We always return to the old places where we loved life, as the song says, and TV is no exception. Or at least that’s what industry executives want to believe. Hence the abundance of adaptations, sequels, prequels, remakes, it restarts, spin offetc. In short, various derivative works, to summarize and avoid continuing to upset Álex Grijelmo with so much Anglicism. Let’s not forget that, due to its unpredictability, television is a conservative business to the extent that it persists in replicating proven formulas to try to guarantee a success that for these reasons too can slip through its fingers. Give me a franchise and call me stupid.
In comedy, however, few spin off They managed not only to match the success of the parent series, but to survive outside of its memory. I can think of a few very different examples that have worked:Lou Grant, FrasierAida, young Sheldon—. Looking at them, one could almost deduce that their success comes from having deceived the viewer, that is, from having used, like all derivative works, the fame and attractions of the predecessor to invite him to see the new one and then offer him something with a very different tone.
I draw these conclusions after watching the episodes available on Skyshowtime The papera series from the American version of The Officewhich was already a derivative work, a remake from the British original created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. The paper it’s a spin off Very sui generis: Oscar, the only surviving character from the predecessor, is very minor. It almost seems like an excuse to be able to face this new universe: that of a precarious Ohio newspaper where a new reformist editor arrives, played by the friendly Domhnall Gleeson. Working journalists will love it, for parodying the current state of their profession.
But for followers of Michael Scott and his followers, what can provoke more is nostalgia for the Scranton office, since his television daughter uses the same resources and mannerisms – even the introductory music is reminiscent of the parent series – but without the characters we have grown fond of during the 188 episodes of the previous series. You have to be generous with comedies: they take time to find their place. But maybe The paper led more than one to think that you shouldn’t try to go back to the place where you were happy, as another song said.
