The Office (2005)

Steve Carell makes Michael Scott's need to be loved both excruciating and occasionally moving, while the mock-documentary camera lets a colleague's glance finish the joke. The Scranton ensemble grows into a workplace full of specific grudges, alliances and private hopes. The American version earns its place by turning embarrassment into attachment. Season one is a rough introduction; the middle years offer the best balance, and the later run is less consistent.