You wouldn’t want him anywhere near you. But do you still want him on your TV? Ed Helms, who plays the annoying, over-the-top Andy Bernard, has been promoted to series regular on The Office. I have to say, even though I enjoy Helms himself, his character is damn near intolerable. I understand that it’s intentional, and that the steady rise of Andy’s obnoxiousness = our chance to suddenly view Steve Carell’s regional manager Michael Scott as the more normal, well-adjusted straight man, which I must admit I found thrilling. For one ep. But how long can that last? Doesn’t the show thrive on Michael being the weird one? And will they keep writing Andy into a corner, or can he undergo some tough-love personal growth, preferably administered by Angela with a side of Stanley?
I’m hoping for at least some personality change, because right now it hurts to watch him, and not in a "… so good" way. I also feel like Andy was portrayed as more self-aware at the beginning of the season—remember his deliberate plan to mimic Michael? That was much funnier and not so in-your-face. Andy started out like some mildly tasty Benihana; now he’s like a rancid batch of McNuggets at 11:55 on a Sunday night. So I hope the writers will at least revive his conscience. What do you guys think?
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Andy must take anger management class and becomes a beatnik. That’s this season.
Next season they just need to play up that Andy still wants to be in college. He could have a kegger or something. They can make him be obnoxious without being OBNOXIOUS, but no matter what he’s best in small doses.
My question is, is he a regular like Rainn Wilson is (main credits) or a regular like Angela Kinsey is (second credits)?
I’m just irked that Jim is turning away from uber hottie so that he can turn his attentions to “waste of time” sPam. Ugg, I hate when shows go backwards.
Andy is bringing down the show. I don’t mind him SO much, but they are giving the majority of time to him each week and its just not worth it. I feel like the supporting cast is like gone now. Its all Andy all the time!
I agree. Last week I almost had to change the channel cause Andy was bothering me so much. I thought he’d be gone this week, but now he’s a series regular. Let’s hope he gets a personality change, casue his antics last week were not funny annoying, just annoying annoying.
Ed Helms is BRILLIANT in his portrayal of Andy…almost TOO brilliant from the look of some his posts. I agree with Annie that he seemed more self-aware and less of a lunatic before. If he goes back to being that way, he’ll be fine. Still, Carell was GENIUS playing off him last ep.
Also, “But how long THAT last?”…that’s what she said. (Sorry, couldn’t resist.)
Andy is great and has added a nice dynamic to the show, but I’ve honestly been looking forward to his departure now for a while. He’s simply too much. I can’t think of any other way of putting it – part of what’s been so enjoyable about Helms’ character has been anticipating his impending firing/quitting/death/whatever.
On another note, does anyone know about Karen? How long is that actress (whose name escapes me and I’m too lazy to look up at the moment) signed on for the rest of the season?
I think Ed Helms character is right on. Haven’t we all known a person who starts off being kind of annoying and then as they get more comfortable with co-workers they become downright intolerable? I do agree it’s better in small doses, but I’m glad he’ll be sticking around. If only because I love the Andy/Dwight interplay. Can’t wait for Dwight’s revenge.
I agree with Fatima about how there is too much Andy. I think they should give his character the same amount of scene time as say Toby or one of the other minor characters. He is a bit overwhelming
i dont really mind having andy around b/c i like ed helms, but they need have him on in sporadic bursts – like creed, or newman on seinfeld. otherwise, he’s just too painfully real for tv
Agree! Too much of a good thing (Andy) is still too much! ‘Like him in small doses; ‘need to turn the channel when overdosed.
I agree with most of the other posters. Andy is simply too much, you just want to slap the white off his rice. Which gets old very quickly. One obnoxious brown-noser, Dwight, is enough. And who wants a saner and more reasonable Michael in comparison? Glad to see Jim and Pam moving closer, although I do feel sorry for Karen.
This is the funniest show on TV. The perfect edgy bookend to the sweetness of “My Name is Earl”. Prank on Jim, prank on…
Nooooo! Andy’s staying?! They are botching a perfectly good story arc that is supposed to end with him getting the boot. He’s funny, but I just cringe the entire time he’s on screen and I’m not sure how long they can keep it fresh. Arg!
I think they’ll definitely tone down his character. Andy was a little crazy in that one ep where he punched the wall, but I have to admit that I laughed my ass off the entire time.
Where have they failed us before? Doooon’t you guys worry.
Commercial Break!:
Look how good the show is tonight with Andy missing! I think they can deal without him. but keep Karen!
I’m totally with Mags…these writers have handled everything to near perfection so far…everyone who’s doubting the permanent addition of Ed Helms to the cast should put their faith in them. They’re brilliant!
Ceballos and Mags are on point: “The Office” writers have lived up to the near-impossible task of keeping the show brilliant in the wake of the Pam/Jim saga. I love the addition of Andy as a nemesis for Dwight, and I know for a fact that they’re not done evolving Andy.
I do, though, agree that we could do with a little less Andy-time now that we know he’s a regular, and focus a bit more on the under-seen, underappreciated office staff. There are a lot of stories to be told with the more minor characters spotlighted (spotlit??), and I can’t wait to see them.
So glad Andy is becoming a regular, bring me more!
I love “The Office” and I think Ed Helms will be a great addition to the cast. The writers have proven time and time again that know what they are doing. Just have a little faith, man.
Ed Helm’s “Andy” is a one trick pony. Time to move on. Rashida Jones (Karen) is a brilliant character, (who I hope) we’ll see her other layers.
I agree with you that Andy wasn’t as annoying at the beginning of the season and now it has gotten a bit overboard. I think that was just temporary to show the company’s need for Dwight and the writers will tone it down a little.
i just read on EW tv watch that andy is an ‘ambitious, back-stabbing preppie’ well, i worked at an investment bank in boston in the 1980s so i know what real life preppies are like, and andy, is so not a preppie… he’s more like a community college grad. and yes, he’s so annoying and sometimes painful to watch..small doses please!!!
Andy is very annoying. But I’m enjoying his interaction with Jim. I also can’t seem to get Andy’s personalized ringtone out of my head.
I like Andy, and they can make him more self aware by having him go back to the drawing board in his quest for the top. But also put him in anger management classes. It’s funny, he wasn’t even in this last episode.
I would love to see Andy’s presence cause something of a detente between Dwight and Jim. Now that Jim is starting to use Andy as his favorite target, I can almost see Dwight joining in or covering for Jim “for the good of the company.”
I, too, have faith in the writers and producers to know what they’re doing. I am happy to hear Andy’s on for the long term. In one episode he was over the top, but most of the time I’ve found him more realistic than Michael or Dwight, all of whom I love and enjoy of course.
The cast is quite big, so I don’t see this becoming the Andy show. On a par with Angela, Stanley, etc., I think he’ll be great. And I look forward to seeing his interaction with Angela, who you know is bubbling with hostility toward him.
Thank you Melissa…everyone here’s pointing out how over the top Andy is…ummm, hello! Dwight anybody!? Andy only really acted like a lunatic in the one episode that he was really featured. Again, the writers know what they’re doing and they’ll integrate him with the rest of the cast in a positive way. Also, I read on the EW.com piece that Greg Daniels mentioned Andy was in “anger management” now (which might explain his absensce from this ep.) In the end, this show will ALWAYS have a place for each of its characters whether Helms was permanent or not. (Ryan was pretty funny last night, and i LOVED Meredith’s reaction when Angela balked at bringing in a stripper)
I think he’s needed, and not just because the two episodes where he lost it were hilarious. I work with several companies, and every one of them seems to have an Andy in their department. Not so much with the desire to kiss up to the boss in order to succeed, but rather just goofballs that seem to distract people all day long (like Andy doing the fishing thing and all the nicknames). Everyone ends up goofing on them relentlessly. Having someone on The Office that is hyper and can’t control himself would be great.
I can’t stand Andy either. There’s only room for one Michael on the show, and I think they’re making even him (Michael) a little too over-the-top/cartoonish these days. I know Ed Helms was signed on for 16 or 17 episodes, but fortunately that’s not the full season. Notice, we didn’t see him in last night’s ep. Perhaps his “hitting the wall” was the last straw and we’re to assume he was dismissed? (I hope, I pray?)
i trust the writers.