Comments on: A Personal Ode to NBC’s ‘The Office’ http://blog.allmovie.com/2008/05/19/a-personal-ode-to-nbcs-the-office/ Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:37:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1 By: dwf http://blog.allmovie.com/2008/05/19/a-personal-ode-to-nbcs-the-office/#comment-2698 dwf Mon, 19 May 2008 21:00:50 +0000 http://blog.allmovie.com/2008/05/19/a-personal-ode-to-nbcs-the-office/#comment-2698 Agreed that The Office is reaching for new heights, but let's not get carried away claiming it's better than Seinfeld. Seinfeld spent 9 seasons building intricate pathologies around its main characters, but without a serialization format -- which is a tougher thing to pull off. And while the Office very effectively skewers cubicle politics and corporate tribulations, and stands to become a touchstone of the business world in a way that the film Office Space was, it has its work cut out for it aspiring to the level of Seinfeld, which was a more wide-ranging commentary on the idiocies of urban life in general, relationships with parents, and the existential futility of the dating culture. I do hope that the Office may one day ascend to the sitcom pantheon, but it's a bit early to put it there just yet. Still it deserves kudos for taking its mean-spirited, ugly and depressing British predecessor and turning it into something much more nuanced and likeable. Almost makes you proud to be an American. Agreed that The Office is reaching for new heights, but let’s not get carried away claiming it’s better than Seinfeld. Seinfeld spent 9 seasons building intricate pathologies around its main characters, but without a serialization format — which is a tougher thing to pull off. And while the Office very effectively skewers cubicle politics and corporate tribulations, and stands to become a touchstone of the business world in a way that the film Office Space was, it has its work cut out for it aspiring to the level of Seinfeld, which was a more wide-ranging commentary on the idiocies of urban life in general, relationships with parents, and the existential futility of the dating culture.

I do hope that the Office may one day ascend to the sitcom pantheon, but it’s a bit early to put it there just yet. Still it deserves kudos for taking its mean-spirited, ugly and depressing British predecessor and turning it into something much more nuanced and likeable. Almost makes you proud to be an American.

]]> By: C Joseph http://blog.allmovie.com/2008/05/19/a-personal-ode-to-nbcs-the-office/#comment-2706 C Joseph Wed, 21 May 2008 17:31:58 +0000 http://blog.allmovie.com/2008/05/19/a-personal-ode-to-nbcs-the-office/#comment-2706 I think it's fitting that there's a picture of the season 2 DVDs accompanying this article, because that's what the review seems to fit. This season of "The Office" was spotty and ill-conceived on a number of levels, as was last season. Exploiting a turgid romantic formula and dumbing down the comedy are not what I'd call "reaching for new heights". I think it’s fitting that there’s a picture of the season 2 DVDs accompanying this article, because that’s what the review seems to fit. This season of “The Office” was spotty and ill-conceived on a number of levels, as was last season. Exploiting a turgid romantic formula and dumbing down the comedy are not what I’d call “reaching for new heights”.

]]> By: Tyler http://blog.allmovie.com/2008/05/19/a-personal-ode-to-nbcs-the-office/#comment-2808 Tyler Wed, 28 May 2008 17:58:28 +0000 http://blog.allmovie.com/2008/05/19/a-personal-ode-to-nbcs-the-office/#comment-2808 Season 2 was a great season, 3 was pretty good. For Season 4, I will need to see some reruns, which actually helped for the 'gift basket' episode I caught recently. It got better after the strike mostly. That being said, they seem not to know what to do with Andy. He's like a 2nd Dwight but more obnoxious. I'm amazed that he hasn't been very funny because the actor was so great in the Daily Show. Toby and Ryan were usually very funny so that sucks that they are gone. Jim and Pam is just too much at this point. It's hard to care now. I hope it doesn't get much more soap-opera like. Season 2 was a great season, 3 was pretty good. For Season 4, I will need to see some reruns, which actually helped for the ‘gift basket’ episode I caught recently. It got better after the strike mostly.

That being said, they seem not to know what to do with Andy. He’s like a 2nd Dwight but more obnoxious. I’m amazed that he hasn’t been very funny because the actor was so great in the Daily Show.

Toby and Ryan were usually very funny so that sucks that they are gone.

Jim and Pam is just too much at this point. It’s hard to care now. I hope it doesn’t get much more soap-opera like.

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