that's me, and i think it sucks since s4... or ever since michael started wearing the blue blazer in every episode
I thought season 5 was pretty good though. Loved Michael's retribution when they buy out his company.
It's like watching a car crash. Terrible, but you still watch. I mean, how much different is this show now? From the subtle, understated humor, to the obvious, over-the-top garbage. For those who still like the show, have you noticed not just a change, but a complete 180 degree change? Because I certainly have. And to whoever wondered what comedy is better on TV, I'm not sure there's an answer. That's how bad cable television has become. I watch shows like Entourage, Breaking Bad, Mad Men, and Men of A Certain Age, which are significantly better. The funny thing is, I would say that seasons 1-4 of The Office were better than any of the aforementioned shows.
Subtle, understated humor... Season 1: the basketball episode, the 1st episode with items put in jello. Season 2: The Injury, The Dundees, Season 3: Andy's meltdown, Gay Witch Hunt, Season 4: The Dinner Party, Guys Night Out, For each one of those, there are dozens more examples in all 4 of those seasons. There is no more subtle humor in the first 4 than in the last 3. Breaking Bad? Great show- one of my favorites. Then, watch when it gets to Season 5 and people start complaining about the "same story lines," etc. Happens to nearly every show- everyone has had a backlash- Cheers, Taxi, Seinfeld, etc. It's not the show, it's usually the viewer. If the show changes, people lament the changes. If it stays the same, it gets criticized for "running over the same old ground," as Pink Floyd aptly put it. The Office is still terrific, IMO. And yes, I'm very biased, but I can say at least that my bias stems from having watched these episodes dozens of times and seeing what has worked and what hasn't. It's still cringe-worthy humor at its best. And the great story arcs have continued beyond season 4- in fact, the Michael Scott Paper Company was an outstanding arc in many ways- I mean, who hasn't thought of walking out and starting their own business? And the subtle touches- Michael's awkward-but-sincere speech to Pam as she freaked out about leaving D.M., Ryan's redemption from bowling alley "shoe b**ch," outwitting Dwight, etc. Great, great stuff. And no matter how much one may get turned off by the Office of late, you have to remember one thing- it still has Creed.
I just don't get it and won't ever get it. I've also seen every episode an embarrassing amount of times (re-runs on several stations) and the differences between seasons 1-4 and seasons 5-7 are so obvious that I think the brass of NBC must have sat down with the writers and made them change it. The cynic in me, anyway, thinks that. I mean, to me the show used to be about the everyday monotony of an office setting. Now, it's a show that's trying to be trendy with ****ty, unfunny dialogue and unbelievable, contrived situations. And believe me, I don't revel in stating these opinions. I hated seeing my favorite show jump the shark so badly, but it did, and it's never coming back. I mean, come on, if you've seen the episodes as many times as you say you have, you can't not have noticed the changes over the seasons.
They didn't know where to go after pam and jim hooked up.Up until season 5, audiences waited for them to hook up. having them together+ a baby, takes away from the show. or Maybe we just hate change
People said the same thing at the time about each one of these seasons- there are TONS of negative comments about Season 4, for example. Season 5 deals with many of the same everyday, mundane office things: Weight Loss- competition among branches to lose weight Business Ethics- whether to fire an employee for using sex to get discounts Customer Survey- Jim and Dwight get bad reviews on their evaluations Frame Toby-trying to get an employee fired by planting drugs The Surplus- how the office should spend extra money- chairs or a copier? Stress Relief- quite simply, one of the funniest Office episodes ever- top 5 all time. the whole Michael Scott Paper Company arc- covered 5 episodes. There is very little difference between season 5 and the others. Still funny, still mostly about mundane office situations. Season 6 is when they start to bring some of the standard ratings-grabber strategies like the Wedding episode, the Flashback episode, and the baby delivery episode. You want to argue that this is when it "jumped the shark," that's reasonable. There are definitely a new more so-so episodes in this season than others. But, as several mentioned, season 7 has tended to get back to the mundane, LOL Office stuff, but it's not going to be the same as it was- and if it did, you'd hear the same types of complaints- "same old s**t..." But, hey, you want to waste your time watching a show you no longer like and posting in a thread for a show you no longer care about, that's fine. And for the record, there are a number of people who don't stop at car or train wrecks. Look forward to your continued negative carping.
so true all he is saying is that the overall state of the show is not what it used to be, you guys dont need to take it so personally...
yeah why would people having their intelligence questioned because they enjoy a sitcom take it personally?
You question the intelligence of folks who still watch The Office, yet you have seen every episode an "embarassing amount of times". Where does that rank you on your intelligence scale?
To be fair, he only questions the intelligence of people who find it funny. Apparently, he's loves to waste his time watching comedies that he thinks aren't funny. He compares it to watching a car crash, except for the minor detail that people don't voluntarily go seek out car crash.
Yeah I missed that. I guess if we watch it and think it's NOT funny, we are smart and if we watch it and think is IS funny, then we are dumb. Hmmmmmmmmm.....
Sometimes you just have to sit back and be entertained. Yeah some of the episodes are funnier than others, but hell even the Sopranos had a couple of "off" episodes (with all due respect). It just cracks me up the way some people truly get pissy when they watch the Office and don't find themselves laughing non-stop. In fact, if you find yourself in that particular scenario, maybe you should re-think your life and how you spend your free time.
You all sound a little butthurt about it. And come on, twenty minutes out of my day once a week is really a waste of time? As opposed to what, watching some other tv show, which would somehow be less of a waste of time? Agree to disagree, I guess. And for the record, I don't legitimately question the intelligence of anyone who likes the "new" office. It didn't make any sense to say that, and if I knew people would take it seriously, I wouldn't have said it.
