" Sexual Harassment " is the second episode of the second season of the American comedy television series The Office , and the show's eighth episode overall. Written by B. J. Novak, who also acts on the show as Ryan Howard, and directed by Ken Kwapis, the episode first aired in the United States on September 27, 2005 on the National Broadcasting Company (NBC).
In this episode, Michael is concerned when he believes Dunder Mifflin is targeting him for sexual harassment training. Meanwhile, Pam anxiously awaits the arrival of her mother, and Michael's obnoxious friend Todd Packer spends the day in the office.
Synopsis
Michael Scott's (Steve Carell) "best friend forever" Todd Packer (David Koechner) offends the staff with crude gossip about an upper management scandal. Toby Flenderson (Paul Lieberstein) informs Michael that he will conduct a review of the company's sexual harassment policies because the company's CFO resigned because of sexual harassment. Michael's indignation that this will put a damper on his easygoing office environment rises to outrage when he learns that the corporate headquarters is sending down a lawyer to talk to him. Michael and the warehouse staff mock the sexual harassment video, but the crude remarks come to a screeching halt when Jan Levinson-Gould (Melora Hardin) and the lawyer arrive from Corporate.
While Michael angrily announces that he can no longer be friends with his staff and that he will never tell another joke again, Jim Halpert (John Krasinski) goads Michael into breaking his vow immediately, to the approval of Packer. Michael's attitude suddenly changes when he realizes that he is not in trouble, and that the lawyer's job is to protect him. "I am so used to fighting corporate that I forget I am corporate- upper management. They hooked me up with an attorney- to protect me. You can't be too careful about what you say. Mo money, mo problems." he concludes.
Meanwhile, Pam Beesly (Jenna Fischer) waits with anticipation for her mother (Shannon Cochran) to arrive from out of town. Pam's mother arrives and asks in whispers (shushed by an embarrassed Pam) "which one is Jim?". Michael stops Packer when he tries to share another inappropriate joke and concludes with his misguided thoughts on sexual harassment.
Production
"Sexual Harassment" was the third episode of the series directed by Ken Kwapis. Kwapis had previously directed "Pilot" and "Diversity Day". "Sexual Harassment" was written by B. J. Novak, who also acts on the show as Ryan Howard.
The inspiration for the episode was the NBC sexual harassment seminar that the cast and crew had to attend before the series began. Having both worked in office environments prior to filming The Office , Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey both noted that on the days of sexual harassment seminars, they would be harassed by other members of the office as a joke. This experience was added to the script for the episode. "Sexual Harassment" introduces Michael's catchphrase "That's what she said," which writer B. J. Novak says was something he heard repeated in college. ("What has two thumbs and X? This guy." also comes from Novak's college days.)
When deciding what car Packer would own, writer B. J. Novak wanted to use a Mustang, but none were available. Producer Kent Zbornak decided to get Packer a red Chevrolet Corvette, which Novak now admits is "even better". This episode aired with a warning that it contained adult content and subject matter, which is rare for a network comedy. Novak explained that he had to fight NBC to get the word "boner" on the air because the replacement ("schwing") didn't have, according to Novak, "the same redemption for Michael at the end." The disclaimer was a compromise. A station in Kentucky nevertheless refused to air this episode.
Reception
"Sexual Harassment" received mixed reviews from critics. Michael Sciannamea of TV Squad wrote that the episode "was OK, nothing great." Sciannamea went onto explain that the "subject was funny, but I thought the writers were trying too hard to push the envelope", making the episode "uneven". "Miss Alli" of Television Without Pity graded the episode with a "B+".
Continuity
Pam's mother was played by Shannon Cochran in this episode of the series, and was the first appearance of the character at this point in the show: however, due to scheduling conflicts with a year-long theater contract, Cochran was unable to return to play the character for the Season 6 episode, "Niagara", where Pam's mother makes her second appearance, and was thus replaced by Linda Purl.
References
- ^ Carell, Steve (Actor). 2005. "Diversity Day" , The Office Season One (US/NBC Version) , Los Angeles, CA: Universal.
- ^ Novak, B. J. (Writer/Actor). 2006. "Sexual Harassment" , The Office Season Two (US/NBC Version) , Los Angeles, CA: Universal.
- ^ Novak, B. J. (Writer/Actor). 2005. "Diversity Day" , The Office Season One (US/NBC Version) , Los Angeles, CA: Universal.
- ^ Novak, B. J. (2005-10-04). "Michael and Co. Hit the Road". TV Guide . http://www.tvguide.com/News-Views/Interviews-Features/Article/default.aspx?posting={1A623B2B-5407-4341-B5F0-7B84E654B4D9} . Retrieved 2008-07-29 .
- ^ Chun, Wing. "The B.J. Novak Interview". TelevisionWithoutPity.com . http://web.archive.org/web/20060515033047/http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/story.cgi?show=56&story=8897 . Retrieved 2006-03-22 .
- ^ Sciannamea, Michael (2007-02-02). " The Office : "Sexual Harassment"". TV Squad . http://www.tvsquad.com/2007/02/02/the-office-ben-franklin/ . Retrieved 2008-07-28 .
- ^ ""SEXUAL HARASSMENT"". Television Without Pity. 2005-09-27 . http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/show/the_office/sexual_harassment.php . Retrieved 2008-07-29 .
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niagara_(The_Office)
External links
- "Sexual Harassment" at NBC.com
- BJ Novak's Blog on "Sexual Harassment"
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