I agree, mooman - that is what I enjoy about watching "The Office" - that low-key, understated style of acting appeals to me very much, whether comedy or straight. "An ounce of behaviour is worth a ton of words" - a very difficult art to master, and I take off my hat to them, *especially* if they were working to a script.

It all looked to me like perfect improvisation. Does anybody know - did they start off from a basic outline and improvise around it, then shoot a scene continuously ? I know that the scripts are now available, but I wonder if they are "scripts after the event" - rather like the way that Mike Leigh works with his actors.

As far as its appeal - I think it is a matter of taste in acting style, as much as taste in humour. Some people are not happy unless they see "actors ACTING". Compare "The Office" style with the high farce accentuated style of "Fawlty Towers" - just as skilfully executed, but totally opposite end of the "actors acting" scale.

- jeanie