In the world of “The Office,” is the Dunder Mifflin documentary ever shown on TV? Characters never reference big things that would be revealed by its airing. (Correct me if I’m wrong.)* Just to name two: Pam doesn’t know that Jim bought a ring a month after they started dating. Andy still doesn’t know that Angela is cheating on him.
Since their work has nothing to show for it, the premise of a film crew at the office gets stretched each season that “The Office” is renewed.
The best thing about the documentary crew as a character is that the focus of the show is limited to work-related events. Stories from the outside are conveyed through clever use of the show’s format. The revelation of Jim and Pam’s relationship is seen when the camera crew follows him from work at a distance. What the audience gets of Dwight and Angela’s undercover romance is subtle glances, hushed conversations, and a happened-upon office party tryst.
The private moments that are seen are thrilling because of their rarity. Even better are the times when characters who know they’re being filmed don’t care what the camera sees. Andy’s serenade to Angela and Jim’s big smooch with Pam come to mind.
Maybe the last episode of “The Office” will have the premiere of “The Office” for the Dunder Mifflin employees. The show wouldn’t be able to continue after that.
*“Sex and the City” has the same problem. Carrie’s friends and dates don’t mention the mean things she writes (famously, for a major newspaper and book publisher) nearly as often as they should.
3 comments:
maybe they were made to sign a contract that said they weren't allowed to watch the tv series, for fear that it would influence their behavior. or maybe it is one of those things where they aren't going to release the footage to the public until the "documentary" is over. or maybe it is someone's research project and it was never intended to be released to the public anyway. or maybe... i'll stop now.
Yes, all excellent reasons. The part in "The Office" where they showed the incriminating footage to Pam and Jim reminded me of "The Real World: Seattle." The producers showed the castmembers the footage of Stephen hitting Irene and asked whether they thought he should be kicked off the show.
that slap was one of the defining moments of my adolescence. i'll always remember that.
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