Scranton Slam Dunk: Analyzing the Office's Basketball Episode Field Guide - S1E5

[@juliakay6204]

I have to admit Stanley’s ridiculous dribbling always makes me laugh.

[@Mizweetie]

This is my favorite episode of the entire series. Why? Michael at his most cringy, delusional best. The way he wants so desperately to be respected by the warehouse guys, imitating them with his so called dancing. The realness of the actual game; these are regular folks; you can tell who played in school; who just played in gym class; who doesn't want to be there. The boredom of the people on the sidelines; just there to wait out the work clock so they can go home. Michael's bigoted opinions of the potential player's ability. Michael's disgusted reaction to Phyllis saying she would cheer(she was actually a cheerleader in her day). Stanley dribbling the way I saw kids do it in the third grade. The warehouse looked real. The actors of the office look like regular, every day people. It's perfection. I loved The Office from the beginning and can't understand why more people don't like the first season. Maybe it's because Americans don't like comedies that move like real life.

[@yoinkmeister6984]

I totally agree, the first season is still my favorite by far. The comedy in the first season actually felt like a satire of a real office, whereas the latter seasons devolve into shock humor and characters that would never exist in real life. The first season is genius because most of the humor is rooted in the awkwardness that comes from people working in an office together. But as the show goes on, it feels like the humor is too reliant on having wacky characters do wacky things, and because of that the show becomes a lot less relatable to the audience over time. Almost everyone can relate to an awkward basketball game, but almost everything that happens season Five and beyond is too absurd for anyone to relate to it.

[@jchralos]

I completely agree. I'd much rather watch cringy Michael than "the world's best boss" Michael. He's a character you love to hate. I don't think I would've been such a huge fan of this show if I started watching it in the later seasons when it became less relatable. I feel that the writers had to diverge too much from the dry humor it originally had in order to appease the newer fans.

[@lyf3warrior194]

Basketball was an important episode for the audience. Solidifying everyone wanting jim and Pam to get together

[@djCatScanRL]

🙄 smh Speak for yourself 🏀

[@tamed4171]

I really liked the deleted scenes where they show that literally everyone else in the office is good at basketball

[@whodat879]

Personaly this is probably one of my favorite episodes in the whole show

[@XZAVIER-DAA-GOD]

Same

[@nileshillesinghe5594]

Defenetly the best out of the early stages of the office but I’m pretty biased because I play basketball

[@7adiyo]

It just seems one of the most likeliest scenarios in real life which makes the comedy relatable in this episode. You can imagine one of the people in the office talking about this as a funny anecdote at a party!

[@dalton5228]

This is one of my favorites because of the jokes for sure 🤣 Stanley dribbling, micheal being really bad, the tension between Jim and Roy. Micheals racism, Kevin making all the shots at the end. I love this one I come back to it all the time.

[@banosmountainbikingcycling5564]

Your content never fails to disappoint, the in depth analysis and personal observations always make the videos interesting and great to watch.

[@Auria51]

whu???

[@spoonsmcgee]

That one shot of Michael YEETING the ball gets me every time

[@rubberlover666]

This is definitely one of the better early season episodes. I think because it’s a bottle episode for the most part where all the characters uh, eccentricities, are on display. You don’t need to have seen the previous episodes to understand what’s happening in Basketball. There’s genuine stakes and the writers did a good job of building the tension between warehouse and office.

[@abderrahmanedif]

Stanley dribbling at 8:15 on top of the parade bus

[@ozzysspace]

This episode is definitely one of my favourites, but not my absolute favourite of all time. I think I like it because it portrays Michael as a realistically ignorany tryhard that's the basis for his redemption and improvement as a person later down the line. You can see how someone like this being humbled and understood could create the Michael Scott we get for most of the series. He tries his best to spend time with his colleagues, get them to like him and make them feel special, and only when he's more honest and they genuinely reciprocate does Michael become a more likable person. Plus this episode absolutely nails the 'bad sport' archetype with Michael and it's hilarious

[@brianj4090]

One of the first trivia questions i knew right away pretty sure he calls him ‘larry legend’ or larry bird

[@jeremyloomis521]

So basically this boils down to “I don’t like this and I don’t understand how anyone could like this.”

[@s.m.mannix8582]

The way Leslie David Baker dribbles the ball is so perfectly on point it makes the whole episode.

[@thebigblippity5221]

Kevin’s form and follow through is spectacular

[@Dan55888]

Roy is written to be disliked and he is dislikable, I dunno why people keep defending him or somehow make Pam the villian in everything.

[@bje8277]

“Larry Bird...Larry Legend...” “Yeah, he’s pretty good”

[@BTHDIzzavy]

If this episode was a kid they could be driving right now.

[@joshcampelo]

Dude?!! Your editing was on fire for this episode. I had more fun watching this review than I ever did watching basketball (the sport, also). By the way, Gladiator is one of my favorite movies. So cheers.

[@nathanmills9298]

This is my favorite episode in season one. I think that a basketball game is the perfect setting for the kind of humor in season one. The humor is really cynical and sometimes hard to watch because of how terrible Michael is, which is his intended purpose in season one. I think the basketball game adds a levity where that humor can be present without being too heavy. Just my opinion, definitely not the best episode in she show. I think this episode is a lot like Beach Games, both are centered around a competition, but the roles of Pam and Jim are switched, where Pam wants Jim but he’s with someone else. Michael, instead of making an assumption about the people in the office, is working to evaluate their character. Some people are super into it, some people are just sitting on the sidelines. They are like the same episode but one is in a parallel world.

[@xanderfoley6641]

My personal favorite season 1 episode

[@XZAVIER-DAA-GOD]

Same

[@whodat879]

My second favorite behind diversity day

[@dominicserrano8471]

okay but why are the warehouse and the office betting on who has to come in, were the office workers supposed to to their regular work and the warehouse work and vise versa?

[@caseym8179]

I like this episode because it doesn’t really on slapstick humor, I could really see all these scenarios happening in real life. This is an incredibly relatable episode. This episode also really leans into the awkwardness and I always appreciated that humor that seemed to be lost in the later seasons.

[@XZAVIER-DAA-GOD]

It's one of my favorite episodes in the entire show but I don't know if it's at the #1 spot yet

[@DontLikeReeboks93]

Definitively the best of Season 1, and I think it could’ve fit in the best of seasons had the characters been more seasoned in their roles as they are by S2

[@dakotabennington6052]

I love this channel. I’ve been binging 2 weeks straight. My one comment…why in the deeper meaning section when you have the audio clip of Kevin asking “what does the bean mean” do you also include some of oscars audio at the end. I know it’s super obnoxious that I’m pointing this out but I feel like it would make more sense just to cut out the “would someone please explain it to Kevin” portion. I know…I’m weird.

[@Mulverine]

No I love this comment! I tried it a lot of ways and the best/most comedic way was fading out on Oscar’s comment. He responds so quickly to Kevin that there was a slight overlap and cutting it was too abrupt.

[@dakotabennington6052]

@@Mulverine I figured that had to be the case! Love the content man. Keep up the great work.

[@floridastanley2796]

roy calls jim larry bird

[@afroturtle989]

Larry Bird, Larry legend

[@disableddanny96]

I love how you say to overthink it 😂 I overthink everything

[@neilgovender7450]

I watched this review now and I know why you don't get it. You don't like basketball and sports in general. People love sports in general and watchin their favourite characters play it is awesome. Look at the success of Ted Lasso.

[@Mulverine]

That’s a solid idea but I watch sports weekly and loved Ted Lasso! ;) But in fairness I don’t love basketball.

[@Sherkel]

I think I speak for most Office fans and comedy fans in general when I say I don't care about quality writing and the sort, just how the result gels with me, like I said on the Diversity Day episode. If you ask those who liked this episode why they did, you probably won't get an analytical answer that satisfies you. The deeper processes and meanings definitely play into an episode's appeal, but not in a way I have the desire to reverse-engineer. That's probably why I enjoy these field guides so much, because I personally couldn't imagine going into this kind of depth in this way!

[@parkerfigueroa6682]

This is one of my favorite episodes purely because of the way pam looks at him during the game

[@andrewdorie4010]

I like the philosophical lecture on the futility of professional sports fandom in a KZbin review of an episode of The Office.

[@Mr_Failure-101]

Larry bird . Larry legend

[@Mibbitmaker]

It's not one of my favorites. It's not like a Scott's Tots or anything, but an episode focusing on playing a sporting event is too much of a distraction from more typical Office stuff for me. My favorite season 1 episodes are Health Care and The Alliance.

[@Leesaloves]

I have rewatched this episode too many time . Roy calls Jim Larry Byrd.

[@XZAVIER-DAA-GOD]

I didn't have to rewacth it at all to know that

[@Leesaloves]

@@XZAVIER-DAA-GOD I didn't rewatch it to know the answer. I've just watched the episode too many times. How could I have rewatched it at all? The video was just posted?

[@XZAVIER-DAA-GOD]

@@Leesaloves I didn't say you had to rewacth the ep for video I meant to know in general

[@Leesaloves]

@@XZAVIER-DAA-GOD ok...btw....I didn't like this episode before but since The Office ended, I love them all.

[@aidanwotherspoon905]

As soon as you started talking about the overly positive reception of this episode, I knew you were gonna have a “but” addendum. I was waiting with bated breath for the clip of Erin saying “I don’t get it!”

[@beckhamsreviews3733]

When are you going to do a the office field guide

[@TheNosepose]

Your videos is top notch, I love it. Why this episode is among my favorite is hard to answer to for me, but I think i like the theme. Other episodes that i really enjoy are for example "Diversity day" and "The convict", as well as "Boys and Girls" because they touch on similar themes. So I guess that I like when the office explores race and class issues more than I like just this episode specifically.

[@shirtsarfati297]

Dwight's anime girl shirt look was so ahead of its time

[@damonpitts889]

To me this will always be a favourite because it’s one of the funniest episodes IMO. I guess the humour in this one doesn’t hit for you as hard but it makes me die laughing every time.

[@T59-j7k]

Called him Larry Bird

[@_thomas1031]

Best way to start this video was with that clip, Mate🤣🙌🙌🙌

[@disableddanny96]

I love editing but I can imagine it would be just so much 😂

[@troyempey3700]

I think the level of love for this episode, for me, is in relation to how much a fan of Jim I am. This episode is where he started to move with some direction. The episode before with the confrontation and realizing Dwight doesn’t mess around..

[@dx5741]

The most important thing that got me into the office is how realistic and relatable it is and i find that in this episode. I relate to Michael in this episode in how he incompetent he is in sport (except Hockey ofc) and I relate to that so much and i like seeing somebody else be like that i don't know i feel comfortable, also it felt like i was in the audience and i felt the tension between the players and i felt that at my core. I also liked how unintentionally offensive he can be sometimes and that's what makes it funny, even if he's unlikable i still find that relatable. You know unlike most people i didn't get into the second season for a long time because i liked the 1st season so much and felt comfortable that it took me long time to get into the second season. Ofc I got a glimpse of the 2nd season and i kinda hated it because i don't know i felt like the characters changed and that's part of the reason. I appreciated so much the realistic part in the 1st season and how the boss can be jerk and how he can still steal the show.

[@scottgreenboy]

10/10 episode

[@XZAVIER-DAA-GOD]

That was me in high school watching all the youtubers I'm sub to and not doing my home work

[@turboteabag08]

Ok I give up... who's that guy with the tie in that thumbnail?

[@Mulverine]

It's Devon...isn't it?! The guy Michael fires in S2.

[@ryanspurlock9516]

This is also my favorite episode of the entire series.

[@austingreen1274]

The answer is more than good!!

[@J7041-u7m]

I think it's about relatability. Like you mentioned, anyone who has played sports before has played with someone like Michael in this episode. So, if you ask someone to pick their favorite episode from S1, this is the episode people will recall most easily.

[@djCatScanRL]

This ep. sealed the deal for me to become an Office fan. As Michael said in the pilot, he’s a Friend First. & as you eluded to, team Sports is a great distraction from the drudgery of everyday work, *Especially* when playing with friends. ‘Basketball’ also shows the hodgepodge of people in The Office, rather than a specific Plot to one or a couple of characters. &, it expands down to the warehouse, where we see even More comedy through the smaller roles. So, this ep. packs a Lot of story & characterization in a paltry ~22min. Even funnier when ya realize the bulk of the episode was improvised! imo a great catalyst to get a borderline viewer onboard for the entirety of the Series. I’d say 4.5/5, for the rare combo of Improv, Scripted, And Physical comedy! (Whereas, the short season as a Whole would get 2.5 or 3/5) 🏀

[@alexmammoth2916]

I don't think this is the best episode but I do like it. It feels like the turning point switch from David Brent to Michael. It's a bit of both which gives it a unique feel

[@ESJonas]

This episode has -the most terrible amazing cringe. -romance -fear of downsizing -competition -ego crushing -tension between the two parts of the company Not number 1 for me but it is one of the best for sure. The problem is the cringe. Many people aren't fan's. I loved season 1 and when it changed into a slapstick cartoon it made me sad. The show kept on a good level, but I wanted to see more like season 1.

[@domeico789]

This is the episode that got me hooked. It is just so freaking funny. Especially when you watch it the first time.

[@yemmyrox5469]

Larry Legend!!!

[@johnnyc0882]

Was the basketball legend Larry Bird?

[@austinwilwayco]

This is a good episode. By far the best of season 1. This, however, is not a top 10 episode of the series for me as there are episodes in seasons 2-7 which are much funnier and stronger plotwise. This is an important episode because it is memorable. Even the writers themselves remembered it well. This episode shows iconic moments and character motivations that will drive the rest of the series. This episode proved that the plot was going somewhere and this show wouldn't be a flavor of the week. I give Basketball a 4/5 for being unique and breaking away from the mold of the British Office

[@Jamessmith-xk3fh]

I think it's funny that Michael picks Stanley for his team because he's black and thinks black people are good at basketball ball but the person he thought was terrible ended up not playing but showed how good they were after people left

[@luvstatus1]

for sure on the top 10 episodes. hard to pick one or the other. it might be because i love basketball and played it for years. i can relate to all the different types of players.

[@pietrocarvalho3879]

I love this episode! I just hated the way that the show humanised Michael when all that I loved on the first season was hating everything on Michael

[@vivacolombiagames]

Basketball is a season one episode with season 2/3 energy. The basketball game itself is very funny and overall it's the best episode of season 1 in my opinion.

[@failurefiend]

Your insistence that sports are just distractions is super weird. They're entertainment. If you yourself watch sports solely to distract yourself thats fine, but most people watch them because it's something they enjoy doing in their free time. Its called a passtime because it helps pass the time in an enjoyable way when you dont have other stuff going on. Its not called a wastetime

[@Mulverine]

This popped up as I’m getting ready to watch the Cards play after an insanely long weekend of work and getting ready for another. Not sure my specific word choice in this vid, but everything you just explained about sports is what I’d consider under the definition of ‘distraction’. I’m distracting myself tonight from everything else.

[@failurefiend]

@@Mulverine i love your videos, it just came off as a little condescending to say that people watch sports as a "distraction from life". Most people who watch sports watch it because its an enjoyable part of life for them, rather than a distraction from it. Seriously though i love your videos. I'm sure we'd all enjoy a parks and rec field guide if thats your kinda jam

[@Mulverine]

R.I.P. Lil Sebastian

[@kdburner7356]

@@failurefiend better get use to it😂 the more i watch this dude the more his weird little snarky comments annoy me😅

[@pendragon2012]

I like this one! Mostly I like that it's one of the ones where Michael gets owned through the end. He could have had a good team but he ignored the talented players (with maybe the exception of Jim) because they didn't fit his preconceived notion and it gives the lie to his oft-touted statement that he somehow has a knack for assembling awesome teams whether for work or basketball. I'm glad HE has to eat crow.

[@derekbos4404]

Some of the metaphors in this ep are great, to me tho .. not enough time spent in u know .. The Office. I loved how Michael just wanted to win even tho it didn't matter at all. Been there.

[@tbh1444]

I thought you quit youtube.

[@Jsoberlak]

8:15 Stanley on the bus

[@dx5741]

Some people like that it has dark humor sometimes and uncomfortable stressing scenes which is the idea so if you didn't like it that's your thing.

[@luvstatus1]

One of my top favorite!!!

[@Jamessmith-xk3fh]

Btw I am in the minority but I actually like the seasons after Steve Corelle left the show

[@Alex-ro5of]

Okey please if you are reading this, go do your homework, be responsible. I know you can, I believe in you!

[@curtisleblanc5897]

0:13 FOUND IT!

[@vaultman29]

Oh, I see, you didn't start watching until season 3. Ok, yes, then I can see how your view of season 1 is low. And. the reason why you don't understand why people like this episode more, is probably related to your comment that sports are just a distraction. Sports are just a distraction and the celebrations. Hmmm, never heard that view.

[@susan4273]

why does he do them out of order?

[@XZAVIER-DAA-GOD]

He already did season 1

[@salbro5985]

@@XZAVIER-DAA-GOD But not this episode.

[@XZAVIER-DAA-GOD]

@@salbro5985 yeah he did

[@salbro5985]

@@XZAVIER-DAA-GODIt wasn't in the season 1 playlist (until this upload).

[@XZAVIER-DAA-GOD]

@@salbro5985 the old season one form like maybe 2 years ago

[@01Zeldagirl_]

I feel like Basketball sets the stage for the kind of humor/situations we'll see in the rest of the series, and starts to give the series its own legs apart from the UK version. I'd say its a good episode of the Office, but not great. It feels like the writers were just starting to get their sea legs and understand how to write for these characters. It might not be the best episode, but I think it's important for the series as a whole

[@summermorris4649]

Stanley at 8:14

[@XZAVIER-DAA-GOD]

Larry Bird

[@fbfields984]

My favorite episode.

[@whokilledanthony1126]

gif at 8:15

[@krustykangaroo2424]

Larry bird the Celtic!

[@TAJMofficial]

8:14

[@n1uk214]

Larry bird

[@gh0rochi363]

Maybe they just think it’s funny

[@shmule1655]

mikhl scot

[@carissamurphy7288]

👩❤🧑

[@tfphonechick]

🦊👜☕😍😒

[@nealabbott6520]

this is the last video of yours that i watch. how you can reduce sports to showing off and causing a distraction tells me you didn't play sports. and you general analysis is unnecessarily erudite, like you're showing off and trying to seem clever

[@Mulverine]

I played sports (basketball, baseball, and football [with a little peewee soccer sprinkled in there]) from little leagues up through high school. Not to brag, but I have some consolation medals in my parent’s stuff if you’d like some evidence.

[@feribaddie]

He wasn’t reducing them to that, he was explaining why they’re popular with those two things being some of the driving factors.

[@salbro5985]

Settle down, jocko...

[@danobelelement7828]

Larry bird

[@vandieselcuuuz]

Larry bird