Jim and Pam's first kiss took place at Chili's, and that was it (2024)

Merriam-Webster defines “where'as' to touch with the lips, especially as a sign of affection or greeting.

From the beginningdefinitionof the word, Jim Halpert and Pam Beesly's first kiss took place in season 2, episode 1 of theThe office, entitled "The Dundies." As Dwight would shout if he made this argument, “FACTS.”

While a Chili celebrates Michael Scott's annual employee awards ceremony, Dundies, Pam drinks a few too many drinks (and "other drinks") and then touches her lips to Jim's as a sign of affection. In other words: THEY KISS. For the first time I have to repeat! See for yourself.

Despite this crystal clear hug, a debate recently arose about when Jim and Pam's first kiss took placeThe officefans. Some people – who are right – swear that the Dundies kiss counts as Jim and Pam's first kiss, while others claim that the two share their first kiss 21 episodes later, during the season 2 finale, "Casino Night."

For those who think Jim and Pam's first kiss didn't happen until "Casino Night" - a group that apparently includesJenna Fischer(Pam) oneJohannes Krasinksi(Jim) – I understand where you're coming from. Really and truly. But you're just wrong and you're about to get an education.

Let me start by saying that Jim and Pam's kiss in "Casino Night" is and always will be one of the most magical kisses in television history. The first time I saw it I was blown away. The second time I screamed out loud. And the fifteen or so times I've seen it since have all elicited some sort of physical reaction. It is realawesome, but unfortunatelythat doesn't make it their first.

The "Casino Night" kiss takes place in the office after hours, seconds after Jim walks in on Pam while on the phone with her mother. Pam tells her mother about the life-changing moment that just happened with Jim in the parking lot when he said, "I'm in love with you. I'm really sorry if it's weird to hear, but I wanted you to." Hear that. Probably not good timing, but... just wanted you to know. Once.'

Anyway, seconds before the episode's credits appear, Jim goes straight to Pam and they do this.SWIM.

Now that both kissing scenes are happening, let's get back to the drama.

The official Twitter account forThe officetweeted a "fun fact" stating that John Krasinski's first on-screen kiss was with Jenna Fischer on "Casino Night." In aprevious interview with IMDB, Krasinski also specifically identified "Casino Night" as his first on-screen kiss, which really makes itcorpsesThat's true, and yet I've just provided irrefutable visual proof that it absolutely isn't!

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I Fischer's Swamp,The life of the actor,sheit supposedly writes"Casino Night" was also her first on-screen kiss, but when the latest debate started on Twitter, she seemed to be Team Dundies Kiss. Hmm...pick a side, Jenna!

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The case for "Casino Night"

A solid argument from the "Casino Night" kissing group is that in season 4, episode 22 ("Goodbye Toby"), Jim refers to his "first kiss" with Pam in Michael's office. Michael is in love with Toby's replacement, Holly Flax, and wants to speed up their relationship, but Jim reminds him that he and Pam did so well because they took it slow.

"The first meal we ever had was actually in the break room... The first time we kissed was right outside," Jim said, clearly referring to "Casino Night."

At the time of Pam's Dundies kiss with Jim, fans will remember that she was so drunk that she was eventually banned from Chili's "for life." She was also very engaged to Roy at the time. Jim was certainly aware of the kiss, but it's possible that Pam was so drunk that she didn't remember it the next day and Jim felt it was best to keep the moment to himself. If so, Pam would really think the "Casino Night" kiss was their first, so maybe Jim will pretend it is too.

The Case for "The Dundies"

In addition to being a drunken cheat kiss, "The Dundies" hug also took place in front of all of Jim and Pam's employees (and a sign that read "EAT MORE CHILI"). It wasn't a particularly romantic, breathtaking, or world-encompassing kiss. But itwasa kiss, and an important part of their history that deserves recognition.

It's crucial to remember the events that set up the Dundies kiss: Roy left Pam at the chain restaurant earlier that night because he's an idiot, and his decision to leave rightfully upset her. She was upset and dreading the thought of Michael giving her the embarrassing "Longest Engagement" award again a year in a row, so when she received the "Whitetest Sneakers" award instead, she was so overwhelmed with relief and joy that she kissed Jim.

It's possible that she knew that Jim had something to do with Michael changing the prize and was grateful, but even if she didn't know that, the kiss certainly meant that shesomething. I getWhyno one ever talked about it, but part of me thinks it's a little weird that everyone saw it and pretended it didn't happen, including Jim. In Pam Dundie's acceptance speech, she also says the iconic phrase, "I feel God in this Chili's Tonight," meaningeven Allahwitnessed Jim and Pam's first kiss.

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Kiss the conclusion

Of the two kisses, my favorite, and the one I so desperately wished was the first, took place in “Casino Night.” But the kiss, which first aired on NBC and took place chronologically in the series, first happened in "The Dundies."

It is likely that Jim told Michael that his first kiss with Pam took place on "Casino Night" because it was his first time Pam kissed him sober and it was the more meaningful of the two. I deeply respect the decision, but when Jim and Pam's children grow up and watch their parents fall in love with this strange documentary about the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, I'm sure they will dispute the claim and argue thattechnically, the first kiss took place in 2005 at the eighth annual Dundie Awards.

As for why Krasinski and Fischer both mentioned "Casino Night" as their first on-screen kiss, the only two explanations I can think of are that they really forgot about "The Dundies" or maybe they were watching "Casino Night" first were filming. On Fischer's podcast:Office ladies, she and former co-star Angela Kinsey revealed that the episodes in Season 1 were out of order, so I guess it's possible the same thing happened in Season 2?

Now that we've seen the kisses from all angles, it's clear that "The Dundies" kiss was Jim and Pam's first. But it is in the spirit of compromise that I will explain Jim and Pam's kiss first on "Casino Night."sincerelykiss. Are we all happy? Good!