Dwight K. Schrute, (Acting) Manager

For the character, see Dwight Schrute.

Dwight K. Schrute, (Acting) Manager
Season	7
Episode	24
Production Code	7024
Airdate	May 12, 2011
Written by	Justin Spitzer
Directed by	Troy Miller
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"Dwight K. Schrute, (Acting) Manager" is the twenty-fourth episode of the seventh season of the American television comedy series The Office and is the show's 150th episode overall. It was written by Justin Spitzer and directed by Troy Miller. It originally aired on May 12, 2011. It was viewed by 6.45 million people.

Synopsis

When Deangelo Vickers ends up in a coma, Jo Bennett makes Dwight the interim regional manager before they find a proper replacement. Dwight establishes a strict management style, from making the employees say The Pledge of Allegiance, to setting up firewalls and long passwords to use the office's various machines, and installing antique punch clocks. Jim, who had turned down the temporary manager position believing that they should not be assigned one at all, is especially unhappy with the changes, and begins pranking Dwight by suggesting that he is leading an uprising called "The Fist". In order to impress Jo, Dwight buys a gun, though he is more excited when he receives a holster as a gift from a relative, and uses the gun to accessorize. Pam insists that he put it away, but Dwight accidentally fires the gun right by Andy, causing him temporary hearing loss. He attempts to bribe the office workers into silence with various favors, and Jim insists that Dwight do outlandish things (such as saying, "Shagedelic, baby!") at certain promptings.

Meanwhile, Gabe continues with his attempts to win back Erin. He invites Andy to go to the conference room to speak in private. He breaks down, and Andy promises he won't date Erin again. He confronts Andy with the promise after he sees the two hanging out together, but Andy stands up for himself and embarrasses Gabe by describing his crying fit to Erin. When asked whether or not he wants to date Erin, he does not give a straight answer, and eventually claims that it is between him and his diary.

When Jo comes to visit the branch, Dwight admits to the gun incident. He attempts to divert the blame to his employees, saying that blackmail is a bigger crime than firing a gun accidentally, but Jo takes the position away from him. Jo later puts Creed, who has the most experience and seniority in the office, in charge until a committee composed of Jim, Toby, and Gabe, find a replacement. While Jim tells Dwight that Jo did the right thing, he also compliments Dwight, noting that the office got every single company order out on time when he was in charge.

Cultural references

• Dwight makes everyone cite the Pledge of Allegiance.
• Jim compares his social club The Fist to the French Revolution, The Black Panthers and Communism.
• Jim says Dwight reminds him of a Bond villain.
• Dwight's desk is a replica of Udai Hussein's desk, which he claims to have seen in Newsweek.
• Dwight imitates Yosemite Sam during the conference room meeting.
• Kelly wants to audition for American Idol, a popular reality TV singing competition.
• "Shagadelic, baby!" is a trademark line of Austin Powers', the character from the eponymous film series and a parody of James Bond.

Connections to previous episodes

• Dwight has regional manager experience from episodes The Coup and The Job.
• Dwight's interest in his coworkers' medical issues dates back to Health Care.
• As Darryl takes Andy to the hospital, Andy limps inexplicably, similar to when Michael limps after Pam slaps him in Double Date.

Amusing Details

• Dwight as acting manager creates his first character, Gun Safety Dwight. This is similar to the many characters Michael used to do as manager.
• Andy begins wearing short sleeved dress shirts much like Dwight, similar to the other times he mimics his superiors.
• Oscar is disgusted by the fact that they carpeted over the hardwood floors of the office, as he does several times in the series.
• During the Pledge of Allegiance, Oscar refuses to say the "under God" excerpt of the Pledge.
• During the Pledge of Allegiance, Creed is holding his hands together as if praying.
• When Dwight starts wearing a gun holster, Phyllis suggests putting his phone in it instead of an actual gun. Dwight's U.K. counterpart Gareth Keenan did exactly this.
• When Oscar inspects the floor where Dwight fired his gun, he seems more concerned by the fact that the carpet is covering hard wood flooring than the fact that there is a bullet hole.
• Dwight has a pet piranha in his office. In many parts of the U.S., it is illegal to possess a pet piranha. In Pennsylvania, they cannot be kept without a permit.
• When Dwight massages Kevin, Oscar takes a photo of the event.
• Dwight carries a gun in a public place which is legal in Pennsylvania however unlicensed carry of one is illegal.
• Dwight was technically committing a felony by illegally being in possession of a firearm without a permit.
• When Dwight accidentally fired the gun, Creed took the gun from Dwight, and walked away.
• When Dwight accidentally fired the gun, Ryan very clearly hid behind Kelly.
• The gun Dwight uses is a Remington Model 1975, although he mistakes it as a Beaumont-Adams Revolver.

Cast

Main Cast

• Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute
• John Krasinski as Jim Halpert
• Jenna Fischer as Pam Halpert
• B.J. Novak as Ryan Howard
• Ed Helms as Andy Bernard

Supporting Cast

• Leslie David Baker as Stanley Hudson
• Brian Baumgartner as Kevin Malone
• Creed Bratton (actor) as Creed Bratton
• Kate Flannery as Meredith Palmer
• Mindy Kaling as Kelly Kapoor
• Ellie Kemper as Erin Hannon
• Angela Kinsey as Angela Martin
• Paul Lieberstein as Toby Flenderson
• Oscar Nunez as Oscar Martinez
• Craig Robinson as Darryl Philbin
• Phyllis Smith as Phyllis Vance
• Zach Woods as Gabe Lewis

Recurring Cast

• Kathy Bates as Jo Bennett
• Michael Schur as Mose Schrute (Voice only)
• Cody Horn as Jordan Garfield