Michael was in the holiday spirit and couldn't wait to share in it with his girlfriend, Carol. He had bought two tickets to paradise, hoping to whisk her away on a romantic vacation to Jamaica. Carol came by the office early to have a talk with Michael and it didn't go well.
WAR
32.7
Wins Above Replacement
“A Benihana Christmas” ranks #158 of 183 The Office episodes on the Humor Index, scoring 72.0 — Solid. The episode packs 60 scored jokes at 1.9 per minute, averaging 6.6 on craft and 6.5 on impact, with Michael landing the most laughs. Every joke is ranked below with its individual craft and impact scores.
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Top Jokes
Michael: I marked her arm.
Michael Cringe/Discomfort Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Stanley: I miss the days when there was only one party I didn't want to go to.
Stanley Observational Deadpan/Understatement Jim: As ranking number two, I am starting a committee to determine the validity of the two committees. And I am the sole member.
Jim Absurdist Escalation ★ Rewatch Jim: I think one of her cats did once. She came in with scratches all over her face.
Jim Observational Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Pam: For the past few months, I've been sending Dwight letters from the CIA.
Pam Setup/Punchline Character Comedy ★ Rewatch All Jokes — 60 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ Dwight: Don't worry. She's dead. Oh, wait... He's dead.
Dwight Absurdist Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Dwight: It's a Christmas miracle.
Dwight Irony/Sarcasm Dark/Subversive Jim: And circle gets the square.
Jim Observational Deadpan/Understatement Dwight: Once, I brought in a duck to prepare for lunch. And people got upset. Apparently, they got attached to the duck and didn't want to see it killed. He was already dead.
Dwight Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Dwight: Thus saving you a trip to the store for a can of expensive goose grease.
Dwight Absurdist Character Comedy Jim Irony/Sarcasm Deadpan/Understatement Toby: Clean it in your car.
Toby Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy Michael: Oh, Pam. Take a chill pill.
Michael Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort Michael: I would like a nice slice of Christmas Pam. Side of candy Pams. And perhaps... some Pam chops.
Michael Wordplay/Pun Cringe/Discomfort Michael: Well, that is probably from the test drive.
Michael Cringe/Discomfort Misdirection Ryan: Yo, Michael. Sweet ride, Mike.
Ryan Irony/Sarcasm Reaction Beat Michael: Oh, you're such a blonde.
Michael Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy Michael: This is just the front of her. Show 'em... show 'em the other side.
Michael Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy Michael: It's a picture of you and me and your kids on a ski trip, having a blast. 'Ski-son's Greetings.'
Michael Cringe/Discomfort Wordplay/Pun ★ Rewatch Michael: Yes, but what you didn't realize at the time was that I was with you, in a sense. I was in your heart.
Jim: It's a bold move to Photoshop yourself into a picture with your girlfriend and her kids on a ski trip with their real father. But then again, Michael's a bold guy. Is bold the right word?
Jim Observational Irony/Sarcasm Michael: You need... to think this through in... Jamaica's largest freshwater pool.
Michael Cringe/Discomfort Misdirection Pam: For the past few months, I've been sending Dwight letters from the CIA.
Pam Setup/Punchline Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Dwight: Last year, my boss, Michael Scott, took a day off, 'cause he said he had pneumonia, but really, he was leaving early to go to magic camp.
Dwight Character Comedy Observational Pam: Sorry I didn't wrap it.
Pam Deadpan/Understatement Callback Michael: Christmas is canceled.
Michael: Keep it up, Stanley, and you will lose New Year's.
Michael: Jim, take New Year's away from Stanley!
Michael: All of your guests would have probably canceled at the last minute anyway. Leaving your life a stupid, rotten mess.
Michael Dark/Subversive Character Comedy Michael: It hurts my heart. It hurts my stomach. Hurts my arms.
Michael: Like maybe the real reason they left was because... there were things they wanted you to do in bed... that were... foreign and scary.
Michael Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy Michael: Take it from Toby.
Michael: Pam, would you like to go to Sandals, Jamaica with me?
Michael Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy Callback Phyllis · Angela: I thought you said green was whorish. No, orange is whorish.
Angela: You tried this out. And it's clearly not for you. It's time to go.
Angela Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort Michael: That Carol is one smart cookie.
Michael Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy Michael: With Carol, I knew within the first 24 minutes of the second day I met her.
Michael Character Comedy Misdirection Jim: I think one of her cats did once. She came in with scratches all over her face.
Jim Observational Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Pam: The Committee to Plan Parties invites you to a Margarita-Karaoke Christmas.
Pam Setup/Punchline Character Comedy Angela · Phyllis: What's your funding? $200. What's ours again? Um, $201.
Karen: And then there's a way more fun party that starts at 2:45.
Angela · Dwight: As ranking number three in this office... Um, eh... I'm number three. You're number four.
Jim: As ranking number two, I am starting a committee to determine the validity of the two committees. And I am the sole member.
Jim Absurdist Escalation ★ Rewatch Jim: I've determined this committee is valid.
Jim Deadpan/Understatement Absurdist Callback Michael: Come on, we're going to Asian Hooters.
Michael Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy Ryan: Doctor appointment, car trouble, plantar warts, granddad fought in WWII. Use your head, man. I keep mine in here.
Ryan Character Comedy Observational Michael: Bros before hoes! 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.
Michael Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort Michael: Then suddenly, she's not your ho no mo'.
Michael Wordplay/Pun Cringe/Discomfort Callback Dwight: It is my job to be there for Michael. How can I be there for Michael if I'm here for Michael?
Dwight Absurdist Character Comedy Michael: One part eggnog. Three parts sake! Some places won't make it for you, though, because eggnog is seasonal.
Stanley: I miss the days when there was only one party I didn't want to go to.
Stanley Observational Deadpan/Understatement Benihana Chef: Actually, the usuba's the better knife when you're working with this quantity.
Michael: I bet you break up with a guy every hour.
Michael Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy Michael: About... your paychecks. Um... your paychecks will be arriving as scheduled on Friday. And they will be in the correct amount that they normally are in.
Michael Misdirection Cringe/Discomfort Kevin: Double fudge... Angela.
Kevin Character Comedy Visual Gag Pam: My sister and I used to be best friends, and we haven't talked in 16 years over some disagreement I don't even remember.
Pam Character Comedy Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Dwight: Hold its neck back, insert the knife beneath the jaw, bring it all the way around. There's gonna be a good amount of blood.
Dwight Absurdist Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Callback Michael: They have been checking us out all night. I am not kidding!
Michael Cringe/Discomfort Misdirection Michael: That's what she said? Hello!
Michael Callback Meta/Self-Referential Callback Michael: I don't walk into your house and steal your Hello Kitty backpack.
Jim · Michael: You don't know? Dude, you should know. Yeah, well, it's been hard. They're wearing the exact same uniform. And I've been drinking. And you know how all... waitresses look alike.
Michael: I honestly don't see what the big deal is. Stevie Wonder is married. Are you going to tell me that Steve Wonder doesn't love his wife just because he's not sure what she looks like?
Michael Absurdist Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Michael: I marked her arm.
Michael Cringe/Discomfort Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Michael: Or as my ex might say, 'Domo arigato, Mr. Scott-o.'
Michael Cringe/Discomfort Wordplay/Pun Dwight: You have been compromised. Abort mission. Destroy phone.
Dwight Callback Physical/Slapstick ★ Rewatch Callback ⏩ The part you fast-forward
Our scorer flagged 35:00-37:00 range with Michael's drunken confusion as the stretch with the fewest or weakest comedic moments. Everything else lands harder.
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