Dwight's Speech
Encyclopedia
"Dwight's Speech" is the seventeenth episode of the second season of the American comedy
television series
The Office, and the show's twenty-third episode overall. Written by Paul Lieberstein
, and directed by Charles McDougall
, the episode first aired in the United States on March 2, 2006 on NBC
.
In the episode, Michael helps Dwight with an important speech that he is going to give. Meanwhile, Jim plans a vacation to avoid Pam's wedding. "Dwight's Speech" was watched by 8.4 million viewers.
(Rainn Wilson
) is named Northeastern Pennsylvania
Salesman of the Year and must make a speech at an association meeting at the Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel
, getting some assistance from Michael Scott
(Steve Carell
). Before he leaves, Jim Halpert
(John Krasinski
), in retaliation for Dwight's cocky attitude, gives him tips on how to give public speeches. Unknown to Dwight, Jim's tips are taken from a speech by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini
. When Michael and Dwight make it to the convention, Dwight gets cold feet and Michael goes up and tries to relive his glory days of winning Salesman of the Year two years in a row, but ends up bombing. Dwight finally works up the nerve to give his speech and, using Jim's advice, wins over the crowd with a passionate yet unorthodox speech (which Angela videotapes from the back). Michael ends up leaving the convention room and later entertains Dwight with his tales at the bar.
Meanwhile, back in the office, Pam Beesly
(Jenna Fischer
) begins to write invitations for her approaching wedding. Jim makes plans for a vacation anywhere away from Scranton
. While that is going on, the other employees subtly duel over the thermostat. At the end of the episode, Jim tells Pam that he will be going to Australia and unfortunately, he will be missing her wedding because of it.
. McDougall had previously directed the second season episode "Christmas Party". "Dwight's Speech" was written by Paul Lieberstein
, who plays human resources director Toby Flenderson
.
During the earlier scenes when Dwight is in Michael's office, Pam can be seen in the background talking to Meredith. According to actress Jenna Fischer
, she and Kate Flannery
stayed in character and acted out mundane talking scenes. Although they were not recorded, the dialogue was very detailed. Fischer described one scene in which Pam and Meredith discussed "the problems with the new quality-assurance computer-input program. It doesn't accept both alpha and numeric characters, which is very frustrating as we have a backlog of receipts dating to 2001. Dunder-Mifflin changed to all-numeric product codes in 2004 and the computer system does not allow for the earlier records." The speech scene employed over 500 extras, which is unusual for The Office, and was hectic for the crew to organize.
The Mussolini quote "Blood alone moves the wheels of history", with which Dwight begins his speech, is from a speech given by Mussolini in Parma on 13 December 1914, advocating Italian entry into World War I
.
. This means that 4.4 percent of all households with an 18 to 49 year old living in it watched the episode, and ten percent had their television tuned to the channel at any point. "Dwight's Speech" was watched by 8.4 million viewers.
"Dwight's Speech" received mostly positive reviews. Michael Sciannamea of TV Squad wrote that he wonders if the Jim-Pam "will reach some sort of resolution or become a season-ending cliffhanger". Sciannamea also noted that "you know you're living in a Bizarro World when Dwight wins Dunder Mifflin's salesman of the year award." "M. Giant" of TelevisionWithoutPity.com graded the episode with an A-. IGN
ranked the scene with Dwight making his speech as its third best moment in the first two seasons, Rolling Stone
has the same scene as the 18th funniest in The Office's first three seasons.
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
television series
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
The Office, and the show's twenty-third episode overall. Written by Paul Lieberstein
Paul Lieberstein
Paul Bevan Lieberstein is an American screenwriter, actor and television producer. An Emmy Award winner, he is most widely known as a writer, producer, and as supporting cast member Toby Flenderson on the U.S...
, and directed by Charles McDougall
Charles McDougall
Charles McDougall is a British Emmy Award and BAFTA-winning director.-Biography:McDougall has directed for popular television series which include the pilot episode of ABC's Desperate Housewives . McDougall has also directed episodes of Queer as Folk on Channel 4 and Sex and the City on HBO...
, the episode first aired in the United States on March 2, 2006 on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
.
In the episode, Michael helps Dwight with an important speech that he is going to give. Meanwhile, Jim plans a vacation to avoid Pam's wedding. "Dwight's Speech" was watched by 8.4 million viewers.
Synopsis
Dwight SchruteDwight Schrute
Dwight Kurt Schrute III is a character on NBC's The Office portrayed by Rainn Wilson. He originally exactly resembled Gareth Keenan from the original UK version of The Office. Dwight is the top salesman and former acting manager for the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company and has won numerous awards for...
(Rainn Wilson
Rainn Wilson
Rainn Dietrich Wilson is an American actor and comedian. He is primarily known for his role as the egomaniacal Dwight Schrute on the American version of the television comedy The Office...
) is named Northeastern Pennsylvania
Northeastern Pennsylvania
Northeastern Pennsylvania is a geographic region of Pennsylvania that includes the Pocono Mountains, the Endless Mountains and the industrial cities of Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Pittston, Hazleton and Carbondale....
Salesman of the Year and must make a speech at an association meeting at the Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel
Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel
The Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel, built as the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Station, is a neo-classical building in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It was built as a train station and office building in 1908; closed in 1970; listed on the U.S...
, getting some assistance from Michael Scott
Michael Scott (The Office)
Michael Gary Scott is a fictional character on NBC's The Office, portrayed by Steve Carell, and based on David Brent from the original British version. Michael, the central character of the series, was the manager of the Scranton branch of paper and printer distribution company Dunder Mifflin Inc...
(Steve Carell
Steve Carell
Steven John "Steve" Carell is an American comedian, actor, voice artist, producer, writer, and director. Although Carell is notable for his role on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, he found greater fame in the late 2000s for playing Michael Scott on The Office...
). Before he leaves, Jim Halpert
Jim Halpert
James Duncan "Jim" Halpert is a fictional character in the United States version of the television sitcom The Office, played by John Krasinski. The character is based on Tim Canterbury from the original version of The Office...
(John Krasinski
John Krasinski
John Burke Krasinski is an American actor, film director, and writer. He is most widely known for playing Jim Halpert on the NBC sitcom The Office...
), in retaliation for Dwight's cocky attitude, gives him tips on how to give public speeches. Unknown to Dwight, Jim's tips are taken from a speech by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
. When Michael and Dwight make it to the convention, Dwight gets cold feet and Michael goes up and tries to relive his glory days of winning Salesman of the Year two years in a row, but ends up bombing. Dwight finally works up the nerve to give his speech and, using Jim's advice, wins over the crowd with a passionate yet unorthodox speech (which Angela videotapes from the back). Michael ends up leaving the convention room and later entertains Dwight with his tales at the bar.
Meanwhile, back in the office, Pam Beesly
Pam Beesly
Pamela Morgan "Pam" Halpert is a fictional character on the U.S. television sitcom The Office, played by Jenna Fischer. Her counterpart in the original UK series of The Office is Dawn Tinsley....
(Jenna Fischer
Jenna Fischer
Regina Marie "Jenna" Fischer is an American actress and director. She is most widely known for her Emmy-nominated portrayal of Pam Halpert on the NBC situation comedy and mockumentary The Office, and has also appeared in several films, including Blades of Glory, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story,...
) begins to write invitations for her approaching wedding. Jim makes plans for a vacation anywhere away from Scranton
Scranton, Pennsylvania
Scranton is a city in the northeastern part of Pennsylvania, United States. It is the county seat of Lackawanna County and the largest principal city in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area. Scranton had a population of 76,089 in 2010, according to the U.S...
. While that is going on, the other employees subtly duel over the thermostat. At the end of the episode, Jim tells Pam that he will be going to Australia and unfortunately, he will be missing her wedding because of it.
Production
This episode was the second episode of the series directed by Charles McDougallCharles McDougall
Charles McDougall is a British Emmy Award and BAFTA-winning director.-Biography:McDougall has directed for popular television series which include the pilot episode of ABC's Desperate Housewives . McDougall has also directed episodes of Queer as Folk on Channel 4 and Sex and the City on HBO...
. McDougall had previously directed the second season episode "Christmas Party". "Dwight's Speech" was written by Paul Lieberstein
Paul Lieberstein
Paul Bevan Lieberstein is an American screenwriter, actor and television producer. An Emmy Award winner, he is most widely known as a writer, producer, and as supporting cast member Toby Flenderson on the U.S...
, who plays human resources director Toby Flenderson
Toby Flenderson
Toby Wyatt Flenderson, M.S.W. born 1971 is a character from the US television series The Office. He is played by Paul Lieberstein. He is an original character and has no equivalent in the British version of the show, The Office.-Overview:...
.
During the earlier scenes when Dwight is in Michael's office, Pam can be seen in the background talking to Meredith. According to actress Jenna Fischer
Jenna Fischer
Regina Marie "Jenna" Fischer is an American actress and director. She is most widely known for her Emmy-nominated portrayal of Pam Halpert on the NBC situation comedy and mockumentary The Office, and has also appeared in several films, including Blades of Glory, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story,...
, she and Kate Flannery
Kate Flannery
Katherine Patricia "Kate" Flannery is an American actress best known for playing the role of Meredith Palmer on the NBC hit series The Office.-Personal life:...
stayed in character and acted out mundane talking scenes. Although they were not recorded, the dialogue was very detailed. Fischer described one scene in which Pam and Meredith discussed "the problems with the new quality-assurance computer-input program. It doesn't accept both alpha and numeric characters, which is very frustrating as we have a backlog of receipts dating to 2001. Dunder-Mifflin changed to all-numeric product codes in 2004 and the computer system does not allow for the earlier records." The speech scene employed over 500 extras, which is unusual for The Office, and was hectic for the crew to organize.
The Mussolini quote "Blood alone moves the wheels of history", with which Dwight begins his speech, is from a speech given by Mussolini in Parma on 13 December 1914, advocating Italian entry into World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Reception
"Dwight's Speech" received 4.4/10 in the ages 18–49 demographic in the Nielsen ratingsNielsen Ratings
Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
. This means that 4.4 percent of all households with an 18 to 49 year old living in it watched the episode, and ten percent had their television tuned to the channel at any point. "Dwight's Speech" was watched by 8.4 million viewers.
"Dwight's Speech" received mostly positive reviews. Michael Sciannamea of TV Squad wrote that he wonders if the Jim-Pam "will reach some sort of resolution or become a season-ending cliffhanger". Sciannamea also noted that "you know you're living in a Bizarro World when Dwight wins Dunder Mifflin's salesman of the year award." "M. Giant" of TelevisionWithoutPity.com graded the episode with an A-. IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
ranked the scene with Dwight making his speech as its third best moment in the first two seasons, Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
has the same scene as the 18th funniest in The Office
External links
- "Dwight's Speech" at NBC.com