The Main Characters

Michael Scott- the regional manager of Dunder Mifflin paper supply company

Dwight Schrute- the "assistant to the regional manager" (but not really)

Jim Halpert- among the only employees with common sense; plus, he's in love with Pam

Pam Beesly- the secretary; she's in love with Jim but was engaged to someone else

Ryan Howard- the temporary worker

Andy Bernard- salesman who recently left to attend anger management courses

Jan Levinson- the corporate boss who has been not-so-secretly dating Michael

Angela- head accountant; a staunch Christian

Oscar- the resident gay man

Kevin- the resident fat guy

...plus assorted other characters who work for the company with smaller (but no less hilarious) roles

Why THE OFFICE is the best show on television

1.) It is actually funny. Unlike most comedic sitcoms that try too hard to duplicate the success of "Everybody Loves Raymond" but instead end up recycling bad jokes, "The Office" throws in a little innovation.
2.) Steve Carrell is a comic genius. I mean, I assume he's a nice guy in real life, but he does such a stellar job of playing a naive jerk that it's hard to picture him any other way.
3.) There is no laugh track. Nothing insults an audience's intelligence more than a TV show telling them when to laugh.

4.) Arrested Development is off the air. A.D. used to be the greatest show going, but it was cancelled. Thus, a new winner.