That is NOT what she said

Everybody loves “The Office.” Well, not everybody, but I would surmise that 86.7 percent of people enjoy NBC’s television adventure. In fact, some of us love the show so much, we know that it has helped to make the kitschy, humorous catchphrase “that’s what she said” very popular. It has become a phrase that is completely overused by people who are not at all qualified to be over-using any phrases whatsoever.

It is a phrase that can be used after anything really, even if it doesn’t actually apply. Steve Carell’s character, Michael Scott, who says “that’s what she said” after anything uttered that could possibly sound sexual. The idea is to make awkward situations even more awkward because awkwardness gets ratings.

I have no real issue with “The Office.” I think it is probably one of the best shows on television-with the exception of “Friday Night Lights.” A line has been crossed in the realm of “that’s what she said-ness.”

Don’t get me wrong, I love a “that’s what she said” joke, especially when “that’s what she said” can be followed by a “well, that IS what she said.” It has a million uses, but when you’re sitting around your apartment at the end of a long night that started with a few drinks, it gets annoying when you cannot even lobby someone to make a Taco Bell run without someone going “that’s what SHE said” at the mention of munching on some quesadillas. Does that use of “that’s what she said” not make sense to you? Welcome to my life. It’s hard-I can barely cope every day.

“That’s what she said” might be funny on “The Office,” but when everybody says it, it loses its comedic value because not every awkward phrase needs to be turned into a “that’s what she said” moment. The overuse of that phrase makes “The Office” into another “Family Guy”-a show that used to be hilarious but is no longer a “qualifier.”

What I mean to say is, everyone likes – or at some point liked – “Family Guy,” therefore there is no longer anything unique or individual about your specific love of “Family Guy.” “That’s what she said” turns us all into conformist non-conformists, if you will. “Scrubs” has also fallen into this category because “Scrubs” got really preachy more than anything else. If you don’t believe me-check out the season six episode, “His Story.”

It is understandable that the use of “that’s what she said” will never be eliminated-unless “The Office” becomes completely terrible and pulls an “ER” and sends one of it’s characters to Africa. Even then, the phrase will still exist until all of us are on our fifth set of dentures. Just think “is this really necessary?” Sometimes. Maybe.