The Accountants: 2006
NBC announced on March 16, 2006 that there would be ten original, stand-alone Webisode shorts on NBC.com starting in July 2006. They first debuted on NBC.com on July 13 and concluded on September 7. Major characters Michael, Jim, Pam, and Ryan do not appear in these episodes, while Dwight appears in only one webisode of the series. Instead, the focus is on the three members of the accounting department: Oscar, Angela and Kevin, as they try to find $3000 missing from the office budget. Oscar, Angela, and Kevin appear in each Webisode.
"The Accountants" webisodes were directed by Randall Einhorn and written by Michael Schur and Paul Lieberstein. It took two days to film them. They were edited by Michael Zurer, an assistant editor on the series. In June 2007, the Webisodes won the Comedy Short Award at the inaugural Webby Awards and a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Broadband Program - Comedy. In November 2007 the Webisodes became a point of argument for the Writers Guild of America for their strike, as none of the writers or actors featured in the webisodes were paid residuals for their participation.
"The Books Don't Balance"Original Air Date: July 13, 2006
The accountants inform Jan that the books don't balance and $3,000 is missing. The accountants decide to interrogate the other office employees, but Oscar is sure Michael took it.
"Phyllis"Original Air Date: July 13, 2006
The accountants question Phyllis and she makes a confession that she borrowed $14 and forgot to report it.
"Meredith"Original Air Date: July 20, 2006
Meredith is the next employee to be questioned. She claims that she wouldn't be at work if she did and also wouldn't do anything to get arrested, as she has a son to take care of, and wouldn't risk getting arrested.
"Stanley"Original Air Date: July 27, 2006
The accountants question Stanley Hudson (Leslie David Baker). Stanley thinks whoever did it was smart to steal that much.
"Someone in the Warehouse"Original Air Date: August 3, 2006
Kevin thinks Angela has a crush on Roy, who ends up being questioned next, but he doesn't even know how to take $3,000 out of petty cash.
"The Memo"Original Air Date: August 10, 2006
Kevin types a memo for the thief to come forward. Kevin gets ticked off that Angela bosses him around and makes a fake memo for himself.
"Things Are Getting Tense"Original Air Date: August 17, 2006
With new developments, the accountants start turning on each other.
"You're Mean"Original Air Date: August 24, 2006
The accountants wait for Michael to leave his office so that they can check to see if he stole the money.
"Michael's Office"Original Air Date: August 31, 2006
The accountants check Michael's office for evidence of the money. After finding nothing but inexpensive, useless novelty items, Oscar and Kevin unanimously decide Angela must talk to him.
"The Best Day of My Life"Original Air Date: September 7, 2006
Dwight confronts Angela about her decision to accuse Michael of taking the money. Kevin and Oscar discover that the missing funds are merely an accounting mistake made by Angela, upon which Kevin declares "this is the best day of my life."
Kelly set Pam up on her first date since breaking up with Roy. She was very nervous. Michael tried giving her dating tips and told her she should freak her date out by wearing her wedding dress.
Michael and Dwight attended the annual Mid-Market Office Supply Convention in Philadelphia. That is where they reunited with Jim. Michael and Dwight were surprised that Jim was so warm and happy to see them. Later, Michael cracked open the liquor and a dartboard to get ready for his hotel party.
Toby found out that Pam was single. He began to take an interest in her and even tried asking her out on a date, but he ended up getting nervous and losing his train of thought. She later went on a double blind date with Kelly and Ryan and another guy, but she had no chemistry with her date.
Michael was feeling threatened by Jim's new boss in Stamford, so he had Dwight run a background check on him. Dwight had to tell a disappointed Michael that his source at the police station refused to volunteer any information. Meanwhile, Michael tried to dig up dirt by going straight to Jim.
Jim got a copy of Dwight's room key and was prepared to pull a prank on him. When he opened the door, he was shocked to find a naked Angela lying on the bed. Jim was so shocked, he ran out of the room thinking she was a hired hooker.
Jim arrived at Michael's party to find him sitting alone in the corner of the room with a strobe light flashing and music blaring. Jim decided to stay and have a drink with Michael. He told Michael that Pam was the reason he'd transferred; it had nothing to do with Michael. Right afterwards, more people showed up to the party.
