Valentine's Day (The Office)

Infobox Television episode
Title =Valentine's Day
Series =The Office


Caption =Phyllis' gift on "Valentine's Day"
Season =2
Episode =16
Airdate =February 9, 2006
Production =02017
Writer =Michael Schur
Director =Greg Daniels
Guests =Craig Anton
Andy Buckley
Conan O'Brien
Episode list =List of The Office (U.S. TV series) episodes
Season list =
Prev =Boys and Girls
Next =Dwight's Speech

"Valentine's Day" is the sixteenth episode of the second season of the American comedy television series "The Office", and the show's twenty-second episode overall. Written by Michael Schur and directed by Greg Daniels, the episode first aired in the United States on February 9, 2006 on the National Broadcasting Company (NBC). It received mostly positive reviews from critics.

In this episode, Michael travels to New York City to give a presentation, but accidently tells everyone that he "hooked up" with Jan. Meanwhile, the rest of the office is jealous when Phyllis' boyfriend Bob gives her several gifts. Also, Angela gives Dwight a bobblehead doll modeled off of himself.

ynopsis

Before a Valentine's Day meeting at the corporate offices in New York City with Jan Levinson (Melora Hardin) and the new CFO David Wallace (Andrew Buckley), Michael Scott (Steve Carell) lets slip to the other branch managers that he and Jan "hooked up". At the meeting, Michael shows a video called "The Faces of Scranton" before reluctantly providing the information the CFO requested. Craig (Craig Anton) from the Albany branch is completely unprepared and attempts to cover for it by suggesting that "maybe I should've slept with [Jan] , too." In a private conversation with Michael, Jan is convinced that her career is over, but Michael defuses the situation by explaining to the CFO that it was a bad joke and accepts responsibility for the situation. As Michael leaves, Jan kisses him and then groans when she realizes they were caught on camera.

Meanwhile, back in the office, Angela Martin (Angela Kinsey) gives Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson) a "Dwight" bobblehead doll, and he gives her a key, presumably to his home. Phyllis Lapin (Phyllis Smith) is inundated with gifts from her boyfriend Bob Vance, while Pam Beesly (Jenna Fischer) is irritated with Roy Anderson (David Denman) when the only thing he gives her for Valentine's Day is the promise of the "best sex of [her] life". Also, Jim Halpert (John Krasinski) is forced to witness Ryan Howard (B. J. Novak) turn Kelly Kapoor (Mindy Kaling) down for a date.

Production

This episode was the fourth episode of the series directed by series creator Greg Daniels. Daniels had previously directed the first season episode "Basketball", along with the second season episodes "The Dundies" and "The Client". "Valentine's Day" was written by Michael Schur, who plays Dwight's Amish cousin Mose.cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/gossip/kristin/detail/index.jsp?uuid=f829fe61-db84-45e4-a1b5-8d4fb4e1a28f&utm_campaign=xxltfp&utm_source=xjljqfejb&utm_medium=link|title=Office Scoop on Finale and Spinoff (Yay, Mose!)|accessdate=2008-04-29|last=Dos Santos|first=Kristin|authorlink=Kristin Dos Santos|coauthors=Jennifer Godwin|date=April 29, 2008|publisher=E! Online - Watch with Kristin]

For the first time ever on "The Office", Pam Beesly's hair is in a different style. Several hairstyles were shown to Greg Daniels before the one used in the episode was selected.Fischer, Jenna (Actor). 2006. "The Client" [Commentary track] , "The Office" Season Two (US/NBC Version) [DVD] , Los Angeles, CA: Universal.] Dwight's line about a ham being a romantic gift was written during filming on the set. The writers did not have a punchline in the scene, so they came up with several alternatives, including ham, as well as "a boombox".cite web |url=http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2006/02/office_workers_.html |title='Office' promotions pay off in a big way |accessdate=2008-08-04 |last=Ryan |first=Maureen |coauthors= |date=2006-02-23 |work= |publisher=Chicago Tribune] Most of the street scenes in New York City were improvised. They had to be kept short because crowds quickly formed around Steve Carell when he was recognized.Daniels, Greg (Director/Producer). 2006. "The Client" [Commentary track] , "The Office" Season Two (US/NBC Version) [DVD] , Los Angeles, CA: Universal.]

Reception

"Valentine's Day" received mostly positive reviews. Michael Sciannamea of TV Squad wrote that "The Office" continues to deliver outstanding episodes week after week." Sciannamea went on to say that the episode was "one of their best" and that it left him "wanting more".cite web |url= http://www.tvsquad.com/2006/02/10/the-office-valentines-day/ |title= "The Office": "Valentine's Day" |accessdate=2008-08-04 |last=Sciannamea |first=Michael |coauthors= |date=2006-02-10 |publisher=TV Squad] "M. Giant" of "Television Without Pity" graded the episode with a "A".cite web |url= http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/show/the_office/valentines_day_2.php |title= "VALENTINE'S DAY" |accessdate=2008-08-04 |last=Giant |first=M. |coauthors= |date=2006-02-09 |work= |publisher=Television Without Pity]

After the episode, fans wanted their own bobblehead dolls of Dwight. A petition was started to get NBC to sell them at their online store. NBC responded by creating an initial run of 4,000 bobblehead dolls, which sold out almost immediately. The network decided to make more, and since then, the bobblehead has become the best-selling merchandise on the NBC website, and has sold over 150,000 units.cite web |url= http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20080118nbc02 |title= NBC Universal store sells 150,000 Dwight Schrute bobbleheads |accessdate=2008-07-07 |last= |first= |coauthors= |date= |work= NBC Press release |publisher= The Futon Critic]

References

External links

* [http://www.nbc.com/The_Office/episodes/season2/217/ "Valentine's Day] at NBC.com
* [http://www.tvguide.com/News/Insider/default.htm?cmsRedir=true&rmDate=02092006&cmsGuid={27C47577-57E5-4FA1-A178-293B686A3E1B} Jenna Fischer's Blog on "Valentine's Day"] at [http://www.tvguide.com/ TVGuide.com]
* [http://www.northernattack.com/archives/valentine's-day/ "Valentine's Day"] at NorthernAttack.com.