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The Overzealous Well-Intentioned New Guy: Andy Bernard (known in his own one-person circle as “the ‘Nard Dog” and briefly as “Drew”) vs. Chris Traeger
We’ve all been the new guy (or girl) in a given workplace. It’s not fun. Odds are, you probably either (A) were too shy and assumed the social attention would just come your way, or (B) embraced your unfamiliarity with aggression and rubbed your new coworkers the wrong way with your eagerness. The ‘Nard Dog and Chris both opted for choice (B) wholeheartedly when they arrived as the new guy to their respective new workplaces directly around the shift of Seasons Two and Three of their shows.
The extended commonalities between these two guys start with the fact that they are both begging for approval from the most influential people in their life. Contrary to the Manic Pixie Dream Girl archetype characters, both Andy and Chris are highly functioning adults who are also above-average successful (if you consider Andy’s well-documented Cornell education), but their joint tragic flaw is that their self esteems are extremely dependent on their limited love life and on what their coworkers think about them.
As a result of these emotional struggles, both Andy and Chris end up in consistent therapy at one point or another, which has only temporary success for both of them. Midlife crisis-like spiritual journeys follow suit for both in due time.
Among specific “pros” for Andy Bernard include legitimate musical talent and an impressive ability to deliver a haymaker straight through a plaster wall when placed on the wrong end of a elaborate office prank.
Chris Traeger, on the other hand, has impeccable health and good looks for his age. Not to mention, for a brief period, he proudly sleeps with his office inferior’s smokin’ hot daughter and has the nerve to tell said inferior about it every time he planned on making a move.
I’m a big fan of people who break things, though. It’s a tough call, but I’ve gotta give the nod to the ‘Nard Dog on this one — even if it’s just for the fact that he doesn’t weird people out.
Point: Andy Bernard, The Office
Respond
It’s a weird concept, but I think P&R has the better cast of characters but somehow The Office was the better complete show.
Completely agree here. Putting characters side-by-side like this was a great idea for an article btw. Love both shows, but Office is my favorite. Pam got worse for me near the end, but the ending of the show redeemed a lot for me.
I don’t know, I think the greatness of the Office is that everybody works with the same characters from the show. They nailed the personalities so well, everyone knows the Angela at their office, the Kelly, the Dwight. And every guy thinks they are Jim.
I literally could not agree more with you more, teammate. Not a weird concept at all.
Thanks. I think we can all agree Rashida Jones is a major pool honey.
You can’t compare Dwight with Ron. I love Ron dearly, but Dwight Schrute is the ultimate character. Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica.
I thought the same thing – Both of those two are in a league of their own.
At very least, they should have been a wash. Dwight K is a fuggin boss. Well, an assistant to a fuggin boss anyways.
“Assistant fuggin boss”
Assistant to the fuggin boss
The Christ Pratt bloopers should be NSFW, just got caught watching them from laughing way too loud.
I have a man-crush on Chris Pratt. There I said it.
You’re not alone
Michael, Jim, Pam, and Deight can only be rivaled by Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer.
Dwight*. I could hear my boss’s footsteps towards my cube and didn’t have time to proof read.
Personally I thought parks and rec got kind of repetitive in episodes. There was no real character development, and all Aziz Ansari did was annoy the hell out of me. Overall, it was a good show, but I think The Office wins this battle. The Office had character development, it was always coming up with new ways for each character to play a funny role in the show, and no two episodes were really the same as far as humor.
Where’s Creed at?
… Orin?
No way 3:58 is funnier than the “comeback story” clip, or the responses to his ice cream cone take.
Had to pick between going to bed at a decent time last night or watching the Season 5 finale of Parks and Rec…guess who’s tired today.
Give me your keys.
Evan you haven’t even graduated yet. Fuck outta here.
Guilty.