Original British Office or USA Office?

[It's...Baylariat!]

This is something I want to know the answer to, considering we have a vast majority of Brits and Americans on the forum. The UK's version of the Office with Ricky Gervais was great in my opinion. The humor was obviously British in nature, but to me, the original of anything's usually better. The US version of Office is also funny and well liked by a lot of Americans. Steve Carell is great, as well as the other characters.

So which is better? UK Office or US Office?

 

[X]

While I like Ricky Gervais and liked the original UK Office quite a bit, I feel the US version has definitely far exceeded it at this point, in part due to the short amount of time the original Office was on air. It's a good show, but to me the US version is a different beast all together. Different humor, but what really makes it the superior show of the two is the cast, which is simply phenomenal. Literally every single cast member on the US version of the show is absolutely perfect in their roles, with actors like Rainn Wilson, Steve Carell, Ed Helms, BJ Novak. The comedy on that show is genius, but what really makes it one of the best shows on television to me is the way drama is incorporated, especially the romance between Jim and Pam, which is easily among the greatest TV show romances of all time as far as I'm concerned.

The US version gets my vote here, rather easily honestly. It's crazy just how good that show is sometimes.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

American shows have this nasty habit of doing a lot more than they need to. I contemplated buying Series 2 of The US Office (why do American call them seasons when they usually occupy at least two?), then I decided not because twenty odd episodes of something I didn't really enjoy the first 6 episodes of seems like torture to me. I hear it's very good now though.

But yeah, I watched the first series of the US Office and I didn't like it. It's not terribly subtle, which I think defeats the point of the whole thing. But in my head Americans are all like marines in action films, so I didn't expect subtlety.

 

[Uncle Sam]

People who believe the American Office is better are missing the point of The Office in the first place, or are American.

I can appreciate why Americans can think their Office is a representation of real life simply because of all the filmed-for-entertainment-purposes documentaries like The Hills. It's not though. It's really not. Not that's why they like it. They just like it because they get up to a ton of wacky shit.

The American Office is your typical American comedy where it slathers a gag all over its cock and rams you up the arse until you can tell that yes, it is a joke and yes, isn't we zany? It's Scrubs filmed in a different style.

The English version is something that Americans shouldn't like. The comedy isn't broad at all and it should only make sense to people who work - or have worked - in British offices. I think Americans must like it because it just adds another layer to that Hugh Grant stereotype where we aren't only all rather befuddling befuddles but also massive *****.

That's not to say that the American Office is bad. It's run-of-the-mill. The documentary style is surplus to requirements. It's just not The Office. It's something else entirely and comparisons would have never been drawn if it hadn't started life as a mediocre rip-off and then "evolved" into something which suits a laughter track.

 

[Барбоса]

I have never been a fan of The Office UK and I hope it doesn't represent what British comedy is now viewed as. It relies too heavily on "cringe comedy." If it cannot say something intelligent or inciteful then it goes for the outrageous or embarassing. To me that is not comedy and particularly not British comedy. Because The Office US has somewhat moved more towards a sitcom, I find it easier to watch and Carell is magnificent.

What makes it even worse for me is that Gervais can be extremely funny. His live interivews and shows are a great mix of wit and intelligence in a true testament to the classic British humour of Monty Python, Fawlty Towers and Blackadder.

Gervais' other TV show, Extras started along the same lines as The Office - cringe worthy dialogue with the odd movie or TV star thrown in. However, with its second season it developed a conscience regarding the nature of fame and celebrity. The final episode, a Christmas special, is a true epic, combining comedy, tragedy and drama in a finale close to emulating the last 60 secs of Blackadder Goes Forth.

 

[Uncle Sam]

Sorry I'm late; traffic was terrible.

I have never been a fan of The Office UK and I hope it doesn't represent what British comedy is now viewed as.

What is British comedy viewed as? Whatever great comedies have we seen in the last decade? The Green Green Grass? Shameless? Sure, it was good for a few years but it's shit these days. Peep Show is, obviously, awesome, but it's more cult than anything.

It relies too heavily on "cringe comedy."

Because that's what happens in real life. It's holding up a mirror, showing just what a twat you and your colleagues are in working environment. If David Brent started spouting off puns like Blackadder and it turned into a proper sitcom it would be completely pointless.

You're not meant to find the characters funny. You're meant to find them awkward and tragic. It's almost Shakespearean.

If it cannot say something intelligent or inciteful then it goes for the outrageous or embarassing.

Again, I think you've missed the point. Particularly if you're using "The UK Office is too outrageous" as a defence of the American one. Have you actually watched an American episode?

To me that is not comedy and particularly not British comedy.

The Office is the only thing British comedy is going to be remembered for for at least another decade.

Because The Office US has somewhat moved more towards a sitcom, I find it easier to watch and Carell is magnificent.

Carrell's good but otherwise you hit your nail on the head - your typical American sitcom where they don't know where to draw the line.

What makes it even worse for me is that Gervais can be extremely funny. His live interivews and shows are a great mix of wit and intelligence in a true testament to the classic British humour of Monty Python, Fawlty Towers and Blackadder.

Monty Python's shit, Fawlty Towers is... great, actually and Blackadder has its moments, though it's not nearly as clever as people seem to think. Seinfeld syndrome.

 

[Барбоса]

Peep Show is, obviously, awesome, but it's more cult than anything.

I think "epic" is a good word to describe the antics of Jeremy and Mark.

You're not meant to find the characters funny. You're meant to find them awkward and tragic. It's almost Shakespearean.

Is this not the essence of "cringe comedy"? It's like "car-crash" syndrome. You don't want to look but can't help yourself. That just doesn't appeal to me in the slightest. It's probably the reason why I never got into things like Curb Your Enthusiasm.

I have no problem with comedy that is making a statement. I just don't get the message of The Office. The end of Extras had far more point to it and its use of tragic circumstances was far more balanced.

Because that's what happens in real life. It's holding up a mirror, showing just what a twat you and your colleagues are in working environment.

This is almost certainly where I miss the point of The Office as I have never had to work in such an environment. In the words of the great Walter Sobchak, I "have no frame of reference here... [I'm] like a child who wonders into the middle of a movie..." (any chance to quote The Big L)

The Office is the only thing British comedy is going to be remembered for for at least another decade.

If you're talking Pan-Atlantic, you are probably right, whether I like it or not. I just think that having The Office as the standard-bearer for British comedy reinforces the belief that the British are more interested in being insightful rather than funny.

Give me the mix of smart and ridiculous of Monty Python and Blackadder any day. One of the reasons I love Peep Show is that at one moment Mark could be talking about the German defeat at Stalingrad and in the next he is charging a bunch of kids with a metal pipe for calling him a paedophile. I think its the kind of show that does have a chance to cross the Atlantic so long as the US version isn't rubbish.

The Inbetweeners is perhaps the funniest new British comedy, if only because it employs liberal use of swearing and ridiculous situations.

Seinfeld syndrome.

There is slight difference between Blackadder and Seinfeld...

Blackadder was funny

 

[Uncle Sam]

We could be here for some time.

I think "epic" is a good word to describe the antics of Jeremy and Mark.

And it's back on Friday. Remember to watch it. Consistent ratings are for loser - they must get higher.

Is this not the essence of "cringe comedy"? It's like "car-crash" syndrome. You don't want to look but can't help yourself.

I was about to say, "Mm, like Curb Your Enthusiasm" but then I look down and...

That just doesn't appeal to me in the slightest. It's probably the reason why I never got into things like Curb Your Enthusiasm.

The problem I have with Curb Your Enthusiasm is that it's not realistic. And even if it is, the life of a multi-millionaire sitcom writer is something that I could never relate to in a million years. Add to that the fact that the improv. style can make it seem clumsy...

I still quite like it though.

I have no problem with comedy that is making a statement. I just don't get the message of The Office. The end of Extras had far more point to it and its use of tragic circumstances was far more balanced.

The Office isn't crafted with the traditional beginning-middle-end structure though. It just life, happening. It's like how No Country For Old Men leaves loose ends all over the place. What's the message there? There isn't one. It's life. Life is awkward. Life carries on whether there's a camera rolling or not.

This is almost certainly where I miss the point of The Office as I have never had to work in such an environment. In the words of the great Walter Sobchak, I "have no frame of reference here... [I'm] like a child who wonders into the middle of a movie..." (any chance to quote The Big L)

That's just, like, your opinion, man.

If you're talking Pan-Atlantic, you are probably right, whether I like it or not. I just think that having The Office as the standard-bearer for British comedy reinforces the belief that the British are more interested in being insightful rather than funny.

I don't think that's necessarily the case. I think that the British just find insight funny. As a matter of fact, I think most people do. It's the entire basis of "Don't you hate it when...?" jokes.

Peep Show's funniest moments happen when the characters think or say things that you think.

"Oh, that is bloody delicious. Well, not really delicious, like hot chocolate or... coke. But for wine! MWAH!"

The Office, on the other hand, shows the boss mentality better than any other TV show I've seen. Every boss I've ever had has had a little bit of Brent in them. A desire to just be one of the lads, to be liked, despite being "the boss."

One of the reasons I love Peep Show is that at one moment Mark could be talking about the German defeat at Stalingrad and in the next he is charging a bunch of kids with a metal pipe for calling him a paedophile.

They also called him a cleanshirt.

"What? Clean shirt? Isn't that a good thing?"

I think its the kind of show that does have a chance to cross the Atlantic so long as the US version isn't rubbish.

I'd rather die than see Peep Show: An American Odd Couple. The thought of how they'd re-invent Johnson alone is revolting.

The Inbetweeners is perhaps the funniest new British comedy, if only because it employs liberal use of swearing and ridiculous situations.

The Inbetweeners is a bit rich for me but I see why people like it.

There is slight difference between Blackadder and Seinfeld...

Blackadder was funny

Touché.

 

[Барбоса]

We could be here for some time.

Don't see why.

You like The Office for the same reason as I dislike it. Not much else can be said without descending into "I'm right and you're wrong" territory.

That's just, like, your opinion, man.

Exactly, there is no need to enter a world of pain