BY ALIYA SMITH Future Doctor Who Companion
Steve Carell's nose is like a dorsal fin. John Krasinski's nose is like a Ninja Turtle's head. Rainn Wilson's nose is too small for his face. Oscar Nunez's nose is Cuban. Notwithstanding the shape, size or ethnicity of their noses, these actors--along with a handful of others--have used their entireties to win our hearts through almost-too-believable acting on one of NBC's remaining hit shows, The Office.
This mockumentary that first aired 24 March 2005 immediately became and has been [up until 19 May 2011 (the end of the seventh season)] one of the single most hilarious, lovable shows on television since the technological invention's origin. It has introduced to America the world of the workplace--the everyday, so to speak, of middle class workers from a variety of backgrounds. "The camera, [however], not only follows everyone around the office but also follows the cast in their personal lives on screen," says Grant's World writer of "The Office TV show review info & where to watch online." That's one thing that draws so many people in - how personal the show can trick us into believing that it is. Being a spawn of the popular British show, The Office, it was tough to say how successful the American "version" would be. Lucky enough for the cast, however, star of The Office (UK) is one of the two creators of The Office (US).
As Michael Scott (Carell), who is the regional manager of Dunder Mifflin Paper Company - Scranton branch, says throughout the series, the employees of the office are like a family to one another. A lot of the time, he says so in delusion, but it most definitely ended up being true. Michael's frequent assumptions that anyone who is nice to him is his "best friend" expose a great trait of his - desire for closeness to everyone around him. Michael Scott is truly the quality that The Office requires in order to remain a hysterical show. States Alan Sepinwell in his "Review: 'The Office' struggles to find its center post-Steve Carell" on hitfix.com, "During the Carell years, Michael not only generated most of the stories, but most of the comedy. Even if a joke wasn't about something Michael was doing, it was frequently about how others were reacting to him."
Who knew that someone so conceited, so stupid and so needy could be as lovable as Michael Gary Scott? No other character could fit Carell more perfectly.
Although Michael is really la crème de la crème as far as cast members go, the show has so many great qualities to it that make it so addictive.
One of the fans' favorite aspects is Jim Halpert's (Krasinski) and Pam Beesley's (Fischer) feelings for each other throughout the first three seasons, which finally end up in a sweet romance that develops throughout the rest of the series. The two characters are the most "normal" employees at the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin. They are fun, all-American W.A.S.P.s who find more joy in pretending to be the CIA contacting a co-worker about some secret mission than they do in... well, just about anything else in the world (aside from spending any time with each other, really).
Their relationship isn't the only one, though. There is the awful back-and-forth between Kelly Kapoor (Kaling) and Ryan Howard (Novak). There is Meredith's terrible lack of self-respect which brings on her addiction to porn (viewing and participating) - but we only get hints that she participates in such festivities. There is Stanley Hudson (Baker) with his wife and his mistress. Then, of course, there is Michael with his attachment issues that arise in each of his relationships. Finally, though, when he gets together with Holly Flax (Ryan) for a second time, they fall madly in love and that's that.
Their falling in love in the seventh season leads to Michael's eventual proposal to Holly, which is absolutely fantastic but it also brings on an inevitable sadness. Holly has to go back to Colorado and, of course, Michael agrees to go home with her because her father is sick and she is his life now. He would do anything for her, even if it means leaving his family.
Everyone has known since the beginning that if Michael ever had to leave, that would have to be the end of The Office. "For so many years, Carell was The Office, and it was easy to understand the sentiment from those who insisted the show should end when he left, even as it was clear that struggling NBC wouldn't cancel one of its few remaining hits," says Sepinwell.
He makes the show worth watching, which is why now, with his absence, the eighth (and final) season of The Office has been so drastically different... and not in a positive way. Andy Bernard (Helms) is the new manager, which simply isn't right because he plays the quirky, preppy, awkward salesman who can't actually make a sale so much better than he plays any form of authority. Even though Michael in a roll of authority makes little to no sense, his charisma and his authenticity made him the man for the job because everyone who worked under him--no matter how much they may have hated him at times for his not uncommon stupidity--absolutely loved him in the long run.
One can only hope that Michael will miss his family at Dunder Mifflin and come back for, at the very least, a visit for the length of an episode or two. He made too much of an impact on that place to completely leave it in the dust. Nineteen years, he worked there. Those years don't just abandon your memory once you leave. And Michael's too sensitive to forget.
The show has only gone downhill since Michael's departure. As a diehard The Office (US) fan, I actually pray that maybe the producers will decide it'd be wise to bring Steve Carell back on set for at least a small appearance. He made the show, he is the show. And we love what it was with him on it.
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