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Basketball (The Office episode)
Encyclopedia
"Basketball" is the fifth episode of the first season of U.S. television comedy The Office. It was written and directed by Greg Daniels
. It first aired on April 19, 2005.
In this episode, Michael pits the office staff against the warehouse workers in a basketball game in order to determine which group will have to come to work on a Saturday.
(Steve Carell
) comes in to work prepared to pit the office staff against the warehouse in a game of basketball, with the losers having to work on Saturday. Michael picks Jim
(John Krasinski
), Ryan
(B.J. Novak), Stanley
(Leslie David Baker
) (Michael's "secret weapon"), and, reluctantly, Dwight
(Rainn Wilson
) and Phyllis
(Phyllis Smith) (as an alternate), but refuses to pick Oscar (he claims to be saving him if they play baseball, or box, as well as Kevin
(Brian Baumgartner
), who later demonstrates significant talent).
The game begins and Stanley, despite being seen as a great option for Michael's team (due to his race), is a horrible player. Furthermore, Michael cannot make a shot, nor is he a fan of passing or defending. Upon possession of the ball, Michael would fool around and intentionally act stupid to tease the opponents, which resulted in Roy
(David Denman
) snatching the ball and scoring against Michael's team. Despite the fact that Michael was the one who foolishly lost the ball, he blamed the scoring on his teammates' ineptness. During the game, Roy and Jim gradually become aggressive toward each other, with Pam
(Jenna Fischer
) looking on. Pam is once caught staring at a sweaty Jim. At a crucial point in the game, Michael is accidentally hit in the face. Michael claims it is a "flagrant personal intentional foul". He pettily stops the game and declares the office winners since they were winning when the foul occurred. The warehouse finds the call unfair and Michael caves under pressure, conceding the victory to the warehouse staff. As everybody returns to work, Kevin demonstrates his excellent shooting skills.
Afterwards, Michael, in a rare moment of heart, tells the office that they don't have to come in on Saturday either. However, his justification does little to calm them: "Like coming in an extra day is going to prevent us from being downsized."
Greg Daniels
Gregory Martin "Greg" Daniels is an American television comedy writer, producer, and director.-Life and career:...
. It first aired on April 19, 2005.
In this episode, Michael pits the office staff against the warehouse workers in a basketball game in order to determine which group will have to come to work on a Saturday.
Synopsis
MichaelMichael Scott (The Office)
Michael Gary Scott is a fictional character on NBC's The Office, portrayed by Steve Carell, and based on David Brent from the original British version. Michael, the central character of the series, was the manager of the Scranton branch of paper and printer distribution company Dunder Mifflin Inc...
(Steve Carell
Steve Carell
Steven John "Steve" Carell is an American comedian, actor, voice artist, producer, writer, and director. Although Carell is notable for his role on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, he found greater fame in the late 2000s for playing Michael Scott on The Office...
) comes in to work prepared to pit the office staff against the warehouse in a game of basketball, with the losers having to work on Saturday. Michael picks Jim
Jim Halpert
James Duncan "Jim" Halpert is a fictional character in the United States version of the television sitcom The Office, played by John Krasinski. The character is based on Tim Canterbury from the original version of The Office...
(John Krasinski
John Krasinski
John Burke Krasinski is an American actor, film director, and writer. He is most widely known for playing Jim Halpert on the NBC sitcom The Office...
), Ryan
Ryan Howard (The Office)
Ryan Bailey Howard , played by B. J. Novak, is a fictional character on the US television sitcom The Office. He is based upon Ricky Howard from the original version of The Office , but his role is significantly expanded and he is a main character.-Character profile:Little is known about Ryan's...
(B.J. Novak), Stanley
Stanley Hudson
Stanley James Hudson is a fictional character from the US television series The Office. He is played by Leslie David Baker. Stanley's counterpart in the UK series is Malcolm.-Overview:...
(Leslie David Baker
Leslie David Baker
Leslie David Baker is an American film and television actor who plays Stanley Hudson on The Office. He also had several small roles in Scrubs and appeared on That '70s Show as a janitor after a Ted Nugent concert and played an office worker in several of OfficeMax's "Rubberband Man" series of...
) (Michael's "secret weapon"), and, reluctantly, Dwight
Dwight Schrute
Dwight Kurt Schrute III is a character on NBC's The Office portrayed by Rainn Wilson. He originally exactly resembled Gareth Keenan from the original UK version of The Office. Dwight is the top salesman and former acting manager for the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company and has won numerous awards for...
(Rainn Wilson
Rainn Wilson
Rainn Dietrich Wilson is an American actor and comedian. He is primarily known for his role as the egomaniacal Dwight Schrute on the American version of the television comedy The Office...
) and Phyllis
Phyllis Lapin
Phyllis Margaret Vance is a fictional character from the US television series The Office. She is played by Phyllis Smith.-Biography:...
(Phyllis Smith) (as an alternate), but refuses to pick Oscar (he claims to be saving him if they play baseball, or box, as well as Kevin
Kevin Malone
Kevin Jaye Malone is a character in the United States television series The Office. He is played by Brian Baumgartner. Kevin's counterpart in the UK series is Keith Bishop.-Biography:...
(Brian Baumgartner
Brian Baumgartner
Brian Baumgartner is an Emmy Award-winning American film and television actor, best known for playing Kevin Malone on The Office.-Personal life:...
), who later demonstrates significant talent).
The game begins and Stanley, despite being seen as a great option for Michael's team (due to his race), is a horrible player. Furthermore, Michael cannot make a shot, nor is he a fan of passing or defending. Upon possession of the ball, Michael would fool around and intentionally act stupid to tease the opponents, which resulted in Roy
Roy Anderson
Roy Anderson or Andersson may refer to:* Sir Roy M. Anderson , former rector of Imperial College* Roy Anderson , character from television sitcom The Office* Roy Andersson , Swedish film director...
(David Denman
David Denman
David Denman is an American film and television actor.-Education:After graduating from Fountain Valley High School, Denman attended the summer training congress at American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco before receiving his B.F.A. from Juilliard.-Career:He made his film debut with Keanu...
) snatching the ball and scoring against Michael's team. Despite the fact that Michael was the one who foolishly lost the ball, he blamed the scoring on his teammates' ineptness. During the game, Roy and Jim gradually become aggressive toward each other, with Pam
Pam Beesly
Pamela Morgan "Pam" Halpert is a fictional character on the U.S. television sitcom The Office, played by Jenna Fischer. Her counterpart in the original UK series of The Office is Dawn Tinsley....
(Jenna Fischer
Jenna Fischer
Regina Marie "Jenna" Fischer is an American actress and director. She is most widely known for her Emmy-nominated portrayal of Pam Halpert on the NBC situation comedy and mockumentary The Office, and has also appeared in several films, including Blades of Glory, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story,...
) looking on. Pam is once caught staring at a sweaty Jim. At a crucial point in the game, Michael is accidentally hit in the face. Michael claims it is a "flagrant personal intentional foul". He pettily stops the game and declares the office winners since they were winning when the foul occurred. The warehouse finds the call unfair and Michael caves under pressure, conceding the victory to the warehouse staff. As everybody returns to work, Kevin demonstrates his excellent shooting skills.
Afterwards, Michael, in a rare moment of heart, tells the office that they don't have to come in on Saturday either. However, his justification does little to calm them: "Like coming in an extra day is going to prevent us from being downsized."
Deleted scenes
The Season One DVD contains a number of deleted scenes from this episode. Notable cut scenes include:- Pam compliments Michael on his new pants.
- Michael scolds Dwight for looking at the camera.
- Michael talks to the warehouse crew about the 76ersPhiladelphia 76ersThe Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
game. - Michael discusses his basketball nicknames.
- Kevin asks Dwight for Saturday off for band rehearsal.
- Michael calls Todd PackerTodd PackerTodd Finch Packer is a fictional character on NBC's The Office, portrayed by David Koechner, and based on Chris Finch from the original British version.-Overview:Todd is a boorish Outside Sales Representative...
to remind him about the game. - Dwight eats Angela's Tootsie RollTootsie RollTootsie Roll is a brand of chewy candy. It is a form of candy that has been manufactured in the United States since 1896. The manufacturer, Tootsie Roll Industries, is based in Chicago, Illinois.It was the first penny candy to be individually wrapped....
s as a form of blackmail. - Pam laments Roy's recent monetary decisions.
- Dwight tries to protect his dry erase board schedule from Jim.
- Michael shares more thoughts on basketball.
- Stanley hurts his ankle and is replaced by Phyllis.
- Michael makes a full-court shot, surprising everyone (including himself).
External links
- "Basketball" at NBC.com