Dwight becomes regional manager after Andy quits his job, Jim dedicates more time to his Dunder Mifflin job to save his marriage, and Angela has problems with her new living arrangements after her breakup with The Senator.
WAR
78.7
Wins Above Replacement
“Livin The Dream” ranks #172 of 183 The Office episodes on the Humor Index, scoring 82.1 — Elite. The episode packs 82 scored jokes at 2.5 per minute, averaging 7.1 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
Dwight · David Wallace: Dwight pulls out a pre-made 'Dwight K. Schrute — Manager' plaque/nameplate. Wallace: 'Why do you already have this?' Dwight: 'In case Michael or Andy ever got killed in a traffic accident and there was a trade show on the same day.'
Jim · David Wallace · Dwight: Wallace offers Jim 'assistant regional manager.' Jim: 'Nope. Can't accept that job. It's not a real job.' Jim: 'I'll tell you what I could accept is assistant to the regional manager. That is a real job, and one I'd be proud to take.' Wallace: 'Shake on it?' Jim: 'Done. Way to negotiate, idiot.'
Angela: Angela's talking-head: 'He would strap me to his chest in a Baby Bjorn made for fat children and do lunges across the farm. I felt like I was flying.'
Angela Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Angela · Oscar: Angela, after a long pause, quietly: 'I love him.' Oscar: 'I know. I understand more than most, but we both have to move on.' Angela: 'No, not the Senator. I love Dwight.'
Angela Oscar Misdirection Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Callback Dwight: Dwight is told he'll be manager. After a long pause, almost in tears: 'I've just waited for this moment my entire life. I mean, I was interim manager once, but then I shot that gun.'
Dwight Character Comedy Callback ★ Rewatch Callback Standout Moments
Angela: Angela's talking-head: 'He would strap me to his chest in a Baby Bjorn made for fat children and do lunges across the farm. I felt like I was flying.'
Angela Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Dwight · David Wallace: Dwight pulls out a pre-made 'Dwight K. Schrute — Manager' plaque/nameplate. Wallace: 'Why do you already have this?' Dwight: 'In case Michael or Andy ever got killed in a traffic accident and there was a trade show on the same day.'
Jim · David Wallace · Dwight: Wallace offers Jim 'assistant regional manager.' Jim: 'Nope. Can't accept that job. It's not a real job.' Jim: 'I'll tell you what I could accept is assistant to the regional manager. That is a real job, and one I'd be proud to take.' Wallace: 'Shake on it?' Jim: 'Done. Way to negotiate, idiot.'
All Jokes — 82 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ Jim: Jim takes time off from Philly work to be with Pam, describing phone ringing off the hook, then pivoting to 'This does. It's the only thing that matters.' followed by 'Nice morning, too. Beesly. Oh, my God.'
Jim Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Andy · Erin: Andy asks Erin: 'Which tie makes me look like a guy who likes sofas? My agent's putting me up for a furniture commercial.'
Pete · Jim: Pete greets Jim: 'So, Big Tuna, what's up? Back in the small pond?' Jim: 'For now, yeah.' Pete: 'Thin-sliced Tuna. Carpaccio. Go on.'
Pete Jim Wordplay/Pun Character Comedy Andy: Andy tells Jim: 'Half the time, I don't know if I'm wearing my stage makeup or my work makeup.'
Andy Character Comedy Absurdist Oscar · Angela: Oscar asks Angela 'Is everything okay?' Angela flatly replies: 'No. Everything is not okay.'
Angela · Oscar: Angela reveals: 'The county took my cats... Two sacks' worth. Apparently, my apartment complex has rules about how many pets are too many for a studio.'
Angela · Oscar: Angela describes her downstairs neighbor as 'this uptight, judgmental shrew. You know the type.' Oscar, directly to camera, deadpans: 'I've never met anyone like that.'
Angela · Oscar: Angela says 'Without my cats, I am utterly and completely alone.' Oscar gently notes: 'Angela, you still have your son.' Angela replies: 'I guess.'
Dwight · Kevin: Dwight announces his knuckles are 'four new deadly weapons' named 'Basher, Thrasher, Crasher and...' then pauses. Kevin volunteers: 'Smasher?' Dwight: 'Smasher? No. Where'd you get that? Fireball!'
Dwight: Dwight's talking-head: 'Sensei Billy says most students don't spend $150,000 over 20 years to get their black belt.'
Dwight Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Dwight: Dwight announces his black belt ceremony will be 'right here in the office at lunch. Lunch not provided.'
Dwight Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Dwight · Stanley: Dwight does a karate kick/demonstration yelling 'Fireball!' and Stanley dryly says: 'That's pretty good. I feel safe.'
Erin: Erin mishears 'Is Andy in?' as 'Is Indian?' and launches into: 'Is Indian food good? Is Indian jewelry pretty? Is Indian hair an expensive kind of wig? Yes to all three, by the way.'
Erin Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Erin: Erin's talking-head: 'Lately, I've been having a lot of trouble keeping track of Andy's calendar. His student film audition schedule is crazy hectic.'
Erin Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy Jim: 'David Walrus in his native habitat.' — Jim's aside upon seeing David Wallace
Jim Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement David Wallace: David Wallace's talking-head: 'Yesterday, he asked me to pay for cheek implants. Claimed it's going to boost office morale.'
Andy: Andy explains he can't succeed because at his last headshot sitting, he was 'so distracted wondering what I was missing at work that I came across totally manic. And I was going for zany.'
Andy Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Andy · David Wallace: Andy tells David he wants to quit to pursue fame: 'I see no reason to limit myself to just acting... I am pursuing fame of any kind. Could be singing. Could be dancing. I don't... It just... I owe it to myself and my future fans.'
David Wallace: David Wallace's talking-head after Andy quits: 'Well, that kind of worked out. I think just about anybody can be a star. My postman, the night janitor here... But Andy? No, definitely not. Charisma black hole.'
Jim · Clark · Pete: Jim returns to his old desk; Clark is sitting there and doesn't want to give it up: 'I've actually been working pretty hard here on a daily basis. So I kind of feel like I've earned this.' Jim: 'You totally have. You have earned it. But maybe I could be with my wife.' Clark: 'Right. Well, I'm here to sell paper.' Jim: 'Burn.'
Jim · Clark: Jim asks Clark: 'What do you need more face time with Wallace for? You trying to get a second second job here?'
Jim · Clark: Jim banishes Clark to the annex, then adds: 'Be careful. It is very easy to get lost in Pete's beautiful, dead eyes.'
Jim Clark Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Andy · Office: Andy announces 'I'm taking a leave of absence from Dunder Mifflin forever.' The office starts to console him: 'It's a sad day when anybody is fired.' Andy: 'Uh-uh-uh. Andy was not fired.' Andy: 'I'm fired up. Yes.'
Phyllis: Phyllis's talking-head: 'Andy sings beautifully, and he's really good at dancing. He's a good speaker. But there's just something there you don't want to look at.'
Phyllis Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy Callback Jim · Pete: Pete to Jim: 'Hey, how am I doing as your desk mate, by the way? You probably miss Clark.' Jim: 'Yeah, a little bit.' Pete: 'Wow.' Jim: 'No, no. I get it.' Pete: 'It's cool, man. I'm sure you and I will have our own thing.' Jim: 'Yeah. Definitely. Go Phillies, right?' Pete: 'You don't watch baseball. I keep forgetting that.'
Jim Pete Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy Darryl · Andy: Darryl to Andy: 'Show business is cold. Let's say you get a job, which you probably won't. They're not gonna cut you any slack. You're meant for a job with lots and lots of slack.'
Darryl: Darryl's talking-head: 'The male is a funny species. We don't just tell each other how we feel. That's chick stuff. So instead of saying, "Hey, Andy, I love you, man. I don't want you to leave," you say something like, "Hey, Andy, you're making the worst mistake of your life. You're not talented."'
Darryl Observational Character Comedy Andy · Darryl: After Darryl's sincere-in-code speech, Andy simply says: 'Right back at you, Darryl.' with full understanding, no irony.
Andy Darryl Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Callback Kevin: Kevin's talking-head: 'Andy's from the generation that thinks they should all be famous. What happened to the generation that knew you shut up, did your work and died quietly from a heart attack?'
Kevin Dark/Subversive Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Kevin: Kevin continues: 'Could Andy make it as an entertainer? I don't know. You know who's really funny? This bird in the park that can't fly right. I'd pay to see him. But I don't have to, 'cause the park is free.'
Kevin Absurdist Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Dwight · Sensei Billy: Dwight's black belt ceremony: He asks Sensei Billy to take his belt and says 'I now submit to you every part of myself.' Sensei Billy replies: 'That's really okay. I'm mostly focused on the belt here.'
Dwight · Sensei Billy · Kevin: Sensei Billy: 'I can't do this if you're gonna be thrusting like that, okay? I think we're gonna have to cut this off.' The office narrator (Kevin's voice implied): 'He will now perform the ceremonial cutting off of the belt.'
Sensei Billy · Kevin: After the thrusting makes the belt removal impossible, Billy declares: 'I think we're gonna have to cut this off.' Kevin's narrator-voice echo: 'He will now perform the ceremonial cutting off of the belt.'
Dwight · Sensei Billy: Dwight performs his kata forms while Sensei Billy spectates. Dwight keeps checking: 'Sensei, you're not watching.' Billy: 'Yeah, I'm watching.' 'Watch this part, okay?' followed by Billy's visible disengagement
Dwight · Sensei Billy · Jim: Dwight: 'Sensei, do you generally do house calls like this?' Billy: 'You can just call me Billy. And no. No, but Dwight insisted. He wanted to receive his black belt in the place he loves most in the world. He said that?' [Billy nods] 'He's an odd guy, isn't he?' 'Yes.' 'Irritating? Also yes.'
Kevin · Toby · Andy: Kevin and Toby confront Andy with a list of objections to quitting: '...in your late 30s with no savings to fall back on and no real connections in that business, which can be competitive. Yeah, sure. What's your question?' 'Our question is... it seems dumb.'
Toby · Kevin · Andy: Toby proposes Andy stay and 'full-ass' it as manager. Kevin: 'Really give it a go? Be the greatest manager in the history of this branch and in that way, achieve the fame and immortality that you seek?'
Toby · Andy: Toby: 'Nobody is going to hire you ever. You're too character-y to be a lead, and you're not fat enough to be a great character actor.'
Toby Andy Dark/Subversive Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Kevin: Kevin's talking-head: 'No, I don't think he can make it as an actor. But he also can't make it as an employee in an office, so, you know, why not go nuts with it?'
Kevin Dark/Subversive Deadpan/Understatement Dwight · Jim: Dwight and Jim interact over office supplies. Dwight: 'If you want to get rid of a headache, you sit on something sharp. Any sensei will tell you that.'
David Wallace · Jim: Wallace to Dwight: 'I've been considering you for manager. Am I crazy?' Jim: 'Not at all. It should be Dwight.' Wallace: 'You sure?' Jim: 'You're going to want to invest in a lot more liability insurance, but... Yeah.'
Toby · Andy · Kevin: Wallace tells Andy his plan 'seems dumb,' Andy fires back with 'it's better than sticking around here and half-assing it.' Toby: 'But what if you were to stay here and "full-ass" it?'
David Wallace · Andy: Wallace tells Andy he has nothing to gain from Andy staying but: 'Dear God, don't quit your dayjob.' Then: 'Nothing is impossible to him who will try. Alexander the Great, if he were Cockney.' Andy: 'You're bad.' Wallace: 'I know.'
David Wallace: Wallace quotes: 'Nothing is impossible to him who will try. Alexander the Great, if he were Cockney.'
Andy · Erin: Andy to Erin: 'Honest Erin. Cannot tell a lie. We lay together. That's something you can't take back.' Erin: 'So true.'
Andy Erin Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy Andy: Andy: 'I'm gonna make it. Every person who's been on Conan has a crazy story about how they made it. Every person.'
Andy Character Comedy Absurdist Erin · Andy: Erin tells Andy bluntly: 'Yes. Huge mistake. Andy, honestly, I think you might become homeless or maybe even starve.' Andy: 'Thank you.'
Erin Andy Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Dwight · David Wallace: Dwight enters Wallace's office. Wallace: 'Will you be the new manager?' Dwight: 'Where? What branch? Here. Scranton.' Dwight collapses to the floor overcome with emotion.
Dwight: Dwight is told he'll be manager. After a long pause, almost in tears: 'I've just waited for this moment my entire life. I mean, I was interim manager once, but then I shot that gun.'
Dwight Character Comedy Callback ★ Rewatch Callback Jim · Pam: Jim goes to Pam's desk with a fake 'question' — their entire interaction is a romantic dance of pretending he didn't just come back for her
Jim Pam Character Comedy Awkward Silence ★ Rewatch Andy · Kevin: Andy returns having changed his mind again: 'Hey, everybody. I changed my mind. Not leaving. I'm gonna stay on in sales.' Kevin: 'Oh! Thank God!' then immediately: 'Because sales could be your best role yet.'
Darryl · Andy: Darryl: 'Don't wanna see you in a porn next year.'
Oscar · Andy: Oscar suggests Andy stay and embrace 'Death of a Salesman.' Andy: 'I don't think so.' Oscar: 'Sure, Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller. It's a great play about crushed dreams.' Andy: 'No, this one was written by SpongeBob SquarePants.'
Jim · Dwight: Jim demonstrates reverse stapling to Dwight: 'The staple crimps outward.' Dwight: 'And here I've been stapling the same way for 20 years like a frickin' sheep.'
Jim · Dwight · Pete: Jim and Dwight banter about a double date with Pete and his girlfriend. When Thursday is suggested, both Jim and Dwight immediately cite scheduling conflicts. 'Just forget it. Forget I said anything.' Jim stares at camera. [Awkward silence]
Dwight · David Wallace: Dwight's phone rings during Wallace's announcement. Dwight: 'Can I just do one thing while you're making this announcement? And then I'll never, ever do it again.' Wallace: 'I don't think so.' Dwight: 'It's just one thing. Just let me...' [sends phone to voicemail, clearly reluctantly]
Dwight: Dwight calls his uncle on speakerphone: 'Then we'll get him a new set of drums.' [clearly mid-conversation about something totally mundane before Dwight hangs up and announces himself as manager]
Dwight Absurdist Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Creed: Creed Bratton upon Dwight's announcement: 'Creed Bratton is the new manager!'
Creed Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Dwight · Clark: Dwight tells Clark to get out of Jim's chair: 'You're an annex kid. You might be bullpen. We'll see. Give it a couple years. Scram.'
Dwight Clark Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Andy: Andy's talking-head: 'When Cortés landed in Mexico, the only way he got his men to defeat the Aztecs was by burning all of his own boats so they could never return home. Huge dick move, but very effective. I need to be that same kind of dick to myself.'
Andy Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Andy · Jim: Andy changes his mind AGAIN and announces he's going with his dream — 'Gotta go all in. Ain't that right, Jim?' Jim: 'Oh. Don't look at me, 'cause I think you're making a terrible choice.' Andy: 'All in! Whoo!'
Andy Jim Character Comedy Running Gag Callback Andy · Toby: Andy asks Toby to put in his file that he was 'fired for theft and/or groping wieners.' Toby refuses. Andy: 'Just know that you made me do this.' [Andy proceeds to grope Toby] Toby: 'Come on. Andy, no. God, Toby, don't... Stop blocking my hand.' Andy: 'Groped you good. Off to Hollywood!'
Andy Toby Physical/Slapstick Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Angela: Angela is on the phone, apparently with her landlord. She pivots from defending herself about rent to hearing she's been evicted, ending with: 'You have so many hairs on your chin, Animal Control should've taken you away.'
Angela Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Callback Andy · David Wallace: Andy is trying to get fired by confessing to losing the Scranton White Pages account: 'I did it out of spite.' Wallace: 'We put the past behind us, Andy.' Andy: 'What if I told you I hate you and this company?' Wallace: 'Enough, Andy. Enough!' Andy: 'Just stop forgiving me, David. Please?'
Andy · David Wallace: Andy threatens: 'What if I took a dump on your new car?' Then quotes Eleanor Roosevelt: 'The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.' Wallace: 'Get out!'
Pam · Andy: Pam catches Andy packing: 'What are you doing?' Andy: 'Heavy stuff like books on the bottom. So I don't squash my knickety-knacks on top.'
Pam Andy Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Andy · Angela: Andy misreads Angela's speech about not rehashing the past as being about their romantic history: 'What we had was great, and honestly I think about it a lot, too.' Angela recoils in confusion.
Angela: Angela watches Andy leave and says quietly: 'A bridge a-burnt. No turning back now.'
Angela Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy Andy · Office: Andy announces his goodbye: 'Everybody, Lorelei and I would like to say thank you and goodbye the only way we know how.' Someone: 'Good lord.' Another: 'Can't you just leave?'
Kevin · Oscar: After Andy's performance, Kevin and Oscar debate his potential: Kevin: 'He's not terrible. Yeah. And people worse than him make it all the time, like Lil' Romeo.' Oscar: 'No, he's good.' Kevin: 'He was good.'
Kevin · Oscar: Kevin and Oscar goodnight exchange — 'Good night, Kevin.' 'Night, Oscar.' — a quiet, warm beat that plays as comedy through its mundane sweetness after the emotional Andy sequence.
Kevin Oscar Reaction Beat Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Oscar · Angela: Oscar finds Angela looking at tents in a catalog. 'Tents? Are you thinking of going camping? I thought you found nature vulgar.' Angela: 'Well, I've changed my mind.' Oscar: 'Wait a minute, Angela. You're not thinking of living in a tent...' Angela: 'God, would you just mind your own business?'
Oscar · Angela: Oscar invites Angela to stay with him. Angela: 'Separate bathrooms.' Then a long beat. Angela: 'Thank you.'
Oscar Angela Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Oscar · Angela: Oscar asks if he's allowed to have pets. 'Oh, Angela.' — the implication being that this is obviously going to cause trouble.
Oscar · Angela: Oscar: 'Are you allowed to have pets?' [beat] Angela's expression. Oscar: 'Oh, Angela.'
Dwight: Dwight's talking-head: 'Yesterday, I was just your average, ordinary paper salesman with a farm and a bunch of pipe dreams about beet fuel. Today, I leave here a regional manager with a black belt. It really is amazing how your life can change in one day.'
Dwight Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Jim: Jim hears the Athlead offer: they want to pitch across the whole country — three months. Jim: 'Yeah, I can't do it.' His partners: 'Can't do what?' Jim: 'This, man. I can't do this to Pam.'
Jim Character Comedy Reaction Beat ★ Rewatch Oscar · Angela: Angela moves into Oscar's apartment. Oscar: 'So is your place all bachelor, slobby and gross?' Oscar: 'Nope, it's neat and tastefully appointed, like most gay men's homes. The stereotype holds up.' Angela: 'I wouldn't know. I never lived with a gay guy.' [beat] Oscar: 'Angela, you just were...' [Long pause. Angela realizes.]
Angela · Oscar: Angela, after a long pause, quietly: 'I love him.' Oscar: 'I know. I understand more than most, but we both have to move on.' Angela: 'No, not the Senator. I love Dwight.'
Angela Oscar Misdirection Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Callback Top Episodes — The Office
