Review: The Office

Have you ever wondered what it is like working 9AM-5PM for a paper company in the little town of Scranton, PA with Steve Carell as your boss? Well neither did I until The Office gave me exactly what I didn’t know I needed in my life.

The Office US is an Americanized version of the original UK. the television show, The Office, which stars Ricky Gervais. The U.S. version includes stars such as Steve Carell, Jenna Fischer, and John Krasinski. The show takes place in the little town of Scranton, Pennsylvania depicting the lives of employees of the paper company, Dunder Mifflin. The show is based on the idea that the employees are getting filmed for a documentary called “The Office” that is meant to show the everyday lives of average office workers. The employees spend their days attempting to get through the day with their boss, Michael Scott (Steve Carell), who refers to himself as “World’s Best Boss” despite his immature and lazy characteristics. Every aspect of the lives of these characters is recorded by the producers of the documentary including all the scandals, affairs, and secrets that come with most normal lives of paper salesmen. With 24-hour surveillance and individual interviews, the cast introduces the viewers to each of their unique lives, helping you to develop a relationship with characters you didn’t know you wanted or needed.

The writing process of The Office is different in many ways compared to your typical television series. Many of the writers are also actors which gives the cast much room for improvisation. This improvisation also gives the series a very relaxed feel that is accompanied by witty comments and awkward moments developing a natural flow. In an article written by about the writers and actors of The Office, Mindy Kaling, Paul Lieberstein, and B.J. Novak talk about how they create their signature atmosphere. In the article, Kaling discusses the use of the “Chuffa,” a filler that makes something that isn’t a joke, funny. The use of this technique helps to develop a realistic feel and gives many of the characters their charm.

Not only does the show star very notable actors, it also has great guest stars that you may have never seen play characters without filters. These guest stars include people like Will Ferrell, Roseanne Barr, James Spader, and many others.

The portrayal of everyday people with their own individual personalities gives the show a relatable feel with a dash of odd humor that you will find yourself uncontrollably laughing out loud to. With a great cast, storyline, and 201 episodes, The Office will keep you smiling (and occasionally crying) through the entire series.

Code by Nathan Swartz (ClickNathan.com), Content by Gavin Edwards. “Rule Forty Two: The Self-Aggrandizing Website of Gavin Edwards.” Rule Forty Two RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Feb. 2017.

Hdwallpapers. “The Office Wallpapers.” HDWallpaper.NU – Top HD Wallpapers & Backgrounds. N.p., 13 Sept. 2016. Web. 03 Feb. 2017.