Beach Games

Office episode
name = Beach Games


ep_num = 50
prod_code = 03023
date = May 10, 2007
writer = Jennifer Celotta &
Greg Daniels
director = Harold Ramis
season = 3

"Beach Games"cite web|url=http://nbcumv.com/release_detail.nbc/entertainment-20070419000000-nbcspringsintosea.html
date=2007-04-19
accessdate=2007-04-19
publisher=NBC
title=NBC SPRINGS INTO SEASON'S FINAL STRETCH WITH THE CONCLUSION OF VOLUME ONE OF 'HEROES,' THE 100TH EPISODE OF 'DEAL OR NO DEAL,' TWO SUPER-SIZED COMEDY NIGHTS, AN 'SNL' PRIMETIME SPECIAL, 'ER' WEDDING AND GRIPPING SEASON FINALES] is the twenty-second episode of the third season of the US version of "The Office", and is the 50th episode aired of the show. It was written by Jennifer Celotta and Greg Daniels and directed by film director Harold Ramis,cite web|url=http://www.chud.com/index.php?type=interviews&id=9508
last=Faraci
first=Derek
date=2007-03-27
accessdate=2007-03-28
title=INTERVIEW: JENNA FISCHER (BLADES OF GLORY)
work=CHUD.com] who previously directed the episodes "A Benihana Christmas" and "Safety Training". It is the fourth 40-minute "Supersized" episode of the third season.

The episode first aired in the U.S. on May 10, 2007, attracting 7.17 million viewers.http://www.calendarlive.com/tv/cl-et-tvratingstext16may16,0,3657430.story] It ranked fourth in its timeslot (behind May sweeps episodes of "", "Ugly Betty", and "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?"), [ [http://www.zap2it.com/tv/ratings/zap-ratings051007,0,942724.story Clues Point to CBS Thursday Win - ABC takes demo crown thanks to 'Grey's' - Zap2it ] ] and 48th in Nielsen's prime-time television rankings for the week.

ynopsis

When Michael is invited to interview for a position at Dunder-Mifflin corporate headquarters in New York City, he decides to hold a "Survivor"-like competition at Lake Scranton to determine his successor.

Michael selects the "tribe" captains (Jim, Dwight, Andy and Stanley), and instructs Pam to take detailed notes on the events of the day. Initially unaware of the purpose of the exercise, the employees do not all take it seriously. Once the job in New York is revealed, Andy and Dwight step up their efforts, Stanley tries to be enthusiastic but gives up, and Jim decides to interview for the same position that Michael is pursuing. Karen also applies for the position.

To support her secret lover Dwight, Angela sabotages Andy, leaving him adrift in the lake in an inflatable sumo wrestling costume.

Michael's final event is a walk across hot coals. Initially, no one volunteers, and Michael cannot even bring himself to do it. Dwight throws himself on the coals, refusing to leave until he is given the job, and he writhes in agony until he is dragged off.

As a last-ditch effort to salvage the day, Michael assembles a "Tribal Council" stand-up comedy competition. Jim declines to participate, and reveals that he has applied for the position in New York. Separated from the group, a barefoot Pam runs across the hot coals and, empowered by the experience, interrupts the Tribal Council to berate her colleagues for treating her poorly, citing as one example that almost no one attended her art show. She tells Jim that she called off her wedding because of him, that it is "fine" that he is with someone else now, but that she misses the fun that they had as best friends. As she runs to cool her feet in the water, all eyes turn to Jim who is now in a blank stare, shaken by the confession.

Deleted scenes

The Third Season DVD contains a number of deleted scenes. Notable cut scenes include:
*Jim receives a call informing him of the job opening.
*After Michael tells Phyllis to "dip it in the water so it slides down your gullet more easily", everyone says in unison, "That's what "she" said."
*Ryan offers to take Andy's place, but Michael will not have it.
*Andy fails to flag down a passing car.

Notes

*References to previous episodes:
**This is the second episode in which Dwight uses WebMD. He previously checked Oscar's flu symptoms in "The Secret".
**Michael wears clothing from the Sandals Jamaica resort, referencing his previous trip from "A Benihana Christmas" and "Back from Vacation".
**Michael compares the coal pit to burning his foot in "The Injury".
**Angela is disgusted by Kevin's feet (first exhibited in "Diwali").
**Pam's poorly-attended art show took place in "Business School".
**Pam's "good day" comment is a throw back to several episodes, including "Michael's Birthday" and "Diversity Day".
**The bus the office takes to the beach says "Lackawanna Senior Center Tours."
**This is the second time Dwight tells someone to "mush". The first was to the warehouse workers in "Grief Counseling".
**Meredith inadvertently flashes the camera, continuing a running gag. Her nipples can be seen to be covered by white tape through the censoring pixelization.
**When the office staff is singing "The Flintstones" theme song, at the place in the song when they say "you'll have a gay, old time", Oscar raises his hand.
*Michael's seemingly unprompted warning to "Watch out for snakes!" is likely a reference to the movie "Eegah", featured in an episode of the cult show Mystery Science Theater 3000. The quote was used frequently as a callback joke throughout the show's run.
*As part of Michael's test for the prospective manager's "Bob Hope factor" Dwight recites a paradoxically Bowdlerized version of The Aristocrats joke.
*"The Gambler" sing along on the bus echoes the film "Almost Famous", in which one character starts singing along to the song (in the film, "Tiny Dancer" by Elton John) and other characters join in, Rainn Wilson co-starred in this movie. "Tiny Dancer" itself was used in "The Dundies".
*Michael, Pam, Toby and Creed did not take part in the games, while the rest of the employees split into the following teams:

References

External links

* [http://www.nbc.com/The_Office/episodes/season3/3023/ Beach Games] at NBC.com