Welcome to TV Squad Lists (formerly 'The Five'), a feature where each blogger has a chance to list his or her own rundown of things in television that stand out from the rest, both good and bad.I'm bored with The Office right now. Now, don't interpret that as "I hate the show"... because I don't. I think it is one of the best shows on television, but it has hit a plateau and needs to be stirred up a bit to get interesting again. Last Thursday, I found it to be the second-to-least funny of NBC's comedy line-up (Scrubs was the least funny with the random, meaningless killing of a cast member).
I think the main problem is that The Office is a little too close to real life right now. And let's face it: real life is boring. Office life in particular isn't interesting, and The Office has to walk a fine line between realism and entertainment. Lately, I think, The Office hasn't so much walked that line as it has stepped on both sides of it.
I realize that all American television shows hit a lull at this time of year, but it's sad to see it happen to The Office. I imagine the 22-episode, multiple season pressure on the shows causes this slump. Maybe Ricky Gervais is right: two seasons are enough.
Here are six reasons why The Office is in a slump:
6. There's no conflict. Now that Andy is at long-term anger management, there's no one to ruffle any feathers at Dunder-Mifflin's Scranton, PA branch. Sure, Michael hates Toby, but there's no real conflict there. It's just Michael's weird, personal vendetta against the guy that has never been fully explained (nor should it be). Angela seems to be getting along with everybody and Jim and Pam? Well, that's farther down the list.
5. Dwight has become unbelievable. Last week's episode aside, I feel like Dwight's character crossed a line somewhere recently and I have stopped believing him. For example? "Cocktails", which aired Feb. 22nd, when Dwight was doing a home inspection on the boss' house. He ended up on the roof, kicking the chimney. And, the episode before that one, called "Business School", when Dwight started to believe that Jim was turning into a vampire. I'm sure Dwight believes in vampires, but his belief in Jim was too gullible, even for Dwight. Somewhere along the line, Dwight crossed from the mildly ridiculous to the all-out ridiculous and it has gone too far.
4. Everyone is comfortable. The best part about The Office is the uncomfortable humor. It makes you squirm and giggle (it's like getting tickled). Where has that gone? Michael still has it, but Dwight and Angela, who also make people uncomfortable, sure have chilled out lately. Dwight's insistence on not receiving a reward for saving Jim from Roy was actually admirable, not weird. Maybe it's all the off-set sex their characters are getting.
3. Jim and Dwight. This is just depressing. Jim and Pam aren't speaking, Jim is taking his job too seriously, and Karen won't play along... so Dwight is totally prank-free these days. And that's just not fun at all. In the last episode, Jim felt bad for all the pranks he played on Dwight after Dwight saved him from getting his ass kicked by Roy. Luckily, Jim felt vindicated when he saw Dwight and Angela making out so hopefully tonight's episode will provide some more pranks.
2. Jim and Karen. There is nothing interesting about this relationship. Karen is boring. She won't play pranks on Dwight because she is too serious about her work. She doesn't say much, really. Who is this Karen person? When she and Jim were flirting at the Connecticut branch of Dunder-Mifflin, she seemed like a funky girl with a quick wit, but now she's blah.
1. Jim and Pam. This story desperately needs to go somewhere... and soon. It's just treading water right now. I don't expect any grand gesture, because that's not how they do it at The Office, but something needs to change. At the end of last season, Jim kissed Pam. As a result, Pam called off her wedding but was too afraid to enter into a relationship with Jim. While that is probably what 'normal' people would do--and avoid each other in the office like Jim and Pam are doing--that sure as hell isn't very interesting. Or funny. Or cute. Maybe Pam needs a new boyfriend-- maybe the new guy who fills Roy's job?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
4-12-2007 @ 4:19PM
jmalcolm said...
You are on target. If Karen is supposed to be a love interest for Jim, there sure isn’t anything going on there. If they are going to have a fling have one but right now Jim seems to care less about her and she is off in la la land. This was supposed to be the big break through show and all it did was take Roy out of the picture. Roy even told Pam to go for it with Jim and when she tried, Jim stuck his head firmly in the sand (or somewhere) and blew her off. Yes, that’s like real life but if I want to be bored, I’ll go back to MY office.
Four things made this show work and they were Jim and Pam’s flirtation, the pranks, Jim’s smart attitude and the tension between the office members. All of a sudden hey are sleepy and cozy with each other. Come on writers, the cast of Friends had more tension than this and they liked each other.
This is a show where they did a great job of making me like every character in it and I pretty much do. But I don’t like them so much that I want to watch them sit and be boring. I like the characters on The Class too but now that they are boring me, I would rather watch a bunch of silliness like “Thank God You’re here.” At least those guys are making an effort at being entertaining.
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4-12-2007 @ 4:26PM
Noah said...
wow, really, the office was on like a month hiatus and they've only shown one episode since it's return. The episode before the hiatus "Cocktails" was incredible. I've watched it over and over. I agree that maybe last weeks ep wasn't the best way to return but calling it a "slump" come on.
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4-12-2007 @ 4:33PM
Roark said...
Couldn't disagree more. Last week's epidsode was one of the funniest ever. That's all I'm asking for. Besides, the Karen/Jim relationship is probably due for a shakeup in the next couple of episodes now that Pam's single.
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4-12-2007 @ 4:32PM
Steve said...
maybe that's why Gervais stopped after 2 seasons.
Last week's opening was the 2nd funniest only to Dwight knocking the "poisoned" coffee out of Stanley's hand.
"Who's laughing now?"
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4-12-2007 @ 4:37PM
Sweatband Man said...
all i have to say is that everything that everyone has said is good.
http://www.hollywoodsquared.com/videos/call-me-conan/
i wonder if Conan watches the office?
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4-12-2007 @ 4:37PM
lilalia said...
Your comments: So true! The show's edge has definitely dulled. It is
sort of like a prize restaurant deciding to buy cheaper produce. It just doesn't taste the same.
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4-12-2007 @ 4:36PM
bgdc said...
I'd be happiest if they killed Pam. She's annoying, mousey and not fit to hold Jim's jock. She's made for a guy like Roy. So just get rid of her.
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4-12-2007 @ 4:49PM
gfbabbitt said...
Dwight has always seemed unbelievable to me. The scene that everyone loves- Future Dwight- was too unrealistic for me. Let's see, which is more likely: in the future, I am a time traveler, or someone stole some of my stationary.
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4-12-2007 @ 4:49PM
Borat said...
Agreed on the points, but it's still a great show and I think it's a bit too early to be complaining about it.
This is exactly why a 22-24 episode season is too much. Unless you have extremely genius writers (Arrested Development), there are bound to be some mediocre episodes...it doesn't matter what show it is.
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4-12-2007 @ 5:12PM
LordPaul said...
Is it me or have the writers here gone as daft as the "out of 7" since the change?
I don't remember disagreeing so much that I had to post before this week.
As has already been said - one In-your-opinion-less-funny than prior to a 4 weeks hiatus does not a slump make!
I think it's more likely that for some reason TVsquad has been asked to make more fluff pieces to make it worthwhile
Has that AOL symbol always been there?
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4-12-2007 @ 5:13PM
Tom WP said...
I agree with the post completely. You aren't saying The Office is a bad show, because that's untrue. It's still funnier than most other shows on TV now. But it certainly is not living up to it's own standards that it set far, far too high last year. Hopefully, for the viewers, something will be done soon because this show needs to get interesting again. And honestly, if it doesn't, it will still reel in every award. Because saying you love The Office is the cool thing to do.
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4-12-2007 @ 5:14PM
Jason said...
I guess we've reached the inevitable "backlash" portion of the program. Does this mean Lost is off the clock?
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4-12-2007 @ 5:14PM
Derek said...
The whole point of this article doesn't make sense because the office isn't in a slump. It's the funniest comedy show on american TV right now. If you want to see shows in a slump - look at Scrubs and The Simpsons and Family Guy. Three shows I love(d) but find they're losing their way right now.
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4-12-2007 @ 5:15PM
Brian said...
The Office is not in a slump. It is perfect. It is beyond criticism. You need to apologize!
OK, got that out of my system. Fair enough, the show's not running on all cylinders, but I think this entire season has been a comparative slump after Season 2. I don't agree with all your points, but I was far more interested in my own reaction, which was to jump to its immediate defense after just reading your headline.
Say what you will, the show inspires loyalty.
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4-12-2007 @ 5:22PM
viewdrix said...
I think something unexpected is that, when you think about it, the original show ran even longer than the US version has at this point, but spaced 14 episodes over this period. But nothing happened to Tim and Dawn until the last three episodes, really. Furthermore, in the just more than two years the show has been on, the Jim/Pam relationship has seen multiple twists: Katy, the Booze Cruise/The Secret, the kiss on Casino Night, Pam dumps Roy, Stamford, Jim dates Karen, The Merger, Pam dates Roy, Roy finds out about the kiss, Roy tries to kill Jim.
So, comparing the two shows, how is it possible that people are tired of the Jim/Pam relationship when Tim and Dawn did fa less in a longer period of time? Either they saw the original when it was rerun fairly close together, or on DVD (like I did). When I think of how the US version has only been on the air since March 2005, I'm not surprised Jim and Pam havn't gotten completely together yet.
As for your points, I think the hiatus created most of it. When you say there's no conflict, well, when thinking of The Office, Roy and Pam being back on again and Roy's attack on Jim was probably the biggest conflict yet in the series. It was just a fairly lackluster conclusion. While Dwight has become unbelievable, I don't think it distracts from the series as the slow evolution has been played perfectly by Wilson. Maybe everyone is too comfortable, but remember the disaster that was Phyllis' Wedding? Though Michael hasn't said anything embarrassing lately, I'll take this clam over any more of those outrageous events, and I bet you probably would too after complaining Dwight was unbelievable.
As for Jim and Dwight/Pam/Karen: you earlier sited the vampire prank, which was only two episodes ago, yet say there have been no pranks lately? The hiatus just made it feel that way, I think, and if there hadn't been one, Jim trying to repay Dwight's favor would've come off as a breath of fresh air. And again, though Jim and Pam haven't talked for a while, it seems like it would have been an interesting change of pace over the last 4 or 5 episodes if that hiatus hadn't stretched it to eternity. As for Karen, well, I simply disagree. She seemed like she was getting boring until Cocktails, and I think the hiatus, to sound like a broken record, made you forget that. Besides, all signs point to Karen out and Pam actually asking Jim out in the finale.
And I think that when that happens, and especially when you watch the episodes all on DVD within hours of each other, you'll wonder where this list came from.
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4-12-2007 @ 5:31PM
Kyle said...
You can partly scratch number 6 off.
Andy came back at the end of last week's episodes.
Someone didn't stick around for the credits...
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4-12-2007 @ 5:58PM
John Hewitt said...
Wow, talk about spoiled. Complaining about the lack of progress in the relationships is just ridiculous. I dare you to find one sitcom out there that has let it's characters grow and change more in 2.5 seasons than The Office. This is a show in which people grow (sometimes shrink) And change. Try to find that kind of movement on any other network comedy. Scrubs is probably the second best on the list, and they still don't come close. Don't worry about the laughs, they will come, enjoy the story.
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4-12-2007 @ 5:51PM
Scott said...
This article is proof that you can't please all of the people all of the time.
I had a coworker complaining to me just the other week that the show is too unrealistic. Go figure.
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4-12-2007 @ 9:23PM
Ron said...
Wow maybe you should've waited until tonight's episode before posting this. Atleast give The Office, I dunno, 2 shows back from the hiatus to complain about it.
Tonight's episode was what's great about The Office, great "office" moments with all the betting, Michael acting like a child, Michael's scheme to make people care about depression turning into something real serioous. All this is what makes The Office great.
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4-13-2007 @ 11:45PM
Eklen said...
Seriously, you should really wait before posting these kinds of things. I mean, for one, the killing on scrubs was NOT random at all. People have been talking about it for a while, and me and a friend even guessed it was laverne, now you say a show that just returned from hiatus is in a slump?? I must say, i am verrrry dissapointed with you...
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