Performance Review (15 Nov. 2005)

It's performance review time at Dunder Mifflin and it is up to Michael Scott to evaluate his employees to determine if any pay increases or bonuses are necessary. Jan from corporate is also... See full summary »

Director:

Paul Feig

Writers:

Greg Daniels (developer), Larry Wilmore,

Stars:

Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Steve Carell	...	Michael Scott
Rainn Wilson	...	Dwight Schrute
John Krasinski	...	Jim Halpert
Jenna Fischer	...	Pam Beesly
B.J. Novak	...	Ryan Howard
Melora Hardin	...	Jan Levinson
Leslie David Baker	...	Stanley Hudson
Brian Baumgartner	...	Kevin Malone
Kate Flannery	...	Meredith Palmer
Mindy Kaling	...	Kelly Kapoor
Angela Kinsey	...	Angela Martin
Paul Lieberstein	...	Toby Flenderson
Oscar Nuñez	...	Oscar Martinez
Phyllis Smith	...	Phyllis Lapin
Creed Bratton	...	Creed Bratton

Storyline

It's performance review time at Dunder Mifflin and it is up to Michael Scott to evaluate his employees to determine if any pay increases or bonuses are necessary. Jan from corporate is also coming into review him and, since it will be his first time seeing her face-to-face since their encounter in the Chilli's parking lot, Michael begins asking his employees for their advice regarding his relationship with Jan. Meanwhile, a suggestion box is opened at the Scranton branch so that employees can express their suggestions in improving the branch, with disastrous results.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 November 2005 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Deedle-Dee Productions, Reveille Productions, NBC Universal Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

22 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

At the opening, on Dwight's desk is a Froggy 101 bumper sticker. That's the area's country music station, 101.3.

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Quotes

Pam Beesley: [trying to make Dwight think that it's Friday] Oh, my God, did you watch "The Apprentice" last night?
Jim Halpert: Of course. It's on every Thursday night, so how could I miss it?
Pam Beesley: Can you believe who Trump fired?
Jim Halpert: No, that was unbelievable.
Dwight Schrute: Who? Who was it? Who did he fire?
Pam Beesley: You didn't see it?
Dwight Schrute: No. I went out and got drunk with my laser tag team last night. Crap! Never go out on a Thursday night. What the hell was I thinking?
[Jim nods with satisfaction toward camera]

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Connections

References The Apprentice (2004)

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Soundtracks

"Wild Side"
Written by Tommy Lee and Nikki Sixx
Performed by Mötley Crüe
Courtesy of Motley/Beyond

User Reviews

Review on Performance Review

This is one of my favourite episodes from The Office's second season. In it, the bosses at the office are reviewing their employees' performances, while Michael is obsessed with his relationship with his boss Jan. The two had kissed, but Jan is not interested in continuing with this type of relationship with Michael and wants to stay professional. Meanwhile, Michael for the first time checks the suggestion box at the office looking for ideas.

This episode is funny partly because of its insensitivity, towards race (Michael asks a black employee if he learned something on the street), and towards the depressed ("That guy was weird.") The suggestion box scene is a highlight of the episode. Some of the humour comes from Jan, who's frustrated with Michael's obsession with their relationship, and she sees Michael handling the performance review for Dwight in an unsatisfactory way. This leads to the episode's priceless moment, where Dwight, Michael and Jan talk about what constitutes a "serious offense," again to Jan's frustration. Eventually this leads to Jan rejecting Michael while describing his personality in a nutshell, in another great scene from this episode.

As for the subplot, in which Jim and Pam trick Dwight into thinking a Thursday is a Friday, it's not particularly funny until the end when it ties in with the plot about the performance reviews and Dwight wanting a raise. That makes it worthwhile.