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Why Jessica Alba, Jack Black and Cloris Leachman could be bad for 'The Office'
When NBC announced Monday that Jack Black would guest-star in the post-Super Bowl episode of The Office, I was curious and maybe a little nervous. Now the network says it's also signed Jessica Alba, and my colleague Korbi Ghosh has broken news that Cloris Leachman will be involved in the episode as well.
And I've gone from a little nervous to really nervous.
The Office has defied a lot of sitcom expectations in its five seasons. It's probably the most successful remake of a British comedy in a generation, and it's made a long-running romantic storyline (Jim and Pam) palatable without letting it take over the show. So maybe it can pull off a guest star-packed post-Super Bowl episode and keep up its usual standards of comedy.
I'd like to think that, but for six words: "The One After the Super Bowl."
That was the hour-long episode of Friends that aired after Super Bowl XXX in 1996 and featured the likes of Brooke Shields, Julia Roberts and Jean-Claude Van Damme in guest roles. It was also a low point in a very strong second season for the show, as large parts of the episode felt like they were written to accommodate the sudden presence of these big stars (yes, Van Damme qualified as such 12 years ago) rather than serve the regular characters.
Malcolm in the Middle also succumbed to guest-star inflation (Susan Sarandon, Bradley Whitford, Stephen Root) with its post-Super Bowl episode in 2002. As a result, the hour-long "Family Picnic" episode made a show that usually whizzed by seem interminable.
To The Office's credit, it does sound like the show is keeping its big-name guest stars out of the main story. Black, Alba and Leachman will be playing themselves, as the stars of a bootlegged movie that the Dunder Mifflin crew watches in the office. (Side question: What kind of movie stars Jack Black, Jessica Alba and Cloris Leachman?)
But still. The show is already taking on the burden of an hour-long episode for an audience that will be several times larger than normal, and you just know that NBC is going to be relentless in promoting the Big! Movie! Stars! that are part of the episode (it's already started, in fact. There's little reason to announce Jack Black one day, Jessica Alba the next, and Cloris Leachman a little later unless you're trying to keep the story alive longer).
I fear a situation in which the extra 20 million people who aren't regular Office viewers but tune in after the game find themselves wondering why the big stars are taking a back seat to Kevin, Phyllis and Angela. Those of us who do watch the show every week, meanwhile, could wind up distracted by the rather glaring presence of Black, Alba and Leachman in a show that has always resisted stunt casting.
I hope I'm proven wrong on Feb. 1, and that The Office makes a bunch of new fans without alienating those of us who have been there from day one. But it's going to be a tall order to cram in all the guests and still bring the usual level of funny.
Who cares? The Office sucks. I watch Ugly Betty on Thursdays, and look forward to it every week.
Crafty Matthew | Dec 16, 2008 3:47:38 PM | #The Office is on at 9pm. Ugly Betty is on at 8pm. If you ask me, Office is a much better show.
Tom | Dec 16, 2008 4:18:44 PM | #i like betty better also.
gregg | Dec 16, 2008 5:00:15 PM | #Ugly Betty and the Office make my Thursdays watchable. DVR friends. DVR.
Don't Knock It | Dec 16, 2008 5:01:37 PM | #I highly doubt that there will be an 'extra' 20 million people who will tune into the post-SuperBowl episode.
2 years ago, Criminal Minds only got about a 1 point bump on its seasonal average and House last year got maybe a 2 point bump on its seasonal average (for new eps).
Don't expect 28 million people to suddenly tune into the episode. They should be happy if it doubles it's seasonal new episode average (has a much smaller base than Criminal Minds and House - hence the larger area for improvement).
Rishi | Dec 16, 2008 5:34:19 PM | #great post, first. second, I wonder how these guest appearances will help the stars themselves in future ratings. When people see steve carrell anymore, they associate him with the office, thus increasing his ratings... I hope it does the same for these guys(even though they will only be on one episode, thus probably not being associated with the show, obviously).... My fingers are crossed for the show, the post game success, and the stars themselves that they survive the guest spots... and come out alive and with better ratings: http://www.everyhype.com/?utm_source=bc)
Erin | Dec 16, 2008 6:02:34 PM | #Programmers always presume that folks who watch football also like shows like The Office. Generally, they don't. If The Office does get a ratings boost from being on post-Bowl, it will likely be because folks with Nielsen boxes will be too drunk or otherwise busy to shut the TV off or change the channel. :P
Malicious Break | Dec 16, 2008 6:12:27 PM | #Jack Black, Jessica Alba and Cloris Leachman could all be in a musical comic book comedy rather effortlessly. Then again, have we ever heard Jessica sing?
Matt | Dec 17, 2008 5:16:46 AM | #Rishi, I dont know how to break it to u but the post super bowl ep of House got 29 million viewers........the season averaged 16.2. 26.2 million people watched the CM ep after the SB.......the season averaged 14 million
Kyle | Dec 17, 2008 5:57:14 AM | #What is this, a post-game show or the half-time show? Too much spice spoils the soup y'know.
pakopako | Dec 17, 2008 7:46:06 AM | #Great minds think alike, I guess. I am EXTREMELY wary of The Office engaging in stunt casting. Thank god they are at least playing themselves.
TWSS Matt | Dec 17, 2008 8:07:04 AM | #The office, Funny?????? Seriously have you people any idea what funny is? Oh and look at the super consistently LOW ratings. Not to overlook the talent of Jack Black he is good but maybe they should have tried for GOD. that is the only being that could possibly salvage this PoC. (Piece of Crap). The actors are talented but the material SUCKS!
Bad Person | Dec 17, 2008 9:28:24 AM | #I would rather just have the regular cast.
Deb | Dec 17, 2008 9:57:38 AM | #According to TV Guide (sorry Zap2It, but I do read both), The Office and 30 Rock have very high ratings amongst higher-income viewers, which either says something bad about rich people's viewing habits, or says something good about NBC programming to a very tiny portion of the viewing audience. Either way, House is watched by people from all demos, which is why the post-Bowl episode was so highly-rated. The Office is more of a niche show that might not appeal to the average viewers of the Super Bowl, and so the ratings probably won't be near as good. We'll see. In any case, it can't hurt, since The Office has ridiculously-low ratings otherwise, and would have been cancelled quickly back in the days of The Cosby Show and Cheers. Extra exposure and decent ratings will give NBC something to crow about, since they have little reason to do so lately.
Thorny | Dec 17, 2008 10:35:16 AM | #Kyle, I will take you at your word on the post-SB ratings for House and CM. Do you (or anybody else) have any info on what if any effect those post-SB numbers had on the remainder of the season?
In other words, after the big post-SB ratings bump, have ANY shows over the years benefited from a lasting ratings improvement?
George | Dec 17, 2008 10:38:32 AM | #To Crafty Matthew and Bad Person:
We get it. You do not think The Office is funny. Too bad you cannot appreciate subtle humor. You should feel free to return to Two and a Half Men now.
Tony | Dec 17, 2008 10:41:16 AM | #The Office may not win it's timeslot each week---but it has the viewers that NBC wants. I think this post-superbowl Office will show people how funny the show is and it will gain viewership.
With sitcoms basically dying, it's nice to see NBC still has faith in such shows as My Name Is Earl, The Office and 30 Rock--all of which are part of the Peacock's Must See TV lineup.
steve | Dec 17, 2008 10:48:32 AM | #Ugly Betty is terrible. Guess Crafty and Bad Person need people to fall down and walk into things to find them funny.
JD | Dec 17, 2008 10:51:31 AM | #the office sucks. i find the show more annoying than funny. i just dont get how people watch this crap.
jamie | Dec 17, 2008 11:49:17 AM | #Geroge, im not quite sure about CM or House but i do know that after the post SB greys anatomy ep it was watched by more people than its lead in Desperate Housewives which is pretty impressive so i guess if people enjoy the ep then some tune in to the other eps
Kyle | Dec 17, 2008 4:14:26 PM | #The Office draws huge numbers each week from people either downloading or DVR recording.
This is not reflected in the weekly ratings however.
Bad Person, the only thing that matters to networks is money which comes from peopling buying ad space and people buying ad spaces only care about the 18-49 year old demographic and the Office is the #1 comedy in 18-49 year olds this season UB on the other hand has the a few tens of thousand more viewers than the Office overall but in 18-49 year olds the Office kicks Bettys Ugly ass!
Kyle | Dec 17, 2008 9:47:52 PM | #It's sad that NBC will waste a great promo opportunity on a show that has proven that no matter how big the hype, it will disappoint in the long run.
Of course, the fact that Ben Silverman owns part of the show had nothing to do with that decision.
As for Jessica Alba, she's a bad actress guest starring on a bad show.
How is that exciting news?
Rena Moretti | Dec 17, 2008 11:59:24 PM | #About the DVR viewership: if you add it in, it doesn't change the fact that The Office is a mediocrely-rated show. Those people ARE counted in the ratings by the way. Nielsen has three different measures: live+same day, live+3 days and live+7 days.
While some shows have more DVR viewers than others, when you add it all in, it really doesn't make any difference in the grand scheme of things.
Hits are still hits and bombs still bombs.
Also, a greater DVR proportion is a sign of a weak show, not a strong show.
But all that is lost on NBC's PR of course (did I mention Ben Silverman owns part of that show? ;) )
Rena Moretti | Dec 18, 2008 12:02:41 AM | #JD wrote: "Ugly Betty is terrible. Guess Crafty and Bad Person need people to fall down and walk into things to find them funny."
couldn't agree more. the office is the funniest show on tv. "Bad Person," your call-name says it all! hee-hee...just ribbing you ;)
p.s. to Rena Moretti: guess you never saw Alba on Dark Angel....
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