materials, including the "Pam's Mom" rule.[4]
- When Dwight asks Toby about female anatomy, actor Rainn Wilson improvised the line "Where is the clitoris? The website says it is at the crest of the labia. What does that mean?"[5]
- Todd Packer's license plate reads "WL HUNG", an abbreviation for "well hung".
- While Pam is talking to her mom before Roy arrives, she explains how her computer used to face the wall, before she moved it "for organization". This reveals that she used to face away from the other employees for some time, but voluntarily moved to her current position, where she faces Jim.
- In Kevin's e-mail inbox, Pam's last name is misspelled "Beasly". Also, Dwight's last name is misspelled as "Shrute".
References
- ^ Chun, Wing. "The B.J. Novak Interview" Televisionwithoutpity.com Page 8. Retrieved March 2, 2006.
- ^ Novak, B. J. (Writer/Actor). 2005. "Diversity Day" [Commentary track], The Office Season One (US/NBC Version) [DVD], Los Angeles, CA: Universal.
- ^ Carell, Steve (Actor). 2005. "Diversity Day" [Commentary track], The Office Season One (US/NBC Version) [DVD], Los Angeles, CA: Universal.
- ^ Office Politics panel discussion, USC, July 30, 2006.
- ^ Fischer, Jenna. August 14, 2006. blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=27753303&blogID=155751758&MyToken=477178e4-204a-4259-b079-24480b13306b "Need to Kill Time? Check out this Blog.", MySpace.com