The American show is as strong as it is now than it has ever been and the show ended 9 years ago. For a culture that is now quite happy to #cancel past TV shows for some comments made, how has the Office US been able to stand the test of time and become even more popular with a new generation given some touchy subject matter?
Table of Contents
Starting history
The Office was not original. It was based off the work of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant who had two smash hit series (a total of 12 episodes) in England with the BBC. However, Greg Daniels saw the show and wanted to make his own version of the show in America.
This rarely worked with UK comedies coming over the pond and prospering in the US. The Office US got off to a similar start with comparisons made to the UK version, a new style of comedy that audiences were not used to and not having the full backing of the network.
With the show close to be cancelled by the network due to low numbers, iTunes came the rescue with a generation of rich kids not watching the show at the specific time but downloading the episodes onto their new video iPod which came out in 2005. It gave the Office a new market.
Since then it gained traction and went on to become one of the best comedies in American history. So what made people love the show?
The Characters
A nice and easy one but this is certainly the main reason people love the Office. With so many characters on set it is hard to take your eyes off them all. With the main characters like the affable boss Michael Scott who might not be the best CFD Brokers but in fact the best boss (according to his mug).
Then there are other characters like Jim Halpert, Pam Halpert and Dwight Schrute dominating the major plots of certain episodes. However, you cannot forget about Ryan Howard, Kelly Kapoor, Angela Martin, Oscar Martinez, Andy Bernard, Kevin Malone, Stanley Hudson, Phyllis Vance, Toby Flenderson, Darryl Phillbin, Erin Hannon and Creed Bratton who all make up the rest of the Dunder Mifflin crew; this is also not including even more side characters.
Every fan has a favourite and every fan has a different one. They are all so loveable in their own unique way with different background stories that intrigue you.
Random escapism
A generation of people will be growing up wanting to work in a mundane Office space surrounded by people like the characters from the Office. The concept of the show is show mundane and boring that it can be nice to think of a world that is way less chaotic than that of their own lives.
The show is set around a paper company and you think, how can that be interesting? However, the writers make you want to live everything that the characters are living.
Why is it so popular now?
The show is one of the most streamed shows on Netflix and it is, just like it did when it was available on the video iPod, attracting a new audience, a new rush of Dunder Mifflin fans who want to engulf their life with the likes of Michael, Pam, Jim and Dwight.
In a modern world where things are so readily available, people no longer wait for their TV to show it live, unless it is sport, they “binge” their shows and when they are done with one favourite show, they just start it all over again.
The Office is that show as well, many and it will continue to be like that especially with new generations finding the show on Netflix.
Long live the Office US.
