When the sales staff lets Sabre's new "sales is king" policy get to their heads, Michael hides their new, prized leads.
WAR
82
Wins Above Replacement
“Happy Hour” ranks #91 of 183 The Office episodes on the Humor Index, scoring 87.9 — Elite. The episode packs 77 scored jokes at 3.8 per minute, averaging 7.1 on craft and 7.0 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
Dwight: Dwight's confessional comparison of Angela vs. Isabel: 'Height, advantage Isabel. Birthing hips, advantage Isabel. Remaining childbearing years, advantage Isabel. Legal obligation, advantage Angela.'
Dwight Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Michael: 'Hi, I'm Date Mike. Nice to meet me. How do you like your eggs in the morning?'
Michael Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Andy: Andy's formal announcement to the bar: 'Hi, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Andrew Bernard and I've been on two dates with Erin Hannon and they went well, and there will probably be more. Thank you.'
Andy Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Callback Michael: Michael's book pitch: 'Somehow I Manage' — with a cover picture of himself 'shrugging with sleeves rolled up'
Michael Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Dwight: Dwight's 'Whack.' delivered to the Whac-A-Mole machine immediately after being served legal papers, as a reaction beat
Dwight Reaction Beat Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Callback Standout Moments
Michael: 'Hi, I'm Date Mike. Nice to meet me. How do you like your eggs in the morning?'
Michael Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Dwight: Dwight's confessional comparison of Angela vs. Isabel: 'Height, advantage Isabel. Birthing hips, advantage Isabel. Remaining childbearing years, advantage Isabel. Legal obligation, advantage Angela.'
Dwight Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Andy: Andy's formal announcement to the bar: 'Hi, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Andrew Bernard and I've been on two dates with Erin Hannon and they went well, and there will probably be more. Thank you.'
Andy Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Callback All Jokes — 77 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ Michael · Office Worker: 'Not counting the last one, 25.' / 'Count the last one.' / 'Okay, 25 and one girl pushup.'
Michael: Michael offers 'my respect' as the prize for doing more than 25 pushups, then reveals the actual prize is getting to go home early
Michael Misdirection Character Comedy Michael · Creed: 'I say dance, they say how high?' immediately followed by Creed being disqualified for butt too high
Michael: Someone does a pushup and Michael says 'Oh wow! That is adorable!' — implying the attempt was pathetically weak
Michael Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy Michael: Michael compares Stanley doing pushups to 'a mother lifting a car to save her baby'
Unknown: Someone notes that Stanley has 'all this weight that's helping him go down' during pushups
Unknown Observational Dark/Subversive Michael: Michael calls Stanley 'Papa Bear' approvingly as he staggers away
Michael Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Oscar · Matt: Oscar tries to engineer a run-in with his crush Matt by arriving at the gym early, but Matt says 'No. I always come in at 7:00.' Then Oscar says 'No you don't.' Then Matt says 'Well...'
Oscar Matt Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Oscar: Oscar's talking head about Matt: 'We talked this morning, and we talked at Christmas, so a little momentum there.'
Oscar Deadpan/Understatement Observational Oscar: Oscar's confessional: 'Couple hours to kill before work' — delivered after we've established he came in early specifically to see Matt
Oscar Irony/Sarcasm Deadpan/Understatement Callback Jim: 'You can be gay with Matt, just be straight with me' — Jim's line about Oscar's happy hour agenda
Jim Wordplay/Pun Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Phyllis: Phyllis says she loves going to bars with Bob because she wears something low-cut, men flirt with her, and Bob beats them up
Phyllis Character Comedy Dark/Subversive Jim: 'I gotta tell you, this baby is amazing. She gets me out of everything.' Then immediately: 'And I love her. I also love her very much.'
Jim Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Jim · Pam: Jim calls Pam expecting her to want a night in, but she immediately shouts 'Yes! Yes, I would love to!' before he finishes his sentence
Jim Pam Misdirection Character Comedy Pam: Pam excitedly lists 'Creed, Ryan. Oh, my God, Stanley!' as people she's thrilled to see
Pam Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Andy · Erin: Andy and Erin's coded couple-speak: 'Are you going later? / Sure, if you are. Yes.' followed immediately by Erin threatening to 'cut your face off'
Andy Erin Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy Andy · Erin: Andy and Erin's confessional about keeping their relationship secret 'because of the drama' — while talking over each other in perfect sync, clearly enjoying the drama
Andy: Andy talking head: 'That's actually pretty funny, but in general, you know...' — clearly referring to something we can't see or hear
Andy Meta/Self-Referential Awkward Silence Michael: Michael's excited sequence of saying 'Yes! It's a deal. It's a deal!' after being asked to join happy hour — then immediately pivoting to micromanage Erin
Michael Character Comedy Reaction Beat Unknown: Someone references that Pam's 'you-know-whats fill up with you-know-what' from new-mom physiology when she hears a baby cry — 'That would be funny'
Unknown Dark/Subversive Observational Kevin · Pam: Pam arrives at the bar and Kevin, in childlike excitement, immediately engulfs her in a massive hug, shouting 'Oh! I missed you so much!'
Kevin Pam Character Comedy Physical/Slapstick Jim: Jim talking head: 'Oh, wow. I cannot believe this is happening. This is everything I dreamed.'
Jim Irony/Sarcasm Deadpan/Understatement Dwight: Dwight replies 'That would be sublime'
Dwight Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Dwight: Dwight's deck-vs-porch lecture: 'I'll call this a deck if it'll make you happy, but this is just a porch without a roof' — delivered as breaking news
Dwight Character Comedy Observational Michael: 'What is a nice girl like you hanging out with these bums for?' — Michael's opening line to Julie, the blind date set up by Pam's friend
Michael Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort Jim: Jim's confessional: 'Julie laughs at everything' — delivered as if he is personally endorsing her for the role of Michael's date
Jim Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy Michael: Michael tells Julie that Pam and Jim 'work for me, and if they win, they are fired' about the pool game
Michael Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Dwight · Isabel: Dwight's smooth opener to Isabel: 'Well, well, well. If it isn't Isabel.' Isabel: 'What's a girl like you doing in a place like this?' Dwight: 'A girl like me is why a guy like you comes to a place like this.' Dwight: 'Ooh. I love repartee.'
Dwight · Meredith: Dwight interrupts Meredith mid-story about Anderson Cooper ('which I do not have the decency to repeat') to pursue Isabel
Dwight · Isabel: Dwight: 'I didn't think you could teach ESL. I thought that was something you were born with.' / Isabel: 'What am I thinking right now?' / Dwight: 'Are you thinking that I said ESP?' / Isabel: 'Yes.' / Dwight: 'I feel like an idiot. Awesome.'
Michael · Julie: 'Are you thinking that I said ESP?' / 'Yes. I feel like an idiot.' / 'Awesome.'
Julie: Julie's confessional: 'I was a little nervous when Pam told me he was her boss, but he doesn't act like a boss at all. If I had a boss like that, we'd never get anything done.'
Julie Irony/Sarcasm Deadpan/Understatement Jim: Jim's confessional: 'Well, apparently Michael Scott is on a date, and that... That, my friend, changes everything.'
Jim Reaction Beat Character Comedy Kevin: Kevin talking head: 'My brother, good head, bad heart. Good head, bad heart.'
Kevin Absurdist Character Comedy Pam · Jim: After Date Mike appears, Pam says quietly to Jim: 'Do you want to just make a run for it?' Jim: 'Maybe.'
Pam Jim Reaction Beat Deadpan/Understatement Andy · Erin: Andy and Erin are at the arcade section of the bar, playing children's games separately (racing game, Whac-A-Mole) to avoid being seen together
Erin: Erin's fantasy of what people would say if they saw them dancing: '"What's up with those two?" "Hey guys, get a bedroom already." "Did we miss the wedding?"' — spoken with dreamy contentment
Erin Character Comedy Absurdist Dwight · Isabel: Dwight's rapid-fire interrogation of Isabel: blood type, number of brothers, military service in family, dietary habits — all delivered as if screening for a mate
Michael · Isabel: Michael interviewing Isabel like a job candidate: 'Any brothers or sisters?' / '...Vegetarian?' / 'What's your blood type?' / 'O negative. Universal donor.'
Michael · Jim: Michael attempting to tie a cherry stem knot with his tongue in front of Julie as a seduction technique — 'You don't have to do this' / 'Wow. That was close.'
Michael: Michael's confessional: 'I watch reality dating shows like a hawk. And I learn. I absorb information from the strategies of the winners and the losers. Actually, I probably learn more from the losers.'
Michael Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Angela · Erin: Angela is teaching Erin Whac-A-Mole: 'Whacking moles. Hit him on the head. Whack! Say it with me. Whack! Extend the fingers more. Whack! Good.'
Angela · Dwight: Angela trying to break up with Dwight at the bar using the contract as leverage — 'You don't need to worry about this whole contract thing anymore.' Dwight: 'It's no worry.'
Angela: Angela tells Dwight she wants 'a big family. Tall, thick. A big, physically big family.' — the criteria becoming increasingly specific and physical
Angela Character Comedy Escalation Jim · Pam: After Angela's failed attempt to break up with Dwight at Whac-A-Mole: 'Maybe we should tell her he's not normally like this.' / 'Maybe it should come from a man.' / 'Maybe it should come from a note.' / 'With flowers.' / 'Tomorrow.'
Jim Pam Deadpan/Understatement Escalation ★ Rewatch Michael · Bar Manager Ted: Michael climbs on the pool table. Manager: 'You want to pay 400 bucks to re-felt this table?' Michael: 'Yeah! Why don't you send the bill to 23 I Don't Care Lane, Scranton, Pennsylvania?'
Michael · Bar Manager Ted: Bar manager kicks Michael out. Michael: 'We got a problem?' Manager: 'Yes. Homelessness.'
Michael · Jim: After being expelled, Michael says 'She can't talk to us that way' about the manager. Jim: 'It stopped.' Michael: 'Well, I am starting it again!'
Jim · Bar Manager Ted: Jim offers to defuse the situation with the bar manager by going to apologize — manager says: 'Then I am sorry that I didn't kick you out.'
Michael: Michael's book pitch: 'Somehow I Manage' — with a cover picture of himself 'shrugging with sleeves rolled up'
Michael Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Michael: Manager asks how much of the book Michael has written. Michael: 'I've written all of it. In my head.'
Michael Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Callback Michael · Bar Manager Ted: Michael and the bar manager discover they both own Chryslers — bonding over Lee Iacocca's book. Michael: 'I own it. But no, I have not read it.'
Michael · Bar Manager Ted: Michael and bar manager Ted do a complete 180 from confrontation to becoming friends, ending with Michael saying 'Shut up.' Ted: 'No, you shut up.'
Andy · Erin: Andy and Erin's plan to throw people off: Andy approaches a woman and starts 'talking to himself to confuse other people'
Erin: Erin: 'Hey, big boy. Do you like it when I do that?' — her attempt at flirting with a stranger to deflect suspicion
Erin Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy Andy · Erin: Andy pulls Erin away: 'We didn't say we were gonna, like, start groping strangers.' / 'I was flirting with a man.' / 'What movie? Black Snake Moan?'
Andy Erin Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort Michael: The bar is holding a raffle. Michael's business card is drawn. Michael: 'He is I.' — announcing himself in the third person and then the first person simultaneously
Michael · Raffle Announcer: 'Stanley Hudson?' / 'No. No.' / 'Whoa! A lot of Stanley Hudsons in here.' / 'No, it's Michael Scott.' / 'He is I.'
Jim · Pam · Julie: Jim and Pam trying to explain Michael to Julie: 'He's more just...' — followed by long silence and uncomfortable trailing off, ending with 'You can go. Yeah.'
Pam · Julie: Julie tells Pam she's leaving. Pam: 'I'm sorry. He's not usually like that.' / Julie: 'What's he usually like?' / Pam: 'He's more just...' [long pause, trails off]
Pam Julie Reaction Beat Awkward Silence ★ Rewatch Michael: Michael, oblivious to Julie leaving, shouts across the bar: 'Hey! Julie, having fun?' right as she's walking out the door
Michael Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy Bar Manager Ted: Bar manager Ted now buddying up to Michael, asking when he's coming for his free lunch: 'You're gonna want to come in on a day that I'm working'
Jim · Oscar: Jim: 'I saw you talking to Hide. Did you hear that dude's life story? It's amazing, right?' Oscar: 'I couldn't understand a word he said.'
Kevin · Oscar: Kevin confronts Oscar about Matt: 'Matt's an okay dude, but he's a dummy. You guys got nothing in common.' Oscar: 'Maybe you're right. I should count myself lucky.'
Andy · Erin: Confessional: Andy and Erin watching their colleagues — 'This is not what I want my relationship to look like' — presumably looking at any number of dysfunctional office couples on the dance floor
Andy · Erin: After Andy's big announcement, Erin says 'You know, it got to the point where keeping it a secret was just too much drama. And I hate drama.' Andy: 'I know, I do, right? I'm a total drama queen.'
Andy Erin Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy Callback Dwight · Michael: Dwight and Michael debate the Scranton Strangler: Dwight: 'The Scranton Strangler is a professional strangler.' Michael: 'Oh please. I wish he'd come after me. I would be like...' (demonstrates)
Dwight · Angela · Process Server: Dwight is served legal papers at the bar by a process server: 'Dwight Kurt Schrute. You are hereby served...' for breach of contract against Angela for failing to fulfill the child-rearing agreement
Angela · Isabel: Angela, to Isabel: 'Dwight recently entered into a contract with me, establishing intent to conceive and raise a child with me. Did he not tell you that?'
Angela Isabel Cringe/Discomfort Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Callback Dwight: Dwight's 'Whack.' delivered to the Whac-A-Mole machine immediately after being served legal papers, as a reaction beat
Dwight Reaction Beat Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Callback Isabel · Dwight: Isabel says to Dwight: 'You are an impressive specimen.' Dwight: 'Thank you.'
Pam: Pam says they 'have to get home' because she spilled her drink and they 'wouldn't give me a refill' — an absurdly low-stakes reason to leave
Pam Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Michael: Michael in closing confessional: 'I can't take all the credit. Some of the credit is due, in fact, to my good friend Date Mike.' Pause. 'Nice to meet me.'
Michael Character Comedy Callback ★ Rewatch Callback Jim: 'Tell me your story, Hide.' — final line of the episode, Jim inviting the incomprehensible warehouse worker to share his life story as a joke
Jim Callback Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Callback Top Episodes — The Office