Michael Scott and Andy Bernard shared a lot of parallels as friends and co-workers on The Office. On Andy's first day at the Scranton branch, he told the cameras that the best way to get on the boss's good side is repetition. Basically, Andy gave his answers to Michael's questions in a similar fashion that Michael asked them. The two became quick friends (despite a few bumps in the road) and worked alongside each other until Michael left.
When Michael left, Andy became the next regional manager. It became clear that Michael's job was harder than he realized and he soon tried mimicking Michael's managing techniques to help the branch thrive. But as close as the two are and as much as they respected each other, Michael and Andy were also incredibly different.
Andy & Michael Were Incredibly Alike
They've Both Kissed Clients Upon Meeting Them
Both Michael and Andy know how inappropriate it is to kiss a client in the workplace, and yet both men tried doing this when their feelings got the best of them.
In "Body Language," Michael tried kissing his new client Donna because he felt like she was putting out signals that she was available. Donna denied his claims and left the meeting, but the two did end up getting together shortly after. Likewise, Andy tried kissing a potential client named Julia in "Lecture Circuit." Unlike Michael's situation, Andy lost the sale and did not make a good impression. Both Office scenes were hard to watch.
They're Both Known For Impressions
Michael Scott is known for his alter-egos and impressions. Between Prison Mike and Michael Klump, Michael loves to transform into characters as a form of storytelling. Andy doesn't have alter-egos like Michael does, but he does enjoy talking like a baby...
In "Scott's Totts," Michael told Andy that he had to stop talking like a baby. He received several complaints about Andy's baby talk in the office. But Andy wasn't alone; Michael also enjoyed talking like Elvis and didn't seem to mind Andy's baby talk as long as he got to impersonate Elvis.
Andy And Michael Have A Love For Theatrics
It was surprising that Andy and Michael landed an office job because they're both theatrical and have a love for dramatics. Michael showed this through his love of improv class and magic tricks. Similar to Michael, Andy also adored singing, acting, dancing, and playing instruments.
Viewers saw Andy perform in "Andy's Play" (Michael even auditioned but didn't get called back), they saw Michael sing and dance in "Diwali" and "Goodbye, Toby" (to name just a few), and Michael also showed his love for performing when he came back from Jamacia. These two could have easily created a band.
A Similar Managing Style
When Michael left Dunder Mifflin, Andy eventually became the next regional manager. He had a great interview, he was well-educated, and he was with Dunder Mifflin for a long time — he was a great person to fill the void of Michael's absence.
Whenever Andy struggled to gain control of the office, audiences recognized Andy pulling a few tricks out of Michael's playbook. They both gave out incentives when they needed things done — like Michael did in "Beach Games" and Andy did in "The Incentive." The two even had a private getaway to dance when they needed a breather from the office, as seen in "Cafe Disco" and "Jury Duty."
They Were Both Obsessed With Love
The Office had some amazing couples throughout the series, but the show also had relationships that didn't last. Andy and Micahel were romance fiends and wanted a family more than their jobs.
When Michael met his realtor Carol, he proposed to her in front of everyone at a Diwali party. Carol declined his proposal because the two only went on four dates. Andy pulled a similar stunt when he proposed to Angela in front of the office at Toby's goodbye celebration. Angela agreed to marry Andy, but like Michael and Carol, they broke up.
Andy & Michael Were Totally Different
Andy Had Anger Issues (While Michael Was The Opposite)
It was rare when audiences saw Michael angry, but Andy's anger is a storyline in itself. Both characters had some of the biggest arguments in The Office, but Michael was always more hurt instead of angry.
Andy's anger was shown when he punched a hole in the wall, kicked a trashcan, when someone left a rude comment on his YouTube page, and so on. Michael becomes overly emotional but not in the same aggressive way as Andy.
Andy Was More Logical And Socially Aware Than Michael
Michael had his smart moments in The Office, but he wasn't as logical or socially aware as Andy was. Michael shockingly did well under pressure and came out on top when people didn't believe in him. Andy, however, didn't.
Andy called out Michael for dating Donna after knowing she was a married woman, he tried ridding the stigma of STDs in the workplace in a respectful manner, and his education at Cornell gave him knowledge on various skills — as seen during his job interview for the regional manager position. Andy had his selfish moments too, but he was more aware than Michael.
Michael Was Far Better At His Job Than Andy Was
Andy may have been a harder worker than Michael, but it was the latter who was better at his job. Michael was one of Dunder Mifflin's top salesman before he was promoted to regional manager. And even when he did a few sales calls with Jim, he proved he had what it took to continue making sales.
Andy on the other hand was one of Dunder Mifflin's worse salesmen. Michael had confidence in Andy's selling ability and gave him his top clients when he quit Dunder Mifflin, but Andy butchered those relationships and lost a few of them. Michael showed what a great employee he was when he thought the branch was closing, when he started Michael Scott Paper Company, and when he didn't lose a client in the merger.
Andy Is A Yes Man While Michael Dances To The Beat Of His Own Drum
In "The Merger," Michael liked Andy right away but he soon realized Andy was a "yes man." Regardless of how Andy felt about a decision, he agreed with Michael just to get on his good side. What Michael really needed was someone who was going to give him the truth and set him straight.
Michael proved he wasn't a yes man because he fought back against Charles Miner when he came to the Scranton branch, and he even fought back against Jo when Sabre bought Dunder Mifflin.
Michael Wouldn't Have Left The Office For Months
When Andy became regional manager, his personality shifted. It was clear to audiences that he didn't love his job and the issues he had with his family were more of a concern for him. Despite being the manager, Andy left the office without a word on two occasions: Once to get Erin from Florida and again when he went away to sea for three months.
Although Michael did think about going to Mexico for a few months to help those in need ("The Christening"), he wouldn't have ever left his office high and dry. To Michael, his employees were his family and nothing would have been more important than that.