Why I Could Never Watch the Final Episode of The Office

I wrote this in 2013 when “The Office” was about to sign off the airwaves.

The Office is leaving the airwaves today and I’ll try my best to be happy in a state of denial. I haven’t watched the 30 Rock finale because, to me, if I haven’t watched the end of a series, it technically hasn’t happened. I will do the same for The Office because I’m not ready to say goodbye to that show.

I first saw the British version in the Fall of 2004 when I had transferred to James Madison University as a junior and a suitemate showed me the DVDs. I instantly recognized it as a sharp piece of TV writing that could only exist in the world of British TV. Still at 12 episodes and a holiday special, it was a flash in the pan. Many might argue otherwise but I think that truly great TV coincides with longevity to some extent.

At this time, comedy on TV was in a little bit of a transitional wasteland as Frasier and Friends, the backbones of 90’s…