The Office (American TV series)

Lore & Background

The series was co-produced by Deedle-Dee Productions, Reveille Productions (later Shine America), and 3 Arts Entertainment in association with Universal Television. Original executive producers included Daniels, Gervais, Merchant, Howard Klein, and Ben Silverman. The show was filmed in a single-camera setup without a studio audience or laugh track, mirroring the look of an actual documentary. It debuted as a mid-season replacement and ended with a two-part series finale viewed by an estimated 5.7 million viewers.

Greg Daniels served as showrunner for the first four seasons, then left to co-create Parks and Recreation. Paul Lieberstein and Jennifer Celotta took over for season five; Celotta left after season six, and Lieberstein stayed through season eight. Daniels returned for the ninth and final season. The writing team included Daniels, Lieberstein, Michael Schur, B. J. Novak, and Mindy Kaling, with Schur credited as the most prolific writer with twenty-five episodes. Randall Einhorn was the most frequent director, with 15 credited episodes.

The original main cast consisted of Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, and B. J. Novak. Later stars included Ed Helms, Rashida Jones, Amy Ryan, Mindy Kaling, Craig Robinson, James Spader, Ellie Kemper, and Catherine Tate. The pilot was a direct adaptation of the first British episode; after mixed reviews for the first season, writers made the series more optimistic and Michael Scott more likable. Actors were given opportunities to improvise, leading to many deleted scenes considered part of the series' canon.

Reader's Guide

The Office is significant as a successful American adaptation of a British series that developed its own identity, diverging considerably from the original in characters, content, structure, and tone. The first season received mixed reviews, but subsequent seasons—particularly Steve Carell's performance—earned critical acclaim and appeared on several year-end top TV series lists. The show won a Peabody Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, a Golden Globe, and five Primetime Emmys. The eighth season was criticized for declining quality, with Carell's departure in season seven seen as a contributing factor, but the ninth season ended with generally positive response. In 2016, Rolling Stone named The Office one of the 100 greatest television shows of all time. Its legacy includes influencing the mockumentary format in American television and maintaining a strong cultural presence through streaming and syndication.

Did You Know?

• The series was filmed without a studio audience or laugh track to mirror the look of an actual documentary.
• Steve Carell had only seen about half of the original British pilot before auditioning, fearing he would copy Ricky Gervais' characterizations.
• Michael Schur is the most prolific writer among the staff, credited with twenty-five episodes.
• The series finale on May 16, 2013, was viewed by an estimated 5.7 million viewers.