Beach Games

"Beach Games"^[1] is the twenty-third episode of the third season of the US version of The Office, and is the 51st episode aired of the show. It was written by Jennifer Celotta and Greg Daniels and directed by film director Harold Ramis,^[2] who previously directed the episodes "A Benihana Christmas" and "Safety Training". It is the fourth 28-minute "Supersized" episode of the third season.^[1]

In this episode, the office goes to the beach for some "beach games". It is revealed that Michael is being interviewed for a position at Corporate and that the winner of the beach games will become regional manager. Meanwhile, Dwight and Angela sabotage Andy, and Pam spends her day taking notes of the beach games.

Synopsis

When Michael is invited to interview for a position at Dunder-Mifflin corporate headquarters in New York City, he assumes he will get the job and decides to hold a Survivor-like competition at Lake Scranton to determine his successor. The entire office travels to the lake by bus, except for Toby, whom Michael won't allow to attend, much to Toby's disappointment because he anticipated getting to see Pam wearing her bikini (although no one, including Pam, actually gets to use their swimwear so he didn't miss anything).

Michael selects the "tribe" captains (Jim, Dwight, Andy and Stanley), and instructs Pam to take detailed notes on the events of the day, which include events such as egg and spoon races and hot dog eating contests. Initially unaware of the purpose of the exercise, the employees do not all take it seriously. Once the job in New York is revealed, Andy and Dwight step up their efforts, Stanley tries to be enthusiastic but gives up, and Jim decides to interview for the same position that Michael is pursuing. Karen also applies for the position.

To support her secret lover Dwight, Angela sabotages Andy, leaving him adrift in the lake in an inflatable sumo wrestling costume.

Michael's final event is a walk across hot coals. Initially, only Pam volunteers, but Michael refuses to let her walk across because she is not being considered to replace him. Michael cannot even bring himself to do it. Dwight throws himself on the coals, refusing to leave until he is given the job, and he writhes in agony until he is dragged off.

As a last-ditch effort to salvage the day, Michael assembles a "Tribal Council" stand-up comedy competition. Jim declines to participate, and reveals that he has applied for the position in New York. Separated from the group, a barefoot Pam runs across the hot coals and, empowered by the experience, interrupts the Tribal Council to berate her colleagues for treating her poorly, citing as one example that almost no one attended her art show. She tells Jim that she called off her wedding because of him, that it is "fine" that he is with someone else now, but that she misses the fun that they had as best friends. As she runs to cool her feet in the water, the cameraman turns to Jim who is now in a blank stare, shaken by the confession.

Production

"Beach Games" was written by Jennifer Celotta and Greg Daniels. The episode's director, Harold Ramis, shot it at a fake beach at the reservoir of a dam. According to Kate Flannery, filming took place in "hot" temeratures, and she became sick of hotdogs after eating many of them in the episode contest.^[3]

Angela Kinsey, who plays Angela Martin in the series, remarked that "John Krasinski had to wear an outfit, and I will forever look at him differently, because he looked so hilarious to me."^[4]

The Third Season DVD contains a number of deleted scenes. Notable cut scenes include:

• Jim receives a call informing him of the job opening.
• After Michael tells Phyllis to "dip it in the water so it slides down your gullet more easily", everyone says in unison, "That's what she said." (This clip is used in The Banker)
• Michael annoys Pam when she's preparing the hot dogs by telling her to grill faster, but after she snaps at him "There are 800 of them!" he shuts up and leaves her alone.
• Ryan offers to take Andy's place, but Michael will not have it.
• Andy fails to flag down a passing car.

Reception

The episode first aired in the U.S. on May 10, 2007, attracting 7.17 million viewers.^[5] It ranked fourth in its timeslot (behind May sweeps episodes of Survivor: Fiji, Ugly Betty, and Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?),^[6] and 48th in Nielsen's prime-time television rankings for the week.^[5]

References

External links

• "Beach Games" at NBC.com
• "Beach Games" at the Internet Movie Database
• "Beach Games" at TV.com