One of the many things that’s so winning about The Office are the top-notch cold opens. Sometimes they lead into the plot, but more often than not it's just a perfectly constructed bit that they can pull off in a couple minutes. It helps set the tone, eases you into the show, and immediately reconnects you to the characters. Sometimes it’s an ingenious Jim prank or it's Michael screwing up, but the show's writers really nailed these scenes, so I chose my fifteen favorite.
Obviously, you might disagree, so sound off in the comments with your favorite Office cold opens. Also, be sure to check out our ranking of the Top 50 episodes.
15) The DVD Logo Going into a Corner
I love the creativity in this scene because we've all been there with a screen saver when we're bored. All of a sudden, it becomes the most captivating scene, especially if it does something like a logo looking like it will hit a corner of the screen. I also love Pam adamantly claiming that she saw it happen. Of course, Michael thinks he had their rapt attention.
14) Jim Wraps Dwight's Furniture
This is one of those pranks where it seems like the effort would outweigh the impact, but it's a great twist on the audience as well as on Dwight. We're also left to wonder what Jim did with Dwight's actual furniture.
13) Jim Connects His Earpiece to Dwight's Phone
Some may say this is ranked too high, but I like the small-scale deviousness of this. But the moment that really puts it over the top if when Jim refers to Dwight's mother as "mahter" and says, "I have married. Tell father."
12) "Nobody But Me" Lip Sync
Sure, this is The Office getting in on the lip sync craze, but this one makes the list for one-take proficiency and being a strong intro to a new season of the show.
11) Dwight's Martial Arts Seminar
"Because as we all know, the one thing that the thousand-year old martial arts do…is change." I love Rainn Wilson's devotion to physical comedy in this bit. The throwaway line about measles is also terrific.
10) Recyclops
Two of the things I like best about Dwight are his commitment to the fantastical and taking things way too far, and you get both with this cold open.
9) Vomit Gag
I love a good vomit gag, and it's hilarious watching pretty much everyone in the office throw up. Extra points go to Creed staying in character and not being bothered by all the vomiting around him.
8) Dwight Gets Future Faxes from Dwight
One of the best ways Jim pranks Dwight is playing into Dwight's love of fantasy and sci-fi, so it's perfect that he gets Dwight to believe that future Dwight is faxing messages from the future.
7) Michael Hits Meredith with His Car
It's a solid start to Season 4, but I like how they play it relatively low-key until Michael hits Meredith with his car out of nowhere. I also love the expression on Meredith's face when she rolls off the hood.
6) Michael Discovers Toby Is Back
Obviously, Steve Carell is a treasure, but I can't imagine any actor making the most of this moment. All he's doing is saying "No," but Carell turns it into a hilarious and memorable moment.
5) Jim Mimics Dwight
You've got to have supreme confidence in how you've illustrated your characters to make this joke land, and this one, despite coming so early in the show's run, knew that Jim and Dwight had clear personas that could be easily mocked and impersonated.
4) Jim Frames Dwight
This is one of Jim's more elaborate pranks, but I like how he's able to one-up Dwight in the early morning, and the capper to the scene is brilliant.
3) Asian Jim
Randall Park is a great comic actor, and he's used beautifully here as he and Jim try to convince Dwight that Jim's friend Steve is Jim.
2) Kevin's Famous Chili
I adore this scene for its simplicity and juxtaposition. You have Kevin calmly narrating his set of expectations for how his chili is going to go next to the reality of everything going horribly. It's poetic.
1) Fire Drill
Could it really be anything else? The way they set the stage before everything goes to hell and then just ratcheting up the chaos is perfect. From the staging to the comic beats to every character playing to their strengths, this is easily The Office's best cold open.