<P> "Diversity Day" premiered on NBC on March 29, 2005 . While the pilot episode garnered over eleven million viewers, the second episode lost over half its viewing audience from the previous episode . The episode received a 2.7 / 6 in the Nielsen ratings among people aged 18--49, meaning that 2.7 percent of all 18 - to 49 - year - olds viewed the episode and six percent of all 18 - to 49 - year - olds watching TV viewed it . The episode garnered 6.0 million viewers overall . The episode, airing after Scrubs, retained 90% of its lead - in 18--49 audience . In addition, "Diversity Day," along with the other first season episodes of The Office helped NBC score its highest - rated Tuesday night slot since February 1, 2005 . </P> <P> Contrary to the lukewarm response to the pilot, "Diversity Day" earned positive reviews from television critics . Entertainment Weekly gave the episode positive reviews, stating that: "Think of the toss - off racism of the original, plopped into a PC - gone - wrong showcase that might be entitled The Accidental Bigot . As when the African - American diversity trainer introduces himself as Mr. Brown, and Scott assures him,' I will not call you that ."' Ricky Gervais, who was the lead in the British series, stated that, in comparison to the British version, "It is as good . I love the fact that, apart from the first one, the scripts are all original . You've gone back to the blueprint of what the characters are and you've started from there, as opposed to copying anything ." Rolling Stone magazine named the scene wherein Michael shows the office his diversity video the third greatest Moment from The Office . The article particularly praised Michael's line: "Abraham Lincoln once said,' If you are a racist, I will attack you with the North ."' </P> <P> Erik Adams of The A.V. Club awarded the episode a "B +" and felt that, as the show lost viewers in the first season, the stories got better, and that "Diversity Day" is an excellent example of this "unfortunate trend". He noted that the episode "would go on to be one of the series' defining episodes, an installment that put a more hopeful spin on the original Office's views on accepting the disparity between our dreams and our realities ." However, Adams noted that Carell's character was still too aggressive for Michael Scott to be completely lovable, and that the second season episode "Sexual Harassment" would serve as "a gentler spiritual sequel" to this episode, featuring a similar premise, but with a softened Michael Scott . For his work on this episode, B.J. Novak was nominated for a Writers Guild of America Award for Best Screenplay--Episodic Comedy . </P>

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