Top 10 Unscripted Moments From The Office
#10: Santa Giggles
“Secret Santa”
Michael Scott isn’t the most understanding of bosses some of the time, so when Jim lets Phyllis play the office Santa, Michael takes it personally. Of course, he’ll do anything to prove he’s the superior Santa, and that includes letting Kevin, a heavier gentleman, sit on his lap. What follows is awkward comedic gold, as Kevin waffles about what he wants for Christmas and Michael desperately tries to get his accountant to get off of him. Several of the actors in the background, including Mindy Kaling as Kelly and Ed Helms as Andy, can be seen visibly smiling or trying not to laugh. Ed Helms even ducks away from the camera between a few shots; reportedly to hide his laughter.
#9: Sale Fail
“Traveling Salesmen” / ”The Return”
Speaking of Ed Helms, he and Steve Carell have several improvised moments during this double-length episode. Firstly, according to DVD commentary, much of Michael and Andy’s sales pitch during the episode was improvised. Their potential client’s look of bewilderment at Andy using a sniper rifle on a shark was real, since he had no idea the two of them would be going off script. Another improvised moment occurred during the second half, when Andy tries to suck up to Michael after the latter talks to Pam. According to Helms in the episode’s commentary, the script wasn’t specific on what awkward things he had to say, so he made up Andy’s nonsensical responses.
#8: Seed
“Initiation”
Dwight Schrute can get…pretty weird. In order to bring Ryan Howard into the ranks of Dunder Mifflin salespeople, he decides to stage an elaborate initiation for the former temp at his beet farm. This begins with having Ryan plant a beet seed in a field, which Dwight likens to Dwight planting his own in Ryan. This line, as well as Ryan’s response, were not in the script. But the rest of Dwight’s bizarre ritual also contained some more improv on actor Rainn Wilson’s part. Upon Dwight demanding Ryan fight his cousin Mose, Ryan leaves. Wilson improvised Dwight’s question to Mose about where all the animals are. We can only imagine what role they would have played.
#7: Amish
“Drug Testing”
Dwight’s bizarre background is a source of a lot of comedy for the show, but the strangest thing about it is that a lot of it was made up by Rainn Wilson himself. In the episode “Office Olympics,” for example, he improvised the line about living on a beet farm, which led to Dwight’s famous homestead appearing later in the series. In addition, while delivering a talking head scene about his father, grandfather, and great grandfather, Dwight claims the last of these was Amish. According to DVD commentary, Wilson originally improvised this speech during the pilot episode, only for it to be cut out. It was brought back in season 2 and made it to air and solidified Dwight’s background.
#6: Fake Ailments
“Health Care”
While Michael’s painfully long pause from the same episode was also not quite as scripted, with sweat and tears, we’re keeping the Dwight Schrute train running. When Michael puts Dwight in charge of choosing the office health care plan, the responsibility naturally goes to his head. While looking over claims made by the employees, Dwight is angry to find people have listed symptoms to clearly made-up diseases. While a few of these were in the script, several of them were invented on the spot; either by the writers themselves, Wilson, or even one of his friends who was visiting the set that day. Count Choculitis is definitely real though. [“Millions of families suffer every year!”]
#5: Reaching Out
“Money”
Okay, this is the last Dwight one, we swear! When Dwight learns that Angela, his then-ex-girlfriend, has begun dating Andy, he’s absolutely heartbroken. Sitting alone in the stairwell, Jim goes to comfort him, relating his own heartbreak over being rejected by Pam. It’s a sweet moment between two men who are usually at each other’s throats. Although every word is in the script, Dwight reaching out to Jim after Jim leaves is not. It was a bit that writer/director Paul Lieberstein came up with on the day, according to Rainn Wilson on the DVD commentary.
#4: Don’t
“Casino Night”
One of the most famous scenes in the show’s history also had a bit of improv. During “Casino Night,” Jim confesses his love for Pam to her. Even now, knowing that they get together, the scene is absolutely brutal to watch, as most of us have liked someone who didn’t like us the same way. When Pam tries to let Jim down easy, Jim interrupts her to tell her not to tell him how much their friendship means to her. According to Jenna Fischer on her “Office Ladies” podcast, Krasinski improvised his “don’t” response, which totally wrecked her emotionally. We’re right there with her.
#3: Michael Scott’s Tears
“Michael’s Last Dundies”
Michael’s departure from the show is an emotional one, both behind the scenes and on-camera. Towards the end of his tenure as manager, he hosts his final annual office award show, the Dundies, for one last time. Although it begins poorly, the gang decides to finish back at the office. There, they sing the song “Seasons of Love” with original lyrics to Michael. Reportedly, Steve Carell did not know the rest of the cast were going to do this, so his emotional reaction during the scene is genuine. The tears are real – for him, and for us.
#2: The Devil
“Dinner Party”
One of the most awkward and hilarious episodes of “The Office” sees Michael and Jan, whose relationship is falling apart, throw a dinner party. The two of them make nearly everyone uncomfortable, to the point where Jim and Pam consider fleeing. Michael and Jan’s sniping at each other reaches the point where Jan compares herself to the devil, even making horns and a face. This gesture was an improvisation on actress Melora Hardin’s part, and Steve Carell barely avoids breaking character with his response. With how funny this one is, we’re surprised anyone could keep a straight face.
Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
Jellybeans, “Traveling Salesmen”
Angela Kinsey Improvised Her Line About Not Wanting Them
Michael the Tourist, “Valentine’s Day”
Steve Carell Improvised Many of the New York Scenes – Since He Kept Getting Recognized
Ball Pop, “Performance Review”
The Fitness Orb Was Supposed to Deflate Slowly, But Not for This Take
Jim Halpert Can’t Handle Michael’s Flasher Impression, “Women’s Appreciation”
John Krasinski Is Visibly Struggling Not to Break Character & We Would Be, Too
#1: The Kiss
“Gay Witch Hunt”
One of the series’ most legendary moments was entirely off-the-cuff. Or should it be off the lips? After Michael accidentally outs Oscar as being gay, he tries to perform damage control – with all the lack of subtlety Michael is known for. During a conference, harsh words are exchanged and, in a baffling attempt to make up, Michael decides to kiss Oscar. On the lips. The kiss was entirely improvised by Steve Carell, and the reaction of everyone else in the room was unscripted as well. The sheer degree of awkward absurdity here is a credit to Carell’s comedic genius.
