As most of you know, I am an avid watcher of the hit NBC show The Office. I love the show. I’m what they call a “Super Fan”. How do you become a “Super Fan” you want to know? You don’t. You’re too late. “Super Fans” are those of us who have been with this show from the beginning. I’m talking Pilot episode. I’m talking Thursday, March 24th, 2005. Super Fans remember season one was a mere 6 episodes, and they sweated while waiting to find out if it was picked up for another season. Super Fans remember The Office used to be on on Tuesdays, and were pissed when they learned it was moved to Thursdays and would be up against Grey’s Anatomy. Super Fans went out to buy TiVO or DVR to make sure they missed neither. They remember Kelly looking and acting like she was a 40 year old Indian woman, rather than the 20 something pop culture fanatic she is today. Super Fans remember when Michael was fat. They remember when Angela was so tightly wound, an affair would seem 100% out of the question for her. We dreamed of what the Schrute Farm would look like, and dreamed of the day Jim and Pam would finally get together. Super Fans would talk about the office to their friends and family and receive blank stares as responses because it seemed nobody watched this beloved show. Super Fans begged and threatened those same friends and family to watch the show. Super Fans had no Officetally.com to run to immediately after each episode to share their favorite moments and find their favorite quotes. Super Fans friend requested each character on myspace and remember when Jenna Fischer used to tell you the moment during a taping when she was commenting you, so you could feel special-like on your birthday. We are the Super Fans. No one fan of the show has suffered through JAM as we have. You do not know the pain of Roy, Katy, stolen glances, lost moments, high fives, and “not a bad day” phrases of JAM, like that of a Super Fan. Watching all 4 seasons this past summer for the first time does not allow you to be a Super Fan. Even if you now stalk the set, collected all the Season 4 DVD gifts sets, or own a Fun Run for the Cure T-shirt. If you watched the heartbreaking “Casino Night” episode for the first time and then were able to immediately watch “Gay Witch Hunt” and find out what happened-you are not a Super Fan. I am a Super Fan. I still say to women- “Thank you very much sir! You are a gentleman and a scholar!” I still feel the panic inside before and after each episode. I still feel the awkwardness of the silent moments. I still believe the show is somehow real. I am a Super Fan.
