From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The Deposition (The Office)
The Deposition (The Office)
"The Deposition "
Deposition" by Jan to be a witness against his employer. The deposi-
tion goes well for Jan at first, as she claims that she was
The Office episode terminated due to discrimination over her breast aug-
mentation. But, the tide of the deposition turns when
Michael learns that Jan gave him a scathing performance
review after they had begun dating. Michael learns he
was never a contender when interviewing for Jan’s for-
mer position at the corporate office, with the CFO in-
sisting repeatedly that he is a nice guy, but ultimately
unsuited for the position. Michael defends the company
anyway, and later states that "you expect to get screwed
by your company, but you never expect to get screwed by
Michael is asked a difficult question during "The
Deposition" your girlfriend." Jan and Michael drive home, clearly an-
gry at each other over the events of the day.
Episode no. Season 4
Episode 12
Directed by Julian Farino
Written by Lester Lewis
Production code 412
Original air date November 15, 2007
Episode chronology
← Previous Next →
"Survivor Man" "Dinner Party" Dwight and Mose playing ping-pong
List of The Office (U.S. TV series) episodes Back at the Scranton, Pennsylvania branch of Dunder
Mifflin, Jim Halpert (John Krasinski) repeatedly loses to
"The Deposition" is the twelfth episode of the fourth sea- warehouse foreman Darryl Philbin (Craig Robinson) at
son of the American comedy television series The Office, ping pong, prompting Darryl’s girlfriend Kelly Kapoor
and the show’s sixty-fifth episode overall. Written by (Mindy Kaling) to gloat to Jim’s girlfriend Pam Beesly
consulting producer Lester Lewis and directed by Julian (Jenna Fischer) over her boyfriend’s superior skills. Un-
Farino, the episode originally aired in the United States able to tolerate Kelly’s insults, Pam builds a makeshift
on November 15, 2007 on NBC. "The Deposition" was the ping pong table in the conference room for Jim to prac-
last original episode of the show to air before the show tice against other office employees. Throughout the day,
went on hiatus due to the 2007 Writers Guild of America Jim practices against his coworkers, eventually discov-
strike.[1] ering Dwight Schrute’s (Rainn Wilson) prowess at the
Jan and Michael travel to New York City for the de- game. When Jim and Darryl have a rematch, Jim again
position of Jan’s lawsuit against the company. While loses to Darryl. Fed up with Kelly’s continued taunting,
Michael originally intends to be a witness against the Pam challenges her in a game of ping pong, but the two
company, he ends up defending the company. Mean- are pathetically incompetent players. Jim and Darryl, em-
while, Kelly talks smack to Pam after Darryl beats Jim in barrassed, decide to play ping pong in the conference
a game of ping pong, prompting Jim to spend the entire room. The episode concludes with Dwight playing a high-
day practicing in the conference room. intensity game of ping pong against his cousin Mose
Schrute (Michael Schur), with the two at an apparent
Synopsis stalemate.
After his girlfriend Jan Levenson (Melora Hardin) sues
her former employer Dunder Mifflin for wrongful termi-
nation, Michael Scott (Steve Carell) finds himself forced
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The Deposition (The Office)
Production comfortable at the same time."[15] Christine Fenno, of En-
tertainment Weekly, stated "’The Deposition’ was a sim-
"The Deposition" was the first episode of The Office to be mering slow cooker of corporate intrigue, flavored by
written by Lester Lewis. Lewis also works for the show as Michael Scott’s ridiculousness, with spicy smack talk on
a consulting producer. The episode was the second of the the side." Fenno, like Porter, also praised the acting of
show to be directed by Julian Farino. Farino also direct- Jenna Fischer, saying that she "stole the low-key opening
ed the third season episode "Back from Vacation". "The scenes".[16] Travis Fickett, of IGN, stated that "this hap-
Deposition" was the last original episode of The Office to pens to be the best episode of the season and one of the
air in 2007 due to the effects of the 2007–2008 Writers best episodes of the series. It’s almost as if the writers
Guild of America strike.[2][3] The Writers Guild of Amer- planned it this way - to emphasize their importance and
ica (WGA) went on strike at 12:01AM Eastern Standard remind us how much we’ll miss them when they’re
Time on November 5, 2007.[4][5] Filming of The Office im- gone." Fickett went on to praise the acting between Steve
mediately halted on that date, as Steve Carell, who is a Carell (Michael) and Paul Lieberstein (Toby).[17] BuddyTV
member of the WGA, refused to cross WGA picket lines.[6] Senior Writer Oscar Dahl stated that the episode was an
Members of Writers Guild of America, East and Writers oddity among the series, saying “The Deposition” was an
Guild of America, West voted to end the 100-day strike atypical episode of The Office, one that basically put the
on February 12, 2008.[7] Writers were allowed to return character of Michael Scott on trial and humiliated him
to work on the same day.[8] The WGA allowed for show over and over again."[18]
runners to return to work on February 11,[9] in prepara-
tion for the conclusion of the strike. The show runner for
The Office, Executive Producer Greg Daniels, returned on
References
the February 11,[10] while the show’s writers returned to [1] Brian Stelter (2007-11-07). "Early Victim of Strike:
work on February 13.[8] The Office finally returned with ‘Office’ Originals End Next Week". The New York
original episodes on April 10, 2008, with the episode "Din- Times. http://tvdecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/
ner Party". 11/07/early-victim-of-strike-office-originals-end-
Executive producer and show runner Greg Daniels next-week.
stated that one of the main purposes of "The Deposition" [2] "11-15-2007 9:00 PM The Office — "The Deposition""
was to add on to the tension building between Michael (Press release). NBC Universal Media Village.
and Jan. This tension would finally end its build-up with http://nbcumv.com/listing_detail.nbc/
the splitting of Michael and Jan in the episode "Dinner nbc-20071115210000.html. Retrieved 2008-06-13.
Party".[11] The scene where Michael pushes Toby’s lunch [3] Andreeva, Nellie (2008-02-14). "NBC renews series,
tray off the table was not scripted. The crew was doing announces premieres". The Hollywood Reporter.
one last take of the scene and actor Paul Lieberstein sug- Archived from the original on 2008-04-13.
gested that Steve Carell push his food off the table.[12] http://web.archive.org/web/20080413172036/
The ping pong game between Dwight and Mose was made http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/
using Computer-generated imagery. Rainn Wilson and content_display/television/news/
Michael Schur mimed the actions of a ping pong game, e3if908f8e7990b715738fd1460067e3828. Retrieved
and during the stages of editing and post-production the 2008-02-14.
ping pong ball was added in as an effect.[13] [4] Cieply, Michael (2007-11-05). "Writers Begin Strike
as Talks Break Off". The New York Times.
Reception http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/05/business/
media/05strike.html?_r=1&oref=slogin. Retrieved
"The Deposition" received a 5.1 Nielsen rating and a 8% 2008-04-11.
Share. The episode was watched by 8.86 million viewers [5] McNary, Dave (2007-11-04). "WGA goes on strike".
and achieved a 4.8/11 in the key adults 18 to 49 demo- Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/
graphic, meaning that 4.8 percent of all people 18 to 49 VR1117975364.html?categoryid=2821&cs=1.
watched the episode, and 11 percent of all people 18 to 49 Retrieved 2008-01-19.
watching television at the time watched the episode.[14] [6] TV Guide Staff. "Office Closing: Carell, Others Won’t
Rick Porter of Zap2It.com praised the writing of the Cross Picket Line". TV Guide. 2007-11-07.
episode, as well as the acting of Mindy Kaling and Jenna http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/
Fischer. Porter also praised the final scene of the episode, TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Wga-Post-Strike/Office-
when Jan and Michael drive home after the day. Porter Closing-Carell/800026773&. Retrieved 2008-06-13.
stated "I don’t know whether to laugh or turn away in [7] "Writers Guild Members Vote to End Strike" (Press
shame from that final scene, though, as they bicker about release). Writers Guild of America, West. 2008-02-12.
what to eat while they’re driving home. It was like watch- http://www.wga.org/
ing two friends fight -- fascinating and incredibly un-
2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The Deposition (The Office)
subpage_newsevents.aspx?id=2775. Retrieved http://thescrumbrandon.com/v1/2008/05/01/
2008-02-13. podcast-xix-michael-schur/. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
[8] ^ Littleton, Cynthia; McNary, Dave (2008-02-12). [14] "Broadcast TV Ratings for Thursday, November 15,
"It’s official: WGA strike is over". Variety. 2007". Your Entertainment Now.
http://www.variety.com/article/ http://entertainmentnow.wordpress.com/2007/
VR1117980829.html?categoryid=13&cs=1. Retrieved 11/02/broadcast-tv-ratings-for-thursday-
2008-02-13. november-15-2007. Retrieved 2007-11-16.
[9] Littleton, Cynthia; McNary, Dave (2008-02-10). [15] Porter, Rick (2007-10-15). "Deposition day at The
"Showrunners back to work Monday". Variety. Office". Zap2It.com. http://blog.zap2it.com/
http://www.variety.com/VR1117980626.html. ithappenedlastnight/2007/11/deposition-
Retrieved 2008-02-13. day.html. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
[10] "Pencils Down Means Pencils Down". Writers Guild [16] Fenno, Christine. "The Office: Half Witness".
of America, West. http://www.wga.org/ Entertainment Weekly. http://www.ew.com/ew/
subpage_member.aspx?id=2529. Retrieved article/0,,20160554,00.html. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
2008-05-25. [17] Fickett, Travis. "The Office: "The Deposition"
[11] Biller, Jennifer. "Interview with Rainn Wilson and Review". IGN. http://tv.ign.com/articles/835/
Greg Daniels of The Office". Tube Talk. 835842p1.html. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
http://www.tube-talk.com/2008/03/interview- [18] Dahl, Oscar. "The Office: "The Deposition"".
with-rainn-wilson-and-greg.html. Retrieved BuddyTV. http://www.buddytv.com/articles/the-
2008-07-09. office/the-office-the-deposition-13864.aspx.
[12] "Panels The Office". National Broadcasting Retrieved 2008-07-09.
Company. http://www.nbc.com/Comic-Con/
video/clips/the-office/279939/. Retrieved
2008-07-26.
External links
[13] Larkins, David; Jeremy Sawatzky (2008-05-01). • "The Deposition" at NBC.com
"Podcast XIX:Michael Schur". • "The Deposition" at the Internet Movie Database
• "The Deposition" at TV.com
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Deposition_(The_Office)&oldid=462808754"
Categories:
• The Office (U.S. season 4) episodes
• 2007 television episodes
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