Given new life on streaming platforms like Netflix and Peacock, The Office is still as popular today as it was when it was on the air, with the bizarre characters from Dunder Mifflin Scranton entertaining new generations of fans almost a decade after the series finale.
Among the most fun elements of The Office was undoubtedly its use of multiple running gags, several of which persisted throughout the show's entire run. As a result, over 4,000 users on Ranker have spoken up to declare their favorite running jokes from the beloved mockumentary.
Stanley's Apathy
Played by Leslie David Baker, Stanley Hudson is the sarcastic and sassy salesman that would much rather sit down with a crossword puzzle than engage in his boss's antics. Throughout the series, Stanley often sits silently through group scenes, only chiming into the group discussion if directly mentioned or annoyed.
Stanley's apathy makes him the office's greatest straight man, as he rarely cares about what the rest of his coworkers are up to, keeping the show's antics somewhat grounded by his mere presence. Even better, the series occasionally subverts this gag, making Stanley care an absurd amount about certain things, most notably Pretzel Day.
Michael And Ryan
Michael Scott has an issue making friends but has even more trouble recognizing this fact. In the early years of The Office, Michael was evidently under the impression that he and Ryan Howard were the very best of friends, with his love for the temp at times bordering on unstable obsession.
While this gag would eventually be toned down as Ryan Howard slowly transformed over his years on The Office into someone even Michael would not want to emulate, the first few seasons included some hilarious jokes revolving around Michael's obsession with Ryan, including one episode wherein Michael grew a goatee simply because Ryan had done the same, calling them "goatee brothers"
The Dundies
Ever the showman, Michael Scott hosts an annual dinner with his coworkers to honor their achievements over the past year. Held in the format of the Academy Awards, Michael presents each of his employees with an award at the Dundies, often managing to insult or demean them in so doing.
Though the awards show itself only appears in two episodes over the span of the series, fans have a profound love for the Dundies, and for good reason. The Dundies give Michael a chance to practice his comedy without the interruption of his work life, and his sincere love for each and every award that he gave himself over the years is simply hilarious.
Creed Kills
One of the very best parts of The Office is the ridiculously meme-worthy Creed Bratton, whose life is deliberately left both mysterious and horrifying. While the series rarely ever revealed specifics about Creed's life, it often alluded to the idea that the Quality Assurance manager was indeed a murderer.
Though the show never outright confirms that Creed is a killer, it seems more than likely when faced with the evidence. At one point, Creed even comes into work covered with blood, only to be delightedly surprised to learn that it happens to be Halloween. Creed's unhinged dealings have led many fans to wonder if he could even be the mysterious Scranton Strangler.
The "Jim Look"
The Office's mockumentary style allowed for its characters to act in ways that other sitcom personalities rarely do. One way in which this becomes evident is through the character of Jim Halpert, who often steals a knowing direct look at the camera when something particularly bizarre occurs in the office.
Throughout his time on The Office, Jim often served as the everyman with whom viewers could relate. His reactions to the bizarre goings-on of the office were commonly in line with those of the audience, and, each time he looked into the camera, he forged a bond with each and every viewer.
Threat Level Midnight
As an aspiring screenwriter, Michael Scott has engaged in a number of projects to test his skill in the industry. The most famous of these cinematic ventures is Michael's James Bond ripoff, Threat Level Midnight, which, after almost a decade of production, finally premieres in season 7.
Threat Level Midnight made its first appearance in the season 2 episode "The Client," where the workers of the office discover Michael's unfinished draft for the film. Five years later, the film comes to fruition in all its insane glory, as exactly the film audiences would expect a mind like Michael Scott's to concoct.
Michael Vs. Toby
Michael Scott loves all of his employees like his family. Unfortunately for HR Representative Toby Flenderson, he technically works for corporate, separating him from the rest of the office in Michael's eyes. Throughout the series, Michael often verbally and physically expresses his disdain for Toby.
Though Michael occasionally went too far in his hatred for Toby, the insults that he hurls in the direction of his HR representative are always hilarious. From his gleeful singing at Toby's going away party to his anguished screams upon his return, Michael's constant seething rage is one of the best aspects of the series.
Assistant (To The) Regional Manager
Dwight Schrute is constantly on the hunt for power, even if it means making up job titles to do so. The first two seasons of the show often include the salesman asserting his position as Assistant Regional Manager before one of his coworkers reminds him that his job title is technically "Assistant to the Regional Manager."
Dwight's constant need to be recognized as a higher authority is hilariously undercut each time one of his "subordinates" reminds him of his true job status is always hilarious, but also acts as a perfect foreshadowing of the character's journey throughout the series. Though Dwight is often ridiculed for his desire for power, he would eventually climb the ranks of Dunder Mifflin, ending the series as the regional manager at Scranton.
Jim's Pranks
After working with Dwight Schrute for an extended period of time, Jim Halpert finds it increasingly necessary to take the arrogant salesman down a few pegs every once in a while. Jim goes about doing this through his creative pranks, which rarely fail to throw the ever-gullible Dwight for a loop.
Jim's pranks make for some of the most memorable moments in the entire series. From pretending to be Dwight to putting all of his deskmate's possessions in the vending machine, Jim never ran out of ideas for lighthearted antics. Though some of Jim's pranks were cruel, others were more good-natured, including his final prank, wherein he replaces himself with Michael Scott as "Bestest Mensch" at Dwight's wedding.
"That's What She Said!"
Every great comedian needs a signature line. For Michael Scott, that line is "That's What She Said." The regional manager of Dunder Mifflin insists upon shouting this phrase each and every time someone says something even remotely sexual, often followed by a drawn-out silence from Michael's audience as the self-professed comedian laughs at his own joke.
"That's What She Said" has taken on a life of its own outside of The Office, with fans quoting the line years after the show's finale. Michael's signature line perfectly sums up his comedy style: immature, repetitious, and completely inappropriate in the workplace. Nevertheless, it never fails to make audiences laugh in delight at Michael's immaturity.
NEXT: 10 Actual Crimes Committed By Characters On The Office (And How Much Prison Time They'd Serve)