Don't you looooove this picture?! IIRC it's post-Emmys when they won Best Series.
So we analyzed the crap out of what episodes The Office actors should submit for the Emmys in S4, but what about the best episodes in the past seasons for the actors? S1 doesn't count so much. That said, I think S4 was the best so far in terms of getting as many actors as possible a good episode. Keep in mind I haven't seen parts of S2 or S3 in kind of a while, so if there's something really blatant I'm missing...
Season 2
Steve Carell: Booze Cruise
Obviously he's hilarious, but he's also got that incredible scene on the deck with Jim. I can't believe he was the only one acting-wise to get nominated in S2, but it's bullshit that Tony Shaloub won for the 2860948609486th time.
Rainn Wilson: Dwight's Speech
"Dwight's Speech" is kind of a one-joke episode, but that one joke is extremely funny. The episode revolves entirely around him, giving him a boatload of screentime too.
John Krasinski: Casino Night
How does anyone not fall in love with him, utterly and totally, after this? My only worry is that it might have been too serious and not comedic enough, but that's never stopped them from fawning over Felicity Huffman on Desperate Housewives in the past. That said, he could also go for "The Secret."
Jenna Fischer: Boys and Girls
Heart. Broken. Again, this might be too serious, but S2 Pam wasn't really incredibly funny, so, and her acting is just too damn good here.
BJ Novak: The Fire
RY-AN STARTED THE FIRE!!! I'm also a big fan of that face he makes in "Michael's Birthday," but that's like 4 seconds long.
Angela Kinsey: Christmas Party
She's typical tight-ass Angela, but she also shows her softer side and you feel really bad for her for, at least for me, the first time.
Melora Hardin: The Client
Everyone likes to see an ice queen shatter.
Leslie David Baker: The Dundies
From throwing out his Dundies to "it's this person whose hand I'm holding, Michael?" to the speech, it's all fantastic.
Brian Baumgartner: Casino Night ?
I might be the world's biggest Kevin fan, but he didn't have much in S2.
Creed Bratton: Casino Night
Oh, he just loves to steal things. I recently re-watched some episode in S2 where I was like "haha he's so GREAT here!" but I don't remember which one it was.
Phyllis Smith: Office Olympics ?
Again, she usually doesn't have all that much.
Kate Flannery: Christmas Party
BAHAHAHA THE SCENE WHERE SHE FLASHES MICHAEL AHAHHAHA.
Mindy Kaling: The Carpet
After all, it's the first episode where Kelly has a personality. Oh, and what a personality it is...
Paul Lieberstein: Casino Night
I so love his face when Michael bitches at him.
Oscar Nunez: The Secret ?
Did he have anything better in S2? I wonder if Dwight will ever get his favor... it'd be hilarious if some S5/S6 episode revolved around it, randomly. Oh man, what if Oscar's the one to get Dwangela together again, for good, somehow!
David Denman: Booze Cruise
Eh. Ya'll know of my hatred for Roy. I don't really pay much attention to him during any given episode, but the proposal was well-played.
Amy Adams (JESUS!!!!): Booze Cruise
Because she had way more screentime here than in "The Fire." Did she submit for Guest Actress in S2? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Granted, she wasn't nearly as famous then as she is now.
Season 3
Steve Carell: Business School
He submitted this, I know... and how he didn't win, I have no idea. Alec Baldwin was the one with the weaker tape last year, but I guess the two of them split the vote, or the Emmys felt they owed Ricky Gervais for the British Office...
Rainn Wilson: The Coup
Again, I know he submitted this. And again, how he didn't win, I have no idea. But, I believe I said that Jeremy Piven should win in this category for all eternity, and I can't say I'd mind terribly. But, eventually, he should bow out for Wilson and Krasinski. ;)
John Krasinski: A Benihana Christmas
Very funny, very touching, and a boatload of screentime. "The Job" was another option. Why the heck he submitted "Business School" last year, I'll never know. Not that he was bad in it or anything, but he had so many better options.
Jenna Fischer: Beach Games
The deadpan, duh. The speech, duh. I know she submitted "The Job," and that was also a fantastic choice. That look at the end...
BJ Novak: Initiation
BJ Novak can keep on writin' episodes that focus on his character as long as he maintains his hardcore JAMmer status :P
Ed Helms: The Return
Love him or hate him, he's so Andy in this episode.
Rashida Jones: Back from Vacation
I think my favorite Karen is SnarkytoJim!Karen. Like, I love when he walks in to that room she's in, all mopey, and says "Do you want to talk about it?" and she just goes "nope" and walks straight out. Awesome.
Angela Kinsey: Traveling Salesmen
CuteGiddy!Angela is the greatest Angela of all the Angelas. "The Return" was another option; I think those two episodes were the ones that made me realize what an acting force Angela Kinsey is. I adore her, and if she gets a nomination for S4 I'll shriek in delight.
Melora Hardin: Cocktails
Why is this so hard? I also love her breaking down in "The Job," and that look on her face when Michael first sees her without her jacket on. So funny.
Leslie David Baker: Initiation
One could argue that this isn't the "real" Stanley, but oh my God it's still so funny.
Brian Baumgartner: Safety Training ?
Kevin was hilarious in S3 (as ever), but it was more a collection of little moments. He did seem to get a weirdly large amount of screentime in S4.
Creed Bratton: Grief Counseling ?
I remember him being funny (and even slightly dramatic??) here, but I have no desire to return to this episode. Ever. So I can't verify it.
Phyllis Smith: Phyllis' Wedding
Duh. Though that scene with "Did you break wind" is, quite literally, my least favorite scene in the entire series. Oh well. She can't be blamed. Yikes, I've been so negative about The Office in my last two write-ups here!
Kate Flannery: Women's Appreciation
Meh. Meredith doesn't get all that much screentime, for kind of obvious reasons (there's only so many "alcoholic and sex addict, LOL!!!" jokes you can make before it starts to get insensitive).
Mindy Kaling: Product Recall
This day is bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A-S! If she gets episodes with a focus on her, I'd like to see way more like this, and way less (fewer?) like "The Deposition" (which, by the way, definitely improves with repeated viewings, even if it's never gonna be my favorite episode. "Branch Wars" is now my second-least-favorite episode of S4.). Gah, I want to stab her in the face in "The Deposition." Well, maybe that's a little harsh...
Paul Lieberstein: A Benihana Christmas
That way he says "why?" might still be my all-time favorite line delivery on this show.
Oscar Nunez: Gay Witch Hunt
Duh. His big episode, and one he's very, very funny in.
David Denman: Cocktails
Did I mention Roy's an asshole?
So we analyzed the crap out of what episodes The Office actors should submit for the Emmys in S4, but what about the best episodes in the past seasons for the actors? S1 doesn't count so much. That said, I think S4 was the best so far in terms of getting as many actors as possible a good episode. Keep in mind I haven't seen parts of S2 or S3 in kind of a while, so if there's something really blatant I'm missing...
Season 2
Steve Carell: Booze Cruise
Obviously he's hilarious, but he's also got that incredible scene on the deck with Jim. I can't believe he was the only one acting-wise to get nominated in S2, but it's bullshit that Tony Shaloub won for the 2860948609486th time.
Rainn Wilson: Dwight's Speech
"Dwight's Speech" is kind of a one-joke episode, but that one joke is extremely funny. The episode revolves entirely around him, giving him a boatload of screentime too.
John Krasinski: Casino Night
How does anyone not fall in love with him, utterly and totally, after this? My only worry is that it might have been too serious and not comedic enough, but that's never stopped them from fawning over Felicity Huffman on Desperate Housewives in the past. That said, he could also go for "The Secret."
Jenna Fischer: Boys and Girls
Heart. Broken. Again, this might be too serious, but S2 Pam wasn't really incredibly funny, so, and her acting is just too damn good here.
BJ Novak: The Fire
RY-AN STARTED THE FIRE!!! I'm also a big fan of that face he makes in "Michael's Birthday," but that's like 4 seconds long.
Angela Kinsey: Christmas Party
She's typical tight-ass Angela, but she also shows her softer side and you feel really bad for her for, at least for me, the first time.
Melora Hardin: The Client
Everyone likes to see an ice queen shatter.
Leslie David Baker: The Dundies
From throwing out his Dundies to "it's this person whose hand I'm holding, Michael?" to the speech, it's all fantastic.
Brian Baumgartner: Casino Night ?
I might be the world's biggest Kevin fan, but he didn't have much in S2.
Creed Bratton: Casino Night
Oh, he just loves to steal things. I recently re-watched some episode in S2 where I was like "haha he's so GREAT here!" but I don't remember which one it was.
Phyllis Smith: Office Olympics ?
Again, she usually doesn't have all that much.
Kate Flannery: Christmas Party
BAHAHAHA THE SCENE WHERE SHE FLASHES MICHAEL AHAHHAHA.
Mindy Kaling: The Carpet
After all, it's the first episode where Kelly has a personality. Oh, and what a personality it is...
Paul Lieberstein: Casino Night
I so love his face when Michael bitches at him.
Oscar Nunez: The Secret ?
Did he have anything better in S2? I wonder if Dwight will ever get his favor... it'd be hilarious if some S5/S6 episode revolved around it, randomly. Oh man, what if Oscar's the one to get Dwangela together again, for good, somehow!
David Denman: Booze Cruise
Eh. Ya'll know of my hatred for Roy. I don't really pay much attention to him during any given episode, but the proposal was well-played.
Amy Adams (JESUS!!!!): Booze Cruise
Because she had way more screentime here than in "The Fire." Did she submit for Guest Actress in S2? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Granted, she wasn't nearly as famous then as she is now.
Season 3
Steve Carell: Business School
He submitted this, I know... and how he didn't win, I have no idea. Alec Baldwin was the one with the weaker tape last year, but I guess the two of them split the vote, or the Emmys felt they owed Ricky Gervais for the British Office...
Rainn Wilson: The Coup
Again, I know he submitted this. And again, how he didn't win, I have no idea. But, I believe I said that Jeremy Piven should win in this category for all eternity, and I can't say I'd mind terribly. But, eventually, he should bow out for Wilson and Krasinski. ;)
John Krasinski: A Benihana Christmas
Very funny, very touching, and a boatload of screentime. "The Job" was another option. Why the heck he submitted "Business School" last year, I'll never know. Not that he was bad in it or anything, but he had so many better options.
Jenna Fischer: Beach Games
The deadpan, duh. The speech, duh. I know she submitted "The Job," and that was also a fantastic choice. That look at the end...
BJ Novak: Initiation
BJ Novak can keep on writin' episodes that focus on his character as long as he maintains his hardcore JAMmer status :P
Ed Helms: The Return
Love him or hate him, he's so Andy in this episode.
Rashida Jones: Back from Vacation
I think my favorite Karen is SnarkytoJim!Karen. Like, I love when he walks in to that room she's in, all mopey, and says "Do you want to talk about it?" and she just goes "nope" and walks straight out. Awesome.
Angela Kinsey: Traveling Salesmen
CuteGiddy!Angela is the greatest Angela of all the Angelas. "The Return" was another option; I think those two episodes were the ones that made me realize what an acting force Angela Kinsey is. I adore her, and if she gets a nomination for S4 I'll shriek in delight.
Melora Hardin: Cocktails
Why is this so hard? I also love her breaking down in "The Job," and that look on her face when Michael first sees her without her jacket on. So funny.
Leslie David Baker: Initiation
One could argue that this isn't the "real" Stanley, but oh my God it's still so funny.
Brian Baumgartner: Safety Training ?
Kevin was hilarious in S3 (as ever), but it was more a collection of little moments. He did seem to get a weirdly large amount of screentime in S4.
Creed Bratton: Grief Counseling ?
I remember him being funny (and even slightly dramatic??) here, but I have no desire to return to this episode. Ever. So I can't verify it.
Phyllis Smith: Phyllis' Wedding
Duh. Though that scene with "Did you break wind" is, quite literally, my least favorite scene in the entire series. Oh well. She can't be blamed. Yikes, I've been so negative about The Office in my last two write-ups here!
Kate Flannery: Women's Appreciation
Meh. Meredith doesn't get all that much screentime, for kind of obvious reasons (there's only so many "alcoholic and sex addict, LOL!!!" jokes you can make before it starts to get insensitive).
Mindy Kaling: Product Recall
This day is bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A-S! If she gets episodes with a focus on her, I'd like to see way more like this, and way less (fewer?) like "The Deposition" (which, by the way, definitely improves with repeated viewings, even if it's never gonna be my favorite episode. "Branch Wars" is now my second-least-favorite episode of S4.). Gah, I want to stab her in the face in "The Deposition." Well, maybe that's a little harsh...
Paul Lieberstein: A Benihana Christmas
That way he says "why?" might still be my all-time favorite line delivery on this show.
Oscar Nunez: Gay Witch Hunt
Duh. His big episode, and one he's very, very funny in.
David Denman: Cocktails
Did I mention Roy's an asshole?
