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"Christmas Party" (aka "Santa Claus is Coming to Scranton") is the first Christmas episode of the NBC sitcom The Office, based on the 2001-02 BBC series, produced and aired as the tenth episode of the show's second season.

Synopsis[]

The office staffers hold a "Secret Santa" gift exchange at their Christmas party. Jim received Pam's name for the first time this year and puts a great deal of effort into getting her the perfect gift. Michael buys a $400 video iPod as his gift to Ryan, far exceeding the $20 limit. He is disappointed by the handmade item he receives from Phyllis and introduces a "Yankee Swap", in which someone can choose to steal someone else's gift or open a new one.

Jim is left feeling uncertain about the fate of his special present for Pam (which is eventually claimed by Dwight) while the staff guns for the iPod. Although she ends up with the iPod at the end of the swap, she elects to trade the iPod for his gift that was meant for her to show her appreciation. While she goes through the various aspects of her gift, he sneaks a letter that he wrote for her into his pocket.

After ruining his staff's mood, Michael disobeys company policy by buying an obscene amount of alcohol for the Christmas party to compensate. Everyone ends up having a good time, with the exception of Angela, who is furious that she received no appreciation for her efforts toward arranging the Christmas party, as well as the fact that Kelly makes advances on Dwight, whom she is secretly dating. The episode ends with a drunken Meredith exposing herself to a shocked Michael, who takes a picture and then quickly flees.

Christmas gifts[]

The following is a list of the Christmas gifts that were given amongst the employees for "Secret Santa". Though not all of the gifts are explicitly featured in the episode, Michael Schur wrote them all into the script (the list was confirmed on the Season 2 DVD commentary for the episode). Many can still be seen in the background of certain scenes.

Secret Santa Gift Intended Recipient Final Recipient
Michael video iPod Ryan Pam (Dwight)*
Dwight paintballs and free paintball lessons Phyllis Michael
Jim teapot and inside jokes Pam Dwight (Pam)*
Pam drawing of the office Meredith Oscar
Ryan book of short stories by George Saunders Toby Kelly (Toby)*
Kevin footbath
Kevin
Angela picture frame Stanley Stanley*
Oscar shamrock keychain Creed Jim
Stanley customized desk nameplate Kelly Toby (Kelly)*
Phyllis knitted oven mitt Michael Meredith
Meredith "Cancún" shot glasses Dwight Phyllis
Kelly shower radio Oscar Creed
Creed old, worn shirt Jim Ryan
Toby themed poster of babies
Angela

*Afterwards, Pam traded the video iPod to Dwight for the teapot, and Kelly traded the book of short stories to Toby for the nameplate. Stanley ending up with the picture frame determined by process of elimination. Ryan intends to give Creed's shirt "to a homeless guy".

Songs[]

Uncredited

Availability[]

The episode was included on The Office: Season 2 DVD set in 2006. It was also featured on The Office: Secret Santa Pack DVD in 2010 and The Office: Complete Christmas Collection DVD and Blu-ray in 2023.

Cast[]

Actor/actress Character
Steve Carell Michael Scott
Rainn Wilson Dwight Schrute
John Krasinski Jim Halpert
Jenna Fischer Pam Beesly
B.J. Novak Ryan Howard
David Koechner Todd Packer
David Denman Roy Anderson
Leslie David Baker Stanley Hudson
Brian Baumgartner Kevin Malone
Kate Flannery Meredith Palmer
Mindy Kaling Kelly Kapoor
Angela Kinsey Angela Martin
Paul Lieberstein Toby Flenderson
Oscar Nunez Oscar Martinez
Phyllis Smith Phyllis Lapin
Craig Robinson Darryl Philbin
Bobby Ray Shafer Bob Vance
Creed Bratton Self
Ryan Martin Clerk

See also[]

External links[]

Universal Studios
Movies Silent Night, Lonely Night1941Merry Christmas, Mr. LawrenceThe Munsters' Scary Little ChristmasHow the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)Love ActuallyThe HolidayThe Best Man HolidayKrampusAlmost ChristmasThe Grinch (2018)Last ChristmasBlack Christmas (2019)
Direct-to-video films The Life and Adventures of Santa ClausBarbie in a Christmas CarolCurious George: A Very Monkey ChristmasBarbie: A Perfect ChristmasBeethoven's Christmas AdventureAll I Want for Christmas is YouMy Adventures with Santa
Live-action television episodes "The Day They Captured Santa Claus" • "'Twas the Fight Before Christmas…" • "Christmas Presence" • "Home for the Holidays" • "Yule Laff" • "Christmas Brains" • "Seoul Mates" • "A Christmas Secret" • "Christmas Party" • "Mr. Monk and the Secret Santa" • "A Benihana Christmas" • "Mr. Monk Meets His Dad" • "Moroccan Christmas" • "Mr. Monk and the Man Who Shot Santa Claus" • "Ludachristmas" • "Christmas Special" • "Secret Santa (30 Rock) • "Christmas Attack Zone" • "Secret Santa" (The Office) • "Classy Christmas" • "Christmas Wishes" • "Josh and Mindy's Christmas Party" • "Mr. Monk and the Miracle"
Animated specials and episodes "Dickens of a Christmas" • A Wish For Wings That Work • "For Whom the Jingle Bell Tolls" • "A Christmas Peril" • "Ms. Banshee's Holiday Hits" • "Fright Before Christmas" • "A Very Woody Christmas" • "It's a Chilly Christmas After All" • "Yule Get Yours" • "The Twelve Lies of Christmas" • How Murray Saved Christmas • "ChristMess Eve" • 5 More Sleeps ‘til Christmas
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