Double Date (The Office)

"Double Date"
The Office episode
Helene, Jim, Pam and Michael on their way to the double date.
Episode no.	Season 6 Episode 9
Directed by	Seth Gordon
Written by	Charlie Grandy
Production code	609
Original air date	November 5, 2009
Guest stars
Linda Purl
Episode chronology
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List of The Office (U.S. TV series) episodes

"Double Date" is the 9th episode of the sixth season of the U.S. comedy series The Office and the show's 109th episode overall.^[1] It was written by Charlie Grandy and directed by Seth Gordon. It originally aired on NBC on November 5, 2009.

In this episode, Jim and Pam finally go on a double date with Michael and Pam's mother Helene on Helene's birthday, which takes a dark turn when Michael discovers just how old Helene is turning, and breaks up with her. Meanwhile, Dwight offers to do nice things for all the members of the office so that they will owe him a specific favor, but Andy ruins his plans.

Synopsis

Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam (Jenna Fischer) have constantly tried to avoid social contact with Michael (Steve Carell) and Helene (Linda Purl), Pam's mother. However, Pam relents on the occasion of Helene's birthday, saying there is "no way out." Pam is disgusted that Michael picked a restaurant that she likes (she snaps that maybe Michael will start dating her favorite meal from there as well) and registered the group as the Scott family. But when Pam sees that her mother is really happy with Michael, and he in return is extremely charming and loving to Helene, she ultimately warms up to the thought of their dating. However, when Michael learns that Helene is turning 58 and is not interested in traveling or going white-water rafting, he worries that the romance between them will be boring and mundane. Michael points out their differences, saying he wants to do certain activities while he's still able to, and breaks up with Helene right in the middle of her birthday lunch, as Pam and Jim watch in horror.

Back at the office, Michael tries to bribe a furious Pam with a raise, but when she figures out his scheme, he asks her what she wants--to hit him? Pam decides that she does indeed want to hit Michael in the parking lot with everyone watching, and Michael nervously agrees. Toby (Paul Lieberstein) makes sure that Pam will hit Michael off company property, and is seen helping her work on her punching technique. That afternoon in the parking lot, Michael initially winces at Pam's attempts to hit him before sincerely apologizing about the whole ordeal. Pam orders Michael never to date another member of her family again, and he agrees. As Pam walks away, Michael protests that Helene came onto him, and Pam slaps him hard. As the group disperses, Pam admits to Jim that he was right: hitting Michael did not make her feel better.

Dwight helps Michael ice his face.

Meanwhile, Dwight (Rainn Wilson) is strangely doing nice things, such as buying New York bagels for everyone in the office and cleaning out the refrigerator. He is actually trying make everyone in the office indebted to him so that he can later cash in the favors by demanding they help him get Jim fired. He gets annoyed when Andy (Ed Helms) immediately returns his favors, polishing Dwight's briefcase and buying everyone lunch. Everyone else in the office eventually returns Dwight's favors in the form of a Starbucks gift card. At the end of the episode, Dwight is icing Michael's face after he got hit by Pam, and Michael says he'll return the favor. Dwight immediately says he wants Jim fired. Michael refuses, and Dwight storms off.

Reception

This episode was watched by 8.1 million viewers, with a 4.1 rating and a 10 share in the 18-49 demographic.^[2]

References

1. ^ "The Office 6.09 - Double Date". NBC Universal Media Village. http://www.officetally.com/the-office-double-date. Retrieved 2009-10-25. 
2. ^ http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/11/06/broadcast-finals-greys-csi-the-office-30-rock-the-mentalist-bones-up-in-finals/32859

External links

• "Double Date" at the Internet Movie Database