In that it ushered in a crop of single-camera comedies that used weak irony, writer's-room-inside-jokes, and "like-a-joke" lines in place of actual joke construction.
Shows in this vein -- Happy Endings, Parks and Recreation, Community, 30 Rock, New Girl, The Mindy Project, Brooklyn 99, etc. -- were likely low-rated because though they may make the audience smile at times, but they never deliver big laughs.
For many comedy sitcom writers, they cannot translate their great sense of humour to the page. They are very funny in real life, but there is only one Larry David e.g., one Ricky Gervais, Trey and Matt.
The Office deserved its success but I think the unfunny 30Rock was more influential on upcoming shows. The fact that comedy can now no longer be racist or misogynist, or have bigotry took the sails out of a lot of comedy writers, whether young or old. An example of a talented comic is Tim Heidecker. Among all the crap, he is the one bright spot.
Many comics fade fast. Russell Peters was a genuine talent that lost his mojo, same for the sellout that is Dave Chappelle. Others are hacks, e.g. Silverman, Schumer, Cook, even Cho. Others are rubbish but manage to recycle themselves, such as Dave Rubin.
For me the heir to Jon Stewart is Cody Johnston. He is funny and has ox like stamina. Comedy writers are at a premium now. The next comic talent who comes along and for whom the planets align will be huge, because there is such little competition. He or they will be bigger than Carlin.
Jon Stewart? Painfully unfunny.
shareCan't agree with the 'never deliver big laughs' comment. I've laughed out loud several times at The Office.
shareTHE OFFICE IS NOT JUST MY FAVORITE TV SHOW...IT'S A LIFESTYLE...A LIFESTYLE I LOVE...YOUR LIST OF SHOWS IN THE VEIN IS A LIST OF MORE SHOWS I VERY MUCH ENJOY...PARKS & REC BEING THE BEST OF THE BUNCH WITH BROOKLYN NINE-NINE AND COMMUNITY VERY CLOSE BEHIND.
sharetrouble with the Brit office, is that you end up saying "yeah this program is alright, but the Office did "real" better"
phoneshop - the office but in a mobile phone shop
sliced - the office but in a pizza place
fried - the office but in a takeaway chicken shop
trollied - the office but in a supermarket
bluestone 42 - f knows, a cross between the office and scrubs
probably more