The Death of Enthusiasm

Let me make myself clear: I like "The Office." I really do.

BUT, I am beginning to feel like I've missed something about the show because apparently it is the greatest show in the history of recorded time and all eternity. Seriously guys, an "Office Party" for every episode? Also, for the last two weeks I was privileged enough to have heard nothing but excited office chatter from schoolmates, "Holy crap! The Office is coming back on!!!! I'm making nachos!"

Maybe the reason I don't understand the depth of "Office" fanaticism is because I am a man. I'm not saying that The Office is a show made for women, or even that there aren't male fanatics of the show, but almost all of the most ardent fans I've met are girls and all of them absolutely love the show with the passion of one thousand suns. Here is why: The Office is a cleverly designed soap opera/sitcom hybrid, but it's subtle enough that you can ignore the part that bores you. Girls love watching Jim and Pam struggle to finally reach relationship nirvana and guys like it when Creed says weird stuff.

I know I'm generalizing here, but honestly how many girls would be extremely upset and possibly cry if Jim and Pam suddenly left the show? All of them? For me, the Jim/Pam storyline is kind of getting stale anyways now that they're together, so all the writers can do is throw vague obstacles in their path to avoid a Sam/Dianne (Cheers) situation. Did you see that there is already a potential rival suitor in the mix (that chubby college kid who drew the professor)?

Also, the greatest aspect of the show, and what makes it truly funny/devastating is the existential angst of the characters, but whenever they make a show that kicks the misery up a few notches (the "Dinner Party" episode from last season) it seems like everyone deems it "too dark." I would prefer dark, harrowing episodes like the one where Pam and Jim stay at Dwight's bed and breakfast (if you remember, Dwight kept them up with his haunting cries of anguish) rather than the ridiculous "Michael acts like a wacky insane person" episodes like when he drives into the lake or holds the pizza guy ransom.

Summary: The Office is very funny, but not the funniest sitcom of all time (Arrested Development"), or even the funniest sitcom currently airing ("It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" or even "30 Rock"?). Girls, if you want to watch a soap opera, there's always Grey's Anatomy.

Labels: TV