The Office (U.S.)

2005

Greg Daniels adapted the Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant series into nine seasons that ran from 2005 to 2013 at a failing paper company in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The mockumentary conceit lets characters look straight at the camera, and the show slowly turns a cringe comedy into something warmer without ever quite admitting it. Steve Carell plays regional manager Michael Scott, with Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, B.J. Novak, Mindy Kaling, Ed Helms, and Craig Robinson. Its afterlife in streaming and memes has been far larger than its original ratings ever were.