Take Your Daughter to Work Day (The Office)

Office episode
name = Take Your Daughter To Work Day


Michael and Edward R. Meow during "Take Your Daughter to Work Day".
ep_num = 24
prod_code = 02018
date = March 16 2006
writer = Mindy Kaling
director = Victor Nelli, Jr.
season = 2

"Take Your Daughter To Work Day" is the 18th episode of the second season of "The Office" (U.S. version). It was written by Mindy Kaling and directed by Victor Nelli, Jr. It first aired on March 16, 2006.

ynopsis

Michael is frustrated that Take Your Daughter to Work Day will force him to tone down his office antics. Toby and Stanley Hudson bring their daughters (Sasha and Melissa, respectively), Kevin brings his fiancée's daughter (Abby), and Meredith brings her son (Jake). Pam is determined to befriend one child by the end of the day. She tries with Abby, who instead takes a liking to Jim. Pam watches, clearly endeared to Jim's way with kids. Sasha walks into Michael's room and plays with his toys, and after his jokes she is quite fond of him. Melissa develops a crush on Ryan and asks for his number, whilst Kelly (who is watching them behind the door) alerts Stanley that Ryan may be up to something. Stanley angrily reprimands Ryan for his "motives".

Dwight begins to read one of his childhood horror stories to the children, but Michael enters and insists that he stops upsetting the kids. Michael decides to take the children on a tour of the office and introduces the office staff to them.

Michael shows the office his childhood appearance on a children's show, where he revealed his dream was to "get married and have 100 kids, so I can have 100 friends, and no one can say 'no' to being my friend." He retreats into his office when he realizes that he never came close to that dream. Toby talks to Michael, who decides to start online dating. After being tormented by Jake all day, Dwight is finally stern with him, which quietly pleases Angela. Pam wins over Jake with the paper shredder. Jim leaves the office early to go on a date, to Pam's chagrin. Michael and Dwight end the party by performing Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's "Teach Your Children".

Deleted scenes

The Season Two DVD contains a number of deleted scenes from this episode. Notable cut scenes include:
*The Party Planning Committee squabbles over what food to serve.
*Stanley complains that his daughter is spoiled.
*Dwight discovers an eraser in his coffee, put there by Jake.
*Kelly complains to Pam that "Stanley's daughter is such a slut."
*Jim gives Abby an official certificate of appreciation.

References to Pop Culture

*In a second reference to Dane Cook (following the pilot episode), Michael asks the kids if any of them like the comedian. Steve Carell and Cook starred in the film "Dan in Real Life" in 2007, and they are both from Massachusetts. [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480242/ Dan in Real Life (2007) ] ]
*Michael asks Ryan if he could go to "my mother's house in Dickson City" to get the "Fundle Bundle" tape. Dickson City is a suburb of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
*"Fundle Bundle" is based on the show "Hatchy Milatchy", which aired weekday mornings on Scranton/Wilkes-Barre station [http://www.wnep.com/ WNEP] from the 1960s until the early 1980s, and was hosted by Miss Judy. (The fictitious "Fundle Bundle" was hosted by Miss Trudy.) Miss Judy addressed viewers by name on their birthday and told them to look behind them, where the child's parents had placed a special birthday present. Videos from the series (along with the lyrics to the theme song) can be viewed [http://www.wnep.com/Global/story.asp?S=636505&nav=5kck6vLe here] . In an interview with Scranton's "Times-Tribune", Mindy Kaling says that she learned about "Hatchy Milatchy" from a friend of her mother's who appeared on the program. They intended to use the real program but couldn't secure the rights. [ [http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18171827&BRD=2185&PAG=461&dept_id=450444&rfi=6 The Times-Tribune - 'Office' videos ] ]
* Michael refers to Ryan's "Hottest in the Office" status in this episode. Both this episode and "The Dundies" (in which Ryan wins the "Hottest in the Office" award) were written by Mindy Kaling.
*"Struwwelpeter" is a collection of cautionary tales by Heinrich Hoffmann. Dwight reads the beginning of "Die Geschichte vom Daumenlutscher" or "The Story of Little Suck-a-Thumb" before Michael intervenes. The story involves a little boy whose punishment for sucking his thumbs is getting them cut off by the tailor.
*In this episode, Dwight plays with his recorder the traditional English song "Greensleeves".

Trivia

* The child who plays a younger Michael Scott on the kids' television program is actually Steve Carrell in his younger days. [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480242/ Dan in Real Life (2007)] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.nbc.com/The_Office/episodes/season2/218/ "Take Your Daughter to Work Day"] at NBC.com
* [http://www.tvguide.com/News-Views/Interviews-Features/Article/default.aspx?posting={FE9F256A-2275-420B-9E34-1636BA19973D} Jenna Fischer's Blog on "Take Your Daughter To Work Day"] at TVGuide.com
* [http://www.northernattack.com/archives/take-your-daughter-to-work-day/ "Take Your Daughter To Work Day"] at NorthernAttack.com