Do You Remember the Cold Opening From THE OFFICE That Was So Offensive It Was Removed From All Future Viewings?
NBC’s fan-favorite hit series The Office was known for its inappropriate and uncomfortable humor that pushed the boundaries and made us laugh hysterically.
The stacked ensemble were all responsible for side-splitting straight-faced humor, but most would agree that Steve Carell’s Michael Scott was mostly to blame for the moments that made us cringe and cackle simultaneously.
Some of the show’s best moments were the cold open scenes where we were dropped into scenarios that set the tone for the series. So many of the best Jim/Dwight feuds were framed in those opening scenes. But one cold open has been erased from the show for crossing the line.
In season 6, episode 8, titled “Koi Pond” (one of my favorites), Michael and the co-workers put together a haunted house in the Dunder Mifflin warehouse, and Michael puts Darryl in charge of leading a group of kids through the spooky setup.
When they get to the end, Michael, who is dressed as one of the guys in the Andy Samberg/Justin Timberlake SNL “Dick in a Box” music video, is hanging from the rafters by a rope.
He wriggles around as the kids scream, then pops up to tell the kids that suicide is never the answer. It’s ridiculous, and so on brand for Michael Scott, who seems to do everything with the best intentions and worst execution, pun intended.
The clip is still available online in a few places, but it has been removed from the episode where it’s streaming and syndicated.
Do you remember when this aired? What’s your favorite cold open from The Office?