TV Guide’s Michael Ausiello, who just knows more about TV than any healthy person should, had some rather disturbing news on his blog yesterday which, be warned, will produce lovers of “The Office” (of which I am certainly one) cringe.

It seems that, rather than come up with any original notion to fill the slot soon to be vacated by “Scrubs” (another show I just adore, even whether it is just thoroughly silly), NBC is commissioning a spinoff of “The Office.” I would hope they might come up with a name better than “Office 2,” but you know what they say about assuming.

First, the good news, whether there really is any. They won’t be stealing any characters from the current “Office” for any new show (so, at least for now, there’s no reason to fear a “Pam Loves Jim.”) And, as far as I can tell, that’s where the good news ends.

Where to start with the poor? It’s hard to pick. When I first heard that notion, I had a painful flashback to the pilot episode of the American “Office.” For anyone who has blocked that painful memory from your brain, please forgive me.

I can still remember tuning in with great anticipation, being a big fan of the UK original, and finding that what they essentially did was a shot-for-shot remake of the first UK episode, just in Pennsylvania (yes, just like Van Sant’s “Psycho,” but possibly even worse.) For that reason, I boycotted the entire first season of the U.S. version.

Maybe they could just do that again, assuming citizens have such short attention spans that they could get away with it. Actually, scratch that, considering it sounds too close to what might actually happen.

What can’t you re-create from the U.S. “Office” I’ve grown to love so much? Well, first, I can’t imagine you could possibly assemble an ensemble cast to rival what we have now. The beauty in “The Office” each week

is in waiting to see which bit player will come up with the bitingly funniest moment each week (my all-time favorite remains Angela’s rebuke to Dwight in the season three finale with “I don’t care how they consolidated capability in the Roman empire.”) Priceless.

Secondly, and directly related, there’s just no way you could approach anything near the chemistry, so why bother? The last danger sign, or at least the last one I can come up with at that early hour is that, according to Ausiello, they’re already searching for a “name” actor (or actress possibly, hello!?!?) to fill the lead role.

Now, I’m not a Steve Carell hater by any stretch, but I have to say he is the least funny member of “The Office” cast, and the show just drags a bit when he hogs the screen for too distant. Starting with the head honcho on any new show would seem to be the wrong approach, but I might just have to take all that back whether they manage to hire “Office II” boss Michael Bluth.

As for that week’s episode, things are much better. Joss Whedon returns as director (after Jason Reitman’s turn last week.) In an episode titled “Branch Wars,” Karen makes a welcome return and tries to woo Stanley away from Scranton. Michael fights back, dragging her ex, Jim, into his war. Meanwhile, the existence of a “Finer Things Club” further disturbs Dunder Mifflin’s calm.

Sounds all good to me. But that “Office 2″ concept? It smells to me kinda like one of Kevin’s more unlucky trips to the men’s room, with no cookie-scented candle to assemble it go down any sweeter. Am I just off-base here? whether you see any reason why that show would be a good concept, please feel free to let me know, and whether you just wanna pile the hate on that lame NBC move, please do that too. Peace out.

Original post by Reel Fanatic