MetaChat - Here's my problem with NBC's The Office:

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07 September 2006

Here's my problem with NBC's The Office: Okay, first off, let me say that I really enjoy this show (and the original BBC series)...HOWEVER...→[More:]

The concept of the show is that it's a reality series about the inter-workings of an "Office" and the "cast" are not actors and therefore, it is not scripted. Occasionally, an office worker will throw a knowing glance at the camera or they'll self-edit so that they don't appear to be a jerk on TV. Also, the "camera-team" will interact directly with the employees, pointing out things to them that they might otherwise miss.

Fine.

But the show's been on for over two seasons now. The third is getting ready to start. My question is: Does the "SHOW" (the one that's being filmed) appear on television anywhere? Have Michael and his staff ever seen themselves on TV? And if so, why hasn't this affected their office behavior?

Wouldn't Michael's corporate office have seen some of the shit he pulls and shitcanned him by now? We've seen employees naked and stealing from the company, and yet they've not been fired or reprimanded? What gives?

Who would let a film crew tape for (going on) three years in their workplace without ever seeing the actual "SHOW?"

Am I the only one who's bothered by this?

post by: ColdChef at: 22:23 | 12 comments

Wow. I took up a lot of front page real estate with that. Sorry.

posted by ColdChef 07 September | 22:24

Does that ever happen in the BBC version?

posted by court siem 07 September | 22:33

At the end of the BBC Version, people are starting to recognise him.
If memory serves me correctly.

posted by seanyboy 07 September | 22:35

Your admins are here to hope you...

posted by seanyboy 07 September | 22:36

I thought the film crew in the Office (well, the BBC series, anyway; I watched the first 5 minutes of the American version and thought it was lame) was supposed to be making a documentary.

posted by cmonkey 07 September | 22:36

In the BBC version, the boss character (David Brent) becomes "famous" due to the series and records a music video.

I thought the film crew in the Office was supposed to be making a documentary.

Still, three years... I think the concept is growing dangerously thin.

(well, the BBC series, anyway; I watched the first 5 minutes of the American version and thought it was lame)

The first episode was lame because it was nearly identical to the BBC pilot, but from there on, it took a wildly different path. It's worth watching if you prefer your humor on the dry side.

posted by ColdChef 07 September | 22:45

And how do you feel about Ginger bringing all those trunks full of clothes, and the Howells bringing all that money? It was only a THREE HOUR TOUR!!!

posted by yhbc 07 September | 23:16

You can't fire me, I don't work in this van.

Yes that is a stretch Coldchef. Still, both shows are some of my favorite tv.

posted by Divine_Wino 07 September | 23:56

Clearly the only solution is to nuke the series from orbit.

posted by Eideteker 08 September | 00:32

Wait. That's not a real office? I thought we were watching the realityTV show thingy?

posted by mmahaffie 08 September | 05:21

So, it's just me? Okay then.

posted by ColdChef 08 September | 07:17

I get where you're coming from, CC, but I can think of a bunch of reasons why all this footage was filmed over the course of a few years, edited, and then canned. Hmm, I'll have to ponder this.

posted by muddgirl 08 September | 07:25

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