This mockumentary follows the employees at Dunder-Mifflin, led by Steve Carrell’s lovable boss-from-hell Michael Scott. After four seasons, every worker in the office, from inappropriately open-minded Meredith to deadpan Stanley to enigmatic Creed, has been tailored to create a fully rounded cast of characters. The writers continue to push the limits of live-action, half-hour plotlines as the show grows more outlandish; yet the show retains an inexplicable, heart-warming affect that somehow leaves viewers loving even the most deplorable of the bunch. The fact that most of the writing staff also play small roles only adds to the setup of The Office.
Though the show hit a bumpy few weeks when it switched over to a full-hour format, in which most of the characters broke the arena of the story – which always creates problems with story momentum – it now seems to be back in the swing of its glory days. Well-written sitcoms are hard to come by these days, and the fact that The Office is both a popular and critical success should be a symbol of hope to all of those working on pilots.
