It’s hard to believe, but The Office—that is, the American version that transformed the humble world of paper sales into an all-time comedy masterpiece—is celebrating its 20th anniversary next week. That’s right, the first episode aired on NBC this month in 2005, introducing us to Michael Scott, Jim and Pam, Dwight Schrute, and the rest of the Dunder Mifflin crew.
From its humble beginnings as a remake of the British series, The Office quickly found its own unique voice, blending gritty comedy with heartfelt storytelling and giving us one of the most beloved sitcoms in television history. And as Brian Baumgartner (aka Kevin Malone) told me in 2020, in a piece I wrote about Brian’s new Office podcast, the show’s cast felt like they were onto something special right away:
“I will say, from the second episode we shot, Diversity Day, I remember specifically being very aware that what the show was doing was special and unique… I remember specifically as we were shooting day after day, almost exclusively in a conference room, that if people would give the show a chance, we had a chance to do something special. You know, that episode (Diversity Day) focused on race. And what we did, what we talked about, and the way we talked about real issues, hopefully in a humorous way, was something that really hadn’t been done since All In The Family.”
Fast forward to 2025, and The Office’s legacy is still going strong. In fact, a new version of the show is set to debut on Peacock later this year. The setting will shift to the offices of a newspaper that’s about to close, with at least one familiar face (Dunder Mifflin accountant Oscar Martinez) making an appearance.
But before we dive into the next chapter of The Office, let’s take a trip back in time. In honor of the show’s 20th anniversary, here are 12 of the best episodes ever, the ones that I’ve always thought best captured the magic, hilarity, and heart that made The Office such a phenomenon.
Most Memorable Office Episodes
The Dundies. The annual Dundie Awards at Chili’s brought us classic Office humor at its finest. Pam gets drunk, Michael tries (and fails) to become a beloved host, and we get our first glimpse of how great Jim and Pam could have been together. “Did the Dundies work out this year?” Michael casually recalls at the end. “Okay, let me see. I made Pam laugh so hard she fell off her chair and almost broke her neck. So I killed someone. Almost.”
Office Olympics. Jim and Pam host the office Olympics while Michael accidentally signs a lease on an apartment. Michael’s emotional reaction to his homemade “gold medal” is the height of Office charm.
Casino Night. The Season 2 finale was the perfect blend of comedy and heartbreak, with the long-awaited, tear-jerking moment of Jim confessing his feelings for Pam. Oh, and let’s not forget Michael’s two dates. “It’s also the only time Kevin wears glasses,” one Redditor noted. “So clearly he NEEDS glasses but never wore them for his job… as an accountant.”
Injury. Michael burns his foot on a George Foreman grill and expects the office to treat him like a war hero. Instead, Dwight gets a concussion while trying to help (giving us one of my favorite Dwight improv moments—when the hospital asks for his middle name and Dwight replies, “Dangerous”). A masterpiece of physical comedy and inoffensive behavior from Michael Scott.
Business school. Ryan invites Michael to speak to his business class, and the result is a speech that has inspired generations. “A good manager doesn’t fire people,” Michael later tells Ryan. “He hires people and inspires people. People, Ryan. And people never go bankrupt.” Meanwhile, Dwight chases a stray bat around the office, and Pam’s art exhibit gives us one of the sweetest Michael and Pam moments ever.
Beach Games. Michael treats a day at the beach as a weird Hunger Games-style competition to find a successor, while Pam finally finds her voice in a powerful, emotional moment that sets the stage for her and Jim’s future.
Work. Jim and Karen go to New York to interview for a job at a company, but the real emotional payoff comes when Jim unexpectedly returns to Scranton, giving us one of the most heartwarming moments in the show’s history.
for a dinner party that quickly spirals into absolute chaos — complete with a plasma TV the size of a laptop and loads of uncomfortable relationship drama.
Stress Relief. This two-part episode opens with the single greatest cold open in TV history: Dwight’s fire drill-gone-wrong, which sends Stanley into cardiac arrest (“No, no, no! You will not die, Stanley! Barack is president Stanley! … I’m gonna give him mouth to mouth.”). Throw in Michael’s bizarre CPR training session (hello, Stayin’ Alive), and you’ve got an all-time classic.
Niagara: Parts 1 and 2. Jim and Pam’s wedding was always going to be emotional, but the unexpected dance sequence, the boat ceremony, and Kevin’s tissue-box shoes make this one of the most joyous and hilarious Office episodes ever. It reminds us that even in the most special of moments, life is messy, unpredictable, and full of surprises.
The NBC classic still reigns supreme
Two decades later, The Office remains as hilarious and quotable as ever. Whether you’ve watched it once or a dozen times (let’s be real, it’s more like a dozen), these episodes remind us why we fell in love with Dunder Mifflin in the first place. And with a new Office on the way, the legacy is still growing.
