The Office 

A mockumentary on a group of typical office workers, where the workday consists of ego clashes, inappropriate behavior, and tedium.

Creators:

Greg Daniels, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant

Stars:

Steve Carell, Jenna Fischer, John Krasinski

Top Rated TV #53 | Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 45 wins & 186 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Rainn Wilson	...	Dwight Schrute 188 episodes, 2005-2013
John Krasinski	...	Jim Halpert 188 episodes, 2005-2013
Jenna Fischer	...	Pam Beesly 188 episodes, 2005-2013
Leslie David Baker	...	Stanley Hudson 188 episodes, 2005-2013
Brian Baumgartner	...	Kevin Malone 188 episodes, 2005-2013
Angela Kinsey	...	Angela Martin / ... 188 episodes, 2005-2013
Phyllis Smith	...	Phyllis Vance / ... 188 episodes, 2005-2013
Kate Flannery	...	Meredith Palmer 187 episodes, 2005-2013
Creed Bratton	...	Creed Bratton 180 episodes, 2005-2013
Oscar Nuñez	...	Oscar Martinez 177 episodes, 2005-2013
B.J. Novak	...	Ryan Howard 168 episodes, 2005-2013
Mindy Kaling	...	Kelly Kapoor 161 episodes, 2005-2013
Ed Helms	...	Andy Bernard 152 episodes, 2006-2013
Paul Lieberstein	...	Toby Flenderson 141 episodes, 2005-2013
Steve Carell	...	Michael Scott 139 episodes, 2005-2013
Craig Robinson	...	Darryl Philbin 120 episodes, 2005-2013
Ellie Kemper	...	Erin Hannon 102 episodes, 2009-2013

Storyline

A mediocre paper company in the hands of Scranton, PA branch manager Michael Scott. This mockumentary follows the everyday lives of the manager and the employees he "manages." The crew follows the employees around 24/7 and captures their quite humorous and bizarre encounters as they will do what it takes to keep the company thriving.

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Plot Keywords:

office | mockumentary | job | employment | sitcom | 

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Taglines:

An NBC comedy not for everyone. Just anyone that works.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Official Sites:

NBC [United States] Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 March 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Office: An American Workplace

Filming Locations:

Chandler Valley Center Studios - 13927 Saticoy St, Panorama City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Reveille Productions, NBC Universal Television, 3 Arts Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

22 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The "Welcome to Scranton" sign featured in the opening credits, formerly located on the Central City Expressway, is now on display in the food court of the Mall at Steamtown. It is displayed with a backdrop so that people can get their picture taken with it. It was moved there when the city replaced the old signs with new signs.

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Goofs

The conference room has a table that is too big to easily move through a doorway, yet it comes and goes throughout the series, and is never seen when it's not in the conference room.

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Quotes

Michael Scott: [to Toby] This is an environment of welcoming, and you should just get the hell out of here.

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Connections

Referenced in Splitting Up Together: We Need to Talk About Karen (2018)

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Soundtracks

Stars
Written and Performed by Lamar

User Reviews

Surpasses the brilliant original.

After reading all of the horrible reviews coming from the UK, I felt the strong desire to comment. I learned that most of the reviewers bashing it have only seen a few (at most) episodes from the first season - many haven't seen it at all, and are simply bashing it because of an overwhelming sense of pride in the original. I'd be surprised if this review isn't skimmed over and marked unhelpful by them. Obviously I'm not speaking to all the British, but the majority that unfairly judge this show with little to no basis in the truth.

This whole fanaticism is juvenile and petty. The casts of the US and UK versions love each show. Ricky Gervais even wrote and executive produced a few episodes of the US version. Open your minds, people! Most of the US fans KNOW that it's based on a British version. It has gotten the credit it deserves for being a brilliant and hilarious show.

But the American version is also brilliant and hilarious. I've read comments ranging from 'bad acting' to 'direct copy', neither of which are true. The first season may have had its borrowed bits, but that was to get it on its feet. The second and third seasons have proved that it is a show entirely on its own, with scenarios and characters having NOTHING to do with the UK version at all. The acting is just as convincing and real as the UK version.

I've even read that Michael Scott is devoid of David Brent's humanity! In actuality, Michael Scott is shown as far more human than David Brent, who was more manipulative (albeit, poorly) and heartless. The US version still has the cruel elements of the UK version, but it balances these awkward, painful moments with tender, human moments, which makes it more enjoyable and watchable.

As for the humor, each show has its own moments of subtlety, detail, absolutely outrageous moments, awkwardness, pain, cuteness, ridiculousness, and vulgarity. The UK version was groundbreaking. But instead of blindly basing your opinions on bias and arrogance, see the US version for what it is - a brilliant, brighter version that, in its first season, simply used the framework of the original (the characters and basic situations) to get started with.

This is the funniest, smartest American television show in recent history besides Arrested Development. Not since Seinfeld has a show made me laugh so hard and smile so much. These three shows get better with each viewing and are great because there's so many levels of humor, from the apparent outrageousness to the minute details that are noticed after repeated viewings and are often funnier than the surface material.