Scott's Tots
Encyclopedia
"Scott's Tots" is the 12th episode of the sixth season
of the U.S. comedy series The Office and the show's 112th episode overall. It was written by Gene Stupnitsky
& Lee Eisenberg
and directed by B. J. Novak
, which marks his directorial debut on the network series (he had previously directed the four-episode "Blackmail
" webisode series). It aired in the United States on NBC
on December 3, 2009. Gene Stupnitsky and Lee Eisenberg submitted this episode for the 2010 Emmys.
In the episode, Michael and Erin meet "Scott's Tots", a group of local teenagers whose college tuition was promised in one of Michael's grand delusions ten years prior. Meanwhile, in Michael's absence, Jim starts an employee-of-the-month program to boost morale, which Dwight sabotages.
(Steve Carell
) is forced to face the music after he realizes he can't keep a promise he made to a group of underprivileged kids 10 years ago, that he would pay for their college tuition provided they graduated from high school. With no other option, he visits their high school with Erin
(Ellie Kemper
) to break the bad news. Over the years, the students have pushed to graduate because of his promise, and greet Michael with standing applause. They all take turns giving their thanks to Michael, as do several school and community leaders. When Michael takes the stand, he congratulates everyone for being able to graduate from high school, before breaking the bad news. Everyone gets mad at him for making a promise he couldn't keep. Michael then tries to calm them by giving them laptop batteries.
When Michael and Erin leave, one of the students comes out to talk to Michael. Michael admits he's made many promises he couldn't keep, but gives that student four checks to pay for his books each year when he does get into college and tells him not to cash them until he calls about it first. In the car on the way back to the office, Michael continues to lament his promises, but Erin comforts him when she points out that this group of students have a much higher graduation rate, and that, at the very least, will help them significantly. Michael tells Erin she's doing a good job and asks what she would want to get out of Dunder Mifflin provided it doesn't go under. Erin confesses she always wondered what it would be like to be an accountant, although she admits that she isn't that good at math. Michael responds that Kevin
(Brian Baumgartner
) initially applied for a warehouse position, but Michael saw potential in him, and he now sees potential in her. They drive back home singing.
Meanwhile, on a suggestion from Andy
(Ed Helms
), Jim
(John Krasinski
) starts an employee of the month program to increase office morale. Andy is led to believe this is his own idea by Dwight
(Rainn Wilson
), who is trying to use this idea as part of a greater scheme to get Jim fired. Dwight gives Jim a performance sheet to determine the employee of the month, using complete anonymity to ensure a fair and unbiased assessment. Dwight also collects money from each of the employees as part of a cash prize, even though Jim specifically did not authorize this. At the conclusion of the day, Jim announces the employee of the month, and it is revealed that apparently picked himself by accident. Everyone starts blaming Jim for using this gimmick as a ploy to take money away from the office. Jim tries to pin part of the failure on Dwight, but since he has taken numerous precautions to protect himself from direct blame, he passively fires back. Jim decides to forgo the award and give it to the next best employee, but things are only made worse when that person is revealed to be his wife Pam (Jenna Fischer
). Everyone reaches their breaking point when a cake is delivered to the office with Jim's face on it.
With the primary part of his plan a success, having manipulated the assessment and ordered the cake, Dwight sneaks away to the warehouse to initialize the second part of his plan. He calls CFO David Wallace
(Andy Buckley) multiple times, each time pretending to be a different employee, and leaves messages complaining about Jim's failed program. An angry David calls Jim back and chews him out for the mishap. Almost assured that this will get Jim fired, Dwight listens in to the phone conversation from his pen recorder. But instead of firing Jim, David apologizes to him for losing his temper. Angry that his plan has done very little to nothing, Dwight gets upset and goes back to the drawing board.
At the end of the episode, Ryan
(B. J. Novak
) confronts Dwight on his desire to get Jim fired by showing him a copy of his "Diabolical Plan" document. He informs Dwight that they both share the same goal, to get Jim fired, and the two form an alliance.
Dan Phillips of IGN
gave the episode a 9.4 out of 10 rating, the highest given to any season 6 episode. Phillips called the episode "an instant classic and another phenomenal installment of this season, which hit some rough patches but seems to have recovered brilliantly", especially pointing out the scene between Michael and the irate students.
The Office (U.S. TV series) season 6
The American television comedy The Office was renewed by NBC for a sixth season on January 15, 2009. The season premiered on September 17, 2009 and concluded on May 20, 2010. The episodes aired on Thursdays at 9:00 p.m. EDT as part of Comedy Night Done Right...
of the U.S. comedy series The Office and the show's 112th episode overall. It was written by Gene Stupnitsky
Gene Stupnitsky
Gene Stupnitsky is a film and television writer. He usually works with Lee Eisenberg.In television, he wrote for the NBC comedy series The Office from seasons 2 to 6, and served as a co-executive producer and directed two episodes with Eisenberg, "Michael Scott Paper Company" and "The Lover"...
& Lee Eisenberg
Lee Eisenberg
Lee Eisenberg is a film and television writer. He usually works with Gene Stupnitsky.-Life and career:In television, he wrote for the NBC comedy series The Office from seasons 2 to 6, and served as a co-executive producer and directed two episodes with Stupnitsky, "Michael Scott Paper Company" and...
and directed by B. J. Novak
B. J. Novak
Benjamin Joseph Manaly “B. J.” Novak is an American actor, stand-up comedian, screenwriter, and director. He is best known for being a writer and co-executive producer for and playing the role of Ryan Howard on the US version of The Office, as well as appearing in Inglourious Basterds...
, which marks his directorial debut on the network series (he had previously directed the four-episode "Blackmail
Blackmail (Webisodes)
Blackmail is a spin-off series of mini-episodes of The Office; it premiered as original internet-only content, available online at NBC.com.-Cast:*Creed Bratton as Creed Bratton*Oscar Nunez as Oscar Martinez*Kate Flannery as Meredith Palmer...
" webisode series). It aired in the United States 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...
on December 3, 2009. Gene Stupnitsky and Lee Eisenberg submitted this episode for the 2010 Emmys.
In the episode, Michael and Erin meet "Scott's Tots", a group of local teenagers whose college tuition was promised in one of Michael's grand delusions ten years prior. Meanwhile, in Michael's absence, Jim starts an employee-of-the-month program to boost morale, which Dwight sabotages.
Synopsis
MichaelMichael 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...
) is forced to face the music after he realizes he can't keep a promise he made to a group of underprivileged kids 10 years ago, that he would pay for their college tuition provided they graduated from high school. With no other option, he visits their high school with Erin
Erin Hannon
Kelly Erin Hannon is a fictional character from the U.S. television series The Office. She is the office receptionist for the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin, a position previously held by Pam Halpert before she left the company. Erin is played by Ellie Kemper...
(Ellie Kemper
Ellie Kemper
Elizabeth Claire "Ellie" Kemper is an American actress, comedian and writer best known for her role as Erin Hannon in NBC's The Office.-Personal life:...
) to break the bad news. Over the years, the students have pushed to graduate because of his promise, and greet Michael with standing applause. They all take turns giving their thanks to Michael, as do several school and community leaders. When Michael takes the stand, he congratulates everyone for being able to graduate from high school, before breaking the bad news. Everyone gets mad at him for making a promise he couldn't keep. Michael then tries to calm them by giving them laptop batteries.
When Michael and Erin leave, one of the students comes out to talk to Michael. Michael admits he's made many promises he couldn't keep, but gives that student four checks to pay for his books each year when he does get into college and tells him not to cash them until he calls about it first. In the car on the way back to the office, Michael continues to lament his promises, but Erin comforts him when she points out that this group of students have a much higher graduation rate, and that, at the very least, will help them significantly. Michael tells Erin she's doing a good job and asks what she would want to get out of Dunder Mifflin provided it doesn't go under. Erin confesses she always wondered what it would be like to be an accountant, although she admits that she isn't that good at math. Michael responds that Kevin
Kevin Malone
Kevin Jaye Malone is a character in the United States television series The Office. He is played by Brian Baumgartner. Kevin's counterpart in the UK series is Keith Bishop.-Biography:...
(Brian Baumgartner
Brian Baumgartner
Brian Baumgartner is an Emmy Award-winning American film and television actor, best known for playing Kevin Malone on The Office.-Personal life:...
) initially applied for a warehouse position, but Michael saw potential in him, and he now sees potential in her. They drive back home singing.
Meanwhile, on a suggestion from Andy
Andy Bernard
Andrew "Andy" Baines Bernard is a fictional character from the U.S. television series The Office. The character is highly insecure, yet egotistical, constantly mentioning his education at Cornell University...
(Ed Helms
Ed Helms
Edward Paul "Ed" Helms is an American actor and comedian known for his work as a correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, as Andy Bernard on the US version of the sitcom/mockumentary The Office and for his role as Dr. Stu Price in The Hangover films.- Early life :Helms was born and raised...
), Jim
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...
) starts an employee of the month program to increase office morale. Andy is led to believe this is his own idea by Dwight
Dwight 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...
), who is trying to use this idea as part of a greater scheme to get Jim fired. Dwight gives Jim a performance sheet to determine the employee of the month, using complete anonymity to ensure a fair and unbiased assessment. Dwight also collects money from each of the employees as part of a cash prize, even though Jim specifically did not authorize this. At the conclusion of the day, Jim announces the employee of the month, and it is revealed that apparently picked himself by accident. Everyone starts blaming Jim for using this gimmick as a ploy to take money away from the office. Jim tries to pin part of the failure on Dwight, but since he has taken numerous precautions to protect himself from direct blame, he passively fires back. Jim decides to forgo the award and give it to the next best employee, but things are only made worse when that person is revealed to be his wife Pam (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,...
). Everyone reaches their breaking point when a cake is delivered to the office with Jim's face on it.
With the primary part of his plan a success, having manipulated the assessment and ordered the cake, Dwight sneaks away to the warehouse to initialize the second part of his plan. He calls CFO David Wallace
David Wallace (The Office)
David Wallace is a character in the American television show The Office and was the chief financial officer of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, before being fired in late 2009 after the company was bought by Sabre. He is portrayed by Andy Buckley.- Character history :David Wallace was...
(Andy Buckley) multiple times, each time pretending to be a different employee, and leaves messages complaining about Jim's failed program. An angry David calls Jim back and chews him out for the mishap. Almost assured that this will get Jim fired, Dwight listens in to the phone conversation from his pen recorder. But instead of firing Jim, David apologizes to him for losing his temper. Angry that his plan has done very little to nothing, Dwight gets upset and goes back to the drawing board.
At the end of the episode, Ryan
Ryan Howard (The Office)
Ryan Bailey Howard , played by B. J. Novak, is a fictional character on the US television sitcom The Office. He is based upon Ricky Howard from the original version of The Office , but his role is significantly expanded and he is a main character.-Character profile:Little is known about Ryan's...
(B. J. Novak
B. J. Novak
Benjamin Joseph Manaly “B. J.” Novak is an American actor, stand-up comedian, screenwriter, and director. He is best known for being a writer and co-executive producer for and playing the role of Ryan Howard on the US version of The Office, as well as appearing in Inglourious Basterds...
) confronts Dwight on his desire to get Jim fired by showing him a copy of his "Diabolical Plan" document. He informs Dwight that they both share the same goal, to get Jim fired, and the two form an alliance.
Reception
This episode was watched by 8.1 million viewers, with a 4.1 rating and a 11 share in the 18-49 demographic.Dan Phillips of 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...
gave the episode a 9.4 out of 10 rating, the highest given to any season 6 episode. Phillips called the episode "an instant classic and another phenomenal installment of this season, which hit some rough patches but seems to have recovered brilliantly", especially pointing out the scene between Michael and the irate students.
External links
- "Scott's Tots" at NBC.comNBCThe 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...