Starring: Steve Carell, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, Rainn Wilson, B.J. Novak Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Binding: DVD Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC Label: National Broadcasting Company (NBC) Number of Discs: 4 Number of Items: 4 Region Code: 1 Release Date: September 12, 2006 Running Time: 477 minutes Theatrical Release Date: March 24, 2005
Product Description: Documentary style television program that follows the comedic exploits of a paper supply company in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Genre: Television Rating: NR Release Date: 12-SEP-2006 Media Type: DVD
Amazon.com: Thank goodness for second seasons. While the first season of The Office started dubiously with a pilot that was just a poor copy of the original British version, it did manage to provide enough good material to stay on the air and hint that better was yet to come. And here it is. The second season of The Office finds its own footing and manages to do the near-impossible by not only breaking free of the gravity of that excellent BBC version to stand solidly on its own, but establishing it as one of the best comedies on TV. Season 2 starts out strong with "The Dundies," where Regional Manager, Michael Scott (Steve Carell, The 40 Year Old Virgin) hosts the company’s annual office-awards event with his signature less-than-perfect grace. Things seem to only get worse for him this season as he bumbles a potential affair with his boss, Jan (Melora Harding), angers his employees by reading their emails ("Email Surveillance"), cooks his foot ("The Injury"), and accidentally destroys the warehouse with a forklift in "Boys and Girls," one of the season’s highlight episodes. Always at his side is the clueless paranoid Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson), the Assistant Regional Manager ("Assistant to the Regional Manager," Michael always reminds him in one of the show’s running jokes).
One of the reasons for the show’s improvement in the second season is increased focus on Dwight’s character, who’s becoming something of a pop-culture icon right down to having his own bobblehead. He in turn provides so much good material for Pam (Jenna Fischer) and Jim (John Krasinsky) to play off of, to their own amusement. But of course, Pam and Jim’s simmering relationship is the real meat of the show, as their compatibility becomes more obvious, Jim’s feelings for her continue to grow, and Pam struggles with the impending marriage to her less-than-caring boyfriend, Roy (David Denman). Things have to come to a head, and they do nicely in the final episode, "Casino Night." As strong as the leading characters are in The Office, it’s the excellent peripheral characters that really make the show hilarious, especially dimwitted office-slug Kevin (Brian Baumgartner), long-suffering intern Ryan (B.J. Novak), office-ditz Kelly (Mindy Kaling), and ultra-conservative Angela (Angela Kinsey). As with season 1, this season contains excellent bonus features to give you an excuse to spend more time at The Office, including the fake PSAs, commentaries, Michael’s The Faces of Scranton movie, the ten stand-alone webisodes, and deleted scenes. --Daniel Vancini
One Word: Excellence While the first season took a little while to ramp up, the second season of The Office is comedic gold all the way through. The second season expands upon many of the supporting characters and makes the main cast really shine. This is a show that's not to be missed.
My New Favorite I was slow getting on board for The Office. I remember reading a creative writer, one time (can't remember who), saying that the most important element for writing a successful story was to have a likeable narrative voice. I think the reason it took me a while on this show was that the first season just didn't have that sort of voice. It was biting and harsh and a little dark. I didn't hate the show, but I certainly didn't like it enough to make the time to see new episodes.
But then, a couple of years later, I saw part of one episode, `The Dundies,' where Pam was accepting her award, and she was so charming, and the tone was so different from the previous season (you seeing such compassion displayed toward Michael) that I was hooked. It's been such a rewarding show since then. Especially in Season 2, there's not a bad episode. Everything is so smartly written and so well acted. This sense of humor is new to American tv. And it's a meaningful show, too.
My favorite thing about the show is how it's not conceived as just a bunch of single episodes. For most sitcoms, the season-long and multi-season-long story arches seem so episodic (no pun intended). There's always a big finale, but the plot wasn't developed such that the ending is logical, and the viewer is rarely emotionally prepared for whatever big even happens. I think this so hampers sitcoms, even good ones. They so rarely are conceived in a way that allows them to be anything beyond amusing.
The Office, of course, is the opposite. The Pam and Jim storyline is realistic (I've been Jim before, I know) and heartfelt. The characterizations (what acting by both of them!) are of such depth (two sitcom characters who are actual adults!) that we can see this as a truthful situation and feel for them. And there are no hasty movements. The story arches have been orchestrated expertly, and the wonderful season finale, `Casino Night,' makes for a perfect climax.
Of course, I love everything else, too. The childishness of Michael, the zaniness of Dwight, and the eccentricities of the other characters provide the perfect counterpoint for the more serious aspects of the show, and the show still succeeds as satire (as Season 1 wanted to be), albeit a less bitter one.
Anyway, I can't think of a better season for any show. This is a real can't-miss, clearly (to my mind) the best show on tv right now.
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funny highly recommended! I am now on the Steve Carrell bandwagon and look forward to seeing Get Smart.
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