Diwali (The Office episode)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Office episode

"Diwali"
Michael adds some Irish flair to an Indian celebration in "Diwali".
Episode No.	34
Prod. Code	306
Airdate	November 2, 2006
Writer(s)	Mindy Kaling
Director	Miguel Arteta
The Office Season 3 September 2006 - May 2007
Gay Witch Hunt The Convention The Coup Grief Counseling Initiation Diwali Branch Closing The Merger The Convict A Benihana Christmas Back from Vacation Traveling Salesmen The Return Ben Franklin Phyllis' Wedding Business School Cocktails The Negotiation Safety Training
List of all The Office episodes...

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

The Office (US)

"Diwali" is the sixth episode of the third season of The Office (U.S. version). It aired on November 2, 2006.

1 Synopsis
2 Deleted scenes
3 Trivia
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Synopsis

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Kelly invites the entire staff to a celebration of Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights. Michael serves as the vocal supporter of such an event and believes it to be an Indian version of Halloween.

A staff meeting is scheduled to enlighten staff members about Hindu culture. This is met with disgusted replies by Angela, excitement by Kevin (particularly after seeing illustrations in a kama sutra booklet distributed by Michael) and an uncomfortable Toby, who decides to end the meeting and takes away the booklets.

Back in Stamford, Jim has decided to follow Josh's example and ride his bike to work. Meanwhile, Andy pulls out a bottle of Jagermeister and shot glasses to turn a late night of work into a drinking game, which Karen wins by pouring her shots into her wastebasket while the two men continue to down shots.

Michael and Carol arrive at the Diwali festival in costume, since Michael thought the celebration would be a "costume party." Carol is a cheerleader and Michael is wearing his papier-mâché twin from Halloween 2005, which he quickly removes.

Ryan, dressed in a kurta (traditional men's Indian attire), tries to acquaint himself with Kelly's family, which is met with giggling by Kelly's younger sisters, whom Ryan believes compared his looks to Zach Braff in their language (they say "Kelly likes Zach Braff... " in Hindi). and disapproval by Kelly's parents, who want to set her up with an Indian doctor. This only gets worse when Ryan speaks with her parents about his promotion at Dunder Mifflin and his plans to save money for travel and an Xbox. Dwight gets into the spirit of the festival and dons a red Kurta. Even Michael is shown dancing happily to the music.

Initially reluctant to attend the festival, Pam decides to go and actually enjoys herself as she starts dancing along with the staff and the rest of the festivalgoers. A cleaned up Roy shows up in time to find Pam in the middle of the dancing crowd, making him uncomfortable, and he silently exits the party.

Michael has an enlightening conversation with Kelly's parents about Hindu marriage customs and suddenly interrupts the celebration to publicly propose to Carol. Uncomfortable, Carol declines his offer and leaves the room. Michael follows her out to the car, where they briefly talk; Carol citing that this is only their ninth date, while Michael states how much he likes her. Carol drives home, leaving Michael to find a ride.

Meanwhile, Pam is surprised to find herself inspired by Michael's outgoing, romantic nature and she sends a text message to Jim. However, Jim is passed out on his desk and is unaware of the incoming message on his cell phone. As the Diwali festival winds down, a dejected Michael makes an attempt to kiss a disappointed Pam, who stops him, and reluctantly agrees to drive him home, as long as he sits in the back seat. On the drive, he mentions the shoes he's wearing aren't his own.

Back in Stamford, Karen leaves for the night, as Jim continues to lie face down on his desk and Andy is laid out on the floor, both completely inebriated. Jim asks Andy if he can get a ride but Andy says "No way, dude," and begins to unfurl an inflatable mattress. He offers to share the "roomy twin" with Jim. Jim decides to ride his bike home but barely exits the front door when he crashes sideways into the bushes. An amused Karen laughs and offers Jim a ride home. He accepts immediately and crawls into her backseat leaving her to deal with his bicycle.

[edit] Deleted scenes

Michael tires of Kelly's description of Diwali and demands an explanation in three words or less. "An Indian Halloween." Jan is upset that Michael is letting everyone off work early to go to a party, and Michael acts shocked that Jan doesn't know what Diwali is.
In a talking head interview, Michael answers the question "Are you excited about the Diwali party?" by telling a rambling story about his original plans with Carol for a romantic evening.
Kevin appeals to Kelly's parents to hire his band for Diwali 2007.
Carol introduces herself to Ryan, who is uncomfortable that she has learned so much about him from Michael.
Andy tells the documentary camera that his fraternity name was "Hubble" for his ability to spot a party. It was better than his freshman nickname, when he had a skin problem, when his nickname was "El Guapo".
When the Stamford staff order sushi for dinner, Andy offers "Big Tuna" Jim the tuna, but Jim asks for the eel. Andy is puzzled.
At Michael's conference, he identifies Sir Ben Kingsley as responsible for the departure of the British from India. "And then he became an actor, like Ronald Reagan." Pam points out to Michael that his shirt is buttoned wrong.

[edit] Trivia

For a list of songs featured in this episode, see List of songs featured on The Office (US TV series).

The costume Michael is wearing as he and Carol walk into the Diwali celebration was first seen in the Season 2 episode "Halloween".
This is the first time Karen's last name, Filipelli, is spoken aloud. It is mentioned by Jim as Karen walks him to her car.
Kelly's parents were played by Mindy Kaling's real parents. Kaling is Hindu in real life.
Andy's desk nameplate indicates his last name is Bernard.
Michael mistakes samosas for smores.
The high school scenes were shot at is Grant High School (Los Angeles, California), the very same high school where the TV show Freaks and Geeks was shot. The creator of that show, Paul Feig, has directed several episodes of The Office.^[1] Rashida Jones, who plays Karen, also appeared in one episode of Freaks and Geeks, where she also played a character named Karen.
This is the second episode that Dwight plays the guitar, he also does it in "Take Your Daughter to Work Day".