Michael's Last Dundies
Encyclopedia
"Michael's Last Dundies" is the twenty-first episode of the seventh season of the American comedy
television series
The Office and the show's 147th episode overall. Written and directed by Mindy Kaling
, the episode aired on April 21, 2011, on NBC
. The episode revolves around Michael training his office replacement, Deangelo (Will Ferrell
), for hosting the Dundie Awards. Meanwhile, Erin deals with her dislike of her boyfriend, Gabe.
The episode was written and directed by co-executive producer Mindy Kaling
, who also portrays Kelly Kapoor
on the series. The episode also marks the second appearance of Will Ferrell
as Deangelo Vickers
.
taking Deangelo
around town to deliver Dundie nomination certificates to his employees at their homes. They first deliver nominations to Jim
and Pam, though Jim has just woken up and Pam doesn't come to the door. Stanley
screams at them to get off his property when they deliver his nomination. Michael stops in Toby
's neighborhood and eggs his house, then drives away. They then arrive at Meredith
's run-down house (Deangelo remarks that it reminds him of Katrina
) and find the door unlocked and left ajar. They encounter her coming up her driveway after a one-night stand
, and she is excited that she got a Dundie nomination. She tries to persuade them to stay for breakfast, but Michael and Deangelo ditch her as they are afraid to enter her home.
tries to help him, saying he should just think of performing like conducting a meeting, but Michael objects, wanting Deangelo to mimic his style. Michael tries a number of different things to help Deangelo, such as sitting on his stomach and making him listen to a Walkman
at full volume so he can't hear himself think, but none are effective. Pam and Ryan
also get into an altercation over her saying "like crack".
Meanwhile, Jim and Pam see Erin
sitting in her car eating a sandwich. She explains that she's begun eating lunch in her car to get some time away from Gabe
, who she's starting to despise. Pam advises Erin to tell Gabe her real feelings as soon as possible.
After work, the employees arrive at the Dundies, and are treated to an opening video where Deangelo is searching for Michael to be his co-host, in which Michael plays various employees around the office. Only when Deangelo "looks into his heart", does Michael appear before him in a bathroom mirror.
After the movie, Dwight
introduces Michael and Deangelo. Moments after being introduced, Deangelo disappears into the bathroom to vomit. Eventually, Michael is able to psych him up, and the show begins. Even though he hosts it poorly, Deangelo manages to pull the ceremony off. Dwight wins the "Promising Assistant Manager" Dundie, but as he is still mad at Michael, he tosses his award in the trash. Erin wins the "Cutest Redhead" award and gives a speech in which she breaks up with Gabe, who takes the stage to protest, then leaves in frustration.
Michael then awards Deangelo with the "Best Dundies Host" award. The staff urges him to make a speech, but as he nervously tries to yell over his Walkman, the ceremony is kicked out of the restaurant. Michael is upset that his last Dundies Award show ended poorly, but the staff convinces him to continue the event at the office.
After Dwight, still angry with Michael, insults the Dundies and leaves, Michael and Deangelo continue the event in the conference room. After Michael awards Andy with the "Doobie Doobie Pothead Stoner of the Year" Award (since Andy tried marijuana in college), he is taken by surprise when Andy leads the employees in serenading the soon-to-depart Michael with an altered version (backed up on the keyboard by Darryl
) of "Seasons of Love
". Michael is touched, and in a talking-head interview held in his office, says leaving the office is going to hurt like a "mother f**ker".
, her 19th writing credit and second directing credit, and the first episode she has both written and directed. The episode is the second of Will Ferrell
's four-episode guest stint on the series after first appearing on "Training Day
". The episode serves as a sequel to the second season premiere, "The Dundies
". The episode was originally titled "Goodbye, Michael Part 1" before NBC announced that "Goodbye, Michael
" would be an extended 50-minute episode and this episode was retitled "Michael's Last Dundies".
' hosting of the 2011 Golden Globe Awards; which left critics questioning if he had gone "too far".. As executive producer of the American series and creator of the original British series, Gervais states on his blog that "we clearly put in a little in-joke" after he found a review that was "glad that, 'Ricky Gervais was slammed for his Golden Globe performance. Additionally, the episode contains several references to the film The King's Speech, such as when Deangelo gives his speech at the Dundies while listening to his Walkman played at a high volume.'"
".
The episode received a mixed review from Cindy White of IGN. She said "the laughs were scarce this episode" but that it was partly made up for by the "emotional highlights". She criticized the character of Deangelo Vickers, saying that she doesn't have a handle on the character and that he is too "downright normal". However, she praised the performances of many of the supporting cast. She ultimately gave the episode a 7 out of 10.
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
television series
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
The Office and the show's 147th episode overall. Written and directed by Mindy Kaling
Mindy Kaling
Vera Mindy Chokalingam , better known as Mindy Kaling, is an American actress, comedian, writer and producer who plays Kelly Kapoor on the NBC sitcom The Office. Kaling is also a co-executive producer and writer of several of the show's episodes.-Early life:Kaling was born Vera Chokalingam in...
, the episode aired on April 21, 2011, on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
. The episode revolves around Michael training his office replacement, Deangelo (Will Ferrell
Will Ferrell
John William "Will" Ferrell is an American comedian, impressionist, actor, and writer. Ferrell first established himself in the late 1990s as a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, and has subsequently starred in the comedy films Old School, Elf, Anchorman, Talladega...
), for hosting the Dundie Awards. Meanwhile, Erin deals with her dislike of her boyfriend, Gabe.
The episode was written and directed by co-executive producer Mindy Kaling
Mindy Kaling
Vera Mindy Chokalingam , better known as Mindy Kaling, is an American actress, comedian, writer and producer who plays Kelly Kapoor on the NBC sitcom The Office. Kaling is also a co-executive producer and writer of several of the show's episodes.-Early life:Kaling was born Vera Chokalingam in...
, who also portrays Kelly Kapoor
Kelly Kapoor
Kelly Rajnigandha Kapoor , is a fictional character from the US television series, The Office. She is played by Mindy Kaling, who is also a writer and producer for the show....
on the series. The episode also marks the second appearance of Will Ferrell
Will Ferrell
John William "Will" Ferrell is an American comedian, impressionist, actor, and writer. Ferrell first established himself in the late 1990s as a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, and has subsequently starred in the comedy films Old School, Elf, Anchorman, Talladega...
as Deangelo Vickers
Deangelo Vickers
Deangelo Jeremitrius Vickers is a fictional character in the television series The Office. Played by actor Will Ferrell, Vickers was Michael Scott's replacement as Branch Manager during the end of Season 7, since Michael was moving to Colorado with his fiancee Holly...
.
Cold open
The cold open begins with MichaelMichael Scott (The Office)
Michael Gary Scott is a fictional character on NBC's The Office, portrayed by Steve Carell, and based on David Brent from the original British version. Michael, the central character of the series, was the manager of the Scranton branch of paper and printer distribution company Dunder Mifflin Inc...
taking Deangelo
Deangelo Vickers
Deangelo Jeremitrius Vickers is a fictional character in the television series The Office. Played by actor Will Ferrell, Vickers was Michael Scott's replacement as Branch Manager during the end of Season 7, since Michael was moving to Colorado with his fiancee Holly...
around town to deliver Dundie nomination certificates to his employees at their homes. They first deliver nominations to Jim
Jim Halpert
James Duncan "Jim" Halpert is a fictional character in the United States version of the television sitcom The Office, played by John Krasinski. The character is based on Tim Canterbury from the original version of The Office...
and Pam, though Jim has just woken up and Pam doesn't come to the door. Stanley
Stanley Hudson
Stanley James Hudson is a fictional character from the US television series The Office. He is played by Leslie David Baker. Stanley's counterpart in the UK series is Malcolm.-Overview:...
screams at them to get off his property when they deliver his nomination. Michael stops in Toby
Toby Flenderson
Toby Wyatt Flenderson, M.S.W. born 1971 is a character from the US television series The Office. He is played by Paul Lieberstein. He is an original character and has no equivalent in the British version of the show, The Office.-Overview:...
's neighborhood and eggs his house, then drives away. They then arrive at Meredith
Meredith Palmer
Meredith Elizabeth Palmer is a fictional character from the US television series The Office. She is played by Kate Flannery. She is an original character and has no equivalent in the British version of the show, The Office....
's run-down house (Deangelo remarks that it reminds him of Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
) and find the door unlocked and left ajar. They encounter her coming up her driveway after a one-night stand
One-night stand
Originally, a one-night stand was a single theatre performance, usually by a guest performer on tour, as opposed to an ongoing engagement. Today, however, the term is more commonly defined as a single sexual encounter, in which neither participant has any intention or expectation of a relationship...
, and she is excited that she got a Dundie nomination. She tries to persuade them to stay for breakfast, but Michael and Deangelo ditch her as they are afraid to enter her home.
Plot
At the office, Michael announces to the employees that Deangelo will be his co-host at the Dundies. The idea of performance is worrisome to Deangelo, but Michael insists he take the job. Michael brings some of the staff together in the conference room to help Deangelo get prepared for the show, but he struggles to be humorous. AndyAndy Bernard
Andrew "Andy" Baines Bernard is a fictional character from the U.S. television series The Office. The character is highly insecure, yet egotistical, constantly mentioning his education at Cornell University...
tries to help him, saying he should just think of performing like conducting a meeting, but Michael objects, wanting Deangelo to mimic his style. Michael tries a number of different things to help Deangelo, such as sitting on his stomach and making him listen to a Walkman
Walkman
Walkman is a Sony brand tradename originally used for portable audio cassette, and now used to market Sony's portable audio and video players as well as a line of Sony Ericsson mobile phones...
at full volume so he can't hear himself think, but none are effective. Pam and Ryan
Ryan Howard
Ryan James Howard is a Major League Baseball first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies. Nicknamed "The Big Piece", Howard stands and weighs . He bats and throws left-handed....
also get into an altercation over her saying "like crack".
Meanwhile, Jim and Pam see Erin
Erin Hannon
Kelly Erin Hannon is a fictional character from the U.S. television series The Office. She is the office receptionist for the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin, a position previously held by Pam Halpert before she left the company. Erin is played by Ellie Kemper...
sitting in her car eating a sandwich. She explains that she's begun eating lunch in her car to get some time away from Gabe
Gabe Lewis
Gabriel Stuart "Gabe" Lewis is a fictional character on NBC's The Office. He first appears in the sixth season, where he is the Coordinating Director of Emerging Regions for the Sabre Corporate headquarters in Florida...
, who she's starting to despise. Pam advises Erin to tell Gabe her real feelings as soon as possible.
After work, the employees arrive at the Dundies, and are treated to an opening video where Deangelo is searching for Michael to be his co-host, in which Michael plays various employees around the office. Only when Deangelo "looks into his heart", does Michael appear before him in a bathroom mirror.
After the movie, Dwight
Dwight Schrute
Dwight Kurt Schrute III is a character on NBC's The Office portrayed by Rainn Wilson. He originally exactly resembled Gareth Keenan from the original UK version of The Office. Dwight is the top salesman and former acting manager for the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company and has won numerous awards for...
introduces Michael and Deangelo. Moments after being introduced, Deangelo disappears into the bathroom to vomit. Eventually, Michael is able to psych him up, and the show begins. Even though he hosts it poorly, Deangelo manages to pull the ceremony off. Dwight wins the "Promising Assistant Manager" Dundie, but as he is still mad at Michael, he tosses his award in the trash. Erin wins the "Cutest Redhead" award and gives a speech in which she breaks up with Gabe, who takes the stage to protest, then leaves in frustration.
Michael then awards Deangelo with the "Best Dundies Host" award. The staff urges him to make a speech, but as he nervously tries to yell over his Walkman, the ceremony is kicked out of the restaurant. Michael is upset that his last Dundies Award show ended poorly, but the staff convinces him to continue the event at the office.
After Dwight, still angry with Michael, insults the Dundies and leaves, Michael and Deangelo continue the event in the conference room. After Michael awards Andy with the "Doobie Doobie Pothead Stoner of the Year" Award (since Andy tried marijuana in college), he is taken by surprise when Andy leads the employees in serenading the soon-to-depart Michael with an altered version (backed up on the keyboard by Darryl
Darryl Philbin
Darryl Mathias Philbin is a fictional character from the US television series The Office. He is played by Craig Robinson.-Overview:Darryl Philbin is the foreman of the warehouse of the Scranton branch of fictitious paper distributor Dunder Mifflin....
) of "Seasons of Love
Seasons of Love
"Seasons of Love" is a song from the Broadway musical Rent, written and composed by Jonathan Larson. The song starts with an ostinato piano motif, which provides the harmonic framework for the cast to sing "Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes"...
". Michael is touched, and in a talking-head interview held in his office, says leaving the office is going to hurt like a "mother f**ker".
Production
The episode was written and directed by co-executive producer Mindy KalingMindy Kaling
Vera Mindy Chokalingam , better known as Mindy Kaling, is an American actress, comedian, writer and producer who plays Kelly Kapoor on the NBC sitcom The Office. Kaling is also a co-executive producer and writer of several of the show's episodes.-Early life:Kaling was born Vera Chokalingam in...
, her 19th writing credit and second directing credit, and the first episode she has both written and directed. The episode is the second of Will Ferrell
Will Ferrell
John William "Will" Ferrell is an American comedian, impressionist, actor, and writer. Ferrell first established himself in the late 1990s as a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, and has subsequently starred in the comedy films Old School, Elf, Anchorman, Talladega...
's four-episode guest stint on the series after first appearing on "Training Day
Training Day (The Office)
"Training Day" is the twentieth episode of the seventh season of the American comedy television series The Office and the show's 146th episode overall. Written by Daniel Chun and directed by Paul Lieberstein, the episode aired on April 14, 2011, on NBC...
". The episode serves as a sequel to the second season premiere, "The Dundies
The Dundies
"The Dundies" is the second season premiere of the American comedy television series The Office—the show's seventh episode overall. Written by Mindy Kaling and directed by Greg Daniels, who is also a producer for the show, the episode originally aired in the United States on September 20, 2005 on...
". The episode was originally titled "Goodbye, Michael Part 1" before NBC announced that "Goodbye, Michael
Goodbye, Michael
"Goodbye, Michael" is the twenty-second episode of the seventh season of the American comedy series The Office and the show's 148th episode overall. The episode was written by series developer and executive producer Greg Daniels and was directed by Paul Feig. The episode originally aired on April...
" would be an extended 50-minute episode and this episode was retitled "Michael's Last Dundies".
Cultural references
In this episode, Michael Scott describes the Dundies as "like the Golden Globes but less mean" referring to Ricky GervaisRicky Gervais
Ricky Dene Gervais is an English comedian, actor, director, radio presenter, producer, musician, and writer.Gervais achieved mainstream fame with his television series The Office and the subsequent series Extras, both of which he co-wrote and co-directed with friend and frequent collaborator...
' hosting of the 2011 Golden Globe Awards; which left critics questioning if he had gone "too far".. As executive producer of the American series and creator of the original British series, Gervais states on his blog that "we clearly put in a little in-joke" after he found a review that was "glad that, 'Ricky Gervais was slammed for his Golden Globe performance. Additionally, the episode contains several references to the film The King's Speech, such as when Deangelo gives his speech at the Dundies while listening to his Walkman played at a high volume.'"
Reception
In its original American broadcast, "Michael's Last Dundies" was viewed by an estimated 6.849 million households and received a 3.3 rating/10% share in the 18-49 demographic. This means that it was seen by 3.3% of all 18–49 years olds, and 9% of all 18–49 year olds watching television at the time of the broadcast. This marked a significant drop in the ratings from the previous episode, "Training DayTraining Day (The Office)
"Training Day" is the twentieth episode of the seventh season of the American comedy television series The Office and the show's 146th episode overall. Written by Daniel Chun and directed by Paul Lieberstein, the episode aired on April 14, 2011, on NBC...
".
The episode received a mixed review from Cindy White of IGN. She said "the laughs were scarce this episode" but that it was partly made up for by the "emotional highlights". She criticized the character of Deangelo Vickers, saying that she doesn't have a handle on the character and that he is too "downright normal". However, she praised the performances of many of the supporting cast. She ultimately gave the episode a 7 out of 10.
External links
- "Michael's Last Dundies" at NBC.comNBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...