How often do we see TV series end soon after the love interests on the show get together? Remember Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman? Not even a steamy couple like Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher could keep that series going after the intriguing cat and mouse game was over and they were finally together as a couple. This happens time and time again with TV series. Though the audience longs for the two to get together throughout the show's run, ironically enough, that same audience seems to completely lose interest once that desire is satisfied. Friends was smart enough to wait until the end of the series before hooking Ross and Rachel up, and other hit shows, like Scrubs, are following a similar trend. However, one show in particular has proven that love interests can unite and the show can still engage the audience. Now in its fourth season, The Office has proven a romantic relationship between main characters is possible with the right method.

After watching the two dance around each other from the onset of the show, viewers of The Office were finally granted some satisfaction as the anticipated couple, Pam and Jim, finally began dating. However, the union of these two central characters has not had a negative effect on ratings. So what makes this show different?

Perhaps it is because the show does not focus primarily on Pam and Jim's relationship. Instead, the show is riff with several other dynamic characters who easily engage the audiences' interest and draws our focus away from the promising couple. Setting up the show in such a manner limits the time that we see Pam and Jim interact, which does not satisfy our desire, and thus prolongs our interest in their relationship and, consequently, the show. That is not to understate the comedic value of The Office which definitely contributes to its success as well. All in all, the producers of The Office have implemented a winning formula, balancing original comedy with an appealing romantic relationship.