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A few weeks ago I watched Michael Scott throw his self-bought “World’s Best Boss” mug in the garbage, and as he replaced the mug with his new “World’s Best Boss” Dundee, I thought to myself “Jeez, this is a great show. [Sniffle].”

There are two important things to note here. Firstly, the [sniffle] was not just in my thoughts: I was crying. All Michael Scott ever wanted was to be good at his job, to be a good boss, and to watch him finally, humbly set that trophy on his desk simply broke me down. In that moment Michael Scott was more than just a character completing his arc on a show, he was my friend, my good friend who I had stuck with for years, and I was really truly proud of him.

The second of two things to note is that the nostalgia and pride and sadness I felt in that moment led me to make the claim “this is a great show.” I stand by that claim — I love The Office to death — but what is interesting to me is that the show is a sitcom, and yet the moment that led me to make the conclusion “this is a great show” was not a joke, but rather an honest and touching moment.

Is that what makes a great show?  The capacity for both humor and earnestness?  Alas, that is the question! READ MORE