Since its original run from 2005 to 2013, "The Office" has become more than just a cult classic. You probably won't meet a Gen Zer or a Millennial who doesn't quote the show on a regular basis and isn't familiar with the show's characters. In an age of an endless stream of new TV shows and series being made, "The Office" is still a comfort watch for its fans and something to be discovered for younger audiences.
The show's star Steve Carell has his own theory on why the show is still so popular even 11 years after its original run. "I think part of it is that each of the characters is an archetype that can be translated to, like, people that they know in school, you know?," Carell told NBC Insider.
"There's sort of the jock, there's kind of the cheerleader, the pretty one, there's the kind of the weirdo in the corner," Carell told NBC. "But they're all people that you can identify with — whether you've ever worked in an office or whether you've just associated with these people in school."
NBC streaming service Peacock announced this year that there will be a reboot/revival of the original "The Office." While some fans met the news with dismay and criticism, others are quite ready to give it a shot. Some call it a spin-off or an anthology series in "The Office" universe.
The show's creator Greg Daniels, who was behind the original TV hit series, describes the new iteration as a mockumentary about a "dying historic Midwestern newspaper and the publisher trying to revive it with volunteer reporters."
So far, the five announced cast members include Domhnall Gleeson ("Star Wars"), Sabrina Impacciatore ("The White Lotus"), Melvin Gregg ("American Vandal," "Snowfall"), Chelsea Frei ("Poker Face," "The Cleaning Lady") and Ramona Young ("Never Have I Ever," "Santa Clarita Diet").
Many fans of the show probably know that it originated from the 2001 British sitcom of the same name, created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. But did you know that Australia also has its own version? Well, don't be alarmed if you don't, as it's quite recent. The series is streaming on Amazon Prime with eight episodes in total.
However, the reception for the Australian version of "The Office" was lukewarm at best. The Telegraph gave it two stars, calling it "wholly unnecessary." The Guardian's Luke Buckmuster gave it only one star, calling it "an edgeless reboot doomed for the shredder." Critics noted that the actors give their best, but the show is too much of the "Same old, same old"; it just doesn't bring anything new and exciting to the table.
Even if the American "Office" was a remake, too, some say it is superior to the British version. The single fact that it ran much longer than its predecessor proves that it was at least more successful in terms of longevity and ratings. In fact, as Richard Craig writes for Screen Rant, the American version hit it off once they stopped imitating "The Office" UK.
