'The Office': Where did the funny go?

The second episode of “The Office’s” sixth season — sixth! How time flies! — proved that sometimes funny at Dunder Mifflin can be paper-thin. But life at a paper company is bound to feel bland at times, right? After all, Michael can’t accidentally hit employees with his car every week. Dwight can’t abuse his experience as a Lackawanna County sheriff's deputy. And even Jim needs a break from all the Dwight pranks. So when the office antics go on the back burner, so do the laughs.

Thursday’s episode was a lesson in office politics. With the Buffalo, N.Y., branch closed, the Scranton office has “absorbed” their clients, leaving a heavier workload for everyone and an opportunity to climb the office ladder. Jim -- looking like a dapper Don Draper in a suit and tie -- met with Dunder Mifflin’s head honcho David Wallace to discuss promotion opportunities — hey, the dude has a baby on the way. And you can’t feed a baby paper! Speaking of Jim’s sharper image, has anyone else noticed how Pam’s style has evolved? The crunchy curls and Keds have been replaced with soft waves and nonfabric footwear. Very office chic.

Sorry. Thoughts like that tended to be frequent during this episode. But back on track…

The secrecy of their meeting left Michael paranoid. And whenever Michael feels threatened you can expect a classic Michael moment is nearby. Good, right? Not this time. Michael had Andy wheel him into the conference room — the setting of so many “Office” laughs. Prison Mike. Lazy Scranton … need I say more? — where he was hidden in an “elegant” cheese cart boasting the best coagulated milk from the Wisconsin region. But a scene that could have resuscitated the so-far lackluster episode failed to do just that. 

In the end, it was announced that Michael and Jim will serve as co-managers of the Scranton branch — Hmm. Wonder if they’ll be sharing Michael’s office. Oh, and we learn that Jam’s (Jim + Pam) wedding will be taking place at Niagara Falls! Meredith likes ribs. Toby is capable of yelling obscenities. And who else loves that Michael consults his mother and H&R Block guy when it comes to making big personal decisions?

--Yvonne Villarreal

Photo: Steve Carell as Michael Scott in "The Office." Credit: NBC Universal

Comments

[Rachel]

I highly doubt you are a hardcore Office fan. This show's hook has always been it's ability to feel semi-real, while providing dark humor. Season 2 was no doubt the pinnacle of its greatness and this episode had a very Season 2 vibe. When you watch The Office, you want to squirm, not watch people hit others with their car, drive into a lake, or kidnap a pizza delivery boy...there were times in the past few years that it became too cartoonish in its humor. The second half of Season 5 really picked up and it continues to shine.

[Michael Scarn (Noel C)]

I thought last night's episode was the first intellectually funny one in a long, long time. I agree with Rachel that it felt like a great season 2 episode. After a lackluster season premiere and decline of quality in seasons 4 and 5, last night's "The Meeting" restored the humor and charm of a once great show.

[pierre]

We often spend much of are waking hours at work surrounded by people we would not normally associate with. The Office often brings these awkward moments spent with coworkers into the realm of hilarious, but as most of one's workday is a combination of mundane, serious, and frivolous, there is now and again a need to show the side that is less- than funny. People who are brought together by economic circumstances don't always make as much sense as the people in the Office do of their predicaments.

[MJ]

I'd like to see you explain your comment "But a scene that could have resuscitated the so-far lackluster episode failed to do just that."

Example:
Yvonne Villareal's article could have pointed out the decline in recent years of The Office, as promised by its title. Instead it merely summarizes a few key moments, highlights past greatness, and hints at whats to come. What could have provided insight into a favorite comedy instead leaves us with only another blog-type entry with no depth, discussion or analysis.

[Noel]

I thought last night's episode was the first intellectually funny one in a long, long time. I agree with Rachel that it felt like a great season 2 episode. After a lackluster season premiere and decline of quality in seasons 4 and 5, last night's "The Meeting" restored the humor and charm of a once great show.

[Angela]

I stopped watching The Office in the middle of last season. I just got bored with it. It wasn't funny anymore and it lost a certain something. I've experienced this a number of times with other favored show. Some tipping point happens where I just find myself avoiding watching the show. Perhaps The Office is past its prime.

[Jayme]

Aside from the opening scene with Oscar and Michael, I also felt that the episode lacked, particularly in the "cheese cart" scene. Not funny at all. The Office is a "mockumentary" and is set in a realistic world, so it does get to be too much when Michael does some of his more outlandish things, like have a funeral for a bird or yes, drive into a lake. This season feels like it's trying to take some of that gimmicky stuff back and revert to the true office style of the first season. My fear is that all the people that watch it now are expecting 'crazy, stupid, ridiculous Michael" and that just gets old.

But it has always been my feeling that season 1 and season 2 were their best and that if all the people behind the show are smart they will end the the show after this season...I doubt that will happen because it brings in the ratings for NBC, but I don't think there's much more a show like The Office can do. And it's episodes like last nights that give me that feeling.

This was a practical episode. Jim needs to get promoted...okay, so Jim will get promoted. The main storyline was boring for me and the way Michael handled it was odd. However, it will be interesting to see how Michael deals with there now being two papa's at the top, caring for his Dunder Mifflin family.

Dwight and Toby's storyline (which is an interesting pairing) was also just okay for me. But we had to get Dwight out of the office so he wouldn't interfere with what was going on with David Wallace and Jim.

The Pam interplay with the other office mates was great, but this was just a tiny storyline that gave us a litte new info. But we already know the wedding takes place in the 4th episode so, for me, it wasn't anything surprising.

I'm not in love with season 6, but I am a fan of the show and I am genuinely interested in where all the employees of Dunder Mifflin are headed. And the show will never be unwatchable.

"The Meeting"= B-.

[Sophia]

I personally like Jim's journey in this episode. It's rather realisitic and very Jim, for him to want to advance himself in the company. It DOES have a baby on the way, getting married to Pam and he perhaps want a change. It's going to be intresting to see it all unfold. VERY pysched for Jim and Pam's Wedding Episode (what I like to call it) hahahaha
And did you see Dwight's reaction to Jim's promotion at the end of the episode - pure comedy gold. Very Dwight!
Can't wait for the next episode. Jim and Pam define true romantic love!
p.s. - Can't wait for baby Halpert to start to show too.

[Confused]

Come on! That opening scene with Oscar? Do you even WATCH The Office?

[Michael Gibbons]

I thought it was the best episode in 3 years! Finally, an episode not replete with the over the top, hokey, vaudevillian humor that has plagued the past couple of seasons. We finally got more subtle, original-version-like humor.

The funny is back, it seems.

[To Angela]

Angela must be really bored to be reading articles AND posting comments about a show she claims to have stopped watching last year.

[Cass]

I'm getting bored with The Office. Who knew that would ever happen?!

I actually don't like the way Jim's character has evolved. He's always been a slacker (remember, he didn't want to make his job into a career), and though he had some moments of upward mobility, it wasn't because he was actually trying to move up the corporate ladder.

He really is not great at his job - he's competent, but not great.

And now he wants a promotion because he thinks he deserves one. The comments in his evaluation (though written by Toby out of spite) aren't completely untrue. And the way he confronted Michael after he walked David Wallace out to his car (and realized the tone had changed) - as if how dare someone say something bad about him!

I don't have much hope for this show anymore. Maybe it's been on too long...

[To Confused]

Yes, I do watch The Office. And, in all honesty Michael wanting Oscar's advice on the procedure is extremely Michael. And, whether it was funny or not, it's what I think the majority of Office viewers are accustomed to nowadays. I probably wouldn't have said that 3 seasons ago.

[Mike]

I still watch the Office since it's better than most of the other shows on TV, but there's no doubt it's starting to slip, which is natural at this point in the show's life. I see I'm not the only one disappointed that Jim was made co-manager. It's the least interesting and most contrived plot development they could have gone with. Firing Jim or making him and Dwight co-manager would have been more interesting.

[Dave]

The funny was probably in your face.

[scott]

show's not funny. never has been. o' how clever they are.

[Taylor]

I used to be a huge Office fan, but this past season has just been so disappointing. They've lost focus of the show's main premise - being a mockumentary. They've turned it into the Jim and Pam hour - with occasional glances at the supporting actors. It's ridiculous. The show has jumped the shark and the writers should've done what the original series did - end it while it was good.