Yes, I’m still watching reruns of The Office while the world is on fire – and this is why

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I recently had a really rough time watching the news and feeling overwhelmed by everything going wrong in the world. To feel a little better, I did what always helps: I watched a funny episode of The Office – specifically, the one where Michael Scott burns his foot. It’s a classic way to cope – when things get scary, turning to comedy can be a lifesaver.

I brought this up with a coworker the next day, and honestly, they challenged me on it. They asked if this wasn’t exactly the problem – were we all just too glued to TV? I started to wonder if I was using these shows to avoid dealing with what was really going on, like letting a crisis happen right in front of me. My colleague didn’t think we should be finding humor in shows like Steve Carell’s; instead, we should be out there protesting and making our voices heard. It made me think – maybe these shows feel good because they’re distracting us, and maybe that’s actually making us less engaged with what really matters.

He was right. I thought I was handling my feelings well, but maybe I was just distracting myself, which ultimately leaves us feeling helpless. It made me think of a book I read a long time ago, “Amusing Ourselves to Death” by Neil Postman, where he claimed television turns everything into a spectacle. When everything is just entertainment, nothing feels important.

My quick visit to Dunder Mifflin, which I’d hoped would be a simple escape, started to feel like I was part of the problem. I just needed a break from the constant stream of upsetting news, but it seemed I was contributing to it instead.

After a cup of tea and a few deep breaths, I regained my composure. I realized that watching the heated arguments of Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth hadn’t inspired me to act – it had just left me feeling stressed and defeated. It wasn’t that I was avoiding reality by watching a familiar American sitcom; I was trying to calm down so I could deal with things.

This brings up a difficult question: what does it really mean to be well-informed? Today, it seems like simply keeping the news on – watching events as they happen, staying constantly aware – is enough. But when the same dramatic images and headlines repeat endlessly, it stops providing useful information and starts to feel overwhelming. It’s like trying to learn something new from a constantly sounding fire alarm – eventually, it just becomes noise.

Traditional TV news wasn’t always a constant stream of updates. For many years, it consisted of scheduled broadcasts – like the 6 and 10 O’Clock News, and late-night programs such as Newsnight. This allowed editors time to carefully consider events and distinguish between what truly mattered and what simply seemed exciting. Once the broadcast finished, regular programming – and the evening – would resume.

Seeing constant images of devastation in the Middle East creates a strange feeling – a kind of guilt for those of us who are safe. It can even make watching something lighthearted, like a comedy, feel wrong, as if it’s insensitive to real suffering. However, this uncomfortable feeling might actually mean we’re not understanding what television is for.

Throughout history, people have turned to entertainment even during difficult times. Radio shows like ITMA were popular during World War II, and Strictly Come Dancing continued to be a hit on television during the Covid pandemic. These programs weren’t about ignoring the problems the world faced; they provided a much-needed escape, allowing viewers a temporary break from their worries and anxieties.

This is where fiction offers something different from the news. While news cycles often leave issues unresolved and ongoing, fictional stories, like sitcoms, provide a sense of closure. Shows like The Office present problems, build tension, and then neatly resolve everything before the episode ends.

The show still believes it’s possible for someone to be silly and kind at the same time. Even though Michael Scott often makes mistakes and can be small-minded, he’s still someone you can feel sorry for. In a world that’s constantly angry and divided, that little bit of hope in people’s goodness is a welcome change. Watching the show isn’t about escaping reality, but remembering what’s truly important to defend.

Even though I find solace in stories, it doesn’t shield me from constructive criticism. My colleague is right to point out that seeking comfort can easily become a way to avoid dealing with things. Our society is designed to keep us passively entertained – streaming services, for example, are so insistent on playing the next episode that entire days can slip by without us even realizing it.

Television doesn’t have to be mindless entertainment. By thoughtfully choosing what you watch – and knowing when to turn it off – you can take control and make a conscious decision about how you spend your time. Even something as simple as skipping the ‘Continue Watching’ suggestion can be a small but meaningful act of self-control. It’s not about grand gestures, but contributing to a better way of living, and that can take many forms.

You don’t have to choose between actively fighting for change and withdrawing from the world. While taking a stand is important, participation comes in many forms – through the causes you donate to, the news organizations you support, the communities you invest in, the way you raise your children, and the ideas you share. To keep all of this going, you also need something simple but crucial: rest.

Feeling angry can be motivating at first, but constantly being outraged is exhausting. Nobody can stay at a high emotional pitch forever. This suggests that sometimes, simply relaxing – like watching a funny TV show – isn’t a bad thing, but a necessary way to recharge. In fact, taking time to rest is increasingly seen as a way to push back against a society that demands we’re always busy and stressed.

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Maybe the real issue isn’t that we turn to comforting shows like The Office when things get tough. It’s that we might rely on them too much. Enjoying Michael Scott and his antics isn’t the problem – the problem is if that’s all we do to cope.

Even so, there’s something genuinely uplifting about escaping into a world where the biggest problem is a clumsy boss accidentally burning his foot instead of breakfast. While 25 minutes in Scranton, Pennsylvania won’t solve the world’s problems, it might give us a little boost of hope and energy to tackle them again when the show is over.

The Office US is available to stream on Sky and NOW. Find out more about how to sign up for Sky TV.

Authors

David BrownDeputy Previews Editor, TopMob

Hey, I’m David Brown, and I basically get paid to watch TV – which is a dream come true! I’m the Deputy Previews Editor at TopMob, and I’m a total sucker for crime dramas and fantasy shows. You might have seen or heard me chatting about TV on places like BBC News, Sky News, or Radio 4’s Front Row. I’ve also written for some pretty big publications like The Guardian, The Sunday Times, and the i newspaper. Beyond reviewing, I’ve even helped out behind the scenes with the National Television Awards and worked on documentaries about folks like Lenny Henry, Billy Connolly, and Take That – it’s a really varied job, and I love it.

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2026-03-07 16:08