the office...

okay. so i decided i FINALLY GET why i love NBC's show 'the office' so much and incidentally, why it has experienced at least a moderate amount of success here in the U.S. Indulge me if you will, but have you been in the middle of a random situation, whether at home with your family, in a relationship, with your older relatives....or even (like the office)AT WORK, when all of a sudden you have this thought at how RIDICULOUS the moment/situation/conversation truly is????

You may actually stop and think to yourself, "Oh my goodness, this is so bizarre that it could really be material for a Saturday Night Live skit!...or better yet, an entire SHOW!" You feel like it's just so weird or so funny or so WHATEVER on so many levels, that it should be well, observed and LAUGHED AT by the public...and that is exactly the perspective from which the office is created and produced!

It's like they decided that there are so many weirdos and weird dynamics in an office/work type atmosphere doing such random tasks, having such silly interactions, and suffering from such 'work induced BOREDOM', that they needed to capture it in its rawest form. Hence, the unorthodox camera shots, interviews, and lack of laugh track, real plot, and actual JOKES. It is like someone on the show said to someone, "Hey you gotta come see where i work, it's friggin weird. And funny. And super depressing sometimes...but well worth the trip!"

So that person goes. Only it is each one of us, the individual viewer, sneaking in on all of it. And like a true guest right there in the office, they fill us in on their inner thoughts regarding their experiences at work. The result, to me, is pure HUMOR...i don't necessarily LAUGH out loud the WHOLE TIME, but i am thoroughly enjoying the entire episode. Every time.

I guess i should admit that i am fascinated by human behavior, and that is at the crux of this whole obsession (it also is responsible for my Laguna Beach addiction, but that is a whole other blog entry!). But really, what i find most interesting upon recent reflection, is that some people CLOSE to me do not like it. This confuses and intrigues me...and i must find out why why why!

In fact, my sister has stated she HATES it. When prodded to answer WHY, she could only say, it makes her uncomfortable to watch...HMMM. Interesting. WHY? Because it reminds you of your office? HMMM...must dig further there.

And my mom. Just doesn't think it is FUNNY. It is out of the norm of some of her favorite, well-written humorous sitcomy type programs. But she is open minded and has given it a chance. And still, NO. Hmmmm...interesting. I think it is fascinating. Plain and simple.

For now, all i know is i will keep tuning in...and furthermore, the next time, tony and i are struck dead in our tracks by that thought, "Man this could be a t.v. show right now!" i will think to the office and realize that is exactly where they got it all started...that, and they copied The British version.