Kevin is Special

Episode
Goodbye Toby (Season 4, Episode 13) & Weight Loss (Season 5, Episode 1)

Pranker
Dwight Schrute

Target
Holly Flax (and Kevin Malone by proxy)

Description
Good ole’ Toby Flenderson is on his way out of Dunder Mifflin. Michael is ecstatic but is also apprehensive of his replacement Holly; thinking she will be much of the same. Michael and Dwight look on and agree that some good old-fashioned hazing is in the books for the new HR rep. Though Michael is too blindsided by love at first see of his ears to remember to haze, Dwight wastes no time. In the midst of introducing Holly to the accounting department, he mentions that Kevin is there on a special work program, because he is “special.”

Reaction
Holly introduces herself to Kevin and asks what he does. He replies that he does the numbers and then offers her an M&M. Holly declines, but that doesn’t stop Kevin from explaining why he keeps them on his part of the desk. Later, Kevin can’t decide what he wants from the vending machine between pretzels and chips. Holly helpfully and gently helps him decide that he can get anything on the top row. Kevin believes he is going to bang Holly, because she is cute, helpful and really seems into him. During the party, after Phyllis asks Kevin to go to the store, Holly notes that Kevin drives his own car, also mentioning she has one too. Before leaving, Holly says how proud she is of him. He smiles suggestively at the camera. At the end of the night, when Michael misses the hints of Holly asking him to go eat, Kevin goes in his stead (to eat pie). At least she buckles him in the car. By the time the big weight loss competition get’s going, Kevin almost does the math faster than everyone else in stating that when Pam got off the scale it dropped 226 lbs. He was off by a little, but Holly was there to congratulate (after all, math is hard). Unfortunately, this all comes to a head when Angela starts berating Kevin for a clerical error he made. When Holly comes to Kevin’s defense, the truth about his mental condition comes out and, needless to say, Holly is a little embarrassed and walks away to seclusion.


Originality
7 -Despite the nature of this one, Dwight must have analyzed and rationalized the scenario. He figured out that Kevin’s mannerisms are somewhat “special” and also knew that a gentle soul like Holly would handle it so delicately that it would continue to play out. What a great job by Dwight…that is, if it just wasn’t so damn wrong. Not to mention, Dwight never has to fess up to anything.

Length Taken
10 - Poor Kevin. What is worse, him having everyone thinking he is special-needs, or the fact that he mistakes this as attraction and a sure-fire sign of banging.

"Special" Awards
I‘d be Crying if I Wasn‘t Laughing Award - Easily the most depressing prank ever pulled
Going the Distance Award - This might be the longest developing/lasting prank since Jim put quarters in Dwight’s phone. How long could have this gone on?
You’re Not Helping Award - Come on, Phyllis. He knows he has to take off his shoes, don’t reinforce things.

Jim Pairs Dwight's Phone

Episode
Goodbye Toby (Season 4, Episode 13)

Pranker
Jim Halpert

Target
Dwight Schrute

Description
Dwight’s cell phone rings to start the day, but when he picks it up, the phone doesn’t respond. Jim, on the other had, clicks on his Bluetooth headset and answers a sales call as Dwight. Jim explains that Dwight left his cell phone on his desk, so naturally, Jim paired it.


Reaction
Dwight’s begins to see it rationally and tells Jim he’ll just let it go to voicemail. But, before that happens, Jim picks up the call with Pam on the other line. She says he sounds sexy (he’s been working out) and this sends Dwight into a frenzy to make sure things are evaluated correctly. Pam plays her part of acting confused with Dwight yelling at her and “Dwight” on the phone perplexing her small, receptionist mind. She states her confusion, leading to Dwight’s rage. He demands Jim’s earpiece, but Jim won’t budge (it’s unsanitary). After a failed attempt at forced coherence, Dwight reprograms his cell phone to go to his office phone. Jim is way ahead of him and gets a call from Dwight’s mother on his office line (good news…he’s married; tell Father). Dwight gives up and begins to slam his cell phone against his desk while it continues to ring.

Originality
6 - Nothing bad, but nothing too special. Dwight makes the mistake of leaving his one outlet that Jim can’t touch out in the open and Jim jumps at the opportunity. I, for one, am surprised Dwight has a Bluetooth capable phone. He has the $10 outfit and the calculator watch…I’m surprised he doesn’t have a beeper and one of those thick 1980s-phones.

Length Taken
9 - Obviously this is going to drive Dwight crazy on the first try, but he keeps accepting it and moving on to an alternative. And at every corner, Jim is there to figure it out. Phone rings, Dwight picks up, Jim answers. Phone rings, Dwight refuses to pick up, Jim still answers. Dwight transfers to his work line, Jim still picks up. Phone rings, Dwight begins to destroy. That’s covering your bases.

Special Awards
Amish Kryptonite Award - How to get a humble beet farmer on edge? You mess with the limited technology he has. Well done Tuna, well done.
Doin’ it in Style Award - Everyone who ever wears a Bluetooth headset looks like a douche bag, but Jim looked pretty normal. Long hair probably helps.
The Helpful Assist Award - Way to go Pam! No one does it better. She’ll keep setting them up, and Jim will keep knocking them down.

Michael "Cements" his Face

Episode
Did I Stutter? (Season 4, Episode 12)

Pranker
Jim Halpert

Target
Michael Scott

Description
Michael comes in the office needing ideas. After Pam informs him that he needs to elaborate, Michael informs everyone of his lifelong dream of wet cement drying outside and his desire to leave his mark. Kevin suggests his initials of MGS, but Michael interjects that he doesn’t want Mark Greg Sputnik to take credit. Phyllis is bursting with enthusiasm, but between Michael’s pressure and her own memory, nothing is suggested. Andy suggests a picture, but is quickly shot down. Swooping in to save the day, Kelly remembers seeing Will Smith in cement (he looked sooooo good, after all) and after a translation by Pam, Michael falls in love with the idea of putting his hands in the everlasting ground. Jim sees his chance and says that if Michael was a real star he would put his face in it.


Reaction
Michael loves it more. Oscar doesn’t think it’s safe, but that boyish enthusiasm can’t be contained and off Michael goes, with a just-as-giddy Dwight and Kevin in tow. Outside, Jim is giving what sounds like a eulogy, but is just ramming home what his brain-child has given forth. Dwight provides a straw for breathing and Vaseline for…well, I don’t know. Dwight seems like he is smothering him in the cement, but Michael comes up with plenty of cement on his face and a place to show his kids where his daddy left a face-hole.

Originality
4 - Not too much to do with this. Michael wants to mark cement. Kelly suggests hands, Jim suggests face. Michael obliges. He could have gone with a full-body cementing.

Length Taken
6 - Jim’s lofty speech (We’re not here to immortalize a man…) tries his best, but this is pretty standard stuff in Scranton these days. Where were the cheers for a cement angel? I was a little disappointed.

Special Awards
Knowing Your Enemy Award - You knew when Michael ran in that this was going to end badly. Jim bought his time and got the job done
The Simplicity Award - That was just too easy. It took one small push and that was that

Michael is set up with Wendy

Episode
The Chair Model (Season 4, Episode 10)

Pranker
Kevin Malone

Target
Michael Scott

Description
Michael's break-up with Jan has left him desperate for a woman (don't worry, desperate situations yield the quickest results). His eyes wander to whatever smoking hot woman comes about, and that fantasy formulates with the desk chair model in this month's supply catalog. This leads him to go to his friends in the office, to come up with a friend of theirs to fix him up with, using the model as a template. He tries first with Kevin, who is looking more for himself than Michael. Then, he tries his luck with Oscar, who obviously has trusting women friends who have no worry about Oscar getting handsy. Phyllis interrupts and suggests her friend Sandy, who is not up to the Scott-rowboat-capsizing standard. Michael's dating search goes into a "formal" mode, and forces everyone to give a name of an eligible woman with the threat of being fired. Therefore, everyone goes to town on the cards. Phyllis still insists on setting up Michael with Sandy, while Stanley doesn't know anyone he hates that much to put on the card. Jim has an idea, but it's Pam's mom. She doesn't approve. Michael collects the cards and goes to the first name. Wendy, a hot and juicy redhead.

Reaction
Michael's optimistic until he realizes that he has called Wendy's restaurant. The lady on the phone obviously isn't Wendy, but he requests to speak to her. She explains it's a Wendy's restaurant, and Michael figures it out. That still doesn't stop him from ordering a Frosty and a baked potato. It was already ready, so it will be set aside until he gets there.

Originality
9 - Go Kevin! Not only does Mr. Malone save the day as far as the parking situation, but he pulls his first solo prank. His first attempt at getting at Michael was unsuccessful after assists from Pam and Ryan, but he pulls off this one flawlessly. He gets an extra point for the saucy redhead wording and a bonus point for taking no credit and staying silent about it.

Length Taken
9 - If Kevin would have called Wendy's to inform them of the situation and got someone over there in on it, that would have pushed things over the top. But, as it stands, a strong pranks all around.

Special Awards
The Fly on Your Own Award - Kevin goes all in for his first unassisted prank and slams it home.
The Simplicity Award - How much effort did that take, really? Write down Wendy...check. Make saucy redhead comment...check. Look up phone number for Wendy's...check. Hand to Michael Scott...check.
The Humble Pie Award - If not for Michael saying to "Wendy" that he is Kevin's friend, would we have ever known?

Utica Must Burn

Episode
Branch Wars (Season 4, Episode 6)

Pranker
Michael Scott, Dwight Schrute (and kind of Jim Halpert)

Target
Karen Filippelli

Description
Michael isn’t about to sit idly by and watch his favorite minority salesman be taken away from him by Karen. After deceivingly luring Jim with Dwight and him to Utica, they get to work; complete with warehouse uniforms and mustaches.

Dwight and Michael try to steal their industrial copier, but predictably drop it down the stairs (hurting Michael’s hip in the process). While this is happening, Jim tries his best to duck out of the way of Karen’s view, but to no avail. Michael’s final message to ask Jim not to tell Karen was all that it took.

Reaction
Needless to say, Karen is upset. Dwight isn’t about to take things sitting down and does what every logical person would do in that situation…he threatens to burn down the branch if Karen continues to poach salesmen. Michael actually becomes the voice of reason when he goes to the explanation of wanting to fight for his employees. Everything seems as it should until Michael threatens Karen with burning down the branch if Stanley is harmed. It all seemed to be going so well until Karen lays into Jim for bringing up Pam in conversation. And just when all seemed lost, Stanley decides to stay in Scranton. All is right with the world.

Originality
6 – This would only be about a two if not for the interesting ways Dwight and Michael think up in order to subdue the guards and take down Utica. Molotov cocktails? Gas covered rubber? Chalk in the eye? How does Dwight come up with this stuff.

Length Taken
10 – Wwwwwwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyy too far.

Special Awards
The Michael Scott-Memorial Whoops Award – This might be the first ever prank that leads to a scolding. Not to mention the award to follow afterword.
The Awwwwwwk-ward Award – Congratulations, Karen. This is the first time I’ve ever wanted to turn away from Jim doing anything. I was hoping he’d die just so it’d all end.

DunMiff/sys vs. Dwight

Episode

Launch Party (Season 4, Episode 3)

Pranker
Jim Halpert and Pam Beesly

Target
Dwight Schrute

Description
Michael and Dwight obviously have their issues with the new technology sweeping in their little paper company that could (gift baskets work so much better). When Michael announces to the office about the launch, the five o’clock shadowed Dwight jumps at the chance to impress his departed love by announcing that he will sell more paper in a day than the new Dunder-Mifflin website. Andy is more than willing to help things out by announcing a new sale by Dwight with the resounding sound of a bear horn. Jim will not stand for this as he asks Pam to help with a prank. Though apprehensive at first, the sound of the horn convinces the lowly receptionist. Getting on instant messenger, Pam logs on as DunMiff/sys and sends the message, “Who am I?” while Dwight is on a call.

Reaction
After some slight investigation, Jim and Pam tell Dwight that the system is self-aware, is programmed to be his enemy and must destroy him in selling paper. Despite his suspicions of Jim’s involvement, Jim walks away from reception and the joke is sold. Not that Dwight is scared (the computer should be scared of him). Jim mentions that Dwight looks worried, and the system agrees. This raises Dwight’s paranoia to the point of binary cursing. Despite their best efforts to worry Dwight further, he is now more determined. Maybe a little shaken by Darryl, Dwight goes off the deep end and uses the leads he stole from Staples. Though Jim has to leave to go to “the party,” Jim makes sure she knows about the leads. This shakes Dwight momentarily, but he still gets the sale. After his victorious paper battle against the website, Angela still rejects him. Pam, realizing his sorrow, let’s Dwight know that he is the superior being over the system.

Originality
9 – Unless you count Pavlov’s Altoids, this is the first time Jim and Pam have used the internet to prank Dwight. You also have to account for the fact that Jim and Pam knew that Dwight had a WarGames mentality about the whole thing.

Length Taken
7 – Pam didn’t really take it as far as it could have gone, but she gets an extra point for stopping it when it got to the point when Dwight was about to cry.

Special Awards
Don’t Be Cruel Award - Pam is too sweet to hurt Dwight that much more after it had gone so far.
Knowing your Enemy Award - Who else but Dwight would fall for this?