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The Office

by Cougarfan87 · 11/10/2010

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Cougarfan87
It's pretty obvious from my avatar that I am a big fan of The Office. However, I can't help thinking that the show has jumped the shark, so to speak. So I have to ask a couple of questions.



1. Do you think the show has jumped the shark?



2. What is the episode where it jumped the shark?



To answer my own questions, I do think the show has jumped the shark because it is not as good as it used to be. Exactly when it occured is tough for me to say, but I think it went down hill ever since Jim and Pam got married and Dunder Mifflen was bought by Sabre. The show just doesn't feel the same. It is getting more and more extreme instead of finding clever ways to make fun of everyday office incidents.



What's your take?
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SpiffCoug
I don't watch the Office. I do like Outsourced though.



I never liked the Michael Scott character. He was the only one I didn't feel was "real." He was too over-the-top. A person with his lack of sensitivity would never rise to the position he was in, in today's business world. He certainly would not have been allowed to make the myriad mistakes he does.
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Schmoe
I like the office and still Tivo and watch it.
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Cougarfan87
kitic77 wrote:
I don't watch the Office. I do like Outsourced though.



I never liked the Michael Scott character. He was the only one I didn't feel was "real." He was too over-the-top. A person with his lack of sensitivity would never rise to the position he was in, in today's business world. He certainly would not have been allowed to make the myriad mistakes he does.


I think that is part of the problem. Before Michael would just say things that were stupidly funny and not realize what he had said. Now, he does all kinds of crazy things that any human being would know is bad. I still watch the show, but it is getting harder. I think this may be the last season. I heard a rumor that Steve Carell (Michael Scott) was done after this season. At that point, I think the show will be over.



Outsourced is pretty funny. I enjoy witty writing more than crazy situations.
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Guest
I like the office and in most ways I really like Michael's actions, especially when he ends up doing things without realizing how they effect other peoples feelings, and then every once in awhile shows the heart of gold (ie. the only one from the office who goes to Pam's art show). Sometimes it goes over the top, but not too often for me.



I don't think the show has jumped the shark, but I agree that it has declined in quality. I don't like the Sabre storyline and think that has been a waste of time and a big contributor to the decline.



I enjoy the whole Thursday night lineup on NBC, Community is pretty hilarious, 30 Rock is hit or miss, but more hit than miss, the Office is still good and Outsourced is OK but getting better.
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Schmoe
I really dig Community and Modern Family, The Middle is pretty good, but misses every once in awhile.
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mizzoucoug
Cougarfan87 wrote:
It's pretty obvious from my avatar that I am a big fan of The Office. However, I can't help thinking that the show has jumped the shark, so to speak. So I have to ask a couple of questions.



1. Do you think the show has jumped the shark?



2. What is the episode where it jumped the shark?



To answer my own questions, I do think the show has jumped the shark because it is not as good as it used to be. Exactly when it occured is tough for me to say, but I think it went down hill ever since Jim and Pam got married and Dunder Mifflen was bought by Sabre. The show just doesn't feel the same. It is getting more and more extreme instead of finding clever ways to make fun of everyday office incidents.



What's your take?


Definitely. I am a huge fan and this season has just been pathetic. They're pulling a Simpsons, which means rather than continuing with clever humor they resort to swearing, bathroom jokes, and overtly naughty subjects to get laughs. It failed with the Simpsons (I stopped watching around 1999 when I believe they got new writers) and it is failing The Office.
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billbillbillbill
I agree that it has probably run its course. I have not enjoyed the Sabre story lines except the way they treat Gabe which I find to be hilarious.



They are trying so hard to make more and more awkward scenarios but nothing tops the dinner party at Michael and Jan's house a few seasons ago. I still have a hard time watching reruns of that episode.
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Guest
Talking about The Office, it's obvious they still have a few aces up their sleeves. Last nights episodes was one of the best ones yet.
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Italics
this show has sucked for quite some time
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CougarClaw
The office makes liberal use of what I call "cringe humor" and that's when you don't say "ha ha" you say " OH!!!! I can't believe he just said/ did/ ate that"



Not my favorite type of laugh.
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byutx
Sorry to join in the discussion late, 87, but I loved the office. Now I just like it. I still tivo and watch the new episodes, however.



I think there are two events you can point to as the beginning of what has become a long, drawn out end



1. I think it started to go downhill when Jim and Pam finally got together and it became a soap opera about them and not about life in the office.

2. After the writers' strike it just became painfully unfunny at times. I think it has gotten significantly better since then, but nowhere near the first 2-3 seasons.



I love Ricky Gervais' portrayal of David Brent, the British equivalent of Michael Scott. For my money, Gervais is much, much better at being awful and akward than is Carell. The British Office lasted all of 2 seasons and it was brilliant. The Office should not have gone on much more than that. Like most shows that linger (I admit I loved Friends and Scrubs), it just starts to get too bad to watch.
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Cougarfan87
byutx wrote:
Sorry to join in the discussion late, 87, but I loved the office. Now I just like it. I still tivo and watch the new episodes, however.



I think there are two events you can point to as the beginning of what has become a long, drawn out end



1. I think it started to go downhill when Jim and Pam finally got together and it became a soap opera about them and not about life in the office.

2. After the writers' strike it just became painfully unfunny at times. I think it has gotten significantly better since then, but nowhere near the first 2-3 seasons.



I love Ricky Gervais' portrayal of David Brent, the British equivalent of Michael Scott. For my money, Gervais is much, much better at being awful and akward than is Carell. The British Office lasted all of 2 seasons and it was brilliant. The Office should not have gone on much more than that. Like most shows that linger (I admit I loved Friends and Scrubs), it just starts to get too bad to watch.


I'm in the same boat. I still DVR and watch the episodes, but they aren't all as good as they used to be. I have watched a couple of episodes of the British version and Ricky Gervais is super. I think Jim, Pam, and Dwight are better in the American Version--as well as the other characters. I totally agree that Jim and Pam getting together was the beginning of the end--as it usually is when there is a romatic tension between characters and they finally get together. It's not supposed to be a soap opera, it is supposed to be a comedy. The last couple of episodes have been better.
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Schmoe
I tried the British office and thought it was much more low-brow than the American version. I usually like British shows and movies, but I had to pass after a couple episodes.
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Mars
Schmoe wrote:
I tried the British office and thought it was much more low-brow than the American version. I usually like British shows and movies, but I had to pass after a couple episodes.

That's funny, because I like The Office, and I like Gervais, but I watched the british version a couple times and thought it was awful. Just terribly unfunny.
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