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dlefebvre · Mar 25, 2005, 09:23 AM

Anyone watched the Office on NBC last night? How was it compared to the british version? I just saw the previews clips on NBC's website and it seems funny. Steve Carrel is a hilarious.

wdlove · Mar 25, 2005, 03:44 PM

I just saw two gentleman associated with the show this afternoon. They had placards on located near the Boston Commons. I didn't approach them though.

Mithras · Mar 25, 2005, 03:45 PM

Yeah, how was it? I've watched season one of the British version on DVD and it was just wonderful.
One thing I wondered idly about is this: the BBC version has no commercials, so each episode is a full 30 minutes. I wonder how they get the same work done in 22 or whatever.

hayesk · Mar 25, 2005, 03:49 PM

I've never seen the British version, but the NBC version actually was better than I thought it would be. American sitcoms tend to hit you over the head with jokes and a laugh track, but they seemed to be able to stay away from that.

JohnSmithXTREME · Mar 25, 2005, 03:52 PM

The UK version is somewhat funny. The star of the show, Ricky Gervais, really is a stupid oik, so he makes the show funny for perhaps an episode or two. After that it is tiring. I saw the US version, and it was bad, as expected. The humour does not translate very well into American comedy.

E's Lil Theorem · Mar 25, 2005, 03:57 PM

Originally posted by JohnSmithXTREME:
...The humour does not translate very well into American comedy.

I didn't watch it, but I read a review that said only the first episode was identical to the British version; the rest of the US episodes will be original.

zizban · Mar 25, 2005, 04:11 PM

I saw it and liked it. It wasn't bad but I think the humor with will be too dry and ironic for mass consumption here in the States.

waxcrash · Mar 25, 2005, 04:17 PM

I own the original (UK) 1st & 2nd season plus the Christmas Special on DVD and think it is some of the best comedy. You either love it or hate it. I was upset with the American version and thought it sucked, but that is probably because I keep comparing it to the original.

theJoKell · Mar 25, 2005, 04:18 PM

Originally posted by E's Lil Theorem:
I didn't watch it, but I read a review that said only the first episode was identical to the British version; the rest of the US episodes will be original.

Other than a few things, it was. I have a feeling the rest of the season will be going way downhill though...

JohnSmithXTREME · Mar 25, 2005, 04:24 PM

Originally posted by zizban:
I saw it and liked it. It wasn't bad but I think the humor with will be too dry and ironic for mass consumption here in the States.

I agree. The humour is based on dialogue and awkward silence, which worked well with the UK Office. However, in the US pilot episode, it did not work at all. American comedians like Steve Carrell are simply not suited for this type of show, and furthermore, American audiences generally like to have "big" jokes and crazy situations. So all in all, the pilot episode was not funny. However, the rest of the series is going to be based on original scripts, and because of this I think that it has a chance to improve. I'm looking forward to seeing what the next episode is like.

sugar_coated · Mar 25, 2005, 05:29 PM

It was ok.

ManOfSteal · Mar 25, 2005, 05:29 PM

I definitely wanted to see the 1st episode, and totally forgot all about it! Damn. Will it air again?

E's Lil Theorem · Mar 25, 2005, 05:33 PM

Originally posted by ManOfSteal:
... Will it air again?

Probably during the summer when it's on break. Well, that's only if it doesn't get canceled before then.

JonoG4 · Mar 25, 2005, 05:56 PM

Originally posted by ManOfSteal:
I definitely wanted to see the 1st episode, and totally forgot all about it! Damn. Will it air again?

tvtorrents.ws

ManOfSteal · Mar 25, 2005, 06:43 PM

Originally posted by JonoG4:
tvtorrents.ws

Thanks!

brapper · Mar 25, 2005, 07:33 PM

Saw it. Laughed several times. I'll watch again next week.

pman68 · Mar 25, 2005, 08:42 PM

I liked the fact there was no laugh track.

spacefreak · Mar 25, 2005, 09:43 PM

I watched it. It has potential, but the episode last night (pilot?) was pretty damn weak in big spots.

Funny was the guy on the speakerphone while the boss and assistant were in the conference with the woman (Hillary) from corporate. The other conference room scene - with the punking of the receptionist - was extremely weak.

I find the main character, the boss, to be extremely annoying and non-funny. If this series has any chance, his role will have to diminish while some of the other characters step up.

Cadaver · Mar 25, 2005, 10:14 PM

My wife and I enjoyed it very much.

dgs212 · Mar 25, 2005, 10:29 PM

Originally posted by spacefreak:
The other conference room scene - with the punking of the receptionist - was extremely weak.

I find the main character, the boss, to be extremely annoying and non-funny. If this series has any chance, his role will have to diminish while some of the other characters step up.

This is why the American version of the show is destined to fail. Americans, in the main, do not understand subtlety or irony.

The boss is supposed to be unfunny and annoying. That's what's funny about it. He thinks he's god's gift to comedy, "a friend first, a boss second...and probably an entertainer third," when in fact he is one of the least funny people on earth. Worse than that, he's not just not funny, he's anti-funny. He tells bad jokes, he tells them poorly, and he's utterly serious about it.

I guess you either get it or you don't. My prediction: America will not understand The Office, unless they radically restructure the show, in which case it will just be another zany office comedy show. Sad.

MilkmanDan · Mar 25, 2005, 10:38 PM

Originally posted by dgs212:
This is why the American version of the show is destined to fail. Americans, in the main, do not understand subtlety or irony.

The boss is supposed to be unfunny and annoying. That's what's funny about it. He thinks he's god's gift to comedy, "a friend first, a boss second...and probably an entertainer third," when in fact he is one of the least funny people on earth. Worse than that, he's not just not funny, he's anti-funny. He tells bad jokes, he tells them poorly, and he's utterly serious about it.

I guess you either get it or you don't. My prediction: America will not understand The Office, unless they radically restructure the show, in which case it will just be another zany office comedy show. Sad.

I completely agree. A lot of good British Humor is lost on the American audience. I think its our reliance on laugh tracks. We can't think on our own.

Kilbey · Mar 25, 2005, 10:40 PM

Originally posted by dgs212:
This is why the American version of the show is destined to fail. Americans, in the main, do not understand subtlety or irony.

If you're being subtle or ironic I still don't find you funny.

Spliff · Mar 25, 2005, 10:57 PM

Originally posted by dlefebvre:
Anyone watched the Office on NBC last night? How was it compared to the british version?

It sucked.

Mithras · Mar 25, 2005, 11:17 PM

Originally posted by JonoG4:
tvtorrents.ws

Thanks!
Meh. Not to be one of those annoying people, but it didn't hold a candle to the original.
As JohnSmithXTREME noted, maybe it will improve with the original scripts, rather than being locked in to the original format.

dgs212 · Mar 26, 2005, 05:41 AM

Originally posted by Kilbey:
If you're being subtle or ironic I still don't find you funny.

Good one...

Busemann · Mar 26, 2005, 06:07 AM

I saw the episode last night and found it pretty decent. It'll probably be better when they develop their own story-line, though. Is Ricky Gervais writing for the American show?

Kilbey · Mar 26, 2005, 09:07 AM

Originally posted by dgs212:
Good one...

And they claim Americans don't have a sense of humor...

spacefreak · Mar 26, 2005, 10:39 AM

Originally posted by dgs212:
The boss is supposed to be unfunny and annoying. That's what's funny about it....

I guess you either get it or you don't.

Oh.. I definitely get it. It's just not funny. The main character is lame, the supporting characters are lame, and most of the jokes are lame. Disagreeing by saying that "Americans just don't get it", or that Americans have to "rely on laugh tracks" is also lame.

I guess the appropriate response would be to say "the English just don't write good comedy", but I'm not going to support such an overreaching and flat-out insulting generalization just because I disagree with opinions. I'll do what I'm sure most Americans will do: change the channel and watch something that's actually funny and entertaining, not "annoying" and "unfunny".

Mithras · Mar 26, 2005, 10:44 AM

spacefreak, you should rent the original series DVD sometime. It still may not be your cup of tea, but it is much much funnier than this one.

sideus · Mar 26, 2005, 10:45 AM

Just watched it. It started slow at first but towards the end was very funny. Good show. I give it 6 weeks until it is canceled.

RonnieoftheRose · Mar 26, 2005, 11:27 AM

i'm surprised by it. It's the first time a US comedy show is using more subtlety. It's not as subtle at the UK version but still a big step. The US version is written by the writer of King of the Hill.

spacefreak · Mar 26, 2005, 03:27 PM

Originally posted by Mithras:
spacefreak, you should rent the original series DVD sometime. It still may not be your cup of tea, but it is much much funnier than this one.

If I come across it, I'll give it a look-see. I don't doubt that it is better. In most instances, original series are better.

I'll also give this version time to develop. I just wasn't too impressed with the US episode that I saw.

OwlBoy · Mar 26, 2005, 03:44 PM

I was a bit mad when I saw ads for it.

They seem to be using the same jokes, same name, same setting, everything.

How creative can you not get?

-Owl