Why does Michael Scott hate Toby in 'The Office'?
What's the story
NBC's mockumentary sitcom, The Office, is famous for its iconic long-running jokes and unforgettable characters.
One of them is Steve Carell's Michael Scott, whose unique traits include a hilarious disdain for Toby.
This animosity is a running theme throughout the series, with many memorable moments emphasizing their contentious relationship.
But do you know how this feud started?
Scene details
The deleted scene that sparked Michael's hatred for Toby
Speaking to Daily Beast, Paul Lieberstein—who played Toby and was a writer/executive producer on The Office—revealed that a deleted scene from Season 1 is the origin of Michael's grudge against Toby.
In the Episode 4 (The Alliance) scene, Michael is writing the perfect joke for Meredith's birthday card, when Toby signs it with the same joke. This leads to an argument between them and starts their feud.
Actor's perspective
Lieberstein's insight into the birth of Michael-Toby feud
Lieberstein further elaborated on the scene, stating, "I just go in, write something quickly, and leave—that's the scene. But it takes me a while to physically write it, and I could just feel him watching me, and feel that burning."
"Steve [Carell] told me afterward that it was in that moment that he just decided to hate me so much."
This revelation gives a new perspective to their relationship dynamics throughout The Office.
Relationship dynamics
How the deleted scene shaped Michael-Toby's relationship
The above scene never made it to the final cut of The Office episodes, leaving fans oblivious to the real reason behind Michael's hatred for Toby.
Most fans assumed it was Toby's HR job, which Michael hated at first, that caused the animosity.
But knowing that their feud started with Toby stealing Michael's joke, adds a whole new level of humor and depth to their relationship.