#31Number of Seasons (To Date): 4
Years Active: 2005 - Present
Network: ABC
Ok, I've done my fair share of complaining about the most recent season (especially the post-strike episodes), but the first three seasons were hilarious. Shot as a bizarre, and seemingly pointless, documentary about the average American workplace, the employees of Dunder Mifflin are anything but average. Much ado is made about Steve Carell's inappropriate boss, but nearly everyone in the office is slightly off. Even Jim, the lovable everyman, plays childish pranks on his sycophantic deskmate Dwight. Granted, Dwight deserves most of what he gets, and much of the humor from Seasons 1 and 2 were derived from these pranks, but it does show off a slight immaturity.
One of the things that sets this show apart, and earns it a place on this list, is the deadpan delivery of much of the cast, as well as the fact that even when characters aren't in the dialogue, they still react to what the other characters are saying. On the other side of the humorous coin is the uncomfortable nature of most the humor. This can be off-putting to some (I know at least two people who refuse to watch the show due to their hatred of this type of humor), but if done right, the balance of bitter and sweet works very well. Sadly, this balance was lost in Season 4, tipping the scale a little to far into discomfort. The show still had some funny moments, but they were a little too few and far between the off-putting discomfort.
Still, The Office is worth watching, if only to see the war between Jim and Dwight.
Up next: #30...
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