Do You Prefer "The Office" as a Half-Hour or an Hour?

October 5, 2007

The second of this season's hour-long episodes of "The Office" aired this week, and while there were some great moments, I also thought the show dragged. The season premiere didn't really work for me as an hour, either. What about you? Are you digging the hour-long format, or do you want the old, shorter "Office" back?

Source

TV Buzz Poll The Office

20 Comments

AutumnLove 5 years

I think the half hour episodes are best. I keep thinking of the hour long episodes as 2 half hour episodes since that's the way they are going to run in repeats. I think if they just aired them as two back to back brand new episodes of The Office more people will feel better about it.

dmblauren 5 years

i love the office, but i think it's better as 1/2 hour.

bellarose 5 years

half hour definitely works better but i really don't mind having john krasinski in my life for the full hour :)

ricarocks 5 years

the hour long episodes are meant to be special. they're totally wrecking that by having so many. stick to the 1/2 hour i say

MamaD 5 years

I think the rhythm of the show is based on a half hour. I'm programed at this point for a half hour. It's just that i never looked at the clock when it was a half hour show and now by the forty minute mark I feel like I'm done.

millarci 5 years

I love the hour episodes! I wish they would always be an hour long! lol! Office rocks!

misslarue 5 years

Loved the hour! It dragged a bit yeah, but I still can't get enough!

rubialala 5 years

Half hour. It drags and I get tense because Michael is a horrible boss and it reminds me how much I don't like my job. Half hour is just funny enough that I'm not reminded too much.

ShinyAndrea 5 years

Me and my friends said the same thing! It just gets a little tired and silly for a whole hour. We think the 40 minute "super size" episodes are perfect.

cubachi 5 years

I will agree that the first episode was stretched. But the second episode was enjoyable and kept me laughing throughout. I like watching The Office in both doses, only when it is well written.

erinflower 5 years

I'm a die hard office fan, but last nights episode was too long. I like half an hour and the occasional 40 minute episode.

princess_eab 5 years

I agree with ptotheenguin-- an hour just feels like 2 episode strung together! Not a fan...

ptotheenguin 5 years

I like the hour-long episodes just fine, but honestly, it just feels like I'm watching two half-hour episodes in a row. So I suppose I prefer the shorter format, but I agree with kelleylocke, the best format is the supersized 40 minute episodes.

koolbr33z3 5 years

It doesn't bother me either way.

thehabra 5 years

suziryder, I just have to correct one thing (though I agree with everthing you said in your post). The first episode of the season isn't called a pilot.Only the first episode made of a show is called a pilot (I.E the first episode of the first season)..Sorry, I'm such nitpick.

kelleylocke 5 years

The episodes are tighter when they are shorter - less dragging. But they also feel too short. The ideal length is the "super-sized" episodes - 45 minutes. Short enough so there's no nonsensical dragging on, but long enough to be totally satisfying.

Francesca Fiore 5 years

I love The Office, but I get weary of it after an hour. There's only so much cringing at Michael or Dwight that I can take in one day, so I definitely prefer the half hour format. I also agree with Buzz that it seems to drag over an hour, like they had originally made a half hour show and the network asked them to double it. I think last night could reasonably have been two different episodes.

bhilb 5 years

I think the funny is more condensed in the 1/2 hour episodes, but they always leave me wanting more. I'll take the hour long episodes for as long as I can get them.

suziryder 5 years

Something like five episodes this season will be hour long; the rest will be normal half hours. I think the half hour format works better - particularly in the pilot, the hour felt long and it dragged in the middle. The second episode worked better, but there's a certain brilliance in capturing the story in all its hilarity in a scant 22 minutes that is lost when the episode is expanded to a full hour.

tati33 5 years

I knew I wasn't going crazy..I had thought that it was a 1/2 hour show..Is it going to be full hour this whole season?

Link Love

20 Comments