"The Office" Completely Untainted

“The Office” the NBC show aired March 24, 2005 and ran through nine seasons. The series came to end May 16, 2013. “The Office” became a hit due to its “docu-reality” parody of the modern American office life. The show focuses on the employees of a paper supply company in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The New York Times told its audience that it was never supposes to be a blockbuster hit, but it was. It’s no wonder that producers and writers alike tried to play off the success of the franchise by creating spin-off ideas. The producers and writers were unlike the franchise “Friends” who created the spinoff “Joey”, which proved to be unsuccessful. “The Office” nearly took the opportunity of a spinoff multiple times. Fans can be thankful that even though “The Office” was successful there are no spinoffs, leaving the show alone respectfully.

However season after season it premiered and it attracted one of the most affluent audiences in television.  “The Office” is said to have “paved the way for a style of filmed comedy – smart, multilayered and subtle…” (Carter, 2013) “The Office” peaked during season five, averaging 9.3 million viewers and scored a remarkable 4.9 among its viewers. “The Office” appealed to audiences in the 18-49 age group that attracts the most advertising dollars. “The Office” undoubtedly one of NBC’s most successful television shows has no spinoffs. This isn’t to say that spinoffs weren’t attempted, but instead producers and writers decided to respectfully lay the show to rest. According to the Academy of Television of Arts and Sciences, “The Office” won multiple Emmys and other awards from 2006 to 2013.

The spin-off ideas included multiple sitcoms based on the characters from “The Office”.  They thought of writing and producing a show based off characters Andy and Nellie, Jim and Pam, and Darryl. There was even an idea for a show based off of a different Dunder Mifflin branch featuring all new characters. Various reasons prevented these shows from ever reaching a pilot, and I would say most of “Office” fans would agree. The creators realized pulling major characters from “The Office” like Jim and Pam would upset the viewers.

However there was one idea that nearly made it to air, according to the Huffington Post, “The Farm”. The creators planned to write a show based upon the office peculiarity Dwight and his recent expansion of his beet farm. They created a pilot that introduced many new characters and elements. “Looks like NBC isn’t ready to move to “The Farm” (Etikin, 2012). “The Farm” was ultimately passed on by NBC, leaving “The Office” untouched by a spin-off that could potentially tarnish the show’s identity.

Even the popular show “Parks and Recreation” was supposed to have connections to “The Office”. Paul Lieberstein, who plays Toby Flendersen as the human resources representative of Dunder Mifflin, Scranton and who is also a producer of “The Office” tried to connected both television shows.  Lieberstein pitched that the office’s copier machine should break in Scranton and after a repairman fails to fix it, so the office decides to have the machine refurbished. The refurbished copier is then sent to Pawnee, Indiana; the fictional location of the Parks and Recreation department America has come to love. The machine would be the only connection between the two shows, but the creative team decided against the idea, making the show it’s own identity.

As a fan, I am thankful that none of these spin-off attempts was successful. It’s cheap way to produce another show in my opinion. I would much rather have them put a good show to rest rather than using it over and over for a new, less original idea. In the case of “Breaking Bad”, the show was laid to rest respectfully, and they are now using a minor character to branch off into a spinoff.  Writers and producers are using the character Saul Goodman in a new comedy. The spin-offs for the office were all set to be in the same vein with only minor differences. A show that so many people connected to at a very personal level, mostly due to it’s everyday content, deserves to be left alone.

Leaving “The Office” to rest doesn’t render it “dead” per say. It leaves the show in its purity to be enjoyed over and over again. It happens to be my favorite choice on Netflix. “The Office” is one of those shows that you can watch the episodes over and over again and still laugh when Michael shows a complete lack of regard to his employees’ boundaries or when Jim continually pranks Dwight in almost every way possible. If a spin-off that is so similar or made in the same vein, your view of the character featured will be tainted in some way, shape, or form while enjoying the original show. For example, in the Nelly and Andy spin-off, you would think, “Wow, I never saw them being together!” Then the next time you watch “The Office” you’re overanalyzing their previous, purely platonic relationship. If Jim and Pam had been taken out of “The Office” the series would not have been the same. These sad attempts of spinoffs just sour a great television show.

As the audience we do not have to sacrifice characters or our perceptions of our favorite characters because of spinoffs. Like most television spinoffs we lose what was so perfectly done in the first place. Thankfully viewers are able to see their favorite characters in other television shows. Mindy Kaling is best known as Kelly Kapoor from “The Office”, but fans can see her in the new television show, “The Mindy Project”. Or Rashida Jones, better known as Karen Fillipelli to “The Office” viewer. You can now see her in “Parks and Recreation”. There are so many other characters in other television shows and movies. Viewers are able to see their favorite actors and actresses in other shows, but not have their character tainted by a failing spinoff. We can all be glad they took it to bed…that’s what she said.

Bibliography

"Academy of Television Arts & Sciences." Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.

Carter, Bill. "Our Last Cringe for The Office Finale." New York Times. N.p., 1 May 2013. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.

Etkin, Jaimie. "'The Office' Spinoff Canceled: NBC Decides Not To Move On With Dwight Schrute And 'The Farm'" The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 29 Oct. 2012. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.

Evans, Brandford. 6 Spin-Offs of ‘The Office’ Splitsider. N.p., 14 May 2013. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.

"The Office." IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2013.

"The Office." NBC. NBC Universal Media Company, n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.