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A review by ahomelibrary
The Office: The Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000s: An Oral History by Andy Greene
Summary — This is the story of the making of a the US version of The Office television series. Author Andy Greene has compiled the oral history of the show from interviews and statements from producers, writers, actors, and other figures like critics and celebrities. The reader gets an overview of the show in sections such as it’s UK origins, the casting method, the staging and costume ideas, the first few episodes and how it formulated the ideas for the future of the show, the various seasons, and really popular episodes. There are color photographs included. The style of the book is 90% interview / oral style statements + 10% guided by the author.
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Review — Quick read. Only really interesting if you like the show, otherwise I don’t think you’d care. At first I was a bit unsure if I liked how it was a 90/10 balance. Oral histories are mostly like that, of course, it’s the whole point. As it turns out, I did like it — I don’t really need to know what Andy Greene thinks more than someone who wrote or acted in the show. I am a fan of both the US/UK show and I really appreciated knowing more about how they took the successful UK version and translated it to US audiences, while also adding their own cultural styles. I learned a lot about the show through the eyes of the actors, but I also gained some knowledge on how shows are produced, like the casting, the set design, costumes etc. just from off-remarks by the interviewees. I appreciated learning fun facts, such as the REAL town of Scranton often sent props for the show. Knowing all these tidbits really makes me appreciate the work that is put into shows that I enjoy. It’s a totally different world than I would ever inhabit, so I’m glad to have a peek into it!
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Who is it good for? — Most importantly, fans of The Office. Fans of television history, pop culture, US/UK pop culture, filmography, and oral histories. All ages, but there are some stray PG-13 comments just like The Office itself. Recommended. 4/5 stars on my end.
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Review — Quick read. Only really interesting if you like the show, otherwise I don’t think you’d care. At first I was a bit unsure if I liked how it was a 90/10 balance. Oral histories are mostly like that, of course, it’s the whole point. As it turns out, I did like it — I don’t really need to know what Andy Greene thinks more than someone who wrote or acted in the show. I am a fan of both the US/UK show and I really appreciated knowing more about how they took the successful UK version and translated it to US audiences, while also adding their own cultural styles. I learned a lot about the show through the eyes of the actors, but I also gained some knowledge on how shows are produced, like the casting, the set design, costumes etc. just from off-remarks by the interviewees. I appreciated learning fun facts, such as the REAL town of Scranton often sent props for the show. Knowing all these tidbits really makes me appreciate the work that is put into shows that I enjoy. It’s a totally different world than I would ever inhabit, so I’m glad to have a peek into it!
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Who is it good for? — Most importantly, fans of The Office. Fans of television history, pop culture, US/UK pop culture, filmography, and oral histories. All ages, but there are some stray PG-13 comments just like The Office itself. Recommended. 4/5 stars on my end.