Ryan Howard

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Ryan Bailey Howard, played by B. J. Novak, is a fictional character on the US television sitcom The Office. He is based upon Ricky Howard from the original version of The Office, but his role is significantly expanded. In addition, his role in season four as corporate manager is similar to the character of Neil Godwin from the original series. At the beginning of the series, Ryan Howard is a temporary employee at the Scranton branch of the fictitious paper distributor Dunder Mifflin. He joined the staff in the first episode and is unsure of what to make of the antics that take place in the office. As of "The Job", he has taken Jan's widely sought after job at Dunder Mifflin's corporate office in New York. This position seems to have boosted his confidence and infused his overall style with a great deal of arrogance. Ryan never made a sale while he was working in Scranton, and he started a fire in the office's kitchenette while trying to make a cheesy pita in "The Fire". This earnt him nicknames such as firestarted, fire man, when he returned to the office in the fourth season. Ryan was a member of a fraternity in college and holds an MBA from the University of Scranton's Kania School of Management, which he earned during the second and third seasons. His dream is to ultimately own his own business one day, as he said to Michael who derided it as "a terrible idea". Ryan does not wish to stay at Dunder Mifflin long or even be remembered when he leaves, citing that his ultimate fear is that he will gain a nickname around the office (being "the something guy"). This fear came to pass in the same episode (penned by Novak) when Ryan activated a smoke alarm by accidentally overcooking a cheese pita in the break room, earning him the nickname "The Fire Guy." Underscoring his lack of enthusiasm for working at Dunder Mifflin, Ryan mentions that he could clean out his desk in five seconds and everyone (including himself) would forget that he ever worked there. During Ryan's term as a temporary employee (and even for a few months after his promotion to full-time status), Dwight frequently addresses him as "Temp" instead of his real name; Michael also called him "Temp" occasionally.

Ryan is often the victim of Michael's antics and bizarre man-crush on him, usually resigning to requests (such as helping Michael clean out his car or making a long car trip to buy yams) without complaint. This has given way to frequent use of sarcasm and general disinterest towards his co-workers, as he remains dissatisfied and unproven with his position.

By the third season opener "Gay Witch Hunt", Ryan becomes a full-time employee and inherits the job (and desk) vacated by Jim Halpert, who transferred to Dunder Mifflin's Stamford branch. Despite the promotion, Michael still treats Ryan as his personal assistant, assigning him menial tasks such as taking inventory of Michael's possessions for his trip to the convention in Philadelphia or organizing paperwork in his office. Upon Jim's return to Scranton as a result of the branch merger, there is a moment of awkwardness when Jim casually sets up at his former desk, only to learn that it now belongs to Ryan--who refuses to give the desk back to Jim. Ryan says that Jim is a nice guy and "that's why I got the desk".

Ryan goes to his first sales call in "Initiation", where he is subjected to a series of tests by Dwight, including being stranded on Dwight's beet farm and sitting in a barn answering questions regarding the company. Dwight later admits to an angry Ryan that he wants to get along with him and be a team, since he and Jim were always at odds. He also points out Ryan's problem, which is that he will not accept that other people can teach him things. Despite his superior book learning, Ryan is not a good salesman—his first client tells him flat out that he does not like him. A sales call with Stanley in "Traveling Salesmen" is also disastrous, where Stanley laughs uproariously at Ryan's stammering ineptitude.

In "The Return", he mocks Jim's query as to whether he will help plan a prank on Andy, making Jim say that he liked him better as "the temp". Ryan replies, "Me too."

When Michael visits Ryan's "Business School", Ryan criticizes Dunder Mifflin's failure to adapt in an increasingly paperless society. Though the comments were made with the assumption that Michael, being outside the room, would never hear them, a classmate eventually revealed what Ryan had said. As punishment, Michael relocates Ryan to a new desk in the back of the office, where he would be forced to sit next to Kelly Kapoor, much to her delight and Ryan's horror.

At the very end of "The Job", Ryan is called and offered the titular position (the New York-based management job vacated by Jan Levinson), making him Michael's immediate superior.[1][2] After he hangs up, Kelly asks who was on the phone. Ryan replies "Nobody. You and I are done," much to Kelly's shock.

In the fourth season opener "Fun Run", he is seen in his new office, now with a beard and more sharply dressed. He says that he has a new life with new friends, just barely hiding the fact that he has become a far more confident and cocky, yet scrupulous individual. He also says that he does not remember much of Scranton, and vaguely remembers dating a "black girl" referencing Kelly. During the "talking head" interviews, Ryan speaks almost exclusively in business buzzwords. In the following episode "Dunder Mifflin Infinity", Ryan presents his concept of Dunder Mifflin Infinity to the Scranton Branch, and gives a BlackBerry to all of the key employees. He also seems to take advantage of his new authority by flattering Pam about her drawings in attempting to get a date with her, though to no success. He also brags to Kevin Malone and Andy Bernard that he met actor Vince Vaughn in New York. He appears to be anxious to show off his newfound wealth, such as when he insinuates to the camera that his haircut "cost more than these guys would ever guess" before specifying that it cost $200. His relationship with Kelly remains tense. In the episode "Dunder Mifflin Infinity", Ryan asks Pam Beesly to draw some logos for the new website. After drawing a few, Ryan asks her out to dinner to "discuss the drawings". She declines because she is dating Jim Halpert, much to his shock and embarrassment after which he covers his face from the camera. Jim then has a talking head interview in which he is enjoying the moment and mocking Ryan by saying, "I guess he can't get any woman he wants." This was a joke alluding to his conversation earlier in the episode with Kevin and Andy, in which they said with his new wealth Ryan could have any girl he wants. It also may have referred to Ryan's unsuccessful interest in Katy and Karen Fillipelli while both women were dating Jim.