Changes: Email Surveillance

Revision as of 01:56, 9 October 2008

"Email Surveillance" is the ninth episode of the second season of The Office. It was written by Jennifer Celotta and directed by Paul Feig. It first aired on November 22, 2005.

Synopsis

When Michael begins spying on staff e-mails, he learns that he has not been invited to Jim's barbecue party. While Jim convinces Dwight that the party is a surprise for Michael, Michael irritates his improv class by using his action hero character in every scene.

Trivia

When Jim and Pam are speaking in Jim's room at the BBQ, the video game Call of Duty: United Offensive, an expansion pack to Call of Duty, lies on Jim's desk. (It is best visible when Pam is looking at Jim's yearbook.) Toby plays the the Xbox 360 version of the game in Jim's living room. (Some viewers dispute this and claim that the game being played is Halo 2.) Call of Duty plays a more prominent role in the third season episode "The Coup".
When Michael is reading Jim's invitation, the date on the e-mail for the party is November 5, 2005, which was a Saturday, even though this episode takes place on a Friday. It was likely an error by the production staff or a liberty taken by the writers. This places this episode on November 4 or 5, 2005, depending on which of those scenarios is correct.

Deleted scenes

The Season Two DVD will most likely contain a number of deleted scenes from this episode. Notable cut scenes include:

Michael tries to eliminate wasted e-mail space on computers, specifically by suggesting that Jim cancel a charge from Amazon rather than continue to contact them regarding an undelivered CD.
Michael and Mary Beth argue following their improv scene
Michael makes suggestions for an improv scene despite being asked not to.

Analysis

Michael explains that he and Sadiq, the IT guy, "did not get off to a great start," indicating that the two had never met before. Nevertheless, Sadiq attends Jim's barbecue, another indication that Jim is quick to make friends.

Amusing details

Michael arrives just as Kevin sings, "Just turn around now, 'cause you're not welcome any more."

Goofs

When Michael asks Dwight about his evening plans, Dwight's coat collar changes from flipped up to folded down.
When Michael leaves the improv class, he does not wear a necktie, but he has one on when he arrives at Jim's party. It seems unlikely that he would put on a necktie to go to Jim's party, so this is probably a continuity error.
The set decorators used the same poster in Jim's room and along the staircase.

Cultural references

Michael says Oil can in an impression of the Tin Man character from the movie The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Big Brother is the personification of the surveillance state in George Orwell's negative utopia 1984.
Battlestar Galactica is a science fiction television program.
Michael shouts, Oooh, ooh, Mr. Kotter! in imitation of the character Horshack from the 1970s television comedy Welcome Back, Kotter.
Bernie's Tavern is a pub in Scranton.
Dale Earnhardt was an American race car driver.
Amazon.com is a large Internet retailer.

Cast

Main Cast

Supporting Cast

Leslie David Baker as Stanley Hudson
Brian Baumgartner as Kevin Malone
Creed Bratton (actor) as Creed Bratton (uncredited)
Kate Flannery as Meredith Palmer
Trish Gates as Stacy
Mindy Kaling as Kelly Kapoor
Angela Kinsey as Angela Martin
Paul Lieberstein as Toby
Oscar Nunez as Oscar Martinez
Phyllis Smith as Phyllis Lapin

Recurring Cast

Jonathan Browning as Steve
Ken Jeong as Bill
Nikki McCauley as ???
Jeffrey Muller as Mark
Michael Naughton as Chris
Anderson Reid as ???
Dee Ryan as ???
Colleen Smith as Stephanie
Omi Vaidya as Sadiq

@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 ==Trivia==
 *When Jim and Pam are speaking in Jim's room at the BBQ, the video game ''Call of Duty: United Offensive'', an expansion pack to ''Call of Duty'', lies on Jim's desk. (It is best visible when Pam is looking at Jim's yearbook.) Toby plays the the [[Xbox 360]] version of the game in Jim's living room. (Some viewers dispute this and claim that the game being played is ''Halo 2''.) ''Call of Duty'' plays a more prominent role in the third season episode "[[The Coup]]".
+*When Michael is reading Jim's invitation, the date on the e-mail for the party is November 5, 2005, which was a Saturday, even though this episode takes place on a Friday.  It was likely an error by the production staff or a liberty taken by the writers.  This places this episode on November 4 or 5, 2005, depending on which of those scenarios is correct.
 ==Deleted scenes==