In The Office's History, This Cold Open Stands Above The Rest
"The Office" is one of the most popular sitcoms, well, ever. It's unlikely you'll find someone who hasn't seen an episode of the beloved mockumentary (or at least its very recognizable memes). Based on the British series of the same name, the show changed television, revolutionizing the sitcom landscape, and making household names of its extremely talented cast. Since its debut in 2005, "The Office" has remained a significant part of pop culture, with its legions of adoring fans enjoying many rewatches of the show.
One of the best parts of "The Office" are the cold opens. Sometimes related to the rest of the episode, sometimes not, those first few minutes before the credits roll are often the most hilarious of the episode. With 201 episodes, "The Office" has had a lot of cold opens. While many are memorable, one, however, really brings the laughs — and really stands above the rest.
The fire drill sequence is the funniest cold open on The Office
"Stress Relief" is a two-part episode of "The Office's" fifth season, and it's often considered one of the best of the series, largely thanks to its absolutely side-splitting cold open.
In the sequence, Dwight (Rainn Wilson) is annoyed no one in the office paid attention during his fire safety presentation. So he decides his co-workers need to learn from experience — and starts a fire. What follows is a very chaotic sequence full of some of the series' most memorable moments as the team tries to escape the Dunder-Mifflin offices, but soon discovers that all the doors are locked (thanks to Dwight's interference). Dwight ultimately reveals that the fire was a simulation and they aren't in any real danger. However, the stress is still too much for Stanley (Leslie David Baker), who has a heart attack — and Michael's (Steve Carell) misguided attempts to help his sick employee are exceptionally funny.
The rest of the two-part episode is hilarious too, featuring the iconic sequence of the Dunder-Mifflin staff getting CPR training. On our many "The Office" binges, "Stress Relief" is always one of our favorites to re-watch.