The Office, or the American version, premiers tonight in the US.
Think it'll be any good?
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The Office, or the American version, premiers tonight in the US.
Think it'll be any good?
steve carrel is a pretty funny guy, i think he can pull it off
I'll watch Carrel do comedy, he's great at it. I'm sure fans of the original will hate it, but it'll catch on anyway.
Carrel is in it? NICE!
what time and channel is it on?
www.myspace.com/theoffice
this is the first episode online, I think it's legally up there, let me know if it's not :rolleyes:
It looks better than I thought it would but it's still nothing like the original, the characters are just so far from having the nuance and chemistry that the BBC version had from the first minute. The guy that 'replaces' Gareth is particularly dull compared to the original.
Still, I think people who haven't seen the original in America, and I'm sure that's 80 or 90% of viewers, might enjoy it.
I still don't know why they feel like this is a good idea though, America already had the perfect office life setup with the movie "office space", if I was head of Fox (notorious for stealing ideas) I'd be building a sitcom based around that scenario instead, I think it would connect with a lot more americans.
Has there ever been an American take on a Brit comedy that matched up to the original?
I think not.
Steve Carell is frickin' great, he'll definitely pull this off. But it'll be different than Ricky Gervais's character.
That being said, I've only seen season 1 of the BBC Office, and I thought it was brilliant. I'd probably like the American one, but I'll be constantly comparing it to the original, so that should pretty much spoil it for me.
Still, I'm willing to bet it's on-par. I'll watch it.
I don't get why they didn't just air the BBC one, there's few if any gags that a US audience wouldn't get.
Maybe the giant inflatable penis wouldn't have made it past the censors.
NBC, 9:30pm ESTQuote:
Originally posted by nordberg
what time and channel is it on?
I'll be watching.
It usually take 3 or 4 seasons before US sitcoms resort to a giant inflatable penis.Quote:
Originally posted by PAlexC
That being said, I've only seen season 1 of the BBC Office, and I thought it was brilliant...
Maybe the giant inflatable penis wouldn't have made it past the censors.
Pheonix Nights?Quote:
Originally posted by PAlexC
Maybe the giant inflatable penis wouldn't have made it past the censors.
Listening to a review on NPR now. One of the writers is a writer for King of the Hill. They're saying the boss, instead of being deep down a good guy you can feel sorry for in the end, is just constantly loud and obnoxious.
Hmm...
woah, was just watching the video from aversion's link. completely agree about the lack of subtlety and nuance that made the office work so well but I wonder if that is mainly down to how well the actors gelled in the original and unfair for the US guys to try to recreate.
What does seem to have been completely misjudged is the the david brent actor, it's totally over played, his voice gets really grating after a few mins and seems more like a stand-up pretending to be a crap office manager rather than the desperate and painfully cringe-worthy Ricky Gervais, makes it worse when he tries to mug the same expressions during the 'embarrasing' pauses and looks more like bad Jon Culshaw impression.
I guess it was inevitable that the US would try to remake it after the british version was a sorta of cult hit and won some kind of award over there but perhaps they should have taken it a bit further and not tried to copy the same format so closely.
Wow, that will be the absolute LAST time I listen to you guys regarding TV entertainment. I saw it on last night as I was checking my guide and said to myself, I said "Self, let's check this out. Everyone was talking about it."
I have just one word:
THATWASTHEMOSTBORINGTHINGIHAVEEVERWATCHEDINMYFREAK INLIFE!!!
I only watched the first 10-15 minutes.....couldn't handle any more than that.
and I like English humour
I watched it and liked it...Steve Correll was hilarious. it could have been better, but have you watched teh first episodes of shows like: Seinfeld, Simpsons, Cheers, Frasier, etc....they weren't that great, but look where they went after the first show (im not saying OFfice is of these shows caliber, just making a point).
I thought Carell's manager was too over the top, he was a cartoon character.
The guy playing Jim was way too hip.
Pam was too mousey and timid.
Gareth's replacement was too much of a nerdy jerk, an ourtight bully.
The black dude was funny.
Why would they premier a Tuesday night show on a Thursday?
Sorry to bump such an old thread, but I was curious to hear some opinions on the show more than two years later.
I was late to the party, but have since seen every episode, and I can say this is probably my second favorite show of all-time, just behind Seinfeld.
Any other fans?
You tricked me!
About the show- I have some friends who are obsessed but I have yet to watch a full episode. I am on a Scrubs kick right now.
I really like it. Their ability to make the show about the office(s) and not hang so desperately on the characters keeps the show fresh. Jim and Pam's relationship is interesting yet always nicely woven as back story. There's a growing pack of psychopaths and the casting is excellent.
You need a slight morbid fascination with social train wrecks to enjoy the show, my boss says he's been uncomfortable enough to change channels. :p
@wannabe - Heh, been watching comedy central's syndication myself. Loses some comedy in the later seasons but it has made me howl with laughter at times. Dr. Cox is like looking into a mirror.
I was on a Scrubs kick for a time also, but I've seen every episode multiple times to the point I can quote every line verbatim.
It doesn't hold up as well on multiple viewings as, say, Seinfeld. I'll still watch, though.
why didnt you listen to me when i was posting how good the show is a long time ago?! ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by DigitalOne
better than Seinfeld, imo.
i love this show. i really dig angela, stanley, ryan, and that new sales guy andy from the other office. the show has definitely gotten better with a little character development. the first season was over the top, then they reeled it in and started using the rest of the cast more. it's still just tv though.
ahhh I just can't hack it mainly because I saw the english one first.
No doubt they do a good job, but it just seems too much like an imitation of the British one.
I prefer the UK version.
There's nothing like David Brent.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pknvdBlOels
The end, when he plays the Tina Turner song, cracks me up every time.
There is British humour (subtle, ironic, self-depreciating), and there is American humour (in your face, critical, LOUD), and never the twain will (or should) meet.
(With Oz humour a pale mix of both... :()
I too don't know why they have to remake British comedy rather than do their own thing. US style humour works well when done well.
that uk season was great...david brent rocks.
So... Davo... you've seen this version of "The Office"?
Yep, downloaded an episode a while back. I also seem to recall it being shown on Oz tv, but lasted about 3 episodes until it got shafted to late night graveyard shift.
(IF my memory serves me well, which ain't always the case)
Seinfeld's one of my fav shows of all time, which is what makes the US version of The Office even more painful for me to watch. Just an opinion. ;)
Observational humour - that's something I forgot to add which US comedy does very well at times. Seinfeld was obviously a good example of that, and there was also a black stand up comic I actually discovered from a recent conversation on FK and watched on YouTube, can't recall his name...
US comedy style is more "obvious" and in your face than the more subtle British humour, hence when they focus on a form that encourages that - such as observational humour - it's when it works best.
IMHO.
You've done better than I have. Only seen like... maybe 10 minutes of the American version.
I don't like spending time downloading something and then not watching it. Has meant I've watched some awful stuff! ;)
And at least US humour has it over Oz humour. The only show even worth mentioning in recent memory is "Kath & Kim", and even that was worth watching for one series or even less and you got all the gags there was ever going to be. Definitely worth catching at least one show for a groan if nothing else. ;)
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOriginalFlashDavo
Money - and a proven formula.
France and Germany also have their own versions of the Office btw.
US does do it's own thing for the most part. But the US often remakes British shows (while the UK imports US shows) because Americans are less acquainted with British accents, media and culture than vice versa.
Though many people assume it's either because Americans are not intelligent enough to "get" British humor, or that they are too self-involved to care about shows from other countries - and that may be the case for some, but the greater truth is that it's all just based on what networks think will drive ratings -------> advertisements -------> money.
Out of the many thousands of US shows that are produced, when you throw in a BBC made show in the mix, it's like a small fish in a big tank of sharks - not likely to survive.
Oh let's not get started on French and German humour!Quote:
Originally Posted by Visionray
And the French dub all their English language movies, so they're the last reference point for anything cross-cultural! ;)
I agree! David Brent and Gareth Keenan are hilarious!Quote:
Originally Posted by Visionray
There are also a difference between British and American humor. Both countries have produced some great shows. And the way I see it from Norway, the majority of people like American humor very well (or maybe it's just that there are more American shows on tv), while the British humor is very well liked by some, while some people hate it. (I feel it's sometimes harder to understand, and sometimes a bit more "intelligent").
The American version tried too hard the first season to be like the British one. Once it found its own voice though, 2nd season forward, it was great. They're different enough now that you can't compare them or the characters directly with each other. I will say Dwight cracks my sh*t up. It just sucks that the network is going to make them over-dramatize the Pam/Jim angle.
I've watched all of the US version, and only a little of the UK version, but Steve Carrell just makes that show. I love the awkwardness. Watch some of the episodes with Angela and Dwight and the way their relationship works. Pure gold.
Also, I like the way that the US show is filmed versus the UK version.
yeah, carrell is to talented and good at the role. nordgal literally has to walk out of the room during some really uncomfortable scenes.
haha.. :) its fun like that.