The Office (US TV series) season 2

infobox tvseason
season_name = The Office Season 2


caption =
dvd_release_date = September 12, 2006—Region 1
January 28, 2008—Region 2
dvd_format = Widescreen anamorphic boxed set
country = USA
network = NBC
first_aired = September 20, 2005
last_aired = May 11, 2006
num_episodes = 22
prev_season = 1
next_season = 3|The second season of the American situation comedy television series "The Office" premiered in the United States on the national terrestrial television network NBC on September 20, 2005 and ended on May 11, 2006. The season consisted of 22 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.

Season two of "The Office" aired on Tuesdays in the United States at 9:30 p.m. from September 20, 2005 to December 6, 2005. [ [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/09/20/DDGVSEP35I1.DTL Comedic gold worth digging for on NBC] "San Francisco Chronicle", retrieved June 23, 2008] The timeslot changed to Thursdays at 9:00 p.m. from January 5, 2006 to May 11, 2006. [ [http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2006-01-25-office_x.htm "The Office" reports strong future expansion] USA Today, retrieved June 23, 2008] The second season was released in a four-disc DVD boxset in Region 1 on September 12, 2006, [cite web |url= http://www.sirlinksalotshop.net/news/july06/article071906.html |title= "The Office" - Season Two (US/2005) |accessdate=2008-04-13 |last=Goldman |first=Eric |coauthors= |date= 2006-09-13|work= |publisher= IGN] and in Region 2 on January 28, 2008. The DVD set contained all 22 episodes, as well as commentaries from creators, writers, actors, and directors on some of the episodes, while also containing deleted scenes from all of the episodes. It was released by Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

Production

The second 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. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2004/may/18/broadcasting.internationalnews American Office gets green light] "The Guardian", retrieved June 22, 2008] "The Office" is produced by Greg Daniels, who is also an executive producer, along with consulting producers Larry Wilmore [ Bashir, Martin and Morris, Dan. [http://www.abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Story?id=3703737&page=1 Veteran TV Writer Moves in Front of the Camera] "ABC News", retrieved April 13, 2008] and Lester Lewis. [ [http://tv.yahoo.com/%2Flester-lewis%2Fcontributor%2F639093 Lester Lewis] Yahoo! TV, retrieved April 13, 2008] The show's writers include Daniels, Gervais, [http://www.celebrityspider.com/news/november06/article112406-3.html An Employees Convict Past is Revealed Next Week on "The Office"] "Celebrity Spider", retrieved June 22, 2008] Merchant, Michael Schur, [ Paumgarten, Nick. [http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2005/10/03/051003ta_talk_paumgarten Fender Bender] "The New Yorker", retrieved April 13, 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. [cite web |url=http://www.tvsquad.com/2007/11/05/will-writer-actors-from-the-office-strike/|title= Will writer/actors from "The Office" strike? |accessdate=2008-04-13 |last= Creer |first= Jen |coauthors= |date= |work= |publisher= Tvsquad.com] Wilmore and Schur also act in limited roles on the show. Daniels serves as the show runner for "The Office".

Season two featured episodes directed by eight different directors, each of whom aside from Bryan Gordon directed multiple episodes. "The Office" features both a "team of directors" as well as several freelance directors. Gordon, Ken Kwapis, Ken Whittingham, and Daniels had all previously directed episodes during season one, while Dennie Gordon, Paul Feig, Victor Nelli Jr., and Charles McDougall each made their directorial debut for the show. While "The Office" was mainly filmed on a studio set at Valley Center Studios in Van Nuys, California,"The Dundies" [Commentary track] , "The Office" Season Two (US/NBC Version) [DVD] , 2006, Los Angeles, CA: Universal.] the city of Scranton, Pennsylvania, where the show is set, was also used for shots of the opening theme. [Marchese, John. [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 April 16, 2008]

Despite low ratings from the first season of the show, NBC renewed "The Office" a second season. The season was originally set for a run of six episodes, [ [http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=326542 NBC giving "The Office" another shot] "Milwaukee Journal Sentinel", retrieved June 23, 2008] but NBC later ordered seven more episodes, bringing the total number of episodes in the second season to thirteen. [ [http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,271|97778|1|,00.html NBC Gives Bonus to "The Office"] Zap2It, retrieved June 23, 2008] In early November, NBC again ordered additional episodes, this time three, for "The Office", bringing the season total to sixteen, [ [http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,271|98411|1|,00.html NBC May Make More "Office" Space] Zap2It, retrieved June 23, 2008] and NBC later ordered a full season, 22 episodes, for "The Office". [ [http://www.celebrityspider.com/news/january06/article012206-6.html NBC Renews "The Office" for 22 More Episodes] "Celebrity Spider", retrieved June 23, 2008]

Cast

"The Office" employs an ensemble cast. All of the main characters, and some minor ones, are based on characters from the British version of "The Office". While these characters normally have the same attitudes and perceptions as their British counterparts, the roles have been redesigned to better fit the American show. The show is known for its 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 April 13, 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 April 13, 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 April 13, 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 April 13, 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 April 13, 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 April 13, 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 and Vice-President of Regional Sales, who is portrayed by Melora Hardin.

Reception

As the second season started, the success of Carell's hit summer movie "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" and online sales of episodes at iTunes helped the show to garner viewers. [cite news|last=Ryan|first=Maureen|title="Office" promotions pay off in a big way|url=http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2006/02/office_workers_.html|work=Chicago Tribune|date=2006-02-23|accessdate=2008-03-20|quote='Because of the relationship we have with [the feature-film division of NBC Universal] , within the company we knew that Steve had been identified as a big star and we'd be crazy to let him go,' said Angela Bromstad, president of NBC Universal Television Studio, the production company behind "The Office". Hence the second-season pickup of the show.'] By early January, episodes from "The Office" occupied ten of the twenty slots in the iTunes list of most popular downloads. [ [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/the-office-hits-top-spot-in-us-download-charts-521569.html "The Office" hits top spot in US download charts] "The Independent", retrieved June 23, 2008] The increase in viewership led NBC to move the series to the "Must See TV" Thursday night in January 2006, where ratings continued to grow. By the end of the 2005–2006 season, it placed 67th (tied with "20/20"). It averaged eight million viewers, and scored a 4.0/10 in the Nielsen ratings, meaning that on average four percent of households were tuned in at any given moment and ten percent of all televisions in use at the time were tuned into the program. The show received dramatic gains in viewers from the previous year, up forty percent in total viewers and up sixty percent in viewers ages 18–49. [ [http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/television/feature_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002576393 2005–06 primetime wrap.] , "hollywoodreporter.com", 2006-05-26. Retrieved on 2008-04-12.] The season featured the show's first forty minute long episode, the season finale "Casino Night".NBC (April 20, 2006) [http://nbcumv.com/release_detail.nbc/entertainment-20060420000000-nbcmay2006sweeps.html NBC Announces Super-sized episode] "NBC.com", retrieved May 12, 2008] Josh Wolk, an "Entertainment Weekly" television critic, said that the show has "...perfecting workaday moments so hilariously and relatably awkward that it makes viewers both laugh and cringe...". [ [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1159867,00.html Take This Job and Love It] "Entertainment Weekly", retrieved April 14, 2008] In 2006, the DVD set of the second season was the 17th highest selling DVD on Amazon. [" [http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?docId=1000022091 The Customers' Favorites: Top 100 DVD Bestsellers] ," "Amazon". Retrieved on June 22, 2008.]

Honors

The second season of "The Office" received five Primetime Emmy Awards nominations at the 58th Primetime Emmy Awards, and won the award for Outstanding Comedy Series. Other nominations included Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for Carell, for his portrayal of Michael Scott, Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for Michael Schur, for the episode "Christmas Party", and Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Comedy Series for both "Christmas Party", edited by David Rogers, and "Booze Cruise", edited by Dean Holland. [ [http://www.emmys.org/downloads/images/2006emmys/PrimetimeNoms.php The 58th Primetime Emmy® Awards and Creative Arts Emmys Nominations] "The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences", retrieved June 22, 2008] Carell also received the Television Critic's Award for Best Individual Achievement in Comedy, and the show received the Television Critic's Award for Outstanding Achievement in Comedy. [ [http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/Artists/C/Carell_Steve/2006/07/26/1702673.html Steve Carell wins TV Critic's Award] "Jam Showbiz", retrieved April 14, 2008] For the episode "Michael's Birthday", Ken Whittingham won the award for Outstanding Director in Comedy Series at the NAACP Image Awards. [cite press release|url=http://www.naacpimageawards.net/PDFs/38th_NAACP_Image_Awards_Winners_Release.pdf |title = 38th NAACP Image Awards Winners Release (page 8) | date = 2007-03-02|publisher=NAACP Image Awards | accessdate = 2008-06-16] At the 2007 Writers Guild of America Awards, "Office" received the award for Best Comedy Series, and Carell won the award for Episodic Comedic Writing for the episode "Casino Night".cite web |url=http://www.wga.org/awards/awardssub.aspx?id=1517 |title="Writers Guild Awards |publisher=Writers Guild of America, West |accessdate=2008-06-16 ] "The Office" was also honored as a recipient of a Peabody Award in 2006, honoring the show for excellence in radio and/or television broadcasting. [cite web| title = George Foster Peabody Award Winners Book (page 83)| publisher = University of Georgia| accessdate = 2008-06-16| url = http://www.peabody.uga.edu/winners/PeabodyWinnersBook.pdf] The episode "Casino Night" received a nomination at the American Cinema Editors Awards 2007 for Best Edited Half-Hour Series for Television, which it won. [ [http://us.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/American_Cinema_Editors_USA/2007 American Cinema Editors, USA: 2007] IMDB, retrieved May 11, 2008] For writing "Casino Night", Carell was nominated for and won a 2007 Writers Guild of America award for an Episodic Comedy of any length. [ [http://www.wga.org/awards/awardssub.aspx?id=1517 Writers Guild Awards] "WGA", retrieved May 12, 2008]

Episodes

"Series #" refers to the episode number in relation to the entire series. Production Code refers to the episode's individual code, with the 2 referring to the second season, and the two final numbers referring to the order each episode was filmed. ^† denotes a forty minute episode (normal episodes are twenty to twenty-one minutes).

References

ee also

*The Office (U.S. season 1)
*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" Official Website]
* [http://www.nbc.com/The_Office/episodes/ NBC.com episode guide]