The Office is home to dozens upon dozens of iconic characters that fans grew to know and love over the course of nine seasons. Personalities like Michael Scott, Dwight Schrute, Jim Halpert, Pam Beesley, and many more have all become iconic to fans who simply can't get enough of this hilarious mockumentary.
While the main cast of The Office is appropriately lauded by fans and critics alike, some of the show's supporting characters are sometimes left by the wayside, despite having earned proper recognition. One such character is Nate Nickerson, played by Mark Proksch, whose hilarious lines throughout the last few seasons of the series prove just how underrated a character he really is.
A Hearing Problem
"It's Not That I Can't Hear, Because That's False. I Can. I Just Can't Distinguish Between Everything I'm Hearing."
The season eight episode "Lotto" included a storyline in which Darryl is asked to hire a new worker for the warehouse. After Darryl shirks this responsibility, Andy gathers a group of applicants, which includes Nate Nickerson. During the interviewing process, Nate feels it absolutely necessary to give Andy an in-depth analysis of his own self-diagnosed hearing problems.
This quote has become an iconic indication of Nate as a character, who is completely and totally genuine in everything he says, even if what he says is utterly ridiculous. The bit regarding Nate's so-called "hearing loss" quickly evolves into a running joke throughout the episode, as he seems unable to differentiate between sounds in a loud room.
Clookies?
"You Had Me At 'Clookies.' I Can't Wait To Find Out What They Are."
The tenth episode of The Office's eighth season, entitled "Christmas Wishes," sees Darryl attempt to invite the new warehouse foreman Val to the upstairs Christmas party. He is unable to keep the nearby Nate from eavesdropping on the invitation, who, true to his so-called hearing-impairedness, mishears Darryl's promise that cookies will be available, instead hearing something regarding a mysterious "clookie."
Tiny, easy-to-miss quotes such as these are part of what makes The Office such a relatable comfort show. Nate's enthusiasm regarding the notion of discovering the "clookie" highlights his relentless optimism and personability despite never truly understanding the subtext of a conversation--due in part to the fact that he can't quite hear it correctly.
Family Squabbles
"Dwight Called My House, But He Didn't Realize That I Had Already Moved Out Because My Mom And I Are Quarreling Because I Can't Stay Out Of Her Stuff."
In the season nine episode "Junior Salesman," Nate is interviewed for the titular new job at the office. He explains that his mother told him about the open position after Dwight called her house, where Nate had once lived--until his mother's quite understandable breaking point.
Like many characters on The Office, Nate's personal life is a complete enigma. Not only did this fully grown man not move out of his mother's house until recently, but it would appear that he has retained some nasty habits which include rifling through his parent's things on a regular basis.
Front And Back
"Do We Get Our Resumes Back, Or Do You Keep Them? Because I Only Have The One, And I Have A Chili Recipe On The Back That I Really Want To Keep."
After being disqualified from the available Junior Salesman position at Dunder Mifflin in the episode "Junior Salesman," Nate seems generally content with the decision. He is, however, appropriately concerned with a certain chili recipe that he had written on the back of his resume.
Nate's very best lines are those that come completely out of nowhere. Much in line with this concept is his organization regarding important recipes, which of course should be printed on the back of important documents. Nate's concern over chili recipes can't help but bring to mind a certain other Dunder Mifflin employee with a penchant for making chili.
Best Friends
"I'm Happy To Be In Your Life Too, Darryl."
Season 8 of The Office involved a storyline wherein Darryl attempted to win the affections of Val, the new warehouse foreman. However, in the episode "Special Project," he second-guesses his Valentine's Day gift to her of a pair of gloves, instead giving them to the nearby Nate, who is deeply touched by the grand gesture.
Nate's relentless positivity in light of his intellectual shortcomings makes him a character that fans would love to see return in a reboot of The Office. Additionally, his blatant misconception regarding the gift's note highlights an already ridiculous situation in the most hilarious way possible.
I Wasn't Here
"'I Wasn't Here.' It's A Pretty Common Saying. You Might Want To Lock It Away."
In the season 7 episode "China," Pam battles with Dwight over working conditions in the building, which Dwight now owns. While sneaking information to Pam, Nate, who has become Dwight's right-hand man, innocently mansplains the phrase "I wasn't here" to her.
Some of The Office's best moments come when an obviously intellectually inferior character is totally convinced of their own sensibilities, as Nate is in this scene. While his misconceptions don't stem from a place of pride like Dwight's or Andy's, they are just as hilarious, if not even more so.
A Lovely Present
"I Love It Too, Val. It's Really Itchy, But, To Be Fair, My Head Is Constantly Itching, So I Can't Really Peg It On The Hat."
In the season eight episode "Special Project," Val gives her friends and coworkers each a knitted cap for Valentine's Day. Nate graciously thanks her for her gift, but not before going on a quick tangent about his constantly itching head.
Nate is often a character who audiences should feel concerned about. He often engages in activities that could certainly get him killed (including an incident with a hornets' nest and a baseball bat), and also seems to suffer from some unknown medical condition that he has failed to have checked.
A Cookie Cutter World
"Do You Guys Think He's Right, Though? Do We Live In A Cookie Cutter's World?"
In the season eight episode "Angry Andy," Ryan blows up at his coworkers in the breakroom after they express their distaste for his relationship with Kelly. He shouts that they live in a "cookie-cutter world," prompting Nate to philosophically wonder if they really do live in a "cookie cutter's world."
Known for his frequent mishearing of everyday phrases, Nate's misconception is only made better by his completely genuine worry over whether or not he lives in a world dominated by cookie cutters. What exactly this revelation means to him is unclear, though it would appear that Nate's life may indeed be changed forever by this thought.
Ravi Vs. Ryan
"I'm Going To Go Ahead And Say, Just Having Known You For A Short While, Brian, That I Prefer Ravi. And, Again, I Never Even Met The Guy."
In "Angry Andy," Ryan argues with his coworkers over whether he or Ravi makes a better match for Kelly. While agreeing with the other members of the office, Nate voices his opinion that Ravi, whom he has never met, is far superior to Ryan in every way.
Nate's matter-of-fact phrasing makes him one of The Office's very best characters. Not only does he tear down Ryan in an instant without even realizing it, but he also displays his own obliviousness by calling Ryan "Brian" after working with him for upwards of two years.
Gum
"Gum's Gotten Mintier Lately. Have You Noticed?"
While being interrogated by Pam and Dwight in the episode "Vandalism," Nate attempts to make small talk with his interrogators by wondering if they've noticed a very disturbing trend in the mintiness of gum.
Nate's astute observation as to the nature of gum products is utterly delightful and not entirely wrong. In addition, his continued explanation that some gum is simply "too minty" now is enough to leave any fan of The Office rolling on the floor laughing.