NBC Books a Seat on the Bad Idea Train (Choo Choo!)

Despite the fact that spin-offs rarely work (Frasier being about the only exception I can currently think of), NBC announced this week that there is a (kind of, sort of) spin-off of The Office in the works for next year. The show will premiere directly after the super bowl next year, a coveted spot indeed.

The post-super bowl slot is a big burden to put on the shoulders of a show that doesn't have a single episode under its belt. The past few big post-super bowl shows (Grey's Anatomy, Alias, House, The Simpsons) all had at least a steady audience and a healthy dose of love from critics before taking on one of the biggest time slots of the year. I'm not sure that a pilot--even one by the genius writing staff of The Office--will hold the attention of the drunk and tired masses.

The fact that there is currently no title, no cast, and no concept is also a little frightening, even though the entire creative team of The Office will be working on it. The Office is possibly my favorite show on television right now, but let's not forget that these writers (as fabulous as they are) were not starting from scratch with this show. The concept was pre-packaged and they adapted it for a U.S. audience.

With any luck the show will be fantastic and all the worrying will be in vain. In the meantime, my ear will be to the ground for any new title, cast, or concept information. Stay tuned!

Thanks to the always-wonderful Office Tally for doing so much digging to find links from every source possible.