Christening (The Office)
Encyclopedia
"Christening" is the seventh episode of the seventh season of the American version of the comedy
television series
The Office and the show's 133rd episode overall. Written by Peter Ocko
and directed by Alex Hardcastle
, the episode aired on November 4, 2010 on NBC
in the United States.
Jim and Pam's daughter Cece is being christened, and Michael has invited the entire office to the service, much to their disappointment. Michael believes he is Cece's godfather but is disappointed when he learns this is not the case. Toby, who remarks on his history between himself and "the big Man", hesitates to enter the church. Over the course of the episode, Ryan frequently hints at his distaste for religion. He paraphrases Karl Marx's "Opium of the people
" statement and mentions "Drinking the Kool-Aid
" while the church's youth group is speaking. During the service, Cece's dress is ruined when Jim changes her diaper. Jim scrambles to replace the gown, and Cece is eventually baptized in an Arcade Fire t-shirt he found in the back of his car. At the end of the mass, the minister announces there will be a reception hosted by Jim and Pam, who panic because they were expecting only family and are not prepared for so many guests.
At the reception, food quickly runs out, and Cece goes missing after Jim asks Pam's grandmother to keep an eye on her. After finding out from guests that Cece was last seen with a "short blond woman" (Pam's mother Helene, who was changing Cece), Jim thinks Angela (who has insulted Jim and Pam but adored Cece all day) has kidnapped Cece, and calls her out as she is leaving. Believing her to be the kidnapper, Kevin attacks Angela's purse, where she has stolen some of the food meant for the guests.
While Dwight uses the event to try to sell paper and printers, Toby finally enters the church after the ceremony. He looks at the crucifix and simply, achingly asks "Why do you have to be so mean to me?"
Michael is inspired by the fellow churchgoers, especially the youth ministry, which is going to Mexico to help build a school for underprivileged children. As the kids leave, Michael shakes hands with every one of them and wishes them luck, before hopping on the bus himself. The other employees try to talk him out of it (with the notable exception of Darryl), but Michael refuses. Just before they leave, Andy (in another attempt to impress Erin) boards the bus with him. Both realize their mistake 45 minutes into the trip, and force the bus to stop. They (along with a kid from the youth ministry who left with them) then have Erin drive them home while having a good laugh about it, and Michael is happy to hear that the rest of his staff went out together to see a movie.
, his first Office writing credit since joining the staff in the seventh season as a co-executive producer. It was directed by Alex Hardcastle
, the first episode of The Office he has directed.
Within a week of its airdate the official website of The Office released two deleted scenes. In the first 46-second clip, Angela, Kelly, Oscar and Ryan speak about what they feel about having babies. In the second 75 second clip, Jim asks Michael to take a picture of his family, Jim and Pam complain to the camera about the uninvited guests, and Gabe and Ryan talk about their volunteer past.
". "Christening" was the thirteenth most-watched scripted show for the week of broadcast among adults aged 18–49.
wrote that his favorite element concerned Toby's relationship to God as it played out in the episode, but he was slightly critical of the "A-story" as "inert." He ultimately gave the episode a B+ while readers gave the episode a C+. Joel Keller of AOL
's TV Squad praised Michael's maturity in the episode saying "even when we get an episode that didn't quite hit the mark, like last night's, the maturing of Michael still makes the episode interesting to watch." Margaret Lyons of Entertainment Weekly
was more critical, referring to it as "strenuously unfunny". Despite this, she praised the cold opening. HitFix
reviewer Alan Sepinwall called the episode "spectacularly unfunny" and criticized the writers for using Michael's loneliness as a joke instead of taking it serious like "Money
". Despite this he complimented Paul Lieberstein
's performance as Toby while he was questioning God. While reviewing the seventh season, Cindy White of IGN
said that the episode proved to fans that Jim and Pam were making the series worse. "Christening" was voted the lowest-rated episode out of 24 from the seventh season, according to an episode poll at the fansite OfficeTally.
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
television series
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
The Office and the show's 133rd episode overall. Written by Peter Ocko
Peter Ocko
Peter Ocko is an American television writer and producer who has worked on a number of popular television series throughout the 1990s and 2000s, including Not Necessarily the News, Dinosaurs and Dead Like Me and is currently serving as a co-executive producer on the NBC sitcom The Office...
and directed by Alex Hardcastle
Alex Hardcastle
Alex Hardcastle is a television director and producer, who has worked on numerous television specials, series and documentaries in both England and the United States...
, the episode aired on November 4, 2010 on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
in the United States.
Synopsis
Office manager Pam tries to discuss Sabre's tips on staying healthy to the office, but is constantly interrupted by Dwight, who believes no attempts should made to improve sanitation, and instead let his immune systems work. He then invites everyone to sneeze on him, and Jim, Erin, and Andy happily fulfill his request.Jim and Pam's daughter Cece is being christened, and Michael has invited the entire office to the service, much to their disappointment. Michael believes he is Cece's godfather but is disappointed when he learns this is not the case. Toby, who remarks on his history between himself and "the big Man", hesitates to enter the church. Over the course of the episode, Ryan frequently hints at his distaste for religion. He paraphrases Karl Marx's "Opium of the people
Opium of the People
"Religion is the opium of the people" is one of the most frequently paraphrased statements of Karl Marx. It was translated from the German original, "Die Religion .....
" statement and mentions "Drinking the Kool-Aid
Drinking the Kool-Aid
"Drinking the Kool-Aid" is a metaphor commonly used in the United States and Canada that refers to a person or group's unquestioning belief in an ideology, argument, or philosophy without critical examination. The phrase typically carries a negative connotation when applied to an individual or group...
" while the church's youth group is speaking. During the service, Cece's dress is ruined when Jim changes her diaper. Jim scrambles to replace the gown, and Cece is eventually baptized in an Arcade Fire t-shirt he found in the back of his car. At the end of the mass, the minister announces there will be a reception hosted by Jim and Pam, who panic because they were expecting only family and are not prepared for so many guests.
At the reception, food quickly runs out, and Cece goes missing after Jim asks Pam's grandmother to keep an eye on her. After finding out from guests that Cece was last seen with a "short blond woman" (Pam's mother Helene, who was changing Cece), Jim thinks Angela (who has insulted Jim and Pam but adored Cece all day) has kidnapped Cece, and calls her out as she is leaving. Believing her to be the kidnapper, Kevin attacks Angela's purse, where she has stolen some of the food meant for the guests.
While Dwight uses the event to try to sell paper and printers, Toby finally enters the church after the ceremony. He looks at the crucifix and simply, achingly asks "Why do you have to be so mean to me?"
Michael is inspired by the fellow churchgoers, especially the youth ministry, which is going to Mexico to help build a school for underprivileged children. As the kids leave, Michael shakes hands with every one of them and wishes them luck, before hopping on the bus himself. The other employees try to talk him out of it (with the notable exception of Darryl), but Michael refuses. Just before they leave, Andy (in another attempt to impress Erin) boards the bus with him. Both realize their mistake 45 minutes into the trip, and force the bus to stop. They (along with a kid from the youth ministry who left with them) then have Erin drive them home while having a good laugh about it, and Michael is happy to hear that the rest of his staff went out together to see a movie.
Production
The episode was written by Peter OckoPeter Ocko
Peter Ocko is an American television writer and producer who has worked on a number of popular television series throughout the 1990s and 2000s, including Not Necessarily the News, Dinosaurs and Dead Like Me and is currently serving as a co-executive producer on the NBC sitcom The Office...
, his first Office writing credit since joining the staff in the seventh season as a co-executive producer. It was directed by Alex Hardcastle
Alex Hardcastle
Alex Hardcastle is a television director and producer, who has worked on numerous television specials, series and documentaries in both England and the United States...
, the first episode of The Office he has directed.
Within a week of its airdate the official website of The Office released two deleted scenes. In the first 46-second clip, Angela, Kelly, Oscar and Ryan speak about what they feel about having babies. In the second 75 second clip, Jim asks Michael to take a picture of his family, Jim and Pam complain to the camera about the uninvited guests, and Gabe and Ryan talk about their volunteer past.
Ratings
In its original American broadcast on November 4, 2010, "Christening" was viewed by an estimated 7.65 million viewers and received a 3.8 rating/10% share among adults between the ages of 18 and 49. This means that it was seen by 3.8% of all 18–49 years olds, and 10% of all 18–49 year olds watching television at the time of the broadcast. This marked a seven percent drop in the ratings from the previous episode, "Costume ContestCostume Contest
"Costume Contest" is the sixth episode of the seventh season of the American comedy television series The Office, and the show's 132nd episode overall. Written by Justin Spitzer and directed by Dean Holland, the episode aired on NBC in the United States on October 28, 2010...
". "Christening" was the thirteenth most-watched scripted show for the week of broadcast among adults aged 18–49.
Reviews
The episode received mixed to negative reviews with some calling it the worst episode of The Office. Myles McNutt of The A.V. ClubThe A.V. Club
The A.V. Club is an entertainment newspaper and website published by The Onion. Its features include reviews of new films, music, television, books, games and DVDs, as well as interviews and other regular offerings examining both new and classic media and other elements of pop culture. Unlike its...
wrote that his favorite element concerned Toby's relationship to God as it played out in the episode, but he was slightly critical of the "A-story" as "inert." He ultimately gave the episode a B+ while readers gave the episode a C+. Joel Keller of AOL
AOL
AOL Inc. is an American global Internet services and media company. AOL is headquartered at 770 Broadway in New York. Founded in 1983 as Control Video Corporation, it has franchised its services to companies in several nations around the world or set up international versions of its services...
's TV Squad praised Michael's maturity in the episode saying "even when we get an episode that didn't quite hit the mark, like last night's, the maturing of Michael still makes the episode interesting to watch." Margaret Lyons of Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
was more critical, referring to it as "strenuously unfunny". Despite this, she praised the cold opening. HitFix
HitFix
HitFix, or the HitFix.com is an entertainment news website that launched in December 2008 specializing in breaking entertainment news, insider information and providing reviews and critiques of film, music and television...
reviewer Alan Sepinwall called the episode "spectacularly unfunny" and criticized the writers for using Michael's loneliness as a joke instead of taking it serious like "Money
Money (The Office)
"Money" is the seventh episode of the fourth season of the American comedy television series The Office, and the show's sixtieth episode overall. It first aired on October 18, 2007, on NBC, and was the last of four consecutive hour long episodes that opened the fourth season...
". Despite this he complimented Paul Lieberstein
Paul Lieberstein
Paul Bevan Lieberstein is an American screenwriter, actor and television producer. An Emmy Award winner, he is most widely known as a writer, producer, and as supporting cast member Toby Flenderson on the U.S...
's performance as Toby while he was questioning God. While reviewing the seventh season, Cindy White of IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
said that the episode proved to fans that Jim and Pam were making the series worse. "Christening" was voted the lowest-rated episode out of 24 from the seventh season, according to an episode poll at the fansite OfficeTally.
External links
- "Christening" at NBC.comNBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...