"Secret Santa" is the fourth Christmas episode of the NBC sitcom The Office, based on the 2001-02 BBC series, produced and aired as the thirteenth episode of the show's sixth season.
Synopsis[]
Michael comes into the office as Santa and is outraged that Jim had already allowed Phyllis to be Santa at the office Christmas party this year. Everyone seems to enjoy having her as Santa, but Michael continues to try and steal her thunder, prompting Jim to tell him to cease and desist. Michael then rearranges his costume into a Jesus one and starts interrupting Phyllis while she's giving out the Secret Santa gifts. When Jim stops Michael again, he calls CFO David Wallace to complain. David asks not to be bothered as someone made an agreement to buy the company, and he and presumably everyone else will lose their jobs after the fact.
Michael calls a conference meeting to try and keep up everyone's spirits but reveals that the company is going out of business, which puts everyone into shock. When Jim asks for confirmation, Michael says that David told him that the company is being sold. Jim notes that being sold could be different than going out of business, so Michael calls David back with everyone listening. David reveals that he meant that only he, CEO Alan Brand, and a few other executives at corporate will lose their jobs, but the branches will stay as they are the only successful aspect of the company. The office then cheers and goes back to the party, where everyone receives their Secret Santa gifts and Michael apologizes to Phyllis for trying to overshadow her.
Oscar has a secret crush on Matt, one of the new warehouse workers. Pam tries to play matchmaker and introduces him to Oscar. After conversing a while, he leaves, and Oscar asks Pam to let him pursue Matt by himself. Meanwhile, Andy had asked to have Erin as his recipient for Secret Santa and decides to give her the Twelve Days of Christmas as his gift to her. However, the gifts, most of which are actual live birds, are causing her physical harm, prompting her to publicly ask her Secret Santa to discontinue. Andy asks Phyllis not to reveal him as Erin's Secret Santa, but Michael reveals that he had her and she becomes upset with him. At the end of the episode, as the office leaves for the night, they are greeted by the "twelve drummers" in the parking lot. Andy joins them and wishes Erin a merry Christmas, completing his Secret Santa gift to her. They start drumming and Erin is visibly pleased by the gesture.
Songs[]
- Uncredited
- "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" - Rainn Wilson and Ed Helms
- "O Christmas Tree" - Brian Baumgartner
- "I Saw Three Ships" - Mindy Kaling and Ellie Kemper
- "Deck the Halls" - Steve Carell
Availability[]
The episode was included on The Office: Season 6 Blu-Ray and DVD sets, released by Universal Studios Home Entertainment, on September 7, 2010. 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 |
Ed Helms | Andy Bernard |
Leslie David Baker | Stanley Hudson |
Brian Baumgartner | Kevin Malone |
Creed Bratton | Self |
Kate Flannery | Meredith Palmer |
Mindy Kaling | Kelly Kapoor |
Ellie Kemper | Erin Hannon |
Angela Kinsey | Angela Martin |
Paul Lieberstein | Toby Flenderson |
Oscar Nunez | Oscar Martinez |
Craig Robinson | Darryl Philbin |
Phyllis Smith | Phyllis Vance |
Andy Buckley (voice) | David Wallace |
Sam Daly | Matt |
Bobby Ray Shafer | Bob Vance |
Karly Rothenberg | Madge |
Calvin Tenner | Calvin |
Suzanne Watson | Stephanie |
See also[]
- "Christmas Party"
- "A Benihana Christmas"
- "Moroccan Christmas"
- "Classy Christmas"
- "Christmas Wishes"
- "Dwight Christmas"