I can’t believe it took me so long to figure it out, but one of the many reasons I love “The Office” (American Version) is that the characters dress like real people. None of this Hollywood version of how people dress at work…short skirts, high heels, plunging necklines…but the reality of the American workplace. Pam wears shirts that are appropriate to her pay scale and her geography. The wardrobe looks like it was purchased at Wal-Mart or maybe, maybe Target. And she’s not dressing to impress…she’s comfortable, decently covered and within the corporate dress code.
I’m always willing to suspend my disbelief, but it sometimes drives me crazy when I watch high-school based shows that have the kids wearing clothes that would not be allowed in 99% of the high schools in America, or lawyer shows where the female lawyers are in the low-cut, high heeled, miniskirted outfits. I know enough female lawyers, and they would never show up in court, or at work, looking like that. It’s a small point, and I know shows are trying to sell the clothes of their sponsors, but it annoys me. That’s just one reason that the reality of the wardrobe on “The Office” is so striking.
Also not everyone is amazingly beautiful…most of them are just average. Pam is cute, yes, and I’d love to do her, but she’s not “OMFG SO HOT!”
With the exception of Jim, none of the other guys seem to be ones ladies would lust after (maybe the boss? I’m not one who goes for guys, so I can’t say for sure.)
(Oh, I guess the intern might also be lusted after, but he’s only in about half the eps)
Even Jim is just average cute, but more than makes up for it in the boyish charm and general good nature. And Jan is so like my regional manager (except for the night of passion thing) that you know the writers must have worked in retail! She’s not a caricature, which makes the characters who are, stand out.
Well THANKS for bursting my bubble kittenblue!! Really, just thanks.
Isn’t this a paradigm of British TV though? That’s what I’ve heard anyway. I realize the OP is talking about the Amercan version of the show, but if it parallels the British version that may be the logic behind that.
Aye. Something that I never noticed until it was pointed out to me is that in most shows, the “uncool” people aren’t wearing pathetic crap that nobody would buy – they’re wearing the expensive stuff that was popular a few months ago.
Cal - cu - lat - ing:
“Must buy the stuff that the fashionable people are wearing! Buy buy buy!”
beat
“Oh, crap, that total Wally’s wearing stuff I have in my closet. I can’t wear that anymore!”
I’d say it’s a non-American trait. Anyway, you’re right, the British parallels were, relative to our “The Office”, uber-ugs that would never, ever be allowed on American television.
Ryan the temp is pretty good-looking, too. And Kelly, the Indian woman isn’t bad. But, yeah, mostly, they look and dress like typical cubicle dwellers. It’s one of the things I really like about the show. Kevin is one of my favorites. Very low-key, but funny. I loved his reaction to finding out that Michael was going to be doing e-mail surveillance: “I’m going to have to erase a lot of stuff. A Lot. Of Stuff.”
The best part of the Office for me are the realistic reaction shots, especially from Pam. When the men in the office essentially said “I’d do her” in front of Pam (the fire drill episode), she was a bit shaken, like she has emotions.
On the other hand, I think Pam should wear something a bit more revealing, she’s got the body for it (check out the movie Whisper where she plays a call girl).
A. What was the note Jim snuck into his pocket while talking to Pam?
B. I kind of feel dirty watching this show. For example, when the blonde lady was doing her interview and talked about how the manager character was ruining everything by changing the party plan on the spot. Then she starts crying. Okay, I know it’s silly for someone to cry about something like this, and that there is humor here. But also, well, I’m thinking to myself, “This is this lady’s life. This is what’s really important to her! And it’s all being ruined! That poor poor lady!” This is, of course, what I’m supposed to be laughing about, and my sympathy is of course supposed to add to the humor. But in many cases on this show, like this one, my sympathy makes it almost impossible for me to appreciate the moment as humorous. I feel just mean-spirited for laughing at these guys sometimes.
Maybe I’m getting old.
It’s not that I disapprove of the show or anything. I just find myself reacting to it… differently… than I might have as a lad.
We actually do dress like that where I work. Well the girls do…(I don’t). Not slutty or anything, but like workplace trendy Banana Republic stuff. But I work in a NYC consulting firm, not a paper company in Scranton, PA.
Frylock -
A) It was a note expressing his feelings for Pam
B) Angela (the judgemental blond having a fit) isn’t upset about the party. She’s upset because the Indian girl kissed Duane (the Assistant TO the General Manager) who she has a secret office romance with.
I like how Pam wears a cardigan over her blouse. That is very real.
I loved the British version of this show so I didn’t start watching the American version til a few weeks ago, simply because I left the tv on after Earl. I’m kinda hooked on it now and even though it’s moving to Thursday, I’m happy it’s still a double header with Earl.
I don’t think you’re getting old (well, you probably are, but that’s inevitible), but your cringing at these scenes is what the show is going after.
There’s a number of new shows (mockumentary-style) that try and get those everyday uncomfortable moments, and capture them on film. “Curb Your Enthusiasm” sort of started it, you also saw it in “The Comeback” on HBO, and you see it to a certain degree on “Arrested Development.”
So, it’s not your humor that’s changing so much, but rather the shows.
Yeah, I don’t think you were supposed to see her crying and start laughing hysterically because she was crying at something so stupid. They were going for that mildly uncomfortable feeling you got. It’s a way of getting you to understand and care for this character a bit more. That kind of thing was very much what made the original British version so brilliant.
