Michael Scott
| Michael Scott | |
 Michael teaches the staff about the dangers of drugs | |
| Name | Michael Scott |
| Job | Regional Manager, Scranton branch Dunder-Mifflin |
| First Episode | |
| Last Episode | |
| Episode count | |
| Portrayed by | Steve Carell |
Michael Scott is the counterpart of David Brent on the American version of The Office.
Character
As regional manager of the Scranton branch of the fictional paper distribution company Dunder-Mifflin, Michael thinks of himself as a combination of office comedian and business sage. His attempts at humor reflect his desperate wish to be liked, but they prove unfunny at best and are often inappropriate or even offensive. As he is socially inept, crude, tactless, and insensitive, his personality can be further described as gauche. Much of the humor of his character derives from his lack of self-awareness, which is highlighted by the awkward situations he creates for himself and his pathetic inability to extricate himself from them. Although he misinterprets the context of nearly every situation and can be unwittingly mean, Michael is quite lonely. Ironically, his incompetence in social interactions at the office contrasts sharply with his virtuoso talent as a salesman.
In spite of everything he does wrong, Michael often comes off as a sympathetic character, due to his general lack of malice and a genuine desire to make everyone around him happy. Also, in rare instances, Michael has shown surprising insight and ability for decisive action to the benefit of those around him.
Trivia
- The framed certificate behind Michael's desk reads "Michael Scott is the proud owner of a quality Seyko [sic] timepiece."
- In Seasons 1-3, Michael had a British flag on his desk - a subtle acknowledgment of the show's origins.