The Office

I don't have much access to the outside world, as I've recently cancelled my $100+ a month Cable/Internet bill, but I do have a sister with a Tivo and I asked her to record this show for me. I work at a video store, and we often get TV shows on DVD and a few years ago we got one called the Office. It was the British version starring Ricky Gervais and though I had heard of it, I wasn't quite sure what it was about. There were only a few episodes, but what was there was hilarious.

A year or so later (after the show won several top prizes in Great Britain), it was announced that an American version of the show was being produced. At first I was skeptical, because American TV in general sucks. After watching the first few episodes, I wasn't that impressed. However, I kept watching (as there was nothing better on) and eventually got into the storylines.

The show is slightly similar to the British version in that it takes place at a mid-level paper company. It takes on a documentary feel in that all of the characters are aware of the camera and occasionally sit in for "The Real World-style" interviews. The branch manager is very obnoxious and can get on the nerves of the workers, and in the first season both storylines involved an ongoing "drama" about the branch closing.

The biggest difference between the American version and the British version is that the American version has far more episodes per season which has allowed the characters and storylines to become more involved. Initially the story revolved around the four main characters: Michael (the Boss), Dwight (the suck-up), Jim (the straight-man), and Pam (the secretary). In recent seasons the bit players have had larger roles and new characters have been introduced.