When it was originally on: 2005-2013

Original network: NBC

Where you can stream it now: Peacock

Had I seen it before: Yes, I’ve seen The Office in its entirety, though I’ve never attempted the UK version.

What IMDb says: A mockumentary on a group of typical office workers, where the workday consists of ego clashes, inappropriate behavior, tedium and romance.

Why I picked it: Of all the shows I considered as I was putting together my list for this go-around, The Office was probably my most profound “Wait have I really not done that one yet?” reaction. I’ve done Parks & Rec, 30 Rock, Modern Family… it just makes sense to round it all out.

The Office is also the kind of show that almost demands a minimum of 5-6 episodes to really figure itself out; that is, the network sitcom that doesn’t really have a Premise with a capital P, just a bunch of characters in the same place at the same time. On paper (pun intended) The Office isn’t THAT different from workplace sitcoms that came before it, yet it also found ways to feel fresh that would prove influential on those that came after it, such as the single-camera mockumentary style.

Yet if you’re trying to write a pilot for such a low-concept, you don’t necessarily get those 5-6 episodes. It’s worth asking the question “what did the great shows of this ilk do with those first 22 minutes?”

What I liked: Enough other shows tried to do the whole mockumentary thing that it eventually started feeling stale and annoying, but damn does it work well here. I love how we watch Michael be completely inept while the employees role their eyes at him and then immediately cut to him saying that people say he’s the best boss. It was a way of not only establishing the character, but also being funny in a way more traditional sitcoms couldn’t. The humor’s not in traditional jokes per se, but how things are edited together to juxtapose Michael’s self-image with reality.

Steve Carrell also nails the performance, even in the first episode. He knows how to deliver jokes as if they’re not jokes, as evidenced by the “God is my #4 hero” bit. The performance style drives home the mockumentary concept too.

I also found they did a great job of “show, don’t tell” regarding the Jim and Pam storyline. Little details like Jim knowing Pam’s favorite flavor of yogurt and Pam blushing when she learns Jim knows that are great. And again, it’s using the mockumentary conceit to convey important information without being too heavy handed. Jim and Pam can show their feelings to the “directors” in ways they couldn’t show them to each other in a more traditional sitcom. And once again, a huge credit to John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer for understanding the assignment.

Between the twist at the end that Pam is engaged to another man and the possibility of corporate closing down the Scranton branch, there’s also just the right amount of dramatic cliffhanger to stay interesting while still letting the show feel grounded.

What I didn’t like: The pilot’s main goal here is establishing that Michael Scott sucks to work for, and while they do that quite nicely it happens at the expense of developing any other character in the office. Did we really need nearly as many examples of Michael being a bad boss as we got? I mean, think of how little screen time Roy needed for us to see that he’s a bad partner for Pam. By the time I was watching the 4th or 5th instance of Michael being insufferable, I found myself saying “okay we get it.” I think we could’ve done with a little less Michael, and a little more time seeing how the other characters put up with him and how they are with each other when he’s not around.

That said, the show knows it needs to be more than the Michael show, and it makes a good faith attempt to introduce us to Jim, Pam, and Dwight. However, none of these characters have the warmth they need to balance out Michael, at least not yet. Based on this episode alone I can’t really say I LIKE Jim and Pam, I can only say I feel sorry for them. This is one of my bigger writing pet peeves too: establishing pity for a character is NOT the same as developing a character. We do get the somewhat infamous stapler-in-jello prank here in the pilot, but I still don’t leave the episode feeling like I truly know Jim Halpert to the extent I know Michael Scott. While the show’s success is partially due to its relatability, “has a crappy boss doesn’t like their job” just isn’t a unique, defining character trait. That’s all I really know about Jim and Pam by the end of this, and that they’re harboring feelings for each other.


Do I want to watch Ep. 2?: If I hadn’t seen the rest of the show already, I’m not sure I would’ve said “yes” based on this pilot. However did you know Episode 2 is “Diversity Day?” I totally forgot that episode is that early in the run and now I’m annoyed I can’t watch it until at least July 1 thanks to my