You’ve all seen the scene. It’s a bustling office; extras speeding around trying to look busy, ambient work noise cranked to eleven, the camera on a dolly catching all the “realistic” action. And then in comes our hero.
He strides through the office takes charge. High-fiving random co-workers, saying hello to secretaries, taking care of phone messages, booking meetings, quelling crises, doing push ups and flirting with the hottie female lead all before he even gets to his desk. We’re meant to think he’s the King of his Urban Jungle, able to take on all comers and handle all problems. And we do think that. Because all that in-control action is fun to watch.
But last night, as I was introducing a friend to the West Wing, I noticed something: everyone is in the office BUT our hero. Doesn’t that make him, I don’t know… LATE FOR WORK???
How is he never punished for walking in after EVERYONE has already begun work. Sure, the boss is allowed to be late on occasion, but if he’s the central most important figure in the office, shouldn’t he be there FIRST?
Check out Leo McGarry, walking and talking through the West Wing. Every other cast member has already dug in and gotten productive. But our Chief of Staff? Strollin’ it at his leisure:
Mad Men is making hay with this right now. McConaughey is FAMOUS for doing it in his romcoms. Tom Cruise made his lazy walk and talk name in Vanilla Sky. Michael Keaton owned in it The Paper. Eva Mendes made me vomit doing it in Hitch. And countless other stars have performed the late walk in.
Again, I get that it makes them look cool and in charge. But really? They’re just late for work and trying to look cool to distract people from noticing. And at least for me, it ain’t working.
I mean really, set some alarms, people.
Bangarang!
