Every Monday at lunch, the members of the Office club gather in room G22 to catch a respite from their busy lives and enjoy that week’s episode of “The Office.”
The sitcom is classified as a mockumentary, a show that uses the format of a documentary, yet features fictional characters. The actors alternate appearing before the camera to offer their opinions, similar to the way people would be interviewed for an actual documentary. The series centers on the trials and tribulations of the employees of Dunder Mifflin, a paper supply company in Scranton, Pa.
“In this cold world where so many people walk alone, it seems to be an important function of clubs to bring people together,” said sponsor and English teacher Joanne Reynolds.
She added that everyone is welcome to join this club, whether they are familiar with the show or not. She believes that the club encourages successful study habits in students, because they are able to complete their homework in the evening when “The Office” is playing on TV, and then can watch it at lunch, when they are free of responsibilities.
“The Office” club began three years ago, when President Caroline Hagerty proposed the idea to Reynolds.
“Caroline encouraged me to see the value of this kind of community,” said Reynolds. Now, the club has expanded to 18 members, and others who are not signed up often drop in to watch the show.
“I had a lunch detention with Ms. Reynolds freshman year… and all these people walked in [her classroom] and they were all watching ‘The Office,’” said sophomore Liz Corbett of her discovery of the club. She ended up staying in room G22 for the entire lunch period, and became a member afterward.
Both Corbett and Reynolds think that more people would join this club if they knew more about it. And though some may think the club is useless, Corbett explains that the members discuss the show’s plot in addition to watching its episodes.
To the club’s disappointment, “The Office” may not continue for long. Last May, Steve Carell left the show towards the end of its seventh season. Carell played Michael Scott, the boss of the Scranton branch of the paper company, and was one of the show’s main personalities. In fact, the series might not endure without his presence.
“Maybe once it ends we’ll have a support group,” said Reynolds.
