'The Office' turns 15: All the ways NBC's quirky sitcom changed pop culture
Can you remember when "The Office" wasn't "The Office"?
March 24 marks 15 years since a remake of a cringe-humor British comedy premiered on NBC to low ratings. But since then, "The Office" has become a phenomenon, continuing to draw such loyal viewership that multi-billion dollar corporations compete for the right to stream all nine seasons of the workplace sitcom (yes, even the ones without Michael Scott).
"The Office" offered a unique blend of the relatable and the fantastical. Its setting, "an American workplace," was distinctly unremarkable, a bland office park in the middle of Pennsylvania. But its antics – from staplers in a Jell-O mold to heart attack-inducing fire drills to fights and dinner parties – felt much bigger (and considerably less productive) than our own drab cubicles.
The series' characters were borrowed from its British parent – the buffoonish boss, the over-the-top toady, the everyman prankster and the sweet receptionist – but the delightful journeys of Michael, Dwight, Jim and Pam belonged entirely to the talent and appeal of the American writers and actors behind them. The scant 14 episodes across the pond turned into nine seasons of ingenuity over here (well, except for a few near the end).
It's not hard to see the lasting appeal of "Office." And in the midst of a global pandemic that has much of the country stuck at home and streaming TV favorites for comfort, the series remains a perfect option to make us laugh and soothe us in such worrying times.
But beyond endlessly rewatching the series (which, admit it, you've done), there is so much in our current pop culture landscape that owes its existence to "The Office." From the movie star careers of some cast members to the sitcoms it inspired to all those Jim Halpert memes, the world just wouldn't be the same without Dunder Mifflin Scranton.
All those movie stars
Where would we be without Steve Carell as "The 40-Year-Old Virgin"? What would have happened if the little girl in "Inside Out" didn't have her Sadness (Phyllis Smith) or Disgust (Mindy Kaling) emotions? What would "The Hangover" have been without Stu (Ed Helms)? Who would have directed Emily Blunt in "A Quiet Place" if not her husband, John Krasinski?
The alumni of "Office" are an accomplished bunch, including Carell, Kaling, Krasinski, Craig Robinson, B.J. Novak, Helms and Rashida Jones.
Despite the popularity of the series, many of the actors moved on without being typecast. Krasinski, who embodies a smart-aleck straight man in Jim, became an action hero in Amazon's "Jack Ryan" and directed "Quiet," the acclaimed 2018 horror film. Carell has played his fair share of comedic doofuses, but he's no funny boss in Apple TV Plus' "The Morning Show," "The Big Short" or "Last Flag Flying." Helms (like Carell a former "Daily Show" correspondent) has carved out a stronger presence in raunchy comedies, including the "Hangover" films and "We're the Millers," than he ever had as rich kid Andy.
Pawnee, The Bad Place and the Nine-Nine!
There's a reason you may be drawn to "Parks and Recreation" or "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" if you love "The Office," and it's not just because they're all ensemble workplace sitcoms.
It's not just the actors from "The Office" who have gone on to celebrate careers beyond the halls of the paper company's Scranton office, but also many of the series' writers. Michael Schur has been among the most prolific, helping to create "Parks," "Brooklyn" and "The Good Place." Kaling, of course, went on to Fox's "The Mindy Project" and co-created "Never Have I Ever," a Netflix teen sitcom coming in April. "Office" creator Greg Daniels co-created "Parks" and is behind "Upload," a new Amazon series out this spring. He's also reteaming with Carell on Netflix's "Space Force," a comedy inspired by President Donald Trump's announcement about a Space Force for the USA.
The influence of "The Office," particularly the proliferation of its mockumentary style, arch characters and absurd and heightened plots, can be felt in "Workaholics," "Superstore," "Silicon Valley" and "Modern Family."
More great TV: The 10 best TV shows this spring, from Ryan Murphy's 'Hollywood' to Cate Blanchett in 70s hair
Becoming the 'Friends' of Peacock, NBCUniversal's new streaming service
We're not saying that "The Office" is the reason we'll all soon have another streaming service full of TV to watch, but the sitcom certainly will help one launch.
Much as HBO Max is leaning on the 236 episodes of "Friends" to attract viewers, Peacock is banking on "The Office." NBC Universal paid a reported $500 million for a five-year deal to move "The Office," which it owns, from Netflix to its upcoming Peacock streaming service in 2021. The series has consistently been a top performer for Netflix, and its most devoted fans might just migrate to keep their access to the sitcom, even if they can see it several times a day on Comedy Central.
Your very favorite memes (that's what she said)
Raise your hand if you have ever shared a reaction GIF of Krasinski's Jim Halpert: Any of the dozens of times the character turned toward the camera, with a look of sheepish exasperation as the lone sensible man in an office full of co-workers gone mad.
Although it debuted before the age of social media and memes, "The Office," with its deadpan comedy, ridiculous characters and everyday problems, has become one of the most bountiful sources of internet humor: "That's what she said." "Bears, Beets, Battlestar Galactica." "I'm not superstitious. But I'm a little stitious." If you want to say it online, chances are you can say it with a GIF, image, video or hastily photo-edited graphic from "The Office."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'The Office' 15th anniversary: How it changed pop culture
