The Office - Season 3- Episode 1

Before The Office , there was cringe comedy, but Michael Scott perfected it. The scene where Michael kisses Oscar is almost unwatchable in the best way possible. As Michael leans in, the camera doesn’t flinch. We see Oscar’s frozen terror, Stanley’s amused disbelief, and Pam’s hand covering her mouth. It is a scene so painfully awkward that it forces the viewer to physically recoil. This episode proved that Season 3 would not shy away from pushing the boundaries of second-hand embarrassment.

: The script called for Michael to hug Oscar and then "chicken out," perhaps only kissing him on the forehead. The Office - Season 3- Episode 1

: Michael encourages Dwight to look up "clues" on office computers, leading to Dwight openly browsing adult sites at his desk. The Meeting Before The Office , there was cringe comedy,

The Merger: Why "The Office" Season 3, Episode 1 Remains the Gold Standard of Sitcom Transitions : The script called for Michael to hug

The episode opens with a deceptively simple premise. Michael Scott (Steve Carell) discovers that a former employee, a warehouse worker named Oscar (Oscar Nunez), is gay. Michael, in his infinite yet misguided wisdom, decides that the best way to handle this is not to ignore it or treat it normally, but to make a grand spectacle of acceptance.