The Coup (The Office episode)
Encyclopedia
"The Coup" is the second filmed and third aired episode of the third season of The Office (U.S. version). It was written by Paul Lieberstein
and directed by Greg Daniels
. It aired on October 5, 2006 on NBC
.
In this episode, Jan becomes unimpressed with how Michael is controlling his branch, so Dwight tries to take his job and an office power play ensues. Meanwhile, Pam conducts a lunchtime fashion show, and the Stamford branch plays Call of Duty
as a team-building exercise, something Jim does not do well in.
berates Michael
when she discovers that he calls the entire office into the conference room every Monday to watch a movie. Angela
prods Dwight
to ask Jan to give him Michael's job. After the awkward meeting with Dwight, Jan calls Michael and demands he get his branch under control.
The Stamford branch plays Call of Duty
under the guise of a team-building exercise. New to the game, Jim
's play is poor and he draws the ire of his teammates. As he leaves for home, Jim pretends to toss a grenade at Karen
, who responds by creating a pretend explosion with paper clips. Karen longingly watches Jim leave.
Kelly
insists that Pam
perform a lunchtime fashion show to show off a new sweater. When it draws unwanted attention, Pam concludes that it is too revealing.
Michael leads Dwight to believe that he has been given control of the branch before revealing the ruse. Dwight begs for his job and for Michael's forgiveness, offering to do his laundry for a year. When it appears that Michael is on the verge of firing Dwight, he makes a reference to Entourage
and insists that they "hug it out, bitch." Dwight quickly returns to being Michael's loyal right-hand man, but Michael is still resentful, and forces Dwight to stand atop a box in the middle of the office, wearing a sign that says "LIAR"--and the promise to do Michael's laundry for a year.
Paul Lieberstein
Paul Bevan Lieberstein is an American screenwriter, actor and television producer. An Emmy Award winner, he is most widely known as a writer, producer, and as supporting cast member Toby Flenderson on the U.S...
and directed by Greg Daniels
Greg Daniels
Gregory Martin "Greg" Daniels is an American television comedy writer, producer, and director.-Life and career:...
. It aired on October 5, 2006 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 this episode, Jan becomes unimpressed with how Michael is controlling his branch, so Dwight tries to take his job and an office power play ensues. Meanwhile, Pam conducts a lunchtime fashion show, and the Stamford branch plays Call of Duty
Call of Duty
Call of Duty is a first-person shooter video game developed by Infinity Ward and published by Activision in 2003. It is the first game in a series with the same name. The game simulates the infantry and combined arms warfare of World War II. The game is based on the Quake III: Team Arena engine...
as a team-building exercise, something Jim does not do well in.
Synopsis
JanJan Levinson
Janet "Jan" Levenson is a fictional character from the US television series The Office. Though her last name is commonly misspelled as "Levinson", NBC spells it as "Levenson". Her counterpart in the UK version is Jennifer Taylor-Clarke...
berates 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...
when she discovers that he calls the entire office into the conference room every Monday to watch a movie. Angela
Angela Martin
Angela Noelle Martin is a fictional character from the US television series The Office played by American actress Angela Kinsey. She is an original character, and has no equivalent in the British version of the show, The Office.-Overview:...
prods 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...
to ask Jan to give him Michael's job. After the awkward meeting with Dwight, Jan calls Michael and demands he get his branch under control.
The Stamford branch plays Call of Duty
Call of Duty
Call of Duty is a first-person shooter video game developed by Infinity Ward and published by Activision in 2003. It is the first game in a series with the same name. The game simulates the infantry and combined arms warfare of World War II. The game is based on the Quake III: Team Arena engine...
under the guise of a team-building exercise. New to the game, 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...
's play is poor and he draws the ire of his teammates. As he leaves for home, Jim pretends to toss a grenade at Karen
Karen Filippelli
Karen Filippelli is a fictional character from the U.S. television series The Office. She is played by Rashida Jones. She is loosely based on the character of Rachel from the original UK version of the show, in that she transferred during the merger of the two branches, and became romantically...
, who responds by creating a pretend explosion with paper clips. Karen longingly watches Jim leave.
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....
insists that 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....
perform a lunchtime fashion show to show off a new sweater. When it draws unwanted attention, Pam concludes that it is too revealing.
Michael leads Dwight to believe that he has been given control of the branch before revealing the ruse. Dwight begs for his job and for Michael's forgiveness, offering to do his laundry for a year. When it appears that Michael is on the verge of firing Dwight, he makes a reference to Entourage
Entourage (TV series)
Entourage is an American comedy-drama television series that premiered on HBO on July 18, 2004 and concluded on September 11, 2011, after eight seasons...
and insists that they "hug it out, bitch." Dwight quickly returns to being Michael's loyal right-hand man, but Michael is still resentful, and forces Dwight to stand atop a box in the middle of the office, wearing a sign that says "LIAR"--and the promise to do Michael's laundry for a year.
Deleted scenes
The Season Three DVD contains a number of deleted scenes. Notable cut scenes include:- Dwight describes the conflict between his paternal Schrute blood (which is loyal) and his maternal Manheim blood (which knows when to cut and run).
- Creed reveals that he sleeps under his desk four nights a week.
- Dwight and Angela flirt in the break room after he tries to persuade her to join Movie Monday.
- Michael becomes suspicious when Pam interrupts to tell him that he has a phone call.
- Pam responds to Kevin's unwanted attention to her neckline.
- Phyllis, Meredith, and Creed respond to having Dwight as the new boss.
- Jim is surprised when Jan is not upset to find him playing a video game.
Behind the scenes
- Angela KinseyAngela KinseyAngela Kinsey is an American actress. She currently appears as the uptight accountant Angela Martin on the hit NBC television series The Office.-Personal life:...
did an alternate talking head that didn't make the show. Angela (her character) talks about a "friend" of hers that introduced her to Star TrekStar Trek: The Original SeriesStar Trek is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry, produced by Desilu Productions . Star Trek was telecast on NBC from September 8, 1966, through June 3, 1969...
. "Well, there is this guy named SpockSpockSpock is a fictional character in the Star Trek media franchise. First portrayed by Leonard Nimoy in the original Star Trek series, Spock also appears in the animated Star Trek series, two episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, seven of the Star Trek feature films, and numerous Star Trek...
and he is very honorable and brave," Kinsey paraphrases, "And he stands up for what he thinks is right. And she just wishes that 'someone' in the office could be more like Spock." Kinsey continues, "I thought it was a cute glimpse into Dwight and Angela's courtship. I can see her being very resistant to sci-fi but she watches these Star Trek episodes because they are important to Dwight."
- In "The Coup" episode commentary, several cast members noted how darkly the episode ends, with Michael punishing Dwight for his insubordination. Rashida JonesRashida JonesRashida Leah Jones is an American film and television actress, comic book author, screenwriter and occasional singer. She played Louisa Fenn on Boston Public and Karen Filippelli on The Office as well as roles in the films I Love You, Man and The Social Network...
suggested that Dwight's punishment--being forced to wear a "liar" sign and stand silently on some boxes in the middle of the office--was reminiscent of the iconic photo of the Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuseAbu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuseBeginning in 2004, human rights violations in the form of physical, psychological, and sexual abuse, including torture, rape, sodomy, and homicide of prisoners held in the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq came to public attention...
. The other cast members in the episode commentary--Rainn Wilson, John KrasinskiJohn KrasinskiJohn 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...
, and Angela Kinsey--all sound shocked by Jones' offhanded observation, which suggests that any similarities between Abu Ghraib and Dwight's punishment were likely unintended by the cast. The scene more closely resembles an also iconic scene from Jane Eyre.
External links
- "The Coup" at NBC.com