There were a number of episodes throughout the run of The Office that played a big role in shaping the identity of the show. Perhaps no episode was formative, however, as "Casino Night."
"Casino Night" was the season two finale of The Office and it brought a number of arcs to the forefront from that stellar season of television. Chief among these are the show's romantic arts, including the Jim and Pam dynamic, as well as Michael's courting of multiple women. It was an award-winning arc for The Office and is still widely considered to be the best season of the hit NBC comedy. But "Casino Night" still has tons of facts behind it that fans would love to know.
Written By Steve Carell
Steve Carell was a major factor behind the scenes of The Office, as he directed three episodes and wrote two of them. "Survivor Man" is his other writing credit, but his first remains his best. Carell wrote "Casino Night"!
Per show creator Greg Daniels, Carell pitched him the idea for the episode and he was so delighted that he sent Carell to write the episode immediately. Obviously, the episode is a crucial one for Carell's Michael Scott character, but it also had big ramifications for the Jim and Pam relationship and it's impressive that he tackled that story head-on.
Fans Consider It The Best
Many critics and Office scholars have considered "Casino Night" to be one of the show's best-ever episodes, even fourteen years after it first aired. However, the fans have also rallied behind it. So much so that it perennially ranks among the best.
Many surveys and aggregates have labeled "Casino Night" as one of, if not the best episode of the show. But it was OfficeTally, the biggest fan forum for The Office, that ranked "Casino Night" number one for all-time episodes. It always has a special spot in fans' hearts.
First Appearance Of Scrantonicity
One of the best parts of "Casino Night" is that it introduces a series of subplots for the show's supporting characters, developing them further, in addition to the core cast. After all, the show eventually grew to be about way more than just Jim, Pam, Michael, Dwight, and Ryan.
The character of Kevin Malone receives some fun character development as it is revealed that he is not only a savvy gambler but that he also has a role in a cover band for The Police. Scrantonicity makes its first appearance in "Casino Night" and it became a fun recurring gag for the run of the show.
Gertrude Hawk Chocolates
One of the aspects of The Office that the behind the scenes workers prided themselves on was their attention to detail that came about from grounding the show in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It helped fill out the universe in an admirably realistic way.
"Casino Night" features a prime example of this quality when Creed Bratton begins his theft of candy from an office vending machine. One of the candy bars he nabs is labeled as Gertrude Hawk Chocolates. This might not mean much to many, but for real Scranton residents, they would recognize it as a chocolate company that was founded in Scranton! That's the real deal.
The Rules Of Texas Hold 'Em
There are many gambling scenes in this episode, which is to be expected for an installment entitled, "Casino Night." However, the gambling did not necessarily stick the landing, as the cards were always in question for the players at the Texas Hold 'Em table.
For one, the dealer forgets to deal cards into the table's center and Toby Flenderson is instead awarded with the victory. (Based on the rules of the game, he did not earn this win. This is entirely in lock step with Toby's character.) Additionally, a Jack of spades is seen in the hands of both Toby and Kelly Kapoor, which is logistically impossible for the game. Fourteen years later, fans notice the inconsistencies still!
Carol Stills In Real Life
Of all of Michael Scott's lovers on the show, there was one that he had perhaps the best chemistry with, even if the characters were fundamentally incompatible. It's not Jan or Holly, but rather, it's Carol Stills, the show's local real estate agent.
In real life, Carol Stills is portrayed by Nancy Walls Carell. No, those surnames are not a coincidence. The two are actually married in real life. Fortunately, Steve Carell's real life proposal went much better than his impulsive Diwali marriage offer. They were just meant to be, in a different universe!
Scranton Soup Kitchens
Like the Gertrude Hawk Chocolates brand that paid homage to the real world of Scranton, so too did the accuracy of the soup kitchen reference. Obviously, the show did not film in the real Scranton, but the show's team did whatever they could to make it feel as realistically Pennsylvania as possible.
This particular instance came in the case of Creed once again when he remarks that his favorite pea soup comes from the local soup kitchen for the homeless population. Is Creed homeless? Who's to say? But it is easy to know that he's referring to the soup kitchen under the name of St. Francis of Assisi. Located right in the heart of Scranton, of course.
Abraham Lincoln And Dunder Mifflin
Few historical figures have received as much love from the workers of Dunder Mifflin as President Abraham Lincoln did over the years. The show contains numerous references to him over the run, with his first name drop coming in the second episode, "Diversity Day."
In "Casino Night," Michael remarks that the Lincoln assassination only recently became okay to joke about, punctuating his gaff with "I need a hole in the head." This joke must have permeated throughout the culture of The Office writing room because it reappeared in the season eight episode, "Gettysburg," courtesy of Gabe Lewis.
Tuxedos And Schrute Lore
Speaking of continuity over the run of the show, a bit of Schrute lore plays a major role in Dwight's future ninth season character arc. The tuxedo he wears at the outset of "Casino Night" is said to be his grandfather's tux. However, not all is seemly, as Dwight's grandfather was buried in that same tux.
In keeping with the continuity of the show, Dwight dons this tuxedo again during the episode, "The Farm," which was supposed to be a spin-off for the Schrute farmer. Of course, this also sees the burial for his aunt, Shirley. Too many deaths in the Schrute clan, sadly.
Jim And Pam's First Kiss
When do Jim and Pam share their first kiss? This was the topic of discussion on the Office Ladies podcast episode that revisited "The Dundies." Hosted by Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey, the two debated whether Jim and Pam's first kiss came in that episode or in "Casino Night."
Does a drunken, impulsive kiss that Jim tried to downplay count? Or does a real, moving, heartbreaking kiss in the office of Dunder Mifflin count? There might not ever be an answer, but the most memorable has to come from "Casino Night" for sure.