Fans never want to choose between David Brent and Michael Scott, because both The Office bosses are equally hysterical in their blunders and their need for relentless attention. But who has the edge when it comes to making a connection with people? While David relies on a subtler, nuanced British humor to make himself heard, Michael is more obvious and in your face.
Fans have often argued that Michael Scott was conceived to smoothen David’s rough edges, to make him a more obvious Mr. look-at-me. But let’s get down to basics, who is actually funnier? Granted both of these branch managers have their distinct style of humor but which of them is more effective? We’re using memes to figure out the question that’s been plaguing The Office fans for so long:
Michael’s Humor Is a Lot More Accessible
It wasn’t possible for 2007 Michael Scott to know how he would become the lord of meme content for millennials; but Michael’s humor is a lot more accessible without context because it's so simplistic. You can just quote him randomly in a screenshot and everyone would know what you’re talking about. On the other hand, David’s humor is subtle and often a little too subtextual. People don’t connect with Michael more because he was on the American version of The Office which had a larger following, but because his comedy is in our comfort zone, it makes a connection with fans immediately, and they don’t have to think back.
David Is A Lot More Buffoonish Physically
For all his nuances, David Brent has made a fool himself in really physical ways, unlike Michael who usually just let his words do that for him. For instance, when David turned into a motivational speaker, he started dancing unexpectedly to pop music in the middle of the class and performed a non-choreographed jig.
This is something fans can’t picture Michael doing, as Gervais and Carrell have very distinct brand of comedies. For their respective roles, they have really tried to work within their comfort zone to make their act more effortless so it’s interesting to observe how that tracks with their on-screen persona.
Michael Wants To Be a Pathbreaker
One of the biggest distinctions between Michael and David is that Michael think he is a trailblazer, not just in the corporate spectrum but also in general, so he envisions himself like an uned life coach. David, on the other hand, is a lot more specific with his self-adulation. It’s great how The Office (U.S.) had really improvised Michael’s heightened sense of self so he really believes he can lead others to a different paths of living. So, when he says stuff like, ‘If there’s no god, who’s Jesus’ dad?’ he genuinely believes he is making people question their beliefs!
David Needed More Punchier In One-Liners
Fans have often said that most of David’s jokes ended up being too long-winded, and that they needed a sharper punch line. Michael Scott, on the other hand has some of the best one-liners in the history of all comedy bosses. Lines like “You’re a thief of joy,” or “I’m not superstitious but I’m a little-stitious,” are pure gold and would actually bring in a lot of comic edge to David Brent’s character. As much as we love the UK version it’s almost like David Brent was an early draft of Michael Scott, and the American writers just pumped up the ridiculousness with the latter.
Michael Was The Perfect Amount Of Unaware
One of the things which made Michael so delightful as a funny guy is the fact that he was just purely unaware and misinformed about really run-off-the-mill simple, everyday things. Which on one hand is quite baffling - how is this grown man so ignorant and dumb and yet gets chosen to manage an entire corporate branch?
There’s this sense of uncertainty to Michael’s whole act, it’s almost dangerous. Like his whole insight on homosexuality - how can a man in his early ‘40s not know how homosexuality works? His ignorance was so incredible that it just pulled fans deeper into the whole phenomena that is his character.
While They Both Want Attention, David Tries a Little Harder
Both Michael and David are suckers for attention, appreciation, and applause, be it from their co-workers, or bosses or anyone in general. Michael;s outrageous costumes? The magic trick which went hilariously wrong? Or when he spends $400 on a Secret Santa present for Ryan? David is very similar but he’s a little more on the nose, like the way he gets people to pay attention to him by saying something outrageous or by trying consistently to blend in with the young crowd. This gives David a better edge as a try-hard who’s so unaware of his reality that it’s really funny.
Michael Is a Lot More Endearing In His Gaffes
the time when Michael was broke and thought shouting "I declare bankruptcy" in the middle of a crowded office was literally all he had to do? This was perhaps one of the finest moments in the entire show because it drew attention to how his mind works. The Office worked so great because it never forgot about the breadcrumbs it had laid, it consistently re-establishes Michael as someone who’s so ignorant he is almost ill-equipped to function as an adult. This makes Michael’s sense of humor and his comedy a lot more endearing to viewers because they are drawn in by his lack of basic skills.
David Is The Worse Boss
One of the really interesting things about David Brent is that he never really seemed to be working, or showed any real keenness to work. Which is slightly different than Michael who was also not a hard-worker per se, but liked the work he was associated with. Michael had a loyalty that was fiercer, be it to his superiors, his company, or to his job profile. David, though loyal, was a little fixated on everyone having a good time much more than he was worried about getting work done. Objectively speaking Michael is a better boss than David because he did bring in a sense of structure into the workplace.
Michael Was More Hysterical With Women
Michael is just so embarrassingly pathetic when he is around women, it immediately makes him the funniest. David has his bad moments with women, but only some of them are really cringe-worthy. Michael, on the other hand, has had so many weird, bizarre altercations even with women he’s not dating.
Like how he thought a delivery girl was a stripper his co-workers ordered for his birthday. Or his behavior with Carol. Or even the way he handled things with Jan. It’s just all a bit too much to handle. Also Michael’s blunders usually involve an element of spectacle as it usually happens in front of quite a few people.
David Is Definitely Pettier
Yes, Michael is the worst to Toby and absolutely snarky when he wants to be. But David is more effective when it comes to being petty and humiliating others in public with the sole purpose of mocking them. Michael is very singular about why he’s doing what he’s doing. If he likes someone he makes sure he’s very vocal about it, if he hates someone he talks about it as well, but more often than not it’s just for self-expression. David, on the other hand, is a little more vengeful which makes his stint funnier because at times he goes out of his way to humiliate others.