The Red Wire

Episode
Prince Family Paper (Season 5, Episode 12)

Pranker
Jim Halpert

Target
Dwight Schrute

Description
Dwight begins to sort out some papers on his desk when he notices a red wire coming out of the back of his computer. Believing it wasn’t there before, Dwight asks Jim. Jim notes that computers have wires, though Dwight notices there isn’t one from Jim’s computer. Dwight continues his prodding and Jim, seemingly annoyed, goes on with his work. Dwight then sees where the wire is coming from and goes to town.

Reaction
After getting around his own desk, then Phyllis’ and Andy’s, he follows it down the hall and outside into the parking lot. Jim explains that he got 500 feet of red wire at the flea market (out by Dunmore High School). It was only $20 for the whole spool. What a deal! Jim turns and looks out the window at Dwight climbing a telephone pole, continuing to follow the wire. Jim reassures us of Dwight’s safety. Jim made it up there, Dwight will be just fine.

Originality
6 - Nicely done, but somewhat middle of the road. Jim happened to stumble upon that spool and went from there. Took a lot of duct tape to get that done as well.

Length Taken
4 - There could have been a fake bomb attached to the end. Come on Jim, that’s a missed opportunity.

Special Awards
Right off the Bat Award - Again, Jim wasting no time.
The Envelope, Please…Award - Jim putting on an acting tour-de-force in convincing Dwight he had nothing to do with it and it is a normal thing. Give that man an Emmy!
Smart Shopper Award - This is not the first time Jim has used a thrift store to prank Dwight. Remember this classic?

Jim Wraps Dwight's Desk

Episode
Moroccan Christmas (Season 5, Episode 10)

Pranker
Jim Halpert

Target
Dwight Schrute

Description
Dwight enters another day at the office to see his entire desk and belongings at his desk gift wrapped in festive paper.

Reaction
Dwight wants to know how Jim did this (he has a black belt in gift wrapping). Dwight is quick to mention they don’t give out black belts for that. Dwight thinks he can tear through it in about five minutes, while Jim thinks it will take longer. After all, if he can skin a mule deer in 10 minutes, this should be no problem. Dwight simultaneously drops his briefcase on his desk and sits on his chair, only to see his briefcase tear through the non-existent desk and his chair to crumble beneath his weight.

Originality
9 - It’s pretty good by itself as a prank just to gift-wrap his desk. But to, on top of that, make it appear that his desk is there and crush beneath the simple weight jumps it up a level.

Length Taken
8 - It’s very simple, but can you imagine the work that had to go into getting that one ready? Jim must have stayed up at the office last night finding some old cardboard boxes and a broken chair. Not to mention, how much paper was needed to get all that done? Bravo Jim, bravo.

Special Awards
Right off the Bat Award - Don’t waste any time there Jim. Dwight walks in, notices, says about three sentences, falls through, and prank over.
Short but Sweet Award - Maybe one of the shortest pranks in Jim’s history. It clocked in at less than 40 seconds.

Jim's Brothers Criticize Pam's Career

Episode
Employee Transfer (Season 5, Episode 5)

Pranker
Jim Halpert’s Brothers and Pam Beesley

Target
Jim Halpert

Description
Jim and Pam are having lunch in New York with Jim’s brothers Tom and Pete. Pam asked Tom and Pete to come early so they can play a prank on Jim. Pam’s idea is to tell Jim that, before ceramics class, she took off her engagement ring and when she changed back out of her smock, it wasn’t in her pocket anymore and lost it. Jim’s brothers have a better idea. The remember that they did a prank to Jim in high school to his girlfriend at the time. They would wait for Jim to get there and begin to “dog” Pam for being an artist and not making any money. They go on stating that her having a hobby instead of a job. Pam notices they came up with that idea really fast. Pam arrives again later to trick Jim into thinking everything is fine. Into the lunch date, Jim’s brothers begin by asking how much money an artist makes, stating there isn’t much money in the arts. Jim defends Pam, but his brothers continue, saying that Pam should pay the check by drawing a picture on a napkin. Jim calls his brothers out, but they and Pam chalk it up to fun. Later, one of Jim’s brothers shows a picture of Jim’s niece, who plays the trumpet. The other brother can’t help but note that she probably doesn’t want to be a career musician. How many trumpeters can you name (Miles Davis, Chet something, Dizzie Gillespie)? He goes on to say there are jobs and there are hobbies.


Reaction
Jim continues to defend Pam’s honor. Pam might feel that prank isn’t necessarily a prank and also begins to defend herself. Right when everything looks like it’s about to blow up, Tom and Pete burst out laughing. They admit to the prank and to the fact that Pam was the mastermind. “Got you,” she replies. Pam later admits she wanted to go towards the ring direction and even shows how she put makeup for the ring around her naked finger. Jim admits that anything would be better than what happened. Jim then gets a text message from his brother, “Pam cool, welcome to the family.” Pam says they should prank Tom about being bald for Thanksgiving.

Originality
3 -Well, despite the general mean spirit behind the prank, they freely admit that they have done this before. Dock a few points since it’s been done before.

Length Taken
8 - Wow. This is the most uncomfortable I’ve been during a prank since Karen laid the wood to Jim after the office attacked the Utica branch. Why couldn’t they have gone with Pam’s idea? That would have been so much better.

Special Awards
Lost Potential Award - Pam’s prank could have been something worth while but Jim’s brothers were ready for their own first. Maybe Jim freaks out when he thinks Pam has lost her ring. That could have exposed Jim as overly emotional. Sigh, we’ll never know.
Worth it in the End Award - At least Jim’s brothers like Pam. If they didn’t like her, who knows where we would be with this one.