Tension and disillusionment begin to emerge as Michael, Pam, and Ryan move the Michael Scott Paper Company into a cramped "workspace" at the business park.
WAR
70.3
Wins Above Replacement
“Michael Scott Paper Company” ranks #149 of 183 The Office episodes on the Humor Index, scoring 84.4 — Elite. The episode packs 71 scored jokes at 3.7 per minute, averaging 7.1 on craft and 6.8 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
Jim: Just faxing my dad a rundown.
Jim Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Callback Michael: They always say that it is a mistake to hire your friends. And they are right. So I hired my best friends. And this is what I get?
Michael Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Michael: Six yeses, one maybe, only 11 nos. And 788 not yet replieds. But of that group, 782 have viewed it.
Michael Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Jim: What the hell is a rundown?
Jim Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Jim · Kevin: Do you know what a rundown is? / Use it in a sentence. / Can you get this rundown for me? / Try another sentence. / This rundown better be really good. / I don't know. But it sounds like the rundown is really important.
Jim Kevin Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Callback Standout Moments
Michael: Six yeses, one maybe, only 11 nos. And 788 not yet replieds. But of that group, 782 have viewed it.
Michael Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Michael: They always say that it is a mistake to hire your friends. And they are right. So I hired my best friends. And this is what I get?
Michael Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Jim: Just faxing my dad a rundown.
Jim Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Callback All Jokes — 71 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ Michael: It's Britney, bitch. And I am back in the form of a new company — the Michael Scott Paper Company.
Michael Character Comedy Misdirection ★ Rewatch Unknown: Okay. Not gonna make this one. [reaction beat — someone declining Michael's invitation to join his journey]
Unknown Reaction Beat Deadpan/Understatement Michael: They took away my parking space. But they can't take away my pride.
Michael Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Michael: Welcome... to the Michael Scott Paper Company. [visual gag — the 'company' is clearly a tiny, sad closet-like office space]
Kelly Kapoor · Charles · Kelly Hannon: Kelly Kapoor hovering near Charles's office so that every time he calls for 'Kelly' she can swoop in and say 'You wanted me.'
Charles · Kelly Hannon: Okay, I'm gonna call you Kapoor and you Hannon. / If we're changing names, can I be Erin? It's my middle name.
Charles · Kelly Kapoor: That's very pretty. / Thanks. / Well, you know what MY middle name is? Rajani Ghanda — and I HATE it! I HATE IT!
Dwight: I thought Rajani Ghanda was a boy's name. [talking head]
Dwight Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy Callback Michael: We are in the heart of it. And the surge of water carries our business out to the sea.
Ryan · Michael: What should we do now? / We wait and hope that people show up to the pancake luncheon.
Michael: I have done absolutely everything you can do to prepare for the day.
Michael Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Michael: I'm going to need 800 of these on nice, bright paper. / 'Coupon for unparalleled customer service.'
Pam: I make that one copy and I become the girl who makes copies. And by the end of the day I'm receptionist again.
Pam Character Comedy Observational ★ Rewatch Pam: And the worst part is, I like making copies. The paper comes out all warm and stuff. And it's cold in there, 'cause it's technically a closet.
Pam Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Callback Dwight: Clearly a hunter. Who knows how to throw an outfit together.
Dwight Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Dwight: Not long ago we were sexual competitors. I used to hate him, hate him, hate him, hate him.
Dwight Character Comedy Escalation Andy · Unknown Colleague: You should come into town this weekend, man. Hang out Scranton style. / Hey, you said you were gonna be out of town this weekend. / Please don't listen to my phone calls.
Andy: She'd probably be a six in New York, but she's like a seven here in Scranton.
Andy Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Andy: Then the boss is my old boss from Dunder Mifflin.
Andy Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy Jim: What the hell is a rundown?
Jim Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Jim: I'm gonna dive into the rundown. I'll be exhausted, 'cause it's like a triathlon.
Jim Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Callback Dwight: There's a ghost in this office. A woman was murdered on this very floor in 1816. Haddie McGonagle. She was a prostitute.
Dwight Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Dwight · Erin: She was bludgeoned to death by the business end of a riding crop. / Oh, my god. / It was gruesome.
Dwight: If you ever feel a tapping on your shoulder, that could be Haddie, begging for her life. And it could mean that you're next.
Dwight Dark/Subversive Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Callback Dwight · Erin: Just kidding. You finding everything okay? / Yeah. / Got some ice.
Dwight Erin Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Callback Michael · Pam · Ryan · Charles: Oh, this is awkward. [beat after Michael, Pam, and Ryan pass Charles in the hallway]
Michael · Ryan: How is it insulting to say that you're good at something? / Because the thing you're saying I'm good at is pushing a big green button a bunch of times.
Michael · Ryan: I could run GM, but I couldn't fix a car. / Really? 'Cause it sounds like one of those is better than the other.
Michael: I need somebody to make a copy of this! Because I don't make copies. I'm the boss. I make originals.
Michael Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Unknown: Hey, you been watching Damages this year? It's so good. / No, you gotta tune in. It's as good as anything on HBO.
Unknown Character Comedy Observational Unknown · Michael: Hey, does blue go with tan? / Somebody just make the copy. / I have like a blue shirt. I don't wear a lot of colors...
Michael · Ryan: I don't want to look at your friend Jasmine's boobs all day. / You could be hot too if you made any effort at all.
Michael · Ryan: Like how? Dying my hair blonde? / This is from the sun.
Pam: R thinks he's too good to be here. And P is not as much fun without Jim.
Pam Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Michael · Pam: Michael grabs the phone from Pam mid-call with her mom
Pam: P is being a giant B. [said loudly enough for Michael to hear]
Pam Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Callback Dwight · Andy: I noticed that your pupils dilated and your skin [flushed] and I'm assuming a little bit of blood rushed in... Well, a little bit of blood rushed into me as well.
Dwight Andy Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Dwight · Andy: The last thing I wanna do is step on your funk, man. / And I yours. So I will cede her to you.
Michael: This office space is too small. There are four corners in this room. Each corner is to be a personal space for each one of you.
Pam · Ryan: We could work from home. / Or you could fire one of us. / Whoever has less education.
Pam Ryan Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Michael · Pam · Ryan: One, two, three, [expected cheer] — No, you're supposed to say 'Rock the house!' / How would we know that?
Jim · Kevin: Do you know what a rundown is? / Use it in a sentence. / Can you get this rundown for me? / Try another sentence. / This rundown better be really good. / I don't know. But it sounds like the rundown is really important.
Jim Kevin Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Callback Kevin: Last night was crazy. Jojo... yeah. He did a doughnut in the parking lot in front of a cop. And then he yells, 'Hey, cop, you like doughnuts?' Then we drive off.
Kevin Character Comedy Absurdist Ryan · Pam · Michael: That's my corner. / I thought that was your corner. / No, this is where I work. I can't relax in the same corner where I work. / Is my corner the one with the copier?
Michael: Pam, I don't make the rules.
Michael Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Callback Charles · Jim: You started on that rundown yet?
Jim · Charles: This is just something I'm taking on a break with me. But I will get back to the rundown right now. / Okay, great. / Hey, you know what, do you have a rundown I could take a look at, just so I know what type of rundown you're looking for? / Just keep it simple.
Jim Charles Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Callback Pam · Charles: Well, it was great catching up with you. And I'll see you around the building. / Okay. / I'm just gonna sit here for a little bit longer, if that's okay.
Pam Charles Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Pam: The air smells so good. I don't remember it smelling so good. The chairs—
Pam Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Michael · Stanley · Phyllis: Welcome, welcome! Let me give you the tour. / I get it. Do you need to see more? [the 'tour' of the tiny office takes approximately three seconds]
Michael · Ryan · Stanley: She's upstairs talking to Charles. / What for? / I don't know. / Are we staying till 5:00?
Michael: Maybe the Michael Scott Paper Company was a huge mistake. I should leave.
Michael Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Michael: Get your free pancakes! They are delicious. They are nutritious. They are complimentary.
Michael · Young Passerby: Young sir, would you like a free pancake? / I'm texting. I don't want to get my hands sticky.
Michael: Ryan, enough with the texting machine. Come on. And tuck in your shirt. You're the face of this company.
Michael Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Jim · Charles: Do you want to look at it first? / Do I need to? / No, no, no, I just... wanted to make sure we have the same format.
Jim Charles Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Callback Jim · Charles: What's that? / The one I have. / I'll use the one I have.
Ryan · Michael: These are terrible, boss. You've gotta make 'em in a circle so they cook evenly. They're shaped like paper.
Andy: That was great, but it's still a little choppy. Don't worry, it's hard. I mean, it took me a while too.
Andy Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Andy: It's really technically proficient, but you sort of put no soul in it.
Andy Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Andy · Dwight: Hey, you want to sing with me? [launches into Take Me Home, Country Roads] In German!
Michael: I once had a dream that I was eating a peanut butter and [something] sandwich. And let me tell you something — it was delicious. So the next day I decided to make that sandwich. And in real life it is disgusting. It is a disgusting sandwich.
Michael Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Pam: Dunder— Michael Scott Paper Company, this is Pam.
Pam Character Comedy Reaction Beat ★ Rewatch Pam · Michael: We already offered free delivery. / They don't know that.
Michael: Who would have thought that the thing that would save this company would be work? And pancakes.
Michael Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Michael: Which is a surprise because 165 square feet sounds like a lot...
Michael Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Michael: Someone went to the bathroom. [mid-inspirational speech]
Michael Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Andy · Dwight: Literally, every song is better a cappella. Name a song. / Cherry Pie. Warrant. / Better a cappella. / No. / Really?
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