Image Credit: Chris Haston/NBC
For seven seasons on The Office, Michael Scott has served as the crazy crown prince of cringe while being responsible for more lost man hours than carpal tunnel syndrome. But that comes to an end tonight as we say goodbye to the world’s best/worst boss — played to perfection by Steve Carell — with a 50-minute episode (9 p.m. on NBC). As we look back and remember the good times we spent with the great Scott, we ask a tough question: Is it possible to choose a single favorite Michael Scott moment? EW presented that challenge to the show’s three writer-actors — Mindy Kaling (Kelly), B.J. Novak (Ryan), and Paul Lieberstein (Toby).
Kaling: “My favorite moment is a scene in ‘Secret Santa’ (season 6), where Kevin sits on Michael’s lap. Michael has been angry and hurt all day that Phyllis got to be Santa, so against everyone’s wishes, he dresses up as a competitive Santa. Forget that Kevin, a grown man, is earnestly telling Santa all the toys he wants — it’s Steve’s reaction. When Kevin unburdens himself on Michael’s lap, Steve’s voice changed to this distressed, guttural mumble, showing the instantaneous agony he was in. This was literally a laugh out loud moment, because you can see me laughing in the background, completely breaking character.”
Novak: “The moment I fell in love with Michael Scott was the first time he used the phrase ‘That’s what she said,’ in ‘Sexual Harassment’ (season 2). Michael had been warned that he has to stop all inappropriate joking in the workplace. Heartbroken, he makes a dramatic speech to the office, announcing he will never make another joke. But then Jim starts baiting him: ‘That sounds long…and hard.’ ‘Well, you always kept me satisfied and smiling.’ Finally, Michael can’t help himself and blurts out, ‘That’s what she said!’ in an explosion of pure joy. He knows the consequences — he’s surrounded by his corporate supervisor and the company lawyer — but it’s still all worth it to him. It was Michael’s love of life that made his flaws so much fun to watch.”
Lieberstein: “The first time Michael Scott cried was in ‘Office Olympics’ (season 2). It wasn’t scripted — it was Steve’s choice on set. He was being handed a meaningless medal made of a yogurt lid for doing nothing, and it blew my mind how hard this character could twist reality to fit his needs. It created a new world for our storytelling. And crying Michael, for me, is some of the funniest Michael we’ve done.”
Those are some worthy contenders, indeed. As well as Michael’s “NOOO, GOD! NO, GOD, PLEASE NO! NO! NO! NOOOOOO!!!” tirade against Toby. Or his “Why are you the way that you are?” speech to Toby. Or his George Foreman grill-related foot injury. Or just about anything from “Diversity Day.” Or… that moment you’re about to type below. Calling all fans: What’s the best Michael moment of all-time?
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“I DECLARE BANKRUPTCY.”
Hands down agree. That whole episode is a Michael Scott tour de force.
Without a doubt!
YES! That clip ran on the news this morning and had me rolling all over again.
The Surplus episode
Toby: We should really have the office’s air quality tested. We have radon coming from below. We have asbestos in the ceilings. These are silent killers.
Michael Scott: You are the silent killer. Go back to the annex.
Toby: You’ll see.
Best Michael Scott quote from Benihana Christmas-”Bros before hos. Why? Because your bros are always there for you. They have got your back, after your ho rips your heart out for no good reason. And you were nothing but great to your ho. And you told her she was the only ho for you. And that she was better than all the other hos in the world. And then… suddenly she’s not your ho no mo’.” hahahaha-the best!!!!
Love love love love! Yes!
“Why are you…the way that you are?”
I hate, so much, about the things you choose to be.
Anything with his hatred for Toby is the best!
Agreed. I love the moment when Toby returns and Michael doesn’t know and then Michael sees Toby and screams, “No!” Steve Carell plays that scene so perfectly.
Michael Klump! Orrrr driving the car into the river with Dwight.
But yeah, I think ‘why are you the way that you are’ takes the cake.
My favorite moment is when Michael takes all of the girls to the mall to have a “girls day.”
Paul Lieberstein is right. There is just something about a crying Michael Scott that just hits a funny chord in you.
That’s a great episode. Isn’t that the same one when Phyllis gets flashed and Michael comes in and says it was Toby and starts using his thumb as a mock penis?
My favorite Michael moment is actually more like my favorite Michael episode — The Booze Cruise. I just love everything that goes on during that entire episode with constantly getting undermined by “Captain Jack” to telling everyone on board the boat is sinking. And in the end, it is one of the sweetest Michael moments when he actually comforts and reassures Jim.
@BecMun, haha. Forgot about that one! Love it!
“I enjoy having breakfast in bed. I like waking up to the smell of bacon- sue me- and since I don”t have a butler, I have to do it myself. So most nights before I go to bed I will lay six strips of bacon out on my George Foreman Grill. Then I go to sleep. When I wake up, I plug in the grill. I go back to sleep again. Then I wake up to the smell of crackling bacon. It is delicious. It”s good for me. It’s the perfect way to start the day. Today I got up, I stepped onto the grill and it clamped down on my foot. That”s it. I don’t see what’s so hard to believe about that.”
That whole monologue says it all.
Hahaha, thank you for posting that whole monologue, Lo!
YES YES YES. My brother and I quote that all the time.
I think I may have to agree with B.J. Novak on this. That specific “That’s what she said” moment is so great because of the way Steve Carell so joyously and unapologetically delivered it.
Honorable mentions to the George Foreman grill injury, falling into the koi pond, and the awkward kiss he had with Oscar in Gay Witch Hunt (actually everything he does in that episode is hilarious).
Oh my god, that (completely improv’d) kiss was (and still is) one of the best things I have ever seen on TV. Tonight’s episode is going to, as Michael says, hurt like a mother******.
Agree with B.J. Novak too!!! Michael just couldn’t help himself and he enjoyed it so much, any possible repercussions didn’t matter.
Michael and Jan’s dinner party. It’s just so uncomfortable.
Candles by Jan!
Jan standing there swaying to the mellow grooves of Hunter’s band in total, unadulterated bliss is one of my favorite Office moments of all time.
”That One Night!” Still have it on my itunes!
OMG. I still die laughing when that episode comes on. All time favorite. “so right, so right, so right”
The vasectomy speech kills me every time!
YES!!!!!!
Snip snap, snip snap!!
*Office Olympics
*His proposal to Holly
*When Jim confides in him during the Booze Cruise
*All of the “Michael Scott Paper Company” episodes
Just a thought- I usually hate so-called “lifetime achievement” Emmys, but I really hope Carell finally gets his due this year.
“I worked in a warehouse…. Men’s Wearhouse… I was a greeter.
&
“I love inside jokes, I hope to part of one some day”
I loved Lazy Scranton.
“Sitting in my office with a plate of grilled bacon,
Called my man Dwight just to see what was shakin”
Easily when Michael was on his rant “If I had a gun with two bullets in a room with Hitler, Bin Laden and Toby I would shoot Toby twice”. Favorite line ever!
Prison Mike and everything he says, particularly his Dementor comments.
“You know what’s the worst thing about prision? The Dementors! They were flying all over!”
OMG! I love that quote! I randomly say that to my brother and cousins and they get it! Hilarious!!!
I just cracked up reading your comment…God I love Prison Mike!
OMG! Prison Mike for the win! And also the “Gaywitch Hunt” episode. Michael is HILARIOUS in that one. My favorite part is when he kisses Oscar.
I loved the Gay-dar episode! It was so funny to see Dwight and Michael hunched over their computer and plotting.
the chilis lunch with Tim Meadows. Awesome blossom, extra awesome
“Chilis is the new golf course.” I about wet myself when he said that. And then how he ends up closing Meadows as a new client!?!? It’s always cool when they show hints of Michael actually being decent as a sales guy–it makes it less far-fetched that he’d be the esteemed Regional Manager that he is!
I agree. Like during the Michael Scott Paper Company story line, when he brilliantly talked his way into getting his job back as well as jobs for Pam and Ryan. It’s always refreshing when he shows his competence.
YES!
“I’ll see your situation and raise you a situation.”
That moment will live on in infamy and the only reason people don’t talk about it is because they haven’t seen it.
We never suggest eating at Chili’s without adding “it’s where business happens”
I have thousands of favorite Michael Scott moments, but I still think The Dundies illustrate the best of Michael Scott: the silly songs, the awful jokes, the nicknames and the weird dundie awards he gives to everyone…it’s a winner.
When Michael drives his car into the lake, then later screams “WHERE ARE THE TURRRRRRTLLLLLLES?!”
I still can’t believe Phyllis’s “bushiest (instead of busiest) beaver award” made it past the censors!
Just read this and couldn’t stop laughing for at least a minute.