Cedars, October 2020

Fall 2020 4 The Office By Hunter Johnson “The Office” is the quintessential sit - com, perfectly combining every key ingre - dient of a great comedy show. Steve Carell plays the office’s wildly clueless boss Michael Scott. Carell some - how gives layers to this absurd character, imbuing him with a well-meaning inno - cence that underlies his ludicrous behav - ior. Playing Michael’s obnoxiously dutiful assistant Dwight Schrute is Rainn Wilson, who deftly blends an exaggerated hunger for power with a giddy enthusiasm for the small, often geeky, things in life. Meanwhile, the other two leads, Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam (Jenna Fisch - er), give “The Office” an added dimension of drama. Over the course of the series, the ups and downs of Jim and Pam’s rela - tionship evoke every conceivable emotion, standing out among typical sitcom pair - ings as one of the most beloved romances ever seen on screen. These four characters lead the show, but they barely scratch the surface of its eclectic cast. Be it Kevin, Stanley, Phyllis, Oscar, Toby or Creed, “The Office” boasts a diverse group of lovable, eccentric person - alities who create an offbeat atmosphere that illuminates the screen. The strength of these character dy - namics derives from a top-notch writing staff that most sitcoms could only dream of replicating. The show’s creator Greg Dan - iels brought the lighthearted, slice-of-life tone, producer Jennifer Celotta contribut - ed many of the quieter dramatic moments, and producer Paul Lieberstein (Toby Flenderson himself) was responsible for a lot of the darker, cringe worthy humor. The main reason for the show’s ridic - ulous success is how rewatchable it is. Per - haps it’s the delightful office romances, the absurd antics of Michael and Dwight, or the sense of relatability that people find in these characters. No matter the reason, it doesn’t seem like people will stop enjoying “The Office” anytime soon. Hunter Johnson is a senior Theatre Per- formance Major and an A&E writer for Cedars. He spends his time gobbling up all the Star Wars that Disney pumps out and daydreaming about his future dog, Jojo, all while giving endless attention to his beautiful fiance. Parks and Recreation By Breanna Beers Originally envisioned as a spin-off of “The Office,” “Parks and Recreation” is original, hilarious and kind-hearted. The show can be enjoyed as either an incisive political satire or an entertaining and occasion - ally heartwarming come - dy, but its best moments come when those two ele - ments intertwine. Self-aware and rarely over-serious, P&R is an essentially liberal show that relentlessly pokes fun at liber - alism. It avoids potentially polarizing pol - itics by placing its pro-government protag - onist in the inefficient parks department of an irrelevant Midwestern town, giving the viewer the emotional distance to appreci - ate the snark. Yet while P&R takes place in the con - text of politics, it is built on friendship. Pro - gressive idealist Leslie Knope’s (Amy Poe - hler) enthusiasm is frequently squashed by her mustachioed libertarian supervi - sor, Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman), but they are clearly portrayed as dysfunctional comrades, not as hero and villain. Rather than destroying their relationship, their differences actually strengthen it. The show makes it clear that Ron and Leslie are both fundamentally good people who genuinely care about each other. They are passionate in their beliefs yet are able to be so without hating those who disagree — a seemingly miraculous feat even back in 2009 when the show first aired. The show’s politics stand out to me be - cause that’s how I was introduced to it, but the civic discourse is only the backdrop to the show’s true theme. At its heart, “Parks and Rec” is about friendship, and the fact that it portrays friendships among such dif - ferent people makes it that much sweeter. Breanna Beers is a senior Molecular Biol- ogy major and the Editor-in-Chief of Ce- dars. She loves exercising curiosity, hik- ing new trails and citrus tea. Friends By Abby Hintz “Friends” is the best sitcom and you cannot change my mind. Premiering all the way back in 1994, the show has gained the added benefit of presenting a time before its primary audi - ence, Generation Z, was born (or at least old enough to watch sitcoms). Through what amounts to a TV show time capsule, Which Sitcom Reigns Supreme? For many college students, sitcoms are a form of social currency. These shows form the basis of in-jokes, provide experi- ences for friends to bond over and establish many of the quintessential catchphrases of pop culture. Out of the hundreds of shows that populate this oversaturated market, a special few stand apart as the defining sitcoms of the 21st century. After surveying the Cedarville student body, here are the top five sitcoms of the 2000s. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Steve Carell, star of “The Office,” plays the clueless boss Michael Scott.