2. The Office – I know this season has hit some people in a strange way. It’s noticeably bleaker than past seasons, but I really don’t think that makes it less funny. Sure, “The Deposition” (the final episode before the strike) was one of the most depressing and uncomfortable things I’ve ever seen, but in the middle of that, we still had Michael’s man-crush on Ryan, “That’s what she said”, and a reminder that while Michael Scott may be a terrible boss and a bad friend, he can be a pretty good person. The darkness on The Office always leads to something, after all. Personally, I’ve really liked Dwight’s break-up. Humanizing him a little bit creates more leeway for his office arsenal and the occasional mercy-killing. And bonus points for putting Jim and Pam together. It’s a bold step, but The Office never sticks to the status quo for long.
