Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

RAILhead · Jul 14, 2006, 10:20 AM

I could have sworn there was a thread on this, but I couldn't find it.

Anyway, I've been hearing how funny The Office is, but I've never watched it -- and season 3 starts soon. So, should I snag the season 1 and 2 DVDs and Tivo S3 until I catch up?

Gossamer · Jul 14, 2006, 10:20 AM

Yes!!!
I've gotten most of the episodes from iTunes. It's a hilarious show, my roommates and I really really like it!
If you have any doubts, check out 'The Injury' first, it's one of the best episodes. Most people will tell you the UK version is better, but I don't think so. It's best to watch them in order, and the season two finale is a HUGE cliffhanger. Dwight and Michael are hilarious!

IceEnclosure · Jul 14, 2006, 10:26 AM

I didn't watch it at first. But now, gosh, I was missing out. I think it's great. It really is kind of like watching a trainwreck or something(a trainwreck where no one dies?)

wataru · Jul 14, 2006, 12:24 PM

I didn't bother with it until I got bored during summer break. But damn, is it a good show! Steve Carell is amazing, and the rest of the cast is quite funny too. And the ongoing love triangle between the young guy and the secretary and her boyfriend makes for some compelling drama.

Since I'll be out of the country for at least the next year, I know I'm going to get an iTunes season pass for Lost. That's top priortiy. But The Office is a close second.

paul w · Jul 14, 2006, 12:30 PM

I've only seen the original, Ricky Gervais version - which is utterly brilliant. Feels weird to watch the US version afterwards, so I haven't. Anybody enjoy the US version after watching the British one?

Gossamer · Jul 14, 2006, 12:31 PM

Originally Posted by paul w

I've only seen the original, Ricky Gervais version - which is utterly brilliant. Feels weird to watch the US version afterwards, so I haven't. Anybody enjoy the US version after watching the British one?

*raises hand*

paul w · Jul 14, 2006, 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by Gossamer

*raises hand*

I feel like the professor when faced with that one student who always has the answer. Can anyon else elaborate - break down the Gervais v Carell versions?

RAILhead · Jul 14, 2006, 12:37 PM

Cool thanks. I'll have to hit Target on the way home and snag the DVDs.

wataru · Jul 14, 2006, 03:34 PM

I watched the US version first. When I tried to watch the UK version, I felt like I was missing all the jokes that I knew were there, mostly because I have a hard time understanding the accent.

lavar78 · Jul 14, 2006, 04:22 PM

I've considered getting into it, but then I just decide to watch NewsRadio again instead.� The only current sitcom I watch is Scrubs.

cjrivera · Jul 14, 2006, 04:42 PM

Another vote for the US version

I liked the British version, although I had a hard time following the acccents. Maybe that's why I prefer the US version over the British.

RAILhead · Jul 14, 2006, 04:53 PM

The Wife's at Target now, so cross your fingers they have the DVDs.

PurpleGiant · Jul 14, 2006, 05:16 PM

Originally Posted by paul w

I feel like the professor when faced with that one student who always has the answer. Can anyon else elaborate - break down the Gervais v Carell versions?

I've seen both. UK first, then the US version.

The UK version is better - however the US version does evolve nicely after the first season.

Skip straight to season two of the US series, since the first is this odd recreation of the UK office with similar, but not the same characters. The scripts are almost identical there. By the second season, the US office basically becomes its own show that isn't particularly related to the UK office, other than the premise.

RAILhead · Jul 14, 2006, 05:31 PM

Well, Season 2 isn't OFFICIALLY going to be available until Sept 12, 2006, so all we got was Season 1, which we'll watch tonight. In the mean time, I'm acquiring Season 2 by other means...

PlacidTubs · Jul 14, 2006, 09:52 PM

I love the British version.

The US version seems to be one of the better American comedies, but to me it doesn't stand up very well next to the original. The original is just so much more subtle.

iREZ · Jul 14, 2006, 11:13 PM

go dwight go

ink · Jul 14, 2006, 11:19 PM

I like the British and the US versions equally well. It's a good show. You can Netflix both, if you like ('s what we do).

Gossamer · Jul 15, 2006, 12:09 PM

Originally Posted by cjrivera

Another vote for the US version

I liked the British version, although I had a hard time following the acccents. Maybe that's why I prefer the US version over the British.

I think that's how I feel too.

BRussell · Jul 15, 2006, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by RAILhead

I could have sworn there was a thread on this, but I couldn't find it.

Anyway, I've been hearing how funny The Office is, but I've never watched it -- and season 3 starts soon. So, should I snag the season 1 and 2 DVDs and Tivo S3 until I catch up?

It's a funny show, but it's not the type of show you particularly need to catch up on. Not like a show such as Lost, for example. You're OK jumping in anywhere. But season 1 comes on a single DVD - I believe it's just six 20-minute episodes.

Gossamer · Jul 15, 2006, 12:20 PM

I watched season 2 in kind of a mish-mashed order, and I wish I'd done it in the right order. The whole Jim/Pam thing is a lot easier to follow then, especially when Jim gets the other girlfriend and stuff.

Velocity211 · Jul 15, 2006, 12:22 PM

The office is the best comedy show ever! I watched every episode at least 5 times. You should get the dwight bobblehead

. Can't wait until season 3

SpaceMonkey · 03:11 PM

I definitely enjoy both the UK and US version. I saw the UK version first.

I think the romantic subplot between the young sales guy and the secretary is better executed in the US version. I like the US sales guy better than the UK sales guy.

I like Gareth (UK) better than Dwight (US), but I think Dwight has the best single moment of the two: "Do you want to form...an alliance?"

Steve Carell is hilarious, but he doesn't have the same tragic undercurrent that Ricky Gervais brought to the character, or doesn't portray it as well, anyway. I do like that the US version seems to more often interject some scenes that lead you to feel sympathy for Michael, like the brief scene at his front door of him happily greeting the little trick-or-treaters after the office's disaster of a halloween party.

rickey939 · Jul 15, 2006, 03:02 PM

Originally Posted by Velocity211

You should get the dwight bobblehead...

I did, it's awesome!

http://www.nbc.com/The_Office/bobblehead/

The Office NBC site is just hysterical as well, keep up with the webisodes and newsletters often. I cannot wait for Season 3 as this is one of my favorite shows on TV, along with, Family Guy.

Featured Quote
"Incest is bad; racism is bad. ...the more we can encourage interracial dating as a society, the further away we get from incest. Literally."

– Michael Scott

ink · Jul 15, 2006, 03:40 PM

Originally Posted by rickey939

I did, it's awesome!

rickey939 · Jul 17, 2006, 09:18 PM

Originally Posted by RAILhead

Well, Season 2 isn't OFFICIALLY going to be available until Sept 12, 2006, so all we got was Season 1, which we'll watch tonight. In the mean time, I'm acquiring Season 2 by other means...

Thoughts on Season 1?

SeSawaya · Jul 17, 2006, 09:35 PM

my DVR has certainly been my friend this season because of this show. Love the office!

bradoesch · Jul 18, 2006, 07:54 PM

One of the funniest shows I've ever seen. I can't wait for season 3.

JoshuaZ · Jul 18, 2006, 08:39 PM

I`ve been in withdrawl for quite a while now. Need more Office.... (and Battlestar)

itai195 · Jul 19, 2006, 03:25 AM

Personally I prefer the US version, but mainly because I just don't generally care for British bathroom humor, which is pervasive in the UK version. However, I enjoy both Ricky Gervais and Steve Carell's individual performances greatly. I'm surprised to hear people say the UK version is more subtle, I've had the opposite impression.

I do think that over time the US version has begun to suffer a bit from a common malady in US television -- oversimplified characters that sacrifice believability for humor at almost any opportunity. I like to call this 'Homer Simpson Syndrome.' Dwight for instance is a funny character but, while at first he was at least a very quirky but 'real person,' he's slowly been transformed into a caricature of a real person whose only purpose is to be weird. It's kind of annoying but hopefully won't get any worse

rickey939 · Sep 21, 2006, 07:02 PM

Originally Posted by bradoesch

One of the funniest shows I've ever seen. I can't wait for season 3.

Season 3 starts in 30 minutes....w00t!

OwlBoy · Sep 21, 2006, 11:07 PM

w00t.

-Owl

Gossamer · Sep 21, 2006, 11:10 PM

Season premiere definitely had its funny points, but it's not the funniest episode, and it was downright awkward at times.

brassplayersrock² · Sep 21, 2006, 11:23 PM

OMG RICKEY!!!!! thank you for posting the link to the bobblehead! my roommate loves the office and i just orderd him one. thanks again

turtle777 · Sep 22, 2006, 01:30 AM

Originally Posted by paul w

I've only seen the original, Ricky Gervais version - which is utterly brilliant. Feels weird to watch the US version afterwards, so I haven't. Anybody enjoy the US version after watching the British one?

Yep, I feel the same.

Ricky is nasty and creepy. Steve is just funny.
The US version is plain ole sitcom, the UK version a genre of its own.

-t

rickey939 · Sep 22, 2006, 06:29 AM

Originally Posted by brassplayersrock

OMG RICKEY!!!!! thank you for posting the link to the bobblehead! my roommate loves the office and i just orderd him one. thanks again

Haha, no problem. Enjoy!