Shareholder Meeting
Encyclopedia
"Shareholder Meeting" is the 11th episode of the sixth season
of the U.S. comedy series The Office and the show's 111th episode overall. It was written by Justin Spitzer
and directed by Charles McDougall
, and originally aired in the United States on NBC
on November 19, 2009.
In this episode, Michael heads to a shareholder meeting in New York, and brings Andy, Dwight, and Oscar with him. Michael is shocked when he and other higher members of the company are booed onstage and tries to improve the situation, but instead worsens it. Meanwhile, Jim struggles to get Ryan to do some work.
(Steve Carell
) gets excited when he's invited by CEO Alan Brand to be honored on stage at the Dunder Mifflin shareholder meeting in New York. He brings Andy
(Ed Helms
), Dwight
(Rainn Wilson
) and Oscar
(Oscar Nunez
) along for the ride in the limo that was sent, making Oscar wonder why the company would spend money on sending a limo when they're about to go bankrupt. Oscar is further baffled at the fact that they booked a huge conference room for the meeting. Andy suggests that Oscar take a stand, but Oscar refuses to for fear of losing his job. When the meeting begins, the panel, which Michael is a part of, is greeted by jeers, which is not what Michael was hoping for. Although Michael is commended by CEO Alan Brand for his ability to maintain profitability with the Scranton branch, Michael feels he deserves more praise when more people celebrate the opening of a waste management facility. When the meeting appears to be going nowhere, the panel takes a break, and Michael gives the crowd the false hope of a 45-day plan to fix Dunder Mifflin.
Meanwhile, Jim
(John Krasinski
) has a hard time getting Ryan
(B. J. Novak
) to do work, as Ryan sees no point since the company is on the verge of closing. Ryan sends an email around the office regarding Jim's lack of authority over the office, prompting Phyllis (Phyllis Smith) to take a two hour lunch break. Jim thinks that he needs to make an example of Ryan in front of everyone, but Pam (Jenna Fischer
) doesn't think Jim is capable of doing so. Jim, frustrated with Ryan's excuses, ultimately decides to give Ryan his own personal office space in the small closet in the kitchen, which lacks windows and possibly internet access so he won't bother anyone or become easily distracted. He presents this "honor" to Ryan in front of everyone, showing them he means business. A humiliated Ryan tries to apologize, but Jim puts him in the closet anyway.
Back in New York, a frustrated David Wallace is asking Michael what his 45-day plan is for the shareholders. Michael doesn't have an idea, so he calls Oscar into the hotel room for some suggestions. However, Oscar is visibly embarrassed and can't force himself to criticize the wasteful management to their faces. Oscar instead compliments them, doesn't repeat any of his earlier suggestions, and leaves. When Michael returns, he is further lambasted by the CEO and former U.S. Congressman Chris O'Keefe who openly insults Michael. In his defense, Michael points out he is the only person who seems to be making money for Dunder Mifflin and is therefore not the moron, and goes so far as to call the former Congressman a moron out of retaliation for the same insult. Enraged, Congressman O'Keefe, who is presiding over the meeting, takes away Michael's limo privileges. Michael then triumphantly sneaks away with Dwight, Andy, and Oscar back out into their limo and drive out of the city. As they leave, Michael justifies his actions by saying that of everyone there, he and his team are the only ones who deserve to celebrate with limo rides. As they leave, the camera catches a glance at the stock market ticker, where the Dunder Mifflin (DMI) stock price, currently at $1.13, down 6 7/8, continues to drop dramatically.
style building in the background for a New York effect. The building has both a California state flag and US flag hanging over its entrance.
"Shareholder Meeting" received positive reviews. Dan Phillips of IGN
called the episode "funny from beginning to end", particularly praising the scenes between Michael and the board. Phillips also enjoyed the subplot between Jim and Ryan, stating that it "carried its fair share of comedic weight".
Michael's announcement that Dunder Mifflin would be going "carbon neutral" was a tie-in with NBC's "Green Week".
The Office (U.S. TV series) season 6
The American television comedy The Office was renewed by NBC for a sixth season on January 15, 2009. The season premiered on September 17, 2009 and concluded on May 20, 2010. The episodes aired on Thursdays at 9:00 p.m. EDT as part of Comedy Night Done Right...
of the U.S. comedy series The Office and the show's 111th episode overall. It was written by Justin Spitzer
Justin Spitzer
Justin Spitzer is an American television writer, whose credits include Scrubs and Courting Alex. He is currently serving as a staff writer on The Office...
and directed by Charles McDougall
Charles McDougall
Charles McDougall is a British Emmy Award and BAFTA-winning director.-Biography:McDougall has directed for popular television series which include the pilot episode of ABC's Desperate Housewives . McDougall has also directed episodes of Queer as Folk on Channel 4 and Sex and the City on HBO...
, and originally aired in the United States on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
on November 19, 2009.
In this episode, Michael heads to a shareholder meeting in New York, and brings Andy, Dwight, and Oscar with him. Michael is shocked when he and other higher members of the company are booed onstage and tries to improve the situation, but instead worsens it. Meanwhile, Jim struggles to get Ryan to do some work.
Synopsis
MichaelMichael Scott (The Office)
Michael Gary Scott is a fictional character on NBC's The Office, portrayed by Steve Carell, and based on David Brent from the original British version. Michael, the central character of the series, was the manager of the Scranton branch of paper and printer distribution company Dunder Mifflin Inc...
(Steve Carell
Steve Carell
Steven John "Steve" Carell is an American comedian, actor, voice artist, producer, writer, and director. Although Carell is notable for his role on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, he found greater fame in the late 2000s for playing Michael Scott on The Office...
) gets excited when he's invited by CEO Alan Brand to be honored on stage at the Dunder Mifflin shareholder meeting in New York. He brings Andy
Andy Bernard
Andrew "Andy" Baines Bernard is a fictional character from the U.S. television series The Office. The character is highly insecure, yet egotistical, constantly mentioning his education at Cornell University...
(Ed Helms
Ed Helms
Edward Paul "Ed" Helms is an American actor and comedian known for his work as a correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, as Andy Bernard on the US version of the sitcom/mockumentary The Office and for his role as Dr. Stu Price in The Hangover films.- Early life :Helms was born and raised...
), Dwight
Dwight Schrute
Dwight Kurt Schrute III is a character on NBC's The Office portrayed by Rainn Wilson. He originally exactly resembled Gareth Keenan from the original UK version of The Office. Dwight is the top salesman and former acting manager for the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company and has won numerous awards for...
(Rainn Wilson
Rainn Wilson
Rainn Dietrich Wilson is an American actor and comedian. He is primarily known for his role as the egomaniacal Dwight Schrute on the American version of the television comedy The Office...
) and Oscar
Oscar Martinez
Oscar Jual Paul Martinez is a fictional character from the US television series The Office. He is played by Oscar Nunez.-Overview:Oscar Martinez is an accountant at the paper distributor Dunder Mifflin. He is a first generation Mexican-American. Oscar is also openly homosexual after being...
(Oscar Nunez
Oscar Nunez
Oscar Nunez , sometimes credited as Oscar Núñez, is a Cuban American actor and comedian.He currently appears as Dunder Mifflin's paper supply accountant, Oscar Martinez, on NBC's The Office.-Career:...
) along for the ride in the limo that was sent, making Oscar wonder why the company would spend money on sending a limo when they're about to go bankrupt. Oscar is further baffled at the fact that they booked a huge conference room for the meeting. Andy suggests that Oscar take a stand, but Oscar refuses to for fear of losing his job. When the meeting begins, the panel, which Michael is a part of, is greeted by jeers, which is not what Michael was hoping for. Although Michael is commended by CEO Alan Brand for his ability to maintain profitability with the Scranton branch, Michael feels he deserves more praise when more people celebrate the opening of a waste management facility. When the meeting appears to be going nowhere, the panel takes a break, and Michael gives the crowd the false hope of a 45-day plan to fix Dunder Mifflin.
Meanwhile, Jim
Jim Halpert
James Duncan "Jim" Halpert is a fictional character in the United States version of the television sitcom The Office, played by John Krasinski. The character is based on Tim Canterbury from the original version of The Office...
(John Krasinski
John Krasinski
John Burke Krasinski is an American actor, film director, and writer. He is most widely known for playing Jim Halpert on the NBC sitcom The Office...
) has a hard time getting Ryan
Ryan Howard (The Office)
Ryan Bailey Howard , played by B. J. Novak, is a fictional character on the US television sitcom The Office. He is based upon Ricky Howard from the original version of The Office , but his role is significantly expanded and he is a main character.-Character profile:Little is known about Ryan's...
(B. J. Novak
B. J. Novak
Benjamin Joseph Manaly “B. J.” Novak is an American actor, stand-up comedian, screenwriter, and director. He is best known for being a writer and co-executive producer for and playing the role of Ryan Howard on the US version of The Office, as well as appearing in Inglourious Basterds...
) to do work, as Ryan sees no point since the company is on the verge of closing. Ryan sends an email around the office regarding Jim's lack of authority over the office, prompting Phyllis (Phyllis Smith) to take a two hour lunch break. Jim thinks that he needs to make an example of Ryan in front of everyone, but Pam (Jenna Fischer
Jenna Fischer
Regina Marie "Jenna" Fischer is an American actress and director. She is most widely known for her Emmy-nominated portrayal of Pam Halpert on the NBC situation comedy and mockumentary The Office, and has also appeared in several films, including Blades of Glory, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story,...
) doesn't think Jim is capable of doing so. Jim, frustrated with Ryan's excuses, ultimately decides to give Ryan his own personal office space in the small closet in the kitchen, which lacks windows and possibly internet access so he won't bother anyone or become easily distracted. He presents this "honor" to Ryan in front of everyone, showing them he means business. A humiliated Ryan tries to apologize, but Jim puts him in the closet anyway.
Back in New York, a frustrated David Wallace is asking Michael what his 45-day plan is for the shareholders. Michael doesn't have an idea, so he calls Oscar into the hotel room for some suggestions. However, Oscar is visibly embarrassed and can't force himself to criticize the wasteful management to their faces. Oscar instead compliments them, doesn't repeat any of his earlier suggestions, and leaves. When Michael returns, he is further lambasted by the CEO and former U.S. Congressman Chris O'Keefe who openly insults Michael. In his defense, Michael points out he is the only person who seems to be making money for Dunder Mifflin and is therefore not the moron, and goes so far as to call the former Congressman a moron out of retaliation for the same insult. Enraged, Congressman O'Keefe, who is presiding over the meeting, takes away Michael's limo privileges. Michael then triumphantly sneaks away with Dwight, Andy, and Oscar back out into their limo and drive out of the city. As they leave, Michael justifies his actions by saying that of everyone there, he and his team are the only ones who deserve to celebrate with limo rides. As they leave, the camera catches a glance at the stock market ticker, where the Dunder Mifflin (DMI) stock price, currently at $1.13, down 6 7/8, continues to drop dramatically.
Production
New York outdoor scenes for the episode were filmed in California. Two taxi cabs along with Michael's limo, using New York plates, were shot in front of a California intersection with a Roman RevivalRomanesque Revival architecture
Romanesque Revival is a style of building employed beginning in the mid 19th century inspired by the 11th and 12th century Romanesque architecture...
style building in the background for a New York effect. The building has both a California state flag and US flag hanging over its entrance.
Reception
This episode was watched by 7.39 million viewers, with a 3.7 rating and a 10 share in the 18-49 demographic."Shareholder Meeting" received positive reviews. Dan Phillips of IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
called the episode "funny from beginning to end", particularly praising the scenes between Michael and the board. Phillips also enjoyed the subplot between Jim and Ryan, stating that it "carried its fair share of comedic weight".
Michael's announcement that Dunder Mifflin would be going "carbon neutral" was a tie-in with NBC's "Green Week".
External links
- "Shareholder Meeting" at NBC.comNBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...