Is Season 8 of the Office worth watching?

[the G-man]

He did mean it literally. Ed Helms did not become a manager. Andy did. It very likely has nothing to do with Ed Helms being a "bigger" name.

This. Ed Helms really isn't a bigger name than the rest of the main cast (except maybe BJ Novak).

I'm not a Hollywood agent and so I might be wrong but, years of watching "Entourage" and reading "Entertainment Weekly" have led me to believe that, once a TV actor has one or more hit movies under his belt as a lead performer he is usually assumed, for negotiating purposes, to be a "bigger" star than the others on the show (all things being equal, of course).

Helms was one of the main stars of the Hangover movies. No one else currently on the show (other than Spader, but he was hired for his fame in the first place) has starred in a hit film. Robinson's come close (Hot Tub Time Machine, but that's a cult movie at best) but that's it (and probably helps explain Daryl's higher profile as well).

 

[Captain Craig]

Seems a split opinion on Andy as manager cause it made "sense" to keep a goofy boss OR Andy as manager due to Ed Helms.

I'm in total agreement it's the latter...literally.

 

[J.T.B.]

I can't stand what they did with the Andy character. He was funny as a smug, oblivious dick with anger issues. He's not funny as a shy loveable loser. I hoped they might focus on some of the peripheral characters more after Carell left, but instead they have stuck with Jim, Pam and Dwight and placed more emphasis on Andy, Erin and Daryl. I agree with others that this is probably not un-related to those actors' appearances in successful movies.

I still watch the show, but no longer really look forward to it, it's just a time-filler whose best days are long behind.



Justin

 

[the G-man]

I can't stand what they did with the Andy character. He was funny as a smug, oblivious dick with anger issues. He's not funny as a shy loveable loser.

An interesting point. While I still find the show enjoyable, the "retcon" on Andy is a bit jarring at times.

more emphasis on Andy, Erin and Daryl. I agree with others that this is probably not un-related to those actors' appearances in successful movies.

Yep. And if "the Rocker" and "Super" hadn't bombed, Dwight might be the office manager right now.

Furthermore, if "Men of a Certain Age" had been cancelled a few months' earlier, and "Harry's Law" hadn't gotten picked up, I have a feeling Ray Romano might have been the new boss, with Kathy Bates still showing up as CEO.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

I think it's been OK. One thing missing now for better or worse is the pathos that came with Michael. You know sometimes where he did something so wrong and pathetic and cringeworthy but yet you still felt sorry for him and sometimes felt bad laughing at him when it got too bad.

I think the name Robert California is rather genius and I've worked with a couple so I can relate somewhat. It's a bit awkward because I don't think you're necessarily supposed to "like" him.

 

[VulcanJedi]

With Michael gone, do you think Season 8 of the Office is worth watching?

I love Robert California. Nobody can replace Steve, but it's still funny I think.

Ed Helms is hilarious, and by far the most talented comic actor on the program.