Why The Hot Girl Episode Of The Office Hasn't Aged Well
Despite a rocky start, popular sitcom "The Office" went on to become one of the most-watched and beloved TV comedies of all time. And to think the show almost didn't make it past 2005 after its first season. Thankfully, the Emmy Award-winning show went on to air for nine seasons and is still a popular binge-watch today thanks to streaming services.
The premise of the show was pretty basic: a mockumentary that showed the wacky ins and outs of a typical workplace environment. The goofy main characters were easy to like, and "The Office" often featured famous guest stars throughout its run. It was an Americanized version of a British sitcom that took place in the seemingly boring old town of Scranton. However, inside the Dunder Mifflin walls, the workspace was anything but boring, particularly thanks to "World's Best Boss" Michael Scott (Steve Carell). Despite the show's widespread popularity, some aspects of the moments of "The Office" haven't aged well, including the "Hot Girl" episode.
The Office Season 1 finale was full of sexism
As previously mentioned, the first season of "The Office" had a rocky start. It spanned only 6-episodes and wasn't exactly the smash hit NBC was looking for at the time. And despite the modern-day love of the show, the finale episode called "Hot Girl" is extremely cringeworthy to watch these days. The episode centers around the men in the office and their attraction to a purse saleswoman named Katy (Amy Adams) who shows up at Dunder Mifflin one day. Throughout the episode, the men ogle her and do their best to get her attention. To make it worse, they constantly make horrible remarks about Pam's (Jenna Fischer) looks just because there's another woman in the office who they deem more attractive.
When Katy first steps foot into the office, Michael tries to send her away, deeming vendors a "distraction." However, once he catches sight of her, he changes the rules. He and Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson) go head-to-head trying to court Katy, who seems uninterested. They even refer to her as a "new and improved Pam" and tell Pam that Katy is prettier than her to her face. The objectification is clear, as well as their attempts to get Pam to be jealous of the random woman who harmlessly walked into their work place. Despite the lovable characters of the show, "Hot Girl" is a dark spot and a reminder of how prevalent sexist tropes have been in television.