Steve Carell's Top 10 Unforgettable Michael Scott Performances On The Office

Steve Carell gave an incredible performance as Michael Scott in The Office, and he did his best work in a handful of classic episodes. Ricky Gervais left some pretty big shoes to fill after his original turn as David Brent, but Carell shined as his successor Michael — not by impersonating Gervais, but by putting his own stamp on the role.

Whereas the British Office had encouraged its audience to laugh at David, the American remake inspired its audience to root for Michael, because Carell brought an innate warmth to the character that made him a lovable underdog. One of the greatest crimes in television history is that Carell never won an Emmy for playing Michael.

The Dundies

Season 2, Episode 1

In its first season, The Office skewed pretty closely to its British predecessor. But the cynical tone of the UK series didn’t work for American audiences. The writers identified this problem and started rectifying it in the second season. In the season 2 premiere, “The Dundies,” we start to see everyone being a little nicer to Michael.

Hosting an awards ceremony gave Carell an opportunity to give a performance within a performance, but he also tackles some deeper dramatic material when Michael is bullied by some bar patrons. This is the episode where the Michael we know and love arrived.

Branch Closing

Season 3, Episode 7

When Michael learns that the Scranton branch is being folded into the Stamford branch in season 3’s “Branch Closing,” he’s genuinely heartbroken. He’s not just sad about losing the job he loves so much; he feels like he’s losing his family.

Carell plays Michael’s emotional anguish totally straight. It’s hilarious to see how broken up Michael is about his co-workers losing their jobs, but Carell plays the emotions so authentically that it feels real, too.

Office Olympics

Season 2, Episode 3

While Jim and the rest of his employees are playing games back at the office, Michael brings Dwight to finalize the purchase of his condo in season 2, episode 3, “Office Olympics.” Michael’s switch from excitement to dread is played spectacularly by Carell.

In the episode’s final scene, as Michael returns to the office, down in the dumps, Jim encourages him to come up to the podium and collect a medal. This small act of kindness has a massive impact on Michael’s mood — it really picks him up — and Carell conveys that heartwarming change completely non-verbally.

Employee Transfer

Season 5, Episode 6

When David Wallace learns that Michael is in a previously undisclosed romantic relationship with his H.R. rep Holly Flax, he transfers Holly to a new branch. In season 5’s “Employee Transfer,” Darryl drives Michael and Holly out to her new place to get her settled in.

Initially, Michael and Holly are planning to stay together in a long-distance relationship. But as the drive goes on, they come to the painful decision to break up. Carell and Amy Ryan play this dynamic so perfectly, with Ryan playing Holly as the mature one putting on a brave face and Carell playing Michael as an emotional wreck.

Business School

Season 3, Episode 16

Ryan invites Michael to be a guest speaker at his business class in the season 3 episode “Business School.” Michael thinks Ryan invited him out of respect and reverence, but he’s bitterly disappointed to find that Ryan has no respect for Michael, the paper industry, or Dunder Mifflin’s business model, and only invited him to get bumped up a grade.

Pam is feeling similarly dispirited at her art show, where almost no one from work showed up (and the one who did brought his boyfriend, who made a snarky “motel art” remark). But then, in one of The Office’s most heartwarming moments, Michael shows up. Michael’s pride in Pam is touching to see, and Carell plays it beautifully.

Dinner Party

Season 4, Episode 13

In any discussion about the best episodes of The Office, season 4’s “Dinner Party” is bound to come up. It perfectly captures the excruciating discomfort of being at a party hosted by a horribly toxic couple who won’t stop sniping at each other.

Melora Hardin plays Jan’s toxicity brilliantly — she’s insufferable, but in the funniest way — and, as usual, Carell plays opposite her spectacularly. Michael desperately tries to keep the party on track as Jan keeps pushing his buttons and goading him into an outburst.

The Injury

Season 2, Episode 12

Season 2’s “The Injury” has one of The Office’s funniest cold opens, as Michael calls in to tell Pam he stepped on his George Foreman grill, so he’ll be a little late. But what sustains that premise for an entire half-hour episode is Carell’s steadfast commitment to the bit.

He commits to making Michael as unbearable as possible throughout the day. He stumbles around on crutches, demanding the world of his co-workers, and it’s as hilarious as it is cringe-inducing.

Scott's Tots

Season 6, Episode 12

“Scott’s Tots” is such an agonizing episode that some Office fans can’t even watch it; they skip it whenever they’re binging the series. But you can’t deny that it’s one of The Office’s finest achievements, purely because it had that kind of effect.

The genius of the conceit is that Michael had good intentions — he wanted to do the right thing — but he went about it so poorly that it turned into a calamity. Carell wrings every last drop of pain out of Michael biting the bullet and coming clean to these bright-eyed kids. It’s hard to watch, but it’s so funny.

Stress Relief, Part 2

Season 5, Episode 15

In the first half of the two-parter “Stress Relief,” Stanley has a heart attack during Dwight’s hands-on fire drill and Michael tries to lower the stress levels of his employees. But in the second part, after finding out that he is the source of their stress, Michael allows his co-workers to roast him.

Carell really captures the pain in Michael’s eyes as he hears what all his employees really think of him. But he also brings pitch-perfect comic timing to the delivery of his own roast jokes (“Boom, roasted!”) in the episode’s cathartic final moments.

Goodbye, Michael

Season 7, Episode 22

Carell bid The Office farewell in the season 7 episode “Goodbye, Michael.” On the day before he flies out to Colorado to start his new life with Holly, Michael has one last moment with all his employees — people he’s come to consider his family — and it’s equal parts heartbreaking and heartwarming.

What makes Carell’s final episode of The Office hit so hard is that Michael’s farewell to his co-workers doubles as Carell’s own farewell to his co-stars. It’s impossible to watch “Goodbye, Michael” and not cry, because the emotions feel so real.