When a show reaches a certain zenith of popularity, the network brass begins to mull the possibility of a spin-off. Fraiser, CSI-Miami/NY/Des Moines, and the wildly popular Papadopolous Mysteries are among the more successful spin-offs.

Well, I would take the cult hit, and my personal favorite show, The Office and produce a spin-off. Now most people would take a character like Ryan or Toby. I however, think that they need to take Bob Vance and his entire Refrigeration team and develop a new show entitled The Bob Vance Files.

Listen, I personally think that there are too many cop, doctor and lawyer shows on tv today. I want a network to take a bold stance and shed some light on the world of refrigeration. Each episode would feature a refrigeration crisis that only Bob Vance and his team of 2 assistants and a wacky rogue mechanic could solve. Obviously Sir Robert R. Shafer would retain the role of Mr. Bob Vance. I would cast Gelman from the Regis Show and the dude that played DJ Connor as the two assistants. After all, when you have an actor of Sir Shafer’s status, you don’t want to overshadow him and dim that star that so brightly shines through in glorious 720p. As for the mechanic, I think Greg Proops could pull off that sophisticated, yet topically funny mechanic that will keep Bob Vance from quiting when times get tough.

Each episode would feature a very Jerry Bruckheimer, overproduced montage of refrigerator, ice chest, stand alone freezer, and beverage vending machine motor blow outs. Bob Vance would field calls from thirsty beach goers, subservient soccer moms that hope their juiced up stock broker husbands don’t wail on them when they find out all the Mrs. Calander’s pot pies have defrosted and various fast food chains including Arby’s and Bob’s Big Boy. Bob would rush over in his van and diagnose the problem with high tech refrigeration analyzers and monkey wrenches. Of course he would be out of stock of the missing part, so Gelman and DJ, would scour the entire North Central Pennsylvania corridor looking for various lug-nuts, sprockets and the inevitable Pre-Korean War copper washers. As the deadline looms, Bob’s nervousness makes him question whether he should restart the horrendous crytal meth addiction that he over came in the summer of 2002. His sponsor/mechanic Greg Proops would place a well timed comedic yet reassuring phone call to Mr. Vance, that re-energizes Bob’s determination and zest for life. At the episode’s conclusion, Vance would turn to one of his assistants and utter the following catch phrase, “And my parents said Apex Tech was for immigrants and greasers!”

I think this is the type of show that could phase out Law & Order. I mean the acting would be top notch, the marketing and merchandising opportunities that the show could develop with Apex Tech would revolutionize, YES! revolutionize the TV/Tech School landscape. Refrigeration is an untapped treasure trove of problem solving situations. I submit that the Bob Vance could in fact become the next Alex Karras.