There's this little show on Thursday night. It stars some "hack" named Steve Carell. Maybe you've heard of this guy. He was in a movie about a virgin ... a 40 Year Old Virgin. Nothing? Okay, let me introduce you to a Thursday night gem called The Office.



Based on the award-winning British series of the same name, The Office documents a floor of pencil-pushers in Scranton, Pennsylvania, working diligently for their paper supply company, Dunder Mifflin. Well, they would work diligently if they weren't constantly slowed down by the inappropriate conduct of their boss, Michael Scott (Carell), who thinks of himself more as comedian, friend ... and then boss. Maybe.



Contributing to the show's style and charm is the documentary-style direction which frequently breaks from the main action for hilarious interview sessions. These "talking heads" allow for closer inspections into the characters and, ultimately, provide some of the show's funniest moments. Without them, It's unlikely by-the-book Dwight would confess to thinking he'd be great at a POW camp, choosing soldiers to be executed. Unlikely, but not higly unlikely.



Due to downsizing, the Scranton branch absorbs the Stamford branch of Dunder Mifflin, bringing with them the returning Jim Halpert, who originally transferred to Stamford after a brief affair with sweetheart receptionist, Pam Beesly, didn't end well. Needless to say, everyone has a tough time adjusting. For many of the newbies, it's a step down. Scranton vet, Creed, gets a shot of a newcomer breastfeeding and puts her breast on his desktop wallpaper. She doesn't stay long.

That isn't to say Michael Scott doesn't try to make the merger a smooth transition. In fact, he constantly tries too hard, usually initiatiing the show's conflict. Setting aside the usual "borientation" film, he decides to settle everyone in with his own orientation film ... wait for it ... "Lazy Scranton," a cheap, obvious rip of SNL's "Lazy Sunday." The moment is an absolute gutbuster. Michael's problem is he's too up-to-date on the current trends which marginalizes his older staff and supplies ammunition for his younger employees to tease him with. Steve Carell is at the top of his game, even bringing a quiet sadness to the character in revealing moments of honesty.



The best addition to the show is definitely Ed Helms (The Daily Show) as perpetual suck-up, Andy Bernard. When a second attempt at Michael's "Integration Celebration" falls apart when he cannot get his stereo to play the theme to ... again, wait for it ... A Night at the Roxbury ... Andy kicks it old school with an a capella version. Has Dwight met his match in the new Regional Director in charge of Sales? Like he says, "On a film set, [director] is the highest title there is." Tough to argue with that logic, but it should be a highlight every week watching Dwight and Andy try to upstage each other.



The show is also responsible for creating the new Ross & Rachel, the "will they or won't they" couple, an almost impossible feat to say the least. Jim & Pam. Mr. Nice Guy and The Girl Next Door. Perhaps the cutest couple since the dawn of time. I would not blame anyone for foregoing the comic hijinx and numerous awkard pauses just to catch the continuing saga of these two. Reversing last year's dynamic, it's Pam who finds herself single and going out of her way to flirt with Jim. Except this time ... Jim's g/f works in the same office! *gasp!* Dammit! And Karen's so likeable too! Oh whatever will Pam do?!



The writing staff is spot on with what's hip and current and easily appeases a generation of web-savvy fans. They know their characters almost too well and find new and surprising ways of adding depth to characters rampant with stereotypes. Easily a lot of the show's credit goes to the actors with tons going to Steve Carell for getting the show off its feet with noticeable hits, Anchorman and 40 Year-Old Virgin . I understand also an average episode has 40 minutes worth of footage, much of which is improvised, that is painstakingly whittled down to 22 minutes. I can only imagine the gold that's left on that cutting room floor.



The Office is an extremely dysfunctional family with a bond so tenuous you can hear the threads snapping more and more each week. There's ups, there's downs, there's laughter and bickering. They don't have to get along - as much as their boss would like them to - they just have to get through the day. How they accomplish that seemingly insurmountable feat is entirely up to them. Much to our Thursday night delight.

The TV Guyde