Robert California forces the office to throw a welcome party for Nellie, but the Party Planning Committee works on ways to sabotage it. Meanwhile, Erin tries to help Andy figure out a way to break up with Jessica.
WAR
72.4
Wins Above Replacement
“Welcome Party” ranks #167 of 183 The Office episodes on the Humor Index, scoring 82.9 — Elite. The episode packs 80 scored jokes at 3.6 per minute, averaging 6.9 on craft and 6.9 on impact, with Andy landing the most laughs. Every joke is ranked below with its individual craft and impact scores.
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Top Jokes
Nellie: "What kind of fool gets her heart broken by a bloody stage magician?"
Nellie Setup/Punchline Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Callback Erin: "Oh, no, no. I meant that must be nice to have parents."
Erin Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Dwight: "What kind of restaurant?" — Dwight's single-track question after learning Nellie's ex left her for a waitress
Dwight Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Dwight: "Okay, scram, wizard."
Dwight Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Robert California: Robert California's toast: 'Pam, on the other hand, is a most unwelcome, entitled and unfriendly presence in our company.'
Standout Moments
Erin: "Oh, no, no. I meant that must be nice to have parents."
Erin Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Dwight: "What kind of restaurant?" — Dwight's single-track question after learning Nellie's ex left her for a waitress
Dwight Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Nellie: "What kind of fool gets her heart broken by a bloody stage magician?"
Nellie Setup/Punchline Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Callback All Jokes — 80 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ Michael/Andy (card signer): "Glad they didn't mix up your tonsillectomy with a mustachectomy."
Jim · Pam · Phyllis · Kevin · Oscar · Dwight: The entire office cannot agree on or picture whether Stanley has a mustache, despite working with him for 25 years
Jim: "The whole card depends on this" — treating an absurd trivia question with boardroom-level urgency
Jim Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy Dwight: "Because we come here to do our jobs. We don't stick our noses in other people's business."
Dwight Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Dwight: "Neither of those looks like any person that has ever existed or been dreamt of in the history of human insanity."
Dwight Deadpan/Understatement Absurdist ★ Rewatch Dwight: "That said, the one on the left." — Dwight immediately picks a drawing he just called beyond human insanity
Dwight Misdirection Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Callback Jim · Office ensemble: "Guys, that's the elevator. What if it's him? Quick, who says mustache?"
Stanley · Jim · Office ensemble: Stanley walks out of the elevator — he clearly has a mustache. "He does have one!"
Robert California: "'Good morning, Robert,' says no one because our receptionist is in Florida."
Robert California · Pam: "Is this a video conference you're having with 'Drake featuring Swizz Beatz'?"
Robert California: "People, you should come to work already warm. 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. is the most productive potential that human beings..."
Nellie: "Sorry! Sorry, everyone. I'm late, but you are all here, so no harm done at all by my lateness."
Nellie Character Comedy Absurdist Nellie: Nellie's alarm clock snooze story: "Buzz, whack, buzz, whack" — seven times
Nellie Character Comedy Escalation Nellie: "No will power. That is my curse."
Nellie Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Robert California: "I've never believed will power was very important in a woman."
Nellie: "backwater, suburb of a suburb" — Nellie describing Scranton
Nellie Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Nellie · Oscar · Kevin · Dwight: "...and I mean no offense, but are there a lot of Irish people living around here?" — followed by the room's silent alarm
Oscar · Nellie: "Actually, Nellie, this monologue you're delivering is very offensive. Ooh! Ay caramba! The natives are getting restless."
Nellie: "I would appreciate it if you would keep that stuff on the basketball court."
Nellie Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Oscar · Nellie: "What does that mean?" / "Or the squash court, or the supreme court. Hmm?"
Kevin · Phyllis · Angela: "I'm sorry, we're throwing a party for someone because they're being horrible?" / "I'm still not sure why this woman is even here!"
Andy: Andy's talking-head: 'Two crazy kids on the journey of life / Going to Pennsylvania / On the road with my new girlfriend / But first, a small pit stop to break up with my current girlfriend'
Andy Character Comedy Dark/Subversive Andy · Erin: The 'no kisses until the breakup is official' exchange — both characters agree this is 'important'
Pam · Meredith: Pam's plan to throw a deliberately bad party: "It kind of makes me want to throw a really bad party. Yeah. On purpose."
Phyllis · Pam: "Order carrot cake" as the most subversive choice they can make for a party
Andy · Erin: Andy's worst-case scenario rehearsal: He keeps saying 'I just need you to know' and then trailing off, punching himself
Andy Erin Character Comedy Physical/Slapstick Dwight: Dwight mocks Jim's Tetris skills: 'Oh, I think I'll just use this line horizontally. Oh, I have no idea what a gift this line is.'
Dwight Character Comedy Observational Nellie: Nellie: "Nothing is more repellent than magicians. Bunch of grown men waving wands, pulling bunnies out of body crevices."
Nellie Character Comedy Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Jim · Pam: Jim on the phone: "hauling cube" — 'That's moving boxes. We just came up with the term to make it sound cooler.'
Jim Pam Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Pam · Jim: Pam's suggestion to 'hire a magician' — Pam says it as a joke, but Jim immediately says 'What? Trust me. Okay.'
Pam Jim Misdirection Setup/Punchline ★ Rewatch Andy: Andy at the bachelorette party explaining Erin: "Why is Erin with me? That's a great question. She is my co-worker and she needed a ride because she totaled her car."
Andy Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Erin · Andy: "Okay, Andy, that is a bachelorette party. This is Jessica's friends and they've been drinking during the daytime." — followed by 'Should we go? / Yeah'
Erin Andy Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort Andy · Erin: Andy and Erin looking at photos of Jessica's new boyfriend — Andy keeps misidentifying the relationship: 'I'm guessing he's some kind of close romantic friend. Like a boyfriend? You read my mind.'
Andy Erin Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Andy: "Whoa. Here's one with his face whited out. Maybe someone threw a pie in his face. New theory, he's a hated Italian politician."
Andy Character Comedy Absurdist Nellie · Jim · Dwight: "That's what I call my box full of photos of Henry. Why not call...Shh."
Nellie: "Ah, but what's 10 years of bliss down the drain compared with the thrill of starting over with nothing and no one?"
Nellie Dark/Subversive Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Jim · Dwight: Jim: 'I'm so sorry. These must be very painful memories. If it would help you to forget, [Dwight grabs candlestick] in the brain stem with this candlestick.'
Jim Dwight Character Comedy Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Jim · Nellie: Jim looks at Nellie's photo collection: 'Just one quick question — was this Halloween or—?' 'God, no.'
Jim · Pam: Jim on the phone urgently telling Pam to cancel the magician: 'Call it off, Pam. Call it off... Cancel the magician. Trust me.'
Jim Pam Irony/Sarcasm Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Callback Jim · Pam: Jim calls off the prank party on the phone with Pam, who thinks it was her idea to go normal. Jim: 'Call it off, Pam. Call it off, okay? Cancel the magician. Trust me.'
Jim Pam Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Callback Pam · Phyllis · Meredith: Pam: 'Like, not mean. Just a regular party. Not mean.' — Phyllis: 'I knew she'd crack. I wanted to leave you out, you know.'
Meredith: Meredith: 'Toots, we're not stopping this train, so get off the tracks.' / 'Suck it.'
Meredith Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Andy · Lauren · Jessica's friends: Andy is offered a gummy penis and asks for 'just some gummy bears.' Lauren: 'These are delicious.' Andy: 'But they're penises.' Lauren: 'And we come to Matthew...'
Andy · Erin: Andy at the bachelorette party: 'Do you want a gummy penis? / No. I'll just have some gummy bears. / These are delicious. / But they're penises.'
Andy Erin Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort Andy · Jessica's friends: "Maybe we don't pop that one. / No. Pop it. Pop it. Pop it."
Andy · Megan · Bachelorette party guests: Andy's old friend at the party: "You are one of the good ones, Nard Dog." — women asking Andy to sing
Andy: Andy pressed into singing at the bachelorette party: 'Well, you guys are doing a pretty good job with the scary yelling, so—' then is forced to sing 'Loch Lomond'
Andy Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort warehouse worker · Oscar: Party committee discussing code names: 'Ryan was "Douche Bag."' / 'Hey, that's not a code name. That's just an insult. Plus, everyone would know who you meant.'
Kevin · Oscar: "How about 'Pam'? Simple, easy to remember." / "Because there's someone already here named Pam."
Musician/Rolf: The musician hired for Nellie's party: "They asked me to play only originals. I said, 'Have you heard my originals? They're terrible.' They said, 'Even better.' I said, 'I get it. It's an ironic party for Nellie.'"
Musician: The musician announces his song will be 'over a half-hour long.'
Musician Deadpan/Understatement Escalation Andy · Kenny: Kenny at the party: 'You invited me to go shopping with you / I like hanging out with you. You're a cool guy. / Which proves my point that I'm gay.'
Jessica · Andy: Jessica: 'Andy, you're not gay. And you seemed pretty excitable.' / 'Well, I was faking it. I had to fake it every time.'
Andy: "with John Stamos" — Andy uses John Stamos as evidence of what actually excites him
Andy Character Comedy Absurdist Robert California: Robert California's toast: 'Pam, on the other hand, is a most unwelcome, entitled and unfriendly presence in our company.'
Nellie: "Every day, I imagine how happy I'd be if Pam died."
Nellie Dark/Subversive Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Jim: Jim defends Pam at the toast with increasingly damning faint praise: 'she is misunderstood...maybe there's some stuff in her past that's a little messed up and probably makes her such a torture to work with.'
Jim Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Robert California · Nellie · Office ensemble: The office chanting 'We hate Pam! We hate Pam!' in unison
Robert California · Pam: Robert: 'Do you ever wish she would just disappear?' — the camera cuts to Pam presumably watching from outside
Andy · Erin: Jim and Erin's post-bachelorette debriefing: 'That was a really rough scene.' / 'Right? Rough scene. Yeah.'
Andy Erin Deadpan/Understatement Reaction Beat Andy · Erin: 'At least we can kiss now.' / 'Oh, yeah.'
Andy Erin Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Callback Andy · Erin: Andy: 'You know, that stuff that I said about you to her, that's just... I was dating her at the time.'
Andy Erin Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy Callback Andy · Erin: Andy/Erin nausea: 'Probably from seeing that turkey. / Oh yeah. When we drove by the farm. Always does that.'
Magician · Nellie · Dwight · Jim: The magician arrives at the party: 'Are you Nellie? I think you're my volunteer.' / Dwight intercepts: 'No, I'll do it. I will volunteer.'
Magician · Dwight: The magician to Dwight: 'Oh, big guy, huh? How's the air up there? Watch out for birds.'
Dwight · Magician: Dwight's sabotage: blurts out 'It's the four of hearts' before looking at the card; magician responds 'No hablo el cardo, señor?'
Jim · Dwight: Jim explains his sabotage credibility: 'Little known fact about me — before I was a magician, I worked at a rope factory. Not true, because that's not a real place.'
Jim Dwight Deadpan/Understatement Meta/Self-Referential Dwight · Magician: Dwight deliberately destroys the magician's card shuffling by violently smashing the deck — magician: 'You didn't just do that on purpose, did you?'
Dwight: "Okay, scram, wizard."
Dwight Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Nellie: Nellie's unexpected defense: 'I thought it was quite fun. In fact, I think they're brilliant employees in their own way.'
Nellie Misdirection Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Callback Kevin: Kevin's complaint: "This cake has vegetables in it like a salad bar, Robert."
Kevin Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Callback Kevin: "How do I get this taste out of my mouth?"
Kevin Character Comedy Escalation Callback Andy: Andy returns to Jessica's party: "Super duper honesty time. I'm not gay. In fact, I'm so not gay that I'm in love with a girl."
Andy Callback Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Callback Andy: "Total relationship material." — Andy using Nellie's/Jessica's earlier dismissal of Erin as a declaration of love
Andy Callback Character Comedy Callback Jessica's friends · Kenny: Jessica's friends' escalating reactions: 'Why the hell did you come back here? / Go away / Get lost / Get out / You ruined my party / Who does that? / Yeah, run away. Run away. / You're disgusting / I can't believe you're not gay / Get out of here / Don't come back'
Pam · Hank: Hank the security guard: 'I thought I was very specific about you not letting up a magician.' / 'Yes, ma'am. I got my eyes open.' / 'He came and went.' / 'What? That ain't right.'
Pam Hank Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Hank: "Wait a minute. You said it was a magician, right? You don't think he could have used... It couldn't have been... Let's just go."
Hank Absurdist Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Callback Top Episodes — The Office