Body Language (The Office)
Encyclopedia
"Body Language" is the 23rd episode of the sixth season
of the U.S. comedy series The Office and the show's 123rd episode overall. It aired on April 29, 2010 on NBC
.
In the episode, Pam and Jim work on their first sales pitch together to Donna, the manager of a local restaurant, but Michael keeps misreading the signals she's putting out. Dwight encourages Kelly to try out for the minority training program.
It was written by Justin Spitzer
, his second writing credit of the season after "Shareholder Meeting
" and directed by Mindy Kaling
, which marks her television directorial debut (she previously directed the "Subtle Sexuality
" webisodes), she also portrays Kelly Kapoor
on the series.
"Body Language" has received positive reviews from critics and was viewed by 7.09 million viewers.
(Jenna Fischer
) and Jim
(John Krasinski
) work on their first sales pitch together to Donna (Amy Pietz
), the manager of a local restaurant. Michael
(Steve Carell
) employs several tactical dating and psychology moves to flirt with her, including juxtaposed pictures of himself with attractive people. He also gives Donna a Victoria's Secret catalog and flashes subliminal messages of the word "SEX" in his presentation to her. Throughout the day, he makes numerous unsuccessful attempts to kiss her. Michael discusses these attempts with the office workers, who largely interpret Donna as uninterested. Only Pam, on occasion, suggests that she may have some interest (pointing out that Donna had opportunities to leave earlier in the day). At the end of the sales pitch, Donna leaves hurriedly, but remains in her car. Michael, then, finds one of Donna's accessories in the office, giving him the perfect opportunity to chase after Donna. To the dismay of the office workers, Michael takes the opportunity and shares two kisses with Donna in the parking lot. Michael returns to the office, hoping to brag to the office workers, who remain skeptical of the kisses.
Meanwhile, Dwight
(Rainn Wilson
) learns of the Sabre minority executive training program "Print In All Colors" as a result of Darryl
's (Craig Robinson) interest. He then encourages Kelly
(Mindy Kaling
) to apply for the position, preferring that a "malleable simpleton who can be bought for a few fashion magazines" fill the role rather than a competent worker. Later, Dwight discovers the plan between Kelly and Ryan
(B. J. Novak
) to "clean house" in Scranton once Kelly has assumed a position of authority, thus confounding Dwight's plans. Dwight then attempts to sabotage the arrangement by encouraging other minority workers to apply for the training program. He also researches racial semantics, uncovering that Indians are, in fact, Caucasians by definition. Kelly ultimately gets accepted into the program and confronts Dwight to reveal her knowledge of his attempt to undermine her candidacy for the program. She also notes that she never forgets anything, implying that she would likely fire Dwight given the opportunity.
It was written by Justin Spitzer
, his second writing credit of the season after "Shareholder Meeting
" and directed by Mindy Kaling
, which marks her television directorial debut (she previously directed the "Subtle Sexuality
" webisodes), she also portrays Kelly Kapoor
on the series. The episode also features the second guest appearance of Amy Pietz
as Donna (her first being in "Happy Hour
") and Zach Woods as Gabe Lewis
.
with a 1.7. The show ranked 10th in the 18–49 weekly ratings making it NBC's highest-rated show.
The episode received positive reviews from critics. Cindy White of IGN
gave the episode a 8.8 saying, "While the episode probably won't stand out among the great Office episodes, it did everything you want an Office episode to do – make you laugh, sigh and cringe, sometimes all at once." Nathan Rabin of The A.V. Club
gave the episode a A- writing "All in all, it was a fine episode. The only reason I’m not giving it an A is because it lacked the tragicomic heft of the best Office episodes." Joel Keller of TV Squad gave the episode a positive review as well saying "Despite the fact that we all knew that Michael and Donna were going to end up in a liplock, the journey there was still funny. I mean, who doesn't like seeing Kevin trying to push his manboobs together, or Andy talking about how the doctor who was feeling his punctured "scrote" was just teasing doing so to up his bill?" Darren Franich of Entertainment Weekly
gave the episode a positive review writing "straightforward and funny outing".
Not all the reviews were positive. Alan Sepinwall gave the episode a mixed review saying "wasn't nearly as bad as this season's 'Mafia
' – nor was Michael as idiotic in this one as he was there — but it was still a fairly uncomfortable, airless outing, one where nearly all the laughs could be found in the Dwight/Daryl/Kelly subplot" and said that if Steve Carell
leaves, the show could actually work.
The Office (U.S. TV series) season 6
The American television comedy The Office was renewed by NBC for a sixth season on January 15, 2009. The season premiered on September 17, 2009 and concluded on May 20, 2010. The episodes aired on Thursdays at 9:00 p.m. EDT as part of Comedy Night Done Right...
of the U.S. comedy series The Office and the show's 123rd episode overall. It aired on April 29, 2010 on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
.
In the episode, Pam and Jim work on their first sales pitch together to Donna, the manager of a local restaurant, but Michael keeps misreading the signals she's putting out. Dwight encourages Kelly to try out for the minority training program.
It was written by Justin Spitzer
Justin Spitzer
Justin Spitzer is an American television writer, whose credits include Scrubs and Courting Alex. He is currently serving as a staff writer on The Office...
, his second writing credit of the season after "Shareholder Meeting
Shareholder Meeting
"Shareholder Meeting" is the 11th episode of the sixth season of the U.S. comedy series The Office and the show's 111th episode overall. It was written by Justin Spitzer and directed by Charles McDougall, and originally aired in the United States on NBC on November 19, 2009.In this episode, Michael...
" and directed by Mindy Kaling
Mindy Kaling
Vera Mindy Chokalingam , better known as Mindy Kaling, is an American actress, comedian, writer and producer who plays Kelly Kapoor on the NBC sitcom The Office. Kaling is also a co-executive producer and writer of several of the show's episodes.-Early life:Kaling was born Vera Chokalingam in...
, which marks her television directorial debut (she previously directed the "Subtle Sexuality
Subtle Sexuality
Subtle Sexuality is a spin-off series of mini-episodes of The Office. It premiered as original internet-only content, available online at NBC.com. It aired its episodes on October 29, 2009.-Cast:*Mindy Kaling as Kelly Kapoor...
" webisodes), she also portrays Kelly Kapoor
Kelly Kapoor
Kelly Rajnigandha Kapoor , is a fictional character from the US television series, The Office. She is played by Mindy Kaling, who is also a writer and producer for the show....
on the series.
"Body Language" has received positive reviews from critics and was viewed by 7.09 million viewers.
Synopsis
PamPam 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,...
) and 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...
) work on their first sales pitch together to Donna (Amy Pietz
Amy Pietz
Amy Pietz is an American film and television actress.-Early life:Pietz was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the adopted daughter of Nancy, a nurse, and Arnold Pietz, a truck driver. She trained throughout her childhood in ballet and prepared to go professional, but eventually decided not to due to...
), the manager of a local restaurant. Michael
Michael 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...
) employs several tactical dating and psychology moves to flirt with her, including juxtaposed pictures of himself with attractive people. He also gives Donna a Victoria's Secret catalog and flashes subliminal messages of the word "SEX" in his presentation to her. Throughout the day, he makes numerous unsuccessful attempts to kiss her. Michael discusses these attempts with the office workers, who largely interpret Donna as uninterested. Only Pam, on occasion, suggests that she may have some interest (pointing out that Donna had opportunities to leave earlier in the day). At the end of the sales pitch, Donna leaves hurriedly, but remains in her car. Michael, then, finds one of Donna's accessories in the office, giving him the perfect opportunity to chase after Donna. To the dismay of the office workers, Michael takes the opportunity and shares two kisses with Donna in the parking lot. Michael returns to the office, hoping to brag to the office workers, who remain skeptical of the kisses.
Meanwhile, 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...
) learns of the Sabre minority executive training program "Print In All Colors" as a result of Darryl
Darryl Philbin
Darryl Mathias Philbin is a fictional character from the US television series The Office. He is played by Craig Robinson.-Overview:Darryl Philbin is the foreman of the warehouse of the Scranton branch of fictitious paper distributor Dunder Mifflin....
's (Craig Robinson) interest. He then encourages Kelly
Kelly Kapoor
Kelly Rajnigandha Kapoor , is a fictional character from the US television series, The Office. She is played by Mindy Kaling, who is also a writer and producer for the show....
(Mindy Kaling
Mindy Kaling
Vera Mindy Chokalingam , better known as Mindy Kaling, is an American actress, comedian, writer and producer who plays Kelly Kapoor on the NBC sitcom The Office. Kaling is also a co-executive producer and writer of several of the show's episodes.-Early life:Kaling was born Vera Chokalingam in...
) to apply for the position, preferring that a "malleable simpleton who can be bought for a few fashion magazines" fill the role rather than a competent worker. Later, Dwight discovers the plan between Kelly and 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
B. J. Novak
Benjamin Joseph Manaly “B. J.” Novak is an American actor, stand-up comedian, screenwriter, and director. He is best known for being a writer and co-executive producer for and playing the role of Ryan Howard on the US version of The Office, as well as appearing in Inglourious Basterds...
) to "clean house" in Scranton once Kelly has assumed a position of authority, thus confounding Dwight's plans. Dwight then attempts to sabotage the arrangement by encouraging other minority workers to apply for the training program. He also researches racial semantics, uncovering that Indians are, in fact, Caucasians by definition. Kelly ultimately gets accepted into the program and confronts Dwight to reveal her knowledge of his attempt to undermine her candidacy for the program. She also notes that she never forgets anything, implying that she would likely fire Dwight given the opportunity.
Production
Justin Spitzer
Justin Spitzer is an American television writer, whose credits include Scrubs and Courting Alex. He is currently serving as a staff writer on The Office...
, his second writing credit of the season after "Shareholder Meeting
Shareholder Meeting
"Shareholder Meeting" is the 11th episode of the sixth season of the U.S. comedy series The Office and the show's 111th episode overall. It was written by Justin Spitzer and directed by Charles McDougall, and originally aired in the United States on NBC on November 19, 2009.In this episode, Michael...
" and directed by Mindy Kaling
Mindy Kaling
Vera Mindy Chokalingam , better known as Mindy Kaling, is an American actress, comedian, writer and producer who plays Kelly Kapoor on the NBC sitcom The Office. Kaling is also a co-executive producer and writer of several of the show's episodes.-Early life:Kaling was born Vera Chokalingam in...
, which marks her television directorial debut (she previously directed the "Subtle Sexuality
Subtle Sexuality
Subtle Sexuality is a spin-off series of mini-episodes of The Office. It premiered as original internet-only content, available online at NBC.com. It aired its episodes on October 29, 2009.-Cast:*Mindy Kaling as Kelly Kapoor...
" webisodes), she also portrays Kelly Kapoor
Kelly Kapoor
Kelly Rajnigandha Kapoor , is a fictional character from the US television series, The Office. She is played by Mindy Kaling, who is also a writer and producer for the show....
on the series. The episode also features the second guest appearance of Amy Pietz
Amy Pietz
Amy Pietz is an American film and television actress.-Early life:Pietz was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the adopted daughter of Nancy, a nurse, and Arnold Pietz, a truck driver. She trained throughout her childhood in ballet and prepared to go professional, but eventually decided not to due to...
as Donna (her first being in "Happy Hour
Happy Hour (The Office)
"Happy Hour" is the 21st episode of the sixth season of the U.S. comedy series The Office and the show's 121st episode overall. It originally aired March 25, 2010 on NBC....
") and Zach Woods as Gabe Lewis
Gabe Lewis
Gabriel Stuart "Gabe" Lewis is a fictional character on NBC's The Office. He first appears in the sixth season, where he is the Coordinating Director of Emerging Regions for the Sabre Corporate headquarters in Florida...
.
Reception
In its original American broadcast, "Body Language" was watched by 7.09 million viewers, with a 3.6 rating and a 11 share in the 18–49 demographic. The episode also received a 4.2 in the 18–34 male demographic coming first in its timeslot for the demographic with the closest competition being Grey's AnatomyGrey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in...
with a 1.7. The show ranked 10th in the 18–49 weekly ratings making it NBC's highest-rated show.
The episode received positive reviews from critics. Cindy White of IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
gave the episode a 8.8 saying, "While the episode probably won't stand out among the great Office episodes, it did everything you want an Office episode to do – make you laugh, sigh and cringe, sometimes all at once." Nathan Rabin of The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club is an entertainment newspaper and website published by The Onion. Its features include reviews of new films, music, television, books, games and DVDs, as well as interviews and other regular offerings examining both new and classic media and other elements of pop culture. Unlike its...
gave the episode a A- writing "All in all, it was a fine episode. The only reason I’m not giving it an A is because it lacked the tragicomic heft of the best Office episodes." Joel Keller of TV Squad gave the episode a positive review as well saying "Despite the fact that we all knew that Michael and Donna were going to end up in a liplock, the journey there was still funny. I mean, who doesn't like seeing Kevin trying to push his manboobs together, or Andy talking about how the doctor who was feeling his punctured "scrote" was just teasing doing so to up his bill?" Darren Franich of Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
gave the episode a positive review writing "straightforward and funny outing".
Not all the reviews were positive. Alan Sepinwall gave the episode a mixed review saying "wasn't nearly as bad as this season's 'Mafia
Mafia (The Office)
"Mafia" is the 6th episode of the sixth season of the U.S. comedy series The Office and the show's 106th episode overall and originally aired on October 15, 2009 on NBC....
' – nor was Michael as idiotic in this one as he was there — but it was still a fairly uncomfortable, airless outing, one where nearly all the laughs could be found in the Dwight/Daryl/Kelly subplot" and said that if 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...
leaves, the show could actually work.
External links
- "Body Language" at NBC.comNBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...