How do you explain The Office?
I spent some time with family this weekend and we were talking about TV shows. I brought up “The Office” of course. Those in my family that had seen the show immediately started quoting their favorite parts. That is what I love about the show, the memorable scenes.
But those who hadn’t seen the show had a hard time understanding why we liked it so much. I explained that the show is good because a) the characters have so much personality, b) you can identify members of your own office with those in the show and c) the humor is intelligent humor without a laugh track cueing you when to laugh.
I played them an episode from my Powerbook but it didn’t go over real well. I think that knowing the development of the characters is key to enjoying the show.
How do you introduce people to the show for the first time? How do you explain the premise of the show? Do you tell them to start from the beginning so they can know the characters? If you showed them one episode to win them over, which episode would it be?
Your conversion tips are appreciated. (And could win you prizes)
February 13th, 2006 11:22
I’ve had a similar experience with another of my favorite shows, Arrested Development (may it rest in peace). By the time you’re at episode 6 of season 2, the writing is so layered with in-jokes and subtle references to previous episodes that a newbie may be having less fun than a veteran viewer.
I would simply stand back and let them check out two or three episodes. Like you said, it’s in knowing Dwight, MIchael, etc. that things get funny.
There’s also a faction of the television viewing audience that doesn’t think a show is “funny” unless they are spoon-fed the supposed humor. These people are lost, and you must do your best to save them! Repeated viewings of The Office, Arrested Development, Faulty Towers and Family Guy are in order, stat!
February 13th, 2006 11:28
I think you hit it on the head - we can identify with these people, even in their apparently unreal wackiness. My wife and I decided this show could last forever, because - like Seinfeld - it is a show about nothing. You could write nearly any plot line into the show (we’ve already seen Michael and Dwight in a head-to-head martial arts battle).
I would probably introduce someone to the show with “The Fire.” I think it gives us an all-around look at the characters, as well as learning that Dwight’s all-time favorite movie is “The Crow.”
February 13th, 2006 11:32
It seems that you would have to stress that enjoying the show “takes some getting used to”. When I first started watching it in season one, I appreciated the humor (very dry, like my own), but I didn’t enjoy it nearly as much as I do now that I have grown to know the characters.
I would start somebody off with The Carpet. Enough slapstick and general humor to enjoy without knowing the characters, and it has the appeal of the JAM situation, without actually focusing too much on it (the end is all you need). After that episode, a viewer will WANT to know more about the characters.
February 13th, 2006 11:34
Show people the episode where Michael cooks his foot (The Injury). The first five minutes should get just about anyone laughing and hooked to see what happens next.
PS Showing more than one episode helps. I got several people hooked on Arrested Development by showing the first few episodes of the first season, which, like The Office, I can watch an unlimited amount of times.
February 13th, 2006 11:42
if i had to try and describe the show, i might say it is the documenting of people fumbling about at work with all the complications of office politics and political correctness. the relationships between the characters is key to the humor (obviously), but i like how you see them switch between professional and personal. people aren’t robots at work. they still want to hook up and play practical jokes and all that stuff. if a person can’t enjoy this show, they either haven’t worked in an office environment or weren’t paying attention when they did. IMO
February 13th, 2006 11:46
I would start someone with a copy of the UK version of the Office. Then from there any show that week. The show can hold its own to anyone who “gets it” If the comedy/Michaels antics are not the watchers type of comedy, then there is no way they will watch.
My wife and I love almost every show we watch together. Except, SCRUBS and the Office. She just doesn’t get it.
February 13th, 2006 12:39
I think people need to have a quirky sense of humor to get it. Even if nothing else in your life qualifies as “quirky,” and you laugh at an episode of “The Office”, your quirkiness is buried deep within…
I would recommend people at least get a synopsis from someone who konws the show well before diving in. You’re not going to know who the characters and what their histories are. And that can get confusing. Otherwise, I would tell them to dive in. It’s brilliant and even if you work in the most functional office on the planet - there’s something you can relate to.
I think “The Injury” would be the best episode to show newbies. That, and the intro where Dwight is on his balance ball and Jim punctures it with a scissors. *That* was PRICELESS!
February 13th, 2006 12:59
One other thing I forgot to mention in the post was that the show doesn’t work well when the person you are showing it to is a lot like Michael or Dwight. The reason is that the person won’t see why Michael or Dwight are different or funny at all.
For instance, I showed it to a boss that was very much like Michael. He laughed at Michael’s jokes and had no idea why people thought that he was awkward. I kid you not.
Characters with no tact are not funny to tactless people.
February 13th, 2006 13:43
I always say that the show is not a very good show to just “jump” into.
I started with the Dundies. I had NO idea what the hell was going on.
February 13th, 2006 14:02
The clip from “Diversity Day” at nbc.com doesn’t require much context and brings you up to speed pretty quick on Michael, the ackward moments, the dry humor, etc.
February 13th, 2006 14:23
I describe it to people as the funniest show on tv.
February 13th, 2006 14:53
i do the same as evan.
pretty much the greatest thing evah.
February 13th, 2006 16:01
This isn’t exactly a tip - I told my sister I was looking forward to watching “The Office” last Thursday and she told me she _could not bear_ to watch the show - it made her cringe. I guess she watched Diversity Day and never watched again. She said her husband felt the same way. My sister has a decent sense of humor, so I was a little surprised.
February 13th, 2006 16:21
Holly, I could see how taht could be a problem. I guess one can see episodes like “Diversity Day” in one of two ways.
Either, they hear the racist/crude jokes and they think the show has low class for trying to get laughs off them.
Or they hear the racist/crude jokes and they see that the humor is meant to be found in the tactless lives of some people.
I hope people don’t see the former of those two.
Evan and amanda, I’m with you on that.
February 14th, 2006 05:02
Like Evan and Amanda, that’s how I usually explain the show. Some of my friends with similar senses of humor already watch it, and it’s useless to try and explain to someone who has to have a laugh track to figure out what’s funny or not.
I’d say I’d pick “The Injury” to get someone in and hooked- it’s such a hilarious episode, and then lend them the first season on DVD to get them a bit up to speed. Then tell them to invest in iTunes
February 14th, 2006 05:42
I’ve had a heck of a time introducing people to Arrested Development and The Office. Most of my co-workers “don’t get” either show. But then again, they never miss an episode of American Idol. That’s what the gossip is about around our water cooler. Needless to say, I bring my own water.
February 15th, 2006 10:25
I think you really can’t just do one episode. I think you have to show more than one. I would personally start off with the dundies and the fire. And then move on to more recent epsidoes. I feel The Dundies and The Fire really are good starting points for telling people.
To explain it, It’s a mocumentary about people working in a paper company who are working for an outrageous boss. I mean, a lot of the time he can be the boss from hell.
Definitely play up the boss part, because that’s something almost everyone can relate to. We’ve all had that job with that one awful boss. Though, I doubt any are quite as outrageous as Michael.
Movies that are shot in similar fashion would be such as Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, and This is Spinal Tap.
February 15th, 2006 13:46
I think an easy way to get someone interested in the The Office is to compare the show to a real-life office situation.
For example, I think a good episode to start with is the one where Dwight is in charge of getting new medical insurance and asks everyone to list their diseases. It was easy to get my co-workers to imagine our HR person doing Dwight’s job, and it made everyone want to go home and start watching it!
February 20th, 2006 20:59
I think your right about haveing to see the characters developo to fully apprieciate it. We don’t do much of anything where I work so wee have plenty of time to watch it. We started with episode 1 on my iBook, and everyone is now hooked. And after seeing George and Meridith from Grey’s Anatomy Hook up last night, Could Jim and Pam be too far off???