The Office: Season 1 [2005]

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• Some of the video used in the opening theme song specifically the exterior shot of the building was taken by John Krasinski and his friends in their Jeep. John had just gotten the part and was coming out for shooting.
• In the episode {The Alliance}, Meredith is said to be an accountant. This is the only instance in which she has this job, as she becomes the Supplier Relations Representative for the remainder of the show.
• Paul Lieberstein, a writer for [The Office], was suggested to play HR Director Toby Flenderson by B.J. Novak, who plays Ryan Howard and writes for the show as well. The role was meant to be a one-time appearance, since Lieberstein had never acted before, and never actually wanted to because of his quiet, reserved personality. However, NBC President ^[?] Kevin Reilly saw the episode where Toby appeared and reportedly said "That red-haired guy is terrific, we should see more of him." Toby then became a recurring character, and the cast and crew have repeatedly lavished praise on Lieberstein's acting abilities, and he has allowed the role to expand somewhat while remaining abashed by the attention it's brought to him. Notably, Toby has no or few lines or story presence in any episode that Paul Lieberstein writes or directs.
• On the episode {Basketball}, Michael's line, "Try not to look too gay on the court", was improvised. The look on John Krasinski's face is genuine.
• According to the commentary on Season 1 Episode 5, {Basketball}, the scene in which Jim is hit in the face by Roy was an accident and real. David Denman (Roy) backed into John Krasinski (Jim), and hit him in the face, resulting in John bleeding. The cameras kept rolling and they kept the shot in the show. But, as a result of the injury, a photo shoot scheduled for the next day had to be canceled because John's lip was so swollen.
• B.J. Novak was cast as Ryan Howard after Greg Daniels watched his stand-up act.
• When John Krasinski (Jim Halpert) got the role of Jim, the first thing he asked the casting director was "did Jenna get the role?" Similarly, when Jenna Fischer got the job, the first thing she asked the casting director was about John getting the role.
• As part of {Diversity Day}'s B story involving Jim's failed attempt to secure a major sale, show creator Greg Daniels suggested as a broad general idea that Jim should have a nice quiet moment with Pam (his future great love and wife) and listed some ways to achieve this. One idea Daniels put down was for Jim and Pam to both be in the conference room during Michael Scott's presentation and for a tired Pam to rest her head on Jim's shoulder, making him visibly happy. To Daniels' amusement, episode writer B.J. Novak immediately took this specific example and wrote it into the final shooting script.
• In the very first episode, Dwight can be heard singing the song 'Little Drummer Boy' which we later find out is Angela's favorite song.
• On the episode {Health Care}, the coal mine employee Michael speaks with over the phone is the voice of Creed Bratton.
• In the Pilot, Michael asks Ryan, the temp, if he has ever seen "Punk'd" (right before Michael tricks Pam into thinking she is fired). B.J. Novak began his career as a cast member of "Punk'd".
• On the episode {Diversity Day} When Ryan (B.J. Novak) is downloading and watching episodes of [Chappelle's Show] on Pam's (Jenna Fischer) computer, he says to Jim (John Krasinski) "She's kinda cute don't you think?", referring to a girl in one of the videos (Jim actually thinks Ryan is referring to Pam). Jim's girlfriend in Season 3, Karen (Rashida Jones), played characters in two episodes of [Chappelle's Show], before appearing on [The Office]..
• In his book "The Bassoon King", Rainn Wilson said that his favorite exchange from his entire time as Dwight Schrute came in the episode {The Alliance} when Dwight offered Jim the titular deal and Jim immediately and enthusiastically accepted it.
• Before becoming cast members on [The Office], both Larry Wilmore and Steve Carell were correspondents on [The Daily Show].
• The plaque on Pam's desk reads 'Receptionist' in the opening credits but throughout the show it says 'Reception'