160-439: " Michael Scott Paper Company " is the twenty-third episode of the fifth season of the television series The Office and the 95th overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on April 9, 2009. In the episode, Michael , Pam and Ryan try to get their new paper company off the ground, but end up bickering among themselves due to the stress and cramped office space. Meanwhile, Jim tries to do
320-462: A Christen Eagle aerobatic plane, two Cessna 210 Centurion airplanes, and a 1997 amateur-built Rutan Long-EZ . On April 21, 1989, Denver was in a plane accident while taxiing down the runway at Holbrook Municipal Airport in his vintage 1931 biplane. Denver had stopped to refuel on a flight from Carefree, Arizona , to Santa Fe, New Mexico . Reports stated wind gusts caught the plane, causing it to spin around and sustain extensive damage. Denver
480-406: A Lady Gaga song, while driving his convertible to work, which he mistakes for a Britney Spears song. Near the end of the episode, when Andy states that every song sounds better a cappella , Dwight asks about the songs " Cherry Pie " by Warrant , " Enter Sandman " by Metallica and " Rebel Yell " by Billy Idol . In its original American broadcast on April 9, 2009, "Michael Scott Paper Company"
640-753: A United States Army Air Forces pilot stationed at Roswell Army Air Field . Captain Deutschendorf Sr. was a decorated pilot who set a number of air speed records in a Convair B-58 Hustler in 1961. In his 1994 autobiography Take Me Home , Denver described his father as a stern man who could not show his love for his children. With a military father, Denver's family moved often, and he found difficulty gaining friends and assimilating with children of his own age. The introverted Denver often felt misplaced and did not know where he truly belonged. While stationed at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona ,
800-535: A buyout of the Michael Scott Paper Company, the three are rehired with Pam promoted to sales and Ryan returning as a temp. During the chaos a new receptionist, Erin , is hired to fill the vacancy originally left by Pam. The season ends with a scene that subtly alludes to Pam's (unplanned) pregnancy. The sixth season consists of 26 half-hours of material, divided into 22 half-hour episodes and two hour-long episodes. Jim and Pam marry and have
960-467: A "pop" or "backfire" accompanied by a reduction in the engine noise level just before the plane crashed into the sea. In addition to Denver's failing to refuel and his subsequent loss of control while attempting to switch fuel tanks, the NTSB determined other key factors that led to the crash. Foremost among these was his inadequate transition training on this type of aircraft and the builder's decision to put
1120-470: A "rundown" for new boss Charles Miner without admitting he does not know what a rundown is, while Dwight and Andy compete for the affections of the new receptionist, Erin , played by Ellie Kemper . The episode was written by Justin Spitzer and directed by Gene Stupnitsky . It included a guest appearance by Idris Elba , who played new Dunder Mifflin vice president Charles Miner. The episode aired
1280-408: A 40-minute time slot. Season three introduced the first of occasional hour-long episodes (approximately 42-minute running time, also suitable for being shown as two separate normal episodes in reruns). The first season consists of six episodes; the shortest season of the series. The series starts by introducing Dunder Mifflin 's employees via a tour given by branch manager Michael Scott for both
1440-471: A Comedy Series . Carell was reportedly paid $ 175,000 per episode starting in the third season. Krasinski and Fischer were paid around $ 20,000 at the beginning of the series, and around $ 100,000 per episode by the fourth season. A typical episode for a half-hour time slot runs 20 + 1 ⁄ 2 minutes. The final episode of season two introduced the first of what would be several "super-sized" episodes that had an approximately 28-minute running time for
1600-606: A Jet Plane ". He made several copies and gave them out as presents for Christmas. Milt Okun , who produced records for The Chad Mitchell Trio and folk group Peter, Paul and Mary , had become Denver's producer as well. Okun brought the unreleased "Jet Plane" song to Peter, Paul and Mary. Their rendition hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Denver's song also made it to No. 2 in the UK in February 1970, having also made No. 1 on
1760-422: A baby named Cecelia Marie Halpert. Meanwhile, Andy and Erin develop an interest in each other, but find their inherent awkwardness inhibits his attempts to ask her out on a date during a murder-mystery game meant to distract the members of the office. Jim is promoted as co-manager. Rumors of bankruptcy begin to surround Dunder Mifflin, and by Christmas, Wallace announces to the branch that Dunder Mifflin has accepted
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#17327718623861920-549: A buyout from Sabre Corporation, a printer company. While Wallace and other executives are let go, the Scranton office survives due to its relative success within the company. Michael Scott is now the highest-level employee at Dunder Mifflin. In the season finale , Dwight buys the office park. Michael agrees to make an announcement to the press regarding a case of faulty printers. When Jo Bennett, Sabre CEO, asks how she can repay him, Michael responds that she could bring Holly back to
2080-512: A competitive duet of John Denver 's " Take Me Home, Country Roads ", with Andy on a banjo and Dwight playing guitar; both sing, and Dwight sings part of the song in German. Erin is initially impressed with both of them, but winds up awkwardly sneaking out of the room as they play. The loud duet is finally stopped by a frustrated Toby Flenderson . Angela Martin is visibly annoyed by Dwight and Andy's budding friendship. "Michael Scott Paper Company"
2240-405: A date, which she joyfully accepts. In the final scene, we learn Ryan has been awarded Jan's job. NBC ordered a fourth full season of thirty half-hour episodes but ended with only 19 due to a halt in production caused by the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike . The season consists of nine half-hour and five hour-long episodes for a total of 19 episodes of material created. Karen has left
2400-469: A documentary camera crew and first-day temp Ryan Howard . Salesman Jim Halpert has a crush on receptionist Pam Beesly , who helps him play pranks on co-worker Dwight Schrute , even though she is engaged to Roy Anderson, who works in the company's downstairs warehouse. Rumors spread throughout the office that Dunder Mifflin's corporate headquarters is planning to downsize an entire branch, leading to general anxiety. Still, Michael chooses to deny or downplay
2560-471: A fool of me from one end of the valley to the other". In 1993, Denver pleaded guilty to a drunken driving charge and was placed on probation. In August 1994, while still on probation, he was again charged with misdemeanor driving under the influence after crashing his Porsche into a tree in Aspen. Though a July 1997 trial resulted in a hung jury on the second DUI charge, prosecutors later decided to reopen
2720-562: A gas station halfway between Scranton and New York City, where they meet for a visit. Pam ultimately returns from New York to Scranton, where Jim has bought his parents' house for the two of them. Having avoided jail and only been sentenced to community service, Ryan bleaches his hair and starts working at a bowling alley. Michael initiates a romance with Holly until she is transferred to the Nashua, New Hampshire branch, Toby returns to Scranton to replace Holly, and their relationship ends. When Andy
2880-602: A lovable but dim-witted man who revels in juvenile humor and frequently indulges in gambling; and Oscar Martinez ( Oscar Nuñez ), who is intelligent and cultured, but often patronizing, and whose homosexuality and Hispanic heritage made him a frequent target of Michael's unintentional off-color comments. Rounding out the office are the laconic salesman Stanley Hudson ( Leslie David Baker ), who cannot stand Michael's constant references to his Black American heritage (he also does not like to take part in time-wasting meetings and often solves crossword puzzles or sleeps during them);
3040-418: A millionaire, to repurchase Dunder Mifflin from Sabre, putting Sabre completely out of business and giving Andy the manager position once again. The final season consists of 25 episodes. John Denver Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. (December 31, 1943 – October 12, 1997), known professionally as John Denver , was an American singer and songwriter. He was one of the most popular acoustic artists of
3200-566: A mission statement for the company, photos of the new office space and a downloadable copy of the coupon for "unparalleled customer service" featured in the episode. The official website for The Office included four cut scenes from "Michael Scott Paper Company" within a week of the episode's original release. In one 85-second clip, Dwight and Andy pretend to shoot, stab and throw grenades at each other in pantomime in anticipation of their hunting trip; they pretend to kill Jim and pester him until he plays dead, after which Charles walks in and believes he
3360-552: A multiple-city tour of the People's Republic of China. He also released a greatest-hits CD, Homegrown , to raise money for homeless charities. In 1994, he published his autobiography, Take Me Home , in which he candidly spoke of his cannabis , LSD , and cocaine use, marital infidelities, and history of domestic violence. In 1996, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame . In 1997, Denver filmed an episode for
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#17327718623863520-430: A new website for online sales; he also learns that his boss, David Wallace , favors Jim, and thus Ryan attempts to sabotage Jim's career. Ryan is soon arrested and fired for misleading the shareholders and committing fraud related to the website's sales numbers. Toby announces he is moving to Costa Rica and is replaced by Holly Flax , who quickly shows a liking for Michael. Pam decides to follow her artistic interests and
3680-490: A pancake luncheon to introduce the company to potential clients, but only one person and a few Dunder Mifflin employees show up. When Michael, Pam, and Ryan come close to giving up, the potential client from the luncheon calls asking for paper. Pam closes the sale and the three cheer in celebration. In the Dunder Mifflin office, Charles asks Jim Halpert for a "rundown" of his client information. Jim does not know what
3840-464: A pop-rock anthem. "I didn't agree with this assessment," Kragen said, but he reluctantly turned Denver down anyway. Denver later wrote in his 1994 autobiography "Take Me Home" about the rejection, "It broke my heart not to be included." For Earth Day 1990, Denver was the on-camera narrator of a well-received environmental television program, In Partnership With Earth, with then- EPA Administrator William K. Reilly . Due to his love of flying, Denver
4000-584: A relationship, much to Andy's chagrin, and Andy attempts to win Erin's affection back. Holly, Michael's former girlfriend, returns to Scranton to fill in for Toby, who is on jury duty for the "Scranton Strangler" trial. Michael and Holly eventually restart their relationship. After the two get engaged, Michael reveals he will be leaving Scranton to move to Colorado with Holly to support her elderly parents. Jim and Pam adjust to parenthood, while Angela starts dating state senator Robert Lipton and gets engaged off-screen in
4160-1046: A retired Air Force chaplain, after which Denver's remains were cremated and his ashes scattered in the Rocky Mountains. Further tributes were made at the following Grammy and Country Music Association Awards. In 1998, Denver posthumously received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the World Folk Music Association , which also established a new award in his honor. In 2000, CBS presented the television film Take Me Home: The John Denver Story loosely based on his memoirs, starring Chad Lowe as Denver. The New York Post wrote, "An overachiever like John Denver couldn't have been this boring". That same year on April 22, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Kempton, Pennsylvania dedicated
4320-414: A rundown is, but is too embarrassed to ask because he has been making such a poor impression with Charles. Jim spends much of the day trying to figure out what a rundown is, making several failed attempts to figure it out by chatting vaguely about it with Charles and other coworkers. When he finally finishes what he believes is a rundown, Charles does not look at it and simply asks Jim to fax it to everyone on
4480-457: A secret. Kelly Kapoor develops a crush on Ryan, and they start dating off and on. When Roy finally agrees to set a date for his wedding to Pam, at a company booze cruise, Jim grows depressed and considers transferring to the Stamford, Connecticut branch, but tells Pam in the season finale that he is in love with her. Even though Pam insists she is with Roy, the two kiss, and Jim transfers to
4640-481: A solid fan base, many of whom remained loyal throughout his career. Denver recorded two more albums in 1970, Take Me to Tomorrow and Whose Garden Was This , including a mix of songs he had written and covers. Denver's next album, Poems, Prayers & Promises (1971), was a breakthrough for him in the United States, thanks in part to the single " Take Me Home, Country Roads ", which went to No. 2 on
4800-651: A theme of railroad songs. It won a posthumous Best Musical Album for Children Grammy , Denver's only Grammy. His final concert was held in Corpus Christi, Texas, at the Selena Auditorium on October 5. Denver's first marriage, in 1967, was to Annie Martell of St. Peter, Minnesota . She was the subject of his song " Annie's Song ", which he composed in 10 minutes as he sat on a Colorado ski lift . They lived in Edina, Minnesota , from 1968 to 1971. After
4960-539: A variety of charts, including country music , the Billboard Hot 100 , and adult contemporary , earning 12 gold and four platinum albums with his signature songs " Take Me Home, Country Roads "; " Poems, Prayers & Promises "; " Annie's Song "; " Rocky Mountain High "; " Calypso "; " Thank God I'm a Country Boy "; and " Sunshine on My Shoulders ". Denver appeared in several films and television specials during
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5120-683: A vent discussing and praising the FX show Damages while on the phone in a bathroom. He said it is as good as anything on HBO , a premium television channel known for such shows as The Sopranos , Six Feet Under and The Wire . During the workday, Ryan watches a YouTube video of a rap music commercial for Flea Market Montgomery; the low-budget rap music advertisement for the Montgomery , Alabama flea market gained Internet fame . Michael uses Evite , social-planning website for creating online invitations, to invite people to his pancake luncheon. On
5280-852: A veteran writer for Saturday Night Live , King of the Hill , and The Simpsons , the show depicts the everyday work lives of the office employees at Scranton, Pennsylvania , branch of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company , and aired from March 24, 2005, to May 16, 2013, with a total of nine seasons consisting of 201 episodes . The show was co-produced by Daniels' Deedle-Dee Productions , Reveille Productions (later Shine America) and 3 Arts Entertainment (although uncredited) in association with Universal Television . The original executive producers were Daniels, Gervais, Merchant, Howard Klein and Ben Silverman , with numerous others being promoted in later seasons. Like its British counterpart,
5440-430: A weekly music and variety show directed and produced by Stanley Dorfman . Denver's live concert special, An Evening with John Denver , won the 1974–1975 Emmy Award for Outstanding Special, Comedy-Variety or Music. When Denver ended his business relationship in 1982 because of Weintraub's focus on other projects, Weintraub threw Denver out of his office and accused him of Nazism . Denver later told Arthur Tobier, when
5600-469: A whiteboard, Michael writes a quote of himself quoting Wayne Gretzky , the popular ice hockey player who said "You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take." The new paper company office included Apple computers and a Nerf basketball hoop. During a phone conversation, Ryan said he wants an iPod music player that also serves as a phone, but not an iPhone , which is essentially that very product; both items are Apple products. Michael listens to " Just Dance ",
5760-474: Is 85 seconds long, features Andy and Dwight both making passes at Erin; Andy discusses how easy it would be to learn sign language , while Dwight tells her to be careful not to get her hair or clothes caught in the nearby paper shredder. Dwight and Andy sing and perform the John Denver song " Take Me Home, Country Roads " while trying to impress the new receptionist. At one point, Toby is overheard through
5920-528: Is a salesman and the Assistant to the Regional Manager, an imaginary title created by Michael. John Krasinski portrays Jim Halpert , a salesman and, in later seasons, assistant manager or co-manager who is known for his wittiness and his practical jokes on Dwight. Halpert is based upon Tim Canterbury and, at the start of the series, is known to have feelings for receptionist Pam Beesly , who
6080-541: Is a way to communicate a feeling." An exhibition of over 40 never-before-seen photographs taken by Denver debuted at the Leon Gallery in Denver , Colorado, in 2014. Denver was also an avid skier and golfer, but his principal interest was in flying. Denver's love of flying was second only to his love of music. In 1974, Denver bought a Learjet to fly himself to concerts. He was a collector of vintage biplanes and owned
6240-611: Is accepted to attend a three-month graphic design course at the Pratt Institute in New York City. In the season finale, Jim almost proposes to Pam but is interrupted by Andy proposing to Angela, who reluctantly agrees. Phyllis then catches Dwight and Angela having sex in the office. The fifth season consists of 28 half-hours of material, divided into 24 half-hour episodes and two hour-long episodes, one of which aired after Super Bowl XLIII . Jim proposes to Pam at
6400-476: Is another example of this. Daniels has said that it does not count as film score as long as it already appeared in the episode. The Office features an ensemble cast . Many of its characters are based on characters in the original British series. While these characters generally have the same attitudes and perceptions as their British counterparts, the roles were modified to fit the American show. The show
6560-491: Is engaged to warehouse worker Roy. Pam, played by Jenna Fischer , is based on Dawn Tinsley . She is shy but often collaborates with Jim in his pranks on Dwight. B. J. Novak portrays Ryan Howard , who for the first two seasons is a temporary worker but is promoted to a sales representative in the third season . He later ascends to be the company's youngest vice president, North East Region, and director of new media until his innovations are exposed as corporate fraud and he
Michael Scott Paper Company - Misplaced Pages Continue
6720-555: Is fired in the third season for attacking Jim; and the vice president for regional sales for Dunder Mifflin Jan Levinson ( Melora Hardin ), who later becomes Michael's rather toxic love interest. Toward the end of season five, the bubbly and naive Erin Hannon ( Ellie Kemper ) is introduced as Pam's replacement at the reception and develops a unique bond with Michael when he becomes almost a father figure in her life. A story arc at
6880-510: Is fired. He then gets a job in a bowling alley and later briefly works for the Michael Scott Paper Company. After this and a stint in rehab, he again eventually ends up as a temporary worker at the Scranton branch. The accounting department includes Angela Martin ( Angela Kinsey ), an uptight and ultra-religious woman who likes to keep things orderly and make sure situations remain as businesslike as possible; Kevin Malone ( Brian Baumgartner ),
7040-683: Is known for its relatively large cast, and many of its actors and actresses are known particularly for their improvisational work. Steve Carell stars as Michael Scott , regional manager of the Dunder Mifflin Scranton Branch. Loosely based on David Brent , Gervais' character in the British series, Scott is a well-intentioned man whose oblivious attempts at humor often offend and annoy his peers and employees, and sometimes draw reprimands from his superiors. Rainn Wilson portrays Dwight Schrute , based on Gareth Keenan , who
7200-593: Is later forced to merge the Stamford branch with the Scranton branch. Michael takes this merger very seriously. Transferred to the Scranton branch are saleswoman Karen Filippelli , whom Jim has begun dating, and the anger-prone preppy salesman Andy Bernard , along with other Stamford employees who all eventually quit within the first few episodes of being there. Pam is newly single after calling off her engagement to Roy, and Jim's unresolved feelings for her and his new relationship with Karen lead to shifting tensions between
7360-532: Is made aware of Dwight and Angela's continued affair, both men leave her. Newly hired Vice President Charles Miner implements a rigid managerial style over the branch that causes Michael to resign in protest. Michael opens the Michael Scott Paper Company in the same office building, enticing Pam and Ryan to join as salespeople, and though his business model is ultimately unsustainable, Dunder Mifflin's profits are immediately threatened. In
7520-525: Is more groundwork than payoff." She said Dwight's rendition of "Take Me Home, Country Roads" in German was "the absolute funniest moment of the episode". In her list of the top ten moments from the fifth season of The Office , phillyBurbs.com writer Jen Wielgus ranked Michael's formation of the Michael Scott Paper Company in the downstairs storage closet as the number one, citing the "Dream Team", "Michael Scott Paper Company" and " Heavy Competition " episodes in particular. She also said she specifically enjoyed
7680-404: Is napping. A second one-minute clip includes Pam and Ryan fighting around the new office until they are interrupted by a janitor who believes the room is still a closet and leaves water jugs on the floor. In a third, 40-second clip, Jim asks Charles directly what a "rundown" is, but when an annoyed Charles asks if this is "one of your pranks", Jim gives up and leaves. The fourth and final clip, which
7840-475: Is that a camera crew is filming Dunder Mifflin and its employees, seemingly around the clock. The presence of the camera is acknowledged by the characters, especially Michael Scott, who enthusiastically participates in the filming. The characters, especially Jim and Pam, also look towards the camera when Michael creates an awkward situation. The show's main action is supplemented with talking-head interviews or "confessionals" where characters speak one-on-one with
8000-470: Is the child's biological father). Darryl starts falling for the new warehouse foreman, Val. Dwight is tasked with traveling to Tallahassee, Florida , to assist Sabre special projects manager Nellie Bertram ( Catherine Tate ) in launching a chain of retail stores, along with Jim, Ryan, Stanley, Erin, and new office temp Cathy Simms . Cathy is also revealed to have ulterior motives for the trip, as she intends to seduce Jim. Still, she fails. Robert later kills
8160-398: Is then promoted to regional manager and works hard to make a good impression on Robert, asking Dwight to be his number two. Pam and Jim are expecting their second child, Phillip, at the start of the season, to coincide with Fischer's real-life pregnancy. Angela is also pregnant with her first son, also named Philip, with State Senator Robert Lipton (although it is implied that Dwight Schrute
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#17327718623868320-496: The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge . He had battled to expand the refuge in the 1980s, and he praised President Bill Clinton for his opposition to the proposed drilling. The letter, which Denver wrote in the midst of the 1996 United States presidential election , was one of the last he ever wrote. In 1992, Denver, along with fellow singers Liza Minnelli and John Oates , performed a benefit to fight
8480-510: The Billboard charts despite the first pressings of the track being distorted. Its success was due in part to the efforts of his new manager, future Hollywood producer Jerry Weintraub , who signed Denver in 1970. Weintraub insisted on a reissue of the track and began a radio airplay campaign that started in Denver, Colorado. Denver's career flourished thereafter, and he had a series of hits over
8640-617: The Grammy Awards five times in the 1970s and 1980s, and guest-hosted The Tonight Show on several occasions. In 1975, Denver was awarded the Country Music Association 's Entertainer of the Year award. At the ceremony, the outgoing Entertainer of the Year, Charlie Rich , presented the award to his successor after he set fire to the slip of paper containing the official notification of the award. Some speculated Rich
8800-595: The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) showed that the leading cause of the crash was Denver's inability to switch fuel tanks during flight. The quantity of fuel had been depleted during the plane's flight to Monterey and in several brief practice takeoffs and landings Denver performed at the airport immediately before the final flight. His newly purchased amateur-built Rutan aircraft had an unusual fuel tank selector valve handle configuration. The handle had originally been intended by
8960-450: The 1970s and 1980s, including the 1977 hit Oh, God! , in which he starred alongside George Burns . He continued to record into the 1990s, also focusing on environmental issues as well as lending vocal support to space exploration and testifying in front of Congress to protest censorship in music. Known for his love of Colorado, Denver lived in Aspen for much of his life. In 1974, Denver
9120-701: The 1970s and one of the best selling artists in that decade. AllMusic has called Denver "among the most beloved entertainers of his era". Denver recorded and released approximately 300 songs, about 200 of which he wrote himself. He had 33 albums and singles that were certified Gold and Platinum in the U.S by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), with estimated sales of more than 33 million units. He recorded and performed primarily with an acoustic guitar and sang about his joy in nature, disdain for city life, enthusiasm for music, and relationship trials. Denver's music appeared on
9280-720: The 1970s, Denver's onstage appearance included long blond hair and wire-rimmed "granny" glasses. His embroidered shirts with images commonly associated with the American West were created by the designer and appliqué artist Anna Zapp. Weintraub insisted on a significant number of television appearances, including a series of half-hour shows in the United Kingdom, despite Denver's protests at the time, "I've had no success in Britain ;... I mean none ". In December 1976, Weintraub told Maureen Orth of Newsweek : "I knew
9440-472: The British Office series for American television and served as the showrunner for the first four seasons. He then left the position when he co-created the comedy series Parks and Recreation with fellow Office writer Michael Schur and divided his time between both series. Paul Lieberstein and Jennifer Celotta were named the showrunners for the fifth season. Celotta left the series after
9600-445: The British series, to appear in the third season, but scheduling conflicts prevented them; however, Ricky Gervais made two appearances in the show's seventh season as David Brent . The Office was filmed with a single-camera setup in cinéma vérité style to create the look of an actual documentary, with no studio audience or laugh track, allowing its " deadpan " and "absurd" humor to fully come across. The show's primary premise
9760-761: The Deutschendorfs purchased a house and lived there from 1951 to 1959. Denver lived in Tucson from ages six to 14. During these years, Denver attended Mansfeld Junior High School and was a member of the Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus for two years. He was content in Tucson, but his father was transferred to Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama . The family later moved to Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth, Texas , where Denver graduated from Arlington Heights High School . Denver
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#17327718623869920-495: The Dunder Mifflin setting from the previous episodes. Rainn Wilson and Ed Helms practiced the guitar competition in Helms' trailer during lunch the day of the filming; Helms, a proficient bluegrass banjo player, coached Wilson, who is proficient at guitar and drums. Wilson said he proposed doing a full studio cover of the song, with Creed Bratton providing backup guitar and vocals, and selling it on iTunes for charity. Helms said he
10080-694: The Muppets , A Christmas Together and Rocky Mountain Holiday . He also tried acting, appearing in "The Camerons are a Special Clan" episode of the Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law television series in October 1973 and "The Colorado Cattle Caper" episode of the McCloud television series in February 1974. In 1977, Denver starred in the hit comedy film Oh, God! opposite George Burns . He also hosted
10240-519: The Olympic Games athletes, as well as local venues including many schools. In 1985, Denver asked to participate in the singing of " We Are the World " but was rejected, despite his obvious genuine commitment to charity work and his musical talent. According to Ken Kragen (who helped produce the song), Denver was snubbed because many people felt his image would hurt the credibility of the song as
10400-625: The Osborn Award from the Aviation/Space Writers' Association, and was honored by the Houston Film Festival. In the mid-1970s, Denver became outspoken in politics. He expressed his ecologic interests in the epic 1975 song " Calypso ", an ode to the eponymous exploration ship RV Calypso used by Jacques Cousteau . In 1976, Denver campaigned for Jimmy Carter , who became a close friend and ally. Denver
10560-576: The PMRC's objectives. For instance, Denver described how he was censored for " Rocky Mountain High ", which was misconstrued as a drug song. Denver also toured Russia in 1985. His eleven concerts in the USSR were the first by any American artist in more than 10 years. Denver returned two years later to perform at a benefit concert for the victims of the Chernobyl disaster . In October 1992, Denver undertook
10720-753: The Scranton branch after her breakup with Jim and becomes the regional manager at the Utica branch. A self-employed Jan moves herself and her candle business into Michael's condo, until the dissolution of their relationship midway through the season during an intimate dinner party including Pam, Jim, Andy, Angela and Dwight. This episode showcases what has become a very toxic and unhealthy relationship between Michael and Jan. After Dwight's crude (though well-intentioned) method of euthanasia of Angela's ailing cat without her permission, she leaves him for Andy, leading Dwight into depression. Ryan, in his new corporate life in New York City, attempts to modernize Dunder Mifflin with
10880-499: The Scranton branch after the two offices merge; the shallow and talkative customer service representative Kelly Kapoor ( Mindy Kaling ); the promiscuous alcoholic supply relations representative Meredith Palmer ( Kate Flannery ); human resources representative Toby Flenderson ( Paul Lieberstein ), who is loathed, and often the target of abuse, by Michael; warehouse foreman Darryl Philbin ( Craig Robinson ); warehouse dock worker and Pam's fiancé Roy Anderson ( David Denman ), who
11040-418: The Scranton branch. The seventh season consists of 26 half-hours of material, divided into 21 half-hour episodes, one "super-sized" episode, and two hour-long episodes. This was the final season for Steve Carell , who plays Michael Scott , as NBC did not renew Carell's contract. Beginning with this season, Zach Woods , who portrays Gabe Lewis , was promoted to a series regular. Erin and Gabe have begun
11200-554: The Stamford branch soon after. The general threat of downsizing continues throughout the season as well. The third season consists of 17 half-hour episodes, four 40-minute "super-sized" episodes, and two one-hour episodes. The total number of episodes is 25. The season starts with a brief flashback to (and additional footage from) the last episode of season two, "Casino Night", when Jim kissed Pam and confessed his feelings for her. Jim briefly transfers to Dunder Mifflin's Stamford branch after Pam confirms her commitment to Roy. Corporate
11360-571: The US Cash Box chart in December 1969. RCA did not actively promote Rhymes & Reasons with a tour, but Denver embarked on an impromptu supporting tour throughout the Midwest, stopping at towns and cities, offering to play free concerts at local venues. When he was successful in persuading a school, college, American Legion hall, or coffeehouse to let him play, Denver distributed posters in
11520-479: The Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon , both of whom are fans of the series, and filmmakers Jon Favreau , Harold Ramis , Jason Reitman , and Marc Webb . Episodes have been directed by several of the actors on the show including Steve Carell , Rainn Wilson , John Krasinski , B. J. Novak , Ed Helms , Brian Baumgartner , Mindy Kaling and Paul Lieberstein . Before the second episode airing,
11680-599: The Wind " and " Let the Sunshine In ", joined by such diverse musical icons as Jennifer Warnes , Donna Summer , and Rick James . In 1984, ABC Sports president Roone Arledge asked Denver to compose and sing the theme song for the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo . Denver worked as both a performer and a skiing commentator, as skiing was another of his enthusiasms. Denver composed "The Gold and Beyond", and sang it for
11840-545: The ages of 18 and 49. The episode received mostly positive reviews. Travis Fickett of IGN said this and other recent episodes are "proving that the show has plenty of life in it and [that] The Office has still got it." He said the funniest element of the show was the emerging "bro-mance" between Dwight and Andy. Will Leitch of New York magazine said, " The Office kind of needed this sort of shake-up, even if it’s something as simple as another room to put all our characters in." Keith Phipps of The A.V. Club said he liked
12000-456: The beginning of the third season, Ed Helms and Rashida Jones joined the cast as members of Dunder Mifflin Stamford. Jones later left the cast, becoming a regular on Parks and Recreation in February 2007, and NBC announced that Helms was being promoted to a series regular. Four of the show's writers have also appeared in the show. B. J. Novak was cast as the reluctant temp Ryan Howard after Daniels saw his stand-up act . Paul Lieberstein
12160-409: The camera. Actor John Krasinski shot the footage of Scranton for the opening credits when he found out he was cast as Jim. He visited Scranton for research and interviewed employees at actual paper companies. To create the show's documentary style, the producers hired cinematographer Randall Einhorn , known for directing episodes of Survivor , who gave the show its "rough and jumpy" feel. This
12320-474: The camp's annual operating budget. During the Aspen Valley Hospital's $ 1.7 million capital campaign in 1979, Denver was the largest single donor. In 1983 and 1984, Denver hosted the annual Grammy Awards, which he had previously done in 1977, 1978, and 1979. In the 1983 finale, he was joined on stage by folk music legend Joan Baez , with whom Denver led an all-star version of " Blowin' in
12480-707: The case, which was closed only after Denver's accidental death in October 1997. In 1996, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) determined that Denver was medically disqualified from operating an aircraft due to his failure to abstain from alcohol ; in October 1995, following Denver's drunk-driving conviction, the FAA had directed Denver to abstain from alcohol if he wished to continue flying airplanes. Beyond music, Denver's artistic interests included painting, but because of his limiting schedule, Denver pursued photography, saying once, "photography
12640-620: The characters or heard on radios, computers, or other devices; however, songs have been played during montages or the closing credits, such as " Tiny Dancer " by Elton John (" The Dundies ") and " Islands in the Stream " by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton (" E-mail Surveillance "). Featured music tends to be well known, and often songs reflect the character, such as Michael's attempt to seem hip by using " Mambo No. 5 " and later " My Humps " as his cell phone ringtone. Michael confusing Lady Gaga 's " Just Dance " with Britney Spears ' " Gimme More "
12800-408: The characters. Producer Michael Schur said that the series would strictly follow the documentary format. The producers and directors had long discussions on how scenes could work in the documentary format. For example, in the fourth-season episode " Did I Stutter? ", a scene featured Michael going through a long process to go to the bathroom without passing Stanley. The producers debated whether it
12960-484: The commission's theme song. In 1979, Denver performed "Rhymes & Reasons" at the Music for UNICEF Concert . Royalties from the concert performances were donated to UNICEF . Denver's father taught him to fly in the mid-1970s, which led to their reconciliation. In 1980, Denver and his father, by then a lieutenant colonel , co-hosted an award-winning television special, The Higher We Fly: The History of Flight . It won
13120-434: The company as a saleswoman, is given the corner where the photocopier sits. She is concerned that Michael will force her to be the receptionist, which is why she quit Dunder Mifflin in the first place. She goes upstairs and asks Charles Miner for her job back, but Charles has already given the job to a new employee, Kelly Hannon , who ends up going by her middle name—Erin—to avoid confusion with Kelly Kapoor . Michael hosts
13280-457: The cramped new office space jokes as being less funny than those in previous episodes. Sepinwall also said the storyline between Jim and Charles was getting repetitive and, "It would help if the writers ever gave Idris Elba something funny to do." Margaret Lions of Entertainment Weekly said, "This episode wasn't one of my favorites … No bombs, no bits that failed, and by The Office' s standards, nothing even particularly cringe worthy. But 'TMSPC'
13440-484: The crash. Denver was a pilot with over 2,700 hours of experience. He had pilot ratings for single-engine land and sea, multi-engine land, glider and instrument. Denver also held a type rating in his Learjet. He had recently purchased the Long-EZ aircraft, made by someone else from a kit, and had taken a half-hour checkout flight with the aircraft the day before the crash. Denver was not legally permitted to fly at
13600-571: The critics would never go for John. I had to get him to the people." After appearing as a guest on many shows, Denver hosted his own variety and music specials, including several concerts from Red Rocks Amphitheatre . His seasonal special, Rocky Mountain Christmas , was watched by more than 60 million people and was the highest-rated show for the ABC network at that time. In 1973, Denver starred in his own BBC television series, The John Denver Show ,
13760-462: The distribution list. Jim does not know what the distribution list is either, but rather than asking Charles, he simply faxes the rundown to his father. Dwight Schrute and Andy Bernard plan a hunting trip, but their new friendship is tested by their mutual romantic interest in Erin. Both make passes at her, but eventually agree their friendship is more valuable than a romantic interest. However, they end up trying simultaneously to impress Erin during
13920-554: The end of season four has Holly Flax ( Amy Ryan ) transferred to the office as Toby's replacement. She becomes a love interest for Michael, as they share very similar personality traits. Jo Bennett ( Kathy Bates ) is the CEO of Sabre. This company takes over Dunder Mifflin, and Gabe Lewis ( Zach Woods ), introduced in the middle of season six, is a Sabre employee who is assigned to the Dunder Mifflin Scranton branch as
14080-526: The end of the year. He booked his role in The Office just three weeks later. Fischer prepared for her audition by looking as boring as possible, creating the original Pam hairstyle. In an interview on NPR 's Fresh Air , she recalled the last stages of the audition process for Pam and Jim, where the producers paired up the potential Pams and Jims (four of each) to gauge their chemistry. When Fischer finished her scene with Krasinski, he told her that she
14240-519: The environmental group Plant-It 2020 (originally Plant-It 2000). He also had a keen interest in solutions to world hunger and visited Africa during the 1980s to witness firsthand the suffering caused by starvation and work with African leaders toward solutions. From 1973 to at least 1979, Denver annually performed at the fundraising picnic for the Aspen Camp School for the Deaf, raising half of
14400-424: The episode "stellar" and particularly praised the comedic chemistry between Andy and Dwight. Alan Sepinwall of The Star-Ledger said he was enjoying the new paper company storyline, but that "Michael Scott Paper Company" was not as funny as "Dream Team", which aired the same day. Sepinwall praised particular scenes such as Dwight and Andy's competitive duet and Kelly's plan to make Charles want her. She criticized
14560-466: The episode after it aired because "I'm hypercritical about my work, so I try not to torture myself." According to the Season 5 DVD episode commentary, B. J. Novak came up with the story idea involving Jim and the "rundown" and worked it into Spitzer's final script. The episode included a new title sequence with footage of the series characters in the new Michael Scott Paper Company office setting, rather than
14720-412: The flight, Denver and the mechanic had attempted to extend the reach of the handle using a pair of Vise-Grip pliers , but this did not solve the problem, and the pilot still could not reach the handle while strapped into his seat. NTSB officials' post-crash investigation showed that because of the fuel selector valve’s positioning, switching fuel tanks required the pilot to turn his body 90 degrees to reach
14880-477: The forefront, bridging folk, pop, and country in a fresh way ... People forget how huge he was worldwide." In 1977, Denver co-founded The Hunger Project with Werner Erhard and Robert W. Fuller . He served for many years and supported the organization until his death. President Jimmy Carter appointed Denver to serve on the President's Commission on World Hunger. Denver wrote the song "I Want to Live" as
15040-658: The fuel selector handle in a hard-to-reach place. The board issued recommendations on the requirement and enforcement of mandatory training standards for pilots operating home-built aircraft. It also emphasized the importance of mandatory ease of access to all controls, including fuel selectors and fuel gauges, in all aircraft. Upon the announcement of Denver's death, Colorado Governor Roy Romer ordered all state flags to be lowered to half-staff in his honor. Funeral services were held at Faith Presbyterian Church in Aurora, Colorado , on October 17, 1997, officiated by Pastor Les Felker,
15200-403: The idea for " The Dundies " as the pilot episode. After the writers knew who the cast was, they were allowed to write for the actors, which allowed the show to be more original for the following episode, " Diversity Day ". Following the mixed reaction toward the first season, the writers attempted to make the series more "optimistic" and to make Michael Scott more likable. They also established
15360-452: The ignored customer service complaints that Kelly has neglected while working at Dunder Mifflin. Clark is later moved to sales. Initially, the actors who portray the supporting office workers were credited as guest stars , but then were named series regulars during the second season. The show's large ensemble was mainly praised by critics and led to the series winning two Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in
15520-457: The information, but he eventually considered the experiment a failure. According to Jenna Fischer , the series used an unusual casting process that did not involve a script. For example, the producers asked the actors several questions and they responded as the characters they were auditioning for. NBC programmer Kevin Reilly originally suggested Paul Giamatti to producer Ben Silverman for
15680-493: The latter transcribed his autobiography, "I'd bend my principles to support something he wanted of me. And of course, every time you bend your principles — whether because you don't want to worry about it, or because you're afraid to stand up for fear of what you might lose — you sell your soul to the devil". Denver was also a guest star on The Muppet Show , the beginning of the lifelong friendship between Denver and Jim Henson that spawned two television specials with
15840-447: The main love interests. Krasinski attended school with B. J. Novak , where the two were best friends. Before Krasinski landed the role, he considered quitting acting. He discussed on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert that he moved to New York City and gave himself two to three years for his acting career to succeed or he would quit. He did not enjoy waiting tables and struggling to find roles, but his mom told him to wait it out until
16000-464: The matronly saleswoman Phyllis Lapin ( Phyllis Smith ), who dates and then marries Bob Vance ( Robert R. Shafer ) from Vance Refrigeration, a company whose office is across the hall from Dunder Mifflin; eccentric quality assurance representative Creed Bratton ( Creed Bratton ), who has a mysterious criminal history; Andy Bernard ( Ed Helms ), a salesman from the Stamford, Connecticut branch of Dunder Mifflin introduced in season three who transfers to
16160-463: The next four years. In 1972, Denver had his first Top Ten album with Rocky Mountain High , with its title track reaching the Top Ten in 1973. In 1974 and 1975, Denver had a string of four No. 1 songs (" Sunshine on My Shoulders ", " Annie's Song ", " Thank God I'm a Country Boy ", and " I'm Sorry ") and three No. 1 albums ( John Denver's Greatest Hits , Back Home Again , and Windsong ). In
16320-437: The original main cast include Ed Helms , Rashida Jones , Amy Ryan , Mindy Kaling , Craig Robinson , James Spader , Ellie Kemper , and Catherine Tate . The Office received moderately positive reviews from critics (except for the pilot episode which received mixed reviews) during its short first season , but the following seasons, particularly Carell's performance, received significant acclaim from television critics as
16480-435: The original team of writers. Kaling, Novak, and Lieberstein also served multiple roles on the series, as they played regular characters on the show, as well as wrote, directed, and produced episodes. Credited with twenty-four episodes, Kaling is the most prolific writer among the staff. Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant , who created the original British series, are credited as executive producers and wrote both pilot and
16640-461: The paper-shaped pancakes from "Michael Scott Paper Company". "Michael Scott Paper Company" was voted the twelfth highest-rated episode out of 26 from the fifth season, according to an episode poll at the fansite OfficeTally ; the episode was rated 8.27 out of 10. This episode received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) and Animation. "Michael Scott Paper Company" accounted for one of
16800-802: The passage of Amendment 2 , an anti-LGBT ballot measure that prevented Colorado municipalities from enacting anti-discrimination protections. Denver was also on the National Space Society 's board of governors for many years. Denver had a few more US Top 30 hits as the 1970s ended, but nothing to match his earlier success. Denver began to focus more on humanitarian and sustainability causes, focusing extensively on nature conservation projects. He made public expression of his acquaintances and friendships with ecological design researchers such as Richard Buckminster Fuller (about whom he wrote and composed "What One Man Can Do") and Amory Lovins , from whom he said he learned much. Denver also founded
16960-419: The plane crash into the bay near Point Pinos. Four said the aircraft was originally heading west. Five said that they saw the plane in a steep bank, with four saying that the bank was to the right (north). Twelve described seeing the aircraft in a steep nose-down descent. Witnesses estimated the plane's altitude between 350 and 500 feet (110 and 150 m) when heading toward the shoreline. Eight said they heard
17120-442: The plane's designer to be between the pilot's legs. The builder instead put it behind the pilot's left shoulder. The fuel gauge was also placed behind the pilot's seat and was not visible to the person at the controls. An NTSB interview with the aircraft mechanic servicing Denver's plane revealed that he and Denver had discussed the inaccessibility of the cockpit fuel selector valve handle and its resistance to being turned. Before
17280-455: The plot aspects involve the new company, particularly the pancake breakfast and the first successful sales call: "I know the series probably has to revert to something like the old status quo at some point, but I almost wish it could stay in that dank little corner a little longer." Phipps, who gave the episode a B+ grade, said the "rundown" subplot between Jim and Charles was a bit strained by the end. Steven Mullen of The Tuscaloosa News called
17440-453: The point that their assets were being split in the divorce, he cut their marital bed in half with a chainsaw . Denver married Australian actress Cassandra Delaney in 1988 after a two-year courtship. Settling at Denver's home in Aspen, the couple had a daughter, Jesse Belle. Denver and Delaney separated in 1991 and divorced in 1993. Of his second marriage, Denver said that "before our short-lived marriage ended in divorce, she managed to make
17600-475: The price tag was rumored to be as high as $ 20 million. Denver testified before the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee on the topic of censorship during a Parents Music Resource Center hearing in 1985. Contrary to his innocuous public image as a musician, Denver openly stood with more controversial witnesses like Dee Snider (of the heavy metal band Twisted Sister ) and Frank Zappa in opposing
17760-524: The realities of the situation to maintain employee morale. The second season is the series' first 22-episode season and has its first 28-minute "super-sized" episode. Many workers seen in the background of the first season are developed into secondary characters and romantic relationships begin to develop between some of them. Michael makes out with and then spends the night with his boss, Jan Levinson , but does not have sex with her. Dwight and Angela become romantically involved, but keep their relationship
17920-437: The regional director of sales. In season seven, Bennett's friend Nellie Bertram ( Catherine Tate ) is interviewed to replace Scott and later serves as a replacement regional manager for Bernard in season eight after Robert California ( James Spader ) has become the new CEO of Sabre. In season nine, Clark Green ( Clark Duke ) and Pete Miller ( Jake Lacy ) join as new customer service representatives who attempt to catch up on
18080-484: The retail store project, and Erin decides to stay in Florida as an elderly woman's live-in helper. Andy goes to Florida to win back Erin, allowing Nellie to claim the manager position as her own. Robert tells Andy that he has been demoted back to a salesman, but Andy refuses to accept the news, which causes him to be fired. Andy becomes motivated to begin a Dunder Mifflin comeback and joins with former CFO David Wallace, now
18240-524: The right tank and less than a quarter in the left tank". He then provided Denver with an inspection mirror so he could look over his shoulder at the fuel gauges. The mirror was later recovered from the wreckage. Denver said that he would use the autopilot in flight to hold the airplane level while he turned the fuel selector valve. He turned down an offer to refuel the aircraft, saying that he would only be flying for about an hour. The NTSB interviewed 20 witnesses about Denver's last flight. Six of them had seen
18400-526: The role of Michael Scott, but the actor declined. Martin Short , Hank Azaria and Bob Odenkirk were reported to be interested in the part. In January 2004, Variety reported that Steve Carell , of the Comedy Central program The Daily Show with Jon Stewart , was in talks to play the role. At the time, he was already committed to another NBC midseason replacement comedy, Come to Papa , but
18560-401: The role. Carell was later joined by his wife Nancy Carell when she was cast to play Carol Stills, a love interest of Michael Scott. When asked what it was like working with her husband, Carell said she was intimidated at first as she had retired from acting years prior, but they had so much fun together. John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer were cast in their respective roles as Jim and Pam,
18720-429: The same day as " Dream Team "; the debut episode of the new NBC show Parks and Recreation was shown between the two episodes. "Michael Scott Paper Company" included a new title sequence with footage of the series characters in the new Michael Scott Paper Company office setting, rather than the Dunder Mifflin setting from previous episodes. The episode received mostly positive reviews from critics, although many said it
18880-427: The season finale. After Michael's replacement Deangelo ( Will Ferrell ) is seriously injured on the job, Jo creates a search committee to interview candidates and choose a new manager for the office. In the meantime, Dwight Schrute, and later Creed Bratton, took over as acting manager. The eighth season consists of 24 episodes. James Spader joins the cast as Robert California, the new CEO of Dunder Mifflin/Sabre. Andy
19040-469: The series was filmed in a single-camera setup without a studio audience or a laugh track , to mirror the look of an actual documentary. It debuted on NBC as a mid-season replacement and ended its nine-season run on May 16, 2013, with a two-part series finale . Its original main cast was Steve Carell , Rainn Wilson , John Krasinski , Jenna Fischer , and B. J. Novak . It experienced numerous changes to its ensemble cast during its run. Stars outside
19200-449: The series was quickly canceled, allowing his full commitment to The Office . Carell later said that he had only seen about half of the original pilot episode of the British series before he auditioned. He did not continue watching for fear that he would start copying Gervais' characterizations. Other people who were considered or auditioned for the role included Ben Falcone , Alan Tudyk , Jim Zulevic , and Paul F. Tompkins . Rainn Wilson
19360-437: The show's canon and storyline by Daniels. Deleted scenes have sometimes been restored in repeats to make episodes longer or draw back people who have seen the episode before to see the bonus footage . In an experiment, a deleted scene from " The Return " was made available over NBC.com and iTunes , explaining the absence of a character over the next several episodes. Daniels hoped that word of mouth among fans would spread
19520-438: The show's characters, content, structure, and tone diverged considerably from the original British series. These seasons were included on several critics' year-end top TV series lists, winning several awards including a Peabody Award in 2006, two Screen Actors Guild Awards , a Golden Globe Award for Carell's performance , and four Primetime Emmy Awards , including one for Outstanding Comedy Series , in 2006. The eighth season
19680-449: The sixth season and Lieberstein stayed on as showrunner for the following two seasons. He left the showrunner spot after the eighth season for the potential Dwight Schrute spin-off, The Farm , which was eventually passed on by NBC. Daniels returned to the showrunner position for the ninth and final season. Other executive producers include cast members B. J. Novak and Mindy Kaling . Kaling, Novak, Daniels, Lieberstein and Schur made up
19840-525: The success of " Rocky Mountain High ", inspired by a camping trip with Annie and some friends, Denver bought a residence in Aspen, Colorado . He lived in Aspen until his death. The Denvers adopted a boy, Zachary John, and a girl, Anna Kate, who, Denver said, were "meant to be" theirs. Denver once said, "I'll tell you the best thing about me. I'm some guy's dad; I'm some little gal's dad. When I die, Zachary John and Anna Kate's father, boy, that's enough for me to be remembered by. That's more than enough." Zachary
20000-422: The supporting characters of the series more, giving them relatable personalities. They also made the lights in the office brighter, which allowed the series to differentiate itself from the British series. A common issue with the scripts, according to Novak, is that they tended to run too long for the regular 22-minute time slot, leading to several cuts. For example, the script for the episode " Search Committee "
20160-604: The television series Nature , centering on the natural wonders that inspired many of his best-loved songs. His last song, "Yellowstone, Coming Home", composed while rafting along the Colorado River with his son and young daughter, is included. In the summer of 1997, shortly before his death, Denver recorded a children's train album for Sony Pictures Kids Zone , All Aboard! , produced by longtime friend Roger Nichols . The album consisted of old-fashioned swing, big band , folk , bluegrass , and gospel music woven into
20320-442: The ten Primetime Emmy Award nominations The Office received for the show's fifth season at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards, which were held on September 20, 2009. The Office (American TV series) The Office is an American mockumentary sitcom television series based on the 2001–2003 BBC series of the same name created by (and starring) Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant . Adapted for NBC by Greg Daniels ,
20480-442: The theme song is played over the closing credits , which previously rolled in silence. Ferguson described his theme as "against type; it has this vulnerability, this yearning to it that soon explodes into this overdone optimism which then gets crushed - which is pretty much what the show is about." The mockumentary format of the show contains no laugh track , and most of the music is diegetic , with songs either sung or played by
20640-435: The third-season episode " The Convict ". Merchant later directed the episode " Customer Survey ", while Gervais appeared in the episodes " The Seminar " and " Search Committee ", reprising his role as David Brent from the British series. Randall Einhorn is the most frequent director of the series, with 15 credited episodes. The series also had several guest directors, including Lost co-creator J. J. Abrams , Buffy
20800-464: The three. Meanwhile, Michael and Jan's relationship escalates, which causes them to behave erratically on the job. On the other hand, Dwight and Angela continue their steamy secret relationship. In the season's finale , Jim, Karen, and Michael interview for a corporate position that turns out to be Jan's, who is fired for poor performance. Jim is offered the job but rejects it off-screen, opting instead to remain in Scranton without Karen and ask Pam out on
20960-790: The time he was in college. Denver decided to change his name when Randy Sparks , founder of the New Christy Minstrels , suggested that "Deutschendorf" would not fit comfortably on a marquee . Denver attended Texas Tech University in Lubbock and sang in a folk-music group, "The Alpine Trio", while studying architecture. He was also a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. Denver dropped out of Texas Tech in 1963 and moved to Los Angeles, where he sang in folk clubs. In 1965, Denver joined The Chad Mitchell Trio , replacing founder Chad Mitchell. After more personnel changes,
21120-474: The time of the crash. In previous years, he had been arrested several times for drunk driving . In 1996, nearly a year before the crash, the FAA learned that Denver had failed to maintain sobriety by not refraining entirely from alcohol and revoked his medical certification. However, it was determined that the crash was not caused or influenced by alcohol use; an autopsy found no signs of alcohol or other drugs in Denver's body. The post-crash investigation by
21280-439: The town and usually showed up at the local radio station, guitar in hand, offering himself for an interview. As the writer of " Leaving on a Jet Plane ", Denver was often successful in gaining some promotional airtime, usually performing one or two songs live. Some venues let him play for the 'door'; others restricted him to selling copies of the album at intermission and after the show. After several months of this, Denver had built
21440-451: The trio later became known as "Denver, Boise, and Johnson" (John Denver, David Boise, and Michael Johnson ). In 1969, Denver abandoned band life to pursue a solo career and released his first album for RCA Records , Rhymes & Reasons . Two years earlier, he had made a self-produced demo recording of some of the songs he played at his concerts. It included a song Denver had written called "Babe, I Hate to Go", later renamed " Leaving on
21600-416: The valve. This created a natural tendency to extend one's right foot against the right rudder pedal to support oneself while turning in the seat, which caused the aircraft to yaw (nose right) and pitch up. The mechanic said that he told Denver that the fuel sight gauges were visible only to the rear cockpit occupant. Denver had asked how much fuel was shown. He told Denver that there was "less than half in
21760-518: The work environment of the new Michael Scott Paper Company. The office space used to be a closet; water pipes run through the room, so they can hear the toilets flush from the Dunder Mifflin bathrooms above them. Ryan openly goofs off in front of Pam and Michael and mocks both of them in their presence during phone conversations. Pam and Ryan bicker over who is responsible for making copies until Michael separates them into corners. Pam, who joined
21920-424: The writers spent time conducting research in offices. This process was used for Daniels' other series King of the Hill and Parks and Recreation . The pilot is a direct adaptation of the first episode of the original British series. Daniels chose to go this route because "completely starting from scratch would be a very risky thing to do" owing to the show being an adaptation. He had briefly considered using
22080-473: Was "too feisty" for the character, but called her back for the part of Angela Martin , which she won. Flannery first auditioned for the part of Jan Levinson-Gould before landing the role of Meredith Palmer. Baumgartner originally auditioned for Stanley, but was eventually cast as Kevin. Ken Kwapis , the director of the pilot episode, liked the way Phyllis Smith , a casting associate, read with other actors auditioning so much that he cast her as Phyllis . At
22240-537: Was a supporter of the Democratic Party and of a number of charitable causes for the environmental movement, the homeless, the poor, the hungry, and the African AIDS crisis . He founded the charitable Windstar Foundation in 1976 to promote sustainable living . Denver's dismay at the Chernobyl disaster led to precedent-setting concerts in parts of communist Asia and Europe. During the 1980s, Denver
22400-409: Was already used in the drama series LAX (2004–2005). Thus, the final choice was an original track written by Jay Ferguson and performed by The Scrantones. The theme is played over the title sequence, which features scenes of Scranton, various tasks around the office, and the main cast members. Some episodes of the series use a shortened version of the theme song. Starting with the fourth season,
22560-591: Was attracted to NASA and became dedicated to America's work in outer space. He conscientiously worked to help bring into being the "Citizens in Space" program. In 1985, Denver received the NASA Exceptional Public Service Medal for "helping to increase awareness of space exploration by the peoples of the world", an award usually restricted to spaceflight engineers and designers. That same year, he passed NASA's rigorous physical exam and
22720-753: Was cast as human resources director Toby Flenderson on Novak's suggestion after his cold readings of scripts. Greg Daniels was originally unsure where to use Mindy Kaling on-screen until the opportunity came in the script for the second episode, " Diversity Day ", where Michael needed to be slapped by a minority. "Since [that slap], I've been on the show" (as Kelly Kapoor ), Kaling said. Michael Schur has also made several guest appearances as Dwight's cousin Mose , and consulting producer Larry Wilmore has played diversity trainer Mr. Brown . Plans were made for Mackenzie Crook , Martin Freeman and Lucy Davis , from
22880-428: Was cast as power-hungry sycophant Dwight Schrute , and he watched every episode of the British series before he auditioned. Wilson had originally auditioned for Michael, a performance that he described as a "terrible Ricky Gervais impersonation"; however, the casting directors liked his audition as Dwight much more and hired him. Seth Rogen , Matt Besser , Patton Oswalt , and Judah Friedlander also auditioned for
23040-526: Was critical of Ronald Reagan’s administration and remained active in his campaign against hunger, for which Reagan awarded Denver the Presidential World Without Hunger Award in 1987. Denver's criticism of the conservative politics of the 1980s was expressed in his autobiographical folk-rock ballad "Let Us Begin (What Are We Making Weapons For?)". In an open letter to the media, Denver wrote that he opposed oil drilling in
23200-465: Was criticized for declining quality, with Carell's departure in season seven seen as a contributing factor. However, the ninth and final season ended the series with a generally positive response. The series finale , which originally aired on May 16, 2013, was viewed by an estimated 5.7 million viewers and garnered critical acclaim. In 2016, Rolling Stone named The Office one of the 100 greatest television shows of all time. Greg Daniels developed
23360-484: Was distressed with life in Fort Worth, and in his third year of high school, he drove his father's car to California to visit family friends and begin his music career. His father flew to California in a friend's jet to retrieve him, and Denver reluctantly returned to complete his schooling. At age 11, Denver received an acoustic guitar from his grandmother. He learned to play well enough to perform at local clubs by
23520-428: Was facilitated by the main set's open floor plan, purposely designed by showrunner Daniels, production designer Donald Lee Harris (Matt Flynn became production designer later), and pilot director Ken Kwapis to allow camera operators to catch characters "unaware". Unlike most sets, the office layout was built with immovable walls to emphasize its airless, claustrophobic atmosphere—"trapping" the documentary film crew with
23680-443: Was happy to have the opportunity to play banjo on screen, but did not feel the instrument made much sense for his character; Helms said, "It's so fun and weird, but he's a Connecticut preppy guy. How did he pick up a banjo? It's one of Andy's many mysteries, not all of which I even understand." Prior to the episode's airing, NBC set up a web site for the new Michael Scott Paper Company at www.michaelscottpapercompany.com, which included
23840-462: Was his favorite Pam, to which she reciprocated that he was her favorite Jim. Adam Scott and John Cho both auditioned for the role of Jim, and Kathryn Hahn also auditioned for the role of Pam. The supporting cast includes actors known for their improv work: Angela Kinsey , Kate Flannery , Oscar Nunez , Leslie David Baker , Brian Baumgartner , Melora Hardin and David Denman . Kinsey originally auditioned for Pam. The producers thought she
24000-613: Was in line for a space flight, a finalist for the first citizen's trip on the Space Shuttle in 1986. After the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster with teacher Christa McAuliffe aboard, Denver dedicated his song "Flying for Me" to all astronauts, and continued to support NASA. He entered discussions with the Soviet space program about purchasing a flight aboard one of their rockets. The talks fell through after
24160-490: Was initially 75 pages, which was 10 pages too long. A complete script was written for each episode; however, actors were given opportunities to improvise during filming. Fischer said, "Our shows are 100 percent scripted. They put everything down on paper. But we get to play around a little bit, too. Steve and Rainn are brilliant improvisers.". These improvisations led to a large number of deleted scenes with almost every episode of The Office , all of which are considered part of
24320-648: Was named poet laureate of the state. The Colorado state legislature also adopted "Rocky Mountain High" as one of its two state songs in 2007, and West Virginia did the same for "Take Me Home, Country Roads" in 2014. An avid pilot, Denver was killed at age 53 in a single-fatality crash while piloting a recently purchased light plane in 1997. Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. was born on December 31, 1943, in Roswell, New Mexico , to Erma Louise (née Swope; 1922–2010) and Captain Henry John "Dutch" Deutschendorf Sr. (1920–1982),
24480-487: Was not as funny as the previous episode , which had aired previously on the same day. According to Nielsen ratings , it was watched by eight million viewers and captured the most viewers in its time slot for adults between the ages of 18 and 49. "Michael Scott Paper Company" received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) and Animation. Michael Scott , Pam Beesly , and Ryan Howard are struggling to adjust to
24640-444: Was not harmed in the incident. Denver died on the afternoon of October 12, 1997, when his light homebuilt aircraft , a Rutan Long-EZ with registration number N555JD, crashed into Monterey Bay near Pacific Grove, California , while making a series of touch-and-go landings at the nearby Monterey Peninsula Airport . He was the plane's only occupant. The official cause of death was multiple blunt force trauma resulting from
24800-456: Was possible, and Einhorn walked through the scene to see if a camera operator could get everywhere to shoot the whole scene. Later seasons relaxed the format, with the camera crew often going where actual documentary crews would not. This also changed the series' writing and comedy styles, an inconsistency criticized by some reviewers and fans. When it came to choosing the theme music for The Office , producer Greg Daniels had several tracks he
24960-440: Was protesting the selection of a non-traditional country artist for the award, but Rich's son disputes that, saying his father was drunk, taking pain medication for a broken foot, and just trying to be funny. Denver's music was defended by country singer Kathy Mattea , who told Alanna Nash of Entertainment Weekly : "A lot of people write him off as lightweight, but he articulated a kind of optimism, and he brought acoustic music to
25120-407: Was the subject of "A Baby Just Like You", a song that included the line "Merry Christmas, little Zachary" which he wrote for Frank Sinatra . Denver and Martell divorced in 1982. In a 1983 interview shown in the documentary John Denver: Country Boy (2013), Denver said that career demands drove them apart; Martell said they were too young and immature to deal with Denver's sudden success. To drive home
25280-434: Was thinking of using: existing songs including " Better Things " by The Kinks , " Float On " by Modest Mouse , and " Mr. Blue Sky " by Electric Light Orchestra , and several original pieces artists contributed to the producers via a cattle call . Daniels decided that the cast would vote on what song to use and gave them four of the choices. Most of them wanted "Mr. Blue Sky", but that option turned out to be invalid as it
25440-499: Was watched by 8 million overall viewers, according to Nielsen ratings . The episode earned more ratings than "Dream Team", the other Office episode of the night, which had 7.2 million viewers. It also performed better than the Parks and Recreation pilot, which ran between the two Office episodes and had 6.8 million viewers. "Michael Scott Paper Company", as well as "Dream Team", had the most viewers in its time slot among adults between
25600-412: Was written by Justin Spitzer and directed by Gene Stupnitsky . It originally aired April 9, 2009, the same day as the episode " Dream Team "; the debut episode of the new NBC show Parks and Recreation was shown between the two episodes. "Michael Scott Paper Company" was the fourth of six episodes guest starring Idris Elba , best known as Stringer Bell from The Wire . Elba said he did not watch
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