Of all the sitcoms out there, none are riper for fan theories than NBC's The Office. Even after all this time, it leaves viewers wanting more, leading them to the depths of the internet to voice their opinions on various topics and theories. One character, in particular, tends to draw a lot of attention - Andrew Bernard. Even though he seems to lay a lot of his life out on the table for the world to see, some things just don't seem to make sense. Like how he somehow has two sets of parents.
In Season 4, Episode 19, Andy proposes to Angela Martin during the farewell party for Toby Flenderson. During this important moment in his life, he shows that his parents are here to witness and introduces them as Andrew and Ellen Bernard, but this is the only time we see this set of parents.
The next time we see his parents is in Season 8, Episode 4, "Garden Party," when Andy invites his parents to a garden party in order to impress his new boss, Robert California. But now the parents look completely different and they are even introduced under a different name - Walter and Ellen Bernard.
TikTok user @JustTheNobodys puts it perfectly - Andy's bad relationship with his parents is no secret. He is always trying to impress his parents and make them proud, especially since his brother Walter Jr is the star child in their eyes. In addition, Andy has a very obvious flair for the dramatic and the theatre, so it wouldn't be that surprising to suggest that he hired actors to play his first set of parents back in Season 4.
If Andy's relationship with his parents is as bad as it seems, it would almost make sense for them to not attend their son's engagement, which makes the idea that Andy would hire actors plausible. He would want everyone at his work to see that his parents are there to support him, but it also puts more pressure on Angela to say yes. The parents in Season 4 also look younger, so much so that Andy's "dad" almost could be the same age as Michael Scott, which is a little unbelievable.
Either way, there is a major continuity error in regards to Andy Bernard's parents. Maybe it was a conscious choice on behalf of the writers, or maybe it was just a forgotten moment when they faced the task of recasting the same roles. It would fit Andy's character perfectly if they were hired actors - a combination of a desperate effort and a sad upbringing.