Who’s Your Favorite ‘Office’ Character?

About a year or so after the American version of The Office first premiered in 2005, I remember asking my aunt if she’d seen the show yet. She cringed immediately and said “Oh, I tried that show, it’s unbearable. I work with those people.�

Many of us have worked with judgmental Christian cat ladies like Angela, creepy old dudes like Creed, or bosses like Michael who seem more occupied with being your buddy than properly managing a company. And while some Office characters are more or less caricatures, others – like Jim, Pam, and at times, Michael – can not only evoke our darkest fears and worries about living in trapped, dead-end cubicle lives, but do so in the form of puppets, drawings, hot coal walks, and booze cruises. So now that The Office has entered its ninth and final season, why not take a moment to appreciate this ensemble of lovable weirdos who have kept us entertained for the past seven and a half years? And most importantly, which one is your favorite?

Andy Bernard

First Appearance: “Gay Witch Hunt�

Job Title: Assistant to the Regional Manager, Regional Sales Director, Regional Manager

Nicknames: The Nard Dog, St. Bernard, King Butt

Quote: “For the record, I prefer women. But off the record, I’m kinda confused.�

Nellie Bertram

First Appearance: “Search Committee�

Job Title: President of Special Projects, Regional Manager, Special Projects Manager

Quote: “When you use a ridiculous font, no one thinks you have a plan.�

Creed Bratton

First Appearance: “Pilot�

Job Title: Quality Assurance Representative, Acting Regional Manager

Quote: “I want to do a cartwheel. But real casual like – not enough to make a big deal out of it but I know everybody saw it, just one stunning, gorgeous cartwheel.�

Robert California

First Appearance: “Search Committee�

Job Title: Chief Executive Officer

Nicknames: The Fucking Lizard King

Quote: “Ugh, I hate ties. I feel like I’m being strangled like I’m at some erotic asphyxiation sex club over on I-84 – the Red Room, say, or Dominic’s?�

Holly Flax

First Appearance: “Goodbye, Toby�

Job Title: Human Resources Representative

Quote: “Today is ethics day. After they finish their quiz I’m going to run my first ethics meeting here. It’s gonna be insaaaane. No, it’s not. I have to read from the binder.�

Toby Flenderson

First Appearance: “Diversity Day�

Job Title: Human Resources Representative

Nicknames: T-Dog, The Devil’s Butthole

Quote: “If I won the lottery, I don’t know if I’d make any changes to my life. I’d quit my job, move, meet someone…�

Jim Halpert

First Appearance: “Pilot�

Job Title: Sales Representative, Assistant Regional Manager, Co-Manager, Regional Manager

Nicknames: Big Tuna, Tuna, Tunes, Fat Halpert, Slim Jim, Jim Bag

Quote: “I have a lot of work to do this afternoon. Those mines aren’t going to sweep themselves.�

Pam Halpert

First Appearance: “Pilot�

Job Title: Receptionist, Sales Representative, Office Administrator

Nicknames: Pam-Pam, Beesley, Pamcake

Quote: “I have decided that I’m going to be more honest. I’m going to tell people what I want. Directly. So look out world, cause ol’ Pammy is getting what she wants. And don’t call me Pammy.�

Erin Hannon

First Appearance: “Michael Scott Paper Company�

Job Title: Receptionist

Nicknames: Tabitha

Quote: “Disposable cameras are fun, but it does seem wasteful, and you don’t ever get to see your pictures.�

Ryan Howard

First Appearance: “Pilot�

Job Title: Temp, Sales Representative, VP of Northeast Region, Director of New Media, Receptionist, Customer Service Supervisor

Nicknames: Temp, The Temp, Mr. Temp, The Tempinator, Fired Guy

Quote: “I’d rather she be alone than with somebody. Is that love?�

Stanley Hudson

First Appearance: “Pilot�

Job Title: Sales Representative

Quote: “THAT LITTLE GIRL IS A CHILD! I DON’T WANT TO SEE YOU SNIFFIN’ AROUND HER ANYMORE THIS AFTERNOON, DO YOU UNDERSTAND? BOY, HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND? ‘CAUSE I’LL HELP YOU FIND IT! WHAT YOU LOOKING FOR, AIN’T NOBODY GONNA HELP YOU OUT THERE. JESUS COULD COME THROUGH THAT DOOR, HE’S NOT GONNA HELP YOU IF YOU DON’T STOP SNIFFIN’ AFTER MY CHILD!�

Kelly Kapoor

First Appearance: “Diversity Day�

Job Title: Customer Service Representative, Minority Training Executive

Quote: “I never really thought about death until Princess Diana died. That was the saddest funeral ever. That and my sister’s.�

Phyllis Lapin-Vance

First Appearance: “Pilot�

Job Title: Sales Representative

Nicknames: Easy Rider

Quote: “If I wanted Jamaican food I’d just hire a bunch of body guards and go there.�

Gabe Lewis

First Appearance: “Sabre�

Job Title: Coordinating Director

Nicknames: The Toilet

Quote: “It’s hard to explain why Erin is doing so well today. The only thing I can think is Erin is living out some Slumdog Millionaire scenario where every word she’s playing has a connection to her orphan past. It’s possible.�

Kevin Malone

First Appearance: “Pilot�

Job Title: Accountant

Nicknames: Kool-Aid Man

Quote: “If someone gives you 10,000 to 1 on anything, you take it. If John Mellencamp ever wins an Oscar, I am going to be a very rich dude.�

Angela Martin

First Appearance: “Pilot�

Job Title: Senior Accountant

Nicknames: Booster Seat

Quote: “I actually look forward to performance reviews. I did the youth beauty pageant circuit, and I enjoyed that quite a bit. I really enjoy being judged.�

Oscar Martinez

First Appearance: “Pilot�

Job Title: Accountant

Quote: “Angela’s engaged to a gay man. As a gay man, I’m horrified. As a friend of Angela’s, horrified. As a lover of elegant weddings, I’m a little excited! But overall…horrified.�

Todd Packer

First Appearance: “Pilot�

Job Title: Outside Sales Representative

Nicknames: Packman

Quote: “I’m a huge alligator nerd. I can name you every genus, every sub species. Also I’m a huge boob nerd.�

Meredith Palmer

First Appearance: “Pilot�

Job Title: Supplier Relations Representative

Quote: “Hi, I’m Meredith, and I’m an alcho… good at supplier relations.�

Darryl Philbin

First Appearance: “The Alliance�

Job Title: Warehouse Foreman, Unspecified Position, Assistant Regional Manager

Nicknames: Regis, Roger, Mittah Rogers, D-Dog

Quote: “That’s cool that you like the Southwest. It’s one of my favorite regions.�

Dwight Schrute

First Appearance: “Pilot�

Job Title: Sales Representative, Assistant to the Regional Manager, Acting Regional Manager, VP of Sabre Retail and Special Projects

Nicknames: D, Dwight Fart Schrute

Quote: “In the end, the greatest snowball isn’t a snowball at all. It’s fear. Merry Christmas.�

Mose Schrute

First Appearance: “Initiation�

Job Title: Co-Owner of Scrute Farms

Quote: “Welcome children.�

Michael Scott

First Appearance: “Pilot�

Job Title: Sales Representative, Co-Manager, Regional Manager

Nicknames: Michael Scarn, Prison Mike, Caleb Crawdad, Michael Scotch, Michael Klump (all self-imposed)

Quote: “This is an environment of welcoming, and you should just get the hell out of here.�

Megh Wright misses Harrisburg, lives in Brooklyn, and answers phones in Manhattan.