Bill Doty - Egomaniac

The last 10 minutes of the Office (UK) are just se...

2012-02-10T05:50:15.982-08:00

The last 10 minutes of the Office (UK) are just sensational. That video shows exactly why it is that little bit better than the US version (which is undeniably hilarious). The original displays characters and situations that actually exist in real life. It captures the mundane nature of working in an office. Because of this, the audience is able to identify emotionally with the characters on a completely different level, a level that is so rarely come across in TV or film. I really can’t fault it. Those 2 series and christmas specials flow from beginning to end perfectly.

I think that British people watch t.v. for too man...

2012-02-09T05:18:13.741-08:00

I think that British people watch t.v. for too many plot points and storyline. If you want all that then read a fucking book and stop comparing one of the funniest shows ever (the US version) to a boring piece of shit that is the UK version. Television is about entertainment, not about what you get out of a story that you're going to forget anyway because it's boring as fuck. Basically the british people put way too much thought into what's funny, so just let them think what they have is golden. Because here in America the media capital of the world, we don't watch that second rate shit that'll substitute for Lunesta. So its not that most Americans don't get your humor, its just humor isn't that good if you have to try and get it. Think about it while you're drinking your tea bitches.

As you must know, Gervais & Merchant as execut...

2012-01-28T00:39:37.819-08:00

As you must know, Gervais & Merchant as executive producers understood that the American version must align with American sensibilities and appeal. The characters were not developed to be replicas of the UK version.

Apart from an infintesimal number of programmes on...

2012-01-27T18:16:36.294-08:00

Apart from an infintesimal number of programmes on the public broadcast networks, any American show must appeal to as broad a base as possible. Ratings are all.

For state-funded BBC programmes, however, not reliant on advertising revenues, the creators do not need to concern themselves to the same extent with garnering mass audiences - by lowering their standards. Hence Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's comments about maintaining artistic integrity when they believed that The Office (UK) should cease after two seasons.

American show will inevitably feel the constant pressure to appeal to a generally lower common denominator. Thus The Office (US) has characters like Dwight, Angela and Kevin - parodies of real people (the above comments about how Dwight is rooted in reality because he is representative of the Amish community (really?) are risible - I wonder what the Amish themselves would say to that). Dwight's funny, certainly, but he's more like a cartoon character than a person the audience genuinely finds credible outside of the show. Great comedy is generally rooted in a semblance of truth and Dwight's equivalent, Gareth, is so much more amusing because he is utterly realistic. Same for Kevin/Keith.

I enjoy both versions a lot but the UK version is a somewhat superior product.

Regards,

Daniel

Apart from an infintesimal number of programmes on...

2012-01-27T18:00:17.048-08:00

I liked what they did with the US version when it ...

2012-01-21T06:01:38.532-08:00

I liked what they did with the US version when it shook off the ghost of the UK one, but it ran itself into the ground several seasons ago. Good try comparing it fairly to the UK one, though there are many reasons why the original will always be the best.

For the most part your synopsis was completely bia...

2012-01-11T19:32:22.010-08:00

For the most part your synopsis was completely biased. Dwight makes the US version along with all the other characters. The US version is more consistent and the characters foil better, opposed to the UK's version. However, after watching both series I noticed that the american pretty much imitated the UK's original work.(did a great job though)

OBEY ORDER 66!

2012-01-11T16:36:06.835-08:00

OBEY ORDER 66!

haha IE

2012-01-08T20:00:10.323-08:00

haha IE

People that like the us office are weak (they can&...

2012-01-06T00:01:39.240-08:00

People that like the us office are weak (they can't handle crude humor) and look for stupid and easy to get jokes made by people who act like they are forcing the jokes.

GO NINERS!

2011-12-21T02:02:48.433-08:00

GO NINERS!

I totally disagree. Your opinion is worthless

2011-12-19T13:36:33.296-08:00

I totally disagree. Your opinion is worthless

You seem to hold disdain for the American version ...

2011-11-09T00:09:32.262-08:00

You seem to hold disdain for the American version because they aren't perfect copies of the UK version. They weren't intended to be. If you understood the amish culture of pennsylvania you'd understand that Dwight Schrute is a fairly accurate representation of someone who was raised amish and crossed over into mainstream society. His traits and the way he acts are deeply rooted to his childhood and the way he was raised. Also it has to be said that this article is unbelievably biassed. You took your side and barely analysed the characters, just saying that the British version was better in every case. I mean oversized suits and a daft haircut? It doesn't get more sitcommy than that pal

The U.S. version is way better....watching UK vers...

2011-11-05T21:09:54.685-07:00

The U.S. version is way better....watching UK version now and fighting sleep. Ricky Gervas (spelling) is a great writter but not funny I this role, and the background characters make the show....why couldnt the UK background charaters work....THAT makes it real...u work with ppl daily. Pretending thet dont exist is unreal.

Thanks. Apparently today is my first day on the in...

2011-10-17T14:20:25.593-07:00

Thanks. Apparently today is my first day on the interwebs

if browers were browsers.

2011-10-17T14:17:41.831-07:00

if browers were browsers.

A few things that need to be said - Ricky Gerva...

2011-10-06T12:43:09.378-07:00

A few things that need to be said -

Ricky Gervais refused to do any more episodes and was offered millions to reconsider. He openly came out and said that he didn't want to dilute the artistic vision that he had in the first place for a payday.That is the reason that it was so popular and performed so well in DVD sales aftewards - art before money. Respect. Americans - take note. 6 episodes of quality is better than 100 episodes with 60 of them obviously made for no other reason than money.
I have nothing against the American version , in fact I love it. But one thing is absolutely certain - Michael Scott leaving the office and deciding to carry on without him will result in the office losing it's appeal and we can look forward to another horrendously cheesy "friends" type ending with the characters in tears etc , having to end the show because it doesn't make money anymore instead of finishing it once all the comedic avenues have been explored (second Dundies? really? - Pam and Jim got married , had a child - now they are having a second child - it's getting lame)
If you are asking me to choose versions, I would marginally decide I like the US version better - but I love the original version and everyone should acknowledge that without the UK one the US version would never have existed. But crucially , when all's said and done , the US version will be looked back on as completely missing the point and instead of having the smarts to finish it at the end of season 7 (which is probably pushing it anyway - how much comedy can you extrapolate from an office environment?) it will drag out until it becomes a parody of a parody. Which is a real shame because at one point it was the sharpest , funniest show on TV.

Me Gusta...

2011-09-29T15:58:51.183-07:00

Me Gusta...

I'm very familiar with television. I keep givi...

2011-08-27T10:24:41.051-07:00

I'm very familiar with television. I keep giving the new version many chances but it's just getting too "sitcomy"

And I'm not a Brit. I've never even SEEN spotted dick

You obviously know nothing about television or the...

2011-08-27T10:22:13.587-07:00

You obviously know nothing about television or the evolution of a television series. You're a bias, typically arrogant brit. I'm british, i love the original version but the US version is so much more dimmensional. All the points you made, we're wrong, not my opinion, fact. Open your mind slightly.

the moment I read the sentence "I was a fan o...

2011-07-25T03:51:41.861-07:00

the moment I read the sentence "I was a fan of the UK version and was antsy in my pantsies from the moment I heard of the Americanized production." I knew this is going to be a subjective rant about how the US version can't compare to your UK version. Whatever. Just don't write articles and compare stuff, when you already have a favorite picked out. Worst comparison ever.

meh

2011-07-22T12:48:44.416-07:00

meh

You forgot to add .... hai2u.com 2girls 1cup ...

2011-06-20T10:24:18.771-07:00

You forgot to add .... hai2u.com 2girls 1cup , googlehammer.com , I mean WTF ? Add the good stuff !!

yeah the juggernaut video is at least top 10

2011-06-20T03:43:35.862-07:00

yeah the juggernaut video is at least top 10

the juggernaut video, should be there

2011-06-20T03:40:37.899-07:00

the juggernaut video, should be there