What name is Michael shouting in the Improv class?

Question

The Office (S02E9): “Email Surveillance”

Michael goes to his improv class, the teacher asks for volunteers and Michael is the first to raise his hand, and he shouts something like:

“Mr Cartair! Mr Cartair!”

What is he actually saying, and what is it a reference to?

Laurel · Accepted Answer · 2024-02-09 19:03:01Z

16

He's emulating a line from a tv show, Welcome Back, Kotter so what he is actually saying is "Mr Kotter, Mr Kotter".

Michael: [In Horshack voice from 'Welcome Back, Kotter'] Ooo Ooo Ooo Ooo, Mr. Cart-air, Mr. Cart-air.

edited Feb 9 at 19:03

Laurel

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answered Feb 7 at 23:05

Paulie_D

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4

Of course, Welcome Back, Kotter takes place in NYC, so Horshack has a strong NY accent so it's more "Mista Kah-tah, Mista Kah-tah" New Yawkas tend to drop their rs
– FreeMan
Commented Feb 8 at 13:15
2

@FreeMan There were a number of New York accents exhibited in that show. Barbarino's Italian-American accent is quite different from Horshack's (his ethnicity is ambiguous).
– Barmar
Commented Feb 8 at 15:45
I think Horshack is somewhat generically from The Bronx (as is my mom & family), but... it's been a few moons since I last watched the show, so I can't say for certain.
– FreeMan
Commented Feb 8 at 15:57
2

I always thought it was Washington who, with a heavy NYC "jive" accent would say "Mister Kot-taire!" imdb.com/title/tt0072582/characters/nm0385320?ref_=tt_cl_c_7
– Jesse C. Slicer
Commented Feb 8 at 17:58
1

I'll also add that this is right in Michael's wheelhouse of rather dated references to 70's and 80's TV, alongside his other references to Sanford & Son, "Where's the beef?", and classic SNL sketches.
– Nuclear Hoagie
Commented Feb 9 at 15:00

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