Let it be known that I am a huge fan of “The Office.” I started watching around the time season two premiered and have been an ardent fan ever since. At the time, it was the funniest show I had ever watched. This was before I fell in love with shows such as “Freaks and Geeks” and “Arrested Development,” so this smart and awkward comedy was all new to me. And the Jim and Pam pairing brought something to the table that I felt most comedies didn’t: a completely believable and adorable romance.

But then things started to change. Little antics that I used to find entertaining and endearing started to become not as funny and, well, lame. And with that being said, I’m going to say something that might sound a little scary to some people — “The Office” is dead.

To be fair, “The Office” is still funnier than most comedies on TV. Although, that’s not just a compliment for the show, but rather a testament to the immensely poor quality of TV comedies today.

I guess my big qualm with the show is how subservient it’s become. It seems like every episode follows a certain formula, with each character acting the same as they did the first moment of the pilot. How many times have we seen Kevin mumble about boobs, Phyllis imply that she’s a sex kitten or Stanley be sassy? All of this stuff used to seem so fresh and new, but it’s now become so commonplace that it barely registers as funny to me.

“The Office” has also lost its dramatic oomph that propelled the show from being just another funny comedy to a show that could entertain on a deeper level. The Jim, Pam, Karen and Roy love square from season three had such intense moments. Obviously it’s not hard drama or anything, but the show proved that it could tackle sadness and heartbreak without being cheesy. Other highlights include: Michael’s problems with money and Jan, the decline of Ryan, Holly and The Michael Scott Paper Co. “The Office” was at its best when it strayed into those dark territories.

Season six rolled around, and after Jim and Pam got married, the show just started to slip into a comfortable rut. Sure there’s a new company that owns Dunder-Mifflin, and the Andy and Erin romance did provide a few “awwws,” but Sabre hasn’t really shook anything up that much.

And that’s what I want from “The Office.” I want something new, or I want the old darkness. We’re on the seventh season now and it’s as though the creative well is starting to run dry. The show cannot continue to thrive solely on Jim’s looks anymore.

And while I’d like to think things are going to get better, I don’t think they will. Steve Carell has always been the center that holds everything together. Without him in the eighth season, we’re left with Jim and Pam, who are boring now; Dwight, who has gone beyond ridiculous; and the rest of the ensemble who aren’t really outstanding characters themselves.

“The Office” has become like a dog who’s ready to be put down. You love it so much, but it’s time for it to be put out of its misery.

And sadly, this is a plague that doesn’t just affect “The Office,” but also movies and other TV shows in general. It’s a good rule of thumb that if a concept or idea does really well, then the media companies will shove it down everyone’s throat until it becomes overused and blah. 

There will always be new stories to tell and there will always be people with creative minds able to tell those stories. Studios should be creating content to entertain, not just to make a buck. Let’s stop with the remakes. Let’s stop giving shows that can’t handle it 12 seasons. And let’s embrace new, original content.