Michael refuses to fire the new office assistant after everyone complains about his bad attitude. Andy plays it cool after Erin shows interest in another man. Meanwhile, Pam tries to impress Jim by pulling an office prank of her own.
WAR
104.3
Wins Above Replacement
“Nepotism” ranks #19 of 183 The Office episodes on the Humor Index, scoring 93.0 — Elite. The episode packs 74 scored jokes at 3.1 per minute, averaging 7.5 on craft and 7.3 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
Andy: Andy's anger management confessional: 'Am I angry that Gabe stole my girlfriend over the summer? No. I've been through anger management, okay? So right now I am sitting on a nice beach at Cape Cod, gazing out across the whitecaps. Oh, look, it's a humpback whale. How pretty. He's eating Gabe.'
Andy Character Comedy Misdirection ★ Rewatch Dwight · Pam: Dwight announces he needs to establish a 'pee corner' because he has '56 ounces of fluid in my bladder' after about two seconds in the elevator.
Stanley: Stanley's contribution to the nepotism debate: 'I would just like to say something off of what Darryl said about the level playing field. That is actually a zoning issue. So thank you.'
Stanley Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Darryl: Darryl's nephew analogy: 'Well, I got a nephew too. But he don't work for me. You know why? 'Cause he's a screw-up. He can swim in my pool, but he can't come in my house.'
Darryl Character Comedy Observational Kelly: Kelly's talking head: 'This summer I did the minority executive training program at Yale. You guys, I'm like really smart now. You don't even know. You could ask me, 'Kelly, what's the biggest company in the world?' And I'd be like, 'blah blah blah, blah blah blah blah blah blah,' giving you the exact right answer.'
Kelly Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Standout Moments
Andy: Andy's anger management confessional: 'Am I angry that Gabe stole my girlfriend over the summer? No. I've been through anger management, okay? So right now I am sitting on a nice beach at Cape Cod, gazing out across the whitecaps. Oh, look, it's a humpback whale. How pretty. He's eating Gabe.'
Andy Character Comedy Misdirection ★ Rewatch Stanley: Stanley's contribution to the nepotism debate: 'I would just like to say something off of what Darryl said about the level playing field. That is actually a zoning issue. So thank you.'
Stanley Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Dwight · Pam: Dwight announces he needs to establish a 'pee corner' because he has '56 ounces of fluid in my bladder' after about two seconds in the elevator.
All Jokes — 74 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ Michael · Dwight · Jim · Pam · Ryan · Creed · Andy · Oscar · Angela · Kevin · Darryl · Erin: The entire cold open lip sync/dance performance to 'Nobody But Me' — the whole office is participating in an elaborately choreographed music video, including Dwight with a CamelBak hydration pack, Creed awkwardly appearing, and Ryan ignoring it for his laptop
Ryan: Ryan sitting at his laptop during the office-wide lip sync, saying 'Wuphf.com. This is how you build a business.'
Ryan Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Creed · Unknown: Creed awkwardly appearing in the lip sync with the caption 'You got Creed' followed by 'You make it so hard to love you sometimes.'
Toby: Toby judging the lip sync performance: 'Well, that was better.'
Toby Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy Dwight: Talking head: 'I suppose summer had to end sometime. It's sad, though, because I had a great summer. I got West Nile virus. Lost a ton of weight.'
Dwight Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Dwight: Dwight continues: 'Then I went back to the lake. I stepped on a piece of glass in the parking lot, which hurt. That got infected, even though I peed on it.'
Dwight Character Comedy Escalation Andy: Talking head (likely Andy or another character): 'Saw Inception. Or at least I dreamt I did.'
Andy Wordplay/Pun Observational Andy: Andy's confessional about his summer friends: 'Broccoli Rob, obviously, will be there... And J.C. We call him Blorville because he looks like a black Orville Redenbacher.'
Andy Character Comedy Absurdist Erin: Erin's talking head about Gabe: 'Gabe is awesome. He has accomplished so much career-wise and height-wise.'
Erin Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Erin: Erin continues: 'Thank God he's my boss because I would not have said yes to a first date if I didn't have to.'
Erin Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Callback Dwight · Kevin: Dwight tells Kevin: 'From now on, if you're hot, sit on an ice pack.' Kevin asks: 'Well, what if you're cold?' Dwight: 'Pbbbt! Like you'd ever be cold, Kevin.'
Jim · Dwight: Jim reacts to Dwight's CamelBak: 'Hey Dwight, I don't know if you heard, but we're supposed to be drinking out of weird backpacks instead of cups, like regular people. Oh, you did hear.'
Dwight: Dwight's response to Jim: 'Jim, you have one job to do, and you do it forgettably. Those of us who are busy require hands-free hydration. Dwight Schrute, star salesman, beet farmer, bed and breakfast proprietor, aspiring freelance bodyguard. Add to that list owner of this building. Then burn the list.'
Dwight Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Kelly: Kelly's talking head: 'This summer I did the minority executive training program at Yale. You guys, I'm like really smart now. You don't even know. You could ask me, 'Kelly, what's the biggest company in the world?' And I'd be like, 'blah blah blah, blah blah blah blah blah blah,' giving you the exact right answer.'
Kelly Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Luke · Oscar · Kevin · Darryl: Luke (the new assistant) arrives with coffee and calls out nicknames: 'Here you go, big 'O'... Tiny... Darryl Hannah.'
Luke · Michael: Luke hands someone decaf when they asked for regular. 'It says decaf. You get me decaf?' Luke: 'Ooh, yeah. Must have been some sort of mix-up there... You could just drink it, or should I drive all the way back?'
Jim: Talking head (likely Jim or another character): 'Well, summer, I um, blew out my knee playing softball. Ended up watching CNN most of the time. I don't know how we're gonna get out of Afghanistan.'
Jim Deadpan/Understatement Observational Andy: Andy's confessional: 'The new guy sucks. Calls me the Nard Man. I'm the Nard Dog, okay? Nard Man is my father.'
Andy Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Michael: Michael defends Luke by comparing him to an intern from 'a few years ago' who was 'really ugly' but a 'good worker' — then trails off: 'Eehhhhh! That face, how ugly he was? He was the worst. Good worker, though.'
Michael Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort Jim · Dwight: Jim's prank: Adding keys to Dwight's key ring so it becomes comically heavy. 'Wow, that's a lot of keys.' Dwight: 'The bigger the key chain, the more powerful the man.' Jim: 'That's right. The janitor said that.'
Jim Dwight Setup/Punchline Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Dwight · Jim: Dwight discovers the prank and reacts: 'Not... Funny... Jim!' — shown dramatically to camera, keys jangling absurdly
Jim · Pam: Jim confesses to Pam: 'Sorry.' Pam: 'Oh no, don't worry about it. I'm just gonna put a couple keys on every day until Christmas. Then his pants would have fallen down, which was... a little gift to me, but...' Pam: 'It was really funny.' Jim: 'Well, it would have been. So unprofessional, Mrs. Halpert.'
Jim Pam Character Comedy Running Gag Callback Pam · Jim: Pam says 'I love you' to Jim after being called unprofessional
Pam Jim Reaction Beat Character Comedy Darryl · Luke: Darryl to Luke: 'Hey... turn off the chumbawamba and scram, twerp.'
Michael: Michael announces 'national ice cream afternoon' as a made-up holiday to send Luke on an errand, then casually drops: 'And another thing I did this summer — I hired my nephew.'
Michael Misdirection Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Michael: Michael's confessional about Luke: 'His mother, who also happens to be my half sister, kind of cut me off from that side of the family 15 years a... 14. The last time I saw Luke was the opening day of Ace Ventura II, and that was '95. So yes, 15 years on the dot... Anyway, I lost him in a forest.'
Michael Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Michael · Pam: Michael posts a sign saying 'Do not bother Luke' with a circle-slash symbol. Pam points out it looks like 'bother Luke.' Michael keeps redrawing it more elaborately, producing increasingly confusing versions.
Michael Pam Physical/Slapstick Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Michael: Michael's final sign attempt: 'Don't don't bother Luke.' Then: 'That's as clear as I can make it.'
Michael Character Comedy Escalation Callback Jim · Dwight: Jim explains to the office why they can't mess with Luke: 'There is somebody in the office who is very, very close to Luke.' Dwight: 'How close?' Jim: 'Well Dwight, he wiped his butt. Is that close enough for you?' Dwight: 'Yes. Of course.'
Michael: Michael defends nepotism with the Hanson band argument: 'Do you think they should have had open auditions for the band Hanson? What if no one named Hanson showed up? That wouldn't even make sense. Or what if they just hired the littlest kid and a 50-year-old guy who was a murderer?'
Michael Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Kevin: Kevin's contribution to the nepotism debate: 'Oh man, so many points being made.'
Kevin Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Michael · Oscar: Michael invokes God and Jesus to defend nepotism: 'God, when he needed help on earth, who did he hire? Jesus Christ, his son.' Others: 'That's a really tight argument.' 'Thank you.' 'Yeah.'
Oscar: Oscar: 'I couldn't care less about nepotism. But I'm loving the debate. Great minds battling it out. And I've got a front row seat.'
Oscar Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Michael: Michael: 'That's reverse nepotism. He should not be punished because he is related to me AND bad at what he does!'
Michael Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Michael: Michael reveals why he kept Luke's relationship secret: 'Because I wanted you to come to me and say, 'Wow, he is so great.' And I was gonna say, 'well, it's in the genes.' And I was actually gonna be wearing jeans. And I'd point to them... right? No. But you ruined it.'
Michael Character Comedy Wordplay/Pun ★ Rewatch Michael · Luke: Luke returns with soy ice cream for some people and bagel chips as a substitute. Michael: 'Ah, my favorite part of an ice cream party. The bagel chips.'
Pam: Pam confessional about the failed prank: 'I feel horrible for blowing Jim's prank. I don't know if you can tell, but he's mildly upset. And Dwight hasn't been messed with in a while, so he's become a monster. I need to make this right.'
Pam Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Creed · Michael: Creed reveals he came to the parking lot 'to feed the feral cats like I usually do' and found packages in Luke's car.
Michael: Michael about Luke's undelivered packages: 'All right, those might be his. He might own an eBay store.'
Michael Character Comedy Misdirection Michael · Creed: Michael's response to the packages found in Luke's car: 'All right, those might be his. He might own an eBay store.' Creed: 'Yep. That's exactly what my first thought was. And then I remembered having a conversation with him where he was like, 'I don't own an eBay store.''
Oscar · Unknown: Oscar picks up something from the car: 'Oh, sure, those are the expense reports that corporate was waiting for yesterday.' Someone else: 'Oh my gosh, those are the pants he wanted to return to Talbots.'
Michael: Michael: 'This is disgusting. This is like a witch hunt. This is like the Blair Witch Hunt project.'
Michael Character Comedy Wordplay/Pun Darryl: Darryl threatens: 'You get that kid to open this car, or I'm gonna do it myself... by calling AAA.'
Darryl Deadpan/Understatement Misdirection Michael · Gabe: Gabe tells Michael: 'Why is this my problem, Michael?' Michael: 'Because Gabe tattled. I was perfectly happy to just hide it from you.'
Michael · Gabe: Gabe to Michael about Luke: 'Those overnight packages needed to go out, and Michael refuses to hold the guilty party accountable.' Michael: 'Lower yourself, Gabe. I don't want to be having a conversation with your crotch.'
Michael · Gabe: Gabe confronts Michael; Michael responds: 'Lower yourself, Gabe. I don't wanna be having a conversation with your crotch.'
Darryl: Darryl's nephew analogy: 'Well, I got a nephew too. But he don't work for me. You know why? 'Cause he's a screw-up. He can swim in my pool, but he can't come in my house.'
Darryl Character Comedy Observational Michael: Michael responds to Darryl's pool/house metaphor: 'Well, this office is my pool. And my house is my house. And I just want my nephew to work in my pool.'
Michael Character Comedy Misdirection Callback Darryl · Michael: Darryl: 'Cover his ass like tidy whities.' Michael: 'I will cover his ass like moss on a Mississippi tree stump.' Darryl: 'Was how I put it on clear enough? I mean, you had to go and make up your own saying?'
Michael: Michael's confessional on managing Luke: 'Luke and I have been working side by side as master and commander. Me as master, he as commander. Occasionally he'll need a little push... That's the thing with kids. You have to keep pushing. You have to push them until they push you back. And then you push some more.'
Michael Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Pam: Pam and Luke set up an elevator prank on Dwight. Pam to camera: 'Dwight is about to get so pammed.'
Pam Meta/Self-Referential Character Comedy Dwight: Dwight in the malfunctioning elevator: 'Hey... the elevator is disobeying us!'
Dwight Character Comedy Reaction Beat Dwight · Pam: Dwight immediately begins emergency protocols in the elevator, demanding Pam use 'her talons' to pry open the doors after about 2 seconds of being stuck.
Michael · Luke · Oscar · Angela: In a parallel scene, Michael is training Luke with a laser pointer, which Luke keeps pointing at colleagues — Oscar's head, Angela's 'boob' — while Michael desperately tries to redirect him.
Oscar · Michael · Luke: Oscar: 'Oh my God, is it in my eyeball?' 'Yes.' 'I think he's burning my eye.' Michael: 'Sack up, man.'
Michael · Luke: Michael spanks Luke: 'You are going to learn to be more professional, Luke!' followed by the spanking sounds and Luke's shocked reaction
Michael · Luke: Michael finally counts down and physically spanks Luke: 'You are going to learn to be more professional, Luke!' Luke: 'Aah! What the hell was that?' Michael: 'I had to do that.' Luke: 'Hey, fuck this! Screw it!' Michael: 'All right. Are we good?'
Michael Luke Cringe/Discomfort Escalation ★ Rewatch Callback Pam: Pam's reassurance after the spanking: 'You're okay. He's okay.'
Pam Deadpan/Understatement Reaction Beat Unknown · Darryl · Andy: Office reaction to the spanking: 'There are many different schools of thought on capital punishment.' 'That was awesome.' 'Texas justice.' 'Yeah, your nephew is so lame. He's been trashing us relentlessly on Twitter.'
Andy · Michael: Michael: 'You follow him on Twitter?' Andy: 'Everywhere I look, it's Betty White this and Betty White that. Finally, a kid who's not talking about Betty White. Of course I follow him.'
Pam · Jim: Pam tells Jim she's seen the elevator prank video: 'Some prankster switched the elevator buttons on Dwight.' Jim: 'I did not do this.' Pam: 'I know.'
Pam Jim Running Gag Irony/Sarcasm Callback Pam · Jim: Jim sees Pam's elevator prank video and says: 'This is impressive.' Pam: 'Well, you know... they don't call me the Bart Simpson of Scranton for nothing.' Jim: 'Do they call you that?' Pam: 'They do call me that.'
Pam Jim Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Pam · Jim: Pam: 'Yeah, and it was going really great at first. I got video.' Jim: 'This is impressive.' Pam: 'Well, you know, they don't call me the Bart Simpson of Scranton for nothing.' Jim: 'Do they call you that?' Pam: 'They do call me that.'
Pam Jim Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Jim · Dwight: Jim is helping Dwight out of the elevator. Dwight: 'Nope. Scared of getting cut in half. Also, there's pee on the floor.' Jim: 'Oh! Course there is.'
Jim: Jim's reaction to pee on the floor: 'Oh! Course there is.' Then cheerfully: 'Hey, Chinese tonight?'
Jim Reaction Beat Deadpan/Understatement Jim · Pam · Dwight: Jim and Pam chat while Dwight drinks water defiantly. 'Hey, Chinese tonight?' 'Yeah.' 'Great.' — cutting to Dwight furiously drinking water from a bottle while Jim and Pam try to stop him.
Jim Pam Dwight Reaction Beat Physical/Slapstick ★ Rewatch Callback Dwight · Jim: Dwight tries to exit the elevator and Jim offers his right hand; Dwight nearly grabs the wrong one. Jim: 'No, no, no. It's the other hand, right hand.' Dwight: 'Right hand?' Jim: 'Yeah.' Dwight: 'Would have been nice to work with my family.'
Michael: Michael's confessional about sending Luke away: 'I don't know how Ringling Brothers do it. Night after night, town after town, all across America. You would think they'd be sick of each other by now. But clearly, they make it work. And my hat's off to them.'
Michael: Legal's solution: Michael must undergo six sessions of counseling. Michael: 'That's it? Really? That's nothing. All right. That's highway robbery. Good.'
Michael Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Michael · Toby: Michael is told he'll do his counseling with Toby — in this office. Michael: 'Okay. Wait, what?' Reaction beat as the news lands. Then: 'Is there another option?'
Toby: Toby cheerfully tells Michael: 'Yeah, I'm really looking forward to working with you, Michael.'
Toby Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy Callback Top Episodes — The Office
