Dwight K. Schrute, (Acting) Manager
| "Dwight K. Schrute, (Acting) Manager" | |
|---|---|
| The Office episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 7 Episode 24 |
| Directed by | Troy Miller |
| Written by | Justin Spitzer |
| Production code | 7024 |
| Original air date | May 12, 2011 |
| Guest appearance(s) | |
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"Dwight K. Schrute, (Acting) Manager" is the 24th episode of the seventh season of the American comedy television series The Office and the show's 150th episode overall. The episode was written by Justin Spitzer and directed by Troy Miller. It originally aired in the United States on May 12, 2011 on NBC. The episode also features guest appearances from Kathy Bates, Cody Horn and Michael Schur.
The series depicts the everyday lives of office employees in the Scranton, Pennsylvania branch of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. In the episode, Dwight (Rainn Wilson) becomes the interim regional manager, instituting a typically heavy-handed management style. Meanwhile, Gabe (Zach Woods) tries to win back Erin (Ellie Kemper), but Andy (Ed Helms) gets in his way.
The episode received positive reviews from critics, with many commenting that it proved the series could survive without the lead actor, Steve Carell, and others calling it the best episode of the series in years. According to Nielsen Media Research, "Dwight K. Schrute, (Acting) Manager" drew an estimated 6.45 million viewers and earned a 3.3 rating/8% share among those aged 18–49, making it the second-lowest-rated episode of the season after "Todd Packer".
When Deangelo Vickers ends up in a coma on life support, Jo Bennett (guest star Kathy Bates) makes Dwight (Rainn Wilson) the interim regional manager before they find a proper replacement, much to Jim's chagrin, as the office had actually functioned very smoothly during the manager hiatus. As Jim (John Krasinski) notes, everyone showed up, worked for the day with reasonable breaks, and were highly productive. Once appointed, Dwight establishes a strict management style in stark contrast to their previously relaxed style, from making the employees say the Pledge of Allegiance to setting up firewalls and long passwords to use the office's various machines and installing antique punch clocks. Jim, who had turned down the temporary manager position believing that they should not be assigned one at all, is especially unhappy with the changes, and begins pranking Dwight by suggesting that he is leading an uprising called "The Fist". In order to impress Jo, Dwight buys a gun, though he is more excited when he receives a holster as a gift from a relative, and uses the gun to accessorize. Pam (Jenna Fischer) insists that he put it away, but Dwight accidentally fires the gun right by Andy (Ed Helms), causing him temporary hearing loss. Dwight attempts to bribe the office workers into silence with various favors, and Jim insists that Dwight do outlandish things (such as saying "Shagedelic, baby") at certain promptings.
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