<P> The episode was written by Larry Wilmore, making it his first and only writing contribution to the series . Wilmore had previously guest starred in the series as Mr. Brown, the diversity instructor who gives a presentation to the office in the first season episode "Diversity Day". The episode was originally going to be about "weight loss" and be one of the very first episodes of the second season aired . However, after "The Dundies" and "The Fire", series creator and developer Greg Daniels decided to hold the episode off and combine it with elements of "The Client". When "Performance Review" was being formulated, Wilmore had "four different ideas that were scrunched together to make an episode". One of the ideas was on a card that said "Thursday Friday". After inquiring about the meaning, Wilmore loved the idea and noted that it "would be great" in the episode and a "real funny thing to pull on Dwight". Originally, the episode contained a subplot wherein Pam attempts to get a new chair approved by Michael . The scenes, in fact, were shot, but were never aired . </P> <P> The episode was directed by Paul Feig, making it his third episode directed for The Office after "Office Olympics" and "Halloween". During the filming of the episode, Jenna Fischer came down with a cold . Instead of postponing, however, Fischer memorized and performed all her lines, resulting in fellow cast member Angela Kinsey calling her a "trooper". </P> <P> Several scenes were created due to onset accidents and ad - libbing . In the cold opening, Dwight tries to impress Jim with his recently purchased "fitness orb". Initially dismissive, Jim pops the ball after Dwight becomes increasingly obnoxious and troublesome . Before filming, the scene had been successfully rehearsed "about ten times"; each time, when Krasinski punctured the plastic, the ball slowly deflated . However, when it came time to film the scene, Krasinski accidentally hit the ball "right on the seam", resulting in Wilson quickly--and dramatically--hitting the carpet . In fact, several of the cast members in the background can be seen laughing, due to the unexpected nature of the shot . Initially, the cut was relegated to the blooper reel, but Wilmore pleaded with Daniels to include it in the finished episode . The "accidental boob grab" scene was based on a mistake made by Carell during a rehearsal . Originally, he was supposed to pat Hardin's shoulder . Instead, however, he accidentally brushed past her breast . Hardin, finding the accident "hilarious", demanded that Carell do it during the actual shooting . Furthermore, several of the scenes were improvised beyond the initial lines given to Steve Carell and Melora Hardin, such as the ending wherein Michael and Jan have a discussion about Michael's flaws . Wilson recounts that he had to sit at his desk for "an hour and a half" due to the ad libbing . </P> <P> During the suggestion box scene, Larry Wilmore envisioned Dwight as an Ed McMahon - type character, repeating everything Michael said . Paul Lieberstein claimed that figuring out the logistics for the conference room scene was "the heart" of the episode . Hardin recalled that it was extremely difficult to stay in character, due to the humorous nature of the dialogue and the cast members' reactions . In fact, the cast broke more than usual during filming . During the scene, Michael reads a suggestion from someone named Tom, who asks for better help for people with depression . After inquiring who this mysterious Tom is, Phyllis tells Michael that he worked in accounting until a year ago and committed suicide . Wilmore claimed during the DVD commentary for the episode that the writers would be bringing him back in the show's third season, in which his backstory would be explained, although this never panned out . However, during the Writer's Block Q&A session at The Office Convention in 2007, the writers, perhaps sardonically, suggested that Tom's death was the reason that Ryan was brought in as a temporary worker . Tom's name is briefly seen on Dwight's organization chart in the fourth season episode "Did I Stutter?", where his name is revealed to be Tom Peets . </P>

The office jim pops dwight's ball episode
find me the text answering this question