Michael’s Best Quotes From ‘The Good Place’

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As a self-proclaimed connoisseur of comedy and a devoted fan of Ted Danson’s illustrious career, I must say that the list you’ve compiled showcases some of the most hilarious moments from The Good Place. It’s truly a testament to the writing team’s genius and Danson’s impeccable comedic timing.

As a devoted movie buff, I’ve been fortunate enough to witness the brilliant evolution of Ted Danson throughout his illustrious career. From the sarcastic barkeep in “Cheers” to a self-deprecating, fictionalized version of himself in “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” his versatility never ceases to amaze me. Recently, I’ve been utterly captivated by his latest small-screen endeavor, “A Man on the Inside” on Netflix.

In “The Good Place,” the plot is pure comedy treasure, as it places humans against Michael, later turning into a battle between Michael and the humans versus the entire afterlife system. Throughout the series, there’s never a shortage of humor, but Ted Danson’s dialogue truly shines, showcasing his character’s lack of human understanding, joy in torment, and surprisingly, a fixation on the television show Friends.

10 “And then you lick the cloth? That seems way weirder.”

Season 1, Episode 2

After spotting an issue in his community, Michael gathered the humans for a meeting, whereupon, feeling worried, he started perspiring excessively. He then informed Janet (portrayed by D’Arcy Carden) that his underarms were producing liquid. Being relatively unfamiliar with human bodies and unsure of how to handle this predicament, Michael tried to clean himself off by licking his coat. However, Janet suggested he use a cloth to blot the sweat instead, which he did, only to attempt to lick the cloth afterwards as well.

Even Funnier on a Rewatch

Ted Danson excels at portraying humorous, puzzled expressions, while Michael shines in dramatic, excessive panicking scenes. Together, these elements create a side-splitting spectacle. Upon reflection, their humor becomes even more amusing because we realize that Michael was aware of the neighborhood situation and had deliberately created the flaw for his act. He could have skipped the part about licking, but instead chose to include it for some unknown reason.

9 “Any place or thing in the universe can be up to 104% perfect. That’s how you got Beyoncé.”

Season 1, Episode 4

In the early stages of Season 1, the lavish Tahani found herself tasked with orchestrating the debut of a swanky new eatery. Simultaneously, she endeavored to help her supposed soulmate, Jason (now known as Jianyu), shatter his vow of silence. When she assumed he was regaining his ability to speak, she extended an invitation to him for the restaurant’s grand opening. Overjoyed, she exclaimed that the occasion would now be “even more flawless.” She later conceded that nothing could surpass perfection, prompting Michael to clarify that indeed, there were some exceptions to perfection.

See Her Halo

In this scene, Michael and other characters often referenced real-world celebrities, and when Michael said this line, it seemed convincing, thanks to his direct manner and Jameela Jamil’s response. It may seem puzzling from a logistical standpoint, but given that it’s Beyoncé, it somehow fits. This also hints at her being one of the characters who might have had a chance to inhabit the actual Good Place.

8 “Jason figured it out? Jason? This is a real low point. Yeah, this one hurts.”

Season 2, Episode 2

Following numerous neighborhood resets, Michael failed in his endeavor to torment humans. Every time, Eleanor – portrayed brilliantly by Kristen Bell – suspected they were in the Bad Place, causing Michael to wipe the memory of the four characters repeatedly. In Attempt #649, the demon’s embarrassment reached new heights when Jason discovered the truth. Disheartened, Michael lamented, “this one stings,” but we, as viewers, couldn’t help but chuckle.

One of Many Jason Jokes

Manny Jacinto’s character Jason wasn’t the most intellectually gifted among the group, and frequently, other characters criticized him for his apparent lack of intelligence, inability to focus, and unwavering fandom for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Yet, he bore these jabs with his signature smile, which made it effortless to cheer for him and chuckle at Michael’s genuine discomfort when Jason eventually outsmarted him.

7 “Oh, get your mind out of the gutter, Eleanor. I was talking about my testicles.”

Season 2, Episode 3

In the face of Michael’s escalating mishaps, his colleague Vicky resorted to threatening him with damaging information. To counter this, Michael sought an alliance with humans, revealing their predicament and his demonic appearance. Surprised, Eleanor inquired about his human-like form, leading Michael to disclose that each employee of the Bad Place Bureau of Human Affairs is given a human body as part of their training to master tormenting it. He then brought up the “intimate parts” he had to acclimatize to, which elicited Eleanor’s “Ew” and a lighthearted response from Michael.

A Funny Follow-up Question

Previously noted, Michael frequently showed a clear lack of human comprehension, ranging from understanding emotions and anatomy, so such remarks from him were predictable, yet amusing. Moreover, this scene leaves one pondering about what exactly Michael understood when Eleanor spoke.

6 “So, Chidi, just wanted to double-check. How do ethical philosophers feel about murder?”

Season 2, Episode 7

When Janet chose Derek as a backup option, Michael became concerned that it might mess up their plans. Frequently finding himself in such situations, Michael rushed to Chidi for guidance, resulting in the quote you mentioned. The humor in this line was amplified further by actor William Jackson Harper’s dry remark, “It’s not approved of.

Needs More Ethics Classes

In the middle of the sequence, this line functions humorously to underscore Michael’s surprising lack of knowledge up until that point. Throughout what follows, we see him displaying this ignorance more clearly as he queries, “Could it be acceptable if one intends to kill someone in order to simplify their life?

5 “Kissing is gross. You just mash your food holes together. It’s not for that!”

Season 2, Episode 9

To reach The Good Place, Michael arranged a hot air balloon that would accept humans if they had attained their optimal selves. However, when the balloon wouldn’t let Eleanor in, she understood that her ideal self was the one who loved Chidi deeply. Curious about this version of herself, she asked Michael to elaborate on it, so he detailed their first kiss before labeling it as “Unpleasant.

He’s Not Wrong

Michael’s struggles to comprehend humans frequently made him the target of humor. Yet, remarks like this turned the tables, revealing some amusing characteristics of human behavior. Moreover, as expected, Ted Danson’s performance was exceptional, leaving viewers wondering if perhaps he had a point.

4 “A stress ball with a dumb corporate logo. Oh, I can’t wait to keep finding this and then almost throw it away, and then think, ‘No, I’ll use it.'”

Season 2, Episode 9

It seems like Michael’s strategies haven’t worked out, making the good place seem unattainable. Fearing they’ll be tormented forever, he decides to spend one last night with humans. On this occasion, the humans give him an honorary human kit as a gift. The kit includes car keys, band-aids, a stress ball, and a diet book by Dr. Oz. Michael expresses enthusiasm for each item before saying affectionately, “All of this is just junk I can’t actually use.

His Best Self

Over time, Michael grew increasingly fascinated by humans, and ultimately, they formed a bond of friendship. This particular scene not only had humorous undertones but also subtly suggested a stronger connection between them in the future.

3 “It’s Jeremy Bearimy. I don’t know what to tell you. That’s the easiest way to describe it.”

Season 3, Episode 4

Humans are returned to Earth with a mission to prove themselves, but their motivation gets disrupted upon discovering “The Good Place,” causing confusion. They question how they ended up back on Earth since so much time seems to have elapsed. This query prompts Michael to explain the Jeremy Bearimy system of time in the afterlife, yet it turns out that this explanation doesn’t offer any clarity.

Our Brains Melted

As Chidi noted, what makes Jeremy Bearimy perplexing is the dot, encompassing Tuesdays, July, and at times, never. Contrary to Chidi, however, this complexity didn’t induce existential turmoil in viewers, but rather served as a pinnacle of humor for them instead.

2 “Yeah yeah, the Time-Knife. We’ve all seen it.”

Season 3, Episode 11

In the episode titled “Chidi Encountering the Time-Knife,” it’s appropriate that Chidi encounters the Time-Knife, which he likens to “a stack of a billion realities overlapping, resembling layers of thin metal, merging into one sharp edge.” After this extraordinary event, Michael nonchalantly remarks, “Oh, yes, the Time-Knife. We’ve all witnessed it,” before gently steering the conversation back to its original topic, as if discussing the Time-Knife were as ordinary as talking about the weather.

Cultural Differences

On numerous occasions, Ted Danson’s comical remarks were directed at Michael’s limited human comprehension. Here, however, the humor revolves around humans’ ignorance regarding the afterlife. More specifically, the scene is amusing because of the stark contrast between Michael’s indifference and Chidi’s profound anxiety. It appears as if Danson found this situation humorous too, since there’s a moment where it seems like he momentarily breaks character.

1 “Are you gonna sit there and tell me that every single Friend belongs in Hell? I mean, maybe Ross and Rachel, and Monica and Joey, and definitely Chandler… but Phoebe?”

Season 4, Episode 8

Approaching its end, Michael stood trial to demonstrate that humans have the potential for change. He highlighted how, with his revised neighborhood setup, six individuals had shown improvement – a parallel to the six friends in ‘Friends’. Then he posed a question to the judge, wondering if she really thought each character from ‘Friends’ deserved eternal damnation, especially considering… but Phoebe?

Phoebe and the Good Place

Over the course of the show, Michael frequently paid homage to the popular series “Friends,” demonstrating a deep understanding and appreciation for it. For instance, in episode 6 of Season 1, he remarked that the situation reminded him of season 8 of “Friends,” which seemed to be running out of ideas by trying to force Joey and Rachel together despite their union being illogical.

Later on, the reference to ‘Friends’ becomes even more humorous, not just due to Ted Danson’s performance, but also because of what followed: a few episodes later, Lisa Kudrow, Phoebe’s actress, appeared in the show. Interestingly, Michael didn’t seem to recognize her when she was there.

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2024-12-02 06:32