Michael's Last Dundies

"Michael's Last Dundies"
The Office episode
Michael and Deangelo co-hosting the Dundies
Episode no.	Season 7 Episode 21
Directed by	Mindy Kaling
Written by	Mindy Kaling
Production code	721
Original air date	April 21, 2011
Guest stars
Will Ferrell as Deangelo Vickers Jack Coleman as State Sen. Robert Lipton
Episode chronology
← Previous "Training Day" Next → "Goodbye, Michael"
List of The Office (U.S.) episodes

"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.^[1] 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.

Synopsis

Cold open

The cold open begins with Michael 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.

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. Andy 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.

The staff singing "Seasons of Michael"

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".

Production

The episode was written and directed by co-executive producer Mindy Kaling, her 19th writing credit and second directing credit, and the first episode she has both written and directed.^[2] The episode is the second of Will Ferrell's four-episode guest stint on the series after first appearing on "Training Day".^[3] The episode serves as a sequel to the second season premiere, "The Dundies".^[4] The episode was originally titled "Goodbye, Michael Part 1"^[5] before NBC announced that "Goodbye, Michael" would be an extended 50-minute episode and this episode was retitled "Michael's Last Dundies".^[6]

Cultural references

In this episode, Michael Scott describes the Dundies as "like the Golden Globes but less mean" referring to Ricky Gervais' hosting of the 2011 Golden Globe Awards; which left critics questioning if he had gone "too far".^[7]. 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.'"^[8]

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.^[9] 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 Day".^[10]

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.^[4]

References

1. ^ "(#721) "MICHAEL'S LAST DUNDIES"". The Futon Critic. http://www.thefutoncritic.com/listings/20110411nbc08/. Retrieved April 12, 2011. 
2. ^ "The Office: Goodbye, Michael, Pt. 1". OfficeTally. http://www.officetally.com/the-office-michaels-last-dundies. Retrieved 2011-06-09. 
3. ^ Fleming, Mike (January 26, 2011). "Will Ferrell Helping Steve Carell's Exit From 'The Office' With Four-Episode Arc". Deadline. http://www.deadline.com/2011/01/will-ferrell-helping-steve-carells-exit-from-the-office/. Retrieved February 23, 2011. 
4. ^ ^{a b} White, Cindy (April 22, 2011). "The Office: "Michael's Last Dundies" Review". IGN. http://tv.ign.com/articles/116/1163572p1.html. Retrieved April 29, 2011. 
5. ^ "(#721) "GOODBYE, MICHAEL PART 1"". The Futon Critic. http://www.thefutoncritic.com/listings/20110407nbc01/. Retrieved April 12, 2011. 
6. ^ Ausiello, Michael (April 11, 2011). "Steve Carell's Office Farewell Just Got Bigger". TV Line. http://www.tvline.com/2011/04/steve-carells-final-office-just-got-bigger/. Retrieved April 11, 2011. 
7. ^ "Ricky Gervais Too Mean at Golden Globes?". CBS News. Jan 18, 2011. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/01/18/earlyshow/leisure/celebspot/main7257225.shtml?tag=contentMain;contentBody. Retrieved May 5, 2011. 
8. ^ Gervais, Ricky (April, 2011). "BLOG! Week one hundred and sixty-five - April 2011". Blog. http://rickygervais.com/thissideofthetruth.php. Retrieved May 5, 2011. 
9. ^ Seidman, Robert (April 22, 2011). "Thursday Final Ratings: 'Vampire Diaries,' 'American Idol' Adjusted Up; 'Community,' 'Parks & Recreation' Down". TV by the Numbers. http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/04/22/thursday-final-ratings-vampire-diaries-american-idol-adjusted-up-community-parks-recreation-down/90313. Retrieved April 22, 2011. 
10. ^ Seidman, Robert. "TV Ratings Thursday: ‘Bones,’ ‘American Idol,’ ‘The Office,’ ‘Vampire Diaries,’ ‘Paul Reiser’ All Down; ‘Community’ Inches Up - Ratings | TVbytheNumbers". TV by the Numbers. http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/04/22/tv-ratings-thursday-bones-american-idol-the-office-vampire-diaries-paul-reiser-all-down/90275/. Retrieved 2011-06-09. 

External links

• "Michael's Last Dundies" at NBC.com
• "Michael's Last Dundies" at the Internet Movie Database
• "Michael's Last Dundies" at TV.com