The Office Reboot: Even Sitcoms Need Big Brands Now
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- Опубліковано 23 тра 2024
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The Office is getting a new sequel show set at a newspaper! In this video, I go over what I'm excited about in the Peacock/NBC show, but also why the connection to the old show makes me a little wary.
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Are you interested in this "dying local newspaper" setting they announced for the new Office?
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"i think this a pretty fantastic premise for a sitcom"
someone didn't see after life
Apple+ has an amazing workplace comedy called Mythic Quest, but the first episode is terrible. Everything else is pure gold.
@captainmidnight I’d love to hear your thoughts on Rick and Morty season 7
There is more original content than ever before in the history of movies or TV. People just don't support it enough.
...no.
We've reached the creative bankruptcy singularity, reboots of reboots.
Recyclement of every known ip and brand
The issue, as pointed out by Brandon Sanderson, is that movies and TV are dealing with the same problem that books have faced since the printing press. There are so many options that they can't rely on the large audiences they grew used to when there were only a few options at any given time.
So, they conclude that it's because of the stuff and not the format and start trying to dig stuff back up from when they didn't need to try as hard to get viewers.
Dc and marvel comics have been there for quite a while
Machines building machines‽ How Perverse.
-George Lucas
@@headecas who cares 😂 comics and superheros are dead
I really hope that they make a UK version of the US Office reboot just to bring it into a full crappy circle
They could finally get Gervais and Merchant to reunite since they haven't worked together in 10+ years lol
Emma Watson as Pam, Daniel Radcliffe as Jim, Rupert Grint as Michael 😎.
@@mrgreatauki was about to disagree, but seen the Harry Potter ‘s cast on such a bizarre setting sounds oddly appealing. It’d be Like seen the whole cast of Friends in a horror movie 🍿
The show was never good though? Uk and US overused jokes and just not funny.
@@mrgreatauk Emma Watson as Pam worst character ever lol
Don't you ever change that intro Captain Midnight. I'll never forgive you if you do.
Outro too
It needs a reboot.
Fun Fact: in Parks and Rec was a spin-off of The Office with the connective thread being that a copier from Dunder Mifflin arrives at the Parks and Rec department.
They scrapped the idea last minute so they'd have freedom to cast actors from The Office in different roles.
Rashida Jones was the main/sole reason we got the incredible P&R as it is
Anne Perkins
That's not was a spin off is
@@Adobo809🤡 He explained why it ended up not being a spin off
having a shared universe doesn't make a show a spin off 🤡
The problem is they're not willing to allow a TV show to gain an audience. The office was not the office until the second or third season. Same with Seinfeld. They wanted to be a hit right out the gate and that just doesn't happen.
Definitely. The way we watch TV has changed too though. Binge watching is the thing now, back in the day it was tuning in every week at a certain time
Instead of trying to spruik it as a spin-off of The Office, the creators could have just advertised it as “from the creators/writers of The Office.” This would have avoided the uproar & controversy of the lack of new IP in film and television these days. It would have certainly generated interest among the nostalgic fans of The Office.
I really think more of these networks/services should consider this more than they currently do, as from my experience this kind of advertising DOES work.
I'm not sure how well these shows are known in America, but I recall BBC Show "The Bodyguard" being marketed, and one of the main selling points was "Made by the people who brought you Line of Duty". People loved that show so were immediately like "Holy shit! These guys making another crime/political drama? I'm in!"
A popular author doesn't need to keep releasing reboots of the same popular book to get sales, name recognition alone will often get people thinking "Oh, they made X? I loved X! I'll definitely give this a shot"
I think the industry has been leaning towards IP-based marketing rather than what you suggest is your suggestion makes the creatives more important and expensive. If the IP is the driving force for success, the creatives are replaceable and can be paid less.
leverage the popularity of the IP but separate it, pitch it more like a spiritual successor
As someone who is only 19 I remeber growing up seeing the animated movies have the "From the creators of ice age and incredibles" or something similar and I would always watch the new movies because it said they were created by the creators of successful movies we all know and love. So it would be great to bring that back for all movies
I feel it woud jusr come off as unoriginal, this would be like a PNR 2.0, and yeah, it may be, but it's not that obvious.
I hate how prevalent IP and Brand is in decided what gets made
I'm firmly convinced that one of these days, they're going to release a show or movie and the first thing we see is Batman's parents dying again, simply because they forgot they weren't shooting something Batman-related.
Then you must hate all media, made throughout time. Everything you like is an IP and Brand. Everything is re-contextualization, everything is a remake.
@@SmithMrCorona Well someone's going through their emo smarty-pants stage.
@@danielgehring7437 I’m 47.
At least Mr. Plinkett can still watch his Night Court tape.
Keep trying to use a good yt channel to prop up this dogshit channel/show😂
I can only imagine what he would think of the reboot.
Or rather, how it would subvert my expectations.
There's a video where Rich!Plinkett watches the remake. He's not amused 😂
"His fucking Night Court Tape you piece of shieeet."
Mike Stoklasa
Brian the boom operator was on of the most beloved characters in the Office. I'm so glad they are doing a spinoff on him and the film crew . . .
I'm still holding out hope for a musical variety hour hosted by Hank the security guard and Plop.
He's an on and off billionaire now. Tres commas.
Disappointed we didnt get the Office Mail spin off "Post-Office"
Nice.
That is actually a great idea.
By announcing the show as 'The New Office', they're building interest, sure, but also expectations, both in terms of quality and tone/style.
I wonder what would'a happened if they launched the show without advertising the Office connection, and, after a few subtle hints that this is a spin-off, there was a cameo in episode three (or so) that made it explicit. Maybe the surprise would'a caused good word-of-mouth? Just spitballin'
Sure worked for Split.
what’s ironic….
Ricky Gervais also had a post “the office” sitcom about a small town newspaper company, “after life”.
Hollywood has to know they have major problems by now, right? Every new announcement is worse than the one before.
Literally almost every decision made by these studios is done by an AI algorithm and carried out by indifferent/ incompetent management.
I think, for one thing, it shows just how abysmal the whole comedy industry has been lately. So many shows and movies have come and failed. The only thing in recent memory that I can remember enjoying is the show Jury Duty, which just so happened to have people behind The Office in its creation. The premise of this new reboot sounds interesting to me so I choose to be cautiously optimistic.
1. Don't change that intro and 2. I think an interesting video idea would be looking at, instead of the flailing network sitcoms, the comedy shows on streaming and the stylistic changes or elements that have kept them in the public eye. Shows like The Bear, Hacks, Reservation Dogs, Only Murders in the Building, or what Abbott Elementary does well to stay in that same culture zeitgeist (iirc, the only network show nominated for Emmys with all the streaming shows?). Understand that that would take a lot of time
Or just how Poker Face balances the "monster of the week" formula with its ongoing story (mostly, just a video for more people to watch Poker Face)
Second on the Poker Face video, maybe I am just a fan of anything with Natasha Lyonne but Poker Face really hooked me and I think the format had a lot to do with that. Definitely needs more attention.
Setting sounds good. There's enough material in it to come up with multiple stories related to the dying industry of newspapers. It could work as comedy provided they allow the show to be its own thing and not just copy everything from the original.
NBC needs to remember how shows like Seinfeld really took multiple seasons to find their stride, but maybe they dont have that luxury in the crowded streaming space
You’re talking about a period in the past when some shows were a multi year investment. Sometimes it worked out very well like Breaking Bad. Sometimes it’s sad repetitive travesties like Survivor and American Idol. Now, shows are given only weeks, or sometimes just days to strike gold or be cancelled.
Also I think people now either are into you or not. If you don't get people's attention in the first episode or second your show is probably dead. People have better things to do and don't have the patience for a show to get better
:::In Micheal Scott voice::;
"NO GOD! NO GOD PLEASE! NO! NO GOD! NO! NOOOOOO!"
haha. funny gif haha
The Office is not "low concept", that's a malaprop originating from a misunderstanding of the term "high concept". High concept just means very pitchable at a 30,000 foot view - which The Office is.
Low concept, if we were take the opposite of the term, would be something like Myth Buster, where each episode is very contained and not well described in the pitch for the show.
Seeing how the TV landscape evolves, especially for sitcoms, just furthers my awe at the success of the amazing "Only Murders in the Building".
Why is it even necessary? Sure, the world and humor have both changed since The Office came out. But there’s still so much comedy gold from this show, and wouldn’t be the same without Scott’s Michael, Krasinski as Jim, Rainn Wilson as Dwight, etc.
You mean Steve Carrell's Michael.
@@ScreenSage_YT Oops yeah lol
The newspaper set up of the show kind of sounds like the same as another Ricky Gervais product: Afterlife. Which also plays out in a dying local newspaper
I really don't know anything about The Office, so for the longest time I thought one of the running jokes was that we never found out what the company they were working for actually does.
I'm almost surprised Friends hasn't tried making a modern reboot. It would definitely be the most cringey thing ever.
Noooo you've just cursed it into existence
Glad that hasnt been greenlit
I don't think you can actually "remake" Friends. It would be like remaking Seinfeld. Making a new show with 5 people and calling it "Friends", that you could do. But that's basically it.
Your videos are always a delight. Thank you!
The original Office should have just shadow snuck backdoor pilots for a solo spin off sitcom of each character into the original run, to break out the most well received ones and make them full spinoffs in case of more The Office money needing to be made.
They actually did that for Dwight in the final season, via an episode called The Farm. It failed abysmally and it was clearly the right move to not make it its own series.
@@sstevee000 I actually remember that, but I was also joking since I actually think that would have been a terrible idea.
To be fair the studios are only feeding into what audiences show up for, ppl keep avoiding the fact that its our fault too, that all these reboots, adaptations and IP films/series are so successful, often the only successful and profitable ones in the market. I mean the things you hear from people within the industry is absolutely scary regarding the future, after the strikes studios have made it absolute hell for creatives and writers who can’t get anything greenlit anymore. Can’t wait for the next 20 years of video game rehashes and fanfic adaptations
I like to think it's partially attributed to the over inflated budgets that a lot of these shows/movies have now. Recent example is The Fall Guy flopping due to a $130m budget. It was a four quadrant film (star power, comedy, action, some nostalgia) but even though it grossed $180m, if flopped bc it wasn't an event film. If it had a modest budget, maybe.
But idk, my theory may fall flat bc Challengers didn't do too well either (bad trailer? who knows).
I just think studios ought to reign in budgets and bring in mid budget films. A24 seems to be doing well, but it's niche.
The reason is because of streaming. If tv shows and movies still had the home video market (DVDs. box sets, etc), then we'd still get unexpectedly-great comedy movies and shows: studios used to take a risk on making 20 of them because if just ONE was a hit in home video, it would pay for the other 19 flops, plus make profits.. a single "cult classic" (that bombed at the box office) would justify financing years worth of new comedy movies and shows. But now without home video, they don't make nearly as much on streaming, so if a comedy movie made today isn't a box office hit, its financing can't be justified; and likewise for a show and being a hit when it first airs. And THAT is why today they don't make any more comedies from unknown Directors and unknown actors in new IPs, like most of the classic great comedies: today the financiers can only justify the risk if the IP is already successful or if the Director and Actors are proven high-draw commodities, because today it has to make all its money back in the initial run, unlike the days of home video and DVD box sets.
Try to keep in mind that those IP installations were specifically designed to make us keep coming back. Think of all those Marvel post-credit scenes, sequel-baiting, or cross-overs that trained us to care only about franchise instalments. Patrick H Willems did a pretty good video on the death of cinema, but sum up to say: audiences didn’t just wake up one day and decide they only wanted franchise instalments. Franchise instalments have been a feature of cinema since its conception, (think Police Academy, Rocky, Planet of the Apes, etc.). People still went to see other things. There’s a lot of reasons to speculate why they don’t now, but I think one plausible reason is that franchise instalments became the only movies that studios were willing to prioritise. And, as Scorsese said, “if audiences are endlessly sold only one kind of thing, of course they’re going to want more of that one kind of thing.”
I think the structure of this video worked well to keep my attention, good job!
Not opposed, not in favor, I just can't imagine it'll be any good. I am a fan of the original show and I think it's probably the best sitcom I've ever seen, but I don't need a revival, reboot or spin-off of it.
I think we all just have to face the fact that shows are no longer made to be 'good.' They're just made to be consumed. Things that might actually push the envelope, like characters experiencing real growth, just shorten the potential lifespan of any new projects.
I appreciate your videos. Very well done and honest. Thank you for your content.
They’ve milked the cow dry so now their milking the almond
I get the meaning of the phrase, but almond milk is healthier and better than cow’s milk so it comes off the opposite of intended
Generally I agree. I hate even shows have to be "brands" now. But in many ways this show sounds to be more of a spin-off in the spirit of The Office, not unlike Parks & Rec. We have tons of branded legacy shows with tons of spin-offs like CSI, Law & Order, even Yellowstone. I'm glad it's not just a full reboot that's exactly the same show but new. Cautiously optimistic.
How about a look at Tires?
A very 2010s inspired sitcom, powered by Shane Gillis, but has the right mix of heart and bro jokes. Maybe not as smart as something like Letterkenny, but I think might be a breakthrough workplace sitcom we deserve.
What makes this worse is that Steve Carell signed to star in another completely different sitcom (his second since The Office first being that NASA one he did for Netflix)
No meaning on calling this show Office if Steve Carell isn’t a part of it
Yes I would love a video on See So! I signed up for it for a few months to watch the McElroy Brothers’ show. It was cute and I was sad to see it wasn’t getting a second season and that See So went under. There were a lot of great comedians with specials or shows on it.
i’m with you, i think this is a much more interesting approach than an actual reboot. i would honestly love a new lighthearted comedy in the vein of the office, a show that attempts to capture a similar spirit. it’s not really creative bankruptcy considering it’ll be harder to do that intentionally than making something good out of thin air. also, i think Ted was great
Hollywood will never learn
I just can’t fight the feeling it will be middle-of-the-road and nothing more. Maybe get 4 seasons? I just don’t care anymore.. even The Office is starting to feel like slop, and I didn’t want that to happen.
I’m guessing Space Force left a bad enough taste for the creators to seek big enough pockets as a safety net… just in case. Not that Netflix didn’t shelled out but you could clearly see how big the budget difference is between seasons 1 & 2
As long as it is a new show set in the same universe and in the same style and not just a remake/reboot of The Office, then I'd be all for it.
My personal dream show would be a new series set in the firefly setting with some returning characters. Make Mal the Shepard Book character, set it on a space budget cruise ship instead of space freighter, ect.
When I heard they were remaking Babylon 5 I groaned. Please god no... remake Crusade, it had potential but was badly executed. Don't remake the show that was perfect to begin with.
I remember going on a field trip to my local paper's giant building off US1. They haven't been in that building for some years now. I always feel a bit sad when I drive by.
I’ve been waiting for this video
Love your channel. I always think of Taxi as an ABC show even though when the Alphabet Network dropped it, NBC picked it up.
Man, I forgot about seeso. You should definitely do a video on it.
I immediately thought of Ricky Gervais' "After Life" when you mentioned the newspaper premise.
Just finished reading hard copy of Binary Sea. Arts amazing, dialogue is great, can’t wait to see where these characters are headed, and that cliff hanger. Will be getting a hard copy of the whatever comes next.
This new The Office really just makes me think of How I Met Your Father- which is similarly “set in the same universe” as the original but follows a completely different unrelated cast of characters following the same format and somewhat the same premise as the original.
It being “in the same universe” will mean obligatory guest appearances from some of the original cast to provide fan service and arbitrary connective tissue to boost attention on certain episodes, which won’t be enough to appease fans who for whatever reason do want to just have a The Office sequel with the original cast, meanwhile damning this show to live in the shadow of the OG and not be allowed to really be its own. I emphasize this because the press release announcing this show is too preoccupied emphasizing that this new show isn’t a new thing or even just a reboot of the Office premise like the American version was of the original UK- they’re firmly underlining how it’s some strange sequel/spinoff to get fans’ hopes up that we will definitely see some of the original cast even just make cameos
I had no idea that there are 2 more seasons of A.P. Bio on Peacock. Thanks.
Pet parents, homeless, aging politicians, dumb influencers… so many modern and good topics for sitcoms, yet they seem to just want to revamp everything.
I recently watched News Radio's 4 seasons. Great Sitcom, kinda reminded me of Frasier.
What I really want to know is if they have similar creatives writers and directors etc. Without that the vibe won’t work, and ppl won’t like it. The concept actually sounds really promising, so I’m tentatively excited
I bought your comic by accident, because of amazons one click buy thing, but I can confidently say: I dont regret it and I'm intrigued and can't wait fo read more.
Sounds like the show After Life. Though it wasn't strictly about the news paper. Great show btw
It can also be a case of "Lets attach this brand we already own and everyone loves to this new thing we are doing so it brings in more audience". Because, at the end of the day, even if the new stuff turns out to be terrible, the "The Office" everyone loves wont be damaged by it. So its just free publicity for the studio with barely no downsides.
I’d be interested in a video on See So, I had never heard of it until watching this video!! Also, an Office reboot doesn’t sound like the brightest idea….
There is one original sitcom IP coming to NBC in the fall called St. Denis Medical under that format. It remains to be seen if it will have any success given the current state of sitcoms right now.
We Are Lady Parts is starting its second season on Peakcock later this week on Peakcock. It also remains to be seen if it can survive, though that is a British show so standards may be different.
i think the camera crew angle kinda works because the original office was a big hit in-universe, so the characters will likely approach the filming of the documentary in a different manner. i hope they don't actually interact either. I'm sure there'll be references to the old show for sure but so far it looks like it's trying to be its own thing with regards to the cast at least lol
Workplace sitcoms are disappearing because workplaces are disappearing. And the ones that remain are not appealing settings for lighthearted shenanigans. It's only funny look at your job and laugh when your job is a grueling experience you only endure to stave off destitution.
I’m definitely interested in a video on Seeso.
I imagine like with most other shows these days (young sheldon for example), it will not receive much appraise to begin with but slowly over the years it will start to become much more widley praised and grow its audience in its later stages
A seeso video would be great. I didn’t even know that was a thing at all
A video on See So could be interesting. Perhaps it could dovetail deeper into other niche streaming services too that specialize in niche content genres.
I appreciated the inclusion of the community reference to the cape lol. I'd like to see video on SeeSo I had almost completely forgot that that ass a thing at some point.
I would love a video on SeeSo. It was a crazy mix of interesting shows.
Please do make a video on Seeso, I remember it being the first streaming platform I ever actually paid for myself, as opposed to password sharing Netflix.
There IS interest in a 'See So' video. From me, at least.
Never heard it mentioned, over here in the UK, and would welcome your insight.
I think they should've made it about Athlead, Jim and Daryl's new company at the end. We'd get 3 of our favorite characters back + be able to see some of the older characters from the original show + meet new character's that we'll come to love.
I worked at a paper like this for 3 years. I think the thing that weirdly irks me the most about the concept are the volunteer reporters. In my experience papers like this are largely staffed by either longtime staffers, retirees who can afford low pay and young kids trying to get a start in the news industry. That could be plenty fun.
8:09 Couldn't agree more. It baffles me when companies like Amazon will announce shows getting green-lit for a new season weeks before the current season is even released to the public.
1:55
the premise does sound interesting, if only as a framing device.
Personally, I think it'd be neat to have a show like this that never intoduces the crew, it's just the perspective.
They need to leave the office alone.
Network Creativity: “I. Declare. BANKRUPTCY!”
As someone who was a reporter at a dying (now dead) Midwestern paper, I love this concept. When I was working there, I often thought you could make a great show or movie about the strange people reporters encounter and the drama of covering local government (although they're not going to top Park and Rec's community meetings). The office atmosphere we had was loose and fun; I could see this really working if told the right way. I don't know that it needs The Office branding, but I don't think it hurts. I think How I Met Your Father failed because people felt so burned by the last two seasons of HIMYM...The Office had some really rocky final seasons, but I think there was genuine goodwill about how it ended, and people keep returning to the show.
Creed just being back there as a newspaper ad man with no explanation for it would be a great tie-in.
Goddam I love ya, Cap
“So, Seeso did so so
So NBC said no go
So now they’re a go on Peapock
Which is down low just Seeso’s new logo”
-Sam Reich, Collegehumor
Have workplace sitcoms died out because workplaces have kinda died out? So many people wfh now, going to work just isn’t the same as it used to be. I barely know my colleagues now.
Being set in the same world makes sense for another mockumentary show.
People often connect dots between shows being connected unofficially, this is just a "yes it's the same world" confirmation.
Don’t forget! We are also getting a “The Office Australia” sometime this year - will be interesting
I’ve always had a concept in brain that if they had to keep the same characters just focus on a different branch but just keep Ryan and Michael. Set it in Colorado where Michael who couldn’t get work outside Dundee mifflin is the Jan of that area. And after Ryan running away with Kelly inevitably fails Michael gets him a job as a regional manager. I feel like focusing on Ryan would be interesting cause he’s the only charchter that got an ending while fun wasn’t really satisfying with what he saw. I think a comedy with the emotional core of being a failure like how Ryan turned out would be interesting.
What’s interesting to me about this is that the show Not Dead Yet, a newspaper-focused workplace sitcom on ABC, literally just finished its second and final season. Had a somewhat unique premise (the main character can see the dead people she’s writing obituaries about) and had a stacked cast of comedy veterans (Gina Rodriguez, Hannah Simone, and Lauren Ash), yet it still got cancelled and nobody I know has even heard of it. It was pretty decent too and I’m sure it could’ve become something great if given the chance. Really does feel like big brands are the pretty much only thing that can be successful these days and that’s super bleak.
Never heard of SeeSo so I look forward to that video.
Abbot Elementary is basically an Office spin off and it is a masterpiece
would like to see the video on See So. i had never heard of it
If Michael Schur is involved, I have faith. The Good Place was fantastic. Surprised it didn’t get a mention!
I think Better Call Saul did a good job standing on its own while being crutched up by the original. Let’s hope the best but expect the worst. Either way they are gonna milk IPs, might as well root for em until reason not to.
I'd 100% watch a captain midnight video about a streaming service I've never heard of. Same reason I'd watch a four hour Jenny Nicholson video about a theme park I will never go to.
Yes please do a video on See so
I've been enjoying the workplace sitcom over on Fox, Animal Control. It's not the best show ever made, but everyone seems to understand the assignment and the result is a very classic Fox style bit of comfort food.
It’s insane that Domhnall Gleeson went from roles like his incredible part in Ex Machina to a cheesy romcom and now… this? Man is too talented for it!!
I was a subscriber to SeeSo, and would love a video about it.
I’d love a Seeso video!
Honestly, in St. Louis we just lost our last independent newspaper
I wasn't aware of the way they are "rebooting"
I think you're spot on with this one. There needs to be something in between UA-cam and Netflix/Peacock/etc that is geared towards just making shows, but can give shows grace from viewers.
It seems like there is a lost area in the industry. UA-cam is so popular that a mid show simply isn't going to make enough money to run long enough to find itself.
But maybe that's the answer. People who care about making sitcoms will somehow have to set a tone for a niche of UA-cam that works like legacy TV and you would be designated a particular type of channel?
Idk I definitely don't have any answers but for the viewer, there's no place to go where shows are given the opportunity to become anything than what they're sold as in the first episode
I think Netflix’s Tires is one of the few examples of a workplace comedy being able to stand on its own two feet. But even that has the benefit of being attached to one of the largest modern day comedians
I would vastly prefer a series of 1 off reunion specials every few years of the OG cast to see what they are up to now. Kinda like how sitcoms from the 70s/80s/90s went off the air and then later had a series of TV movies later on- similar to The Brady Bunch, Growing Pains etc.
I like that the connect isn't as clear. If the show starts off well, hopefully it'll get some attention.
MUST SEE TV!
You're the one of the only creators on here I'd trust to give Seeso its due.
I wasn't interested in The Office adjacent Parks and Recreation, and I'm even less interested in now iterative Office reboot/sequel. I don't remember the last time I watched a new sitcom, but uninspired shows that are just rehashes really turn me off.