I wanted to write to applaud ...

Question: I wanted to write to applaud the writers of The Office for taking the road less traveled. They have managed, it seems, to do something that most other shows have been too afraid to try: keeping their main romantic couple together and have their relationship be both happy and entertaining. Years upon years of TV watching have kept me waiting for the other shoe to drop for Jim and Pam, but The Office has handled their coupling with perfect care. What was once the sweetest unrequited love on TV has turned into one of its most engaging pairs. Jim's proposal at the rest stop in the season premiere was perfection and so in keeping with the characters. John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer continue to play their roles subtly and beautifully, and with the recent Emmys, it makes me wonder how these two (outside of Fischer's one nod) continue to be so ignored. It's refreshing to know that putting together a couple on TV doesn't automatically equal disaster. What are your thoughts on Jim and Pam? And do you think that more shows will be willing to take this risk in the future?
Answer: Cue those who may think they're boring now that they're together, but I agree with you. I loved the proposal scene, especially in contrast to how miserable Angela is making Andy after his own ill-timed (and surely ill-fated) popping of the question. The Pam-Jim relationship is possibly even more charming now that it's out in the open, and is certainly more realistic than what you usually see happen in TV comedy. It seemed very believable that he would take this romantic leap in response to her having put physical distance between them by enrolling in a New York design class for several months (where her classmates include Mad Men's Rich Sommer). None of this means there won't be some complications ahead during their engagement period, but the way The Office has developed the Jim-Pam story is a refreshing change to the usual roller-coaster most long-running shows subject us to. Which is a way of answering your final question in the negative. Most shows still seem to prefer playing out the romantic tension of these Ross-Rachel, Carrie-Big love matches as long and arduously as possible.