Jim Halpert

Jim Halpert
The Office character
File:Johnoffice.jpg
First appearance	"Pilot"
Portrayed by	John Krasinski
In-universe information
Occupation	• Sales Representative, Dunder Mifflin Scranton • Assistant Regional Manager, Dunder Mifflin Stamford • Assistant Regional Manager, Dunder Mifflin, Scranton • Regional Co-Manager, Dunder Mifflin, Scranton
Family	Gerald Halpert (father) Betsy Halpert (mother) Tom Halpert (brother) Pete Halpert (brother) Larissa Halpert (sister) Vanessa Halpert (niece)
Spouse	Pam Halpert (wife)
Children	Cecelia Marie Halpert
Based on	Tim Canterbury

James Duncan "Jim" Halpert is a fictional character in the United States version of the television sitcom The Office, played by John Krasinski. The character is based on Tim Canterbury from the original version of The Office. The character is named after a childhood friend of executive producer Greg Daniels.

Overview

Jim Halpert is a salesperson (formerly co-manager and Assistant Regional Manager) at the Scranton branch of office supply distributor Dunder Mifflin (now a division of Sabre). He was voluntarily demoted back to salesperson as he would make more in sales than management as Sabre doesn't cap sales commissions. He spends much of his time conspiring with fellow salesperson, and wife, Pam Halpert, to engineer pranks on his overbearing deskmate Dwight Schrute. Early episodes showed Jim yearning for Pam while she was then engaged to Roy Anderson, and much of the dramatic content of those episodes of the show derived from Jim's secret crush. It is often implied through the context of Jim's comments and through the comments of others that he is both overqualified for and uninterested in his job, to the extent that the first sale he claims to 'try' making is during the fourth season, despite a previously stated rank of Dunder Mifflin's ninth overall best salesman; he only stays because of his hope to be with Pam, a hope that was finally fulfilled by season 4. Due to his dry, smug, deadpan manner, Jim is something of a straight man for the show and acts as the comic foil for Michael and Dwight. While in the early seasons, the easy-going Jim spends much of his days playing games and plotting mischievous pranks on Dwight, his sixth season promotion to Co-Manager finds Jim's playful side giving way to a far more serious demeanour as he tries (often in vain) to assert his authority on the office.

Jim is revealed to be a very responsible person, though somewhat of a loner, in his private life. Jim tells Pam that he does not have much of a social life, staying home and watching TV most nights, a fact that both Pam and Jim have made fun of on different occasions. Though people have made references to his popularity and friends, the only time they are seen is during his party with his roommate. In the first two seasons, Jim is revealed to be renting a house with a roommate, Mark. In the show's fifth season, Jim purchases his parents' house for Pam and himself. He is also good friends with the warehouse staff, as shown during the Crime Aid episode, though the relationship is somewhat tense because the man Pam left for Jim was a warehouse worker at the time.

He has noted that basketball "was kind of [his] thing" in high school. Although no high school is specifically named by Jim, both Dunmore High School (as evidenced in a deleted scene from "Product Recall" where, during a business visit, he asks a high school student about a former teacher) and West Scranton High School (as evidenced when, during "Email Surveillance", Pam holds up his yearbook displaying their mascot name, Invaders, across the front) are referenced in separate episodes.

He has one sister, Larissa, who presumably lives close by as she is listed as his emergency contact at Dunder Mifflin. He also has two mischievous brothers, Pete and Tom, as well as a niece, Vanessa, and a nephew old enough to play T-ball. In "Branch Wars," he states that his brother's wife just had another baby. He enjoys cycling, and sometimes babysits Toby's daughter Sasha. He also lists soft-shell crab as his favorite food. In the episode "Weight Loss", it is revealed that his screen name for AIM is JIM9334. There might be an indication that Jim Halpert did actually go to college. In the Episode "Dwight's Speech", Jim says to Dwight that he majored in Public Speaking then he denies that he majored in it, but he never denies that he went to college. At the same time, he mentions that he downloaded some speeches from the internet to use for his classes. Jim also drives a Subaru Impreza.

Character History

Seasons 1–2

In the "Pilot", Jim talks nonchalantly of his job as a paper salesman. He is adamant throughout the series about his job being a temporary one, saying, "If I advance any higher, this would be my career. And if this were my career, I'd have to throw myself in front of a train." This outlook is most apparent in the elaborate pranks that he plays on his workmates, primarily Dwight, as well as his sarcastic remarks and facial-expressions to the film crew and his provoking comments during often ridiculous employee meetings. However, he succeeds professionally and is consistently one of the best salesmen. In the episode "Office Olympics", he mentions closing two sales during his lunch break, even though he had spent the rest of the day organizing an in-office Olympic tournament among his co-workers.

Jim's relationship with Pam is occasionally the subject of office speculation, which was particularly uncomfortable when Pam was engaged to Roy Anderson, a Dunder Mifflin warehouse worker. It was revealed (in a deleted scene) that Jim and Pam went out for lunch together when they first met and had an amazing time, until Jim found out that she was already engaged to Roy. Throughout the first two seasons, incidences such as Pam falling asleep on Jim's shoulder in "Diversity Day" and drunkenly kissing him at "The Dundies" reveal to the audience Jim's deep desire to be with Pam.

For several months, Jim dated a purse salesgirl named Katy, but broke up with her in the episode "Booze Cruise", after watching Roy announce to the whole ship that he has set a date for his and Pam's wedding. Dejected, Jim privately reveals his feelings for Pam to his boss, Michael Scott, who in an uncharacteristically serious moment encourages Jim to "never, ever, ever give up". When asked if the office was on fire and he could only save one person by the captain, he tells him he would save the customer. He then reveals to the camera privately that he would save "The receptionist."

From this point, Jim develops a seemingly unsteady attitude toward Pam's impending nuptials. On the one hand, he asks out Brenda, a corporate office employee who came along for the Booze Cruise; he also tells Kelly that if the guy she has a crush on doesn't like her, she should just forget about it and move on, indicating that he has done the same. On the other hand, he gets upset when he sees Pam and Roy eating lunch together, and most tellingly, becomes so depressed hearing Pam discuss the wedding that he calls a travel agency and schedules a trip to Australia, deliberately making himself unable to attend the wedding. Feeling bored by work, guilty about a stack of complaints that Dwight has made about him, and tortured by his situation with Pam, Jim investigates a transfer to Dunder Mifflin's branch in Stamford, Connecticut.

In the season 2 finale, "Casino Night", Jim confesses his love for Pam in the parking lot of Dunder Mifflin, where Michael had held a fundraiser. Pam, whose wedding to Roy was all planned out at this point and just weeks away, clearly shows her anguish but gently turns him down. Jim tearfully walks away. The cameras later show Pam speaking with her mother on the phone in the office, saying that Jim is her best friend (though she doesn't say his name), and says "Yeah, I think I am" to a question that is not heard to the viewer. Jim returns seconds later and kisses her.

Season 3

In the premiere of Season 3, "Gay Witch Hunt", viewers learn that after the kiss in the Season 2 finale, Jim and Pam revealed to one another that they have wanted to kiss for a long time. Nevertheless, Pam again told Jim of her intentions to go ahead with her wedding to Roy. However, we learn that in the summer preceding the premiere episode, Pam called off her wedding, while Jim transferred to Stamford, where he is revealed to be Assistant Regional Manager ("Diwali").

A few months into his tenure at Stamford, he admits he does not fit in, remarking that he doesn't think the other employees even know his name. Jim goes to a paper distributors' convention and meets with Michael, who is annoyed with Jim over his transfer and believes he transferred because of his management skills, at a paper distributors' convention. Jim explains that he only transferred because Pam rejected him, with which Michael sympathizes. Jim has learned that Pam called off her wedding, but chooses to remain in Stamford. He clearly still harbors intense feelings for her, as evidenced by his reaction to overhearing a phone call at the convention between Pam and Michael, where Michael references her blind date that evening. He doesn't realize that the date was set-up by one of their co-workers and she really has no interest in attending.

Things begin to look up for Jim as he befriends salesperson Karen Filippelli, and when the company board of directors decides to close the Scranton branch, Jim is named Assistant Regional Manager of the newly created "Dunder Mifflin Northeast". However the company's plans change when Stamford regional manager Josh Porter accepts a job at Staples. The Stamford branch then closes, with a few employees being offered a transfer to Scranton. The offer to Jim to be Assistant Regional Manager stands, though now at Scranton. Jim is disgusted by Josh's disloyalty, saying in an interview: "Say what you will about Michael Scott, but he would never do that." Jim is at first unwilling to return to Scranton because of Pam but eventually decides to do so. Karen, who has grown fond of Jim and wishes to pursue a relationship with him, also transfers to Scranton.

In "The Merger", Jim's and Pam's reunion is awkward. Pam is overjoyed, but Jim is clearly uncomfortable. He lets Pam know that he is seeing someone, and gradually Karen is introduced as his girlfriend. As Jim settles back in at Scranton, he uses his promotion as an excuse to avoid his old interactions and pranks with Pam, claiming that pulling pranks are not appropriate for his position. However, in time, Jim does return to his old ways, especially targeting Andy Bernard, a Stamford transfer, and Dwight.

Toward the middle of the season it becomes clear that Jim's unresolved feelings toward Pam are affecting his relationship with Karen. In "Back from Vacation", Jim discourages Karen from moving out of the hotel in Scranton where she has been living since the merger and into a house two blocks away from his own because as he says, "it would be like we were living together." Jim only relents when Pam tells him he is being unreasonable. Even so, Pam is seen crying over Jim and Karen's move forward in their relationship. In "Traveling Salesmen", Karen, who had previously been unaware of Jim and Pam's history, learns of Jim's feelings for Pam during a sales call with Phyllis. Karen then confronts Jim about it over coffee. Jim incorrectly assures Karen that he is really happy with his new relationship.

In "The Return", Jim decides to pull a prank on Andy; however, Karen is unable and Ryan unwilling to aid him, so he turns to Pam, who readily agrees. Their interaction during the prank causes Karen to feel threatened. She again confronts Jim, and he finally admits to still having feelings for Pam. In "Phyllis' Wedding", Karen and Jim are still struggling to maintain their relationship, and Jim hints that he would ask out Pam if, hypothetically, Pam were interested in him. Jim then sees Pam leave the reception hand in hand with Roy, and declares, "Here's a non-hypothetical. I'm really happy I'm with Karen."

In "Cocktails", Roy trashes the bar when Pam tells him she kissed Jim during "Casino Night." Roy then attempts to attack Jim at work in "The Negotiation", but Dwight sprays Roy with pepper spray. Roy is fired, but when Pam assures Jim that it is over between her and Roy for good, Jim doesn't believe it and tells her so.

Jim and Pam's relationship becomes tense again in "Beach Games" when on a company outing at the beach, Pam confesses to Jim in front of everyone that he was the reason she broke off her wedding to Roy. She also states that she has missed their friendship since he left Scranton for Stamford. Later that night, Jim tells Pam that he feels as if he never really came back from Stamford, tacitly admitting that he has actively been fighting his feelings for her all year. However, Jim's relationship with Karen and pending interview for a corporate position which would require his relocation to New York City, still obstruct a potential romance.

In "The Job", Jim, Karen, and Michael each interview for the corporate position. During the interview he notices an affectionate note from Pam in his briefcase. After the interview he drives back to Scranton, leaving Karen without a ride. Jim interrupts a talking head with Pam to ask her to dinner, and after she smiles, and accepts, he says "All right. Then... it's a date." In a webisode titled "Office Summer Vacation," found on NBC's website, Karen states that Jim "dumped her ass" and left her crying at a fountain.

Season 4

In the season premiere, "Fun Run", Karen comes back to the office to confront him over their break-up and initially asserts that she will stay in Scranton. However, she abruptly leaves the next day, becoming Regional Manager of Dunder Mifflin Utica ("Branch Wars"). Pam and Jim initially attempt to keep their relationship status a secret from their office co-workers as well as the documentary camera crew, but when the camera crew catch them together sharing a quick kiss while parked on the side of the street, they admit that they have been dating for a few months and are very happy.

File:Branch Wars.png

Jim, Dwight, and Michael, disguised as warehouse workers in "Branch Wars"

In "Dunder Mifflin Infinity", Toby reveals to the office that Jim and Pam are dating, after seeing Pam kiss Jim on the cheek. The pair's union is welcomed by most people in the office, except Dwight who says both "could do better."

Michael takes interest in the relationship and repeatedly invites the couple for dinner with him and Jan, but Jim finds reasons to avoid accepting the invite, though he and Pam avoid making Michael suspicious of their disinterest by asking to have dinner on nights when Michael is busy. In "Dinner Party", they eventually are forced to join Michael and Jan for a dinner party when Michael feigns an assignment from corporate to get them out of any original plans they might have had. At the dinner party, Jim and Pam are forced to witness various aspects of Michael's and Jan's deteriorating relationship to the point where they make a desperate but failed attempt to escape. Jim even attempts to escape without Pam after he couldn't get her out with him, but Pam gets him to stay. After witnessing the break up of Michael and Jan, Jim and Pam enjoy burgers in his car and they appear to be the happiest and most stable of the three couples that attended the party, the third couple being Andy and Angela.

In "Local Ad", Jim develops an avatar of himself for Dwight's game Second Life. Pam notes that his online alter-ego plays guitar and is a Philadelphia sports writer, perhaps implicitly revealing Jim's lesser known aspirations. However, in "Email Surveillance" from Season 2, he does have a guitar in his bedroom. In the episodes "Survivor Man" and "Night Out", we see Jim take on his role as manager while Michael is out of the office. Both times, however, his attempts at making the office better go awry.

In the episode "Chair Model", Jim invites Pam to move in with him, as she's looking for a new apartment; she explains she would only live with someone she was engaged to. Jim comically tells an incredulous Pam that he will soon propose; and then reveals to the camera crew a diamond ring, explaining that "[he] got it the week after [they] started dating". As he and Pam are leaving work, he gets down on one knee and looks at her stunned reaction expectantly, only to ask her to wait while he ties his shoe. In "Did I Stutter?", Jim pulls another faux proposal on Pam by "proposing" that she get him a coffee.

In the same episode, he receives a performance warning from Ryan, who cites "goofing off with Dwight" and "spending time at reception" as productivity problems. Toby (jealous of Jim and Pam's relationship) concurs. Jim counters that Ryan's accusations are due to Jim's critical comments to David Wallace about Ryan's website initiative, though Ryan denies it. A shocked Jim returns to his desk and decides not to tell Pam what happened, though she can clearly see that something is bothering him and discusses the issue in a deleted scene. In another deleted scene, Jim is seen talking with Toby about the warning, where Toby informs him that Ryan has used Dwight's complaints as a reason to attack Jim's productivity, though Toby agrees with the fact that Jim has good sales numbers. Ryan is then seen confirming the fact that he is going after Jim, despite and because of his popularity with Ryan's boss.

In "Job Fair", Jim decides to meet up with a potential client after Ryan gave him his formal warning, as he wishes to keep his job to secure "pretty big long term plans" with Pam. After several unsuccessful attempts to get the client to sign with him, Jim holds him in the parking lot for fifteen minutes until the client finally gives in. Back at the office, when Pam returns from the job fair, Jim gives her the news and they share a congratulatory kiss.

In "Goodbye, Toby", Jim shows his happiness and support for Pam getting into the Pratt Institute, where she will be for the next three months. He also becomes so frustrated over Ryan's consistent attempts to get him out of Dunder Mifflin that he decides to leave a message on Ryan's phone proclaiming he is not going anywhere. Later, Jim discovers a video on YouTube showing Ryan being taken out by police for fraud, after which Jim leaves another message on his phone making a joke about his arrest. Michael asks Jim for help on wooing the new HR rep, Holly. Michael wants to rush their new, potential relationship, but Jim tells him to take it slow and begins to recount his story about how he fell in love with Pam. Inspired by this, Jim reveals that he is going to propose to Pam during Toby's goodbye party. He pays Phyllis money to buy fireworks to set the mood for his proposal. While the fireworks are set off, Jim, sitting next to Pam, pulls out the ring and is about to propose until Andy proposes in front of everybody to Angela, who accepts. Jim puts his ring back in his pocket and postpones the engagement, which disappoints Pam, as she had excitedly spotted the fireworks earlier in the party and assumed he was going to propose.

Season 5

In the premiere episode of Season 5, "Weight Loss", Jim tells to the camera crew that he and Pam talked about an engagement and decided they did not want to spend their first three months of being engaged with him being in Scranton and her being at Pratt Institute. He also said they did not want the engagement to last a long time, like her engagement to Roy. They keep in touch via webcam, instant messaging and frequent phone calls. The combination of having to endure the typical office antics and finding it increasingly difficult for him to visit Pam takes a toll on Jim. He asks her on a last minute lunch date at an interstate rest stop between Scranton and New York City. At the rest stop, Jim surprises Pam by proposing in the rain. She happily accepts.

Throughout Pam's time at the Pratt Institute, Jim and Pam are seen interacting mainly through various phone conversations. In "Baby Shower", Jim's relationship with Pam appears to get a little rocky as they start having communication problems over the phone. However, at the conclusion of the episode, they both leave each other nearly identical voice mail messages, displaying their obvious compatibility. In "Crime Aid", Jim encounters Roy while at a bar with Darryl and the warehouse workers. He tells Roy of his engagement to Pam, which Roy congratulates him on. Jim also mentions her being away at art school and hanging out with friends, which Roy responds that Jim was also her friend, hinting at the possibility that Pam may once again leave her fiance for a friend. Jim then decides to drive to New York to visit Pam, but decides to turn around when he realizes that he is "not that guy" and they "are not that couple". In "Customer Survey", Jim and Pam stay in contact throughout the day without getting caught by using miniature Bluetooth devices, happily listening to each other's happenings throughout the day. However, at the end of the day, Jim listens to Pam's friend from art school, Alex, tell her that he thinks she should stay in New York if she really wants to be an artist. Jim falls silent, but is clearly crushed by their conversation.

In "Business Trip", Jim eagerly awaits the return of Pam from art school, as do the rest of the staff who intrusively show their excitement for Jim, but he is taken aback when Pam calls him from school, tearfully explaining that she failed a class and would need to stay another three months to retake it. Jim supports her, though he is clearly dejected, and tells her that it is her decision to make and she should only come back to Scranton "the right way". Jim then finds Pam waiting for him in the parking lot. She tells him she came home "the wrong way" because Scranton is her home and not because of him. She does, however, confirm that she missed him and they kiss briefly before being interrupted by Dwight, who asks Pam to make some photocopies for him. A deleted scene for the episode shows Jim looking through Pam's graphic design projects, which he thinks are "cool", as well as a notebook filled with pencil sketches, which he finds a lot more impressive than her graphic design projects.

In "Frame Toby", Jim is visibly happier because Pam is finally back in Scranton. However, he is also nervous because he has closed the sale on his parents' house, and still has yet to tell Pam. His coworkers already know about the house (thanks to Andy's snooping), but Jim requests that they keep it quiet from Pam. At the end of the episode, Jim takes Pam to their new house and takes her on a tour. He seems embarrassed by the ugly shag carpeting and a hideous painting of clowns, but Pam remains silent. They end up in the garage, which Jim has thoughtfully turned into an art studio for Pam. Jim reluctantly tells her he knows the house is not perfect, and that he took a huge risk by not asking her first. Pam surprises Jim by exclaiming she loves the house and they kiss.

In "Stress Relief", Jim and Pam let her father stay at their place while he and her mother are going through a rough patch in their marriage. Jim helps cheer Pam up by watching a bootleg movie with Andy. Andy is frustrated by the fact that Jim and Pam appear to be movie geniuses, mistaking Jim and Pam's conversations regarding Pam's parents as "deep insights" to the movie they watch. Pam is somewhat distraught when she learns her father communicates with Jim more than his own daughter, but nonetheless asks Jim to keep her posted. Jim and Pam hit a rough patch of their own when she learns from her mother that her father is looking for a new place and believes it is because of something Jim said to him. Later, Jim finds out from Pam that her father is leaving because Jim confessed his deep love for Pam to him, who realized afterward he never fully felt that with her mother. Jim is forgiven by Pam and they tearfully embrace. Pam remarks that she and Jim's own future children will be correct in believing that their parents are soul mates.

As the season continues, the audience begins to see Jim take his job more seriously than he has in previous episodes. In "Golden Ticket", Michael causes Jim to lose his biggest commission of the year because of a Wonka-like idea to insert coupons into paper shipments. Without thinking, Michael placed more than one coupon into many boxes designated for the same company, causing Jim's client to receive a 50% discount. Aggravated that he has lost the commission with hopes that it could help pay his and Pam's mortgage, Jim openly expresses his disdain at Michael during their staff meeting, but eventually the client puts all of its paper into Dunder Mifflin.

In "New Boss", Jim attempts to pull another prank on Dwight when Dwight sends out a memo regarding the dress code and Dwight's plans for Michael's 15th Work Anniversary Party outline that it be a simple party. Jim decides to wear a tuxedo to ridicule such an idea and even garners Michael's attention, saying that Michael's party should be classy. But it is also on the same day that Charles Miner (Idris Elba), the new no-nonsense Vice President overseeing Michael and the Scranton branch, arrives to meet everyone. Having not been told by Michael about Miner's arrival, Jim is left red faced with his tuxedo, leaving Miner unamused when meeting him for the first time. Throughout the day, Jim finds himself under intense scrutiny from Charles. He later tries smoothing things over with the new Vice President, and even mentions his position as the branch's Assistant Regional Manager, which Charles condescends to him and calls it "this made up position". In a talking head, Jim refers to his job at the office as a "career" for the first time in the series, and states that it is potentially over.

As the season nears a close, Michael leaves Dunder Mifflin to begin his own paper company and, in a surprise move, Pam joins him. Jim at first seems confused by Pam's choice, chasing her out of the office as she leaves with Michael. However, once they reach the parking lot, he seems to understand her dissatisfaction with her job as receptionist and simply tells her that he will bring her things home. Jim's interactions with Charles continue to be negative, with Charles clearly harboring strong dislike for Jim by showing a dismissive attitude and subtle intolerance toward him. At one point, he proceeds to tell Jim and Dwight to their faces that they are "morons".

Meanwhile, The Michael Scott Paper Company begins taking Dunder Mifflin clients, leading Charles to a meeting with his boss, David Wallace during "Broke". Jim notes that Charles is an obvious kiss up by his sudden obsequious interaction with David. Wallace invites Jim into the meeting when Charles initially objects to his presence, calling Jim "a bit of a disappointment." However in the meeting, Jim comes off as intelligent and professional as opposed to Dwight (whom Charles gave Jim's title as "Assistant Regional Manager" by demoting Jim immediately), continually makes embarrassing suggestions during the meeting. This cause Charles to wince as this is done in the presence of David. When Wallace makes a suggestion about buying out the Michael Scott Paper Company, Charles again kisses up to Wallace and prompts Jim to make a snide remark. Embarrassed by Dwight, Charles ultimately encourages Jim to ask Michael's company if they would be receptive to a buy-out. Pam had informed Jim earlier in the day that the company was actually losing money, but Jim does not share this information with Wallace, instead calling the failing company "successful". Pam, Ryan, and Michael ultimately turn down the buy-out, opting instead for their old jobs. As a new receptionist has already been hired, Pam is placed in sales alongside Jim. When Charles tries to make a goodbye speech to the office as he heads back to corporate, Michael cuts him off (mirroring Charles' earlier treatment when he had Michael removed from the office). A smiling Jim with the rest of the staff, seem proud of Michael running the branch again and standing up to Charles. The difficult relationship between Jim and Charles continues during the Dunder Mifflin "Company Picnic", with Charles condescending to Jim again. In a deleted scene from "Company Picnic", Charles openly ridicules Jim on the volleyball field.

In "Cafe Disco", Jim and Pam spontaneously decide to elope in Youngstown, Ohio (unlike Pennsylvania, Ohio does not have a waiting period for marriage licenses). As they are about to leave for Youngstown, they stop by Michael's cafe disco room (which was the former office for the Michael Scott Paper Company). However, while they are dancing in the cafe disco room, they decide that they do not want to elope and want a 'formal wedding'.

In "Company Picnic", Jim, Pam, and the rest of the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin play in a volleyball tournament against other branches of Dunder Mifflin in the Mid-Atlantic region, and Pam, who played volleyball in her youth, greatly helps Scranton get to the championship. When Scranton plays New York, which is the corporate branch, in the championship, Pam falls on her ankle. When Jim takes her to the hospital, the doctor presumably tells Pam that the pregnancy test given before the X-ray came back positive. The season ends with Jim and Pam crying tears of joy.

Season 6

In the 6th season premiere, "Gossip", Jim and Pam reveal to their coworkers that they are expecting. In the following episode, "The Meeting", Jim is promoted to Regional Co-Manager - he is in charge of the day-to-day operations while Michael's primary focus shifts to clients. In the episode "The Promotion", Jim gets his own personal office space which is built in the other corner of the main office from Michael. Jim becomes embroiled in a power struggle with Michael. However, when both bosses upset the rest of the office with their unacceptable plans on what to do with the limited budget for raises, seeing Jim fail makes Michael realize how much he appreciates not having to weather the storm alone. As an olive branch, he presents Jim with his own "World's Best Boss" mug and they share a drink.

In "Niagara", Jim accidentally reveals Pam's pregnancy during his rehearsal dinner toast. On the morning of their wedding, when one disaster after another causes Pam to nearly break down in tears, Jim realizes there is only one way to have a wedding without anyone else ruining it. He whisks her away to the Maid of the Mist ferry where they are married on deck by the ship's captain before returning to the church ceremony, telling no one that they are already husband and wife.

In "Mafia", Jim and Pam are on their honeymoon in Puerto Rico, but keep on receiving phone calls from people in the office, and Jim's credit card is canceled when Kevin accidentally causes the bank to think the trip to Puerto Rico was identity theft.

In "The Lover", Jim is caught between Michael and Pam after Pam is enraged to discover that Michael has been dating her mother. Jim also seizes an opportunity to torment Dwight when he locates a handheld radio transmitter in a wooden mallard that Dwight gave him as a "friendly gift." When Dwight learns that Jim has discovered the transmitter, Jim makes him wash Pam's car in exchange for amnesty. To cheer up Pam, Jim tells her that Dwight is washing her car because he knew Pam was having a bad day. In a talking head, Dwight says that he knew the mallard would be located and that he'd used that to give Jim a false sense of security. Dwight then reveals he had previously hidden a recording device in one of Jim's pens, and proceeds to listen to eight hours of Jim discussing paper products.

In "Koi Pond", Jim is forced to let Michael go with him on a sales call, which upsets him because he wants to do it himself as a manager. As a result, Jim lets Michael fall into a koi pond at the meeting, but the two laugh it off later. In "Murder", Jim tries to keep everyone productive in the wake of rumors of bankruptcy for Dunder Mifflin. Jim gets upset when Michael tries to have everyone play a murder mystery game, but when CFO David Wallace informs him that the company will be insolvent by year-end, Jim lets Michael continue the game as he was only doing it to keep employee morale.

In "Shareholder Meeting", Jim tries to get Ryan to do work, but in the process learns that no one thinks of him as a boss despite his co-manager title. Jim finally gets treated as a boss when he puts Ryan in the kitchen closet with everyone watching. In "Scott's Tots," Jim gets framed in an Employee of the Month scam perpetrated by Dwight. He accidentally gives it to himself, then when people complain, he goes to the next highest scorer (who was Pam). In the denouement of the episode, Ryan joins Dwight in his attempts to take Jim down. However, in the next episode, Dwight reveals he is taking a break from his master plan, saying he is "tired". The plan is not mentioned again until "Manager and Salesman"

In "Secret Santa", Jim and Michael's power struggle continues when they clash over who should be the office Santa at the annual Christmas Party. Michael is outraged to learn that had Jim promised the role to Phyllis, while Jim then becomes frustrated at Michael's petulant response.

In "Sabre", Jim and Pam visit a highly rated daycare to try and secure a spot. Before the interview begins, however, Jim walks in on the man they will be interviewing in the bathroom and feels awkward during the interview, which doesn't go well. When Pam brings up the bathroom incident and asks if it has anything to do with how the interview is going, and the interviewer responds by saying "perhaps you're not as charming as you think you are".

In "Manager and Salesman", the Sabre CEO Jo Bennett asks that either Jim or Michael be demoted to salesman. Jim learns that with a higher commission capstone, a salesman could make more than a manager, so he volunteers to be demoted. However, when Michael also learns of this, he sweet talks Jo into demoting him and she complies. Jim's stint as the only manager is short as Michael is unable to readjust to being a salesman. Jo allows them to switch, and Jim comfortably readjusts to being a salesman when he puts Dwight's tie in his coffee mug when Dwight taunts him.

In "The Delivery", Pam and Jim exploit their upcoming birth to get more sales. Pam begins having contractions at work, but refuses to go to the hospital until midnight, per her insurance coverage. This has Jim on edge, and as he, with comedic help from Michael and Kevin, finally tells her it's time to go, she reveals that she is really just afraid of delivery. Jim encourages her, and they rush to the hospital as Michael drives. Cecelia Marie Halpert, named after Jenna Fischer's real life niece, is born in the second half of the episode, weighing in at 7 lbs 2 oz.

Appearances

Jim has appeared in every episode with the exception of "Mafia" in which his voice is only heard.

Reception

In the media, Jim is sometimes called an Everyguy. In her article "Breaking Out of the First-Job Trap" for U.S. News and World Report, Liz Wolgemuth used Jim's character as a template for an essay on under-motivated, young, college grads. In an article on stereotypical office worker profiles, Jim was identified as the worker who is "drifting along in a job, [while] you put off asking yourself hard questions about career plans."