'The Office' works as must-see TV
By Bruce Miller, Journal staff writer | Posted: Saturday, February 25, 2006
The front line, from left, Rainn Wilson, Steve Carell, Jenna Fischer, John Krasinski and B.J. Novak.
LOS ANGELES -- Don't tell the regional brass but "The Office" has been renewed for a full season.
Never mind that it's quitting early this year. That's just to let star Steve Carell make a movie and capitalize on his new-found stardom. The series -- based on the British comedy of the same name -- has such traction it's expected to bring back the glory days of Must-See TV.
Pretty heady stuff?
You bet, says Carell. "The minute you feel like you're at the top looking down, it's all going to be over in a minute."
Still, the star of "The 40-year-old Virgin" and his "Office" mates have plenty to cheer. Carell already won a Golden Globe for his work on the series; NBC officials say "The Office" is one of those rare iPod download hits. Better yet, it's attracting a young audience -- one that can relate to the mundane life of a desk jockey.
"It wouldn't be the same show if these people had a fun job," says B.J. Novak, a cast member and writer. "There are plenty of shows about fun jobs. This one works because it's about a typical job."
Frequently, cast members say, viewers will stop them and share stories of their own offices. The encounters have become so frequent, actress Jenna Fischer says, she has to make allowances for them when she goes to the grocery store. "If you have to get eggs and you have 10 minutes and three people stop you, that's six minutes gone. It makes your plate bigger, but who's complaining? One of the cool things about having a bit of celebrity is people are always so nice to you when you meet them."
Another perk? Casting directors know who they are. Fischer says she still has to audition but now directors are familiar with her work. "That's a really nice introduction that I didn't have before."
Carell, too, has gotten a bump in the business. He's breathing down Will Ferrell's neck as the comic star of the moment and he's getting offers few television actors can boast. "If this had happened when I was younger I don't know how I might have reacted," he says. "It's still exciting and fun but I know not to take it too seriously. I know not to assume that it will continue."
Because there were only a handful of episodes of the British version of "The Office," there wasn't much to draw on in terms of longevity. As a result, the show's American producers have had to consider ways to extend its life. Their solution: Get out of the office. Already the cast has been to Chili's and Hooters, played basketball and gone on a booze cruise.
"It's actually been an essential part of the show -- that they've gotten out of the office," says actor John Krasinski. "When you're in the office, it's sort of an isolated family, really. It's kind of safe for Michael to be who he is. But when he goes outside the office, it's really interesting to see how the rest of the world reacts to him, too."
To broaden the series' scope, the show's producers have made the other office workers regulars. "Without the other characters (the major ones) don't really make any sense," says Executive Producer Ben Silverman. "The reactions you get from those characters make all of this more fun and more interesting to watch."
Once the show's conceit (a documentary filmmaking crew is chronicling the life of an audience) wears thin, "The Office" will change, slightly. "The show they're in will start airing," Executive Producer Greg Daniels says. "It's hard to go back from that. So, I would try and really exhaust all the potential in this current situation before doing that, which could be a couple of epsiodes from now."
"The Office" airs at 8:30 p.m. Thursdays on NBC.
Never mind that it's quitting early this year. That's just to let star Steve Carell make a movie and capitalize on his new-found stardom. The series -- based on the British comedy of the same name -- has such traction it's expected to bring back the glory days of Must-See TV.
Pretty heady stuff?
You bet, says Carell. "The minute you feel like you're at the top looking down, it's all going to be over in a minute."
Still, the star of "The 40-year-old Virgin" and his "Office" mates have plenty to cheer. Carell already won a Golden Globe for his work on the series; NBC officials say "The Office" is one of those rare iPod download hits. Better yet, it's attracting a young audience -- one that can relate to the mundane life of a desk jockey.
"It wouldn't be the same show if these people had a fun job," says B.J. Novak, a cast member and writer. "There are plenty of shows about fun jobs. This one works because it's about a typical job."
Frequently, cast members say, viewers will stop them and share stories of their own offices. The encounters have become so frequent, actress Jenna Fischer says, she has to make allowances for them when she goes to the grocery store. "If you have to get eggs and you have 10 minutes and three people stop you, that's six minutes gone. It makes your plate bigger, but who's complaining? One of the cool things about having a bit of celebrity is people are always so nice to you when you meet them."
Another perk? Casting directors know who they are. Fischer says she still has to audition but now directors are familiar with her work. "That's a really nice introduction that I didn't have before."
Carell, too, has gotten a bump in the business. He's breathing down Will Ferrell's neck as the comic star of the moment and he's getting offers few television actors can boast. "If this had happened when I was younger I don't know how I might have reacted," he says. "It's still exciting and fun but I know not to take it too seriously. I know not to assume that it will continue."
Because there were only a handful of episodes of the British version of "The Office," there wasn't much to draw on in terms of longevity. As a result, the show's American producers have had to consider ways to extend its life. Their solution: Get out of the office. Already the cast has been to Chili's and Hooters, played basketball and gone on a booze cruise.
"It's actually been an essential part of the show -- that they've gotten out of the office," says actor John Krasinski. "When you're in the office, it's sort of an isolated family, really. It's kind of safe for Michael to be who he is. But when he goes outside the office, it's really interesting to see how the rest of the world reacts to him, too."
To broaden the series' scope, the show's producers have made the other office workers regulars. "Without the other characters (the major ones) don't really make any sense," says Executive Producer Ben Silverman. "The reactions you get from those characters make all of this more fun and more interesting to watch."
Once the show's conceit (a documentary filmmaking crew is chronicling the life of an audience) wears thin, "The Office" will change, slightly. "The show they're in will start airing," Executive Producer Greg Daniels says. "It's hard to go back from that. So, I would try and really exhaust all the potential in this current situation before doing that, which could be a couple of epsiodes from now."
"The Office" airs at 8:30 p.m. Thursdays on NBC.
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