Changes: Pam Beesly

Revision as of 18:39, 20 June 2012

Pamela Morgan "Pam" Beesly , is a fictional character played by Jenna Fischer in the television series The Office. She is based on Dawn Tinsley in The Office UK.

Personality

Pam's personality changes throughout the series. At first she is shy, and denies liking Jim. However, she later becomes more assertive and tells people what she thinks. She pushes that even further at times to get her way and she can be very unwavering. Pam starts to break out of that shy and quiet shell in Season 3 in the episode Beach Games when she decides to do the fire walk and tells Jim how she feels. In Season 5 when she decides to pursue her dream of becoming an artist, then makes a risky decision to join Michael and found the Michael Scott Paper Company; although she's had numerous moments of assertive outbursts in past seasons. She becomes even more assertive later in the series, to the point where people could find her short-tempered (especially while pregnant). However, most people usually find Pam a calm, fun, and as a rarity in the office, sane person.

Season 1

Pam is the receptionist at Dunder Mifflin's Scranton branch. She appears shy and hesitant at times, but she is very kind and has a good sense of humor. ("Pilot") She has been dating warehouse employee Roy Anderson for eight years and engaged to him for three. Roy's hesitance to set a date for their wedding often leaves Pam hurt; Michael, however, finds it hilarious. ("Pilot")

Pam is unenthusiastic about her job, showing a passion and talent for art as early as the Pilot. She states in a talking head interview that, "I don't think it's many little girls' dream to be a receptionist" and comments that she would be unfazed if she were let go; however, when Michael mock-fires her, she breaks down. Upon learning he was joking she calls him a "jerk". She appears resigned to the fact that her job amounts to little more than babysitting Michael. ("Pilot")

It is clear from early in the series that Pam and Jim are very close friends; they are frequently found chatting and devising pranks to play on Dwight. While she does appear cognizant of the fact that Roy is not Jim's favorite person, Pam seems to be oblivious to Jim's romantic interest in her throughout the first season, and either ignorant or in denial of her own for him. ("Pilot")

She becomes a bit jealous when Jim is with Katy and puts on makeup after Jim says he is going to go out with Katy. ("Hot Girl")

Season 2

The-office-valentines-jim-pam-roy — Pam (center), Roy (right), and Jim.

Jim and Pam's relationship in Season 2 continues to be a source of speculation. Pam receives the "Whitest Sneakers Award," something secretly engineered by Jim when he saw how upset she was at the prospect of receiving yet another "Longest Engagement" Dundie. After her jubilant acceptance speech, Pam drunkenly kisses Jim full on the lips in front of everyone, an event which has not been discussed or acknowledged since. Pam was later banned from all Chili's locations for sneaking drinks from other tables. ("The Dundies")

There are a few instances in this season in which tensions between Jim and Pam run particularly high, for example, when Jim misinterprets Pam's innocent suggestion that he should pursue another job far from Scranton ("Halloween"), or when Jim snaps at her (except he doesn't really snap at all, it's a playful discussion... so...) after Pam dismisses the notion of their rooftop dinner as a "date." ("The Client") However, despite these instances, their friendship remains relatively unscathed.

Although she never explicitly states so, Pam appears uncomfortable with Jim's relationship with purse salesgirl Katy, which began in the Season 1 finale "Hot Girl" and extends into the second season. ("The Fire") (Roy also admits being attracted to Katy.)

Pam is overjoyed when a drunken Roy finally set June 10 as their wedding date. ("Booze Cruise") She is later rather upset when Jim deliberately schedules a trip out of the country to ensure his absence at the wedding. ("Dwight's Speech")

When Michael reveals that Jim had feelings for Pam to the entire office, Jim opts to tell Pam himself so that she does not hear it in another less-controlled situation. However, he bends the truth, claiming that he had previously had a crush on her, but that he is "totally over it" now. Michael later hints to Pam that Jim may not have been telling the full truth, but, in a rare moment of self-awareness, stops himself from further confirming it. ("The Secret")|

Jan informs Pam about an internship in graphic design Dunder Mifflin is sponsoring in New York. Pam is hesitant at first, but after encouragement from Jan and Jim, decides to pursue the program. Her hopes are shot down by Roy, however, who deems the idea "impractical." She later breaks down and cries in front of the documentary crew about not going for her dreams.

Pam learns the full truth of Jim's feelings for her during which he reveals to her that he is in love with her. Visibly shaken by his confession, she gently tells him she cannot pursue a relationship with him. Afterward, Pam retreats to the darkened office to call her mother. Minutes later, Jim walks in. They kiss, and the season ends. ("Casino Night")

Season 3

Once Jim and Pam part from the kiss, Pam gives off the oura of coldness, then disrespecting the kiss itself, and rejecting Jim a second time. At the beginning of the season, Pam has broken up with Roy and appears to only show two instances at regret of Jim no longer being there, due to him taking a job at the Stamford branch. Roy is witnessed attempting to act better, despite the fact that it has never been alluded to that Pam told him that his attitude and general lack of respect for her beliefs and feelings is the reason she broke up with him.

Pam's character appears to progress nicely as a stronger person, all the while trying to push herself back into Jim's good graces, seemingly, but never confirmed, because she wishes to pursue a romantic relationship with him, after he's returned from Stamford. She appears to attempt to ask him out once he's returned after appearing to have fixed up her hair and put on nicer clothes than usual office attire, but is interrupted by Michael. Then feeling almost discouraged after Jim tells her that he's started dating someone (Karen), but apparently gaining her cofindence back to pursue something after they reconnect through Jim playing a prank on her, which she appears to thoroughly enjoy. She gives him an apparently well thought out gift that she says to have been preparing for awhile, on Christmas.

And when Jim is shown having relationship problems with Karen, Pam steps in to assist him, giving advice without seemingly realizing the consequences until afterwards, which then causes her fall apart and cry in the hallway.

Whatever strength and intelligence Pam had seems to completely evaporate at Phyllis' wedding after Pam watches Jim and Karen dancing, despite the fact that Jim, in the previous scene had referred to her dorky dancing as "cute." She relents to Roy's insistance and dances with him, then leaving the wedding with him, and apparently rekindling their so-called relationship. It's never been specified to what capacity, even though in a later episode Pam seems very hesitant to go back with Roy to their old place.

Pam doesn't appear to show interest in Jim during this time and seemingly doesn't invite him to her art show, despite that Jim had appeared to support her in this dream.

Pam show's no real interest in Roy at this point either, as when he says "Love you", her dejected response is "You too." It is yet unclear what Pam's motivations were regarding her reasoning for re-starting this relationship.

When she reveals to Roy that Jim kissed her and that she kissed him back, shortly after her art show being a bust and someone insulting her artwork and saying that it holds no honesty, Roy flips out and begins hurling beer bottles in their local public bar. Pam, while jolted, is seemingly unsurprised by this turn of events, and she swiftly breaks up with him again. It is possible that Pam had orchaestrated this for this exact purpose, although never really alluded to. Roy afterward, and seemingly unexpectedly to Pam, attempts to attack Jim, but is halted when he is pepper sprayed by Dwight.

Pam and Jim appear to not speak afterward, with the exception of a rejected apology from Pam to Jim.

Pam then on beach day, reveals to Jim that he was the reason she'd broken up with Roy, and afterward they appear to be friendly again. When Jim asks Pam out after breaking up with Karen, Pam seems overjoyed and apparently ready to cry.

Season 4

Pam has retained the assertiveness and self-confidence she gained in the last season, becoming more comfortable in her own skin. She initially denies dating anyone in "Fun Run," but when the camera crew confronts them with a clip of them kissing after work, she admits that she and Jim have been happily dating since "The Job", after Jim breaking up with Karen Filippelli, which she was definitely happy about. In an effort to keep the speculation about their sex life as low as possible, she and Jim try to keep their relationship under wraps at first (despite speculation by many in the office, notably Kevin), but by "Dunder Mifflin Infinity," the entire office knows. Their relationship comes much to the disappointment of Toby, who developed a crush on Pam in the previous season and is reluctant to acknowledge her new relationship.

File:Biastid.jpg

Pam and Jim are not without their rough patches - in "Branch Wars," for example, when Pam was reluctant to let Jim join the Finer Things Club (or later, when she let him join and her fears were proved right), or in "Survivor Man," when Jim's stint as acting manager backfires when he tries to merge birthday celebrations. On the whole, however, their relationship seems very solid - in "Dinner Party," for example, the ending moments show that they are clearly the happiest and most stable couple there.

Pam attempts to set Michael up with her landlady Margaret in "Chair Model," which backfires spectacularly when Michael finds her homely and boring. Pam later tells Jim that she's not fond of her apartment, though she brushes off Jim's suggestion that she move in with him, saying she doesn't want to live with someone without being engaged. Jim then teasingly tells her that he will, in fact, propose to her, but he wants to make the proposal special ("when it happens, it's going to kick your ass, Beesly, so stay sharp.") In a talking head immediately after this, Jim shows the camera crew an engagement ring, which he purchased one week into their relationship.

Toby's crush on Pam is outed to the office when, in "Night Out," he puts his hand on Pam's knee. Jim and Pam remain silent, as do the other office workers, but an extremely embarrassed Toby stammers that he is moving to Costa Rica and leaves immediately.

Pam is overjoyed to learn that she's been accepted at the Pratt Institute, a design school in New York, in "Goodbye, Toby." Jim is thrilled for her. Both are apprehensive at the prospect of being apart for three months, but Jim remains very supportive, assuring her they'll visit whenever possible. After paying Phyllis extra to incorporate fireworks into Toby's going away party, Jim reveals to the camera crew that he plans to propose that night. Pam begins to suspect that he might, and Jim even gets so far as to get the ring out of his pocket, but before he can pop the question, Andy makes his own very public proposal to Angela. Upset, Jim puts the ring back in his pocket, and Pam and Jim leave the party, both clearly disappointed.

Season 5

The premiere episode of Season Five, "Weight Loss," follows Pam through the beginning of her art school program. Jim explains after her departure for New York that they talked after the events of "Goodbye, Toby," and they decided not to get engaged just yet - Pam is unenthusiastic at the idea of a long engagement, a hangover from her relationship with Roy, and she and Jim agree that they'd rather not spend the first few months of their engagement apart. She and Jim find ways to stay in touch and see each other as often as possible, but they clearly miss one another during their separation.

Seven weeks into her tenure in New York, Jim asks her to meet her at a gas station halfway between them for lunch, at which Jim winds up proposing in the rain, saying he couldn't wait any longer. Pam happily accepts. To help pay for school, she gets a small job at Corporate. She then stays away for months, sometimes being only seen on Computer. When she fails at graphic design we learn she has to stay away for another three months. Still, she returns anyway to be with Jim.

She returns at her usual position of receptionist. Unfortunately, her parents get divorced - while it initially put a strain on their relationship, one that might have conceivably ended it (her father seeks the divorce after talking to Jim), in the end, even this only brings her and Jim closer, since she tells Jim that he came to the decision after realizing that the love Jim felt for her was stronger than anything he'd ever felt about his wife. At the office, she wants new chairs while Jim wants a new copier. The battle ensues and eventually Pam wins. She also becomes friends again with Karen Fillipelli, who is now pregnant and married. Karen even happily embraces Pam when she announces her engagement to Jim. When they finally get the new copier that they desperately need, she works hours to set it up. Michael quits to form his own company, Michael Scott Paper Company but fails to recruit anyone but Pam and Ryan , as she joins him on a whim. Trying to move up from the receptionist position, she asks to be made a salesman. At a pancake lunch, Pam talks with a person enjoying the food, later on in the episode it is revealed that he is a client and Pam makes her first sale. After The Michael Scott Paper Company gets bought out by Dunder Mifflin, Pam stays on as a salesman.

At the company picnic we learn that Pam was a semi-pro volleyball player in school, which got them into the finals against Corporate. Pam is injured, and Jim carries her to a hospital a few blocks away. While at the hospital the audience is led to believe the doctor tells Jim and Pam that Pam is pregnant, due to his call to Dwight to continue the game without them, and their show of excitement.

Season 6

In the season premiere it is revealed that Pam is in fact four months pregnant; of course Jim is the father. In "The Meeting," Pam expresses concern that she may not fit in her wedding dress because she is pregnant, after which Ryan makes an insulting remark about her weight. In, "The Promotion," Pam has an awkward time requesting money for a gift at her wedding, since she is broke.

Pam gets married to Jim in Niagara Falls. Her Memaw who is very old-fashioned learns that she is pregnant, and is outraged, however, in the end, after talking to a persuasive Michael, she decides to stay. The stress of the day, culminating with her veil tearing, lead Pam and Jim to elope on The

Pam & Jim in Season Six

Maid of the Mist, and then get married in the church, but Jim's brothers, Dwight, and Michael play a prank. They recreate the YouTube video, "JK Wedding Dance" to the song 'Forever', and the entire office dances down the aisle. During the song both a montage of their marriage on the boat and the dance is shown. ("Niagara")

When Jim and Pam return from their honeymoon, Jim tries not to let Pam know that Michael is dating her mom. Once Pam finds out, she is outraged and openly belittles Michael. ("Mafia") After denying Pam's request to break things off with her mom, Michael realizes Helene is too old for him and dumps her on her 58th birthday. Pam becomes dismayed, disbelieving, and fed up with Michael. Later, Pam slaps Michael once he says that her mom came on to him. ("Koi Pond")

Pam gets more pregnant throughout the season. She is scared that she, Jim, and the other employees will lose their jobs as Dunder-Mifflin heads towards insolvency. ("Double Date") When Michael needs help telling a group of kids that he'd promised to pay their tuition that he cannot keep his promise, Pam is unsympathetic and tells Michael that he has done a terrible, terrible, terrible thing. She refuses to go with him; Erin goes with him. ("Shareholder Meeting") During the trip, Michael openly belittles Erin, and misses Pam. Pam supports Oscar and Matt's relationship, and wants them to get together. As she enjoys the Christmas party, she tries to set up Oscar and Matt, although she is unsuccessful. Pam is thrilled when everyone in the office gets to keep their jobs, and embraces Jim. ("Scott's Tots")

Pam and Jim go to an exclusive daycare center for an interview. However, she gets defensive when the employee there doesn't like them because Jim walked in on him when he was in a children's bathroom. ("The Banker") She recommends Jim go back to being a salesman because it could pay more than being the manager, and laughs when CEO, Jo Bennett makes a joke. Jim goes back to manager (a short while before returning to his position as salesman), pranks Dwight twice, and Pam is happy to get him back to his old roots ("Sabre")

Pam is overjoyed when she delivers a baby girl, Cecila Marie Halpert. ("Manager and Salesman") When Jim returns to work from paternity leave she keeps him updated on Cecelia's progress. ("The Delivery") She is later ecstatic when she gets to leave maternity leave at home and be around adults. She happily goes to happy hour with everyone in the office. She sets up her friend, Julie with Michael, but their short date ends horribly. ("St. Patrick's Day") Her relationship with Michael completely healed, she supports him both when he began his relationship with bar manager Donna and when that relationship hit a crisis point.

Pam is one of at least four Sabre/Dunder Mifflin employees who leaked the story of the printer fires to the press, after inadvertently telling the wife of a reporter at the local newspaper ("Whistleblower").

Season 7

In "Nepotism", Pam accidentally ruins Jim's planned-out prank on Dwight. Pam feels guilty, so she tries to make it up to Jim by devising a prank of her own. She enlists Kevin to rewire the elevator so the buttons all do different things. To her dismay, Kevin's alterations to the elevator's 'circus board' result in Pam and Dwight getting trapped in the elevator together. In the end the backfired prank does impress Jim.

In "Counseling", Pam feels inadequate about her poor performance in Sales and successfully tricks Gabe into promoting her to a phony new salaried position called Office Administrator. Later, in "China", Pam tries to use her authority as Office Administrator to force Building Manager Dwight to stop his annoying cost-cutting measures. Pam threatens to move the office to a new building, which Dwight discovers doesn't exist. Pam saves face, however, when Dwight secretly has his assistant provide her with a book on building regulations that proves Dwight's measures were not allowed. The episode is another example of Dwight's curiously covert protectiveness and fondness for Pam (as previously demonstrated in "The Injury", "Back from Vacation", "The Job" and "Diwali"); Mindy Kaling said during an online Q&A session that Dwight has a soft spot for her that he does not extend to anyone else at the office, especially Jim. She also uses her position to buy Erin Hannon an expensive desk top computer to replace the terrible one she had to use for years; after Andy Bernard has a fit about it, Pam drops hints that he can get a similarly modern computer if he ruins his current one, and Andy proceeds to do just that. Pam then lies to everyone that she found a spare system in the warehouse, and buys a knowing Darryl's silence with three extra vacation days, leading Pam to cheerfully tell the cameras that "I'm full-on corrupt!"

In "Goodbye, Michael". Pam almost misses saying good-bye to Michael, as she spends most of the day out of the office trying to hunt down supplies for his farewell party the next day as well as attending a showing of The King's Speech. Jim figures out Michael's plan to leave early and tells her. Pam reaches the airport in time and is the last person to see Michael before he leaves for Colorado.

Season 8

It is revealed that Pam is pregnant again and appears offended when Angela calls her "Big Pregs". Pam later watches a commercial that makes her cry and Jim tries to persuade her to stop. Erin later discovers a list of everyone in the office's name and calls Pam over to show her. Pam then signals Jim over and she makes a photocopy of the list. She is present during the meeting in Andy's office and the general office meeting about it. She gets emotional again and tells Jim she believes that the list she is on is "Robert's firing list" to which Jim persuades her not to believe. She begins to cry again when she learns that the people on her side of the list are losers to Robert. Andy tries to consol her as Jim is not there however he accidentally makes a comment on how Pam has gained weight during her pregnancy causing Pam to get even more upset. When Andy makes a new list where he puts the loser's back on the winner list, Pam is touched when Andy remarks to Robert how Pam is "one of the kindest people" he has ever worked with. Jim later purposely lets Pam see a list he made that is similar in fashion to Robert's where he believes that Pam, Cece and the new baby are winners and everything else doesn't matter. Pam wonders out loud to the cameras if she should frame it (The List).

Pam and Jim become concerned when Jim discovers that Kevin is now speaking in a strange way. Pam insists that Kevin go to a hospital but later learn that Kevin is doing it on purpose. Pam tries to convince Kevin to stop speaking like that as he can only save so much time by using simple words. Pam is later present at a meeting run by Dwight and she is surprised at the Sabre Pyramid, a new electronic device that Sabre wants them to sell. Pam later applauds a speech that Robert California gives to the office meant to improve productivity. Pam and Angela later discuss an article in a maternity magazine and Angela insists that Pam take walks with her just like in the article. During Andy's meeting, Pam correctly guesses that Andy is starting a point system and seems delighthted with some of the prizes likely as she has small kids. She and the rest of the office cheer when they learn of Andy offering to get a tattoo should the office step up productivity and Pam is seen handing files to Angela and working productivley along with the rest of the office. Upon reaching Andy's point system for him to get a tattoo, Pam presents sketches to the rest of the office of what he should get tattooed and they select a disgusting image. When Andy arrives at the parlor and gets nervous, Pam takes pity on him and changes the design to an image of a "Nard Dog". Pam and Angela later go for a walk and Pam becomes offended when she learns that Angela called Social Services on her as Pam is drinking herbal tea in mugs with traces of caffene-filled coffee in it. The two then part ways (The Incentive).

Likes and dislikes

Episode	Preference	Subject	Remarks
Pilot	Favorite	mixed berry flavor yogurt	personally confirmed
The Fight	Likes	French Onion flavored Sun Chips	requested
The Convict	Dislikes	Pig Latin	claimed by Jim
The Convict	Dislikes	frisbee-based competitions	claimed by Jim
Fun Run	Likes	Dogs	personally confirmed
Double Date	Likes	Chicken Parmesan Sandwich	personally confirmed
Happy Hour	Likes	Wings	suggests to Julie

Nicknames for Pam

Episode	Nickname	Given by	Reference/Relation
Pilot	Pam-Pam!	Michael	Bam-Bam (Flintstones character)
Health Care	Pama-lama-ding-dong	Michael	Rama-lama-ding-dong (song)
Basketball	Pam, Pam, thank you ma'am	Michael	Wham, bam, thank you ma'am
Hot Girl	Pam-burger-with-cheese	Michael	Hamburger, with cheese
Office Olympics	Pamera	Michael	Mock Japanese accent
The Fight	Pam-M-S	Michael	PMS
The Fight	Beesly	Jim	Goofing around
The Injury	Pan	Dwight	Dwight suffers from a head injury.
The Secret	Pammy want a cracker?	Michael	Polly want a cracker?
The Carpet	Spamster	Michael	Pam + Spam + Hamster
The Carpet	I Am Pam	Michael	I Am Sam (2001 movie)
Valentine's Day	Beesly	Jim	As Jim leaves work
Take Your Daughter to Work Day	Pam, Ms. Beesly if you're nasty	Michael	Nasty (Janet Jackson song)
The Convict	Pama-lama-ding-dong	Andy	Rama-lama-ding-dong (song)
The Convict	Ampay	Andy	Pig Latin
Initiation	Fancy New Beesly	Jim	Teasing
Initiation	Beesly	Jim	Teasing
A Benihana Christmas	Christmas Pam	Michael	Christmas ham
A Benihana Christmas	Candied Pams	Michael	Candied yams
A Benihana Christmas	Pam-chop	Michael	Lamb chop
Traveling Salesmen	Beesly	Jim	Inviting her to coffee
Ben Franklin	Beesly	Jim	Talking about REM sleep
Ben Franklin	Beesly	Jim	Teasing about Ben Franklin
Business School	Pamcasso	Michael	Picasso
Weight Loss	Pamcake	Michael	Pancake
Crime Aid	Pam-ola	Michael	Ricola cough drops
Dream Team	Pretty Pam	Michael	Introducing to investment club

Trivia

It is revealed in Garden Party, that Pam vowed to her grandfather, Phillip, that she would name her son after him.

Pam is a regular member of the Party Planning Committee.

Pam animated the end of Michael's Dunder Mifflin commercial in "Local Ad."

Pam's maiden name has been spelled several ways over the course of the series. According to the NBC website, the appropriate spelling is "Beesly," as was used in "Business School." However, in "Conflict Resolution," Pam's ID badge clearly shows that she signs her name "Pam Beesley," and in "Sexual Harassment," a shot of Kevin's computer shows her name spelled "Pam Beasly." The correct spelling is generally assumed to be "Beesly." (Had Pam married Roy, she would have become Pam Anderson.)

Pam is profoundly nearsighted (she states in "Did I Stutter?" that her vision is 20/400). She usually wears contacts, but has a pair of backup glasses when the need arises.

Pam's birthday is March 25, 1979.

Pam has worked at Dunder Mifflin since March of 2002, according to Jenna Fischer's MySpace page.

Pam is a fan of Sudoku; she has, on at least one occasion, completed a level moderate puzzle in 18 minutes.

Pam is very close to her mom, as seen in "Sexual Harassment."

Her middle name (Morgan) was revealed by Jim in "Did I Stutter?"

Pam says she's "not great with kids" in "Take Your Daughter to Work Day," though she does connect with Meredith's son Jake.
In "Fun Run", Pam reveals that her denomiation was Presbyterian, as well as Darryl.

Debate persists over whether Jim or Pam started at Dunder Mifflin first, as various episodes seem to contradict themselves. Greg Daniels has stated that, in his mind, Pam was there before Jim; however, if this is correct, than either Pam's March 2002 start date or the statement that Jim has been at Dunder Mifflin for seven years must be incorrect. In "Launch Party," Jim tells Pam he first discovers he likes her when she showed him his desk on his first day of work, telling him to "enjoy this moment", as he could never go back to the time before he met Dwight. Daniels admits that he realizes the contradictions and says this is not something set in stone.

Pam bobble head

According to Weight Loss, Pam weighs 126 pounds (as of the summer of 2008).

Pam is an accomplished volleyball player, a talent not revealed until the Company Picnic.
Since season 7 episode 2 Counseling Pam is the offical office administrator.
In "The Delivery, Part 2", Michael, after witnessing Pam attempting to give birth to her baby, says "that baby is going to have a lot of hair," referring to Cece's head crowning as Pam gives birth to her, or not.

Appearances

Pam appears in all episodes, with the following exceptions:

Business Ethics - voice only (on speakerphone)
Mafia - voice only (on speakerphone)
St. Patrick's Day - voice only (on speakerphone)

In Season 8, she was also gone on maternity leave and was absent from:

"Christmas Wishes"

"Trivia"

"Pool Party"

Relationship status

Engaged to Roy (Pre-)'Pilot - Gay Witch Hunt

Single Gay Witch Hunt - Phyllis' Wedding

Dating Roy Again Phyllis' Wedding - Cocktails

Single Cocktails - The Job

Dating Jim Fun Run - Weight Loss

Engaged To Jim Weight Loss- Niagara

Married To Jim Niagara - Present