8 votes

NBC still really wants a reboot of The Office

16 comments

  1. [16]
    gpl
    Link
    Ugh. When will networks learn that love for an iconic TV series or franchise doesn't mean people are clamoring for a reboot. They are never as good and end up cheapening the original as well. Why...

    Ugh. When will networks learn that love for an iconic TV series or franchise doesn't mean people are clamoring for a reboot. They are never as good and end up cheapening the original as well. Why not spend that money on developing new series that will be the next "The Office".

    14 votes
    1. [5]
      nothis
      Link Parent
      I'm starting to get cynical about this: There clearly is a reason this works. Fans of the original want to see the train wreck for themselves, people who never saw the original hear how big of a...

      I'm starting to get cynical about this: There clearly is a reason this works. Fans of the original want to see the train wreck for themselves, people who never saw the original hear how big of a deal it is and want to check what all the fuss is about. The formula has proven to work, so even if it will never work as well, you're still halfway towards something that should work, which is closer than for any brand new show.

      I hear my girlfriend complain all day about how bad the Gossip Girl reboot is. She knows because she watches it.

      9 votes
      1. [4]
        mrbig
        (edited )
        Link Parent
        Look, I know we are all very pure and artistic on the internet, but TV channels are comercial ventures. Recognizing that is not cynicism, it is called living in the real word. Any show that costs...

        Look, I know we are all very pure and artistic on the internet, but TV channels are comercial ventures. Recognizing that is not cynicism, it is called living in the real word. Any show that costs a few hundred thousands per episode to make can only exist as a comercial venture.

        2 votes
        1. [2]
          nothis
          Link Parent
          I actually think commercial ventures are often cynical, lol. Cynicism is generally reality-based, it just sucks.

          I actually think commercial ventures are often cynical, lol. Cynicism is generally reality-based, it just sucks.

          3 votes
          1. mrbig
            Link Parent
            I suppose it makes sense to ascribe a somewhat hypothetical personality to a corporation. I'd interpret it this way: "while I understand abstract entities lack personhood, if Google was a person,...

            I suppose it makes sense to ascribe a somewhat hypothetical personality to a corporation. I'd interpret it this way: "while I understand abstract entities lack personhood, if Google was a person, the things Google does lead me to assume that, if it were a person, that person would be cynical".

            Please forgive me for this futile philosophical exercise. I understand things by making them explicit.

        2. babypuncher
          Link Parent
          I always find it amusing how few people seem to realize this about TV and other media.

          Any show that costs a few hundred thousands per episode to make can only exist as a comercial venture.

          I always find it amusing how few people seem to realize this about TV and other media.

          1 vote
    2. mrbig
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      I agree with you, but at the same time would be very curious to see how it turns out. Let's not forget, The Office US is technically a reboot. In any case, they should probably wait more 10 to 15...

      I agree with you, but at the same time would be very curious to see how it turns out. Let's not forget, The Office US is technically a reboot.

      In any case, they should probably wait more 10 to 15 years. Or at least 5 if they're in a hurry.

      3 votes
    3. [7]
      EgoEimi
      Link Parent
      I think that part of the success of The Office US was in satirizing office culture of 2005–2013. Office environments and culture have changed enough by now that there's a ton of fresh material to...

      I think that part of the success of The Office US was in satirizing office culture of 2005–2013.

      Office environments and culture have changed enough by now that there's a ton of fresh material to play with. Instead of finding his stapler in Jello, the new Dwight will be searching for secret messages in Google Doc comments or something.

      If done right, the new Office can depict a hilariously techno-kafkaesque workplace.

      3 votes
      1. [6]
        joplin
        Link Parent
        They already did that. It was called Silicon Valley.

        They already did that. It was called Silicon Valley.

        7 votes
        1. Adys
          Link Parent
          Ha, Silicon Valley has some wonderful parallels to the Office. I wouldn't really say it's a good current-day inspiration though. SV's focus is on the startup life, there is a real focus on the...

          Ha, Silicon Valley has some wonderful parallels to the Office. I wouldn't really say it's a good current-day inspiration though. SV's focus is on the startup life, there is a real focus on the work being done. Whereas in The Office, the work is just .. barely mentioned. It's not about the work, it's about the people there.

          I would say Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a much closer current day parallel to The Office.

          5 votes
        2. [4]
          babypuncher
          Link Parent
          Silicon Valley was a lot more specific to software development and startup culture. It hit real close to home for those of us who have experienced that, but it doesn't hit the same notes for the...

          Silicon Valley was a lot more specific to software development and startup culture. It hit real close to home for those of us who have experienced that, but it doesn't hit the same notes for the majority of people who have not.

          3 votes
          1. [3]
            mrbig
            Link Parent
            Hi! I'm not an IT person, never worked on an IT company, started coding only very recently. Loved the show (watched when it was released)! I have a friend who's watching it now. He's a...

            Hi! I'm not an IT person, never worked on an IT company, started coding only very recently. Loved the show (watched when it was released)! I have a friend who's watching it now. He's a professional cook.

            2 votes
            1. [2]
              babypuncher
              Link Parent
              I'm not saying this knowledge is necessary to enjoy the show, the humor and writing hold up on their own without it. I'm saying I doubt it hits close to home in the same way as The Office did for...

              I'm not saying this knowledge is necessary to enjoy the show, the humor and writing hold up on their own without it. I'm saying I doubt it hits close to home in the same way as The Office did for many people without personal experience with the culture/environment it portrays. I'd say the same about The Office for people who never worked in an office setting, there are just a lot more people who fit into that category than the former. I still thoroughly enjoyed The Office as a teenager even though I had never experienced those things myself, and it started to age like fine wine as I grew up, entered the workforce, and experienced first-hand the things they were lampooning.

              1 vote
              1. mrbig
                (edited )
                Link Parent
                Possibly. At the same time, a lot of the show's humor is about very public tech personas that are common knowledge for the average need.

                Possibly. At the same time, a lot of the show's humor is about very public tech personas that are common knowledge for the average need.

    4. [2]
      babypuncher
      Link Parent
      Sometimes it does work out. Star Trek: The Next Generation is arguably a far superior show to its predecessor. It was certainly a lot more commercially successful. I don't think I've ever seen it...

      Sometimes it does work out. Star Trek: The Next Generation is arguably a far superior show to its predecessor. It was certainly a lot more commercially successful.

      I don't think I've ever seen it work with a comedy series though.

      3 votes
      1. mrbig
        (edited )
        Link Parent
        TNG would be very different if Leonard Nimoy had accepted to come back as Spock. They didn't wanna pay what he asked. Thank goodness! It would have been very hard for the show to create an unique...

        TNG would be very different if Leonard Nimoy had accepted to come back as Spock. They didn't wanna pay what he asked. Thank goodness! It would have been very hard for the show to create an unique identity with such a strong TOS character/actor in the cast. Since they couldn't get Nimoy, they went on a different, wonderful direction. Otherwise, TNG might have drowned under an avalanche of expectations.

        3 votes