Halloween (The Office)

Michael Scott was informed early in October that he must fire somebody by the end of the month. On the last day of the month, Halloween, he still has not fired anyone, not wanting to give up any employees or make any of them hate him. Meanwhile, Jim Halpert and Pam Beesly post Dwight Schrute's résumé on the internet, and when a prospective employer (Cumberland Mills in Maryland) calls, Jim pretends to be Michael and gives Dwight a great reference. When the company calls Dwight to set up an interview, Dwight ruins his chances by arguing with the caller over the importance and relevance of martial arts on his résumé. Pam says that Jim should apply for the Cumberland Mills position. Jim is quietly hurt by the suggestion that Pam would not miss him if he left.

After he hears Jim mocking his indecisiveness about the firing, Michael is inspired to ask Jim to roleplay firing someone with him. Afterwards he calls Creed Bratton into his office to fire him. Creed convinces Michael to let Devon White go instead. After Michael fires Devon, Devon angrily rebuffs Michael's attempts to save their friendship, and invites everyone in the office (except Michael, Creed, Dwight and Angela) to join him at a local bar. As Jim leaves, Pam apologizes for pushing him into taking the Cumberland job and assures him that she would "blow her brains out" if he ever left. Jim admits to the camera that Pam is the only thing keeping him there. When the group leaves the office, Devon smashes a pumpkin over Michael's car in revenge.

The episode was directed by [[Paul Feig (pictured).|200px|thumb|right]]

"Halloween" is the third episode written by the series developer, executive producer, and show runner Greg Daniels. The episode was directed by Paul Feig, his second credit after "Office Olympics".{{cite episode |title=Office Olympics |series=The Office |series-link=The Office (American TV series) |credits=Michael Schur (writer); Paul Feig (director) |network=NBC |airdate=October 4, 2005 |season=2 |number=3}} This episode is the only episode to date to have a quote to play over the Deedle-Dee Productions title card in the closing credits. The quote features Dwight Schrute exclaiming "Quiet, you!"{{cite episode |title=Halloween |series=The Office |series-link=The Office (American TV series) |credits=Greg Daniels (writer); Paul Feig (director) |network=NBC |airdate=October 18, 2005 |season=2 |number=5}}

Daniels came up with the idea of an episode centered on an employee getting fired, but wanted to focus on the perspective of a boss having to deal with the dilemma of letting an employee go.

{{cite podcast |url=https://www.earwolf.com/episode/halloween-w-creed-bratton/ |title=Halloween w/ Creed Bratton - Office Ladies podcast |website=Earwolf |publisher=Earwolf |host=Angela Kinsey and Jenna Fischer |date=2020-01-14 }} Since Daniels could not fire a series regular due to their contracts, and did not want to fire a supporting character due to the work that went into establishing them, he narrowed down the decision to either Creed or Devon, who at the time were both background characters.{{cite web |url=https://mashable.com/article/the-office-creed-bratton-fired/ |title=Can you imagine 'The Office' without Creed? He was almost fired in Season 2. |author=Gallucci, Nicole |work=Mashable |date=January 15, 2020 |access-date=January 31, 2020}} Scenes with both characters being fired were filmed so that Daniels could decide which one to fire after filming was completed, based on the performances, but Pam actress Jenna Fischer believes what ultimately led Daniels to make a decision was his discovery that the actor Devon Abner had an upcoming theatre contract that conflicted with the series' production.

During the pre-production for the episode, the cast and crew realized that the Halloween concept would allow the various cast members to wear costumes, rather than their "usual, realistically plain suits". B. J. Novak called the dress-up experience "fun", noting that "seeing the most serious of our plotlines play out alongside such silly and bizarre visuals was, I think, one of the most inspired ideas of the episode's writer, Greg Daniels." The idea for Pam to be dressed as a cat was inspired by several unused stories, created by Gene Stupnitsky, in which "Pam Beesley must disguise herself as a cat". The plot lines were vetoed by the show's writers, but Stupnitsky successfully petitioned to allow Pam to wear a cat costume.

"Halloween" marks the last appearance of Devon in an episode until the series finale, seven seasons later. Although Devon was only a background character, he is mentioned during "The Dundies",{{Cite episode | title = The Dundies | series = The Office | series-link = The Office (American TV series) | credits = Mindy Kaling (writer), Greg Daniels (director) | network = NBC | airdate = September 20, 2005 | season = 2 | number = 1}} seen in the background of "The Fire",{{Cite episode | title = The Fire | series = The Office | series-link = The Office (American TV series) | credits = B. J. Novak (writer), Ken Kwapis (director) | network = NBC | airdate = October 11, 2005 | season = 2 | number = 4}} and is seen in a deleted scene during "Diversity Day".{{cite video |date=2005 |title=Deleted scenes for "Diversity Day" | medium=DVD |publisher=Universal Studios Home Entertainment |location=The Office: Season One}} Devon is later seen in a deleted scene on "Valentine's Day", when Michael passes by a homeless Devon in New York. Devon then chases Michael, presumably still angry over the events of "Halloween".{{cite video |date=2006 |title=Deleted scenes for "Valentine's Day" | medium=DVD |publisher=Universal Studios Home Entertainment }} The Office: Season Two Disc 3 Guest stars in this episode included Devon Abner, Hugh Dane, George Gaus, Annabelle Kopack, Ava Nisbet and Alec Zbornak.{{cite web|url=https://tv.yahoo.com/episode/19473/castcrew;_ylt=AuuGz42aOiIsyXc1zIWABaSvo9EF |title=The Office: "Halloween" |access-date=August 12, 2008 |publisher=Yahoo! TV |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615091955/http://tv.yahoo.com/episode/19473/castcrew%3B_ylt%3DAuuGz42aOiIsyXc1zIWABaSvo9EF |archive-date=June 15, 2011 }} Lisa Malone was uncredited in her speaking role as Jan's assistant, Sherry.

Due to the presence of Halloween, many of the employees costumes reflect movie and literary characters. Kelly is dressed as Dorothy Gale, but Michael makes an insensitive remark about Bend It Like Beckham. Dwight is dressed as a Sith, one of the characters in the Star Wars universe capable of using the "dark side of the Force". Phyllis, however, confuses him for "some sort of monk". Kevin is dressed as a Dunder Mifflin super hero, with a costume design similar to Mr. Incredible.{{cite magazine|last=Novak|first=B. J.|title=Someone Gets Axed on Halloween!|url=http://www.tvguide.com/news/bj-novak-office-36157.aspx|magazine=TV Guide|access-date=June 13, 2012|date=Oct 18, 2005}} Creed is dressed like a vampire and Devon is dressed like a hobo. Pam, Phyllis, and Angela are all dressed up as cats. Oscar is dressed in drag, and Michael asks him if he is "flying his true colors", to which Oscar reacts defensively.

"Halloween" was originally broadcast on NBC in the United States on October 18, 2005.{{cite web|title=The Office – Seasons – Season 2 – Episode Guide|url=http://www.nbc.com/the-office/episode-guide/season-2/58601/2/16/newest/|publisher=NBC|access-date=June 13, 2012}} The episode was viewed by 8 million viewers and received a 4.1 rating/10% share among adults between the ages of 18 and 49. This means that it was seen by 4.1% of all 18- to 49-year-olds, and 10% of all 18- to 49-year-olds watching television at the time of the broadcast. The episode was the number one ranked episode among adults, men, and women in the 18–34 demographic, and achieved its highest 18–49 rating since the season's premiere. "Halloween" retained 73 percent of its lead-in My Name Is Earl audience, its best lead-in retention at the time.{{cite press release |title=Oct. 25, 2005 Press Release ("Halloween")|url= http://nbcumv.com/release_detail.nbc/entertainment-20051025000000-nbcprimetimeresult.html|publisher=NBC|date=February 27, 2007|access-date=June 12, 2012}} [http://www.officetally.com/the-office-nielsen-ratings/3 Alt URL]

Erik Adams of The A.V. Club awarded the episode a "B+". He felt that the plot revolving around downsizing was "fitting", because the episode takes place on "Halloween", and that this plot returned Michael to the role of villain. Adams also felt that "director Paul Feig and credited writer Greg Daniels had a lot of fun dressing the show up for “Halloween,” framing Dwight like a shrouded Emperor Palpatine and making John Krasinski step into Steve Carell's shoes for a couple of great punchlines."{{cite web|last=Adams|first=Erik|title='Halloween'/'The Fight' {{!}} The Office|url=https://www.avclub.com/the-office-classic-halloween-the-fight-1798177326|work=The A.V. Club|publisher=The Onion|access-date=July 10, 2013|date=July 10, 2013}}

The episode received mostly positive reviews from television critics. Michael Sciannamea of TV Squad gave the episode a relatively positive review and noted that he "could certainly relate to [the] episode." Sciannamea also said that "great moment" in the episode was when "Michael tells Creed, who is dressed as a vampire, that he can spread his wings and fly to wherever he wants."{{cite web |url=http://www.tvsquad.com/2005/10/18/the-office-halloween/ |title=The Office: "Halloween" |access-date=August 12, 2008 |last=Sciannamea |first=Michael |date=October 18, 2005 |publisher=TV Squad}} "Miss Alli" of Television Without Pity rated "Halloween" a B+.{{cite web|url=http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/show/the_office/halloween_3.php |title=The Office: "Halloween" |access-date=August 12, 2008 |last=Alli |first=Miss |date=October 18, 2005 |publisher=Television Without Pity |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421030053/http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/show/the_office/halloween_3.php |archive-date=April 21, 2008 }} Entertainment Weekly named Michael Scott's line, "I just hope that you and I can remain friends," one of "TV's funniest lines" for the week ending October 24, 2005.{{cite magazine|title=Sound Bites|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1123387,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070308101848/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1123387,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 8, 2007|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=June 13, 2012|date=October 28, 2005}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://archive.today/20130129160025/http://www.nbc.com/the-office/episode-guide/season-2/58601/halloween/episode-205/58875/ "Halloween"] at NBC.com
• {{IMDb episode|0664516|Halloween}}

{{The Office US Episodes}}

Category:Halloween television episodes

Category:The Office (American TV series) season 2 episodes

Category:2005 American television episodes

Category:Television episodes directed by Paul Feig

Category:Television episodes written by Greg Daniels