It’s been 15 years since the colleagues of Dunder Mifflin first blessed our screens and changed the dynamic of sitcoms for entertainment industries all around the world. The disbelief that The Office US has been around for so many years stems from how it is still extremely popular. From older generations to kids as young as 12 are binge-watching the episodes which shows how audiences connect to their favourite characters on screen.
Source: Mashable
Featuring daily routines of co-workers might sound boring on paper especially when the setting rarely ever changes. However, the magic it spread on our screens with Dwight’s conspiracy theories and Pam’s awkwardness, still attracts a lot of viewers to the show.
Jenna Fischer, who plays Pam, said, “The dynamics that are playing out are found in all kinds of places, not just in offices. When you’re in school you get assigned a deskmate that could totally be a Dwight, you know? And you’ve got like the uptight maybe Type A person in your class as well. So all of these characters, we encounter them in many different situations and in many different jobs or gatherings. It doesn’t have to be in an office.”
Source: Mashable
Similarly, Angela Kinsey who played Angela is rewatching the show these days and says, “It’s odd to say that, but it is comforting,” she explained. “I think that Office fans that watch [the show] and put it on when they come home or have it in the background while they’re making dinner or doing laundry — whatever — there’s something comforting about it. You know where Michael’s going to be, and where Jim sits, and where Pam’s at, and everyone is always there. I don’t even know how to put it into words, but it’s somehow comforting.”
Well, thanks to Comedy Central and DVDs that we have all saved from the past, The Office US can never be lost. The credit for popularity in recent times, however, goes to Netflix that is dedicated to streaming the show for fans all across the world. A feature on Netflix picks out ‘Top 10 most popular movies and TV shows’ and The Office US consistently ranks high when it comes to the viewership board.
Source: Mashable
Kinsey and Fischer were brought in for a podcast called “Office Ladies” and they were extremely grateful for the love and appreciation their show gets.
“It’s crazy,” Fischer said. “You know, as an artist all you really want is for your work to resonate with an audience. That’s your wish. That’s why I became an actor and so all these years later for my work to still resonate? That means everything. It’s such a gift to be a part of something that has that kind of staying power.”
Source: The Script Lab
Since its release, so many shows have been inspired by The Office US, with the UK releasing its own mockery version. It did not get much hype but goes on to show the success of The Office US itself. A new children’s book based on the coworkers of Dunder Mifflin is also scheduled to release soon that would make the show popular among preschoolers and toddlers too.