By Ed Lynskey
@edlynskey
Author of Lake Charles

A few months ago, we watched a rerun of the TV sitcom The Office starring Steve Carell (to keep this within the realm of writing, I see that he has written the scripts for a few episodes). Now as a rule in recent years, I don't like sitcoms. The jokes and skits all seem recycled from the older sitcoms. The sitcoms aren't funny, just the same old same old.

But The Office was different. It got me to laugh out loud.

Why is that? Maybe it's the recurring characters. Creed is my favorite (Grass Roots, anybody?). Dwight is funny in a goofy way. The romance between Jim and Pam is charming. Michael grows on you. Too bad he's ejecting. I guess the grind of making the show gets to you.

The office situations that are used are so spot on like the old Dilbert cartoons. Like the dynamics played out between the guys in the warehouse versus the office drones. Been there, done that. Oh yeah. Too many times, in fact. The cube farm is very familiar.

I understand there's a U.K. version, but I don't know if it can be viewed here in the U.S.