About

First Released

August 16, 2005

Genre

Comedy

Rating

Rated 'NR'

Summary

From Reveille and NBC Universal Television Studio, this unique comedy series offers a smart, tongue-in-cheek documentary-style look at the humorous, and sometimes poignant, banality of the 9-to-5 white-collar work world. After airing its initial 16 episodes over two seasons, the series received three Writers Guild of America Award nominations, including Outstanding Achievement in Writing for a New Series and Outstanding Achievement in Writing for a Comedy Series. The Office takes a painfully funny look at the interactions of the cubicle jockeys at Dunder Mifflin paper supply company in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Golden Globe winner Steve Carell (The 40-Year Old Virgin) stars as unctuous regional manager Michael Scott who hosts the documentary crew on a tour of the workplace. Jenna Fischer (Miss Match), John Krasinski (Jarhead, Kinsey), Rainn Wilson (Six Feet Under), and B.J. Novak (Punk'd) star as the employees who tolerate Michael's inappropriate behavior only because he signs their paychecks. With unshaken enthusiasm, Michael believes he is the office funnyman and a fountain of business wisdom. Unaware of how he is perceived by his employees, Michael comes off alternately absurd and pathetic, but always hilarious. Pam Beesly (Fischer) is the sweet office receptionist who bears the brunt of Michael's behavior. Engaged to Roy, a good old boy who works in the warehouse, Pam looks forward each day to conspiring with Jim Halpert (Krasinski), the likable sales rep with a good sense of humor who should have found a better job years ago. Jim and Pam delight in finding ways to torment the office sycophant, Dwight Schrute (Wilson), the annoying assistant to the regional manager, who is jealous of all the attention that his boss pays to Ryan Howard (Novak), the young, smart, self-possessed temp, who quickly figures out the real office politics. The Office is executive-produced by Ben Silverman, Greg Daniels, who developed the series for American television, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant and Howard Klein.