The Office - Season One (2005)

Based on the popular British comedy of the same name, THE OFFICE takes place in and around the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Using the same mockumentary style as the original, the series succeeds in capturing the quiet desperation of the poor souls working in this socially stifling environment under the direction of delusional boss, regional manager Michael Scott. Comic actor Steve Carell beautifully inhabits the role, playing a man so eager to be liked, he completely alienates people with one stupid antic after another. Blindly believing himself beloved by his employees for his laid-back nature, Michael fails to see that, with the exception of nerdy and bizarre Dwight (Rainn Wilson), he is resented and despised by all. Meanwhile, Jim woos engaged receptionist Pam, while both navigate the office politics and "humor" of boss Scott. Carell perfectly walks the line between despicable and pathetic, enlisting his audience's sympathies just moments before doing or saying something horribly inappropriate. THE OFFICE may be a remake, but it has charms of its very own.