A Pop Culture Phenomenon: The Office

The Office ​has risen in success and popularity amongst an audience of millions over the years; renowned for taking the risk that the intentions of the show would fly over people’s heads with offensive and satirical comedy. Its relatable cast, risky satire, and memorable episodes have created an enormous fanbase that has only grown throughout the years. The humorous exploits of Michael and Dwight and the insecurities and poor judgement of each character demonstrates that the show provides its audience with both relatable characters that aren’t necessarily ‘good’ or ‘bad’The show also contains many cringe worthy moments (like Michael kissing Oscar to show his support of gay rights) that are so ridiculously offensive they’re comical. Hand in hand with this offensive humor naturally comes scrutiny, with critics arguing that Michael’s overtly sexist comments and jokes and the interactions between Dwight and other characters are ​too offensive to be funny. It’s safe to say that overall the performance and reception of the show proves this to be untrue.

In March of 2005, ​The Office​ first aired on NBC- starring Steve Carell as Michael Scott, Scranton branch manager of a paper company named Dunder Mifflin. It was made in its now iconic mockumentary style, and followed the work and personal lives of all the office workers. Interestingly enough, at the time of its first season release, it came under the risk of being cancelled; as seen in a Vox interview with Michael Schur, former writer for The Office and creator of Parks and Recreation:

“We made six episodes that first season, and no one liked it…. It’s a six-episode experiment, and this is back, by the way, when sitcoms — when anything — could get big ratings on network TV. So that show is gonna get canceled. We all knew it was going to get canceled.” (​The Collider​)

And yet since then it has received an outstanding amount of rewards (such as 5 Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe for Steve Carell’s performance, and a Peabody award; to name a few), and has released a total of nine seasons- and as of December 2019 is the most streamed show on Netflix according to statistical data released by the company and NBC chairman Robert Greenblatt (​The Daily Beast​, ‘Is The Office the Most Popular Show on Netflix?’), far from being surpassed even by the iconic ​Friends​ sitcom. It has gathered a monumental cult following and become a pop culture phenomenon; from selling merchandise in mainstream shopping venues such as Target, Walmart, and Amazon, to having fanmade recreations of the show (like Brandon Roger’s Theater Class, ​on youtube). It is all generally proof of the Office’s incredible success even to this day, despite having released its final season years ago.

In recent years there have been many who have argued that the success ​The Office​ found was unjustified, that the humor and tone of the show is nothing short of inappropriate and offensive. A 2018 article from ​The Decider​ has this to say: “…​in today’s politically and socially charged climate, Michael Scott’s blatant misogyny, homophobia, and racism come off worse than ever.”(Garafano) A few episodes Garafano mentions are the ‘Sexual Harassment’ episode, in which Michael worries he won’t be able to stop saying his iconic ‘that’s what she said!’ line; and ‘Diversity Day’, in which Michael leads a diversity training session after receiving complaints concerning a particularly problematic Chris Rock routine he had parodied while giving a presentation. Garafano notes that Michael Scott is the worst person who could possibly lead a diversity training session, but isn’t that the point? Against the points Garafano brings up in her article about the problematic nature of the show, a writer of ​The Federalist​ emphasizes the fact that the intention of the show was not to glorify or support the behavior of characters like Michael; but to point out the hilariocity of Michael’s ignorance. “If you don’t see Michael as a tool to satirize ignorance, you basically have to write off the entire series as a bigoted nightmare given his persistent racism and sexism, which was always the joke itself.” (​The Federalist​, ‘​Which Jokes From ‘The Office’ Are Problematic’?​) In fact, the article summarizes a great response to the general critique of the offensive humor of the show- that the answer to the question of which jokes are especially problematic are all of them, and none of them. Either the viewer understands that it is satire, or rejects this and will be offended by every moment of the show intended to be funny. “​There’s a very high awareness of offensive things today—which is good, for sure. But at the same time, when you take a character like that too literally, it doesn’t really work,”​ Steve Carell mentions in an interview with ​Esquire​ magazine. Fortunately for the show, ​The Office​ still maintains a large mass of viewers on Netflix (as mentioned earlier) who regularly watch and rewatch the show; despite Garafano’s claims.

What truly draws its audience is the show’s brilliant handling of its many characters and their relationships- or to be more precise, the way the show uses small interactions between each character as a platform for a friendship to strengthen and mature slowly as the show progresses. One that comes to mind instantly is the dynamic duo, Michael Scott and Dwight Schrute- both characters aloof and socially awkward in vastly different manners. Their friendship is a constant throughout the series, albeit strained at some points in the show. The handling of their evolution from awkward, single men unknowingly outcasted from the rest of the office to men with more experience in life and love eventually strengthens and forms their bond into a lifelong one. It is not a perfect friendship, and that’s what makes it feel so natural and relatable. Another fan favorite pairing is Jim and Pam- a couple who began as friends and eventually married. The relationship was a painfully slow burn and was full of ups and downs that millions were invested in.All were rooting for the underdog, ordinary office worker Jim Halpert who struggled with Pam’s relationship with her fiance at the start. It was relationships like these and personal glimpses of the ups and downs in said relationships that made the characters so natural and understandable, whether they made good choices or bad.

Whether ​The Office​ is problematic or not, it continues to statistically remain as one of the most widely recognized and enjoyed comedy classics of the 21st century.

Online Sources

 Jashinsky, Emily. “Which Jokes From ‘The Office’ Are Problematic?” The Federalist, 8 Mar. 2019, thefederalist.com/2019/03/08/which-jokes-from-the-office-are-problematic/.

Handy, Bruce. “Steve Carell Was Never In It For The Laughs.” Esquire, 13 Oct. 2018, www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/a23695483/steve-carell-beautiful-boy-interview-2018/.

Stern, Marlow. “Is ‘The Office’ the Most Popular Show on Netflix?” The Daily Beast, The Daily Beast Company, 15 Dec. 2018, www.thedailybeast.com/is-the-office-the-most-popular-show-on-netflix.

Garafano, Lauren. “5 Episodes of ‘The Office’ That Are Totally Problematic in 2018.” Decider, Decider, 17 Feb. 2018, decider.com/2018/02/17/the-office-is-problematic/.

Chitwood, Adam. “Michael Schur Explains Why ‘The Office’ Survived Past Season 1 Against All Odds.” Collider, 24 Sept. 2019, collider.com/why-the-office-survived-past-season-1/#steve-carell.

“List of Awards and Nominations Received by The Office (American TV Series).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 21 Sept. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_awards_and_nominations_received_by_The_Office_(American_TV_series).