Thursday night won't be the same without our weekly visits to Scranton, Penn., with Jim, Pam, Andy, Erin, Dwight, Angela, Creed, Phyllis, Meredith, Stanley, Toby, Kevin, Oscar, or any of the other Mifflinites. The final episode of the series airs on May 16, with a rumored return of former-manager Michael Scott. Until then, let's take a look at six lessons we learned over the last nine seasons of "The Office."
1. Pranks can help improve the workplace.
Whether it's a stapler in the Jell-O or a cell phone in the ceiling, we've seen some good pranks around "The Office," especially between long-time rivals Jim and Dwight. Let's face it; these people sell paper for a living. Things could get pretty mundane around Dunder Mifflin without some good ol' fashioned fun, and what better way than putting someone's office supplies in the vending machine?
2. Your work-life can exist outside the office.
Have you ever seen coworkers who do more together than our favorite paper crew? Whether it's dancing down the aisle at Jim and Pam's wedding, supporting each other through breakups and family struggles, or heading out on a bus for a team-building field trip, this group does it all together. In our lifetimes, we'll spend an average of over 90,000 hours working, so it's a good thing to like the people you work with.
3. Sometimes it's OK to leave for the Michael Scott Paper Company.
Do you remember when Pam left her job as the Dunder Mifflin receptionist to join the Michael Scott Paper Company? She took a leap of faith and it ended up being more rewarding for her than simply having a steady income. Don't be afraid to risk something for what you want. Some of the scariest things in life often bring you the greatest success.
4. You better recognize.
When you work hard and do a good job, it's nice to get noticed. Your office doesn't need to host their own Dundies, but don't forget to tell teammates you appreciate them and their work.
5. Take the time to give back.
After a bat bites Meredith and gives her rabies, the Office gang hosts a charity fun run to support the rabid. So, whether your team helps build a Habitat for Humanity house, hosts a food drive, or adopts a highway, it's good to give back to the community and those in need around the office.
6. If you ever step on a George Foreman Grill, wrap your foot in bubble wrap.
Really, this is just useful information.
What has "The Office" taught you and what will you miss most about the show?
"The Office" star Amy Ryan at Cipriani in Midtown.
Photo by: Brooke Niemeyer
By: BROOKE NIEMEYER
Amy Ryan came out to support her friend and fellow actor Alec Baldwin last night at the Museum of the Moving Image's Salute to Alec Baldwin, where she revealed to Niteside that she would like to return to her acting roots on the stage.
"I would like to do a play again before I forget how," Ryan said on the red carpet at the Cipriani in Midtown. "I want to stay home in New York. I've been traveling a lot so if I could find a job here that would be fantastic."
She was nominated twice in 2000 for the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play for her role in the Broadway show "Uncle Vanya" and again in 2005 for her role in "A Streetcar Named Desire."
Ryan has a film called "Win Win" due out later this month, which she stars opposite Paul Giamatti. She can now be seen opposite Steve Carell on "The Office" and said she just returned from shooting her final episode on the show.
"I am very sad to leave it," Ryan said. "But all good things must come to an end, I suppose."
Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin share a laugh on the red carpet.
Photo by: Brooke Niemeyer
The Museum of the Moving Image Salute to Alec Baldwin was held at the Cipriani in midtown Monday night, honoring him for his work in films and television - including his roles in It's Complicated, 30 Rock, Saturday Night Live, and Along Came Polly. Baldwin is the 26th Honoree of this award.
What an evening. I met Alec Baldwin, Tina Fey, Amy Ryan, Jimmy Fallon, Ben Stiller, Richard Gere, Bob Balaban and many others. Check out the photo gallery I created from the night for NBCNewYork.
B.J. Novak, aka Ryan from The Office, was the host of this years Webby Awards.
Photo by: Brooke Niemeyer
By: BROOKE NIEMEYER
"The Office" star B.J. Novak, who hosted the 14th annual Webby Awards in Lower Manhattan last night, said working with sitcom co-star Steve Carell is the highest honor in the business.
"Working with him is the greatest privilege in comedy," Novak said on the red carpet at the Webby Awards.
The actor, writer, and comedian confessed he was nervous to fulfill his hosting duties for the award show that closes out Internet Week because celebrity critic Roger Ebert was in the audience.
"I'm so scared to host tonight because Roger Ebert is going to be in the audience," Novak said. "The entire time, I will be watching his thumbs for any movement in the right direction."
He added, "I will be composing his review in my head so my mind will be going."
Hosting duties at this year's award show isn't the only recent connection the actor has had with the Internet. On this year's season finale of NBC's "The Office," Novak's character, Ryan, decided to create a social networking site called "Woof" that links up all other social networking sites for a monthly fee of $12.95.
"It's the worst idea I've ever heard," Novak said, laughing. "But he's a smart guy and it will be good for him."
I graduated in December 2010 from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with my Master's degree in journalism, with an emphasis in urban reporting. I was a reporter for the local media department at NBC in New York City as well as a culture beat reporter for Pavement Pieces.
I am originally from Salt Lake City, Utah, where I got my Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication at Westminster College. Journalism is my passion in life and I feel I'm getting better at it every day.
