The Office Finale

[Angie]

I would never argue against Seinfeld, but that was the whole point of the TV show and it was on for a decade, unlike AD. Seinfeld's plot was real life. Real stupid little things that everyone experienced. Not an uncle who always wears jean shorts or teenage kid trying to get with his cousin or a banana stand burning down.

Seinfeld is on another level that even The Office can't touch, I can say that.

But the farcical way that things happen in AD are also the point of the show. They never presented it as "this is totally going to happen in your life." It's a different style of comedy, for sure, but it's far more clever and well-developed.

I really still also don't see the point with longevity. Two and a Half Men​ has been on for forever, and it's awful. Longevity =/= quality.

 

[Gonzo]

Boom. "show about nothing" was how it was described, and it's still hilarious (and dating very well, unlike almost every other sitcom from the 90s). Same is true for Curb Your Enthusiasm.

 

[bluestarcyclone]

 

[DistrictCyclone]

What story line exists in the Office?

The Office was brilliant for 4 seasons, but then the Jim/Pam storyline overtook things, and they lost Steve Carrell. Should have ended after 5 seasons.

I won't hold the last 4 seasons against the show, but they seem like a lame attempt at distilling money from a deservedly strong brand.

This is spot-on. I stopped watching after The Office became "The Jim and Pam Show". It's painfully obvious that they ran out of material long ago and have been keeping the thing going with blasé storylines and characters ever since.

 

[Al_4_State]

In hindsight, its mind-blowing that Seinfeld ever made it as an uber-popular show. If introduced today, the masses would ignore it.

It is to TV what the Rolling Stones are to music. Unquestionably great and beloved, but no way in hell it would make it these days if not already established.

 

[Rhoadhoused]

What is realistic about a beet-farming, former-pilot, karate master paper salesman who collects cat poop? If you're honestly trying to claim that the office is more "realistic" than AD, then I want some of what you're smoking.

This is my final post on this because I have argued too long about it, AD is a very funny show, I just think The Office is better for reasons I stated.

To answer that question I would say a guy who is delusional about the world around him because he grew up on a rural farm is pretty reasonable. Not perfectly realistic, but much more so than most of the characters in AD.

It's ok though, they are both awesome shows.

And I was a big fan of the whole Jim-Pam dynamic, because it drove the show forward.

If you aren't a big fan of that, then I could see why you would like AD more. I thought the Jim and Pam thing, especially when it was tense and involved Roy, was brilliant and was something to pay attention to.

On longevity: Just because a show is on for a long time doesn't make it good, but that doesn't mean that is isn't something that should be considered for rating a show, if that makes sense. It isn't a hard rule, just something to consider.

 

[DistrictCyclone]

I must know...did you make this just for this tread, or is this an already-existing meme?

 

[Al_4_State]

Over the line.

 

[bluestarcyclone]

I must know...did you make this just for this tread, or is this an already-existing meme?

It took about 3 seconds to create it, but i feel like it might have some future use. AD fans can be a bit cultish with the show, to the point ive almost been driven away from it.

 

[bluestarcyclone]

Over the line.

Bull****, mark it 8 dude.

 

[CycloneErik]

Never watched it. Never cared to.

 

[Gonzo]

This is spot-on. I stopped watching after The Office became "The Jim and Pam Show". It's painfully obvious that they ran out of material long ago and have been keeping the thing going with blasé storylines and characters ever since.

Totally agree. But a little Dwight K. Schrute can carry a lot of weight.

 

[DistrictCyclone]

It took about 3 seconds to create it, but i feel like it might have some future use. AD fans can be a bit cultish with the show, to the point ive almost been driven away from it.

I first started watching the show 7 years ago (after it had been cancelled) and have seen each episode at least a dozen times, and I still notice something new every time I watch it. I strongly recommend it (despite the fanaticism of people like me).

 

[DistrictCyclone]

Over the line.

Bull****, mark it 8 dude.

If this turned into a Lebowski thread, I'd be totally cool with that.

 

[Al_4_State]

If this turned into a Lebowski thread, I'd be totally cool with that.

I'll suck your **** for $1000.

alarson can't watch.

 

[bluestarcyclone]

If this turned into a Lebowski thread, I'd be totally cool with that.

[video=youtube;j95kNwZw8YY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j95kNwZw8YY[/video]

 

[bluestarcyclone]

I'll suck your **** for $1000.

alarson can't watch.

 

[DistrictCyclone]

There was absolutely a storyline. The whole overarching point was Michael trying to work against his family to hold them together. There was the Iraqi storyline, and then there were about a billion subplots - Maebe and her irresponsibility, George Michael and his weird cousin lust, GOB wanting to be Michael but not wanting to be, Michael wanting to grow beyond his family and to move on from Tracy's death, but being too attached to George Michael, etc., etc., etc. That's how a sitcom works - one overarching theme, and then supporting subplots.

I can throw out arbitrary numbers, too, but I fail to see how "longevity" is at all an indicator of greatness. Freaks and Geeks was one of the best shows I've ever seen, and made it for a season. Conversely, somehow Two and a Half Men is still on. The overall poor taste of our population really isn't their fault.

"That's a little corn ball"

(one of my favorite lines from AD)

 

[Clones85']

I'm a BIG fan of AD. Loved that show.

But let's get real here, the story wasn't as good, and it didn't last. In no way was it as good as the Office (which I haven't watched since Steve C left)

I think people talk highly about it b/c it ended with people wanting more after only 4 seasons. Can you imagine how people would talk about the Office if it was cancelled after 4 seasons?

 

[Rhoadhoused]