Andy Greene’s love letter to the show is a dream guide and oral history into the full creative process from the perspective of the writers, producers, cast and even some of the network executives ... Relying on almost 90 interviews, Greene lays out both the successes and struggles as he covers the history of the series. He delivers insight from the major players involved ... The result is a perfect book for fans along with students studying how television series are made.
Though the occasionally repetitive narrative would have benefited from a shade more editing and a greater willingness to address the show's missteps, fans will nevertheless be richly rewarded by insights into watershed moments, such as the meticulous location scouting that went into salesman Jim Halpert's proposal to receptionist Pam Beesly ... Greene's affectionate tribute will satisfy Office devotees eager for a behind-the-scenes look at this beloved sitcom.
The narrative, ably curated by Greene, features...cogent chapters about key episodes, lead characters such as the boss, Michael Scott (Steve Carrell), and assistant to the regional manager, Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson), craft talk, and nuts-and-bolts details ... Greene smartly lets the contributors elaborate how a workplace mockumentary became a cultural phenomenon. Lively anecdotes reveal the closeness of cast and crew ... Greene doesn’t just rave, however; the book includes respectful candor about episode ideas that didn’t pan out and late additions to the cast who didn’t fit ... Amid rich trivia for pop-culture buffs, relationships—both fictional and real—stand out ... A fond, funny, informative trip down Memory Lane for series buffs and newcomers alike.
... a fascinating oral history ... Greene...illuminates the show ... With its wealth of anecdotes, this entertaining history will delight the series’s many fans.
