The second season premiere brings us the annual Dundie Awards, Michael's employee-incentive party. Since it's mainly a vehicle for Michael's comedic performing ambitions, no one really wants to be there, and Corporate's refusal to pay for their drinks just makes things worse.
Dwight investigates graffiti in the ladies' room.
Air date : September 20, 2005.
Tropes
- Abhorrent Admirer: Ryan is thoroughly creeped out by Michael giving him the "Hottest in the Office" award.
- Acquired Error at the Printer: Michael announces that Phyllis has won the "Busiest Beaver" Dundie. When she looks at the trophy, she reveals that it says "Bushiest Beaver," much to everyone's embarrassment.
- Hypocritical Heartwarming: It's quite telling that the employees begin to rally around Michael and the Dundies mainly after a bunch of loudmouths from another table pick on him and hurt his feelings.
- I Need a Freaking Drink: After Pam has a fight with Roy ending with the latter leaving. Pam sits with Jim and starts taking sips from his beer mug. She later orders drinks for herself and, after being cut off by the Chili's staff, begins stealing drinks off other people's tables to finish them, resulting in her getting very drunk.
- Innocent Bigot: Michael's comments about Stanley's wife reveals that he has trouble understanding the concept of interracial relationships, and he doesn't get why Kelly isn't thrilled to get the "Spicy Curry" award. And there's Ping...
- Innocently Insensitive: Michael is unaware of how racist his character Ping is. An Asian woman looks on in horror during the routine, and Michael takes no notice. He also seems unaware that his antics, in real life, would be taken as sexual harassment. He comments on Angela's "nice caboose" and slaps Ryan on the ass after awarding him the office hottie award.
- In Vino Veritas: A drunk Pam makes a move on Jim, even kissing him. He rebuffs her advances due to her condition.
- Moment Killer: After fighting with Roy and having too many drinks, a very drunk Pam asks Jim if she can ask him a question...then notices the cameraman and insteads thanks him for a fun evening.
- Nobody Poops: Kevin gets the "Don't Go In There" award, and a sub-plot involves the ladies' room.
- Noodle Incident: We never find out what was written in the ladies' room wall. Phyllis says it was something about Michael and the end reveals it was Pam who wrote it.
- Pet the Dog: The office employees normally don't care about the Dundies and find the award show annoying and idiotic. But after Michael has a Heroic BSoD from getting harassed by a group of Jerk Jocks, the staff become more enthusiastic and cheer Michael on. Michael himself gives one to Pam by scrapping the insensitive and worn out "Longest Engagement Award" joke, instead giving her an award for having the "Whitest Sneakers".
- Persona Non Grata: Pam gets banned from Chili's for sneaking drinks from other people. After careful review, the ban was finally lifted
in 2017. - Product Placement: The Dundies take place at Chili's. Also an Early-Bird Cameo, as Michael and Jan will later have a meeting there.
- Rapid-Fire Interrupting: Michael's phone argument with Jan when she reveals the company won't pay for the Dundies.
- Running Gag: An in-universe example. Michael keeps awarding Pam the Longest Engagement Award. Jim tells him to stop, because it bothers Pam.
- Shout-Out:
- Michael does an impression of Johnny Carson's Carnac character.
- A Running Gag of Michael doing re-worded versions of hit songs during The Dundies, like Lou Bega's "Mambo #5" ("A little bit of Pam all night long") and Elton John's "Tiny Dancer" ("You have won a tiny Dundie").
- Slippery Slope Fallacy: Michael's argument that if a (hypothetical) employee doesn't receive a trophy, the neighbours will find his body a few weeks later.
- The Unreveal: We never learn what Pam was going to ask Jim.
- Wham Shot: Pam giving Jim an unsolicited, too-long-and-passionate-to-be-an-innocent-smooch kiss, marking the first time her real feelings toward him were on display.
- Yellowface: Michael's character "Ping", who everyone hates and asks him not to do. He doesn't listen, and offends an Asian woman sitting nearby.
- Your Mom: The Jerk Jock types at the bar "just came from your Mom's house," when Michael asks where they're from.
