Ranking the Office Characters

The two television shows I watch consistently (other than poker and sports) are Survivor and The Office. Survivor has been so enthralling lately that I've had no choice but to blog about it. The Office is not quite in peak form right now, but it's still the finest show on television - and no, I still haven't watched The Wire. So The Office deserves some space on the blog as well. Here is my ranking of the show's characters, first to worst:

1. Jim
Jim is my all-time favorite television character. John Krasinsky is so convincing and likable as Jim, I cannot imagine his actual personality being any different. There’s just no way he could be anything but Jim in real life.

2. Jan
I like Jan’s severity. I like her vulnerability. But mostly, I think she’s really hot.

3. Creed
I don’t think a single line of Creed’s has ever been anything less than hysterical, including arguably the funniest segment in the show’s history – “Angela’s the office bitch…(offers handshake)…Creed.”

4. Toby
Maybe the best-acted of the secondary characters. Totally believable, sad, and hilarious – much like the show itself.

5. Roy
Transformed from a douchey stock villain to a round, dynamic emotional tour de force by season three.

6. Kevin
The only WSOP bracelet winner at Dunder-Mifflin.

7. Darryl
Darr-ulll! Dayhhhr-ulll!

8. Michael
A very difficult acting responsibility, deftly handled by Steve Carell – the only Emmy acting nominee in the show’s history. Making Michael believable and funny is the key to the show’s success. In the hands of a lesser actor, this character (and show) would be an over-the-top disaster.

9. Pam
I’d still like to see a little more development of Pam’s character, perhaps a gaze into her home life. She’s a bit underdeveloped for one of the show’s four main characters and its central dramatic figure.

10. Andy
A big joke on the show is that Andy went to Cornell. The funny thing is that in real life, Ed Helms went to Oberlin!

11. Karen
Amazing that a sexy, funny, sweet girl could be so low on this list – just a credit to the other characters.

12. Ryan
Seems to be losing momentum after a strong start. I think they need to do something with this character.

13. Stanley
An archetype, but a hilarious archetype.

14. Kelly
Everyone knows chicks like this. Funnier on tv than in real life.

15. Phyllis
An archetype, but a hilarious archetype.

16. Oscar
It’s so cool that Oscar’s gay. I totally underestimated him.

17. Meredith
Meredith is an alcoholic. Meredith is really horny. Meredith is an old, horny alcoholic. Funny – now give us more.

18. Dwight
Angela

Although I don’t really “believe” either of these characters could actually exist in real life, especially in a suburban office situation, their relationship is completely believable – and relationships are what the show is all about.