The Office to have webisodes this summer

From the Futon Critic

NBC'S "THE OFFICE" PREMIERES THE FIRST OF 10 ORIGINAL, EXCLUSIVE WEEKLY WEBISODES ON NBC.COM ON THURSDAY, JULY 13
Released by NBC


NBC'S "THE OFFICE" PREMIERES THE FIRST OF 10 ORIGINAL, EXCLUSIVE WEEKLY WEBISODES ON NBC.COM ON THURSDAY, JULY 13

A New Webisode Premieres Every Thursday Through September 14

BURBANK, Calif. -- June 27, 2006 -- NBC's hit comedy "The Office" (Thursdays, 9:30 - 10:00 p.m. ET, moving to 8:30-9:00 p.m. ET in the fall) goes digital when the first of 10, original stand-alone webisodes premieres on NBC.com on Thursday, July 13. The serialized, weekly arc will star the accounting staff of the Dunder Mifflin paper company in an edge-of-your-ergonomically-designed-seat whodunit.

In the first of 10 webisodes, each about two-three minutes, the Dunder Mifflin accountants -- Angela (Angela Kinsey), Kevin (Brian Baumgartner) and Oscar (Oscar Nuez) -- discover that $3000 is missing from the Scranton office, and no one is above suspicion as the crack team of numbers crunchers tries to solve the mystery -- before turning on each other. Rainn Wilson, Melora Hardin, Phyllis Smith, Kate Flannery, Leslie David Baker and David Denman also star.

"The Office" takes a painfully funny look at the interactions of the desk jockeys at Dunder Mifflin paper-supply company in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Golden Globe winner Steve Carell ("The 40-Year-Old Virgin" -- whom E! Online said, "might be the funniest man alive,") stars as unctuous regional manager Michael Scott who hosts the documentary crew on a tour of the workplace. Jenna Fischer ("Slither"), John Krasinski ("Jarhead," "Kinsey"), Rainn Wilson ("Six Feet Under"), and B.J. Novak ("Punk'd") star as the employees who tolerate Michael's inappropriate behavior only because he signs their paychecks. Also starring are Melora Hardin as Jan Levinson, David Denman as Roy, Leslie David Baker as Stanley Hudson, Brian Baumgartner as Kevin Malone, Kate Flannery as Meredith Palmer, Angela Kinsey as Angela Martin, Oscar Nuez as Oscar Martinez and Phyllis Smith as Phyllis Lapin. "The Office" is executive-produced by Ben Silverman, Greg Daniels, who developed the series for American television, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant and Howard Klein.

This is great news...yes, I know you BBC America snobs poo poo the merits of NBC's version, but since the cancellation of "Arrested Development" there isn't a better comedy on TV. No other show has more stunning humour behind throw away lines. Little references to a "Luke Perry", "Mambo No.5" or Alicia Keyes" in the perfect places make me laugh harder than 22 minutes of anything else network.

I'll avoid highlighting the obvious Michael, Dwight mentions as great comedic characters but rather give a shoutout John Krasinski, who plays Jim on the show. He should be showered with Emmys for years after his, sometimes heartbreaking, performance the latter part of the season. His admission scene to Pam in the finale was priceless and was filled with more genuine emotion than other shows which tend to cater to the romance-seeking audience.

I can't wait.

Tags: Pop Culture News, TV