The Office

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

This series is not bad but gets the award for being way over-rated, IMHO. 'Father Ted' and 'Blackadder' are much funnier and have stood the test of time.

And "The fall and rise of Reginald Perrin", "Rising damp" and, though it's probably impenetrable to most Americans, "Phoenix nights".

MG

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

I finally got through the British version. Excellent stuff. I found the Special to be somewhat disappointing, though it was necessary to tie some loose ends.

Next up: the American version. Probably not as good as the UK one, but very funny nonetheless. "Diversity Day"!

Personally I find the American version much funnier/better than the British verson...

I have a very strong feeling that "The office" wasn't originally supposed to be funny, in the sense of a sitcom, ie played for laughs. Mostly, it's too true to life to be anything but very pointed satire.

MG

[Tom Storer]

I've never seen the American version, but I have trouble imagine it equalling the original, which in my humble opinion is brilliant.

[JSngry]

American Office Season One = Brilliant. Dark & Dry in a perhaps unprecedented way for Prime Time

American Office Season Two = Well, they got that out of their system and/or Somebody at the network thought that if they made it just a little less harsh and put in a little bit more cuteness then thay could have a mainstream hit.

Oh well. It's still "good", but no longer stop-what-you're-doing-no-matter-what-for-30-minutes good.

[Kalo]

American Office Season One = Brilliant. Dark & Dry in a perhaps unprecedented way for Prime Time

American Office Season Two = Well, they got that out of their system and/or Somebody at the network thought that if they made it just a little less harsh and put in a little bit more cuteness then thay could have a mainstream hit.

Oh well. It's still "good", but no longer stop-what-you're-doing-no-matter-what-for-30-minutes good.

Have you seen the original Brit version?

[JSngry]

Sure.

And I personally prefer the American Season One.

[Guy Berger]

One thing I prefer about the British version is the boss character. I like the fact that they made David Brent a perversely sympathetic character; I'm a big Steve Carell fan, but Michael Scott is Brent without the sympathetic qualities.

FWIW, I was forewarned after watching the Brit version that the American version was "watered down" -- that's definitely not true, at least through the first season. Hopefully I won't be disappointed once Netflix delivers the next set of DVDs.

Guy

[JSngry]

I'm a big Steve Carell fan, but Michael Scott is Brent without the sympathetic qualities.

Yep. Thus the realism, and thus the darkness.

[Guy Berger]

This will probably be funny only to people familiar with the episode in question, but I saw it last night and was rolling:

crentist

[Teasing the Korean]

Funny, that sounds alot like Dentist....

[Guy Berger]

This one is even better

[Van Basten II]

I think the US does a fine job of Americanizing the humor of the series. The UK version is way harder towards his characters than the US version is.

The US version is more sitcomish while still retaining the intelligence of the original . It is a rare case of an excellent original version with an also excellent adaptation instead of being a pale imitation.

[HolyStitt]

I have watched every episode this season and it seems to be at a low. I loved the past seasons but this season is the first time I haven't laughed once while watching the show.

30 Rock on the other hand has been great.

A little off topic but has anyone watched Ricky Gervais' most recent show Extras?