THE OFFICE, SEASON ONE

REVIEWED BY SHANNON H.

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Because of: comedic crudeness

Rated:

Life in Corporate America is an excellent target for satire and ridicule.  The 1999 film Office Space is a classic example of how disgruntled employees try to get back at The Man for taking advantage of them.  Now, imagine a made-for-TV sitcom made in that kind of style. Based on a similar sitcom in Britain, The Office provides a humorous (yet unrealistic) insight into working in Corporate America.

Michael Scott (the incredibly funny Steve Carell) is the regional manager for a fictitious paper supply company, Dunder and Mifflin Company.  He is on one hand caring, compassionate, and refers to his employees as his family. On the other, he procrastinates in his work and occasionally tells insensitive and stupid jokes. His office staff includes his assistant Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson), sales representative Jim Halpert (John Krasinski), receptionist Pam Beesly (Jenna Fischer), and temp worker Ryan Howard (B.J. Novak). Michael sometimes runs into trouble by doing his own thing instead of going by the corporate guidelines. This often gets him in trouble with his own boss, Jan Levinson (Melora Hardin). 

Michaels assistant Dwight considers himself as an assistant regional manager even though his business card reads assistant to the regional manager. He is Michaels right hand man and has an annoying (but hilarious) personality that ticks off his desk mate Jim Halpert. He also takes pride in the fact that hes a volunteer sheriff on the weekends. Jim, the sales rep, has a thing for Pam, the receptionist, who is engaged to Roy Anderson (David Denman), an employee who works in stocking and distribution. The two of them are close friends, however, Roy dislikes the fact that they often chat together during work.

Theres no violence in the show other than pushing and shoving during a team basketball game (most of it is just slapstick). Curse words include a** and b**** that are scattered few and far between. Michael tries to imitate an African American (during a cultural diversity training session) by cursing in ebonics, which is bleeped out. Every once in a while, hell and damn are scattered a little bit. Sexual content is nonexistent, since all of it is implied. During a cultural diversity session, Michael asks his employees to name a particular race that they are sexually attracted to. Roy states that if he werent dating Pam, he would go out (and sleep with) with the attractive woman who came by to sell purses (Pam gets angry and storms off). Michael accidentally confuses a hysterectomy with the removal of a womans private parts.

Christian content is few and far between but theres no disrespect to the faith itself. Michael believes that God helps him succeed in the business world (but the Almighty is his 4th in command). A couple of oh my G**s are injected into various conversations. There is some disrespectful behavior on Michaels part where he tells Pam shes getting laid off due to budget cuts and that she stole office supplies (the allegations are false). Pam bursts into tears and Michael then lets her know that he was merely joking; she calls him a jerk and storms out of the office. 

I liked this show. I was never interested in watching it but decided to give it a try and enjoyed it. Its funny and if I ever had to work in a corporate office, Id love to work in an environment like that since theres never a dull moment. Rainn Wilson is a classic scene stealer as the assistant TO the regional manager. Hes geeky, smart, and tries to do his best to please his boss (especially the episode where hes picked to choose a new company healthcare plan, which angers everyone because it doesnt provide much except for a $400 deductible). The show is not for kids, particularly because the humor would go over their heads. Its a great show for teenagers and adults despite some slight toilet and blue humor.