The US version of The Office is one of the best known and critically acclaimed comedy shows in recent memory. Although it’s a remake of the British show of the same name, it has lasted for far many more episodes and seasons.
The big innovation that The Office had when it premiered is that it was filmed in the style of a documentary, something not many shows had done before. Have you ever stopped to think why a film crew would hang around an office for so long?
In an episode called Performance Review, Michael reads old suggestions from a suggestion box. One of them said “We need better outreach for employees fighting depression – Tom.” Michael thinks it’s a fake suggestion because there’s no one named Tom. He is then reminded that Tom had shot himself.
The writers of the show later suggested that Tom Peets was an employee that had killed himself and was the reason Ryan the temp was hired. Additionally, the film crew came to document how they handled the death of their employee. After realizing that a documentary about every-day events at an office would be more interested, they decided to stay for longer.