The Office (american version)

ProjectX2 said:
As the biggest Ricky Gervais fan here, I will easily say The Office UK is far superior to The Office US. However, that doesn't necessarily mean The Office US is in anyway a bad show. They're both different. UK has an overall story arc and once that is wrapped up, the show ends. They don't milk it. The US has chosen to go with a longer route, and apart from Season One, which was basically a copy of the UK Season One, they are almost completely different.

Ricky Gervais as David Brent is awesome. Steve Carell as David Brent isn't. However, Steve Carell as Michael Scott is great. Just think of them as different characters... which they are.

And Mole, as a big fan of the UK version, I was against the US version to begin with too. Especially since Season One seemed like a cheap ripoff... but as it goes on, it seems to evolve into it's own thing, and gets better. I recommend an episode called "The Convict", which is written by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant (the creators of the UK version). I watched this episode recently (after not watching much of the US version) and found it hilarious. This has encouraged me to watch more of the US version (possibly even buying further DVDs) and stop comparing it to the UK version.

They're both different. They're both good. We can have two versions (if you ignore the Brazilian, French, German, Icelandic, Portugese whathaveyous).
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yeah season 1 wasnt' all that impressive and the show barely even made it into the second season. but it improved and they actually had joss whedon direct an episode with, wait for it, vampires. sorta. it was good. i love them all.
 
Planet-man said:
I just watched the super-sized Mexican Fiesta episode where Dwight leaves and Oscar comes back and they all go on two-person-team sales calls.

That episode was funnier than most feature length comedies.
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oh where Jim and Dwight go on that awesome sales call. And Stanley leaves Ryan to dry on the sale. God i hate Ryan with a fiery passion.
 
I've seen all of Series One and Two of the Office UK and most of all of the four seasons of the Office US. I live in a country that is closer to the UK than any other (some of my country actually IS part of the UK) but I am bombarded by so much American culture that I am influenced just as much by that country. Basically, I have a non-biased opinion.

The US Office is better. It's livelier, Michael Scott is more interesting, the theme tune is far, FAR better and every week it portrays one of the greatest love stories in any work of fiction, ever.

So there.
 
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I was in the mood to watch them all again now, this being my second time through the series(well, the DVDs. I still haven't seen any of S4 but am looking forward to its release immensely). It's really nice that there's no pressure to pace myself this time around(I wouldn't watch more that 4 a day before for wanting them to last), so I can just sit back and rocket off to Dunder-Mifflin for hours.

I've also been watching some of the commentaries this time around, which are actually almost as fun as watching the episodes themselves.

Anyway, this has become my all-time favourite show easily, finally knocking LOST out of the top spot. It goes without saying how great Jim and Pam are, but some of Michael's scene's are just bringing tears to my eyes this time around(namely, "Office Olympics", "Halloween" and "Booze Cruise"). Pathos masterpiecery.
 
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Hibiki said:
There's is no way you could ever hate Dwight, and if you do I swear to God mole, I will kill you. DUN DUN DUN.
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To be fair to the US-Haters, Dwight is the one character in either of the two series that is just too flamboyantly far fetched to resemble anything close to a real person. As funny as he is, he belongs in an ordinary sitcom.
 
Gothamite said:
To be fair to the US-Haters, Dwight is the one character in either of the two series that is just too flamboyantly far fetched to resemble anything close to a real person. As funny as he is, he belongs in an ordinary sitcom.
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My dad has somebody at his office who basically IS Dwight. The similarties are ridiculous. Overly self-satisfyed but ultimately empty knowledge of hunting and martial arts are the tip of the iceberg.
 
Planet-man said:
My dad has somebody at his office who basically IS Dwight. The similarties are ridiculous. Overly self-satisfyed but ultimately empty knowledge of hunting and martial arts are the tip of the iceberg.
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Fair enough. I've met and worked with some people over the years that tend to take things as seriously as he does, but I don't think I've ever come across someone quite as kooky.
 
I worship at the feet of The Office UK. It almost took physical violence on my friend's part to make me watch an episode of the latter second season. This is just my thought on the whole matter of "which is better".

It doesn't matter.

The American Office is a very rare gem. It is a show who's very idea seemed doomed to failure, adapting and remaking one of the most highly regarded television comedies of all time, and from the outset of season one it seemed like that was exactly what was going to happen. And then, a miracle happened.

The show decided to come into its own.

The second season started to show incredible signs of improvement near its midpoint, and the second half started stroking of with incredible vitality (that's what she said) into new waters, until, by the third season, the show had risen above being a doomed and derided concept, had risen above being an average show and even an excellent show to become some of the most hilarious and brilliant television produced in a long time.

In short, The Office US has evolved to the point where it's not even fair to compare the two anymore. Besides name and basic concept, they are completely different shows and praiseworthy based on their own merits.
 
Great post. As far as I'm concerned, you've settled it.

In other news I was laughing throughout the entire morning at a Dwight line from Season 2's Christmas Party episode deleted scenes. If I hadn't been alone that shift it would've been awkward.
 
Random said:
Stand in the Barbie isle, it helps
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The only problem with Barbies is that if you try to take off the clothes for extra excitement, you're bitterly disappointed by the absence of anything worthwhile. Same problem with Action Man and G.I. Joe for those who drive on the other side of the road.
 
The Office really went and touched my heart last week. During the end credits of the rerun marathon, they dedicated the program to the late Nathan Robinson, who attended school with me and was a really sweet, fantastic kid. They were able to do this because, having been the show's biggest fan, he knew the Krasinski and Novak family, who live just around the corner from the Robinson family.





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Rest in Peace, buddy. :cry:
 
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