8 Funniest Cold Opens In TV History
1. The Office - "Stay F*cking Calm!"
One of the longest US Office cold opens (one that pretty much acts as Stress Relief's first act), this scene of unalloyed chaos has become deservedly iconic. Although the scene pushes credulity to absolute breaking point (the documentary team stand by as the characters face potential death), it gets away with it by being very, very funny.
In the scene, Dwight - supposedly concerned about the well-being of his fellow employees - instigates a surprise fire drill, with real fire and smoke. Unsurprisingly, chaos ensues. It's a masterclass of writing and acting, pushing every character to near-breaking point, building momentum beautifully as Dwight hopelessly attempts to keep staff calm and marshal them into enacting safety precautions.
Which cold open is the funniest? Any we've missed? Let us know down in the comments.