TV Spotlight: The Office (2005- )

I finally tuned into The Office this season, having previously stayed away due to unfavorable comparisons to the British version, which I loved/hated, due to cringeworthiness of main character. In the American version, the boss is also cringe-inducing, but the seemingly endless stream of madcap moments and assorted whimsy more than make up for it. The pranks Jim pulls on Dwight, for instance: in one episode Jim hides Dwight's desk in the men's room, and when Dwight comes in to work to find his desk is gone, Jim, playing detective, says, "where did you last see your desk?" Am now frantically trying to catch up with old episodes on DVD. In my opinion, the best sitcom on the air right now, by far (although admittedly that may not be saying much). The mockumentary feel, the absence of a laugh track, getting to the inner life of a character with just a phrase or two, all add up to much viewing pleasure. I was happy to see the cast won the Screen Actors Guild award this past Sunday, for best comedy ensemble. FYI: Thursdays, 8:30, NBC.