Just Another Day At The Office Retro 06.21.08: Basketball Review

Posted by Seth Roy on 06.21.2008

Michael challenges the warehouse to a game of Basketball, and the losing team has to work Saturday! Hmmm...I wonder who will win?

I’m watching “Basketball,” the fifth episode of The Office Season 1, this week. I believe it’s the worst episode of the first season. But I guess I’ll find out! Here we go…

At the beginning of the show, Michael is pretty excited about the basketball game against the warehouse, and about Jim and Ryan being on his team. But he’s not excited about Dwight.

Michael bragged about making a lot of shots in front of the warehouse guys. In front of “African Americans.”

Dwight confronts Michael about being on the basketball team. But something bad happened at a pick-up game before. He has Dwight handle the holiday and weekend work calendar instead. Dwight continues to insist that he is the assistant regional manager.

Dwight makes Jim work this Saturday. Pam says she hopes Dwight doesn’t make her work because she and Roy have plans. “Maybe I should sleep with him,” she says…kidding.

Michael shows Ryan the warehouse, or as he calls it, the “whorehouse.” We meet Darrell for the first time. Then we meet Roy again Obviously everyone downstairs doesn’t really like Michael.

In the office, Pam is talking to someone on the phone about a warranty. Jim says, “Pam gets a little down. Her toaster oven broke. Which she got at her engagement shower. For a wedding that has still yet to be set. That was three years ago.”

Back in the warehouse. Michael acts like a chicken until he sets his gametime at 1 p.m. Michael calls Dwight a nerd because he knows about Lord of the Rings. Michael picks Stanley to be a starter, “of course,” which Stanley asks about. Stanley is black. Michael turns down Phyllis, Oscar and Kevin in favor of Dwight. Oscar and Kevin appear to be pretty good, actually.

Michael wants Pam to be the cheerleader. But she can’t cheer against her fiancée. Jim offers to wear a skirt. Then Phyllis says she’ll do it, to which Michael says, “Oh, yuck,” then tells her she can suit up.

Darrell and Michael bet on who works on Saturday. Loser works Saturday

There is a montage of Michael jamming. Until someone raises the hoop.

Jim talks about playing basketball. He wants to show off for some people. Namely, Pam. He invites Pam to the outlet mall. But she’s going to the lake.

Basketball game:
Dwight is wearing a facemask. He is guarding the East German Girl. And he takes off his shirt. It isn’t attractive.

Stanley gets the tip and dribbles like a girl.

Predictably, Michael is horrible at basketball, and the team is not good at first. Until Jim schools Roy on a behind-the-back dribble. Pam cheers. Dwight, actually is pretty good too.

The game is generally pretty boring with all the predictable spots that you can have.

Michael tries to act like the Harlem Globetrotters. Until Roy steals the ball easily.

Michael takes a time out. And Jim decides to take Roy. Jim plays well on offense, making Pam smile. And he steals the ball from Roy on defense. Roy starts to get angry.

Michael calls for the end of the game after learning that his team is leading and he is “purposely” hit in the face.

Darrell and Roy intimidate Michael into not having to work on Saturday. So he volunteers the office to come in on Saturday.

Kevin shoots a lot of shots, and makes them all.

Stanley and Ryan wash down in the bathroom.

After the game, Jim is talking to Pam when Roy walks in and says, “Look at Larry Bird.” Pam says, “Yeah, he’s good, huh?” And they leave as Jim just sits there and looks on. Pam says to Roy, “Let’s get you into a tub.”

Michael tells everyone they can have Saturday off. “Like coming in an extra day is going to keep us from being downsized.”

Thoughts: I don’t know why, exactly, but I just really don’t like this episode. From about the 8-minute mark until the 20-minute mark, it’s all the basketball game, and it’s all stuff we’ve seen before in other shows. The only interesting part of the whole episode is the Jim/Roy/Pam interactions, which aren’t even fully followed up on until the end of the third season.

To my knowledge, there are no longterm effects of the basketball game or the working on Saturday edict from corporate.

I’m not saying there aren’t a few funny parts here, but it’s just merely all right. And it’s just a shame after coming off three good, funny episodes.

The 411: A decent episode. I'll say that I didn't mind spending 20 minutes watching it because, hey, it's The Office! But, there's really not a whole lot to like about the show. There are no memorable lines, and the actual game is filled with scenes we've all watched before in other shows. The Jim/Pam/Roy interactions make it worthwhile.

Final Score:  5.0   [ Not So Good ]