Diversity Day (The Office)
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"Diversity Day" is the second episode of the first season of the American version of The Office . Written by B.J. Novak and directed by Ken Kwapis, it first aired in the United States on March 29, 2005, on NBC. The episode guest stars Office consulting producer Larry Wilmore as Mr. Brown, the corporate consultant sent by Dunder Mifflin in response to a racially derogative impersonation made by Michael. In an attempt to upstage Mr. Brown, Michael decides to create his own racial tolerance seminar. During one of Michael's impersonations, a racial expletive spoken by Michael had to be censored.[1]
Plot
Michael's controversial imitation of Chris Rock's "Niggas vs. Black People" forces the Dunder Mifflin Scranton staff to be subjected to a racial diversity seminar led by Mr. Brown. Michael refuses to allow Brown to control the seminar, instead attempting to assist him in teaching, much to Brown's chagrin. However, when confidentially informed by Brown that the seminar wasn't meant for the staff, but instead only for Michael, he decides to create his own seminar.
Under the name Diversity Tomorrow, Michael attempts to work out the staff's racial issues in his own way. To try to connect with his staff, Michael informs them of his heritage, stating that he is 2/15 Native American, and to inform the staff about racism, he assigns each staff member an index card with a different race on it, causing tempers to slowly simmer until they finally snap.
In a separate plot line throughout the episode, Jim Halpert desperately tries to close on an important annual sale that makes up about 25% of his commission. In the midst of the chaos of the day, it is Dwight Schrute who rings up the sale for himself. Nevertheless, when Pam falls asleep on Jim's shoulder at the end of the meeting, he concludes that it was "not a bad day."
Production
Wilmore, who plays the sensitivity trainer Mr. Brown, is a writer for the show. At the table-read for this episode, they had not cast the part yet and Daniels had Wilmore read for the role to fill in. After the read, Daniels thought he was perfect for the role.[2] However, because of stipulations with the Screen Actors Guild, producers still had to have Wilmore formally audition with other actors for the role.[3] Also, producer Greg Daniels was not sure where to use Mindy Kaling on screen in the series until the point came in this episode's script when Michael needed to be slapped by a minority. "Since then, I've been on the show," Kaling says. Her character in this episode, however, is far from the bubbly chatty character that Kelly later becomes.[4][5]
The second episode of the series was the first to feature predominantly original writing. The Pilot contained many jokes from the British series pilot.[6]
Reception
While the Pilot episode garnered generally good reviews and over eleven million viewers[7], the second episode lost over half its viewing audience from the previous episode.[8][9] Entertainment Weekly gave the episode positive reviews, stating that "And when it goes broad, it gives us the future Diversity Day episode. Think of the toss-off racism of the original, plopped into a PC-gone-wrong showcase that might be entitled The Accidental Bigot. As when the African-American diversity trainer introduces himself as Mr. Brown, and Scott assures him, "I will not call you that.""[10] Ricky Gervais, who was the lead in the British series, stated that, in comparison to the British version, "It is as good. I love the fact that, apart from the first one, the scripts are all original. You've gone back to the blueprint of what the characters are and you've started from there, as opposed to copying anything. To me it was like watching something I had nothing to do with, and it would be my new favorite sitcom. I purposefully had no involvement. It should be made for Americans by Americans."[11] The episode was nominated for the 2006 Writers Guild of America Television and Radio Awards.[12]
References
- ^ Daniels, Greg (Executive Producer). 2005. "Diversity Day" [Commentary track], The Office Season One (US/NBC Version) [DVD], Los Angeles, CA: Universal.
- ^ Carell, Steve (Actor). 2005. "Diversity Day" [Commentary track], The Office Season One (US/NBC Version) [DVD], Los Angeles, CA: Universal.
- ^ Daniels, Greg (Producer). 2005. "Diversity Day" [Commentary track], The Office Season One (US/NBC Version) [DVD], Los Angeles, CA: Universal.
- ^ Wolk, Josh. "The Drudge Report: A Visit With 7 More 'Office' Mates." Entertainment Weekly February 24, 2006: 24-25.
- ^ "'Office' promotions pay off in a big way", Chicago Tribune
- ^ It's not as warped as the original, but The Office is painfully funny The Boston Globe, retrieved February 11, 2008
- ^ Strong showing for Office remake BBC News, retrieved February 11, 2008
- ^ Stunning tumble for NBC's 'The Office' Media Life, retrieved February 11, 2008
- ^ US remake of The Office loses half its audience Media Guardian, retrieved February 11, 2008
- ^ The Office Entertainment Weekly, retrieved February 11, 2008
- ^ Ricky Gervais Defends American Office Celebrity Spider, retrieved February 11 ,2008
- ^ 2006 Writers Guild Awards Television and Radio Nominees Announced Writers Guild of America, retrieved February 12, 2008
External links
- "Diversity Day" at NBC.com
- The Office Relives a Classic "Day" Jenna Fischer's blog on TVGuide.com
- "Diversity Day" at IMDB.com