32 Times Michael Scott Wasn’t The Problem In The Office

32 Times Michael Scott Wasn't The Problem In The Office

As a seasoned observer of human behavior and office dynamics, I can’t help but find myself shaking my head at some of the antics displayed by these characters from Dunder Mifflin. Form, my dear friend, you have a fiery spirit that sometimes gets the best of you. In my years spent navigating corporate America, I’ve learned that patience and diplomacy often yield better results than fist-sized holes in office walls.


Discussing all the amusing predicaments the characters from “The Office” find themselves in during the show’s run, Michael Scott is often mentioned prominently, especially in some of the series’ most memorable episodes. However, it’s important to note that he isn’t always the root cause of these situations. In fact, other characters frequently find themselves at the heart of the problems as well.

To be fair, Michael was present in several incidents mentioned, but while creating this list, I focused on instances where his responsibility was minimal. Additionally, I excluded events from the final two seasons because at that time, Steve Carell’s character was no longer a main cast member of the show.

32 Times Michael Scott Wasn't The Problem In The Office

When Ryan Started The Fire

In Season 2, one of B.J. Novak’s standout episodes featured the team spending a large portion of the day outdoors due to an accidental kitchen fire. It was later discovered that the temporary employee, Ryan, who wasn’t keen on becoming more than a temporary fixture at the office, had accidentally started the fire by incorrectly adjusting the toaster settings.

32 Times Michael Scott Wasn't The Problem In The Office

Dwight’s Disastrous Fire Drill

In Season 5, Dwight took it upon himself to instruct the team on safety protocols by setting fire to the office as a drill, locking everyone inside to manage the emergency situation. Predictably, this resulted in mayhem, and aside from considerable damage, it also caused Stanley to faint.

32 Times Michael Scott Wasn't The Problem In The Office

Creed Got Debbie Brown Fired

I had to think about “Product Recall” for a bit, because there are quite a few problems going on throughout this episode, including the R-rated watermark illustration. It’s made pretty clear that Creed was to blame for at least part of it, due to skipping the quality checks he’s supposed to do. But we already knew that Creed’s probably not very good at his job. I think his biggest offense here was how he went about covering his tracks, which included finding someone to take the fall for him. And that someone was Debbie Brown, who we never actually saw, but was indeed fired for the debacle.

32 Times Michael Scott Wasn't The Problem In The Office

When Todd Packer Left “A Present” In Michael’s Office

In a less-than-impressive manner, Todd Packer consistently stood out for all the wrong reasons. However, one particularly revolting act that he committed was leaving an unwelcome present on Michael’s office carpet. Throughout the episode, Michael was preoccupied with getting the mess cleaned up, while everyone else was left guessing who was responsible. It wasn’t until the end of the show that Michael discovered the culprit was Todd Packer, and somehow this prank managed to tickle his funny bone. Unfortunately, no one else seemed amused by it.

32 Times Michael Scott Wasn't The Problem In The Office

Jim and Dwight’s Snowball Fight

In the Christmas episode of Season 7, things took an unexpected turn in my ongoing prank war with Dwight. Typically, I’m the one who comes out on top, but this time, our feud intensified, and I couldn’t seem to gain the upper hand. In a bid to throw a snowball at him, I used a lacrosse stick, but alas, I missed Dwight entirely and ended up shattering the conference room window instead!

32 Times Michael Scott Wasn't The Problem In The Office

Jan During The Dinner Party

As a die-hard fan, I’ve got to say that while Michael Scott certainly adds fuel to the fire in Season 4’s “Dinner Party,” it’s Jan who takes the cake as the most egregious offender of the night for me. The palpable tension throughout the evening can be largely attributed to Jan, who not only stirred the pot by suggesting that Pam has feelings for Michael, but also made everyone endure her ex-assistant Hunter’s music, attempted to dance with Jim, and even went as far as to throw a Dundie at Michael’s precious, expensive flat-screen TV. Quite a night, indeed!

32 Times Michael Scott Wasn't The Problem In The Office

Jim’s Idea To Have Everyone Stay Late

It’s possible Jim intended well by suggesting everyone work late to complete their tasks without needing to come in on weekends. However, his plan might have been more effective if he hadn’t overlooked the fact that the gates would be locked, leaving no one with a way out of the parking lot once they had finished for the night.

32 Times Michael Scott Wasn't The Problem In The Office

Stanley Losing His Patience With Michael

Is it unfair to say that Stanley didn’t want to endure Michael’s bothersome and often unnecessary conference room discussions? Not necessarily. However, it’s clear that he overstepped a boundary when he became aggressive with his “Did I stutter?” retort towards Michael, attempting to involve him in the discussion.

32 Times Michael Scott Wasn't The Problem In The Office

David Wallace Transferring Holly To Nashua Because She Was Dating Michael

It was reasonable for David Wallace to worry that a connection between Holly and Michael could lead to issues, given the difficulties Michael and Jan’s relationship presented earlier. Nonetheless, moving Holly to Nashua undeniably affected Michael’s job satisfaction, a factor that became increasingly evident as the season progressed.

32 Times Michael Scott Wasn't The Problem In The Office

Andy And Dwight’s Duel

In a predictable turn of events, Andy and Dwight clashed severely upon discovering Dwight’s affair with Angela. However, the duel between them escalated the situation excessively, and Angela bears some responsibility for this, given her role in encouraging it. The outcome could have been disastrous, especially when Andy deliberately used his car to pin Dwight against a fence. Luckily, they decided to put an end to their dispute, but ultimately, it was Angela who suffered the consequences as both men ended their relationships with her.

32 Times Michael Scott Wasn't The Problem In The Office

The Time Jim Leaned Away From Michael As He Fell Into The Koi Pond

It’s clear that Jim was upset about not being allowed to manage a sales call independently by himself. However, this doesn’t justify his actions when Michael accidentally fell into the koi pond. After all, it was Michael who ended up in the pond, and he had previously acknowledged that he was aware of its presence in the lobby. Nevertheless, the video evidence doesn’t lie – Jim pulled away instead of attempting to prevent Michael from falling, which could have made a significant difference.

32 Times Michael Scott Wasn't The Problem In The Office

When Dwight Was Responsible For Picking A Health Care Plan

Instead of pointing fingers at Michael for delegating the task of choosing a new healthcare plan to Dwight, let’s momentarily forget about that and wonder where Toby was throughout this whole situation? In this particular Season 1 episode, Dwight seemed to be inflated with power, going as far as requesting everyone to list their health issues which he subsequently read out loud in public.

32 Times Michael Scott Wasn't The Problem In The Office

When Dwight Cut The Face Off The CPR Dummy

In the “Stress Relief” episodes, it wasn’t just starting a fire in the office that got Dwight into trouble. Later on, he escalated the disorder when, following the CPR training person announcing the training mannequin dead due to improper resuscitation methods, Dwight proposed removing its organs. He then went further by decapitating the dummy and donning its head as a macabre mask.

32 Times Michael Scott Wasn't The Problem In The Office

When Phyllis And Bob Leave Jim And Pam Waiting At Their Table At The Restaurant

It’s clear that I’m not passing judgment on Phyllis and Bob for their private activities to maintain their relationship, even including a restaurant restroom, if that’s what they choose on Valentine’s Day. However, from my perspective, what was inappropriate was them leaving Jim and Pam at the table before the food had been served, forcing the Halperts to wait patiently for their return, only to start eating once the meal arrived. In my opinion, that’s unacceptable behavior, Vances.

32 Times Michael Scott Wasn't The Problem In The Office

When Dwight Slept In Jim And Pam’s Bed

As a gamer putting myself in Dwight’s shoes, it seems like my actions led us into this mess. Initially, I was just supposed to locate Pam’s iPod for her baby’s birth playlist, but things escalated when I ended up shattering a window and causing havoc in the Halperts’ house instead. I guess I made amends by refurbishing the kitchen cabinets, but sleeping in their bed without any pants on was definitely stepping over the line.

32 Times Michael Scott Wasn't The Problem In The Office

Andy Sending Erin Lots Of Birds For Secret Santa

It’s clear that Andy intended to be kind when he chose “Twelve Days of Christmas”-themed gifts for Secret Santa in Season 6, but the issue was that many of the gifts revolved around live birds. Instead of finding unique ways to interpret the song, he decided to send her seven swans a’swimming. Unfortunately, this left Erin with scratches and pleading for her Secret Santa to cease and desist.

32 Times Michael Scott Wasn't The Problem In The Office

Michael’s Obnoxious Nephew

Indeed, Michael is accountable for hiring his nephew at the start of Season 7, but Luke (Evan Peters) wasn’t just incompetent at work; he was also highly irritating. A simple mistake like a wrong coffee order or running low on ice cream can be overlooked, but when it’s apparent that one doesn’t care about their errors, it’s understandable for people to feel annoyed. It’s no surprise that folks were already frustrated with him before they learned he was Michael’s relative.

32 Times Michael Scott Wasn't The Problem In The Office

Andy Having His Phone On Him During His Own Play

It’s only natural that Andy expected to get a message from Erin on the night of his performance, given she wasn’t able to attend the show. However, it was unfortunate that he chose not to silence his phone or keep it in his pocket during the performance. Things got even more problematic when he checked his texts while performing, causing distractions which he tried to conceal with some awkward on-stage improvisation. This only complicated the storyline of the play.

32 Times Michael Scott Wasn't The Problem In The Office

Everyone Voting For Oscar To Win The Costume Contest

In the Season 7 Halloween episode with the office-wide contest, if Oscar had worn his ’70s costume instead of the “rational consumer” outfit, it wouldn’t have been surprising he won. However, I believe the real reason people voted for his clever costume was because they couldn’t vote for themselves, and instead cast their votes away from potentially winning costumes. This is why Oscar ended up winning the coupon book.

32 Times Michael Scott Wasn't The Problem In The Office

Angela Stealing Scones From Cece’s Christening

It appeared as though the minister at Cece’s baptism made an understandable error by inviting everyone from the congregation to join the “Halberts” for a reception, so I don’t intend to place blame on her for this oversight. Furthermore, I won’t solely assign fault to Sconesy Cider for expressing dissatisfaction about the insufficient food supply. Instead, it’s puzzling why Angela thought it was appropriate to fill her purse with thousands of scones when there wasn’t enough food available in the first place.

32 Times Michael Scott Wasn't The Problem In The Office

How Dwight And Erin Dealt With Holly When Searching For Michael

As a gaming enthusiast, I can’t help but adore “The Search” episode for its brilliant portrayal of how perfectly Michael and Holly fit together. If there were any antagonists in this tale, it was Dwight, who was convinced Holly had some sort of psychic bond with Michael, and Erin, who, despite her good intentions, failed to grasp what Michael finds so captivating about Holly. By the end of the episode, both are proven wrong, but I appreciate that even Erin got a peek into the special connection shared by Michael and Holly.

32 Times Michael Scott Wasn't The Problem In The Office

When Erin Dumped Gabe At The Dundies

Was there no backlash towards Erin for deciding to break up with Gabe? After all, she didn’t appear very fond of him, and even mentioned at the outset that she wouldn’t have dated him if she hadn’t felt obligated — oops. However, it’s tough not to feel embarrassed for Gabe when Erin won her Dundie and used her acceptance speech to announce their breakup, as he seems to make her uncomfortable. But, honesty is important, isn’t it, Pam?

32 Times Michael Scott Wasn't The Problem In The Office

Dwight Being Ridiculous As The Building Owner

It’s not surprising that Dwight, known for his tendency to become overly powerful in small situations, began to exert control when he became the owner of the office branch building in Season 7. This led him to exploit various opportunities to control others, such as making Nate roll toilet paper, setting motion sensors on the lights, and putting up a billboard with a cockroach image on it.

32 Times Michael Scott Wasn't The Problem In The Office

When The Sales People Are Being Rude

Following Dunder Mifflin Sabre emphasizing that the sales team’s requirements were most crucial, the sales staff around the office started to show a bit of arrogance. However, Michael couldn’t tolerate this power dynamic for long, so things turned against them when the manager assigned the new leads to non-sales personnel to distribute instead.

32 Times Michael Scott Wasn't The Problem In The Office

Kevin Hiding The Leads In The Trash

It wasn’t hard to understand why non-salespeople might take pleasure in controlling the high-value leads that Michael handed over to the sales team. However, Kevin seemed to lack foresight when he concealed Dwight’s share of the leads in the garbage can. Naturally, he wouldn’t have anticipated Toby eating baba ganoush for lunch, causing Erin to discard the kitchen trash into the dumpster on trash collection day. Oops!

32 Times Michael Scott Wasn't The Problem In The Office

Kevin Getting Jim and Pam’s Credit Card Cancelled

It appears that Kevin likely had good intentions when he picked up the phone in Jim’s office and showed concern upon hearing about unusual activity on Jim’s credit card. However, due to the rapid sequence of events, he unintentionally ended up cancelling the newlyweds’ credit card while they were on their honeymoon. It seems that the couple may not have been aware that it was Kevin who made this mistake.

32 Times Michael Scott Wasn't The Problem In The Office

When Andy Punched A Hole In The Wall

In the heat of “The Return” episode from Season 3, it became crystal clear that I, or rather Andy, might’ve had some anger management issues lurking beneath the surface. After a string of misfortunes during an attempt to impress Michael, my temper reached its boiling point. Instead of keeping cool, I let frustration get the best of me and ended up punching a hole in the office wall – definitely an overreaction on my part.

32 Times Michael Scott Wasn't The Problem In The Office

When Ryan Refused To Sell WUPHF

In an alternate scenario, with a more driven individual at the helm, WUPHF might have thrived. Unfortunately, Ryan’s company faced difficulties from its inception, and when the investors had the chance to sell, only Ryan resisted. Despite the mounting pressure, Ryan clung stubbornly to this promising concept – an idea originally conceived by Kelly. However, it was Michael’s unwavering faith and encouragement that eventually convinced Ryan to relinquish control over WUPHF.com.

32 Times Michael Scott Wasn't The Problem In The Office

Meredith Taking Casual Friday Too Far

It might seem reasonable to expect that Dunder Mifflin Scranton could enjoy a Casual Friday every now and then, right? Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be. The day turned out to be quite a headache, with Angela grumbling about having to see Oscar’s feet, and Meredith pushing the boundaries of ‘casual’ attire excessively. To put it delicately, her outfit was lacking in both coverage and appropriateness.

32 Times Michael Scott Wasn't The Problem In The Office

Gabe Being Super Creepy After Erin Breaks Up With Him

It was completely understandable that Gabe felt devastated when Erin ended their relationship, considering it happened in full view of their entire workplace. However, his actions during the breakup were far from appropriate; they escalated unreasonably, such as pursuing Erin into the restroom to try to change her mind.

32 Times Michael Scott Wasn't The Problem In The Office

When Kevin Used The Hotel Ice Machine To Cool Off His Feet

It appeared that Kevin’s action of using the ice machine for cooling his feet wasn’t a form of revenge towards the hotel for discarding his odorous shoes earlier. He merely mentioned that his dogs were causing trouble, that’s all. However, seeing him immerse his bare feet into the ice machine following a day and night filled with wedding festivities makes me shudder at the thought of others using that same ice afterwards.

32 Times Michael Scott Wasn't The Problem In The Office

When Meredith Admits To How She’s Getting Steakhouse Coupons And A Discount

If you broach the subject of ethics in the Dunder Mifflin Scranton office and ask colleagues to admit their unethical actions, you’re stirring up trouble – something Holly discovered in Season 5. The situation became increasingly uncomfortable as Meredith disclosed her methods for getting a reduced price (and Outback Steakhouse vouchers) from the paper supplier rep. Matters worsened when Holly reported this to corporate, but their HR representative advised her not to rock the boat at such a delicate time because they didn’t want to lose the discount.

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2024-09-24 00:38