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He desperately wants to be liked… just like Michael. His attempts to unify the employees end in awkward, inappropriate results… just like Michael. His love life crosses professional boundaries… just like Michael. And, like Michael used comedy to ineffectual ends, Andy uses music.

Not only that, but there seems to be very little blowback from Andy’s promotion. Darryl and Dwight in particular seem to get over being passed by very quickly. For that matter, Andy has worked in Scranton for a shorter time than the others. In a real office setting, there would be quite a bit of resentment. Yet, despite a grumble or two, the Dunder Mifflin gang joins together in the second season to reassure Andy that they’re still good with him. Look, if you’re making a show mocking office life, really explore all of the possibilities. Don’t just wash over them in an attempt to reestablish some sort of status quo. Real office status quo changes with a new boss. Run with that.

On the Robert California side, let me tell you, I couldn’t have been more excited for Spader to join the show. In the previous season’s finale, Spader makes the strongest impression of the celebrity interviewees. He was cocky, manipulative, in control, hilarious. Yet in this season’s follow up with the character, the extreme braggadocio and self assured arrogance of the character has been softened. Rather than being the wicked button pusher that he is in his interview, he becomes an erratic, sex obsessed boss type, rarely showing the edge of his first appearance.

Much has also been said of the increasing cartoonishness of the antics on a show supposedly grounded in reality. This doesn’t bother me as much, but it does speak to the argument that all shows have a shelf life. Once they progress beyond inspiration, there is very little writers can do other than amp up the extremities of the situations, the conflicts and the characters. When this starts to happen, there’s your indication that it’s time to start prepping for that series finale.

The Office had a huge opportunity to avoid this pitfall by shaking up the show’s DNA, without losing the central conceit of the show itself. However, rather than trying something different, they keep trying to do the same old Michael stuff with Andy. This results in the exaggerated antics and increased broadening of the characters, which rubs viewers so the wrong way. Opportunity wasted, results disappointing.

The show’s future is uncertain. There is little doubt that there will be a ninth season, but rumors of cast and creator defections abound and most folks expect a pretty big shakeup next year. Some are even throwing around that buzzword “reboot." For my part, I think a big upset would be beneficial for the show creatively, as well as for the office mythology. However, those who appreciate television as art can’t help but feel that the show has exhausted itself. It probably has. Unfortunately, no matter where it goes next, the legacy of a once brilliant show has probably been tarnished. Oh well. We’ll always have Michael in reruns.

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