An Open Letter to the Writers of The Office: The Top 7 Ways You Are Ruining the Show

I have been talking about writing this blog for 2 months, but now I’ve been propelled into action. This blog is in response to this Huffington Post article written by Toni Nagy because I vehemently disagree with her.

I watch an episode of The Office every night before I fall asleep. EVERY  night. I get it through either the Hulu or the Netflix app on my phone.  I have season’s 1-6 practically memorized, and catch a few of my favorites on Season 7 leading up to Michael departure. I know my favorites by how many times I push “play” on a particular episode. After Michael left, there are only a handfuls of episodes that I have seen more than one time. I haved loved, you, the writers of the show for getting it right so many times, making my laugh, cry, or cheer. That being said, here are the top 7 reasons my interest has waned. 

7. Will Ferrall and guy humor: UGH. The *few* times I have found Will Farrell funny is when those around him are catapulting him to laugh-worthy. He’s actually not funny on his own. 538,492 men just threw rotten tomatoes at me for saying such a thing, but that is what I mean. Men find him hilarious in a way that I don’t understand (and probably don’t want to). His appearance on The Office was one of “I am, therefore I am funny.” Sorry, but it doesn’t work that way.  I’ve been nervous about writing decisions ever since he was cast, and it turns out my worry was not in vain.

6. Robert California: The worst long-term casting decisions you’ve ever made. I’ve been shocked how much screen time he’s received; how boring and bland he is, not adding anything but taking away all interest. Some people may have had a boss like California, but when he blathers on and the cast give looks of confusion to the camera, they are not acting. They are genuinely confused as to why the H he is on the show.  

5. Losing the formula: Go back to Season 1, episode 1 and count the times there were awkward pauses and long silences in between the dialogue or actions. The show back then wasn’t afraid of uncomfortable dead air because that’s what it is like in real offices. Relating to the show has been compromised.

4. Erin: Speaking of formula, the reason the show worked is because Michael was the moron who didn’t know he was a moron and everyone else around him also didn’t know they had the quirks they did. Dwight was and is fully comfortable being the geekiest guy this side of the beet farm. Erin changes all the rules. Erin is someone that would never be hired for the task she is doing. She is dingy and dumb to a fault, without social OR office skills. She’s so crazy that she’s not relatable. Ah, there is that concept again. It important when it comes to a viewing audience.

3. Andy and Erin, Erin and Gabe, Andy and Erin again: When Andy and Erin finally went on a date in Season 6, there was not much that showed the audience that they belonged together. He was really cute towards her (12 drummers drumming!), but she was (and is) a headcase. We like Andy, we want him to be adored as well, but it wasn’t really bothersome when Erin left went for Gabe. Now, I get why Gabe is present- there are sticks like him in offices everywhere. However, there should not be any story lines around him. He should just hilariously dress as Gaga, or stand there and look pasty. He is funny as-is; no need to propel him to the spotlight. But the relationship and subsequent public break-up with Erin was like watching someone pouring baking soda into bleach - you were hoping for a big reaction but all you got was lumpy bleach. Back to Andy, he has struggled with the top position since he received it after Michael left. He’s a funny guy, but he’s not in control of any of his staff (I’ll counter that with saying that Michael was in control because he was so out-of-control). Then Andy suddenly has a girlfriend and they are 30 dates in and he wants to propose? It’s all so… unbelievable. But! It helped fit into the story line where once again we can turn the jealous secretary into the romance to root for. The story is created to fit the characters, instead of the other way around and as a viewer it makes me uncomfortable to see it all working so hard.

2. Jim and Pam: The night that Jim pulled Pam aside on Casino Night was the same night, hours prior, one of my best guys friends pulled me aside to tell me that he had feelings I had no idea were present. In contrast to J&P, I reciprocated his feelings that evening and for almost a year after that. Though we didn’t make it to “happily ever after” I still respect him tremendously. As I sat watching Casino Night, tears streamed down my cheeks and I identified with both Jim and Pam in that scenario. Once a quaint and heartbreaking love story, it was inevitable the once they got together that they no longer be the icons of inner-office romance. However, what made them great individually was their ability to prank, tease, and out-cool the rest of their co-workers. It all started with their wedding, which was sloppy seconds to the very popular youtube video. I am still baffled at that decision. You, Writers, are to set the standard, not lower yourselves to "borrowing" from real life. Although the Niagara Falls marriage twist was a great one, it paled by the fact that the ceremony was  so…so... done before. Once married, they turned inward. They’re awkward and dorky and I cringed when I watched them approach Timothy Olyphant to ask why he didn’t ask Pam out again. Not cool. Even though they are parents now, I don’t think we have to get the tired parental leftovers of each of them—mostly Pam. They could still be the hip duo the rest of the office admires through their underhanded control of the way the office flows. As it looks now, they are out and Andy and Erin are in. Such as they are.

1. Too many field trips: It was the episode of the Christening where I realized that the out-of-office Office had gone too far. And since then, there has been garden parties, a visit to Gettysburg, and a party at Robert California’s mansion, now on to Tallahassee-- just to name a few. I’d like to see the Office back within the walls of the crazy 40 hours a week to which most of us are confined with our co-workers. There is no shortage of material that I could come up with without having to travel anywhere.

To be fair, I should tell you that you did do something right. It was clever to have the twist with Angela’s baby-- I'm please that Dwight and Angela are still connected, and for good.

I'll continue to watch-- with one eye open-- hoping that you'll get back on track sooner rather than later. If not, there is always Community anxious to take your comedic place (returning March 15th!).