Thursday night marks the moment many fans of "The Office" have been waiting for: the birth of Jim and Pam's baby. Even more so than the wedding episode earlier this year, this hour will probably impact the series the most. Babies have destroyed some shows in the past (see "Mad About You"), but others ("Friends") actually made it work fairly well -- which way will "The Office" go? Signs tend to lean towards the latter, though there are a couple of warning signs to watch out for.
First and foremost, "The Office" must remember that Dunder-Mifflin / Sabre is still the focal point of the show. If they focus too much on Jim and Pam's new family, then we're looking at a situation much more on par with a family sitcom. Watching the two of them head to a day care center earlier this season felt a little too much like "Modern Family" (a very funny show, but also different in many ways).
They also have to find ways to make it funny while avoiding the obvious. We know that Pam will probably have to take some sort of maternity leave, and that both of them will likely lose a considerable amount of sleep in the process. The real joy of the show will come in seeing how Michael Scott and company react to a baby being a part of their lives. (My guess: Michael tries to name the baby after him -- either that or he shows up at the hospital.)
Are you excited for "The Office" Thursday night? Feel free to share your thoughts below and stay tuned for more news.
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