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Before Ellie Kemper nabbed the role of everyone’s favorite optimistic doomsday cult survivor Kimmy Schmidt, she showcased her comedic charms as Kelly “Erin” Hannon on NBC’s The Office. That’s right, true Office fans will recall that Erin’s actual first name is Kelly, but she goes by Erin to avoid any confusion with Kelly Kapoor.
A silly “115-pound moonbeam” of joy and optimism, Erin took over the Dunder Mifflin receptionist post from Pam during the wonderfully absurd Michael Scott Paper Company arc. Even though she only joined the series towards the end of Season 5, Erin instantly meshed with the cast of colorful characters at Scranton’s zaniest paper company. Her childlike earnestness and genuine love for her co-workers made her a welcomed addition to the Dunder Mifflin Family.
It was evident from day one that Kemper’s UCB background and impeccable comedic timing would eventually lead to the actress earning a starring role. Also, fun fact: Kemper joined an exclusive Office club upon joining the show in 2009. Ellie, along with Mindy Kaling, John Krasinski, and Angela Kinsey, were all former interns at Late Night with Conan O’Brien before being cast on The Office.
Last month we celebrated the very best of Ryan “Fire Guy” Howard. Today, we take a look back at the offbeat charms of Dunder Mifflin’s quirkiest receptionist as we revisit the 10 best Erin Hannon episodes of The Office.
"Michael Scott Paper Company" (Season 5, Episode 23)
The Michael Scott Paper Company arc led to one of the biggest vocational shakeups in Dunder Mifflin history: Erin replacing Pam as the receptionist. Fatigued from years of saying “Dunder Mifflin this is Pam,” Beesly left to become a saleswoman at Michael’s new company. Enter Erin Hannon.
This might be difficult to fathom, but Dwight originally competed with Andy for Erin’s affection. Here’s an example of Dwight’s A+ flirting game:
Dwight: You know there’s a ghost in this office.
Erin: Really?
Dwight: A woman was murdered on this very floor in 1816. Haddy McGonigal. She was a prostitute.
"Scott's Tots" (Season 6, Episode 12)
Michael and Erin weren’t always on the best of terms. Before the two developed a delightful father/daughter dynamic, the “World’s Best Boss” was actually kinda cold to Ms. Hannon. That all changed during “Scott’s Tots.”
The Season 6 episode, which marked B.J. Novak’s Office directorial debut, centered on Michael confessing that he can’t fulfill a promise he made to pay the college tuition for a group of local teenagers. Erin, who isn’t exactly known for her sage wisdom, brings a different perspective to Michael’s blunder.
“The principal told me that 90% of Scott’s Tots are on track to graduate and that’s 35% higher than the rest of the school. I think that if you hadn’t made that promise, a lot of them would’ve dropped out.”
"New Leads" (Season 6, Episode 20)
Erin and Andy are not Jim and Pam. I get it. But there was a time when their office flirtation leaned more towards adorable than cringe-worthy. Faced with some Steve Carell-sized shoes to fill, The Office eventually tweaked the character of Andy to the point of him acting more like Michael Scott-light and less like the Nard Dog.
BEFORE that, however, Erin and Andy were actually pretty darn adorable. Their first kiss took place, well, if you’re an optimist it happened in front of a beautiful sunset, and if you’re a pessimist it occurred while standing in heaps of trash. Erin offers a chilly Andy her jacket and Cornell University’s greatest export remarks that Erin is the “nicest person” he’s ever met.
The rest, as they say, is history.
"Viewing Party" (Season 7, Episode 8)
Who’s in for a Glee viewing party at Gabe’s house?!
“Viewing Party” was another important episode for the Michael/Erin relationship. The long pause after Michael says “I’m not your father” to Erin is powerful as Michael grasps just how much Erin truly cares about him. She’s always wanted a father, and he’s always wanted a family of his own.
Also, fun fact. The pizza delivery boy Michael basically kidnapped in Season 4’s “Launch Party” is portrayed by Glee’s Kevin McHale (Artie).
“If you break that girl’s heart, I will kill you. It’s just a figure of speech. But seriously, if you break that girl’s heart, I will literally kill you and your entire family.” — Michael to Gabe
"Michael's Last Dundies" (Season 7, Episode 21)
I loved the Erin/Gabe relationship. Not so much for the romance but for pure comedy reasons.
Kemper and Zach Woods, two UCB improv vets, had such a dynamic comedic chemistry. Erin’s growing repulsion towards Gabe was so much fun, as was her decision to dump him while accepting a Dundie.
But, hey, at least Gabe handled it like a pro, right?
Another magical moment from this episode is the show’s Rent-inspired musical farewell to Michael.
"Search Committee" (Season 7, Episodes 25 and 26)
You don’t normally see a ton of Phyllis Vance love on these lists, but her mini Season 7 arc with Erin was a great use of the matriarch of Dunder Mifflin.
I think most shows would have gone ahead and pulled the trigger on Phyllis being Erin’s mom, but I’m glad The Office showed some narrative restraint. It made the finale — where Erin meets her actual birth parents — all that more special.
Phyllis: It was a big year for babies. Porky’s had come out.
Erin: I’m sure I was just another Porky’s baby, but why not find out?
BONUS EPISODE: Even though Erin and Kelly’s girl group “Subtle Sexuality” is a webisode and not an episode, the friendship between the two deserves a special shout-out.
"Christmas Wishes" (Season 8, Episode 10)
Nobody plays drunk quite like Ellie Kemper.
Written by Mindy Kaling and directed by Ed Helms (making his Office directorial debut), “Christmas Party” focuses on the ol’ dependable holiday chestnut known as getting wasted at an office holiday party. Not one to drink, Erin’s decision to partake in one too many Christmas spirits happens to occur in front of Andy and his new girlfriend.
Too much liquid holiday cheer at a holiday party often leads to a drunken makeout session or throwing up in the bathroom, this one, however, morbidly results in the usually cheerful Erin wishing Jessica was dead.
“I wish Jessica was dead. I wish she was in a graveyard. Under the ground. With worms coming out of her mouth.”
"Dwight Christmas" (Season 9, Episode 9)
The Big Sick, which is now streaming on Prime Video, is a tremendous film. One of my favorite parts of the modern rom-com is Zoe Kazan’s character calling Kumail Nanjiani’s character out on his covert “compatibility test.” Sharing your favorite film with someone you’re dating is an enormous step. Your favorite movie is an extension of who you are!
In “Dwight Christmas,” Pete (Jake Lacy) shares his pop culture obsession, Die Hard, with Erin, who’s still reeling from Andy’s latest boat-related voyage into the choppy waters of neglect. Due to the inconsistencies of the character of Andy Bernard, most fans gravitated towards the puppy-dog romance between Erin and Pete.
And it all started with Die Hard.
"Moving On" (Season 9, Episode 16)
One of the absolute funniest scenes from the final season of The Office is the ex-couples brouhaha between Gabe, Erin, Pete, and Pete’s ex-girlfriend. After Andy learns that Erin and Pete have been dating, he, naturally, hires their respective exes out of spite.
If you somehow missed this scene I highly, highly suggest checking it out. It’s so well written.
Andy: Gabe, did Erin ever tell you that she loves you?
Gabe: Oh no no no no no no. She wouldn’t even let me say it. It was adorable. She would plug her ears and scream her heart out.
Erin: Gabe, can you stop talking? Cause every word out of your mouth is like the squawk of an ugly pelican.
"Finale" (Season 9, Episode 23)
Like all memorable TV finales, The Office delivered a touching conclusion that provided fans with a satisfying end to the Dunder Mifflin story. Erin Hannon’s happily ever after comes in the form of finally meeting her birth parents — portrayed by Ed Begley Jr. and Joan Cusack — which is basically like winning the birth parents lottery.
One of Erin’s final moments — a spastic wedding dance to The Cars classic “You Might Think I’m Crazy” with her dad — is the perfect coda to a joyful character.
