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Our boss evaluates the hit show "The Office."

THE PREMISE: In NBC's half-hour sitcom about routine office life, a documentary film crew trails the staff of a paper supply company in Scranton, Pa. Steve Carell stars as Michael, the self-deluded and hilariously inept branch manager who dry cleans his jeans. Second season episodes include office romance, drug testing and retreats.

INSIDER'S CREDENTIALS: Our not-so-clueless boss, Jack Curry, is executive editor of USA WEEKEND, where he oversees a staff of 25. His previous jobs include gigs at the "New York Daily News," "TV Guide" and USA TODAY, where, in the '80s, he helped define what was popular as a movie critic (Rocky IV is "a two-fisted wallop!"). During his tenure here, Curry has kept his staff in stitches with snappy one-liners. At a recent send-off for one of his employees, Curry quizzed the room about an opera playing on CD. When no one but him knew the answer, he triumphantly declared, "That's why I'm the boss!"

OVERVIEW: "Obviously, the boss is the key figure, and I'm not just saying that because I'm a boss and I would identify with him. The sitcom's strength is that it has a dominant character, like Mary Tyler Moore was, but they don't rely on his personality to carry the show. In an office, the boss is only as good as his staff, and here they've been smart enough to create a supporting cast/staff that is interesting and surprising."

Disc 2: "The Client" -- While Michael is at a client meeting knocking back "Awesome Blossoms," his staff reads a screenplay someone found in his desk, which stars Michael as an FBI agent.

"What I thought was, I sometimes fear I'm going to be writing something of a confidential nature that will get printed out, and someone in the office will read it. We all share the same printer, and I often go over there and say, 'If it's here, it's public.' But they took it out of his drawer. That's a violation of privacy."

Disc 2: "Performance Review" -- Michael uses employee evaluation day to help him further his relationship with his supervisor. When an African American on his staff offers some sage advice on women, Michael is pleased. "That's freakin' brilliant," Michael says. "Did you learn that on the streets?"

"The show is funny because in 2006, even if you haven't gone to Harvard Business School, there's a level ofbusiness acumen and people skills that are just expected from a boss. Michael is expected to have highly evolved managerial skills. Clearly, he doesn't. And it's almost a relief, because you watch him and go, well, if Michael can keep his job, I can keep mine. I mean, this show is the Ground Zero of bad office management!"

Disc 2: "E-mail Surveillance" -- Jim (John Krasinski) throws a party at his home. Following a group tour of his place, Jim and Pam (Jenna Fischer) have another one of their flirtatious exchanges in his bedroom.

"I love the relationship between the receptionist and the sales guy. As a boss, you don't do anything to encourage office romances. But two people are falling in love, and it's a nice back story. It's such a small note, but you think, well, how bad can this place be?"

Disc 2: "Booze Cruise" -- Michael attempts to build company spirit during a leadership training exercise on Lake Wallenpaupack in January. Immediately, he butts heads with the ship's captain, Jack.

"This is one thing I hope I never do. When the office goes on the retreat, there is another leader, Captain Jack. And clearly, the captain should be the one in charge, but Michael doesn't know when to step down. It's a matter of acknowledging another authority at a given time, and that was instructive to me. Leadership, good leadership, involves an exercise of your own authority, often in tandem with someone else's."

By Craigh Barboza