The Best Cold Opens of "The Office" Seasons 1-5

Since "The Office" debuted seven seasons ago, it's been a big hit, entertaining its audience with humor, romance, and a memorable cast of characters. And while the plotlines and story arcs of this well-crafted show provide lots of entertainment, some of the best comedy "The Office" has to offer doesn't even happen in the main episodes. The one to two minute sequence that occurs before the opening credits is known as the "cold open," and it is here that the writers really shine. Gags that make us laugh and give us further insight into our favorite characters are found here, and these cold opens are arguably some of the most memorable moments of the show.

Cold opens on "The Office" didn't make their debut until several episodes into Season 2, and while some are related to the overall plot of the episode, many are little comedic gems unto themselves. Below are the best cold opens through Season 5, and quite possibly some of the best Office moments overall.

Season 2, Episode 6
"The Fight"
This was the first cold open that was used for an additional comedic stunt unrelated to the plot of the episode. And, like many of the cold opens that follow each season, its focus is on the hilarious ways Jim is able to prank Dwight. This open starts with Dwight walking in the office in the morning and realizing his desk is completely gone. Jim leads him to the missing workspace with a game of "hotter, colder," until Dwight discovers his entire desk and all of its contents assembled in the men's room. In classic Jim and Dwight fashion, Dwight is lured into this alternate reality by Jim, who immediately calls Dwight on his telephone, which is completely hooked up in the bathroom, asking him about a paper discount. Instead of Dwight simply walking out to the main office and putting a stop to the prank, he talks to Jim and settles in for his workday.

Season 2, Episode 11
"Booze Cruise"
In another great Jim and Dwight moment, Dwight enters the break room to discover that all of his desk items, from a bobble head to his nameplate, have been placed inside the snack vending machine. At first he balks, but when Pam buys his pencil cup, he gives in, only to find that his wallet is also inside the machine. Jim hands over a bag of nickels, and Dwight gets to work retrieving his personal items.

Season 3, Episode 7
"Branch Closing"
Even from Stamford, Jim is able to prank Dwight. We learn that before he left, Jim stole a box of Dwight's stationary and sends him periodic faxes from himself, in the future. This morning's fax reveals that the break room coffee was poisoned at 8am. And since Dwight is wholly committed to fighting injustice any way he can, we are treated to Rainn Wilson's physical comedy as he tackles a drowsy Stanley who emerges from the break room with a cup of coffee, telling him, "You'll thank me later."

Season 3, Episode 14
"Phyllis' Wedding"
This Office cold open starts with Jim rebooting his computer, resulting in a chime sound effect, and offering Dwight an Altoid, which he accepts. We learn through narration that Jim is conducting a Pavlovian experiment on Dwight, offering him an Altoid every time the computer chimes. By the end of the open, Jim reboots and then just sits there, ignoring Dwight. Dwight reaches out his hand to receive his mint, and Jim asks him what he's doing. Dwight comes to and doesn't know why his hand is outstretched, but all-of-the-sudden realizes his mouth tastes bad.

Season 3, Episode 20
"Women's Appreciation"
Here, we are once again treated to a peek at Dwight's all-too-serious character. Jim walks in late and receives a demerit from Dwight for tardiness. As Jim asks questions, Dwight reveals his complex, yet virtually meaningless chain of disciplinary action. The end result? A written report will be given to Dwight's immediate superior, who happens to be none other than Jim. And Jim, in true prankster fashion, takes it one step further, asking Dwight for a full written report on his desk by the end of the day, or he'll risk getting a full "dissadulation." Not knowing what this is but obviously perplexed by the ramifications of this fake reprimand, Dwight looks a bit panic-stricken, and the audience knows he'll comply.

Season 4, Episode 3
"Launch Party"
This open highlights Michael Scott's cluelessness as well as his employee's priorities when it comes to his constant meetings in the conference room. While Michael is highlighting his ideas, the office staff is watching the screen saver DVD icon bouncing around on the television screen behind him. They're all waiting for the square icon to perfectly hit the corner of the screen, yet Michael thinks their reactions are for what he's saying. When the icon finally fits perfectly into the corner, applause erupts and everyone gets up and leaves. Yet Michael, still clueless, believes he's given the perfect end note to the meeting, commenting, "Some days, I am just on fire."

Season 4, Episode 14
"Goodbye, Toby"
In yet another classic Jim and Dwight moment, we learn that Jim has found yet a new way to mess with Dwight's head. Dwight's cell phone rings, but when he tries to answer it, he can't; Jim has connected it to his headpiece, so Jim answers the phone as Dwight. Pam then calls from her desk at Reception, and pretends she thinks she's talking to Dwight, even though she's really talking to Jim and only sitting about five feet away. Dwight, oblivious, is shouting to Pam and the phone that it's not really him, it's Jim. Finally, he decides to reroute his calls to his desk line, but Jim's got that covered, too. His desk phone goes to Jim's desk phone, and when Dwight's mother calls, Jim informs her that he's just married. This sends Dwight into a hilarious fit of smashing his cell phone, and the open ends with one of Jim's classic camera looks.

Season 5, Episode 3
"Baby Shower"
By now, fans know just how deep Dwight's loyalty to Michael goes, but this cold open takes it to a whole new level. Michael is preparing for the birth of Jan's baby, who Jim says is related to him through delusion, since he is neither with Jan nor the baby's biological father. Dwight is helping by wearing an apron with a watermelon under it and shouting out labor stages like, "My cervix is ripening!" We finally see Dwight in a labor position, pants off, on Michael's desk, and when the watermelon emerges, Michael drops it, since Dwight covered it in butter, telling him, "newborns are slippery." The open ends with Dwight pulling on his pants behind Michael while he sits at his desk eating a slice of watermelon and telling us, "This is going to be the happiest day of my life."

Season 5, Episode 10"
"Moroccan Christmas"
Dwight enters the office and sees that his entire chair, desk, and everything on it has been gift wrapped, courtesy of Jim. While a typical Jim/Dwight conversation ensues, Dwight flings his briefcase onto his desk while simultaneously sitting down, causing everything to fall to the ground, including himself, since it was all wrapped cardboard.

Season 5, Episode 13
"Stress Relief"
This is probably the longest cold open in "The Office's" history at 4:35, but one of the best, since we get to see just how everyone reacts together under pressure. Dwight, frustrated that no one took his fire safety lecture seriously, sets a fake fire and simulates that they're all trapped in the office with no escape. Comedic chaos ensues as Oscar jumps into the ceiling only to fall through several times, Angela takes a cat out of the filing cabinet and tries to throw it to Oscar, Kevin breaks open the vending machine and starts stealing snacks, and everyone basically fends for themselves (with the exception of Jim helping Pam). In the end, Stanley faints to the floor, and Michael yells at him, "Stanley! You will not die! Stanley! Barack is president! You're black, Stanley!"