The Office (US TV series) season 1

infobox tvseason
season_name = The Office Season 1


caption = Tagline: An NBC comedy not for everyone. Just anyone that works.
dvd_release_date = August 16, 2005—Region 1
April 10, 2006—Region 2
dvd_format = Widescreen Anamorphic boxed set
country = USA
network = NBC
first_aired = March 24, 2005
last_aired = April 26, 2005
num_episodes = 6
prev_season =
next_season = 2|

The first season of the American television comedy "The Office" premiered in the United States on NBC on March 24, 2005, concluded on April 26, 2005, and consists of six episodes. "The Office" is an American adaptation of the British TV series of the same name, and is presented in a mockumentary format, portraying the daily lives of office employees in the Scranton, Pennsylvania branch of the fictitious Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. The first season debuted as a midseason replacement which took the timeslot of "Committed", [ [http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,271|93084|1|,00.html 'Office,' 'Jury' Report for NBC Duty in March] Zap2It, retrieved March 13, 2008] and thus had fewer episodes than its subsequent seasons. [ [http://www.ananova.com/entertainment/story/sm_960180.html NBC to run six episodes of The Office] Ananova, retrieved March 13, 2008]

Season one of "The Office" aired on Tuesdays in the United States at 9:30 p.m. The season was released in a package which contained one DVD, and was released on August 16, 2005. [ [http://www.sirlinksalotshop.net/news/article080305.html The Office DVD Release August 16th 8/3/05] SirLinksAlot, retrieved March 10, 2008] The DVD contained all six episodes, as well as commentaries from creators, writers, actors, and directors on most of the episodes, as well as deleted scenes from all of the episodes. The DVD was released by Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

Production

The first season of the show was produced by Reveille Productions and Deedle-Dee Productions, both in association with NBC Universal Television Studios. The show is based upon the British series created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, who are executive producers on the show, and it is produced by Greg Daniels, also an executive producer, along with consulting producers Larry Wilmore [ [http://www.abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Story?id=3703737&page=1 Veteran TV Writer Moves in Front of the Camera] "ABC News", retrieved March 7, 2008] and Lester Lewis. [ [http://tv.yahoo.com/%2Flester-lewis%2Fcontributor%2F639093 Lester Lewis] Yahoo! TV, retrieved March 7, 2008] The show's writers include Daniels, Gervais, Merchant, Michael Schur, [ [http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2005/10/03/051003ta_talk_paumgarten Fender Bender] "The New Yorker", retrieved March 7, 2008] Jason Kessler, Lee Eisenberg, Gene Stupnitsky, Jennifer Celotta, Brent Forrester, and Justin Spitzer. Steve Carell, Mindy Kaling, Paul Lieberstein, and B.J. Novak double as writers as well as actors in the show, and between them, wrote three episodes on the season. The first episode, "Pilot", was written by Daniels, but the majority of the episode was adapted from "Episode One" of the British series, with many scenes being transferred almost verbatim.

Season one featured episodes directed by five different directors. "The Office" features both a "team of directors" as well as several directors who are freelanced. Ken Kwapis, directed the first two episodes "Pilot" and "Diversity Day", and would go on to direct another seven episodes as of season four. Ken Whittingham, who directed "Health Care" would go on to direct another five episodes as of season four. Daniels both produced and directed the episode "Basketball". "The Office" was almost entirely filmed in an actual office building in Los Angeles, California for its first season. Aside from Los Angeles, the city of Scranton, Pennsylvania, where the show is set, was also used for shots for the opening theme. [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/21/arts/television/21marc.html?ex=1350619200&en=903ceb28d88bdeb6&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss Scranton Embraces the ‘Office’ Infamy] "The New York Times", retrieved March 7, 2008]

Cast

Many characters portrayed by "The Office" cast are based on the British version of the show. While these characters normally have the same attitude and perceptions as their British counterparts, the roles have been redesigned to better fit the American show. The show is known for its generally large cast size, many of whom are known particularly for their improvisational work. Steve Carell stars as Michael Scott, Regional Manager of the Dunder Mifflin Scranton Branch. [ [http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/management/2007-09-26-the-office_N.htm Taking 'Office' lessons from the world's greatest (inept) boss] "USA Today", retrieved March 7, 2008] Loosely based on David Brent, Gervais' character in the British version, [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9800EFD81F30F93BA35757C0A9619C8B63&scp=20&sq=the+office+carell&st=nyt Jolly Good Show Or Was It?; On TV, Attitude Is More Important Than the Way the Vowels Sound] "The New York Times", retrieved March 7, 2008] Scott is a dim-witted and lonely man, who attempts to win friends as the office comedian, usually making himself look bad in the process. Rainn Wilson portrays Dwight Schrute, who, based upon Gareth Keenan, is the Assistant to the Regional Manager, although the character frequently fails to include "to the" in his title. [ [http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=3566414&page=1 The Man Behind 'The Office's' Favorite Suck-Up, Dwight Schrute] "ABC News", retrieved March 7, 2008] John Krasinski portrays Jim Halpert, a sales representative and prankster, who is based upon Tim Canterbury, and is in love with Pam Beesly, the receptionist. [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/20/arts/television/20Cart.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&sq=John%20Krasinski&st=nyt&oref=slogin&scp=2'The Office' Transfers to a New Cubicle] "The New York Times", retrieved March 7, 2008] Pam, who is based on Dawn Tinsley, is shy, but is often a cohort with Jim in his pranks on Dwight. [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/24/arts/television/24stan.html?scp=1&sq=Jenna+Fischer&st=nyt An American-Style 'Office' With a Boss From Heck] "The New York Times", retrieved March 7, 2008] B.J. Novak portrays Ryan Howard, who is a temporary worker. [ [http://www.comingsoon.net/news.php?id=3307 Hawaii, The Office & Lost in Space Castings] "Variety", retrieved March 7, 2008]

The show includes many minor characters playing roles of office workers, working in various positions around the office. Angela Martin, Oscar Martinez, and Kevin Malone are the office's accountants, and are portrayed by Angela Kinsey, Oscar Nuñez, and Brian Baumgartner, respectively. Schrute, Halpert, Phyllis Lapin (portrayed by Phyllis Smith), and Stanley Hudson (portrayed by Leslie David Baker), compose the sales division of Dunder Mifflin Scranton. Kate Flannery portrays Meredith Palmer, the promiscuous Supplier Relations Representative, writer-actress Mindy Kaling portrays Kelly Kapoor, the pop culture-obsessed Customer Service Representative, writer-actor Paul Lieberstein portrays Toby Flenderson, the sad-eyed Human Resources Representative, and Creed Bratton plays a fictionalized version of himself as the office's Quality Assurance Officer. Other characters include Roy Anderson, Pam's fiance played by David Denman, Warehouse Supervisor Darryl Philbin, played by Craig Robinson, and Jan Levinson, Michael's main love interest, who is portrayed by Melora Hardin.

Reception

The first season of "The Office" received mixed reviews among both viewers and critics. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4375947.stm Office remake has its US TV debut] "BBC News", retrieved March 9, 2008] After the initial episodes, critics thought "The Office" would be another failed remake of a British comedy, much like how the American version of "Coupling" was in relation to the original British series. [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37979-2005Mar15.html "Office" Humor and a Joyless "Stick"] "The Washington Post", retrieved March 9, 2008] "The Deseret Morning News" believed "The Office" was a failed remake, and said "Maybe, after "The Office" dies a quick death on NBC, the network will decide that trying to Americanize British TV comedies isn't such a great idea." [ [http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,600120744,00.html NBC is off target with "The Office"] "The Deseret Morning News", retrieved March 9, 2008]

Despite these criticisms, a few thought the show achieved success in its first season. "Time" magazine wrote that "It's ironic that NBC's most original sitcom in years is a remake, but who cares? "The Office" is a daring, unflinching take on very American workplace tensions." Boston.com felt that the first season of "The Office" was good, and the differences between the characters of the American and the original series added to the popularity of the series. [ [http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2005/03/24/the_office/ It's not as warped as the original, but 'The Office' is painfully funny] Boston.com, retrieved March 9, 2008] Rob Owen of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette felt that "The Office" succeeded in its first season, and that although NBC had failed in the past with television shows such as "Coupling", it had found achievement with "The Office". [ [http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05082/475876.stm TV Reviews: American 'Office' works for and gets the laughs] "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette", retrieved March 9, 2008]

Ratings

The first episode of "The Office" scored well in ratings, gaining over eleven million viewers in the 18–49 demographic, as well as ranking third for number of viewers on its night. [ [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/ustv/a20222/american-office-an-early-ratings-hit.html American 'Office' an early ratings hit] Digital Spy, retrieved March 9, 2008] But the episode aired on a Thursday evening, and between the change from the first episode and the second episode, "The Office" moved to its regular time slot on Tuesday evenings. "The Office" tumbled in the ratings, averaging under 5.9 million viewers, just over half that of the previous episode. [ [http://www.medialifemagazine.com/News2005/mar05/mar28/3_wed/news1wednesday.html Stunning tumble for NBC's 'The Office'] "Media Life" magazine, retrieved March 9, 2008] The first season finale "Hot Girl" received the lowest rating in the show's history, earning just a 2.2 rating with a 10 share. [" [http://www.medialifemagazine.com/News2005/april05/apr25/3_wed/news2wednesday.html Lower the lights for NBC's 'The Office'] "Media Life" magazine, April 27, 2005, retrieved March 28, 2008] "The Office" averaged 5.4 million viewers for its entire season, ranking it #102 for the 2004–2005 U.S. television season. [ [http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/television/feature_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000937471 Final audience and ratings figures for 2004-05] "Hollywood Reporter", retrieved March 28, 2008]

Episodes

Episode number refers to the order in which each episode was released, while production code refers to the order in which each episode was filmed.

References

ee also

*The Office (U.S. season 2)
*The Office (U.S. season 3)
*The Office (U.S. season 4)
*The Office (U.S. season 5)

External links

* [http://www.nbc.com/The_Office/ The Office Main Site]
* [http://www.nbc.com/The_Office/episodes/ NBC.com episode guide]