<P> Season one of The Office aired on Tuesdays in the United States at 9: 30 p.m. The season debuted to high numbers, and garnered moderately positive reviews from critics aside from a poorly received pilot episode . While some enjoyed the pilot, others opined that it was a mere copy of the original British version . Universal Studios Home Entertainment released season one in a single DVD on August 16, 2005 . The DVD contained all six episodes, along with commentaries from creators, writers, actors, and directors on most of the episodes, as well as deleted scenes from all of the episodes . </P> <P> The first season of the show was produced by Reveille Productions and Deedle - Dee Productions, both in association with NBC Universal Television Studios . The show is based upon the British series created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, who are executive producers on the show, and it is produced by Greg Daniels, also an executive producer, along with consulting producers Larry Wilmore and Lester Lewis . The show's writers include Daniels, Gervais, Merchant, and Michael Schur, while Mindy Kaling, Paul Lieberstein, and B.J. Novak double as writers as well as actors in the show, and between them, wrote three episodes on the season . For this season, Schur was a co-producer, Kaling was a staff writer, Lieberstein was a consulting producer, and Novak was an executive story editor . The first episode, "Pilot", was written by Daniels, but the majority of the episode was adapted from "Episode One" of the British series, with many scenes being transferred almost verbatim . </P> <P> Season one featured episodes directed by five different directors . The Office features both a "team of directors" as well as several directors who are freelanced . Ken Kwapis, directed the first two episodes "Pilot" and "Diversity Day", and would go on to direct another eleven episodes in total, including the final episode of the series . Ken Whittingham, who directed "Health Care" would go on to direct another eight episodes in total . Daniels both produced and directed the episode "Basketball". The Office was almost entirely filmed in an actual office building in Los Angeles, California for its first season . Aside from Los Angeles, the city of Scranton, Pennsylvania, where the show is set, was also used for shots for the opening theme . </P> <P> Many characters portrayed by The Office cast are based on the British version of the show . While these characters normally have the same attitude and perceptions as their British counterparts, the roles have been redesigned to better fit the American show . The show is known for its generally large cast size, many of whom are known particularly for their improvisational work . Steve Carell stars as Michael Scott, Regional Manager of the Dunder Mifflin Scranton Branch . Loosely based on David Brent, Gervais' character in the British version, Scott is a dim - witted and lonely man, who attempts to win friends as the office comedian, usually making himself look bad in the process . Rainn Wilson portrays Dwight Schrute, who, based upon Gareth Keenan, is the Assistant to the Regional Manager, although the character frequently intentionally omits the "to the" in his title . John Krasinski portrays Jim Halpert, a sales representative and prankster, who is based upon Tim Canterbury, and is in love with Pam Beesly, the receptionist . Pam, who is based on Dawn Tinsley, is shy, but is often a cohort with Jim in his pranks on Dwight . B.J. Novak portrays Ryan Howard, who is a temporary worker . </P>

Where was the first season of the office filmed