Party Planning Committee

Not to be confused with The Committee to Plan Parties.

"At its worst, it was a toxic, political club used to make others feel miserable and left out. At its best, it planned parties."

—Pam Halpert

The Party Planning Committee is an office committee called upon to organize office events, sometimes on very short notice. It appears frequently in the show, even though it is fairly trivial, but it is fundamentally demonstrative of the Scranton branch's office politics. The Party Planning Committee was shut down by Template:Pam after she became office administrator. (Classy Christmas, Part 1)

Historical members of the Party Planning Committee include former regular members Pam, Phyllis (former chair), and Angela (former chair). Other non-permanent members have once included Meredith, Kelly, Karen, Ryan, Holly, and Oscar. Jim and Dwight were also temporary heads to prevent the chair from gaining too much power.

Pre-history parties

These parties were planned prior to the beginning of the Office documentary.

A Pizza of Your Own Party

In a deleted scene from New Boss, Michael describes to Charles Miner the first party planned by the committee, which was a celebration of the release of the film "A League of Their Own" on Laserdisc. According to IMDB, the release of that film on Laserdisc occurred in 1993, making the committee 17 years old as of 2010. The celebration consisted of employees of the office making their own pizzas.

Gabe and Erin independently used the same idea for their Glee Viewing Party.

The '80s Party

In The Alliance, Michael mentions a previous party; The '80s Party, which the office newsletter called "a success."

Angela Martin era parties

For the first four seasons, Angela Martin ran the Party Planning Committee.

Meredith's Birthday Party

Angela, Pam, and Phyllis

In The Alliance, the Party Planning Committee (Angela, Pam, and Phyllis) plan Meredith's surprise birthday party.

05 05 05

In The Dundies, Jan mentioned that Michael had a luau on May 5, 2005 for no reason. Michael refuted her vehemently with that it was "05 05 05" and "happens once every billion years."

Halloween Party

In Halloween, the planned office Halloween party is a flop because Devon invited most of the office to Poor Richard's. The only attendees of the party are Michael, Dwight, Creed, and Angela.

Christmas Party 2005

In Christmas Party, the Party Planning Committee (Angela, Pam, Phyllis, Meredith, and new member Ryan) plan the office Christmas party. Michael gives Ryan all the credit, which infuriates Angela.

Michael's Birthday Party

The Party Planning Committee is credited for planning Michael's Birthday party, although Dwight assumes control of all planning duties exclaiming "This is the most important day of the year!"

Christmas Party 2006

In A Benihana Christmas, the Party Planning Committee (Angela, Pam, Phyllis, Meredith, and new member Karen) plan the office Christmas party.

Pam and Karen break off from the Party Planning Committee to plan their own competing party as the newly dubbed Committee to Plan Parties .

Luau Party

In Back From Vacation, the Party Planning Committee (Angela, Pam, Phyllis, Meredith, and Karen) are ordered to throw a luau-themed party with only three hours' notice.

Oscar's Welcome Back Party

In The Return, the Party Planning Committee (Angela, Pam, Phyllis, Meredith, Karen, and new member Oscar) plan Oscar's "Welcome Back" party. When Dwight returns from STAPLES Michael tells him that the party is for him.

Phyllis's Bridal Shower

In Ben Franklin, Angela (presumably with the assistance of the Party Planning Committee) decorates the conference room for Phyllis's bridal shower.

Dunder Mifflin Infinity Launch Party

In Launch Party, the Party Planning Committee (Angela, Phyllis, Meredith, and an unnamed member, presumably Pam) plan the Dunder Mifflin Infinity launch party.

Creed's Birthday/Birthday Month Party

In Survivor Man, Michael leaves Jim in charge of the office. Jim attempts to merge Creed's, Oscar's, Meredith's, and Toby's (even though his birthday was 3 months ago) birthday parties into just one party. The slew of requests, including peach cobbler for Creed, devil's food cake for Meredith, and Fudgie the Whale and mushroom caps for Andy make this party increasingly difficult for Angela to plan. The combined party concept doesn't go over well with the office workers, and in the end, they just celebrate Creed's birthday.

Phyllis Vance era parties

While it is unclear if there was an official change in the leadership of the Party Planning Committee, Phyllis Vance becomes the source of party planning authority and the de facto, if not formal leader.

Toby's Goodbye Party

In Goodbye, Toby, Phyllis is given the task of planning Toby's goodbye party after Angela rejects Michael's demands as impossibly unrealistic. The party is a smashing success, which makes Angela even more upset.

Weight Loss Party

In Weight Loss, Phyllis has solidified control of the Party Planning Committee thanks to her knowledge of Angela and Dwight's secret affair. She tries to buy a cake for Stanley's birthday party to celebrate the success of the weight loss initiative, but Michael insists that it consist only of fruit. Phyllis secretly organizes a party with cheesecake but is found out.

Baby Shower

In Baby Shower, Phyllis organizes Jan's baby shower. Phyllis relishes her new role, although Michael is disappointed with the sparse party decorations and food.

Christmas Party 2008

In Moroccan Christmas, Phyllis organizes a Morocco-themed Christmas party. Phyllis orders Angela around to the point where Angela finally refuses to go along, confident that Phyllis is too meek to carry through on her threat. Her gambit backfires, however, when Phyllis reveals Angela and Dwight's affair to everyone in the office.

Jim & Dwight era parties

Michael puts Jim and Dwight in charge of the Party Planning Committee because there was "too much drama." Michael believed that consolidating power into a single head was too dangerous, so the committee chairmanship is now shared.

Kelly's Missed Birthday

• In Lecture Circuit Parts 1 & 2, Jim and Dwight forget Kelly's birthday and attempt to throw her a party the next day. It features sagging balloons held up with masking tape, a cake reading "Happy Birthday Kelley [sic]" and an "It is your birthday." sign. They offer her the choice of watching TV for an hour or napping for an hour and Kelly gleefully decides to take a nap. Dwight wakes her up by banging two trash can lids together, and orders her to make up the time lost while she was napping.

Michael's 15th Anniversary Party

• In New Boss, Jim, Dwight, and Pam meet with Michael to plan his 15th Anniversary Party. New Corporate Vice President Charles Miner shuts down the Party Planning Committee as a waste of time and money.

Christmas Party 2009

• In Secret Santa, Jim and Dwight (resuming their duties as the Party Planning Committee) try to get the office in the Christmas spirit, but the uncertain future of Dunder Mifflin puts a damper on the festivities. Jim's decision to let Phyllis be Santa Claus infuriates Michael.

Second Angela Martin Era parties

Secretary's Day 2010

• In Secretary's Day, Andy thanks Angela for organizing the Secretary's Day party. Angela's return to the Party Planning Committee is not explained.

Nellie's Welcome Party 2012

• Angela, Pam, Oscar and Phyllis work together to plan a terrible party for their new boss Nellie.

Other Notes

• In Conflict Resolution, it is revealed that Phyllis tried to get off the Party Planning Committee.
• Mentioned in the deleted scenes of Launch Party, Denise Dimm is identified as the head of the Buffalo branch's Party Planning Committee.
• In Branch Wars, Andy explains that his goal is to get into the office's most exclusive club - The Finer Things Club, with the Party Planning Committee as his backup and Kevin's band as his safety.
• In Launch Party Phyllis tries new techniques to deal with difficult people (e.g. Angela) off of Google while the Party Planning Committee is planning the Launch Party.
• In The New Boss, Michael uses the code name PPC for the Party Planning Committee in an attempt to prevent Charles Miner from finding out about it.
• In Classy Christmas, Pam mentions that, as office administrator, she is basically being paid to be the head of the Party Planning Committee.
• Greg Daniels encouraged the actors to improvise mundane party planning chatter.