What the Hell Happened to 'The Office'?

For a couple of years, The Office was my favorite comedy on television. I loved the dynamic between Jim and Dwight. I thought Dwight K. Schrute was among the best characters on TV, found the writing to be consistently brilliant, and usually came away 30 minutes later in a much better mood. But now I don't even want to watch it. Tonight's episode, the showdown between Dwight and Andy, doesn't interest me in the slightest. I still TiVo it, but I haven't seen the show in weeks. I don't look forward to it anymore, and I want to know if it's me or if it's the show. There are a few things you could point to for the reason the show has slipped. I don't buy that it's the romance between Jim and Pam, because that has been the one constant throughout the show; you always knew that was going to happen. Some might say that Steve Carell is too big now...that's what she said. I don't accept that, either. I don't think the Dwight/Angela romance was the show's strongest moment, and I really don't like the Angela/Andy element. I was fine with Michael and Jan at first, but now I'm beginning to suspect that was the beginning of the end. Or at least, that happened in the chronology of the show around the time the series started to go downhill. Rewind three years to The Booze Cruise, which might be the best episode of the show. It's from the second season, which is full of great episodes - The Dundies, The Client (which featured Michael's unearthed spy screenplay), Conflict Resolution, and Casino Night. The first season included such gems as Diversity Day, Basketball, Hot Girl (with Amy Adams), and The Fire. Ah, good times. But since then? Pickings are slim. There have been a couple of fantastic episodes, like Gay Witch Hunt, The Dinner Party, Money (in which Jim and Pam go to Schrute Farms), and Beach Games, but all in all, the drop-off is unmistakable. If we're conceding that the show has jumped the shark, and I think we're headed down that road, then I point to the decision to expand the show to one hour episodes back in 2007. Remember that? The first four shows of the new season were all an hour long? Two of them were just depressing, and none of them came close to the standard the show had set over a year earlier. I just don't think it's fully recovered from that swing. Certainly, the show has the ability to come back around. Lost did it after a foggy year three. But with The Office launching a spin-off next fall, is it too late? Maybe Ricky Gervais had it right: Do a couple years and move on. Where did it go wrong? Who's to blame? And can it be saved?

Comments

[Lillian James]

What's The Office spin-off? :/

[Get The Big Picture]

Some new Amy Poehler show. I guess it's no longer a spin-off, just a show by the producers. Last summer it was slated to be a spin-off, though.

[Michael]

I completely agree. I still think it's an amusing show but it isn't great like it once was. I think they should take a page out of the George Costanza book and make the show about nothing. It seems like they hit a point where the original storylines got a little old and they had to start coming up with new stuff. Jim and Pam are just boring now. Obviously they were going to get together eventually, but it was pretty anticlimactic when they finally did and there's no reason to care about them anymore but the writers still try to keep them relevant. I hated psycho Jan and I can only hope they don't bring her back. I've hated all the "love" triangles. Ryan/Kelly/Daryll, Dwight/Angela/Andy, Jan/Michael/Holly. Don't these people know anyone they don't work with? So yeah, make it about nothing. The best episodes are just boring, everyday life in an office with some interesting personalities.

As for Lost, I think the reason the third year was a little foggy was because we weren't getting answers. Just more questions. But the writers had a plan and they knew where they were going with it. I think they are just winging it with The Office these days.

[Johnny]

Most of those episodes you listed were in the first season. The best in my opinion.

[abower]

Diversity Day, Basketball, Hot Girl - all season ONE episodes

[Get The Big Picture]

You are correct. Sorry, I got overzealous looking backwards. Those three are season one. I made those changes above. Thanks for the proofread.

[American Wilson]

With the exception of Michael the rest of the staff should be laid off in these tough economic times. The show's early success hinged on these folks being caricatures of people we all work with every day, but now, because we all know who they are, it's not as funny.

It's like seeing your girlfriend naked for the first few times. At first it's pretty hot. Then, you start to see...

...things.

...terrible, terrible, things.

Reporting from Outer Space. American Wilson.

[Lillian James]

Charming analogy, American Wilson. Truly charming.

And as for the spin-off that's not really a spin-off anymore, I can't say I'm a big Amy Poehler fan. I just don't really understand the obsession with her. :/