Second Life featured in tonight's 'The Office'

39 Comments by Scott Jon Siegel Oct 25th 2007 1:57PM
Filed under: Culture, PC, Online

When virtual worlds hit mainstream culture, they hit hard. First, it was a recent episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, featuring a fictional game called "Another YOUniverse" (we know, we know). Then, it was last night's CSI: New York, which had a criminal investigation taking part inside Second Life.

Now, it's NBC's The Office, featuring video games prominently in an episode for the second time as the annoying beet farmer / paper salesman Dwight K. Schrute explores Second Life amidst the other office hijinks.

While we're still a tad burnt out from previous bursts of Second Life hype, we're curious to see how The Office cast members interact with the world. The episode airs tonight at 9/8c on NBC.

[Via SL Insider]

Tags: second-life, secondlife, the-office, theoffice

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(Page 1) Reader Comments

XanthouS: Oct 25th 2007; 2:05PM

Greatest comedy on television.

kiwi: Oct 25th 2007; 2:11PM

"Greatest comedy on television."

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia has something to say about that.

(Although The Office is a great show as well)

JodyAnthony: Oct 25th 2007; 2:19PM

futurama says 'ello.

mr nimblewick (SegaDF - Jogurt Ring): Oct 25th 2007; 2:20PM

Unfortunately, you can tell the show is beginning it's slow decline into mediocrity.

Phranctoast: Oct 25th 2007; 2:45PM

thats what she said.

Word of the street(IDF-Digital Ruler).: Oct 25th 2007; 3:00PM

*cough Seinfeld.

I have seen some of the episodes is funny from time to time but I rarelly watch television these days.

rv: Oct 25th 2007; 5:10PM

I wouldn't say that. Its pretty funny, but not the best.

Also, like another poster said, its declining. This season isn't as good as previous, mainly because the past seasons had somewhat unbelievable actions and responses, while this seasons reactions and responses are unreasonable. Kidnapping the pizza guy? Having a walk for rabies? In previous seasons, the employees would object and bring to Micheal's attention that his actions are retarded. This season, not so much.

colin: Oct 25th 2007; 5:30PM

i think these episodes are a little spread out since they are an hour long ... like the original bbc office, so could be perceived as less funny. I think Ryan has been ruining this season. just wait till tod packer makes another appearance. He's so money and he doesn't even know it.

Hirsbrunner: Oct 25th 2007; 5:38PM

It's been my top show for three years. This season so far though, I just don't know.

I'm all for "pushing the envelope", but Dwight killing Angela's cat went too far for me.

Yeah, I know it's fiction, and no, I don't own a cat, (a basset hound, yes), but I still found it to be in very poor taste.

Hashbrown_Hunter: Oct 25th 2007; 5:43PM

Correction: The smartest and most consistently funny show on TV right now.

Brad Lee: Oct 27th 2007; 8:10PM

Ever since Arrested Development was cancelled, The Office has been filling that void inside my heart that should probably be filled with something more... fulfilling.

Oh well, yay for our instant-gratification society! Now I'm off to play some video games, beat off to pornography, and eat some hot pockets! What? Two and a half minutes to cook in the microwave? Fuck that. Where's my hostess cupcakes?

Chris: Oct 25th 2007; 2:27PM

The difference between the Law & Order:SVU episode and the CSI:NY episode is that the CSI episode was good. It didn't try to portray games in a bad light. Instead it used the game as an extension of the case. It was funny seeing some of the straight laced cops play in Second Life but over all it wasn't making gaming the root of all evil.

WiNG: Oct 25th 2007; 3:15PM

sorry but CSI is the worst "case" show on television, right after Law and Order: Petty Crimes Division

Chris: Oct 25th 2007; 3:21PM

I didn't say it was a great case show, I said it was good at not making video games into the evil empire. CSI and CSI:NY are fun fluff with a little truthful filler thrown in. CSI: Miami is just wrong.

But keep in mind my favorite show on Television is Mythbusters and other shows on the Discovery Channel. :)

that guy: Oct 25th 2007; 2:38PM

I agree it's the best comedy on the boob tube right now, but 30 Rock is closing in fast.

Matt B: Oct 25th 2007; 2:44PM

They were playing the wii in this weeks episode of Weeds on Showtime. It looked alot more fun then when Conan played it.

required: Oct 25th 2007; 3:53PM

also a PSP

GRANTED: Oct 25th 2007; 4:41PM

cavemen had a wii (in the pilot, i think). that show is pretty clever, too. they framing cavemen as an outside race/ethnicity (sort-of..), and they play around with that theme pretty well.

edgore: Oct 25th 2007; 2:44PM

Knowing Dwight, I predict that his second life adventures consist of selling virtual paper and farming virtual bbets. I suppose that it is also possible his second life will actually be even *duller* than his real life...

What is the ratio of Schrute Bucks to Linden Dollars?

Hollywood Ron: Oct 25th 2007; 4:25PM

Awww, someone beat me to it!

Mr Khan: Oct 25th 2007; 7:53PM

Fact: Bears beat Beets
Beets beat Battlestar Galactica

teenagertc: Oct 25th 2007; 3:13PM

30 Rock is the Greatest Show on air right now. Overall, it's Arrested Development!!

Marty: Oct 25th 2007; 3:19PM

Dwight... annoying? He's one of the funniest characters on the show!

driven2sin: Oct 25th 2007; 3:33PM

Dwight is a douche - just shows there is a big market for douches

bring back the Fonz!

Matariel: Oct 25th 2007; 3:35PM

Tonight's episode is directed by Jason Reitman ("Thank You For Smoking", son of Ivan Reitman), and next week's episode is directed by geek messiah Joss Whedon.

The Office is probably the best comedy on TV right now.

Hollywood Ron: Oct 25th 2007; 4:26PM

Joss Whedon sucks. There, I said it.

Mark: Oct 25th 2007; 4:10PM

WOW was on How I Met Your Mother last night.

GRANTED: Oct 25th 2007; 4:44PM

i don't think second life is actually a video game. there, i said it.
just because it's on your computer, and you waste a lot of time doing it, doesn't mean you are 'playing a video game'.

GRANTED: Oct 25th 2007; 4:47PM

although i guess controlling a self-inspired avatar to manipulate a virtual world brings it close enough to video games. so i'm on the fence.

GRANTED: Oct 25th 2007; 9:16PM

Apparently Dwight Schrute agrees with me.

Hirsbrunner: Oct 25th 2007; 5:42PM

And I agree w/colin, Ryan is ruining this season. He's the worst character in the show.

Cabcru: Oct 25th 2007; 7:09PM

TV with it's finger on the pulse of trends and consumer fads. I wonder if next week's ep' will feature disco and legwarmers.

TrojanGuy: Oct 25th 2007; 8:48PM

I know it's not nearly as watched as The Office, but did anybody see the latest How I Met Your Mother that ended with a scene inside of World of Warcraft? Had me laughing pretty hard.

Leonidas: Oct 25th 2007; 8:53PM

Scrubs is gonna take the spot for funniest comedy tonight for me.

MikeV: Oct 25th 2007; 8:58PM

I tuned in to watch CSI:NY last night because a friend of mine works at Linden Labs. I have to say, it was a pretty damn good episode! I usually hate CSI:NY, preferring the wacky hijinks of the original CSI, but this episode was really well done; suspenseful and tasteful. SecondLife was prominent, but it wasn't overdone or too crazy to believe.

I applaud you CBS. You didn't screw it up.

Nessman: Oct 25th 2007; 10:04PM

and i guess Jim has an account too :o

YoRone22: Oct 25th 2007; 10:45PM

The best comedy show is The Boondocks. Hands down.

Evan: Oct 25th 2007; 11:04PM

I can't believe this made news. I thought video gaming was established enough that a mention of Second Life on a crappy television show would be no big deal. At least gamers aren't making a big deal over it, like anime fans do when a mention of cosplay appears in mainstream media.

Ray Balhorn: Oct 26th 2007; 11:59AM

saw the CSI:NY episode last night and thought it was the lamest episode they have ever done. It didnt even make sense.

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