The Office US Vs The Office UK!

Basq

OK... this is something has been annoying me for a while now!

Why are people so hard on the US version of 'The Office'? People are very quick to dismiss it as a poor replication of the utter genius of Gervais and Merchant's original.

It seems fairly obvious to me from the outset that besides pretty much identical characters, it's a very different sort of comedy to the UK version.

And actually.. 10 episodes into the 2nd season, it really has kept a high standard throughout and never fails to make me laugh. And Steve Carell is truly fantastic as Michael Scott.. but again, nothing like a David Brent character - more goofier!

But in saying all that, it will never be in the same class as original UK version (which i have always loved). But i still can't see why people are so hard on it. Can people not judge it as a comedy on it's own standards and not as a remake?

Is anyone still watching the US version? And if so... c'mon, how funny was last week's Christmas episode?

MrJoeSoap

I've only ever seen a clip, I loved the original Office so much I was afraid the new one would murder it. I must check it out though.

Kinda OT but did anyone see the RTE Guide Christmas edition where they referred to Gervais as Brent in one sentence??? I'd say he loved that.

mickymg2003

Never really caught onto the office myself. The show seems to move very slow or sumtin.
Doesn't ricky gervais produce the us one or sumtin?

MrJoeSoap

Don't think the US Office is produced by Gervais. The UK Office is a kind of a strange one, it can be difficult to get into but once you're in, its the funniest thing you will ever see.

AARRRGH

I tried watching the US version. I kept a totally open mind. But... they are trying too hard. It's just not clever. Funny. Natural.

They shouldn't have made a US version.

radiospan

Ricky Gervais and Steven Merchant had some input to the US Office alright (in the first season anyway).

In Season One of the US office, I started watching expecting the worst. I thought it was dumbed down way too much (especially the Tim/Dawn thing). It wasn't as subtle as the original version.

But Season Two is brilliant! Obviously the original is in a different league, but if you watch the US Office on it's own merits it's a very good show. Especially for an American sitcom. Steve Carell is quality in it.

MrJoeSoap

plazzTT wrote:

But Season Two is brilliant! Obviously the original is in a different league, but if you watch the US Office on it's own merits it's a very good show. Especially for an American sitcom. Steve Carell is quality in it.

Is it easy to watch having already seen the original?

radiospan

Well when I started watching Season One, it was around the same time I was watching lots of the original, so I kept on thinking "ah this is nowhere near as good".

But now I don't have the original in my mind as much when I'm watching the new US episodes. You'll recognise lots of scenes from the original though (like Tim locking Gareth in an office, or Chris Finch in general).

Basq

plazzTT wrote:

But now I don't have the original in my mind as much when I'm watching the new US episodes.

Kudos plazzTT. That's EXACTLY how it should be watched!

And the second season has been fantastic - the Christmas episode being the best so far and also the episode where Pam & Jim keep trying to convince Dwight that he's correct in assuming it's a Friday (whereas it's actually a Thursday).. so he won't come into work the next day (Saturday). Brillant stuff!

Pam Beesley: [trying to make Dwight think that it's Friday] Hey, did you watch The Apprentice last night?
Jim Halpert: Yeah, I can't believe who they kicked out!
Pam Beesley: Oh, I know!
Dwight Schrute: Damn it! I missed it! I was out drinking with my Laser Tag Team, I can't believe I did that! I never go out on Thursday nights.
[looks down shaking his head]
Jim Halpert: [raises hands in the air whispering] Yes!

I think people have been incredibly hard on it - i know TmB along with myself enjoyed it when it first started airing but don't know if he still watches it.

nachos

are ye watching via the generosity of your cousins or is it being broadcast on terrestrial tv? I would like to watch it but only have basic cable at home and I've a lack of cousins in the US.

SprostonGreen

I've liked what I've seen, but I agree, people shouldnt be too hard on it.

Its not meant to be a carbon copy, they've allowed for cultural differences.

Vokes

I love the US show! And I think Carrel's character is a lot more likeable than Gervais's, which it makes it all the more sad/funny when he's trying so hard to be everyone's best friend.

Have only seen up to the Halloween episode, so there's 3/4 eps ive yet to see up to this Xmas episode i guess.


Michael: Toby is in HR. Which, technically, means he works for corporate. So he's really not a part of our family. Also he's divorced. So he's really not a part of his family.

Ste-

I've seen them all. And while yes it's not as good as the UK one but if you don't judge it on that it's very good. Some good jokes and it's getting better as it progresses.
Christmas one was very funny. Yankee swap!

Jazzy

ull find alot of america bashers saying how its crap etc. and how it shouldnt have been made, but thats just a load of b*ll*x really.
US office is funny, clever, witty.... everything u would associate with the UK version except with a yank twist. this adds quite alot to an already winning formula as u can see with the character progression. The Tim character (Jim) is alot cooler then his UK counterpart and alot more likeable in a more obvious sense. He is still just as funny but he is different. And Micael Scott (David Brent) is just class. He is EXACTLY what brent would be like except if american which adds a whole other dimension to his character. He isnt just goofier there is a twist on everything the normal brent would do.
The first episode of the US version probably put alot of ppl off as it is an exact replica of the first UK episode, but after that it just goes up and up. Season 2 is gas. Basically if u liked the office, watch its US counterpart.... its almost as good (face it the office is one of the best sitcoms ever made, it would be hard to achieve its lofty success and recognition). You will not be dissapointed. dont let the naysayers sway u, its class

Mr E

basquille wrote:

I know TmB along with myself enjoyed it when it first started airing but don't know if he still watches it.

I am still watching it, but I think season 2 has been on a bit of a slide (apart from Jims party episode). Don't get me wrong - there are still some laugh out loud moments, but its not as good as S1 or the first half of S2.

I agree with plazzTT though... I'm no longer comparing this to the UK version. And thats a good thing.

Hopefully they up their game a bit, and end the season strongly.

SoupyNorman

Hmmm, I did see an episode but I wasnt impressed. I thought it was just a very poor copy. David Brent is Ricky Gervais

Dr. Dre

I am finding the US version to be excellent.
Season 2 is fantastic. The whole chemistry thing is missing between Pam and Jim, nowhere near the Dawn and Tim equivalent. But still a jolly good laugh.

Basq

I loved the intro to the episode this week (

Jim putting Dwight's belongings in the vending machine and then giving him a back full of nickels (5c) to get the stuff back! ... excellent!

)

The one thing you can rely on with 'The Office US' is they always have a great intro before the credit sequence.

PS - was supposed to mention this a while back but spotted the guy that plays Dwight in Cameron Crowe's 'Almost Famous' - one of the editors working at Rolling Stone.

BopNiblets

I never watched the UK version (might get around to it someday) but I watched one episode of this just for Steve Carrrell, and it was ok.

More like Office Space I thought, and that was decent.

shuushh

from what i saw it seems very good id like to see it properly

MrJoeSoap

BopNiblets wrote:

More like Office Space I thought, and that was decent.

I'm gonna have to go ahead and agree with you.

Basq

MrJoeSoap wrote:

I'm gonna have to go ahead and agree with you.

I'm gonna have to agree with MrJoeSoap and ask you to come in Saturday.. if you could, that'd be Grrreat! Mmmkay? :v:

.. Bill Lumbergh.. you genius!

But don't really get an 'Office Space' vibe off it, to be honest!

MrJoeSoap

basquille wrote:

But don't really get an 'Office Space' vibe off it, to be honest!

Haven't seen nearly enough of the US Office to make a judgement (I'm working on it though!). I'll get back to y'all!

Bill Lumbergh: Milt, we're gonna need to go ahead and move you downstairs into storage B. We have some new people coming in, and we need all the space we can get. So if you could go ahead and pack up your stuff and move it down there, that would be terrific, OK?
Milton Waddams: Excuse me, I believe you have my stapler...

Call Me Jimmy

Having seen the masterpiece that is the original many times it is impossible for me to watch the US version with a 100% clear, open mind.

I havent seen much of it (one or two episodes) but as someone mentioned already, it's a dumbed down version of the original, everthing is spoon-fed to the audience. It just doesn't do anything for me. Now maybe other episodes are better but from what i've seen it isn't worth my time.

Basq

Call Me Jimmy wrote:

..I havent seen much of it (one or two episodes) but as someone mentioned already, it's a dumbed down version of the original, everthing is spoon-fed to the audience...

But it's not supposed to be like the original.. that's what i've been talking about!

People are too busy comparing it to the original... it's a very different type of comedy. The comedy isn't particular spoonfed.. more obvious and goofier sometimes but that's it charm!

MrJoeSoap wrote:

Bill Lumbergh: Milt, we're gonna need to go ahead and move you downstairs into storage B. We have some new people coming in, and we need all the space we can get. So if you could go ahead and pack up your stuff and move it down there, that would be terrific, OK?
Milton Waddams: Excuse me, I believe you have my stapler...

Brillant!

Milton Waddams: I was told that I could listen to the radio at a reasonable volume from nine to eleven, I told bill that if Sandra is going to listen to her headphones while she's filing then I should be able to listen to the radio while I'm collating so I don't see why I should have to turn down the radio because I enjoy listening at a reasonable volume from nine to eleven.

Am EXTREMELY tempted to start watching Office Space on DVD now!

Mr E

Last weeks US Office Booze Cruise episode was excellent too. Thats 2 very very strong episodes in a row.

Cactus Col

booze cruise was fantastic, and I really like the jim / pam story they got going on.

FatherTed

I think The Office is great, loved the booze cruise, especially when all the people were boarding the boat and Michael was giving them all Gilligans Island games. Then the Indian girl board and he says "and here we have one of the Natives".
Plus now it's on Thursday nights after My Name Is Earl, a great hour of run right there...

Rollo Tamasi

The best episode of the series was the Basketball game in the storage yard. Seeing Brick doing those 'slam dunks' and Dwight with his 'are we playing skinnies' 'skin or no skin?' classic stuff.

Bring on season 3!

Kintarō Hattori

I haven't seen anything of the american version, but I'll give it a whirl and see what it's like. I can't imagine it being better than the UK version though. Time will tell I guess.........

murfie

Just watched two episodes of it last night and i have to say i found it really funny, its a different humour which it has to be as i dont think the uk office would work on the US viewers. Dwight is a great character, and I thought the Yanky Christmas episode great.

Eoin

Basquille wrote:

But it's not supposed to be like the original.. that's what i've been talking about!

People are too busy comparing it to the original... it's a very different type of comedy. The comedy isn't particular spoonfed.. more obvious and goofier sometimes but that's it charm!

If it isn't supposed to be liked the original, then they shouldn't have the same characters - they're certainly not helping distinguishing the two series by having so many parallels.

Jazzy wrote:

The Tim character (Jim) is alot cooler then his UK counterpart and alot more likeable in a more obvious sense. He is still just as funny but he is different.

That's my problem with the US version - one of the things I liked about the UK version was that Tim and Dawn were really normal (average) looking. In the US version, it's just another case of two good looking people hooking up. Yawn.

jhegarty

nachos wrote:

are ye watching via the generosity of your cousins or is it being broadcast on terrestrial tv? I would like to watch it but only have basic cable at home and I've a lack of cousins in the US.

is on Channel 6 tonight...


http://www.channel6.ie/listings.whtm#922

Tha Gopher

Only seen about two US Office episodes, quite good but tbh it was the exact same plot/lines with American accent. If it was a US original series Ida probably been well impressed.

Does the US one pay as much attention to the bit parters? My favourites in the UK Office were Finchy (fcuking legend )and the cockney geezahs in the warehouse, they were just such complete and utter fat bastard scumbags ( "its my dog shaggin his" "go on love, Johnny likes em posh" "maybe you better fcuk off home then" to the pregnant woman, classic ). Are the US guys as good?

Id imagine Finchy in the US as a big headed jock wanker type, rather than the legendary dirtbag any proper man would admire.

DéiseGirl

Just started watching the US Office recently and am hooked...was never too keen on the UK version though so I wasn't really comparing...

....OK technically I was comparing as in: "I like this one so much better than the original". Michael Scott is brilliant

DéiseGirl

Tha Gopher wrote:

Id imagine Finchy in the US as a big headed jock wanker type, rather than the legendary dirtbag any proper man would admire.

The Finchy character is called Todd Packer and is played by David Koechner who was Champ Kind in Anchorman if you've seen that.