The Office/Holland

First of all, it wasn't specified which episode of The Office, so I just watched one or two from the first season of the British version.  Holland writes that, "the comic man admits he is only human, knowing that that admission 'is itself the condition of his life being tolerable'" (96).  Being a huge fan of the American version of The Office, in the few episodes of the British version that I've watched, I can see that Michael's character is very close to David's.  This quote is perfect for those characters.  David is so incredibly flawed that each episode is the realization that he is only human.  For example, one of my favorite parts of the first episode occurs in the first five minutes of the episode.  David calls his friend to fill a job in the warehouse and he asks if his friend's wife has left him yet.  She has.  He'd forgotten.  But what can you expect?  He's only human.

Holland also says that, "the subject matter of comedy is 'the abnormal' set against a social norm" and that the comic catharsis is "purely the keeping of social balance" (92).  The thing that makes The Office great is how absolutely inappropriate and ridiculous the boss is.  The "crack of Dawn" joke in the first episode and the sexual jokes about the new employee in the second episode are both perfect examples of this.  In an actual workplace, this would be horrible, disgusting, and probably earn a lawsuit or two.  However, because it's in a position to be laughed at, we laugh.  We laugh because it is out of the "social balance" and we wish to correct it.  We know the norm and the correct way to behave in the workplace, so when that is thwarted for comedic purposes, it is funny.

Finally, in the beginning of this section of Holland, he discusses humor in drama.  "When the audience knows something the characters don't know, they feel safe.  Hence, they can identify with the characters' fear, embarrassment, and anger for the catharsis of those feelings" (89-90).  A perfect example is the "talking heads" throughout the series.  Many times the Tim (Jim) character will give away a prank he is pulling on Gareth (Dwight) or another character will divulge some other type of secret.  In this way, the audience learns key facts that will make them feel "safe" or "in" on the joke and able to laugh.