There is no question that The Office is one of the greatest American television shows ever made. The story follows office workers at a failing paper company called Dunder Mifflin in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and it was filmed in documentary style. It brought comedy to the mundane routine of the workplace and introduced the world to several memorable characters. The cast was led by the brilliant Steve Carrell who famously played Michael Scott, the inappropriate yet caring boss of the Scranton branch. The series is still watched religiously to this day by audiences for both pleasure and comfort.
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The Office first aired on NBC in 2005 and continued for nine hilarious seasons. It was based on a BBC series that Ricky Gervais co-created and starred in. Throughout its run, The Office won several awards, including Golden Globes and Emmys, and a reboot series is currently in the works. One of the greatest parts of the show was the hilarious cold opens that set up every episode. With 201 cold opens in total, some of them managed to stand out more than others. So, this is a list of the best The Office cold opens, ranked.
Update January 21, 2024: The Office is still a beloved series, and with talks about a possible continuation in the works, this article has been updated with more great cold opens from the iconic series.
The Office (U.S.)
- Release Date
- 2005-00-00
- Cast
- Steve Carell , Jenna Fischer , John Krasinski , Ellie Kemper , Rainn Wilson , Angela Kinsey , Melora Hardin , Rashida Jones , Mindy Kaling , Creed Bratton , B.J. Novak , Ed Helms , Brian Baumgartner
- Seasons
- 9
10 Kevin the Receptionist — “Dream Team”
Following the events of the previous episode, which saw Michael dramatically quit his job at Dunder Mifflin to start his own paper company, taking Pam (Jenna Fischer) with him, the company is left without a receptionist. Consequently, the new boss, Charles Miner (Idris Elba), assigns the position to incompetent office baffoon, Kevin Malone (Brian Baumgartner). At this point, Miner knows very little about the abilities of his workers, but it was no surprise to viewers that Kevin was terrible at the job.
What Makes It Great
From needing prompting by Jim to answer the phone to having to read a cue card to greet the person at the other end of the line to his characteristic monotone delivery, Kevin instantly shows that he is not cut out to be a receptionist, which is hilarious to watch. The whole thing gets even funnier when Kevin attempts to transfer a call to Andy (Ed Helms), only to end up putting it through to everyone else in the office in turn. The call does finally reach its intended person, right before the opening ends with the unexpected and darkly comic revelation that Andy’s maid has died. Genius stuff.
9 Dwight’s Watermelon Baby — “Baby Shower”
The relationship between Michael and his superior, Jan Levinson (Melora Hardin), had several ups and downs throughout the series. They couldn’t be more wrong for one another and, eventually, they had to call it quits. After Michael finds out that Jan is pregnant, he decides to throw her a baby shower, even though he knows the child isn’t his. To prepare for his delusional idea of fatherhood, he practices a baby delivery with Dwight (Rainn Wilson) and a slippery watermelon, only to have it break into pieces.
What Makes It Great
One thing’s for certain: when Michael ropes Dwight into one of his wacky plans, Dwight is going to commit. And this is no exception. With a watermelon strapped to him under an apron, Dwight delivers a thorough, if not entirely realistic, portrayal of a pregnant mother. Things ramp up a notch when, in order to simulate giving birth, Dwight lies on Michael’s desk with his legs apart, whaling in pain. It’s so over-the-top and ridiculous that it’s hard not to laugh. Add to that Jim’s (John Krasinski) sarcastic yet accurate diagram of Michael’s current situation, and you have a hilarious and truly memorable cold open to the show.
8 Faxes From Future Dwight — “Branch Closing”
Jim was known for playing pranks on Dwight throughout the series. Even after transferring to the Stamford branch, Jim didn’t let the distance between him and Dwight get in the way of his hijinks. One of the most epic practical jokes he ever got away with was seen in the opening of the season three episode, “Branch Closing”, where Jim decides to send faxes to Dwight from Dwight’s future self. Dwight being Dwight, he fully believes the warnings on the faxes to be real, which results in him carrying out false tasks set by his “future self”, including preventing Stanley from drinking the supposedly poisoned coffee.
What Makes It Great
The fractured relationship between Jim and Dwight was one of the best things about The Office, and this cold open is a good example of the lengths Jim was prepared to go to in order to get one over on his former colleague. The evil plan itself is also perfectly pitched; of course Dwight would believe that, at some point in the future, he will begin sending faxes to his past self in order to warn him of dangers. The sequence is a clever bit of writing from writers who, by this point, knew their characters like the back of their own hands. It also helps that its very funny.
7 Asian Jim — “Andy’s Ancestry”
The last couple of seasons of the show are generally considered to be weaker than what came before. However, as the cold open to the season nine episode “Andy’s Ancestry” proves, the later years still had some great moments. Another example of Jim playing a prank on Dwight, the scene revolves around a an Asian man (played by Randall Park) taking Jim’s seat in the office and acting as though he is the real Jim. When Dwight questions the fact that Jim isn’t Asian, the substitute Jim congratulates him on his ability to not see race. It is revealed to the viewer that the man is an actor friend of Jim and Pam’s named Steve, who they roped in to play a prank on Dwight while Jim is at the dentist. Dwight, however, doesn’t know this and continues to test the man by asking him things only Jim would know. Needless to say, Steve has all the answers. Pam even gets involved by greeting “Jim” with a kiss, and the whole sequence ends with Dwight holding a family photo of Pam, Asian Jim, and their two mixed-race children, much to Dwight’s horror and confusion.
What Makes It Great
Like others on this list, what makes the cold open to “Andy’s Ancestry” work is both the elaborate nature of the prank, and how easily Dwight becomes wound up by it. The way Dwight challenges the faux Jim, thinking he has caught him out with his clever questions, only for the impostor to fire back with correct answers, is incredibly pleasing to watch. As is Randall Park’s performance, with the actor committing to the bit and making a strangely convincing Jim. It’s a clever and well-thought-through opening vignette that proves that, even in the last few seasons, a lot of humor could still be found in Jim’s pranks on Dwight.
6 Jim Dresses As Dwight — “Product Recall”
Another example of Jim pranking Dwight with hilarious results can be found in the cold open of the season three episode, “Product Recall”. In the sequence, Jim arrives at the office dressed as Dwight, complete with his signature glasses, hair, and mustard-colored shirt. Jim even does his best Dwight impression. Unsurprisingly, Dwight is not amused by Jim’s antics, and sternly tells his colleague that “identity theft is not a joke”. The scene is paid off at the end of the episode, when Dwight gets his revenge by dressing up as Jim, only his attempt is far from accurate.
What Makes It Great
A big part of why this cold open stands out over others is down to John Krasinski’s genuinely good impersonation of Dwight. Impressively, he manages to nail his walk, mannerisms, and voice, and in so doing, makes the whole scene so joyous to watch. If Kransinski’s impression had been half as good, the scene wouldn’t have worked anywhere near as well. It’s all made even funnier by Dwight’s anger and incredulity, and his inability to see the humor in the situation.
5 Kevin’s Famous Chili — “Casual Friday”
Despite the show coming to an end over a decade ago, the cold opening involving Kevin’s famous chili is still talked about to this day. The relatively short sequence sees Kevin carrying a large pot of homemade chili from the Dunder Mifflin parking lot up to the office while he also explains to the camera the history and work that goes into making it. However, upon reaching the office, Kevin spills the entire pot of chili all over the floor. In a panic, he haplessly attempts to get all the chili back into the pot using whatever resources are to hand.
What Makes It Great
The Office wasn’t the first comedy show to utilize the mockumentary format, but it’s arguably the one that used it in the best and most creative ways. The sequence involving Kevin’s chili is a perfect example of this. As Kevin gleefully describes his intricate method of making the perfect chili, what the viewer sees onscreen is a chaotic scene of a man struggling, which creates a pleasing and incredibly funny juxtaposition. Furthermore, Baumgartner’s brilliantly physical slapstick comedy is what helps to make this cold open a favorite among fans and casual viewers alike.
“The Injury” episode showcases Michael’s need for love and affection. In the cold open, Michael calls the office in a panic, stating that he has badly injured himself. We soon find out that his injury is a result of him burning his foot on a George Foreman grill. Of course, the only person willing to help Michael is Dwight, who speeds off in his car only to crash it, giving him a concussion. Instead of staying home, Michael insists on coming to work to disrupt his employees all day.
What Makes It Great
A recurring element of Michael’s personality is his tendency to overreact and act like a drama queen, and here, that particular bad habit is on full display. The way he treats his own injury like it is something far worse than it actually is, and how we, as the viewer, slowly learn the true, trivial, and downright bizarre nature of his injury is both hilarious and excellently realized. On top of that, the way Michael explains the utterly ridiculous way the injury came about in such a matter-of-fact and serious manner only makes the whole sequence even sillier.
3 Roy attacks Jim — “The Negotiation”
Violence was rarely seen in The Office, although there was one exception. At the start of the season three episode, “The Negotiation,” Roy (David Denman), having discovered in the previous episode that Jim and Pam kissed, storms into the office to attack an unsuspecting Jim. Upon lunging at him, Roy finds himself being pepper-sprayed in the eyes by Dwight. In the interview that follows, Dwight explains that he has brought pepper spray to work every day for the last eight years, and, as he does so, the effects of the spray are clearly shown on his face.
What Makes It Great
The cold open here works because of its shock value. The first thing that’s shocking is the fact that Roy actually tries to beat up Jim in a work environment, with his anger and desire for revenge being played totally straight. The second shocking thing is that the blast of pepper spray seemingly comes from nowhere and that it is Dwight, of all people, who comes to Jim’s rescue. This is one of the rare instances in the show where one of Dwight’s strange habits actually pays off, and the whole sequence is a good summary of how the show manages to balance pathos and humor. Also it’s hard to deny the image of Dwight talking so seriously while tears roll down his eyes after getting pepper sprayed in them is just really funny.
2 Lip Dub — “Nepotism”
Throughout its nine-year run, the writers of The Office constantly tried to incorporate pop culture trends into episodes. In the opening to the season 7 episode, “Nepotism”, the entire cast does an elaborate synchronized lip dub to the song “Nobody But Me” by The Human Beinz, with the idea of putting the video online. It starts with Andy casually arriving in an elevator before he starts to lip sync along to the lyrics and guides the viewer into the office, where the other members of staff get involved. As the camera makes its way around the work environment, everyone plays their part; Erin (Ellie Kemper) rollerskates, Kelly (Mindy Kaling) dances in front of a “wind machine”, and Creed (Creed Bratton) mimes playing the electric guitar. It concludes with Michael, dressed as a magician, producing a dove and Dwight prancing around with a knife (for some unknown reason).
What Makes It Great
The sheer joy and energy of this opening sets it apart from all other cold opens. There’s so much going on in this sequence that, as a viewer, one is spoiled for choice about where to look. It has the delightful quality that, no matter how many times you watch it, you’re guaranteed to spot something new each time. Not many shows could pull off such an over-the-top sequence and still make sure every character gets their own time to shine, but with the scene, The Office does just that. A visual feast of a cold open, it’s (almost) the best of them all.
1 The Fire Drill — “Stress Relief”
If the opening sequence of “Nepotism” is organized chaos, then the cold opening to the season five episode, “Stress Relief,” is simply pure chaos. To teach his employees about fire safety, Dwight takes it upon himself to set fire to the office, but not before blocking all potential exits and cutting the phone lines. Upon becoming aware of the fire, each employee rushes around in a panic, breaking windows and office supplies in a bid to save themselves. A particularly notable part involves Angela (Angela Kinsey) trying to save her cat, Bandit, by throwing him into a hole in the ceiling with Oscar (Oscar Nunez), only for the feline to crash right back through a different point in the ceiling. The whole sequence culminates in Stanley Hudson (Leslie David Baker) having a heart attack.
What Makes It Great
This cold open is The Office at its funniest. The five-minute sequence is one of the most bonkers and anarchic scenes in the show’s entire run and, indeed, television in general. It’s also insanely funny. As the scene goes on, it ramps up and up, getting more and more ridiculous and hilarious with each passing moment. When you think it won’t get any wilder, someone throws a cat into the ceiling. And in among all the chaos, Dwight stands around calmly reminding people of proper fire safety protocols, not at all fazed by the pandamonium he has created. It’s genius, well-directed, well-written, and well-performed television that stands out as the best cold open of them all.
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