In this age of reality television shows and one-season bombs, programs such as “The Office” continue to thrive. What keeps these programs going is simplicity. The writers and producers know what the public want and they deliver it.
If you are not familiar with the program, “The Office” is a comedic sitcom that was originally developed in the U.K. by creators Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. The American version of “The Office”, which was adapted in 2005, takes place in Scranton, Pa. at the paper supply company Dunder Mifflin.
The cast revolves around characters that would be found in the everyday office: the overzealous boss, the nerdy suck-up, the average-guy salesman and the down-to-earth receptionist, among others.
Even though the American version of “The Office” was adapted from the U.K. version, the two have little in common.
“While the first episode of the American version mimicked the original’s first episode, after that the American series went its own way,” said Dr. Jeffery Griffin, professor of global communication and the fundamentals of broadcasting at the University of Dayton. “What the two have in common is the basic template, i.e., the basic concept of the show.”
Although the original version only ran for two seasons in the U.K., the American version has continued to thrive under challenging circumstances.
“The Office” airs on Thursdays at 9 p.m. EST on NBC. This time slot is one of the most competitive spots throughout the week with shows such as ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” and CBS’s “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.”
“I really like watching “The Office” but I have watched “Grey’s” from the beginning and I know the storyline,” said Stephanie Johnson, a fan of both “The Office” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” “Since I don’t always watch “The Office” and even though there is a storyline in “The Office” you don’t really have to watch every episode to know it’s funny but in “Grey’s” you have to watch all of them.”
For the week of Nov. 20, “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” brought in 18.43 million viewers, “Grey’s Anatomy” brought in 15.74 million and “The Office” finished in third out of the three major networks with an audience of 8.40 million viewers according to the overnight Nielsen ratings.
While “The Office” might not stack up against the competition numbers-wise, the fans are dedicated to their show.
“It’s funny and easy to follow. It’s not over the top dramatic like some of the other shows on TV have become,” said “Office” fan Jenni Beasley.
What the fans really love about “The Office” is the interaction between characters.
“I am a huge fan of the running story lines,” said Jason Lyon. “Too many comedies just have shows that are disconnected and don’t follow each other. Jim and Dwight have some of the best interactions of any characters ever.”
What make these interactions so enjoyable and realistic are the actual characters themselves.
“I think while there are oddballs among the characters, the thing that shines through is the humanity of the characters,” said Griffin. “They are, for the most part, fairly believable. While some may be exaggerations, they are still based on types of real people that most viewers can relate to.”
As “The Office” continues its fifth season on American television, other countries are continuing to further “The Office” legacy with their own versions. Countries such as France (Le Bureau), Germany (Stromberg), and Brazil (Os Aspones) have already created specialized versions of the program for their viewers to enjoy.
“The Office” offers a viewer something they can’t find on other programs such as the competition on Thursday nights.
“So many people work in an office setting and can relate to the archetypal characters on the show such that it has natural appeal,” said Griffin.
Due to the level of creativity presented in the writing and production of “The Office,” the show has been nominated for and won several awards, including Emmy Awards for outstanding writing for a comedy series and outstanding comedy series, Television Critics Association Awards for outstanding and individual achievement in comedy and a Screen Actors Guild Award for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series.
Clearly “The Office” is a show that has proven that even in a tough time spot, quality television shows can survive.
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