Here’s a by-the-numbers breakdown of some key milestones hit by Michael Scott and his Dunder Mifflin crew.
In 2022, Psychology Today published an article with the headline “The Science Behind Why We Love The Office.” After citing an anthropological survey from hunter-gatherer cultures from Southeast Asian and the nomadic Baka people from the Central African Republic, the PhD-accredited author rationed that the show works because we care about the people in it, as “most oral stories focus on human content.”
That’s what she said.
The Office also happens to be sublimely funny. It was funny when NBC quietly dropped it on the air for a six-episode tryout run starting on March 24, 2005. It was funny when it became a bona fide cult and critical hit in its second season, capping its turnaround by winning the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series. And it was funny a decade later when its reruns became massively popular on Netflix.
Now the single-camera, mockumentary-style show about the life and times inside the nondescript Dunder Mifflin paper company in Scranton, Pennsylvania — an American version of the BBC hit co-created, written and starring Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant and adapted by Greg Daniels — remains an ultra-notable and ultra-quotable cultural phenomenon spanning generations.
The “World’s Best Boss” mug still sells on the NBC store; Billie Eilish sampled the show in a song on her Grammy-winning 2019 album; Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey parlayed their real-life friendship into a successful episodic podcast, “The Office Ladies.” Plus, charming resident prankster Jim Halpert was named People’s 2024 Sexiest Man Alive! OK, fine, actor John Krasinski was given the title; but you just know those editors are Office devotees.
But beyond the show’s steady stream of laughs, The Office’s enduring popularity can be attributed to its masterful understanding of relationships. Every time we queue up an episode, we know that blundering boss Michael Scott (Steve Carell) just wants to do the right thing and love him for it; we sympathize with his lieutenant Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson), who falls for Jim’s pranks every single time and strikes up a rivalry with Andy Bernard (Ed Helms); we root for and Jim and Pam (Fischer) as they dance around each other for years before finally coupling up. (Let’s just repress those last few episodes when the two were on the verge of separating.)
Ryan the intern (B.J. Novak). Kelly the gossip (Mindy Kaling). Creed (Creed Batton) and Oscar (Oscar Nunez) and Stanley (Leslie David Baker) and Angela (Angela Kinsey) and Meredith (Kate Flannery) and Phyllis (Phyllis Smith). They look and behave just like any coworkers in any office with bad overhead lighting. It’s easy to imagine all of them still typing away at their desks, trying to pass the time from the drudgery. After all, people evolved during the eight-year run of The Office. But nothing really changed.
Here a “By the Numbers” statistical salute to The Office’s 20 years of greatness. Who says only the first anniversary is traditionally devoted to paper?!
0: Emmys won by Steve Carell during his 2005-11 run. (He was nominated six times as an actor and four times as a producer).
2/15: Percentage of Native American that Michael Scott claims to have in his heritage, per the classic first season episode “Diversity Day.”
2: Appearances by Ricky Gervais’ paper salesman David Brent (“The Seminar” and “Search Committee,” both from Season 7)
5: Dunder Mifflin staffers from the Stamford, Connecticut, branch sent over to Scranton in Season 3’s “The Merger.” Only one — Ed Helms’ Andy Bernard — stayed on through the years.
7: Cast members who also directed at least one episode (Steve Carell, John Krasinski, Rainn Wilson, Ed Helms, B.J. Novak, Mindy Kaling and Brian Baumgartner).
11: Eager people, played by the likes of Jim Carrey, Ray Romano and Warren Buffett, who interviewed for Michael’s regional manager job in Season 7’s “Search Committee” two-part finale.
40: Number of times, per Rolling Stone, a character uttered Michael’s go-to sexual punchline joke, “That’s what she said.”
42: Total Emmy nominations between 2006 and 2013. It won 5, including Outstanding Comedy Series in 2006.
27: Episodes that aired before Jim and Pam first kissed (in Season 2’s “Casino Night.”) However, they didn’t start dating until Season 4. By the series’ end, they had a daughter.
102: Viewership ranking, out of 156 broadcast TV shows, during its initial 2005 season. It lost 57 percent of its audience following the series premiere.
201: Episodes aired in total during its 2005-13 run.
499: Amount in dollars that Melora Hardin, who played Michael’s vexing on-and-off again love interest, Jan, charges for a personal message on Cameo. (FYI, Brian Baumgartner charges $195).
725: Numerical address of the Scranton branch of the Dunder Mifflin offices on Slough Avenue. It’s a nod to the UK version, set in Slough, England.
9.3 million: Average viewership during its ratings peak of Season 5. It attracted 4.9 million in the 18-49 demographic.
22.9 million: Viewers who watched Season 5’s “Stress Relief” following the Super Bowl in 2009, making it the show’s top-rated episode.
57.1 billion: Minutes of viewership accumulated by The Office on Netflix in 2020. It was a record until Suits beat it in 2023.
